The present invention relates to a method for optimizing the use of client capacity when providing information contents to a user. First, two modes of navigation of the client are defined: a first, continuous navigation mode, characterized by restricted movement among the contents, and a second, discontinuous mode, characterized by unrestricted movement among the contents. Then it is determined which mode of navigation the user is currently using, and the utilization of client capacity is adapted based on the currently used mode of navigation. In the first mode of navigation, user action can be more easily anticipated, and the client capacity can be used for improving the ongoing media consumption. In the second mode of navigation, user action is more difficult to predict, and client capacity may be needed for handling unexpected actions.

With increasingly advanced software applications, it becomes increasingly important to optimize the utilization of client capacity, including for example memory capacity, processing capacity, interface capacity etc.
Consider for example a user requesting a complex calculation. If the processor at this time is occupied with updating the graphical interface, or communicating with the network, the calculation might be delayed. When such delays become noticeable to the user, the application is regarded as slow.
Also, consider a user navigating in e.g. a map, requesting information about sites on the map. In order to deliver results fast enough, the application will require a large amount of virtual memory, as the user is free to click anywhere on the map.
Another significant example is caching, especially when the bandwidth is limited. The definition of limited bandwidth depends on the media. For example, video sent over Internet today has limitations, while text is practically without limits, as the download time is usually negligible compared to the time required reading it. Even though the main focus in this text is on mobile devices like phones or PDAs the same techniques could be used at higher bandwidths for other types of media.
There are basically three techniques for caching media content accessed over a data network, e.g. the Internet, on a handheld device.
1) Package Download.
An example of this approach is the AvantGo system, applicable for example with a Palm Pilot device.
The user downloads and stores (caches) a package comprising several media clips, and then navigates among these clips. No Internet connection is required during consumption, as the entire package, with all its media contents, is downloaded and stored in the handheld device. On the other hand, the media experience will be limited to the contents of the downloaded package. It is costly to include extensive media contents, especially if the download is over a mobile communication link.
2) Streaming.
The user receives a continuous stream of media, equivalent to listening to a CD or a radio station. In this case, the client is adapted to download one single media clip, and playback this clip during download.
The simultaneous playback and download is accomplished by caching in the clients memory, and requires an uninterrupted internet connection, preferably a wide band connection. The user has limited ways to control the media experience, at best a one dimensional navigation, i.e. stop, play, back and fast forward.
3) Web Browser Caching
Although primarily used in stationary clients (workstations), web browsing may be implemented in for example a WAP-telephone or a GPRS- or UMTS-device, connected continuously to a network.
While providing the user with a dynamic media experience, browsing has the drawback that contents are only downloaded and cached when the user request them, leading to disturbing delays. An accessed web page (including media files like pictures) will normally be saved on the client for a specified time in order to speed up future access to the same web page. This does not, however, address the problem of delays when requesting new information.
It is clear from the above that an increased dynamics in the media experience (free browsing) is gained only to the price of a unsatisfactory caching procedure, where the caching is always one step behind the user. On the contrary, access without caching interruptions, e.g. wide band streaming or AvantGo type package systems, gives little, if any, dynamics in the media experience. Prior art gives no solution to the problem of providing a satisfying media experience, without regular interruption by caching.
The intelligent download concept, described by the applicant in EP 00850148.8, overcomes the above problem by downloading media contents surrounding the user's current location in a media package structure. Thereby, the user will find himself surrounded by cached media contents, with practically no access time delay. However, when this "dynamic" caching is implemented, there is a problem regarding how to select the media contents to be cached in an optimal way. The client memory is normally restricted, and more importantly, the time required to download the media contents must be inferior to the time required by the user to consume the current article, video clip etc. In order for dynamic caching to be satisfactory, it is necessary to in some way predict the actions of the user. This can be done quite successfully as long as the user remains restricted by the media package structure, but for a satisfying media experience, it is not desired to have the user restricted in this way.

Method for optimizing utilization of client capacity


A porous ceramic honeycomb filter manufactured from an oxide-based ceramic material having a pore size distribution with d1≧7.0 microns. Preferably, the oxide-based material is cordierite or aluminum titanate. Alternatively, the filter contains a cordierite-containing ceramic body with a narrow pore size distribution with db≦1.00, wherein db=(d90−d10)/d50. Also disclosed is a batch mixture, method and honeycomb green body made from mixture of inorganic source materials selected from the group of magnesia sources, alumina sources, and silica sources, and a pore former having a narrow particle size distribution with dps≦0.90, wherein dps={(dp90−dp10)/dp50}. The pore former is preferably selected from a group consisting of canna starch, sago palm starch, green mung bean starch, and single-mode potato starch.

Recently much interest has been directed towards diesel engines due to their inherent fuel efficiency and durability. However, diesel emissions have come under attack both in the United States and Europe, as being generally undesirable. As such, stricter environmental regulations will require diesel engines to meet higher emissions standards. Therefore, diesel engine manufacturers and emission-control companies are working to achieve diesel engines that are cleaner and meet the most stringent emission requirements under all operating conditions with minimal cost to the consumer.
One of the biggest challenges in lowering diesel emissions is controlling the levels of particulates present in the diesel exhaust stream. Diesel particulates are mainly composed of carbon soot. One way of removing such soot from diesel exhausts is through use of diesel filters. The most widely-used diesel filter is a diesel particulate filter (sometimes referred to as a "wall flow filter") which filters the diesel exhaust by capturing the soot on or in its porous walls. The diesel particulate filter is designed to provide excellent soot filtration without significantly hindering the exhaust flow, i.e., without creating significant unwanted back pressure.
Within the industry, Silicon Carbide (SiC) has been used for certain diesel particulate filters. However, SiC is expensive, heavy and has a relatively high coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE). Thus, the use of SiC materials in diesel particulate filters requires expensive multi-component designs (sometimes referred to as segmented designs) to overcome the material's high CTE. Accordingly, single component designs and designs utilizing generally less expensive cordierite materials are sought.
Generally, diesel particulate filters include alternate cell channels plugged on opposite faces to force the engine exhaust gas to pass through the porous walls of the filter. Such filters typically include a catalyst coating, such as an oxidation catalyst, on their surface. Various particulate filters are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,329,162; 4,390,355; 4,416,676; 4,509,966; and 4,840,827, for example.
As the layer of soot collects on the surfaces of the inlet channels of the particulate filter, the lower permeability of the soot layer causes a gradual rise in the back pressure of the filter against the engine (soot loaded back pressure), causing the engine to work harder. Once the soot in the filter has accumulated to some level, the filter must be regenerated by burning out the soot, thereby restoring the back pressure again to lower levels. However, the coated filter (and coated back pressure drop) sets the floor for how "low" the back pressure can be made to be. Thus, it should be recognized that wash coating of the filter raises the back pressure as compared to an uncoated filter. Moreover, it should also be recognized that the contribution of the uncoated filter to the overall back pressure is not insignificant.
Thus, it should be recognized that a significant problem associated with diesel particulate filters is backpressure. Moreover, the coated pressure drop may exceed the uncoated pressure drop by a significant margin. Thus, it would be considered a significant advancement to obtain a particulate filter which has lower wash-coated pressure drop, such that the back pressure against the engine remains low. Furthermore, any across-the-board reduction in the uncoated pressure drop would also be desirable. These backpressure reductions should be accomplished while retaining good filtration efficiency, strength and thermal shock resistance in the diesel particulate filter.

Controlled pore size distribution porous ceramic honeycomb filter, honeycomb green body, batch mixture and manufacturing method therefor


A key detecting method and apparatus, which relate to touch sensing technologies, where the key detecting method includes: sampling an output signal value, and calculating a current noise value and a current signal value respectively according to the sampling result (S101); determining, according to the current noise value and the current signal value, whether a noise variation and a signal variation reach a corresponding noise variation threshold and signal variation threshold, respectively (S102); and determining an operating state of a key according to the determination result (S103). With the above method and apparatus, there is no need to additionally provide a complex auxiliary circuit to realize detection of a state of the key, instead, a state of a smart terminal is determined by correspondingly sampling and calculating the signal value, thereby reducing the cost and meanwhile improving the accuracy of the detection of the state of the key.

While a mobile phone is connected to a charger, common-mode interference can be easily incurred when human hands touch a key phone (such as a Home key or a virtual key) of the mobile phone, as shown in FIG. 1; typically, the human body is equivalent to a resistor RM of 1 kΩ and a capacitor CM of 1 nF in series, which is easy to cause a key detection error, thereby resulting in a situation of unstable key or constant popping-up. In order to make the key adaptable to different chargers, special handling is required when strong common-mode interference occurs. A common method to handle the common-mode interference is to avoid the interfering frequency through frequency hopping. However, when solving the problem of key detection error through frequency hopping technologies, a complex circuit is needed to achieve fast and reliable frequency conversion, which is difficult and costly to implement.


There are provided inter alia multisubstituted aromatic compounds useful for the inhibition of kallikrein, which compounds include substituted pyrazolyl or substituted triazolyl. There are additionally provided pharmaceutical compositions. There are additionally provided methods of treating and preventing certain diseases or disorders, which disease or disorder is amenable to treatment or prevention by the inhibition of kallikrein.

The present disclosure relates to compounds, e.g., multisubstituted aromatic compounds, which exhibit biological activity, e.g., inhibitory action, against serine proteases, including thrombin and various kallikreins.
Kallikreins are a subgroup of serine proteases, divided into plasma kallikrein and tissue kallikreins. Plasma kallikrein (KLKB1) liberates kinins (bradykinin and kallidin) from the kininogens, peptides responsible for the regulation of blood pressure and activation of inflammation. In the contact activation pathway of the coagulation cascade, plasma kallikrein assists in the conversion of factor XII to factor XIIa (Keel, M.; Trentz, O. Injury 2005, 36, 691-709). Factor XIIa converts FXI into FXIa, which in turn activates FIX, which with its co-factor FVIIIa forms the tenase complex, which finally activates FX to FXa. In the fibrinolysis part of the coagulation cascade, plasma kallikrein serves to convert plasminogen to plasmin. Thus, it has been proposed that plasma kallikrein inhibitors can be useful in the treatment of thrombotic and fibrinolytic diseases and disease conditions (U.S. Pat. No. 7,625,944; Bird et al. Thrombosis and Hemostasis 2012, 107, 1141).
In rodent models, it has been shown that activation of plasma kallikrein in the eye increases retinal vascular permeability; whereas inhibition of the kallikrein-kinin system reduces retinal leakage induced by diabetes and hypertension. These findings suggest that intraocular activation of the plasma kallikrein pathway can contribute to excessive retinal vascular permeability that can lead to diabetic macular edema (DME). Thus, evidence suggests that plasma kallikrein inhibitors can provide a new therapeutic opportunity to reduce retinal vascular permeability (Feener, E. P. Curr Diab Rep 2010, 10, 270).
The Kallikrein-kinin system is involved in the regulation of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), endothelial NO synthase, and fibroblast growth factor 2, all of which are involved in angiogenesis (Bader M. 2009, Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis, and Vascular Biology, 29: 617). Tissue kallikrein (KLK1) has been linked to blood vessel growth (Miura S., 2003, Hypertension, 41, 1118). Therapies that moderate angiogenesis have been proposed for the treatment of both diabetic macular edema (DME) and age-related macular degeneration (AMD) (Syed, B. A.; Evans, J. B.; Bielory, L., 2012, Nature Reviews Drug Discovery, 11, 827). Without further wishing to be bound by any theory, it is therefore reasonable to conclude that KLKlinhibitors can be useful in the treatment of diabetic retinopathy, DME, and AMD.
Studies have shown that inflammation plays an important role in the origin and development of AMD, and treatment often includes anti-inflammatories such as corticosteroid (Telander, D., 2011, Seminars in Ophthalmology, 26(3), 192). The connection between the kallikrein-kinin system and inflammation is also well established (Duchene, 2011, "Kallikrein-kinin kystem in inflammatory diseases". Kinins. De Gruyter. 261). Without further wishing to be bound by any theory, it is reasonable to conclude that the anti-inflammatory nature of kallikrein (e.g. KLK1 and KLKB1) inhibitors can be useful in the treatment of AMD.
Ecallantide (Kalbitor) is a 60-amino acid recombinant protein that acts as a potent reversible inhibitor of plasma kallikrein (Schneider L, et al., J Allergy Clin Immunol 2007, 120, 416). Ecallantide has been approvied by the FDA for the treatment of acute attacks of hereditary angioedema (HAE). Without further wishing to be bound by any theory, it is reasonable to believe that plasma kallikrein inhibition in general can be a useful treatment for HAE, and thus there is strong interest in the development of plasma kallikrein inhibitors as a therapy for HAE.
Tissue kallikreins (KLKs, for example, KLK1) are subdivided into various types, and have been extensively investigated in cancer and inflammation biology. Various kallikrein KLKs have been found to be up- or down-regulated in various cancer types, such as cervical-, testicular-, and non-small-cell lung adenocarcinoma (Caliendo et al. J. Med. Chem., 2012, 55, 6669). Furthermore, overexpression of various KLKs in the skin has led to the recognition that certain kallikrein inhibitors can be useful for certain dermatological conditions, including atopic dermatitis, psoriasis and rare skin diseases such as Netherton Syndrome (Freitas et al. Bioorganic & Medicinal Chemistry Letters 2012, 22, 6072-6075). A thorough discussion of tissue kallikrein, plasma kallikreins, their functions and potential roles in various diseases can be found in a variety of references, including the following which are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties and for all purposes: Renné, T.; Gruber, A. Thromb Haemost 2012, 107, 1012-3; Sotiropoulou, G.; Pampalakis, G. Trends in Pharmacological Sciences 2012, 33, 623-634; Pampalakis, G.; Sotiropoulou, G. Chapter 9 Pharmacological Targeting of Human Tissue Kallikrein-Related Peptidases. In Proteinases as Drug Targets, Dunn, B., Ed. The Royal Society of Chemistry: 2012; pp 199-228; Caliendo, G.; Santagada, V.; Perissutti, E.; Severino, B.; Fiorino, F.; Frecentese, F.; Juliano, L. J Med Chem 2012, 55, 6669-86.
In mammalian systems, blood vessel injuries result in bleeding events, which are dealt with by the blood coagulation cascade. The cascade includes the extrinsic and intrinsic pathways, involving the activation of at least 13 interconnected factors and a variety of co-factors and other regulatory proteins. Upon vascular injury, plasma factor VII interacts with exposed Tissue Factor (TF), and the resultant TF-fVIIa complex initiates a complex series of events. Factor fXa is produced directly 'downstream' from the TF-fVIIa complex, and amplified manifold via the intrinsic Pathway. FXa then serves as the catalyst for formation of thrombin (ffIa), which in turn is the direct precursor to fibrinolysis. The outcome is a fibrinolytic clot, which stops the bleeding. Fibrinolysis of the polymeric clot into fibrin monomers leads to dissolution and a return of the system to the pre-clot state. The cascade is a complex balance of factors and co-factors and is tightly regulated. In disease states, undesired up- or down-regulation of any factor leads to conditions such as bleeding or thrombosis. Historically, anticoagulants have been used in patients at risk of suffering from thrombotic complications, such as angina, stroke and heart attack. Warfarin has enjoyed dominance as a first-in-line anticoagulant therapeutic. Developed in the 1940s, it is a Vitamin K antagonist and inhibits factors II, VII, IX and X, amongst others. It is administered orally, but its ease of use is tempered by other effects: it has a very long half-life (>2 days) and has serious drug-drug interactions. Importantly, since Vitamin K is a ubiquitous cofactor within the coagulation cascade, antagonism results in the simultaneous inhibition of many clotting factors and thus can lead to significant bleeding complications.
Much attention has been focused on heparin, the naturally-occurring polysaccharide that activates AT III, the endogenous inhibitor of many of the factors in the coagulation cascade. The need for parenteral administration for the heparin-derived therapeutics, and the inconvenient requirements for close supervision for the orally available warfarin, has resulted in a drive to discover and develop orally available drugs with wide therapeutic windows for safety and efficacy. Indeed, the position of thrombin in the coagulation cascade has made it a popular target for drug discovery. Without wishing to be bound by any theory, it is believed that the ultimate development of direct thrombin inhibitors (DTIs) is usefully based upon the classical D-Phe-Pro-Arg motif, a sequence that mimics fibrinogen, which is a natural substrate of thrombin. Without further wishing to be bound by any theory, it is believed that the use of DTIs is very well precedented, such as with the hirudin-based anticoagulants, and thus there is strong interest in the discovery and development of novel DTIs.
A thorough discussion of thrombin and its roles in the coagulation process can be found in a variety of references, including the following which are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties and for all purposes: Wieland, H. A., et al., 2003, Curr Opin Investig Drugs, 4:264-71; Gross, P. L. & Weitz, J. I., 2008, Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol, 28:380-6; Hirsh, J., et al., 2005, Blood, 105:453-63; Prezelj, A., et al., 2007, Curr Pharm Des, 13:287-312.

Multisubstituted aromatic compounds as serine protease inhibitors


A method of forming a catalyst body by forming a first layer of hemispherical grain polysilicon over a substrate, and oxidizing at least a portion of the first layer to form a second layer of silica. Additionally, forming a third layer of nitride material over the second layer, and forming a catalyst material over the nitride layer, can be performed before annealing to form a catalyst body.

Because of its economic importance, catalysis is one of the most intensely pursued subjects in applied chemistry and chemical engineering. Catalysts are widely used today to lower the activation energies that would otherwise prohibit important reactions from proceeding. Most industrial reactions are catalytic, and many process improvements thereto result from the discovery of better chemical routes, or as the result of attaining new ways to position catalysts to better interact with important chemical reactants. Ideally it is often best to expose as much of the catalyst as possible to the reactants in the reaction scheme.
Unfortunately, to-date, catalysis has been an inexact science on other than a macroscopic scale. Scientists are only beginning to understand the microscopic interplay between the catalyst and the surface or substrate upon which it is positioned. It is believed that these surface interactions may have a significant impact on ultimate catalyst stereochemistry and performance.
However, because of current process technological limitations it has been difficult to provide reaction vehicles which would facilitate microscopic catalyst formation. What is therefore needed in the art is a new method of forming a catalyst body that takes maximum advantage of the chemical and physical properties of both the catalyst and the substrate upon which it is formed at a nanometer-scale level.

Nanometer engineering of metal-support catalysts


A modular HVDC converter system including a high voltage direct current network, and at least two DC/AC converters being connected in series to the HVDC network. Each of the DC/AC converters is arranged to provide AC to a separate AC load.

Feeding power to or from remote or awkwardly situated distributed installations from or to an existing power network creates slightly different challenges compared to normal installations. This is especially true for installations with several high power sources or loads. Examples of such remote or awkwardly situated distributed installations are offshore installations for oil and/or gas production especially installations sub sea, offshore wind mill installations, and mining districts or process plants at remote locations.
As is disclosed in EP 1385259, WO 0152379 and WO 0148892 it is favorable to use HVDC transmission to feed power to and from such installations.
The advantages of DC transmission have been commercially exploited since 1954 when the first HVDC transmission was commissioned. Mercury-arc valves were eventually replaced with high power thyristors and dc transmissions have reached several GW, over +/−600 kV, and distances around 1000 kilometres. In 1997, a new breed of HVDC converter stations and HVDC transmissions were introduced. ABB has named its product family HVDC Light®.
The use of forced-commutated power semiconductors in a voltage-source converter allows much increased control of the active power flow, reactive power flow and harmonics when connected to even weak ac grids. This is well-known from low-voltage applications. The key factor allowing voltage-source converters to be connected to networks at voltage levels hitherto unreachable, is the series-connection of power transistors—in ABB's case IGBTs.
HVDC Light® can be connected to underground/submarine cables or overhead lines, on the dc as well as the ac side. A significant difference between classic HVDC and HVDC Light® is that in the latter, the dc-link voltage polarity is constant, irrespective of the direction of power flow.
The present Light® technique, e.g. represented by EP 1385 259 A, is a good solution for remote or awkwardly situated distributed installations regarding controllability, low operating cost but also size and investment cost is within reasonable levels. In this solution, the power to the installation is fed through HVDC cables and a HVDC Light® converter operates as AC power supply for a local AC network used to distribute the power at the installation, e.g to electric motors etc. Back up power is often provided via a local power supply using gas turbines or the like. However, such local power supplies require considerably space and offshore manning.


The present invention provides a thiosulfonate-activated ionophore comprising an ionophore, a spacer group, and an alkylthiosulfonate moiety. A preferred ionophore is gramicidin A. A preferred alkylthiosulfonate is methanethiosulfonate. The present invention also provides a conjugate comprising an ionophore, a spacer group, and a recognition molecule. Further the invention related to membranes incorporating the conjugates and biosensors comprising said membranes.

Ion channels are ionophores that play an essential role in the movement of ions across cell membranes. Membranes are lipid bilayers and they build a hydrophobic, low dielectric barrier to hydrophilic and charged molecules. Charged molecules or atoms cannot penetrate this barrier. Ion channels provide a high conducting, hydrophilic pathway across the hydrophobic interior of the membrane. A well-known example of an ion channel molecule (or ionophore) is the polypeptide gramicidin, a naturally occurring antibiotic known to insert in biological membranes and to form transient dimers that facilitate the flux of ions through biological membranes.
A biosensor is a device for detecting a biologically active analyte. One type of biosensor is an immunosensing device based on an electrical detection of open ion channels. An example of this type of biosensor is the ICS Biosensor disclosed by Australian Membrane and Biotechnology Research Institute (where ICS is ion channel switch) (WO 98/55853). In the presence of an applied potential, ions flow between a reservoir and an external compartment when the ion channels are open. Recognition molecules specific for a desired analyte (typically fragmented antibodies) are linked to mobile gramicidin monomers in the outer leaflet of the bilayer. When an analyte is present and binds to the recognition molecule, the mobile gramicidin becomes crosslinked, preventing the formation of a conductive dimeric state with the tethered gramicidin channels in the inner half of the membrane. This crosslinking closes off open channels, which results in a reduction on the impedance current.
The current technology for the attachment of recognition moieties to gramicidin relies on a non-covalent complexation or association between biotin and streptavidin. Both gramicidin and the recognition molecule are chemically derivatized to contain a terminal biotin moiety. Addition of streptavidin produces a non-covalent mediated linkage between gramicidin and the recognition moiety by forming a ternary complex with streptavidin. (U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,874,316; 5,443,995; 5,753,093; 5,741,409; and 5,874,316).
The association between biotin and streptavidin is subject to a number of limitations that reduce the effectiveness of the biosensor. For example, the biotin and streptavidin system are subject to dissociation characterized by the kinetic rate constant, koff. This limitation is accentuated due to the low concentration of components in the biosensor such that the association (kon) of the biotinylated species to streptavidin is disfavored. This dissociation contributes to a relatively short stability of the biosensor (days instead of months) when stored in hydrated form and decreases the overall sensor performance.
Furthermore, the addition of streptavidin to the biotinylated gramicidins and transmembrane lipids results in an aggregation or "streptavidin gating" that reduces the admittance. In some cases, admittance may be reduced by a factor of approximately 2-20. It would be desirable to avoid the signal and sensitivity loss associated with streptavidin gating.
General biosensor and membrane technology and particularly ion-channel switch biosensors are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,443,955; 5,741,409, and 5,741,712; the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
WO 02/079394 discloses a method of producing a glycoprotein by reacting a protein with a glycosylated methanethiosulfonate reagent under conditions effective to produce a glycoprotein. The glycoprotein has altered functional characteristics when compared with the protein.
There is a need for an improved method of associating ionophores to recognition molecules. Additionally, there is a need for biosensors that are more stable and have better performance.

Membranes incorporating recognition moieties


Methods and system for a centralized unit and a distributed unit of a base station to operatively cooperate with each other are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method performed by a first communication node includes: in response to receiving a request, transmitting a first message to a second wireless communication node requesting to either establish or modify a context of a data radio bearer (DRB); and receiving a second message from the second wireless communication node indicating that the context of the DRB has been established or modified at the second wireless communication node, wherein the first message comprises first user plane address information of the DRB, and the second message comprises second user plane address information of the DRB.

Due to mass connection and higher rate requirements from users in the 5G New Radio (NR) communication network (5G network), there is a big challenge to the transmission capacity of the fronthaul interface CPRI (Common Public Radio Interface) between a BBU (Baseband Unit) and a RRU (Radio Remote Unit) in the LTE (Long-Term Evolution) communication network. Because the CPRI interface transmits an I/Q (real/imaginary) signal that has been processed by physical layer coding, the CPRI interface has a tighter requirement on the transmission delay and bandwidth. If the 5G F1 interface rate is increased to tens of giga-bits per second (Gbps), the traffic demand on the CPRI interface will rise to tera-bits per second (Tbps) levels, which will increase both the cost and difficulty of network deployment. Therefore, in the 5G network, there is a need to redefine divisions of the fronthaul interface, in consideration of transmission capacity, transmission delay, ease of deployment, and other aspects. For example, taking into account a non-ideal fronthaul transmission, when dividing a base station (BS), one can put delay-insensitive network functions in a first network element, such as a Centralized Unit (CU), and put delay-sensitive network functions in a second network element, such as a Distributed Unit (DU). There is an ideal and/or non-ideal fronthaul transmission between the first network element and second network element.

Method and systems for exchanging messages in a wireless network


Wire-bonded semiconductor structures using organic insulating material and methods of manufacture are disclosed. The method includes forming a metal wiring layer in an organic insulator layer. The method further includes forming a protective layer over the organic insulator layer. The method further includes forming a via in the organic insulator layer over the metal wiring layer. The method further includes depositing a metal layer in the via and on the protective layer. The method further includes patterning the metal layer with an etch chemistry that is damaging to the organic insulator layer.

Semiconductors are widely used in integrated circuits for a variety of electronic devices such as, e.g., smart phones, tablets as well as small and large scale (e.g., servers) computing devices. These integrated circuits typically combine many structures on a wafer to perform complex functions and store data. For example, these structures can be wiring structures, inductors, capacitors, transistors, etc. However, the need to integrate more functions onto a chip has caused the semiconductor industry to search for ways to shrink, or scale, the size of individual structures commonly integrated on a chip.
However, scaling devices to smaller dimensions can create a multitude of undesirable effects. One of these effects is an increase in the capacitive coupling between devices or to an underlying semiconductor substrate of a circuit, since the capacitive coupling is inversely proportional to the distance between the such devices or structures. This coupling may limit the ultimate speed of the device or otherwise inhibit proper device operation, if steps are not taken to reduce the coupling. The capacitance between conductors is also highly dependent on the insulator, or dielectric, used to separate the structures. Conventional semiconductor fabrication commonly employs silicon dioxide as a dielectric, which has a dielectric constant of about 3.9. However, such dielectric materials exhibit high capacitance coupling.
Accordingly, there exists a need in the art to overcome the deficiencies and limitations described hereinabove.

Semiconductor structures and methods of manufacture


In the case of a surgical device for fixing bone elements, having an elongated, flexible clamping means for winding around and bracing the bone elements to be fixed, having a connecting part for connecting the ends of the tightened clamping means, a first end of the clamping means being fastenable to the connecting part and the second free end of the clamping means being passable through an opening of the connecting part so as to form a loop, and having a locking member supported counter to the clamping direction against the connecting part and non-releasably connectable to the clamping means, in order to refine said device in such a way that, while being easy to handle, it not only enables a reliable permanent fixing of the clamping means but also, without additional aids, allows a temporary fixing during an operation, it is proposed that the locking member comprises a blocking element which blocks a movement of the clamping means counter to the clamping direction.

The invention relates to a surgical device for fixing bone elements, having an elongated, flexible clamping means for winding round and bracing the bone elements to be fixed, having a connecting part for connecting the ends of the tightened clamping means, a first end of the clamping means being fastenable to the connecting part and the second, free end of the clamping means being passable through an opening of the connecting part so as to form a loop, and having a locking member supported counter to the clamping direction against the connecting part and non-releasably connectable to the clamping means.
Such devices are used, in particular when setting oblique fractures of long bones, in the form of so-called cerclages where a clamping means, e.g. a wire loop or a metal strip, is wound round the bone elements to be fixed and then tensioned by means of a tensioning tool. The cerclages comprise a connecting part in the form of a cerclage clasp, by means of which the ends of the tensioned clamping means may be connected to one another. The cerclages are usually pre-fabricated by fastening a first end of the clamping means to the connecting part. The second, free end of the clamping means may be passed around the bone elements to be fixed, so as to form a loop, and then through an opening of the connecting part. The free end is then fixed to the connecting part.
The cerclages may be combined with additional osteosynthesis or internal fixation implants. Said option is used, for example, in surgery to the dorsal vertebral column. In the region of the thoracic and lumbar vertebrae, cerclages are used in conjunction with rod-shaped longitudinal supports for segmental correction and stabilization. To said end, the clamping means may be passed under the vertebral arches (sublaminar passage). Such methods are used, for example, for scoliosis, kyphosis, tumours and fractures. In the region of the cervical vertebrae, adjacent vertebral arches are connected by cerclages, e.g. in cases of fractures as well as post-traumatic and rheumatic instability. In many cases, sublaminar cerclages are also used in combination with screws and hook assemblies since, because the pedicle size in the thoracic vertebrae region decreases towards the head, a transpedicular screw fixation is no longer possible.
A basic requirement of such devices for fixing bone elements is that they should enable as simple as possible an operating technique, i.e. they should be easy to handle. A further important point is that over an extended period of time they should reliably exert a high clamping force upon the bone elements to be fixed. Since a plurality of cerclages are often used simultaneously, they should be designed in such a way as to allow first a temporary fixation during an operation so that a subsequent increase of the tension of the cerclages and a correction of the mutual position of the bone elements is possible.
To facilitate a subsequent increase of the tension of the cerclages, devices have already been proposed which operate on the principle of a cable binder (U.S. Pat. No. 4,667,662, WO 94/26192 as well as DE 27 30 571 C2) or a hose clip (DE 40 21 246 A1, DE 42 00 757 A1, DE 34 27 590 C2, DE 32 44 680 A1). In such systems, the clamping means comprises a tooth system, into which a corresponding pawl engages so that the cerclage is secured by means of a form-fit locking mechanism. The tooth system, however, poses a not inconsiderable risk of injury to the body tissue surrounding the bone elements to be fixed. Furthermore, although such refinements do guarantee a subsequent increase of the tension of the clamping element, a permanent fixation of the clamping means is not always guaranteed. Instead there is a danger of the clamping means loosening as time passes.
Cerclages are also known which use pressure clamps to fix the clamping means, a plurality of pressure clamps being threadable onto the clamping means. If, after tightening, the pressure clamp adjacent to the tensioning tool is first compressed, then after a readjustment of the tension the next pressing clamp inwards may be secured.
Such systems entail a relatively complex operating technique and the pressure clamps are easy to lose and difficult to manipulate.
Pressure clamps are also known which are permanently connected to the connecting part (WO 95/06438, U.S. Pat. No. 5,395,374, WO 95/03002). A temporary fixing is not possible with such refinements. To said end, additional clamps which are mountable onto the connecting part are provided, thereby making the operating technique not inconsiderably harder. The additional clamps moreover take up a substantial amount of room.

Surgical device for fixing bone elements


A method and apparatus are disclosed for Magnetic Resonance Imaging using specialized signal acquisition and processing techniques for image reconstruction with a generally inhomogeneous static magnetic field. New signal processing methods for image reconstruction and for minimizing dephasing effects are disclosed. Imaging systems with smaller static magnetic field strengths and smaller hardware demands than those with homogeneous static magnetic fields are provided, leading to significant reductions in system size and cost as compared to standard MRI systems. Such systems can also exploit imaging coils having high Signal-to-Noise-Ratio (SNR), including those made from Carbon nanotube conductors, leading to further imaging system efficiencies.

Magnetic Resonance (MR) Imaging technology is quite commonly used today in larger medical institutions worldwide, and has led to huge benefits in the practice of medicine. A significant factor affecting further use of this versatile imaging technology is the high cost associated with such systems, both for purchase and maintenance.
The high costs associated with design and manufacture of such systems are due in large part to the necessity for a large and very homogeneous static magnetic field, as well as the need for gradient field producing apparatus for imaging with such systems; such large static fields are currently required in order to obtain high image quality and resolution. In such systems the high degree of field homogeneity together with the use of uniform gradient magnetic fields that are applied for imaging purposes, permits a straightforward recovery of the proton or nuclear density distribution in the imaged sample by means of direct Fourier inversion of the received signals. However, the need for substantial homogeneity in the static magnetic field associated with a Magnetic Resonance Imaging system adversely impacts system size and cost.
To achieve a significant reduction in system size and cost of MR Imaging systems, it is useful to be able to image with inhomogeneous static magnetic fields. Typically, current existing commercial methodologies are predicated on the use of a very homogeneous static magnetic field and cannot be used in the presence of inhomogeneous magnetic fields.
Previous attempts at constructing a method for MR Imaging with inhomogeneous static fields have assumed a static magnetic field inhomogeneity that is substantially in a single spatial direction, for instance by exciting nuclear spins at or near a measurement surface that corresponds to an isosurface of constant static magnetic field magnitude, with a substantially constant field gradient in a direction normal to the measurement surface, denoted as the z-direction. The latter substantially constant behavior of field gradient implies that the measurement surface is substantially planar. In such schemes, the gradient magnitude is assumed to be quite large in the z-direction, typically of the order of 400 Gauss/cm or 0.04 Tesla/cm. This large gradient magnitude leads to rapid dephasing of the spins after excitation by application of suitable Radio Frequency (RF) pulses. However, this same large gradient can yield short refocusing times when a suitable Radio Frequency pulse sequence is applied in the form of a standard 90-180 spin echo pulse sequence, where the refocusing 180-pulses are applied at a rate proportional to the z-gradient. Repeated spin echoes are thereby produced, and are used to create an averaged or enhanced signal in a time period that is not too large. Suitable intra-slice voxel encoding in the form of applied x- and y-gradients further is used, together with standard MR Imaging and signal inversion techniques to reconstruct an image of the (thin) neighborhood of the measurement surface.
Extensions of such methods include subslicing, wherein an image of a tissue slice is formed by dividing the slice into a number of subslices, the number being determined by the ratio of T1 and T2 relaxation times of the tissue. The subslice images are combined to form an image of the slice. Each subslice is imaged by using a narrow bandwidth Radio Frequency pulse with a frequency equal to the Larmor frequency corresponding to that subslice. Repeated spin echoes are used to create an averaged or enhanced signal in a time period that is not too large. Suitable intra-slice voxel encoding in the form of applied x- and y-gradients further can be used together with standard MR Imaging and signal inversion techniques to reconstruct an image of the subslice. Similar methods are used to image a slice of tissue in the presence of a strong z-gradient by spread spectrum methods to suppress the effect of perturbations in the static field. Repeated spin echoes are used to create an averaged or enhanced signal in a time period that is not too large. Suitable intra-slice voxel encoding in the form of applied x- and y-gradients further can be used together with standard MR Imaging and signal inversion techniques to reconstruct an image of the slice.
The methods mentioned above use a static magnetic field with a pattern of inhomogeneity or gradient in a single spatial direction. Magnets producing such a field pattern in a significantly large volume of interest within a patient for use as a general purpose imaging system would physically be quite large. As a practical matter, while these methods could be used to develop smaller imaging systems to image extremities or small peripheral portions of patient anatomy, they do not easily permit general internal imaging of patient anatomy.
There have been early attempts to develop an imaging probe akin to a catheter with an MR Imaging system utilizing magnets mounted on the probe. The probe is used for "inside-out" imaging to generate an image of a small local region in the anatomy of interest that is external to the probe itself. It produces an image of a wedge-shaped region transverse to the long axis of the probe by using an inhomogeneous static magnetic field produced by the catheter-mounted magnet(s). The strong radial gradient of these magnets, together with catheter-mounted gradient coils that produce a circumferential gradient, are used to phase encode spins in the wedge-shaped region after they are excited by Radio Frequency signals transmitted by transmission coils also mounted on the probe. As in the previously-mentioned methods, repeated spin echoes followed by signal averaging are used to overcome dephasing effects, and standard MR Imaging and signal inversion techniques are then employed to reconstruct an image of the thin wedge-shaped region. By translation of the probe in the longitudinal direction, and rotation of the probe about its axis, an annular cylindrical region surrounding the probe can be imaged. Magnets can also be mounted on an MR imaging probe to create a strong, inhomogeneous local gradient in the presence of a static magnetic field that is produced by a standard MR Imaging system. The local imaging techniques described earlier in this paragraph can generate a high resolution local image of a local region surrounding the probe, which can then be superimposed on a larger field-of-view image generated by the standard MR Imaging system.
The imaging methods discussed in the previous paragraph are specifically designed for use in external imaging in a local region around a probe. They rely on the use of repeated spin echoes and averaging in the presence of a strong locally produced gradient. Furthermore, the use of an imaging probe is invasive. As such, these techniques do not permit general, non-invasive imaging within a wide field-of-view.

Signal acquisition and processing method and apparatus for magnetic resonance imaging


A compound of formula (I): ##STR1## wherein: R.sub.1 represents unsubstituted or substituted cycloalkyl, phenyl, naphthyl, heterocyclic, alkyl or alkenyl,. A represents a bond, oxygen, sulphur, a group ##STR2## a group ##STR3## or a group ##STR4## wherein Rc represents hydrogen, alkyl or cycloalkyl, R.sub.2 represents halogen, substituted or unsubstituted alkyl, substituted or unsubstituted alkenyl, substituted or unsubstituted alkynyl, cycloalkyl, formyl, carboxy, alkylcarbonyl, cycloalkylcarbonyl, alkoxycarbonyl, cycloalkyloxycarbonyl, optionally substituted carbamoyl, optionally substituted amino, formylamino, cyano, optionally substituted amidino, hydroxyaminomethyl, amide oxime, hydrazono, or a group selected from: ##STR5## wherein R.sub.21, R.sub.22 and R.sub.23 are as defined in the description, R.sub.3 represents hydrogen or alkyl, cycloalkyl or acyl, PA1 or ##STR6## together form the ring ##STR7## X is oxygen, sulphur, or NR", B is phenyl, Ra and Rb, which may be identical or different, each represents hydrogen, halogen, or alkyl, hydroxy, alkoxy, carboxy, polyhalogenoalkyl, cyano, nitro, alkoxycarbonyl, cycloalkyloxycarbonyl, amino, carbamoyl, sulfo, alkylsulfonyl, cycloalkylsulfonyl or aminosulfonyl, their isomers, and addition salts thereof with a pharmaceutically-acceptable acid or base, and medicinal products containing the same which are useful as PDE IV inhibitors.

Those compounds are inhibitors of group IV phosphodiesterases and, for that reason, have especially valuable therapeutic applications.
The functions of most organic tissues are modulated by endogenous substances (hormones, neurotransmitters, autacoids) or by exogenous substances. For some of those substances, the biological effect is relayed at intracellular level by enzyme effectors, such as adenylate cyclase or guanylate cyclase. Stimulation of the enzymes that are responsible for the synthesis of cyclic nucleotides, such as cyclic adenosine-3',5'-monophosphate (cAMP) and cyclic guanosine-3',5'-monophosphate (cGMP), causes an increase in the intracellular level of those second messengers involved in regulating numerous biological functions (E. W. SUTHERLAND and W. RALL, Pharmacol. Rev., Vol. 12, p. 265, 1960). Breakdown of the cyclic nucleotides is effected by a family of enzymes, called phosphodiesterases (PDE), currently classified in 7 groups. The recognition of different isoforms within each of those groups, and of the tissue-specific or cell-specific distribution of certain isoforms, has stimulated research into increasingly specific inhibitors of individual types of isoenzyme (J. A. BEAVO, Physiological Rev., Vol. 75, no. 4, pp. 725-749, 1995). Of the various PDE families, PDE IV has been identified in a large number of tissues or cells, such as brain, heart, vascular endothelium, vascular and tracheobronchial smooth muscle and haematopoietic cells. Inhibition of the phosphodiesterases slows down the hydrolysis of the cyclic nucleotides and brings about an increase in cAMP and/or cGMP level.
PDE IV inhibitors, which are responsible for an increase in cAMP levels, have anti-inflammatory activities and relaxant effects on tracheobronchial smooth muscle, hence their therapeutic value in the field of respiratory pathology and pathologies associated with an inflammatory process (M. N. PALFREYMAN, Drugs of the Future, Vol. 20, no. 8, pp. 793-804, 1995; J. P. BARNES, Eur. Respir. J., Vol. 8, pp. 457-462, 1995; S. B. CHRISTENSEN and T. J. TORPHY, Annual Reports in Medicinal Chemistry, Vol. 29, pp. 185-194, 1994, Academic Press).
Those compounds which are inhibitors of group IV phosphodiesterases will be especially valuable in therapeutic applications concerned with inflammation and bronchial relaxation and more precisely in asthma and chronic obstructive bronchopathies (A. J. DUPLANTIER and J. B. CHENG, Annu. Rep. Med. Chem., Vol. 29, p. 73-81, 1994), (C. D. NICHOLSON and M. SHAHID, Pulmonary Pharmacol., Vol. 7, p. 1-17, 1994), (T. J. TORPHY, G. P. LIVI and S. B. CHRISTENSEN, Drug News Perspect., Vol. 6, p. 03-214, 1993), (J. A. LOWE and J. B. CHENG, Drugs Future, Vol. 17, p. 799-807, 1992), but also in all disorders such as rhinites (I. RADERER, E. HAEN, C. SCHUDT and B. PRZYBILLA, Vienna. Med. Wochenschr., Vol. 145, p. 456-8, 1995), acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) (C. R. TURNER, K. M. ESSER and E. B. WHEELDON, Circulatory Shock, Vol. 39, p. 237-45, 1993), allergies and dermatites (J. M. HANIFIN and S. C. CHAN, J. Invest. Dermatol., Vol. 105, p. 84S-88S, 1995), (J. M. HANIFIN, J. Dermatol. Sci., Vol. 1, p. 1-6, 1990), psoriasis (E. TOUITOU, N. SHACO-EZRA, N. DAYAN, M. JUSHYNSKI, R. RAFAELOFF and R. AZOURY, J. Pharm. Sci., Vol. 81, p. 131-4, 1992), (F. LEVI-SCHAFFER and E. TOUITOU, Skin Pharmacol., Vol. 4, p. 286-90, 1991), rheumatoid arthritis (J. M. ANAYA and L. R. ESPINOZA, J. Rheumatol., Vol. 22, p. 595-9, 1995), autoimmune diseases, (C. P. GENAIN et al. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci., Vol. 92, p. 3601-5, 1995), multiple sclerosis (N. SOMMER et al., Nat. Med., Vol. 1, p. 244-8, 1995), dyskinesias (T. KITATANI, S. HAYASHI and T. SAKAGUCHI, Nippon. Yakurigaku. Zasshi, Vol. 86, p. 353-8, 1985), glomerulonephritis (M. HECHT, M. MULLER, M. L. LOHMANN-MATTHES and A. EMMENDORFFER, J. Leukoc. Biol., Vol. 57, p. 242-249, 1995), osteoarthritis and septic shock (A. M. BADGER, D. L. OLIVERA and K. M. ESSER Circ. Shock, Vol. 44, p. 188-195, 1994; L. SEKUT et al., Clin. Exp. Inmunol., Vol. 100, p. 126-132, 1995), AIDS (T. F. GRETEN, S. ENDRES et al., AIDS, Vol. 9, p. 1137-1144, 1995), depression (N. A. SACCOMANO et al., J. Med. Chem., Vol. 34, p.291-298, 1991), and any neurodcgenerative disease that is accompanied by inflammatory symptoms, such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, Huntington's disease, Down's syndrome and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (G. Z. FEUERSTEIN et al., Ann. N. Y. Acad. Sci., Vol. 765, p. 62-71, 1995).
Those therapeutic indications are not limiting inasmuch as a decrease in cellular cAMP concentration, whatever the cause and tissue location, results in cellular malfunction, giving rise to pathological symptoms, and may constitute an important therapeutic target for the products described.


A method and apparatus for efficiently deriving modulo arithmetic solutions for frequency selection in transceivers. A frequency for communication between a wireless user interface device and a wirelessly enabled host is generated by calculating a modulo solution for an input variable. In some embodiments of the invention, the communication between the user input device and the wirelessly enabled host complies with the Bluetooth wireless communication standard. For the embodiments of the present invention relating to communications systems implementing the Bluetooth standard, a method and apparatus is disclosed for generating communication frequencies based on modulo 23 and modulo 79 solutions input variables. The method and apparatus of the present invention can generate the communication frequency with a minimum number of calculations using simple binary addition, as opposed to prior art methods that generally require numerous iterations and complex calculations.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates generally to digital computers; and more particularly to a method and apparatus for efficient derivation of modulo arithmetic for frequency selection in wireless interface devices coupled to digital computers.
2. Related Art
Wireless communication technology has advanced rapidly over the past few years. One of the most promising areas for the use of wireless technology relates to communications between input/output devices and their "host" computers. For example, wireless keyboards and mice now couple via wireless connections to their host computers. These "wireless" input devices are highly desirable since they do not require any hard-wired connections with their host computers.
Many current wireless devices communicate with the host computer by implementing a frequency hopping scheme as defined in the "Bluetooth" Specification Version 1.1, November, 2000, which by this reference is incorporated for all purposes. The Bluetooth specification defines a frequency selection module having an output that constitutes a pseudo-random sequence having either 79 hops or 23 hops, depending on the specific implementation. The pseudo-random frequency hopping scheme is implemented using a modulo arithmetic derivation for selecting the frequencies to be used. Current methods for calculating the modulo arithmetic solution for the frequency hopping are comparatively complicated and, therefore, processor intensive and consume a significant amount of power. This is undesirable in wireless devices that rely on battery power. Thus, there is a need in the art for a method and apparatus for efficiently calculating the modulo arithmetic solution for frequency hopping in transceivers used by wireless input devices to communicate with their host computers, thereby providing more efficient operation and extended operating time when the device is operating on battery power.

Method and apparatus for efficient derivation of modulo arithmetic for frequency selection


Connectors of a first removable modular optical connection assembly, having a first predefined arrangement of optical signal conduits, are connected to respective connectors on a support structure that are optically connected to corresponding devices. The first modular optical connection assembly is replaceable with a second modular optical connection assembly having a second, different predefined arrangement of optical signal conduits, to change a topology of a network.

A system can include various electronic devices that are interconnected using a network, which can include communications links and intermediate devices (e.g. switches) that are able to route data among the electronic devices. Networks can have various different topologies—for a given system, use of different network topologies can result in different network performance. One measure of network performance is the bandwidth that can be provided by the network for the communication of data among electronic devices.

Replaceable modular optical connection assembly

HEWLETT-PACKARD DEVELOPMENT COMPANY, L.P.


The image receiving sheet according to the present invention is an image receiving sheet which receives dye migrated by heat from a heat transfer sheet, wherein the image receiving sheet includes a substrate (3), a dye receiving layer (3) provided on one surface of the substrate and a curl prevention layer. The curl prevention layer includes a non-heat stretchable and shrinkable resin having a heating stretching or shrinking ratio within the range from -1.0 to 1.5% in JIS-K-6734 provided on the surface of the substrate on the side opposite to the above dye receiving layer, or between the substrate and the dye receiving layer. In the present invention, by having such a curl prevention layer as mentioned above, generation of curl by heat during image formation can be prevented to provide an image receiving sheet excellent in both conveyability of sheet and printing quality.

In the prior art, various heat transfer methods have been known. Among them, there has been proposed a method in which a sublimable dye is used as the recording material, which is carried on a substrate sheet such as a paper or a plastic sheet to provide a heat transfer sheet. Various full-color images are formed on an image receiving sheet dyeable with a sublimable dye, for example, an image receiving sheet having a dye receiving layer provided on the surface of a paper or a plastic film.
For this method, a thermal head of a printer is used as the heating means, and a large number of color dots of 3 colors or 4 colors are transferred onto an image receiving sheet by heating for a very short time, thereby reproducing the full-color image of the original by color dots of multiple colors.
The image thus formed is very sharp and also excellent in transparency, because the colorants used are dyes, and therefore the image obtained is excellent in reproducibility and gradation of the intermediate color, and is similar to an image obtained by conventional offset printing or gravure printing. It has also become possible to form an image of high quality comparable with full-color photographic image.
The heat transfer image receiving sheet to be used in the sublimation type heat transfer system, when a reflected image is required as in the printed matters or photography, one having a dye receiving layer comprising a resin having good dyeability provided on the surface of an opaque substrate sheet such as paper or synthetic paper is used, while when a light-transmissive image is required as used in OHP (overhead projector), one having a dye receiving layer provided on a transparent substrate sheet such as polyester film is used.
In any case, when image formation is effected by use of these image receiving sheets, as the result of heating of the surface of the image receiving sheet during transfer, warping (curl) tends to occur on the image receiving sheet, whereby slippability of the image receiving sheet after printing becomes worse and causes the problem of paper jamming. Also, since it is necessarily unavoidable to heat the whole printer to a certain temperature, curl is generated within the printer also before printing, whereby conveyability of the image receiving sheet is worsened to generate a problem such as double delivery, etc.
Further, in the case of forming a multi-color image, since printing is performed for 3 to 4 times on the same image receiving sheet, curl becomes excessive and generates non-matching of the printed dots and lower image quality. Particularly in the case of a light-transmissive image for OHP, a lowering in the image quality becomes further marked, because the printing image is projected with enlargement to several fold.
The present invention has been accomplished in view of the above-mentioned problem. The object of the present invention is to provide an image receiving sheet, which does not curl due to the heat applied thereto by a thermal head during image transfer, can make delivery of the sheet better during image transfer, and will not give rise to color slippage or deformation of the image transferred on the receiving layer.


A semiconductor device structure, along with methods of forming such, are described. The semiconductor device structure includes a first source/drain epitaxial feature disposed in an NMOS region, a second source/drain epitaxial feature disposed in the NMOS region, a first dielectric feature disposed between the first source/drain epitaxial feature and the second source/drain epitaxial feature, a third source/drain epitaxial feature disposed in a PMOS region, a second dielectric feature disposed between the second source/drain epitaxial feature and the third source/drain epitaxial feature, and a conductive feature disposed over the first, second, and third source/drain epitaxial features and the first and second dielectric features.

The semiconductor integrated circuit (IC) industry has experienced exponential growth. Technological advances in IC materials and design have produced generations of ICs where each generation has smaller and more complex circuits than the previous generation. In the course of IC evolution, functional density (i.e., the number of interconnected devices per chip area) has generally increased while geometry size (i.e., the smallest component (or line) that can be created using a fabrication process) has decreased. This scaling down process generally provides benefits by increasing production efficiency and lowering associated costs. Such scaling down has also increased the complexity of processing and manufacturing ICs.
As the geometry size decreases, semiconductor devices, such as fin field-effect transistors (FinFETs), may be negatively impacted by the short channel effect and increased source/drain electron tunneling. Therefore, there is a need to improve processing and manufacturing ICs.

Semiconductor device structure and methods of forming the same

TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.


A method of fabricating a packaging structure includes cutting a panel of packaging substrate into a plurality of packaging substrate blocks each having a plurality of packaging substrate units; mounting and packaging a semiconductor chip on each of the packaging substrate unit to form package blocks each having multiple packaging structure units; and cutting package blocks to form a plurality of package units. In the method, the alignment difference between the packaging structure units in each package block is minimized by appropriately cutting and forming substrate blocks to achieve higher precision and better yield, and also packaging of semiconductor chips can be performed on all package units in the substrate blocks, thereby integrating fabrication with packaging at one time to improve production efficiency and reduce the overall costs as a result.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to methods of fabricating a packaging structure, and more particularly, to a method of fabricating a packaging structure that may increase yield and reduce cost.
2. Description of Related Art
In order to meet the packaging requirements of high integration and miniaturization for semiconductor packages, and to provide a packaging substrate that allows a plurality of active and passive element to be installed thereon, a multiple-layered board is replacing a single-layered board gradually. Therefore, a layout area may be increased through the use of an interlayer connection technique, and the requirement of highly integrated circuit may be formed on the multiple-layered board.
A multiple-layered circuit board of the prior art comprises a core board and two built-up structures symmetrically installed on two surfaces of the core board. The use of the core board causes the circuit board to have a long conductive wire and thicker structure, which is contradictory to the requirements of increasing performance and reducing sizes. A circuit board that has a coreless structure comes to the market, in order to satisfy the demands of shorten conductive length and reduced structure thickness.
In the modern flip chip semiconductor packaging technique, a semiconductor chip having an active surface is installed on a packaging substrate having a plurality of conductive lands on a top surface thereof, and a plurality of electrode pads are installed on the active surface and are electrically connected via solder bumps to the conductivelands, allowing the semiconductor chip to be electrically connected to the packaging substrate.
Compared with a conventional wire bond technique, the flip chip technique is characterized in that the electrical connection between the semiconductor chip and the packaging substrate is realized by the solder bumps, rather than by a common gold wire. The flip chip technique has advantages of high packaging density and small packaging size. Without using the longer gold wire, the flip chip technique may reduce the resistance and improve the electric functionalities.
A method of fabricating a packaging structure according to the prior art provides a panel of substrate body that has a front-end fabricating process completed and includes a multiple-layered circuit connection structure, an outermost circuit of the panel of substrate body having a plurality of bump pads; forms on the substrate body an insulating protection layer having a plurality of openings formed therein, allowing the bump pads to be exposed from the openings; forms a surface treatment layer on the bump pads in the openings, so as to form a panel of packaging substrate (panel); cuts the panel of packaging substrate into a plurality of packaging substrate units or a plurality of packaging substrate strips, each of the packaging substrate strips having a plurality of packaging substrate units; and, transfers the packaging substrate strips to a packaging factory for subsequent chip attachment, packaging and/or singulation processes.
However, if the chip attachment and packaging processes are performed after the panel of packaging substrate is cut into the packaging substrate units, only one of the packaging substrate units is processed at one time, which reduces the yield and increases the cost. Moreover, if the chip attachment, packaging and singulation processes are performed after the panel of packaging substrate is cut into the packaging substrate strips, each of the packaging substrate strips has to have a rim reserved for the packaging substrate strip to be clamped during the subsequent processes. The rim occupies too much the area and wastes the material cost.
With the packaging substrate becoming thinner and thinner, it is more and more difficult to perform the chip attachment or packaging process on the packaging substrate units or packaging substrate strips.
If the chip attachment, packaging and singulation processed are performed on the panel of substrate, without cutting the panel of packaging substrate into a plurality of packaging substrate units or a plurality of packaging substrate strips in advance, a larger semiconductor equipment is required. Accordingly, the equipment cost is increased. Besides, the larger the area of the panel of packaging substrate is, the lower the precision becomes. Therefore, the final packaging structure units have a larger fabricating error, which affects the yield.
Therefore, how to solve the problems of the method of fabricating a packaging structure of the prior art that the fabricating steps are complicated, yield is low, too many effective area of the substrate is wasted and the cost is high is becoming one of the most popular issues in the art.

Method of fabricating a packaging structure


An electronic still, video or hybrid camera has a physically or mechanically operable user control receiving an input from a user and generates a binary, continuous or multi-level saliency signal while an image signal is being produced. The user control may be the same as or different from the picture taking control. In real time the saliency signal controls processing of the camera signal, or the camera itself, for example by controlling the frequency of still picture taking, or by optimising image storage in memory. The signal can also be stored with the image signal for later use, as in editing. The user control can be mounted on the camera or remote therefrom and include a movement or pressure sensor.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to electronic camera apparatus comprising an electronic camera for developing an image signal of a viewed scene, whereon an indication of saliency of the viewed scene is developed.
2. Background Art
The electronic camera may be of the still or video variety, or any hybrid version. That is to say it may be adapted for example for providing one or more temporally spaced image frame signals in response to an input command (still camera), or for providing a continuous succession of image frame signals in response to an input command (video camera), or for providing a continuous sequence of image frame signals interspersed with still image signals (where the latter may have greater resolution if desired) (hybrid camera).
Whereas formerly a camera user might be expected to take a great deal of care in composing a picture before recording it at the optimum time, particularly where photographic film was involved, the advent of electronic cameras with digital image recording, and more recently rapid increase in available practical memory size, has increased the ease with which a large number of still images, or a long video sequence, can be recorded electronically. This is tending to lead to situations where a camera is left recording over an extended period of time, with the intention of subsequently sifting through the stored images to select only the more interesting images or sequences for further processing. Such further processing might involve permanent storage, copying, reproduction, transmission and/or printing for example. In addition, the stored images may need to be organised and/or indexed for easy retrieval.
Nevertheless, as the amount of stored image data increases, there comes a point at which the time required to analyse it all eventually outstrips the time and patience of the user. In such a case, the recorded images are then not used at all, so that potentially interesting images are lost, or all of the data must be viewed, so that the potentially interesting images are lost in a welter of uninteresting material. It can be seen that in either case the provision of too large a storage facility tends to be counterproductive.
The commonly assigned UK Patent No. 2380348, issued Oct. 1, 2003, entitled "Determination of Features of Interest by Analysing the Movement of Said Features Over a Plurality of Frames" relates to automated camera apparatus comprising an electronic camera, the camera comprising a photoelectric sensor optically coupled to imaging optics for providing a video signal representative of an image viewed by the camera, and securing means for securing at least the imaging optics on the head of a wearer with its axis generally parallel to the normal forward line of sight of the wearer, the apparatus further comprising video signal processing means arranged to receive said video signal for judging the degree of interest shown by the wearer in a feature in the scene and for providing a related saliency signal, the video signal processing means including image analysis means for identifying the presence of features and their locations relative to a reference position in the frame within each of a series of frames in a time window of the video signal, and movement analysis means coupled to the output of said image analysis means for analysing the movement of at least one said feature over said series of frames to provide said saliency signal.
This apparatus automatically derives a measure of saliency which is then used at the time or later for processing of the images or image signals from the camera. The saliency measure is derived from external cues such as changes in the gaze of the camera user.
Another form of apparatus is described by Andrea Lockerd in "LAFCam—Leveraging Affective Feed back Camcorder", ACM CHI 2002 Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems, Minneapolis, Minn., Apr. 20-25, 2002. A video camera user wears a head mounted camera turned to view the facial expression of the user, a glove for sensing skin conductivity and a head mounted microphone for detecting laughter. The latter two can be used as saliency indicators when reviewing or editing the resulting video, and the facial expression can be presented as a picture within the video image for the same purpose. However, each of these measures is principally that of an involuntary action, not under the control of the user.
Other patent disclosures where a saliency or related measure is automatically determined include European Patent Application No. EP 1 109 132 (Eastman Kodak); U.S. Pat. No. 5,956,026 (Sharp); and International Patent Application No. WO 00/79800 Telefonaktiebolaget L M Ericsson). A number of papers in this respect have also been published, examples being:—                1. "Summarizing Video Using a Shot Importance Measure and a Frame Packing Algorithm", by Shingo Uchihashi et al, in Proc ICASSP 1999, vol 6, pp 3041-3044.        2. "Context Triggered Visual Episodic Memory Prosthesis 2, by Jyrki Hoisko, in Proc ISWC 2000, Atlanta Ga.        3. "Structuring Personal Activity Records Based on Attention-Analyzing Videos from Head Mounted Camera", by Yuichi Nakamura et al, in Proc ICPR 2000, Barcelona.        4. "Video Retrieval and Relevance Feedback in the Context of a Post-Integration Model", by Rucyu Roy Wang et al, in Workshop on Multi-Media Signal Processing (MMSP2001), 3rd to 5th Oct. 2001, Cannes, France.
However, the most pertinent measure of saliency in many circumstances will be the amount of interest actually felt by the camera user, or the amount of importance actually attached to a picture by the user, and while external clues can give some indication of these factors, they cannot always be assessed accurately and automatically therefrom.
The present invention is concerned with camera apparatus comprising an electronic camera for producing an image signal, and a physically or mechanically operable user control for receiving an input from a user and generating a saliency signal while the image signal is being produced.
European Patent Application No. EP 0 860 980 describes a digital camera with the capability of allowing the user to examine pictures already stored, to decide various parameters, such as the number quality and size of any desired prints, which parameters are then stored for later use. However, as has already been discussed above, this means that the camera user has to review each of the images after they have been taken.
More pertinently, Australian Patent No. 743216 (Canon) discloses a video capture apparatus for capturing a series of video frames comprising a level of interest (LOI) input means operable by the user to generate a LOI signal which is recorded together with the video frames for later use in editing the recorded signals.
As in Canon, the present invention involves an immediate attribution of saliency while the pictures are being taken, and the saliency can be stored with the pictures, so as to reduce the amount of time and effort needed by the user to obtain the most desirable pictures during subsequent editing processes. In some respects, this may be viewed as a development of the conventional camera picture button, where the user operates the button once the required picture is in view, i.e. once it has been decided that the picture has sufficient saliency. Where the saliency signal is stored, this enables relatively easy selection of the requisite picture at a later time from a larger number of images. Furthermore, there is relatively little additional effort in obtaining a multi-valued saliency signal during picture taking, so that refinement of a picture selection process (for example) is possible with little or no additional work once the picture and saliency signals have been recorded.
However, as will be explained later, an immediate attribution of saliency is useful in other ways, such as managing the memory, and controlling the transmission and/or compression of image signals, which features are not available on conventional camera apparatus.
Many cameras incorporate both an on/off switch for energising the camera electronics prior to picture taking, and also a picture taking control. For example, a digital video camera may have an on/off switch which, inter alia, serves to enable the viewing screen, together with a separate picture taking trigger which is operated for taking a video clip. A still photographic film camera, on the other hand, may include a single switch button having a first position for energising the electronics including camera settings such as focus, timing and aperture, and a further position at which the shutter is triggered. In both cases however, there is a clear distinction between the initial energisation step and the control of the picture taking.
It might be considered that the mere operation of the camera button, trigger or other control for picture taking is an indication of saliency, particularly in situations where signal storage is limited. Commonly there is a resulting signal which is at least partly electrical, for example for operating the electronics of an electronic still or video camera to take and store image(s), or even for operating flash on an otherwise purely mechanical camera, and conventionally it will be binary in nature.
However, as mentioned above, it would be desirable to be able to switch a camera on for taking pictures "continuously", for example all the time for video, or at regular periods for a still camera, regardless of the pictures it is taking, and to inspect or otherwise use the stored images at a later date. Under these circumstances, the fact of having the camera picture taking control actuated to provide a binary signal provides no indication whatsoever of the saliency of the stored images.

Camera apparatus with saliency signal generation

Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.


A three terminal high voltage Darlington bipolar transistor power switching device includes two high voltage bipolar transistors, with collectors connected together serving as the collector terminal. The base of the first high voltage bipolar transistor serves as the base terminal. The emitter of the first high voltage bipolar transistor connects to the base of the second high voltage bipolar transistor (inner base), and the emitter of the second high voltage bipolar transistor serves as the emitter terminal. A diode has its anode connected to the inner base (emitter of the first high voltage bipolar transistor, or base of the second high voltage bipolar transistor), and its cathode connected to the base terminal. Similarly, a three terminal hybrid MOSFET/bipolar high voltage switching device can be formed by replacing the first high voltage bipolar transistor of the previous switching device by a high voltage MOSFET.

The present invention relates to high voltage semiconductor switching devices. The invention more particularly, although not exclusively, relates to switching device for switching converter applications.
Prior art switching converter circuits are shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. FIG. 1 shows an isolated constant voltage output switching converter while FIG. 2 shows a non-isolated switching converter having constant current output for driving LED lighting.
In both FIGS. 1 and 2, the selection of the power switching device (115 and 215 respectively) is a key decision. Bipolar transistor and MOSFET are typical candidates for power switching device. Bipolar transistors are much less costly than the MOSFET at the same power rating. However, MOSFETs are normally more preferred, especially at high power levels, due to the following reasons:                a. Bipolar transistors require continuous base current to keep them in the turn on state while MOSFETs only require the charge up of the gate capacitance to turn them on;        b. The current gain for power bipolar transistors with high breakdown voltage (say, 600V or more) is usually not high (say, at around 10 to 20, or even less than 10). This renders the power for driving the base substantial, especially when the power converter delivers high power to its output. The efficiency of the switching converter circuit will then be degraded.
By using bipolar transistors in a Darlington configuration, effective current gain becomes product of individual transistor current gain. Hence, effective current gain of a few hundred can be obtained easily and the power loss due to base driving can be reduced to comparable with the gate driving for MOSFET counterpart at the same power level. However, commercially available Darlington transistors are normally being offered in three pin package in which B is the first base and E is the last emitter as shown in FIG. 3. It is easy to turn on by a small base current but the turn off is very slow due to base relaxation at the inner base (base pin for transistors 302 and 304 in FIG. 3). Therefore, it is not suitable for switching converter application as slow switching transition generates substantial amount of heat at the switching device, as well as degradation of efficiency.
IGBT is a hybrid power switching device that attempts to combine the advantage of MOSFET and bipolar transistor. For IGBT, the power for the gate driving is small as it is the charge up of the control gate capacitance similar to the case of MOSFET while the chip size is similar to bipolar transistor for the same rated current due to the conduction mode is bipolar action. However, due to the actual bipolar base terminal is inside the device, it suffers the same problem of slow switching off as the three terminal Darlington bipolar transistor.
As of today, MOSFET is still the most widely used choice for power switching device.

Fabricating method for high voltage semiconductor power switching device


There is provided an aqueous low-foaming cleaning composition comprising peroxygen compound and a surfactant system, wherein the composition has a MR foam value of about less than 16. The composition is stable and suitable for use in a steam cleaning machine. There is also provided a method for predicting foam generation in steam cleaning compositions comprising the steps of mixing the composition.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to steam cleaning compositions. More particularly, the present invention relates to stable, low-foaming steam cleaning compositions for use in cleaning carpets, fabrics and other inanimate surfaces.
2. Description of the Related Art
Fabric and carpet fibers may become soiled or stained upon contact with water and proteinaceous materials, particulate matter, oily/greasy type soils, oxidizable materials, and various other materials. Cleaning compositions are formulated for use on fabrics and carpets.
An important property of cleaning compositions is their propensity to foam. In some situations, a high level of foam is desirable as an indicator to consumers that the product is still working as a cleaner. An example of this would be in hand dishwashing. A lack of foam might be a signal to the consumer to add more products to provide additional cleaning.
However, in other areas of product use, low to negligible levels of foam generation is required. In areas of use where the cleaning product is subjected to high levels of mechanical agitation such as in steam machine carpet cleaning, heavy foam generation results in foam filling the machine and possibly flowing out of its containment. There is also the potential for the foam to seep into machine parts and damage the machine or, at the very least, cause a great deal of inconvenience for the consumer. Furthermore, compositions that are low foaming under other conditions may produce greater, unacceptable levels of foam under the conditions of typical steam cleaning machines.
Today's steam machine cleaning formulations typically are formulated as concentrates, which are then diluted for use. Certain popular machines actually take the detergent concentrate and make the dilution according to preset conditions programmed by the manufacturer. In such cases, it is especially important to have a low foaming product since high settings on the machine will typically be above the recommended product dosage level. Low foaming products help aid in machine safety as well as consumer satisfaction.
Formulating low foaming compositions that are effective in cleaning poses difficulties for the formulator. For example, many commonly used surfactants, particularly certain anionic and amphoteric surfactants, typically are high foam generating surfactants. One method of reducing foam in cleaning compositions is the inclusion of silicone compounds as defoaming agents. However, typical silicone compounds used as defoaming agents could potentially promote resoiling of the carpet or fabric. Further, under typical steam cleaning conditions, the silicone in the cleaning composition may destabilize and separate out of solution leading to the potential coating of machine components with silicone material.
The development of a quick, reliable and easy-to-use predictor test method for foam generation is essential to the development of suitable formulations for today's steam machines, both in terms of machine safety and consumer convenience. Additionally, a good predictor test method will save detergent formulators valuable time and cost in the testing. While outside laboratory tests that use the steam machines of choice can be used as a final method of product acceptability, the service can prove costly and time consuming if used as a screening method for all prototypes.
Of the various dynamic and static test methodologies currently available, the Ross-Miles Method is the most widely used, ASTM D 1173-53 and B. M. Milwidsky and D. M. Gabriel "Detergent Analysis, A Handbook For Cost-Effective Quality Control", 1994 (Micelle Press), pp. 42-43, 175-176. Unfortunately, at the dilution levels typically employed by this method (1% or 0.1%) it was found that false positive results could be obtained. For example, the foam profile of a prototype formulation could be judged low and acceptable in the lab using the Ross-Miles Method. However, when the same prototype formulation is sent for outside lab testing using actual steam machines, the agitation and product concentration employed resulted in unacceptable results. Based on these types of misleading results, a more reliable lab test method to predict foaming profiles in steam cleaning machines is required.
In addition to providing acceptable cleaning performance with no consumer downsides such as too high a foam level or a propensity for resoiling, cleaning compositions must be stable in storage. Furthermore, there is great consumer demand for the inclusion of peroxygen compounds in cleaning compositions, particularly in steam machine cleaning compositions. Peroxygen compounds increase the cleaning range of typical cleaning compositions. However, peroxygen compound containing compositions pose a great challenge for composition formulators, especially in the realm of stability.
A typical consumer may store a cleaning product for many months before use under less than ideal conditions. During storage, the components of the composition ideally should not separate from each other or, if they do, simple shaking the container should result in a completely homogeneous solution. A homogeneous solution during use is necessary for a composition to remain fully effective. The problem of compositional instability is further exacerbated when a peroxygen compound is incorporated into the formulation. Peroxygen compounds easily degrade and their effectiveness as decolorizing and cleaning agents is quickly reduced upon degradation. Furthermore, degradation of a peroxygen compound generates gases that can cause swelling and potential bursting, of the package in which the cleaning composition is provided.
Another concern that is often forgotten is the potential aggressiveness of a peroxygen compound containing composition and its effects (both long term and short term) on the various machine components that are exposed to the cleaning solution under the typical use conditions. Thus, compositions containing these types of materials must not only be stable, but also safe to use by consumers on their carpets and safe to use in various steam machines.
Thus, a low-foaming, stable steam cleaning composition that has a peroxygen compound that is effective for cleaning carpets and fabrics, and that is safe for use on fabrics and carpets, and safe for use in steam cleaning machines, is required. However, no current steam cleaning composition having a peroxygen compound, let alone one that is low-foaming, stable, effective, and safe for use is known. Accordingly, a low-foaming, stable, peroxygen compound containing steam cleaning composition that is effective and safe for cleaning carpets and use in steam cleaning machines is provided. Further, an inexpensive lab test for predicting and more closely simulating the foam profile of a steam cleaning composition in actual steam machines is also provided.

Stable, low-foaming, peroxide steam cleaning compositions and method of predicting foaming in steam cleaning compositions


A method of forming a metal-insulator-metal (MIM) capacitor wherein a plate of a MIM capacitor is formed in the entire thickness of a metallization layer of a semiconductor device. At least one thin conductive material layer is disposed within the material of the metallization layer to reduce the surface roughness of the metallization layer, thus improving the reliability of the MIM capacitor. The thin conductive material layer may comprise TiN, TaN, or WN and may alternatively comprise a barrier layer disposed over or under the TiN, TaN, or WN. One plate of the MIM capacitor is patterned using the same mask that is used to pattern conductive lines in a metallization layer, thus reducing the number of masks that are required to manufacture the MIM capacitor.

Capacitors are elements that are used extensively in semiconductor devices for storing an electrical charge. Capacitors essentially comprise two conductive plates separated by an insulator. The capacitance, or amount of charge held by the capacitor per applied voltage, depends on a number of parameters such as the area of the plates, the distance between the plates, and the dielectric constant value of the insulator between the plates, as examples. Capacitors are used in filters, analog-to-digital converters, memory devices, control applications, and many other types of semiconductor devices.
One type of capacitor is a MIM capacitor, which is frequently used in mixed signal devices and logic semiconductor devices, as examples. MIM capacitors are used to store a charge in a variety of semiconductor devices. MIM capacitors are often used as storage nodes in a memory device, for example. A MIM capacitor is typically formed horizontally on a semiconductor wafer, with two metal plates sandwiching a dielectric layer parallel to the wafer surface.
A prior art MIM capacitor 114 formed in a semiconductor device is shown in FIG. 1. The semiconductor device includes a workpiece 100, which may comprise a semiconductor wafer or substrate having active areas, components or other material layers formed thereon. A plurality of metallization layers are typically formed over the workpiece 100. For example, a top metallization layer Mn may comprise a plurality of conductive lines 122, and an underlying metallization layer M(n-1) may be disposed beneath the top metallization layer Mn. The metallization layer M(n-1) may also comprise a plurality of conductive lines 106 formed therein. An inter-level dielectric (ILD) layer is disposed between the conductive lines 106 and 122, not shown. There may be other metallization layers beneath the metallization layer M(n-1), also not shown, e.g., there may be two to four additional metallization layers disposed beneath metallization layer M(n-1). The metallization layers Mn, M(n-1), and other metallization layers not shown provide an interconnect system, along with vias 104 formed in insulating layer 102 and vias 118 formed in insulating layer 120, for example. The conductive lines 106 and 122 and vias 104 and 118 provide an interconnect means between various components and active regions formed in the workpiece 100 and also provide connection to contacts that will be used to make electrical contact outside the semiconductor device (not shown).
The metallization layers Mn and M(n-1) typically comprise copper or aluminum. Copper has a lower resistance and a higher conductivity than aluminum, but requires damascene processes and more expensive manufacturing processes. Aluminum is typically patterned using a subtractive etch process, for example.
FIG. 1 illustrates a prior art MIM capacitor 114 formed in the via dielectric layer 120. To form the MIM capacitor 114, after conductive lines 106 are formed in metallization layer M(n-1), a conductive material 108 is deposited over the conductive lines 106 and ILD layer disposed between the conductive lines 106 (not shown). The conductive material 108 typically comprises TiN, for example. The conductive material 108 is patterned with a pattern for a MIM capacitor bottom plate using lithography; e.g., a photoresist may be deposited, the photoresist is patterned, and the photoresist is used as a mask while the conductive material 108 is etched to remove portions of the conductive material 108 and form a bottom plate 108. A capacitor dielectric layer 110 is then deposited over the bottom plate 108, and a conductive material 112 is deposited over the capacitor dielectric material 110. The conductive material 112 and dielectric material 110 are patterned with a pattern for the MIM capacitor 114 top plate, as shown, using traditional lithography techniques, for example. An insulating material 120 is deposited over the MIM capacitor 114, and the insulating material 120 is patterned with vias 116 and filled with conductive material, wherein the vias 116 provide electrical contact between the top plate 112 of the MIM capacitor 114 and an overlying conductive line 122 in metallization layer Mn.
The prior art method of forming a MIM capacitor 114 shown in FIG. 1 is disadvantageous in that two mask levels are required to pattern the MIM capacitor 114: one mask for the bottom plate 108, and another mask for the top plate 112 and dielectric material 110 patterning. Each metallization layer Mn and M(n-1) and via layers 102 and 116/118 also require a separate mask to pattern conductive lines 122 and 106, and vias 102 and 116/118, respectively.
What is needed in the art is a method of patterning a MIM capacitor and a structure thereof wherein fewer mask levels are required during the fabrication process for forming a MIM capacitor.
Another problem with the prior art MIM capacitor 114 of FIG. 1 is that TiN is used as a bottom electrode 108 material. TiN has a relatively high sheet resistance, which results in an increased resistance for the MIM capacitor 114. Using TiN for a plate of a MIM capacitor limits the use of MIM capacitor devices in high speed and high performance applications, such as radio frequency (RF) applications.
What is also needed is a MIM capacitor with plates having reduced sheet resistance.

MIM capacitor structure and method of fabrication


An apparatus includes a rendering engine to render a foreground of an image. The apparatus also includes a logic, separate from the rendering engine, to merge at least one background color with the foreground of the image.

1. Technical Field
The application relates generally to image processing, and, more particularly, to background rendering of images.
2. Background
Image processing can be a computational expensive task that may consume limited hardware resources. Typically, image processing includes the rendering of both a foreground and background of an image. Conventional image processing uses a rendering engine that executes a software application to generate pixel data for the foreground and the background of the images, thereby creating images for display. The foreground of an image is usually a more complex creation in comparison to the background. For example, the background may be as simple as a solid color. However, background rendering can consume limited processing bandwidth of the rendering engine. Such bandwidth could be better used for rendering the more complex foreground parts of the image.
A typical implementation of a rendering engine uses a back to front rendering, where the background color of a window is processed first using a very fast two dimensional (2D) clear engine. However, a rendering engine based on a front to back rendering implementation generally achieves better anti-aliasing results. With this latter implementation, the background is processed with the slower, normal three dimensional (3D) rendering path used for processing the foreground.