This disclosure provides a method of fabricating a semiconductor device layer and an associated memory cell. Empirical data may be used to generate a hysteresis curve associated with metal oxide deposition for a metal-insulator-metal structure, with curve measurements reflecting variance of a desired electrical property as a function of cathode voltage used during a sputtering process that uses a biased target. By generating at least one voltage level to be used during the sputtering process, where the voltage reflects a suitable value for the electrical property from among the values obtainable in mixed-mode deposition, a semiconductor device layer may be produced with improved characteristics and durability. A multistable memory cell or array of such cells manufactured according to this process can, for a set of given materials (e.g., metals and oxygen source), be fabricated to have minimal leakage or “off” current characteristics (Ileak or Ioff, respectively) or a maximum ratio of “on” current to “off” current (Ion/Ioff).

Generally speaking, it is desired to be able to fabricate semiconductor device layers having improved operational and durability characteristics. Such characteristics may be closely tied to device current flow characteristics. In the case of memories that store charge, for example, dynamic random access memory ("DRAM") and flash memory, charge leakage over time can render cell contents unreliable. With other forms of memory, including multi-state (i.e., "multistable") forms such as resistive RAM ("ReRAM"), magnetic RAM ("MRAM"), phase change and other similar technologies, it is generally desired to have low power devices where logic state can be detected by sensing current flow, where there is large separation between magnitude of current flow associated with each state.
A need exists for methods for creating semiconductor devices having improved electrical characteristics, particularly in terms of leakage current, "off" current or ratio between current draws associated with sensing the various states of multistable materials. The present invention addresses these needs, and provides further, related advantages.

Closed-loop sputtering controlled to enhance electrical characteristics in deposited layer


The rear extremity of the auxiliary arm 7, integral with each side of a throat pulley 10xe2x80x2, 10xe2x80x3 is joined to the front extremity of the main arm 3 around the spindle 6. The arms 13xe2x80x2, 13xe2x80x3 of the counterweight 14 are each integral with a throat pulley 28xe2x80x2, 28xe2x80x3 and are joined around the spindle 12 at the rear extremity of the main arm 3. A flexible cable 27xe2x80x2, 27xe2x80x3 is placed on each pair of pulleys 10xe2x80x2, 28xe2x80x2 and 10xe2x80x3, 28xe2x80x3 whilst being fixed at a point of each of the two pulleys. Control by a twin effect hydraulic thrustor 16 for the simultaneous movement of the cables 27xe2x80x2, 27xe2x80x3 towards the front ensures a tilting of the auxiliary arm 7 and simultaneous lifting of the counterweight 14 obtaining the automatic balancing of the jib.

The present invention concerns jib cranes with articulated or telescopic arms for lifting or handling loads on the grab, with a grab bucket, a grab bucket, winch or hook. It concerns in particular a device ensuring an automatic balancing of the jib of these cranes according to the variation of the length of the jib.
In cranes of this type, the jib is generally joined onto the turret and is equipped with a xe2x80x9cvariable geometryxe2x80x9d counterweight mounted on a lever arm which is deployed at the rear of the jib according to the position of the auxiliary arm of the jib. In this case, the counterweight is only used to reduce the unloading time by a fixed value without compensation depending on the length of the jib.
So as to ensure the automatic action of balancing, the document EP-A-0 033 060 concerns mechanically connecting the auxiliary arm and the counterweight by a rigid connecting rod determining a ductile parallelogram. To obtain the same ends, the document EP-A 0 110 786 concerns a system of interconnected hydraulic thrustors simultaneously activating the auxiliary arm and the counterweight.
The above-mentioned systems for balancing elements of the jig are shown to be effective, but, as they comprise variable lever arms, have the drawback in that the torque required for balancing the elements of the jig is not constant, but gradually reduces the increase of the length of the jig and hence a considerable increase of the power is required for lifting of the load. These known devices also have the drawback in that, owing to their design, the kinematics of the movements of the jig are limited. Finally, the weight of the linking connection rod (in the device of the document EP-A-0 033 060), like the weight of the thrustor of the auxiliary arm (in the device of the document EP-A-0 110 786) penalises the system.
The document U.S. Pat. No. 4,252,162 describes a loading arm for transferring products, such as petrol products, between two cisterns or tanks. This loading arm includes an internal tube borne by a support with a control thrustor for varying the position of the internal tube with respect to the support, an external tube joined to one extremity of the internal tube and a balancing girder joined to the other extremity of the internal tube. A link constituted by pulleys and cables is embodied between the external tube and the balancing girder by connecting the position of these two elements. A thrustor for controlling the external tube is borne by the internal tube and the rod of this thrustor is coupled to the balancing girder so as to control the position of the external tube.
The object of the device of the document U.S. Pat. No. 4,252, 162 is therefore not the same as the device of the invention since this concerns a liquid loading arm, that is an articulated pipework for transferring liquid between two tanks and which is thus not subjected to heavy loads and not to a crane jig whose purpose is on the other hand to lift up and move heavy loads.
In addition, according to the document U.S. Pat. No. 4,252,162, the rod of the thrustor for controlling the external tube is coupled to the balancing girder so that, during control of the position of the external tube, there is thus a variation of the lever arm which prevents having a constant torque making it necessary to use a higher power control thrustor.
The aim of the present invention is to avoid the above-mentioned drawbacks of known devices and concerns equipping the crane jig with a balancing device which, whilst being extremely effective and relatively light, eliminates the need for variable lever arms and the drawbacks they involve concerning the power required for lifting the auxiliary arm, and improves the kinematics of movements of the jig.
To this effect, the variable length crane jig of the invention is of the type including a main arm mounted pivoting on a support turret, an auxiliary arm extending the main arm by being joined to the front extremity of the latter, a counterweight secured to an articulated rocking arm fixed to the rear extremity of the main arm, and linking means between said auxiliary arm and said rocking arm of the counterweight so as to realize at any moment a total or partial balancing of the jig. It is characterised in that said linking means include a first pulley system mounted in rotation at the front extremity of the main arm and integral in rotation with the adjacent extremity of the auxiliary arm, a second pulley system mounted in rotation at the rear extremity of the main arm and integral in rotation with the adjacent extremity of the rocking arm, a flexible link connecting a point of the first pulley system to a point of the second pulley system, and an element for controlling movement of the flexible link ensuring the simultaneous pivoting of the auxiliary arm and the rocking arm so as to modify the length of the jig whilst balancing the latter, said control element being borne by the main arm and being coupled to said flexible link so as to obtain a constant lever arm by keeping constant the torque required for balancing of the elements of the jig.
Advantageously, the front extremity of the main arm is extended by two spaced parallel arms between which the rear extremity of the auxiliary arm is placed, said rear extremity being integral on each of its opposing faces with a throat pulley, the unit formed by the rear extremity of the auxiliary arm and the pulleys pivoting around a hinge pin which pivots inside transversal openings opposite said parallel arms.
Similarly, the rocking arm integral with the counterweight has towards the front two parallel arms providing between them a space for the rear extremity of the main arm, said arms each being integral with a throat pulley, and the unit formed by the arms and the throat pulleys pivot around a hinge pin which pivots in a transversal opening of the rear extremity of the main arm.
On each side of the main arm of the jig, a flexible cable connects the front pulley to the rear pulley, said cable being fixed to one point of the front pulley and to one point of the rear pulley. Thus, the movement in a direction of the two flexible cables results in the rotation of the pulleys in a given direction by provoking with a constant lever arm the lifting up of the auxiliary arm and the simultaneous tilting of the counterweight, whereas the movement of these flexible cables in the other direction results in the rotation of the four pulleys in an opposite direction, thus provoking, also with a constant lever arm, the tilting of the auxiliary arm and the simultaneous lifting up of the counterweight.
Advantageously, control of the movement of the flexible cables is ensured by a single hydraulic thrustor whose cylinder is joined onto the main arm of the jig and whose rod is integral with a transversal linking member fixed at each extremity at a point of each of the two flexible cables. The thrustor is a twin effect thrustor and is associated with a three-position hydraulic fluid distributor having a central position isolating the two chambers of the thrustor of the hydraulic pump and the fluid tank, and two side positions connecting either of the chambers of the thrustor to the hydraulic pump and the remaining chamber to the tank by selectively controlling the coming out or retraction of the rod (15) of the thrustor.

Variable length crane jib with automatic balancing

Abstract: The invention ensures the automatic balancing of the jib of the crane whilst eliminating the presence of variable lever arms.


A pixel image sensor has an isolation barrier and diffusion well connected to a biasing voltage to prevent substrate charge leakage caused by photoelectrons generated in the substrate beneath a photon sensing area of the pixel image sensor from drifting to a storage node. An opaque metallic silicide layer is deposited on and a metal shield is fabricated above the storage node and storage node control transistor switches to prevent light from impinging on the storage node and storage node control transistor switches and thus preventing generation of photoelectrons at the storage node and storage node control transistor switches. A guard ring surrounds the photo sensing area, the storage node, and the storage node control transistor switches and is in contact with the biasing voltage and reduces cross-talk from photoelectrons drifting from adjacent image sensors.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to solid-state image sensing devices, methods for fabricating solid state image sensing devices and a pattern recognition system using the same.
2. Description of Related Art
Integrated circuit image sensors are finding applications in a wide variety of fields, including machine vision, robotics, guidance and navigation, automotive applications, and consumer products such as digital camera and video recorders. Imaging circuits typically include a two dimensional array of photo sensors. Each photo sensor includes one picture element (pixel) of the image. Light energy emitted or reflected from an object impinges upon the array of photo sensors. The light energy is converted by the photo sensors to an electrical signal. Imaging circuitry scans the individual photo sensors to readout the electrical signals. The electrical signals of the image are processed by external circuitry for subsequent display.
Modern metal oxide semiconductor (MOS) design and processing techniques have been developed that provide for the capture of light as charge and the transporting of that charge within active pixel sensors and other structures so as to be accomplished with almost perfect efficiency and accuracy.
One class of solid-state image sensors includes an array of active pixel sensors (APS). An APS is a light sensing device with sensing circuitry inside each pixel. Each active pixel sensor includes a sensing element formed in a semiconductor substrate and capable of converting photons of light into electronic signals. As the photons of light strike the surface of a photoactive region of the solid-state image sensors, free charge carriers are generated and collected. Once collected the charge carriers, often referred to as a charge packets or photoelectrons, are transferred to output circuitry for processing.
An active pixel sensor also includes one or more active transistors within the pixel itself. The active transistors amplify and buffer the signals generated by the light sensing element to convert the photoelectron to an electronic signal prior to transferring the signal to a common conductor that conducts the signals to an output node.
Active pixel sensor devices are fabricated using processes that are consistent with complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) processes. Using standard CMOS processes allows many signal processing functions and operation controls to be integrated with an array of active pixel sensors on a single integrated circuit chip.
Refer now to FIG. 1 for a more detailed discussion of a photogate active pixel image sensor of the prior art. A substrate 5 heavily doped with a P-type impurity has its surface further doped with a complementary impurity to create a lightly doped P-type epitaxial layer 10. A P-type material is diffused into the surface of the substrate 5 to form the contact diffusions 12 for the P-type epitaxial layer 10. An N-type material is heavily diffused into the surface of the substrate 5 to form the N+ source/drain regions 20 and 40 and the floating diffusion 35. A gate insulator or thin oxide 95 is placed on the surface of the substrate 5 and polycrystalline silicon is formed on the surface to form the photogate 45 and the gates 25 and 35. The N+ source/drain region 20, the floating diffusion 35, and the gate 25 are a transfer gate switch and the floating diffusion 35, the N+ source/drain regions 40, and the gate 35 form the reset gate switch of the active pixel sensor.
The photogate 45 is connected to a photogate biasing signal PG 50. The gate 25 of the transfer gate switch is connected to a transfer gating signals T_GT 65 and the gate 35 of the reset gate switch is connected to the pixel reset signal PIX_RST 70. The N+ source/drain region 40 is connected to a power supply voltage source VDD. The floating diffusion 30 is connected to the gate of the CMOS transistor 85. The drain of the CMOS transistor 85 is connected to the power supply voltage source VDD and the emitter of the CMOS transistor 85 is connected to the drain of the CMOS transistor 80. The gate of the CMOS transistor 80 is connected to the row select signal 75. The CMOS transistor 85 acts as a source follower to buffer the electrical signal created by the photoelectron charge collected in the floating diffusion 30.
When the photogate 45 is activated to a voltage of approximately 4.0V, the hole majority carriers within the p-type epitaxial layer 10 are depleted in the region beneath the photogate 45 to form the depletion layer 55. The photons that impinge upon the photogate 45 are converted to photoelectrons and collected in the depletion layer 55. At the completion of an integration of the collection of the photoelectrons, the transfer gate 25 is activated to turn on the transfer gate switch to transfer the collected photoelectrons to the storage node of the floating diffusion 30. When the collected photoelectrons are retained at the floating diffusion 30 the row select signal is activated to turn on the transistor 80 to gate the pixel output electrical signal PIX_OUT 90 to external circuitry for processing and display. The amplitude of pixel output electrical signal PIX_OUT 90 is indicative of the intensity of the light energy hν or the number of photons 60 absorbed by the photogate 45. Once the pixel output electrical signal PIX_OUT 90 is read out the pixel reset signal is activated to turn on the reset gate switch and the depletion layer 55 and the storage node 30 are emptied of the photoelectrons.
As structured, some of the light energy hν 60 impinges upon the transfer gate switch and the reset gate switch and are converted to stray photoelectrons that collect in the floating diffusion 30. Some of the photoelectrons 62 may drift from the depletion layer 55. Some of these photoelectrons 62 may drift to other pixels in relatively close proximity. Other photoelectrons 63 from the depletion region 55 will drift to the floating diffusion 30 and photoelectrons 64 will drift to the floating diffusion 30 from nearby pixels. All of these stray photoelectrons 62, 63, and 64 cause noise currents that interfere with the detection of the correct values of light intensity and cause distortion such as blooming and smearing of the image.
Active pixel sensor arrays may be operated in a read-reset mode with a row at a time being read out. This technique has minimum integration time to collect the photons and minimum time for generating a frame, however it may have motion artifacts due to non-simultaneous exposure.
A second type of operation of a CMOS active pixel sensor array is a block access mode. A block of pixels adjacent pixels are readout. This too has minimum integration time for a full block read out. Control for this type of read out is complicated
Typically, a CMOS active pixel sensor array is operated in a rolling shutter mode in which each row of the array is exposed at different instants of time. The non-simultaneous exposure of the pixels can lead to image distortion, for example, when there is relative motion between the imager and the image that is to be captured. Furthermore, although the exposure time generally is defined by the duration for which the photogate is turned on, floating diffusion regions can continue to collect photoelectrons even after the photogate is turned off. Transfer of such unwanted charges into the sense node can result in image distortion and excess noise. Furthermore, the distortions tend to become more pronounced as the exposure time is reduced.
An alternative to the rolling shutter mode of operation is the snapshot mode with single simultaneous conversion of the photons to the photoelectrons and transfer of the photoelectrons to the floating diffusion storage node. Each pixel is read out one at-a-time readout. Since all pixels are exposed essentially simultaneously, the motion artifact is minimized. However, relatively long integration times (10 msec) precludes the capture of high velocity moving objects without blurring or the motion artifact.
"A Snap-Shot CMOS Active Pixel Imager for Low-Noise, High-Speed Imaging", Yang, et al., Technical Digest., International Electron Devices Meeting, December 1998, pp.: 45-48, presents the design and performance of a 128×128 snap-shot imager implemented in a standard single-poly CMOS technology. The pixel design and clocking scheme allows the imager to provide high-quality images without motion artifacts at high shutter speeds (<75 μsec, exposure), with low noise (<5 e−), immeasurable image lag, and excellent blooming protection.
"CMOS Difference Imagers with Charge-Leakage Compensation and Sum Output", Seshadri, et al., IEEE Workshop on Charge-Coupled Devices and Advanced Image Sensors, June 2001, pp. 125 128, 2001, and "CMOS Imager with Charge-Leakage Compensated Frame Difference and Sum Output", Pain, et al., The 2001 IEEE International Symposium on Circuits and Systems, May 2001, Vol. 5, pp.: 223-226 present a new technique for implementing a low-power CMOS imager with simultaneous on-chip computation of the difference and sum of two successive frames. The imager uses an unbalanced differential signal chain to provide 17 fold reduction in leakage error in the frame-difference output.
"CMOS Image Sensor with NMOS-Only Global Shutter and Enhanced Responsivity", Wany, et al., IEEE Transactions on Electron Devices, January 2003, Vol. 50, Issue: 1, pp.: 57-62, presents an NMOS-only pixel with a global shutter and subthreshold operation of the NMOS sample-and-hold transistor to increase optical responsivity by a factor of five to nine μV/photon, including fill factor. Wany et al further describes use of separate wells in the pixel to isolate the storage node from the photodiode showed good shutter efficiency.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,885,047 (Shinohara, et al.) describes a solid-state image sensing device. Each pixel of the image sensing device has a photodiode, a first transistor, and a second transistor. A potential barrier is provided under the drain region of the first transistor and the source region and/or the drain region of the second transistor.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,839,452 (Yang, et al.) teaches a dynamically re-configurable CMOS imagers for an active vision system. The CMOS imager includes a pixel array, at least one multi-resolution window operation circuit, and a pixel averaging circuit. The pixel array has an array of pixels configured to receive light signals from an image having at least one tracking target. The multi-resolution window operation circuits are configured to process the image. Each of the multi-resolution window operation circuits processes each tracking target within a particular multi-resolution window. The pixel averaging circuit is configured to sample and average pixels within the particular multi-resolution window.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,737,626 (Bidermann, et al.) teaches an integrated image sensor having a conditioned top silicon oxide layer and/or one or more additional insulating layers/structures to reduce optical and/or electrical noise. The image sensor has one or more insulating structures formed on the substrate and configured to inhibit the flow of electricity between a photoelement and its associated circuitry and/or the pixel and an adjacent pixel in the array.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,521,920 (Abe) provides a solid state image sensor with a primary first-conductivity-type semiconductor region which serves as a charge storage region of a photo-sensing area and a secondary first-conductivity-type semiconductor region for enlarging a charge collecting region of the photo-sensing area.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,403,998 (Inoue) describes solid-state image sensor having a first P-well area is provided in a surface portion of an n type silicon substrate and a second P-well area is selectively provided in the surface portion of the first P-well area. The second P-well area is higher in p type impurity concentration than the first P-well area. The photoelectric conversion section is formed in the first P-well area and the signal scanning circuit section is formed in the second P-well area.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,326,230 (Pain, et al.) describes high speed CMOS imager with motion artifact supression and anti-blooming. Each pixel of the CMOS imager includes a photoactive region in the semiconductor substrate, a sense node, and a power supply node. A transfer gate is disposed above the surface of the semiconductor substrate. A bias signal applied to the transfer gate sets a potential in a region of the semiconductor substrate between the photoactive region and the sense node for transfer of photoelectrons to the sense node. A reset gate is disposed near the surface of the semiconductor substrate between the photoactive region and the power supply node. A reset signal on the reset gate sets a potential in a region of the semiconductor substrate between the photoactive region and the power supply node for clearing the photoelectrons from the photoactive region after read out of the electrical signal of an image without passing through the sense node.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,218,691 (Chung, et al.) presents a unit pixel array having a plurality of unit pixels formed on an N-type buried layer placed on a semiconductor substrate to isolate the unit pixel from the P-type epitaxial layer of a peripheral circuit.

Snapshot CMOS image sensor with high shutter rejection ratio


According to one embodiment, a memory system includes a non-volatile memory array with a plurality of memory cells. Each memory cell is a multilevel cell to which multibit data can be written. The non-volatile memory array includes a first storage region in which the multibit data of a first bit level is written and a second storage region in which data of a second bit level less than the first bit level is written. A memory controller is configured to move pieces of data from the first storage region to the second storage region based on the number of data read requests for the pieces of data received over a period of time or on external information received from a host device that sends read requests.

In order to increase memory capacity, a multilevel storage technique can be used in a memory system. When the multilevel storage technique is used, the number of bits of data that can be recorded in each memory cell increases, however, a reading speed of the stored data and a writing speed for recording the data in the memory system are likely to be slower.

Data movement between different cell regions in non-volatile memory


A method for preparing a beverage through a capsule (2) inserted in a beverage machine; the capsule comprising an enclosure (20) containing one or more beverage ingredients, wherein a brewing fluid is introduced in the enclosure to brew the said one or more beverage ingredients, wherein a brewed liquid is filtered by a filtering wall (22) and delivered from the capsule, wherein the filtering wall extends from substantially the bottom of the enclosure and said filtering wall is associated to an overflow wall (3) that forces the brewed liquid to traverse at least one overflow aperture (25). The method is particularly suitable for brewing a tea containing capsule.

The present invention relates to a method for preparing and delivering a beverage from a capsule that contains one or more beverage ingredients. The present invention more particularly aims at providing a method for brewing tea from capsules and a beverage machine although other beverages can be successfully brewed by this method.
Different beverage preparation methods using capsules to be brewed in a suitable beverage machine are known. However, there is no existing method that can deliver a high quality tea beverage from a capsule containing leaf tea product.
Quality of a tea beverage is highly dependent on the quality of the leaf tea ingredients, i.e., the tea origin used (soil, drying, blending, etc.) and their storage conditions. For instance, tea ingredients are usually sensitive to oxygen and light. Preferred tea ingredients are taken from loose leaves, chiselled or broken in small fragments. However, brewing conditions are also important to take full advantage of the quality of the starting ingredients used.
Another problem with tea beverages resides in that taste cross-contamination must be preferably avoided. Taste cross-contamination happens when two capsules are sequentially brewed in the machine and when a taste residue is left by the first capsule on permanent parts of the machine that can consequently affect the taste of the second capsule which is brewed just after the first capsule. For tea, this can be an issue with certain tea varieties that deliver a high aroma profile such as mint tea or other highly flavoured varieties. Also tea residue may constitute a soil for bacterial growth and may lead to hygiene issues which need to be tackled.
One commercially successful method for extracting coffee beverage from capsules consists in placing an air- and water-impermeable capsule into an extraction device, injecting hot water into the capsule until the internal pressure in the capsule reaches the value at which a closing membrane is torn or pierced so that liquid extract can be released out of the capsule. A method on such a principle is described in EP 0 512 470. This method provides a high quality espresso-type coffee. The ground coffee is filled in the capsule fresh and can be stored many months without significant loss of aroma. The release of the coffee is slightly delayed due to a retarded opening of the membrane under pressure from the time water starts to be injected in the capsule. As a result, coffee can be fully extracted under optimal pressure and heat conditions. A stable and thick cream or foam is also produced due to high stress, pressure release and gas-entrapment conditions which are specific to this method.
However such method is not suitable for carrying out the infusion or brewing of beverages such as tea or herbal tea. The result obtained is poor in term of taste, the beverage has a too high turbidity and may also comprise an undesired foam layer. Therefore, surprisingly a premium quality of tea beverage cannot be reached by such method.
Other methods using pressure for brewing product containing capsules can only deliver tea beverages that are too turbid, of poor product concentration and/or of taste that is not of sufficient quality for tea experts.
Capsules containing roast and ground coffee in which hot water flows under gravimetric force through the capsule are known. A capsule of this general type is described in British Patent No. 1397116. In this method, water is injected from the top of the cartridge and flows down through the ground coffee, through a filter and finally through a piercing hole or holes of the bottom side. More sophisticated systems are based on a similar approach using trunco-conical cartridges such as in US 2002/0148356 or using rectangular cartridges such as in US 2002/0148357.
EP 0 615 921 relates to a rigid cartridge for coffee, leaf tea or chocolate. The beverage package is used with water flowing in an upward direction. The sidewall of the package is formed from a water-impermeable material in order to encourage an even flow of water through the beverage package. One issue is that freshness of the ingredients cannot be maintained long enough unless an additional airtight package is utilized to over wrap the cartridge. Another problem with such solution lies in that beverage cannot be properly conducted to the recipient (cup, mug, glass, . . . ) after being released from the package.
EP 1 101 430 relates to a beverage filter cartridge system in which pressurized water (about 1.4 to 1.7 bar) is provided in downward direction through the upper side of the cartridge and beverage is collected from a lower side of the cartridge. This document also contemplates the solution in which the pressurized hot water is introduced through the bottom side and upwards into the beverage product. However, in this solution, the inlet traverses the filter and the product cake from bottom to the top and water flows finally downward both through the fluid medium ingredients down to a bottom outlet. According to the patent application, the introduction of pressurized hot water squeezes the beverage powder into a cake and permeates the powder more efficiently.
EP 1 440 904 A1 relates to a cartridge with a bottom lid that is pierceable in use when the cartridge is in an horizontal orientation to accommodate both inflow and outflow of an aqueous medium to form the beverage from interaction of the medium and the one or more beverage ingredients in the chamber. According to this document, the horizontal positioning of the cartridge during use allows for an optimised flow of the aqueous medium through the cartridge whereas, with vertically oriented cartridges, the water flows too quickly under the influence of gravity and may thus by-pass portions of the beverage ingredients. Therefore, this document claims that a horizontally oriented cartridge allows avoiding this problem, in particular, by arranging for an upward element of flow between the inlet and outlet positions.
However, one has surprisingly found that the darker brewed beverage portion tends to stay in the bottom of the cartridge because of its density that is higher than the rest of the beverage. Therefore, a beverage concentration gradient tends to form within the capsule with the denser beverage portion remaining in the bottom of the capsule; such portion being finally not delivered into the cup. As a result, the resulting tea beverage in the cup may be of insufficient quality despite the use of good quality starting ingredients.
Therefore, there is a need to overcome this problem.

Method for preparing a beverage from a capsule


An information management apparatus which is capable of managing products owned by a user by making the products easily registered in a device on a network. A user ID is registered in correspondence with model information on an image-pickup device. The user ID is received from a user terminal. When it is determined that the uploading of the image is permitted, on the basis of the received user ID and the registered user ID, the image uploaded from the user terminal is stored. Model information on an image-pickup device used for photographing the image stored in the storing unit is acquired from attribute information of the image. When the model information corresponding to the acquired model information is not registered, the acquired model information is further registered in correspondence with the received user ID.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image management apparatus and an image management method adapted to manage product information and digital image data owned by a user with a computer connected by using communication environments such as the Internet, as well as to a program and a storage medium therefor.
2. Description of the Related Art
There is known a kind of information processing system (information providing service) utilizing communication infrastructure such as the Internet. The information processing system includes a server device on a network which provides a network service. The network service makes it possible for a user to upload image data photographed by the user using a digital camera to a storage area of the server device on the network, and to access the server device for browsing and printing the image data in a local environment when the user desires. A provider of the server device providing such network service is hereinafter referred to as "photosite".
Further, there is provided a service in which a image-pickup device such as a camera and a printing device such as a printer, that are owned by the user, are registered as owned product information in the photosite, and thereby various information about the image-pickup device and the printing device is supplied from the side of photosite.
In the above described conventional techniques, it is possible for the user to register the user's products only when the user oneself accesses a registration screen and the like (see "CANON IMAGE GATEWAY new registration and registration model addition method", <STEP 2: new registration and addition of registration model>, [online] Apr. 1, 2006, <Canon Marketing Japan, Inc.>, [retrieved on May 1, 2006], Internet <URL:http://www.imagegateway.net/entry/index.html>).
By acquiring much more information on the user's products, it is possible for the service providing side (photosite) to utilize the acquired information as the market information and the like. Further, it is also possible for the user receiving the service to receive much more useful information from the photosite by registering the user's products.
However, a system like the above described information processing system only allows the user to access the registration screen by the user's intention, and the user is required to manually input information necessary for the registration. This results in a problem that much time and labor are required for the input operation and hence many products cannot be registered.

Image management apparatus and image management method as well as program and storage medium therefor


In order to prevent a vehicle from running with an inappropriate vehicle height, a vehicle height restoring speed controller determines whether the vehicle is starting or not. When the vehicle is starting, the vehicle height restoring speed controller switches a restoring speed of the vehicle height to a restoring speed for a vehicle's stopped state and not for a vehicle's running state, and provides control so that the vehicle height is swiftly adjusted to a reference vehicle height. This prevents the sustained inappropriate vehicle height, and thereby prevents the resulting hindrance to vehicle running.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a vehicle height adjustment system for adjusting the vehicle height of a vehicle.
2. Description of the Related Art
Large vehicles such as a heavy-duty truck should desirably keep the height of a vehicle body frame (vehicle height) at a predetermined height from an axle (reference vehicle height) irrespective of the weight of loaded cargos, in order to secure a given suspension stroke to provide the ride comfort and to realize efficient reduction in vibrations of a cargo bed. Against this backdrop, these vehicles generally have air suspensions using an air spring as a chassis spring and adjust the vehicle height by controlling supply and discharge of air to/from the air spring.
Operability of the vehicle is further improved with quicker adjustment of the vehicle height to the reference vehicle height. However, such quick adjustment of the vehicle height during vehicle running is likely to disadvantageously affect running stability of the vehicle. To overcome this problem, conventional vehicle height adjustment systems have been designed to improve the running stability of the vehicle by, in a running state of the vehicle, adjusting the vehicle height to the reference vehicle height at a restoring speed slower than that in a stopped state of the vehicle (for example, see the Patent Document 1). That is, such vehicle height adjustment systems have a stop mode for high-speed adjustment of the vehicle height and a running mode for low-speed adjustment of the vehicle height, either of which is activated depending on the vehicle speed.
(Patent Document 1) Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-47837
However, the vehicle height adjustment system having such a structure as the above has its own problem. When the vehicle is started with a vehicle height inappropriate for running, the vehicle goes into the running mode for low-speed adjustment of the vehicle height, and thus the vehicle height inappropriate for running is kept for a long period of time, which probably hinders traveling of the vehicle.


In a particular illustrative embodiment, a method of configuring a network device is disclosed that includes determining network device information at a network device using a boot strapping protocol during an initial set-up process of the network device. The method further includes automatically modifying a configuration profile of the network device to connect to a network in a first device mode using the network device information. The method also includes receiving configuration information transmitted from a configuration server without requesting the configuration information. The configuration information includes routing information and configuration parameters particular to the network device. The method further includes automatically modifying the configuration profile of the network device to operate in a second device mode based on the configuration information. The first device mode is a non-operational mode and the second device mode is an operational mode.

In large networks, multiple network devices are typically configured with various configuration parameters, including Internet Protocol (IP) addresses, security policies, quality of service parameters, and other network information. For example, such network devices may include routers and switches, which may be configured to route media content, including text data, audio data, video data, or any combination thereof. In a particular illustrative example, such network devices may route media content between a content provider and customer premises devices, such as set-top box devices in an Internet Protocol television (IPTV) network. Generally, each network device may include configuration parameters that are common to other network devices (such as subnet and domain information) and may include configuration parameters that are unique to the particular network device (such as a unique IP address).
Conventionally, a network administrator or field technician configured each network device with a full complement of configuration parameters. However, in complex networks, configuring network devices may require thousands of lines of instructions, and manual configuration may result in errors. To enhance manual installations, such configuration parameters may be stored at a configuration server and the configuration parameters can be accessed and installed manually. However, such manual configurations are time consuming.
Alternatively, the network device can be configured to automatically retrieve the configuration parameters from the configuration server. Such conventional server-based procedures for automatically configuring network devices typically use a boot-strap protocol, such as BOOTP, which may be stored in a memory of the network device and which may be executed at the network device to connect to the network. Such network devices may also utilize a trivial file transfer protocol (TFTP) to automatically retrieve the set of configuration parameters from the server when the network device is connected to the network or when the network device is powered on. Unfortunately, such automated download processes generally require that the configuration parameters stored at a central server are up-to-date at the time that the network device is connected to the network. Further, such automated configuration downloads are typically initiated by the network device, which downloads may not be controlled by a service provider, but rather are determined by the install technician. Hence, there is a need for an improved system and method of configuring a network device.

System and method of configuring a network device


A cylinder liner for an internal combustion engine includes a liner body defining a longitudinal axis coated with a coating on the interior surface of the liner body that varies in thickness along the longitudinal axis. The coating on the interior surface is thicker in a region of the interior surface corresponding to a top dead center or a bottom dead center of a piston.

A typical internal combustion engines includes one or more pistons, a cylinder block and one or more cylinder liners. The cylinder liner or sleeve is a cylindrical part that is fitted into cylinder block to form a cylinder. The cylinder liner is a critical component of the engine. The cylinder liner functions as a sliding surface for the piston while retaining the lubricant. It is desirable for cylinder liners to have low friction and high anti-galling properties. Galling is a form of adhesive wear surface damage arising between sliding solids resulting in microscopic, usually localized roughening in the creation of surface distortions. The cylinder liner is under high temperature and high pressure with the piston and piston rings sliding at high speeds. Consequently, it is desirable lower friction coefficient for cylinder liners to have significant heat and wear resistant properties.
Coatings have been developed to provide the cylinder liners with the desirable lower friction coefficients and heat and wear resistant properties. A number of technologies exist for applying the coating and a variety of coating materials may be used. Among the coating technologies that may be used are plasma spraying, high velocity oxygen fuel spraying, laser coating and chemical vapor deposition, and galvanic coating, among others. Materials used for coatings may include ceramics, composites of ceramics and metals (cermet), metal alloys, metal compounds (e.g. titanium oxides), among others. The materials used for coating of cylinder liners are expensive and add considerably to the manufacturing costs of the engines.

Variable thickness coatings for cylinder liners


A system providing multiple virtual screens that are associated with one or more display elements in a server within an "X Window" system environment. Only the server within this environment has knowledge that the multiple virtual screens are not multiple hardware frame buffers that serve one or more display elements. The user of the server may change from one virtual screen to another virtual screen in various ways. Since the "X Window" client process is unaware that there are multiple virtual screens, the client sends data to a screen assuming that it is a separate "X Window" screen. When this data is received, the server displays the data only if the particular virtual screen is currently selected for display.

The "X Window System" is a portable software standard developed at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. It controls the displays of engineering work stations and provides a standard environment to applications software such as page lay-out editors and computer-aided design packages. Applications that use the "X Window System" to operate a workstation display can easily be recompiled and run on a variety of workstations from a variety of computer vendors. The "X Window System" environment has a client process and a server process. The client process typically performs the computations while the server process performs the input/output operations such as graphics display or graphics input. The client and server may be located on the same computer system, however, they may also be located in different computer systems typically connected by a local area network. A server represents the input and output facilities for a single user of the system. A server, in addition to a keyboard and a graphical input device, may have one or more display elements, each of which may have one or more hardware frame buffers wherein each frame buffer maps to a single screen.
If a server has a single display element, the user is limited to the number of windows that can be comfortably operated from such a single display element. If the user wishes to address additional windows in the "X Window System" environment, additional display elements would have to be installed on the server.
Some display servers used with the "X Windows" have multiple hardware frame buffers that serve a single display element. Each of these buffers appears as a separate screen to the "X Window System", and some mechanism is provided to allow the user to switch from displaying one hardware frame buffer to displaying the next.
The "UNIX" operating system sold by the Santa Cruz Operation (SCO) for use on personal computers, allows a limited form of multiple virtual screens for a single display element. In the SCO system, the personal computer keyboard and display can be used to allow multiple users to log-on to the system, or allow a single user to log-on multiple times. By using the function keys on the keyboard of the personal computer, a user can select a new virtual screen which allows the user to log-on again to perform different functions.
There is need in the art for a system which allows multiple virtual screens within the "X Window" environment that would work on a display having a single hardware frame buffer. There is also a need in the art for a system which allows multiple virtual screens within the "X Window" environment that would work on a display having multiple hardware frame buffers. The present invention meets these needs.

Multiple virtual screens on an "X windows" terminal


A data management method is provided. The method includes: dividing each of physical programming units into a data bits area and a spare bits area; generating first data management information corresponding to first data according to a first write command and the first data; determining whether the first data is compressible; and generating first data compression information corresponding to the first data. The method further includes: if the first data is compressible, compressing the first data to generate first compressed data, programming the first compressed data and the first data management information corresponding to the first data into a first data bits area of a first physical programming unit among the physical programming units, and programming the first data compression information into the first spare bits area of the first physical programming unit.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to a data management method, and a memory control circuit unit and a memory storage apparatus using the same.
2. Description of Related Art
The growth of digital cameras, mobile phones, and MP3 players has been rapid in recent years. Consequently, the consumers' demand for storage media has increased tremendously. A rewritable non-volatile memory is one of the most adaptable memories for portable electronic products such as laptop computer due to its data non-volatility, low power consumption, small volume, non-mechanical structure and high read/write speed. A solid state drive (SSD) is a storage apparatus which utilizes a flash memory as its storage medium. For these reasons, the flash memory has become an import part of the electronic industries.
In an example where a control circuit of a flash memory storage apparatus supports compression functions (i.e., functions that compress data stored by a host system and writes the compressed data into a flash memory), if data management information corresponding to the compressed data is also stored into a spare bits area of a physical programming unit already stored with that compressed data, a space of the spare bits area of the physical programming unit stored with the compressed data is reduced accordingly. This reduces a space for storing an error checking and correcting code, and thereby sacrifices an error checking and correcting capability. Therefore, how to effectively manage related information for compressing data has become one of the major subjects for person skilled in the art.
Nothing herein should be construed as an admission of knowledge in the prior art of any portion of the present invention. Furthermore, citation or identification of any document in this application is not an admission that such document is available as prior art to the present invention, or that any reference forms a part of the common general knowledge in the art.

Data management method, memory control circuit unit and memory storage apparatus


A retractable stanchion for supporting a semi-trailer during transport on a deck of a railcar is provided. The stanchion includes a rear guide support assembly, a diagonal support strut coupled to said rear guide support assembly, and a vertical support strut operatively connected to said diagonal support strut. The vertical support strut an outer frame, an inner frame, and a moveable pull-up assembly. The outer frame includes an outer frame first end and an outer frame second end. The outer frame first end is pivotally mounted to the deck of the railcar. The inner frame is coupled to and disposed within the outer frame. The moveable pull-up assembly includes a pull-up assembly first end and a pull-up assembly second end, wherein the pull-up assembly first end is pivotally coupled to and substantially disposed within the inner frame, and wherein the pull-up assembly is configured to be engaged by a tractor hook and moved from an engagement position to a pull position. The pull position facilitates rotating the vertical support strut from a first horizontal retracted position to a second vertical erected position.

This application relates generally to an apparatus for supporting a semi-trailer on a railcar and more particularly, to a retractable stanchion used for supporting a semi-trailer on a deck of a railcar.
At least some known trailer supports, also known as stanchions, are mounted on a railcar deck and are retractable to facilitate loading and/or transportation of various types of storage containers such as, but not limited to, large storage vessels and/or semi-trailers. At least some known retractable stanchions include an engagement portion that is used for moving the retractable stanchion from a horizontal retracted position to a vertical erected position. However, the structure, position, and/or manner in which the engagement portion of the known retractable stanchions is engaged can vary.
At least some known retractable stanchions include an engagement portion that is fixed with respect to an outer frame of the respective stanchion. Therefore, the fixed engagement portion is inhibited from rotation with respect to an outer stanchion frame during an upward movement of the retractable stanchion from a horizontal retracted position to a vertical erected position. Other known retractable stanchions include an engagement portion that is pivotally mounted with respect to an outer stanchion frame. Therefore, similar to the fixed engagement portion, the pivotally mounted engagement portion is also inhibited from rotation with respect to the outer stanchion frame during an upward movement of the retractable stanchion from a horizontal retracted position to a vertical erected position.
These known fixed or pivotally mounted engagement portions may be engaged by manually operated mechanisms and/or machine driven mechanisms to raise the retractable stanchions from a horizontal retracted position to a vertical erected position. For example, a known retractable stanchion may be mounted on a deck of a railcar. The mounted retractable stanchion may initially rest in a horizontal retracted position so that the stanchion will not interfere with a loading of a semi-trailer onto the deck. A tractor and an attached semi-trailer may then be driven up a sloped ramp to move the semi-trailer onto one of a plurality of adjacent railcar decks that may each include a retractable stanchion. Once a semi-trailer kingpin is in predefined loading position, the tractor uses a trailer hook to raise the retractable stanchion to a vertical erected position. The tractor may then transfer the semi-trailer from the tractor to the erected retractable stanchion.
If both the tractor and the semi-trailer are disposed on substantially planar surfaces that are horizontally aligned, then a tractor hook may more easily erect the known retractable stanchions having the conventional fixed or pivotally mounted engagement bar. However, if the tractor is provided on a surface, such as a sloped ramp, lower than a deck top surface in which the semi-trailer is provided, the known retractable stanchion cannot be raised by engaging the conventional fixed or mounted engagement bar because of a vertical displacement of the tractor created by the sloped ramp. Therefore, the vertical displacement between the lower ramp surface and the higher deck surface of the semi-trailer supporting railcar creates a mechanical disadvantage.

Apparatus and method for supporting a semi-trailer on a railcar


An image forming apparatus includes: an image forming apparatus body, a photosensitive member, an intermediate transfer belt, and a developing device placed on a side opposite to the intermediate transfer belt across the photosensitive member and provided with a detachable toner cartridge. The intermediate transfer belt is disposed such that a distance between ends in a height direction is longer than a distance between ends in an anteroposterior direction. At least a part of the photosensitive member is placed between the anteroposterior ends of the intermediate transfer belt. The image forming apparatus body includes an openable section at an upper face side or a front face side thereof to allow the toner cartridge to be attached and detached therethrough and to allow a jam to be fixed therethrough.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as a printer, a copier, or a facsimile apparatus.
2. Description of the Related Art
In an image forming apparatus of this kind, a photosensitive member, a developing device, an intermediate transfer belt, and the like are disposed in an image forming apparatus body. It is known that a device of the rotary type is used as the developing device. Such a developing device has a toner cartridge which houses a toner, and the toner cartridge is detachably disposed.
In any image forming apparatus of the conventional art, however, the device is not laid out so that all user operations such as attachment and detachment of a toner cartridge, a jam process, and replenishment of sheets can be performed only from an upper face side or a front face side. Therefore, such an apparatus has a problem in that the operability is poor.

Image forming apparatus with an openable section at an upper face side or a front face side


The invention relates to a computer readable medium comprising one or more programs for carrying out a method for determining a patient's tooth shade. The method generally includes the steps of generating an image of a patient's tooth wherein the image includes color information representative of the patient's tooth shade; storing color information representative of a plurality of tooth shades; and comparing the color information of the image with the stored tooth shade color information to identify one or more tooth shades having a combined color that corresponds to the patient's tooth shade, and the color information that is obtained may be displayed to identify one or more tooth shades having a combined color corresponding to the determined tooth color. Preferably, the displayed data includes RGB chromaticities of the color image, and the patient's tooth color is determined by averaging the color information at selected locations of the image which correspond to different spatial locations of the patient's tooth. If desired, the color information of the patient's tooth can be electronically stored for use at a later time.

In dentistry, there has been a shift in recent years from a philosophy of drilling and filling to one of prevention and cosmetics. By way of example, many people today are choosing to have clinical procedures done to enhance their smile and appearance. Most of these procedures involve the modification of tooth shape, alignment, and/or color.
The use of intraoral video and/or imaging systems (hereinafter "intraoral camera system") has grown rapidly in dentistry over the past few years. Such systems are widely utilized in "show and tell" settings, i.e., where the dentist can show and illustrate particular features of a patient's mouth. These intraoral camera systems are rapidly becoming key complex diagnostic and treatment planning. Presently, approximately 30% of the practicing dentists in the age group between about 35-54 own and utilize intraoral camera systems. It is expected that that percentage will only increase with increased familiarity. See Dental Procedures Report, pgs. 22-24, February 1995.
A necessary step in altering a patient's tooth color is to determine the "shade" of the existing tooth. For example, those persons seeking a whiter, brighter smile are still assessed to establish their existing tooth color so that an appropriate before and after comparison can be made. Shade determination is even more important for those persons seeking reconstructive work, since one goal of the reconstructive process is to achieve a natural appearance. Therefore, it is important to know the existing tooth shade so that it can be accurately matched with the new restoration.
The dental profession utilizes standardized shade guides created by those companies which manufacture the reconstructive materials. One well-known shade guide is the Vita™ shade guide, which includes sixteen different shades. Other, less popular shade guides include those guides provided by Bioform™ and SR-Vivadent™.
These shade guides are utilized in a rudimentary fashion. The guide itself is a plastic plate with a plurality of removable color tabs that are shaped like a tooth, e.g., the front tooth. Typically, to assess a patient's tooth shade, a dentist removes one of the colored tabs and holds it up to the patient's tooth so that she can "eyeball" the closest match possible. Understandably, there are many variables to this method, some of which stem from the subjectivity of the dentist making the eyeball assessment.
Once the tooth shade is determined, the information is used relative to the particular procedure needed. In bonding or filling a tooth, for example, the composite materials required for the restoration are specified within the range of the shade guide, e.g., one of sixteen shades for the Vita™ range. More particularly, if a crown, bridge or denture is needed, the patient's shade must be determined and communicated correctly to the lab that make the crown, bridge or denture.
The communication of shade information between the dentist and the lab is extremely important. Often, there is a break-down or failure in this communication, resulting in a poor shade match for the patient. In some cases, a particular dentist utilizes an uncommon shade guide, thereby leaving the lab technician to eyeball and convert the shade information to a Vita standard shade (since porcelain is often made from the Vita™ shade guide). This too can result in improper shade matching.
The process for selecting the porcelain for a particular tooth shade illustrates the difficulty in assessing and manufacturing the correct color match. If, for example, a crown of Vita™ shade A3 is desired, porcelain is built by hand with a paint brush onto a model of the tooth to be restored. The porcelain is built in layers on the model to achieve translucency and natural appearance. Each layer has a particular color and intensity associated with it. To generate shade A3, the technician follows a "recipe" that is given by the manufacturer Vident™, requiring a different shade for each layer of porcelain applied. If a doctor asks for a shade that is not a Vita™ standard shade, the technician typically seeks to achieve that shade by combining different porcelain shade combinations together, to increase or decrease the chroma, hue and value of the shade.
To further complicate the color-matching process, some dentists are simply not skilled in taking and determining shade information. Therefore, these dentists sometimes send their patients directly to the lab where the technician can determine the shade information. Alternatively, these dentists sometimes have a technician come to their office. In either event, there is, at times, one more level of subjective uncertainty injected into the correct match and determination of a patient's tooth shade. Thus, there is a need for more improvements in this area.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


A method of manufacturing an enhancement type semiconductor probe and an information storage device having the enhancement type semiconductor probe are provided. The method involves using an anisotropic wet etching and a side-wall in which influence of process parameters upon the performance of a device is reduced to improve reliability of the device in mass-production, and factors of degrading measuring sensitivity is removed to improve the performance of the device.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method of manufacturing an enhancement type semiconductor probe and an information storage device having the enhancement type semiconductor probe using the same method.
More particularly, the present invention relates to a method of manufacturing an enhancement type semiconductor probe using an anisotropic wet etching and a side-wall. In the method, influence of process parameters upon the performance of a device is reduced to improve reliability of the device in mass-production, and factors of degrading measuring sensitivity is removed to improve the performance of the device.
Further, the present invention relates to an information storage device having the enhancement type semiconductor probe using the same method.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Recently, ferroelectric materials have been used in many applications. To read-out information stored in the ferroelectric materials, various devices have been studied and developed. As compared to other detector devices, a resistant probe shows high sensitivity and resolution and is very convenient in utilization.
However, a presently used process of manufacturing a device has a high possibility of changing in device performance according to process parameters, and has a problem in that the performance of the probe is degraded below a level projected for the reason to be described later. Thus, as regards future development of a probe in consideration of commercialization thereof, it needs a process method having higher sensitivity and resolution and being lightly influenced by the process parameters.
Hereinafter, a related art method of manufacturing a semiconductor probe and problems thereof will now be explained in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
FIGS. 1A to 1J are sectional process views illustrating a related art method of manufacturing a semiconductor probe having a resistance tip.
First, as shown in FIG. 1A, a mask layer 13 such as a silicon oxide or a silicon nitride is formed on the surface of a silicon substrate 11 or a silicon on insulator (SOI) substrate, doped with first impurities, a photosensitive agent 15 is applied thereon, and a stripe type mask 18 is placed thereon.
Next, exposure, shaping and etching are performed to carry out patterning. Through the photolithography and etching, as shown in FIG. 1B, a stripe type mask layer 13a is formed on the substrate 11, and an area other than the mask layer 13a is highly doped with second impurities to form first and second semiconductor electrode regions 12 and 14.
Next, annealing is performed to reduce a width between the first and second semiconductor electrode regions 12 and 14 below a width of the mask layer 13a. As shown in FIG. 1C, when the heavily-doped regions 12 and 14 of the second impurities are enlarged, the second impurities are diffused into a region adjacent to the heavily-doped regions to form a lightly-doped region of the second impurities. That is, resistance regions 16 are formed. The resistance regions 16 under the mask layer 13a are in contact with each other to form a peak-formation portion of a resistance tip.
Next, a photosensitive agent 19 is applied onto the upper face of the substrate 11 to cover the mask layer 13a and, as shown in FIG. 1D, a stripe type photo mask 20 is placed thereon so as to be crossed at a right angle with the mask layer 13a. Then, the exposure, development and etching are performed to form a photosensitive layer 19a having the same type as the photo mask 20 (See FIG. 1E).
Next, the mask layer 13a that is not covered with the stripe type photosensitive layer 19a is dry-etched to form a rectangular mask layer 13b (See FIG. 1F).
Then, as shown in FIG. 1G, the photosensitive layer 19a is removed and the substrate 11 is wet or dry-etched using the rectangular mask layer 13b as a mask to thereby locate the first and second semiconductor electrode regions 12 and 14 on an inclined face of a tip 10 and to arrange the resistance regions 16 as a peak portion of a tip (See FIG. 1H).
Next, when the substrate 11 is annealed under an oxygen atmosphere after the mask layer 13b is removed, a silicon oxide (not shown) having a certain thickness is formed on the substrate 11. When the oxide is removed, the end point of the resistance regions 16 are sharpened. Then, through performing a thermal oxidation process, the isolated resistance regions 16 can be overlapped together with sharpening of the tip.
Next, as shown in FIG. 1I, a dielectric layer 30 is deposited on the substrate 11 to cover the resistance tip 10. Then, the dielectric layer 30 on the tip 10 is planarized by a chemical-mechanical polishing (CMP). A metal is deposited on the dielectric layer 30 to form a metal shield 32. Next, the metal is removed from a region facing against the resistance regions 16 through a patterning process to form an opening 33 having a certain size on the metal shield 32.
Next, as shown in FIG. 1J, the substrate 11 is etched on its lower face to form a cantilever 40 such that the resistance tip 10 is positioned at its distal end, and the first and second semiconductor electrode regions 12 and 14 are connected to an electrode pad 54 isolated by an insulating layer 52 on the substrate 11, thereby forming a semiconductor probe. Then, an electrode pad 64 for ground voltage is formed on the metal shield 32.
As described above, in the related art method of manufacturing the semiconductor probe having the resistance tip, a pyramid type probe is formed using a mask of a few μm and an isotropic wet etching. In this method, the device performance is greatly varied according to a change in a position and a size of the mask. That is, there are some process parameters in an attempt to make a sharp point of the probe at an exact position using a large mask. The related art method depending on the process parameters as such has a great limit on manufacturing and using a probe commercially. Thus, a factor in reliable manufacturing of a device may be the provision of a mask and an etching method which are comparatively free from the process parameters of the related art. In addition, to this end, a small mask is used from the beginning in manufacturing a device so as to reduce an error factor.
Table 1 below shows the simulation results of the probe sensitivities with respect to mask widths, with 4 μm being the desired mask width.
TABLE 1Mask Width4 μm4.02 μm4.1 μmSensitivity0.031%0.02%0.017%
In Table 1, it can be seen that even upon the occurrence of an error in the order of 0.5% from a size intended, the sensitivity is reduced by approximately 30%. The presence of the process parameter affecting the device performance as such places a great limit on the future commercialization of a device, so that such problem should be solved.
Beside the above problem, when the device sensitivity is lower than that intended it causes many possible problems because it results in degradation in performance and the like. It can be analyzed that a cause of such degradation in performance is because source/drain regions that are heavily doped in the process of wet etching are etched and remain as a lightly doped region, so that resistance of the source/drain regions having a large size hardly increases the total current by distribution of electric charges.
The above device can be modeled like in FIG. 2. The model includes resistance Rm, Rs, Rd, R1 and R2. In FIG. 2, since resistances Rs, Rd of the source/drain regions is very large, upon the connection of a voltage source to both ends thereof, variation in total current hardly occurs even upon the occurrence of variation in resistance Rm of the probe tip. In addition, since resistance Rm of the region practically detecting electric charges is much greater than R1 below, most of the current flows to the R1 region so that Rm has little influence on the total current. Thus, to achieve higher device sensitivity, it is required to make Rm much greater than R1 and to make resistances of the source/drain regions reduced.

Method of manufacturing enhancement type semiconductor probe and information storage device having the semiconductor probe using the same

Seoul National University Industry Foundation


A vertical cavity surface emitting laser that includes: a substrate; a first semiconductor multilayer reflector that is a first conductive type and formed on the substrate; an active region formed on the first semiconductor multilayer reflector; a second semiconductor multilayer reflector that is a second conductive type and formed on the active region; a current narrowing layer that is located between the first and second semiconductor multilayer reflectors, and in that a conductive region which has anisotropy in a long side direction and a short side direction within the surface which is parallel to a principal surface of the substrate is formed; and a convex lens member that is formed in a beam window which emits a light on the second multilayer reflector, and that has anisotropy in a long side direction and a short side direction within a surface which is parallel to the principal surface of the substrate.

(i) Technical Field
The present invention relates to a vertical cavity surface emitting laser, a vertical cavity surface emitting laser device, an optical transmission device, and an information processing apparatus.
(ii) Related Art
A vertical cavity surface emitting laser (VCSEL) is used as a light source in a communication device and an image forming apparatus. In an exemplary selective oxidation type vertical cavity surface emitting laser, a current narrowing layer on which an oxidized aperture is formed by a selective oxidation process is located in a vertical resonator structure. The oxidized aperture has a function to narrow a current injected from an electrode, and inject a high density current to the inside of an active region. In addition, the oxidized aperture has a function to confine a light generated in the active region to a light emitting center with a refractive index difference between the inside and the outside of the oxidized aperture. Furthermore, the oxidized aperture controls a polarization plane of a laser beam to the long axis direction of the oxidized aperture by forming the planar shape of the oxidized aperture to an ellipsoidal shape in a substrate surface which is perpendicular to the optical axis.

Vertical cavity surface emitting laser, vertical cavity surface emitting laser device, optical transmission device, and information processing apparatus


A system for cleaning a container such as semiconductor wafer carrier includes a housing, a cleaning unit in the housing, an analyzing unit within the housing, and a vacuum unit within the housing. The cleaning unit comprises a cleaning chamber, and is configured to spray a cleaning medium into the container in the cleaning chamber and dry the container. The analyzing unit is configured to analyze air inside the container coming out of the cleaning chamber, and provide a testing result for each ingredient of possible airborne molecular contamination (AMC) and humidity. The vacuum unit comprises a vacuum chamber configured to apply vacuum onto a container when the testing result for an ingredient is higher than a respective threshold.

Multiple wafers are typically stored and transported together in batches by a wafer carrier throughout a semiconductor fabrication facility ("fab") between the loadports of different wafer processing tools or equipment. Such tools generally perform various photolithography, etching, material/film deposition, curing, annealing, inspection, or other processes used in IC chip manufacturing. One such wafer carrier is a front opening unified pod (FOUP) which is a plastic enclosure designed to hold a plurality of wafers ranging from 300 mm to 450 mm sizes in a controlled environment. Typically, each wafer carrier holds approximately 25 wafers. The individual wafers are stacked vertically in the FOUP and stored in a wafer support frame having multiple separate wafer shelves or slots.

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.


Visual thermal functional textile clothing designs are created using a programmed computer and advanced computing techniques. The computer is supplied with information from a number of databases relating to human body properties and relating to textile material characteristics. The method is used to generate functional designs that are visually displayed for use by a textile designer or engineer.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to digitized thermal functional design of textiles and clothing.
2. Description of Prior Art
The invention relates more particularly to the development of using computer technology to provide designs and design data for use in preparing and assessing suitable textiles for human apparel taking into account various thermal characteristics of the human body and available textile materials. Objective matching of those characteristics could enable articles of clothing and textiles to be created and designed. In this respect, data has already been amassed about such characteristics but has not been applied comprehensively with digitized modeling of the thermal physiology of the human body and heat and moisture transfer of the material, in a manner that can be practically applied by textile clothing designers, engineers and scientists.

Digitized thermal functional design of textiles and clothing


A method and system is disclosed for an improved charge pump system. The system comprises one or more charge pump devices for providing an output voltage, a ring oscillator coupled with the charge pump devices for providing an oscillator output, and a multiple level detection device for detecting the output voltage and controlling the charge pump for stabilizing the output voltage.

The present invention relates generally to an integrated circuit (IC) design, and more particularly to a system for smoothing the output voltage level of a charge pump circuit to optimize power management and improve data integrity.
Charge pump circuits are generally used for generating higher voltages from low voltage inputs. It is typically used for providing a steady level of output voltage. The provision of these higher voltages is critical in many low voltage applications such as notebook PCs, mobile phone cables and mobile phone display panels. It is commonly used to improve power efficiency in battery powered applications.
A conventional charge pump circuit is typically comprised of a charge pump device, a level detection device, and a ring oscillator. They are placed in a feedback loop configuration. A level detection device is designed to monitor the output of the charge pump circuit to determine when the ring oscillator and the charge pump device need work together to generate an internal voltage output.
However, with only one charge pump device and one fixed frequency ring oscillator, the conventional charge pump circuit is designed to provide the same supply current irrespective of the load. For such a charge pump circuit with a constant drivability, the circuit has to supply the largest output current to sustain the current demand for the worst case. This can be a problem during standby conditions or low loading cases since the current may overshoot, thereby causing not only significant voltage level bouncing but also corruption to data integrity.
Therefore, it is desirable to design a new charge pump that can reduce the unnecessary power consumption caused by standby or low loading conditions while improving the data integrity by suppressing the bouncing of voltage level generated from the charge pump.

Charge pump system with smooth voltage output


The invention relates to a level shifter comprising an input stage having a parasitic capacitance and a first input terminal for applying an input signal, a limiter stage having a second input terminal for applying a switching signal, wherein said input stage is coupled between a first supply terminal and said limiter stage, an output stage being coupled between a second supply terminal and said limiter stage and providing an output signal which is a level shifted version of said input signal, and a current source being adapted for injecting a current pulse into said parasitic capacitance dependent on variations of said switching signal over time.

Especially in high voltage systems, it is often necessary to transfer information in the form of electric signals, from a low side to a high side of an electric circuit, where in the low side of the circuit signals are related to a first electric potential (e.g., ground potential) and in the high side of the circuit signals are related to a second electric potential (e.g., a floating reference potential). One example is a high side semiconductor switch whose switching state is to be controlled by a control signal. The voltage level of the control signal in this case is not related to a fixed potential (further referred to as ground potential, but not limited to a ground potential), but with respect to the potential of a circuit-node common to the switch and the load. That is, the voltage level of the control signal is related to a floating reference potential that depends on the switching state of the high side semiconductor switch.
Critical parameters for level-shifters are power consumption, delay time, and noise robustness. In view of power consumption DC level-shifters can be very efficient, because power is only dissipated during switching operation of the level shifter, i.e., during the transmission from one logic level to another logic level. Concerning noise robustness it is expected that level-shifters do not erroneously change their state due to noise and parasitic inductive or capacitive coupling (i.e., cross-talk).
Level shifters of this kind conventionally have an input stage receiving an input signal to be level-shifted, a limiter stage receiving a floating reference potential which usually is the potential of the switched circuit-note mentioned above, and an output stage providing an output signal which is substantially a level-shifted (or inverted and level-shifted) version of the input signal.
The delay between the input and the output signal caused by the level-shifter is due to the charging and the discharging of parasitic capacitors in the input stage. The capacitance values of these parasitic capacitors can not directly be influenced by circuit design.


Tread for heavy-vehicle tires with radial carcass having at least one cirferential groove (1) in the form of a broken line and wide transverse grooves (2) in the form of a broken line defining blocks, the wide transverse grooves (2) having walls of constant and symmetrical inclination over a median zone (6) extending on both sides of the median plane over a width of between 40% and 75% of the width of the tread and having, beyond said median zone and up to the edges, walls of variable and asymmetrical inclination as well as two circumferential narrow side grooves (5) located at a distance from the edges not exceeding 1/3 of the width of the tread and having a depth of between 10% and 70% of the depth of the transverse grooves.

The present invention relates to a tread for heavy-duty radial carcass tires, in particular for heavy vehicles intended to travel both on the highway and on different terrains.
Experience shows that the treads of radial tires for heavy vehicles intended for mixed road/construction-site travel are subject, due to the severe constraints to which they are subjected, on the one hand to extensive wear of the side zones which takes the form of a breakdown of the edges of the tread and, on the other hand, an abnormal saw-tooth wear. These two types of wear are particularly substantial on the treads of tires mounted on the drive axles of the vehicle, whether in individual or in twin mounting.
These two types of wears are greater when the tread essentially comprises individual blocks which produce better adherence to movable soil to the detriment of accelerated wear on the highway.
In order to reduce abnormal wear of a tread formed of individual blocks separated by grooves from each other, it has been proposed in British Patent Application 2 008 043 to arrange bridges of rubber in the side transverse grooves provided with a fine incision, and this on both sides of a narrow circumferential groove of the same depth as the two wide circumferential grooves separating two adjacent blocks in the transverse direction.
Such a solution, to be sure, results in a gain in wear due to the bridge effect which takes place between the blocks in the area of contact with the ground but to the detriment of the adherence on diversified terrain, and this without preventing a rather rapid breakdown of the edges of the tread.

Tread for radial carcass tires for heavy vehicles

Compagnie Generale des Etablissements Michelin - Michelin & Cie


Provided are an apparatus and method for manufacturing a spiral duct in which straight connection parts are integrally formed with both ends of a curved duct. Further provided are an apparatus and method for manufacturing a spiral duct capable of improving cutting quality of a metal band and precisely and securely coupling bent parts of edges of the metal band. The apparatus comprises a cutting roll to cut a metal band into two parts, the cutting roll having a horizontal rotation angle that can be varied to cut along a straight or a waved line in order to form a duct having straight and curved parts, and in order to adjust a diameter of the duct. In addition, the apparatus includes rolls for forming bent parts at edges of the cut metal bands, and for winding and seaming edges of the metal bands to form ducts.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for manufacturing a spiral duct, and more particularly, to an apparatus and method for manufacturing a spiral duct capable of readily manufacturing a spiral duct in which straight connection parts are integrally formed with both ends of a curved duct, and securely coupling a bent part formed at a straight edge with a bent part formed at a waved part to prevent generation of inferior products by smoothly cutting a metal band along a waved line in its longitudinal direction.
2. Description of the Prior Art
A curved duct in which a band-shaped metal plate is wound in a spiral shape, and side edges of the metal plate are hooked and coupled to each other is disclosed in several prior arts.
However, in the prior arts, since the metal band is continuously cut to form large width parts and small width parts and then residual parts are discarded, the metal band is wasted.
In order to prevent waste of the material, Korean Patent Laid-open Publication No. 1990-17678 discloses "METAL BAND FOR MANUFACTURING SPIRAL DUCT", as shown in FIG. 1.
Specifically, a single sheet of metal band is cut into two metal bands, each of which has large width parts and small width parts, which are alternately formed in its longitudinal direction. That is, each of the metal bands has one straight side edge and the other waved side edge, thereby minimizing waste of the metal band.
Using one of the two metal bands, a dual bent part is formed at the straight side edge and a single bent part is formed at the waved side edge along the entire length in an upright posture. The metal band is wound in a spiral manner, and simultaneously, the large width part is positioned at an outer curved part and the small width part is positioned at an inner curved part. Next the single bent part and the dual bent part, which are adjacent to each other, are sequentially inserted and then pressed to complete the curved duct.
FIG. 2 shows a conventional apparatus for manufacturing a curved duct.
As shown, a metal band 3 is extracted between first forming rollers 11 of the apparatus for manufacturing a curved duct to form two L-shaped bent parts 4 at both side edges of the metal band 3.
Next, the L-shaped bent parts 4 are bent again by a pair of upper and lower forming rollers 14 disposed in front of the first rollers 11 to form approximately C-shaped dual bent parts 5.
Then, as shown in FIG. 3, the metal band 3 having the dual bent parts 5 is cut and divided by a female roller 18 having a waved groove 17 formed at its outer periphery and the same diameter as the curved duct, and a male roller 20 having a waved blade 19 corresponding to the waved groove 17.
In addition, at the same time the metal band 3 is cut, both cut edges are pushed into the groove 17 by the blade 19 to form L-shapes, thereby forming a pair of single bent part 6.
Further, as shown in FIG. 4, the single bent parts 6 of the two metal bands 2 are bent toward the dual bent parts 5 by an upper support roller 21 disposed in the front, and a third lower forming roller 25 having an approximately diamond shape and axially supported by a bearing 24 of a slider 23 slidably inserted into a horizontal guide shaft 22.
As described above, the conventional apparatus for manufacturing a curved duct includes the male roller 20 having the waved blade 19 formed at its outer periphery, and the female roller 18 having the waved groove 17 corresponding to the waved blade 19, to thereby cut a metal band between the waved blade 19 and the waved groove 17.
In addition, as shown in FIG. 5, the spirally wound metal band is manufactured by contacting the waved edge with the straight edge, and pressing forward by a reciprocating roller 36 such that the reciprocating roller 36 moves backward at a convex part of the waved edge and moves forward at a concave part of the waved edge, thereby automatically coupling the dual bent part 5 with the single bent part 6.
However, when the metal band is cut by the roller having the blade or the groove formed at its outer surface, it is not possible to cut a metal band having a predetermined length of straight part. As a result, it is difficult to manufacture a duct in which straight connection ducts are integrally formed with both ends of a curved duct.
In addition, when the metal band is cut by the roller having the blade or the groove formed at its outer surface, the cut part may be readily rough, and thus, it is difficult to precisely form the single bent part and securely couple the single bent part with the dual bent part.

Apparatus and method for manufacturing spiral duct


A tubular endoprosthesis including a polymeric material is disclosed. The endoprosthesis has a collapsed position that can be reverted to a first expanded position larger than the collapsed position by heating to a first temperature subsequent to insertion of the endoprosthesis into a cavity or lumen in a mammal. The endoprosthesis can be further expanded to a second expanded position within the cavity or lumen.

The body includes various passageways such as arteries, other blood vessels, and other body lumens. These passageways sometimes become occluded or weakened. For example, the passageways can be occluded by a tumor, restricted by plaque, or weakened by an aneurysm. When this occurs, the passageway can be reopened or reinforced, or even replaced, with a medical endoprosthesis. An endoprosthesis is typically a tubular member that is placed in a lumen in the body. Examples of endoprosthesis include stents and covered stents, sometimes called "stent-grafts".
An endoprosthesis can be delivered inside the body by a catheter that supports the endoprosthesis in a compacted or reduced-size form as the endoprosthesis is transported to a desired site. Upon reaching the site, the endoprosthesis is expanded, for example, so that it can contact the walls of the lumen.
In some cases, passageways can become re-occluded, a phenomenon often called "restenosis." After restenosis, often another endoprosthesis is deployed within the first endoprosthesis to re-open the passageway.

Implantable medical devices, and methods of delivering the same


A pair of combined accumulator and control devices for interconnected suspension units having a simplified construction and wherein unequal displacement of fluid from the associated suspension units will cause an increase in the effective damping of the suspension unit having the greatest fluid displacement.

This invention relates to a suspension system and more particularly to an improved control arrangement for a vehicle suspension system wherein the suspension travel of two of the wheels is interrelated to each other.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,486,018 issued Jan. 23, 1996, shows a suspension system for vehicles wherein individual shock absorbing arrangements located at each wheel control the damping of that wheel. Pairs or more of these shock absorbers are, however, interrelated by means of an accumulator and flow control arrangement so as to provide an increase in the stiffness of the suspension system to control such things as pitch and/or roll.
This system utilizes a pair of accumulators, preferably formed by concentric portions of a floating piston assembly, that experience equal displacement when the same direction of loading and the same magnitude is applied to the two interrelated wheels. However, if one damping unit moves in one direction, and the other moves in the other, as is caused by either roll in the case of interconnected side units, or pitch, in the case of interconnected front and rear units, then the damping stiffens and these roll and/or pitch conditions can be controlled. A damping arrangement is provided for controlling the flow between the two chambers externally of the individual interconnected shock absorbers under this condition. This damping arrangement comes into effect when there tends to be unequal or opposite directions of fluid displacement.
Although the devices shown in that patent are quite effective, many of them embody relatively complicated structures that require the accumulator housing to be formed in principal part from a main casting. This adds considerably to the weight and cost of the system. In addition, the structures shown require considerable machining to accommodate the various piston and piston areas.
It is, therefore, a principal object of this invention to provide an improved accumulator and flow control arrangement of this general type.
It is a further object of this invention to provide an improved accumulator and flow control system for a vehicle suspension system that is relatively low in cost and light in weight.
Many of the embodiments disclosed in the aforenoted patent also have only fixed orifices that control the interrelation between the two suspension units. It is, however, desirable to be able to fine tune the system upon installation in the vehicle.
It is, therefore, a still further object of this invention to provide an improved accumulator and flow control device of this general type that embodies a simple yet easily yet externally adjusted damping arrangement.


A temperature control apparatus used with an audio amp to prevent the audio amp from overheating and noise from being generated by effectively controlling a cooling fan of the audio amp includes a power supply to supply an electrical power, a power amp to amplify an input audio signal using the electrical power supplied from the power supply, a signal detector to detect the amount of the current flowing from the power supply during a predetermined time, a temperature sensor to sense a temperature over a predetermined level generated from the power amp, and a micro controller to control a cooling fan according to the amount of current output from the signal detector and/or the temperature sensed by the temperature sensor.

1. Field of the Invention
The present general inventive concept relates to an audio amp system, and more particularly, to a temperature control apparatus used with an audio amp to prevent the audio amp from overheating and generating noise by effectively controlling a cooling fan of an audio amp system.
2. Description of the Related Art
Commonly, an audio amp amplifies an audio signal to a power signal having a predetermined level. At this time, when an audio output power is high, heat is generated in the audio amp. The heat generated in the audio amp badly affects internal circuits and, in a severe case, may cause a malfunction of the audio amp and a security problem. In an audio system, a cooling fan is used to prevent the audio amp from overheating. However, when the cooling fan operates, considerable noise is generated, and eventually, entire sound quality is deteriorated.
To solve these problems, a cooling fan control strategy for an audio amp in a conventional overheat prevention system is disclosed in U.S. Publication No. 2003/0138115 A1 (U.S. patent application. Ser. No. 10/034,049, filed on Dec. 27, 2001).
FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a conventional temperature control apparatus of an audio amp.
Referring to FIG. 1, a power supply 110 supplies power to a power amp 120 and other blocks. If an audio signal is input to the power amp 120, the power amp 120 operates normally. If a level of the audio signal is maintained high for a predetermined time, an internal temperature of the power amp 120 becomes high.
When the temperature is over a predetermined level, a temperature sensor 130 attached to the power amp 120 transmits an overheating signal to a micro controller 140 or a cooling fan driver 150.
The micro controller 140 or the cooling fan driver 150 drives a cooling fan 160 to prevent the audio amp from overheating. When the cooling fan 160 operates, air ventilates an inside of the audio amp, the internal temperature of the power amp 120 becomes low, and the overheating is prevented.
However, a process of the temperature sensor 130 to detect the overheating of the power amp 120 and transmit the overheating signal to the micro controller 140 is too slow and not precise. Also, when the temperature sensor 130 transmits the overheating signal to the micro controller 140, the audio amp 120 has already malfunctioned or sound quality has dramatically been deteriorated due to distortion of output signals of the audio amp 120.
Besides the overheat prevention system of the audio amp shown in FIG. 1, there is a cooling fan control method using a level of a volume. In this method, a cooling fan always rotates whenever the level of the volume is high even if speakers are not connected to an audio amp. However, since overheating is not generated no matter how high the volume may be if the speakers are not connected to the audio amp, it is unnecessary to operate the cooling fan. Also, even though the speakers are connected to the audio amp, since the generated heat capacity varies according to the number of connected speakers, it is difficult to precisely control the cooling fan.

Apparatus to control temperature of audio amp