A secure zipper that can be used for enclosures that prevents manipulation of the zipper pulls when the enclosure is in a closed state, other than by use of the pull tabs of the zipper pulls, by use of a security barrier placed along side the zipper proximate to the end of the zipper.

Zippers are well known in the art. A zipper is a device for bringing and retaining two surfaces together. This is achieved by attaching a set of zipper teeth to each of the surfaces, and then engaging or disengaging the zipper teeth to or from each other by means of a zipper pull. The zipper pull comprises a zipper teeth engagement component and a pull tab attached thereto. When the zipper teeth engagement component is moved along the zipper teeth in one direction, the zipper teeth are interlocked with each other, creating a secure bond, and when the zipper teeth engagement component is moved along the sets of zipper teeth in the opposite direction, the zipper teeth are disengaged from each other. The pull tab of the zipper pull allows the user to more easily move the zipper teeth engagement component in either direction.
Zippers may also comprise a pair of zipper pulls, where the movement of each zipper pull along the zipper teeth results in an opposite engagement/disengagement action from the other. Thus, if a lower zipper pull is moved in a downward direction to disengage the zipper teeth above it, an upper zipper pull moved in the same direction will re-engage those same zipper teeth. This is commonly known in the prior art.
Zippers are used to close and open myriad items. In a common application, zippers may be used to secure entryways to enclosures. That is, an enclosure may have an entryway that is coverable by a door; the door may be secured by a zipper such that passage through the entryway is prevented, and the door may be released by a zipper such that passage through the entryway may be achieved.
In one example, the enclosure may be a bed enclosure. Bed enclosures are typically comprised of barriers erected along the perimeter of a bed, with one or more closeable entryways formed into the barriers to allow entry into the interior of the enclosure. Bed enclosures are typically intended for use with persons who are prone to falling out of bed or who otherwise may need to be restrained in bed. Such bed enclosures are typically used in health care settings for persons with physical or mental disabilities. They are an improvement over bodily restraints that might otherwise be used to prevent injury. In some cases, the door closing the entryway of the bed enclosure is fastened by use of a zipper, and typically a zipper having a pair of zipper pulls. The pull tabs of the zipper pulls are situated on the exterior of the bed enclosure, in order to prevent a person within the bed enclosure from accessing the pull tabs. However, it has been shown that a person within the bed enclosure can manipulate the zipper pulls even without having access to the pull tabs, by manipulated the zipper teeth engagement components from behind. This diminishes the effectiveness of the bed enclosure in achieving its purpose of restraining the user.
In another example, the enclosure may be a tent. Tents typically have a closeable entryway formed into one of the tent flaps to allow entry into the interior of the tent. Tents typically secure a door covering the entryway by use of a zipper, and typically a zipper having a pair of zipper pulls. The pull tabs of the zipper pulls are situated on the interior of the tent, in order to prevent a person outside of the tent from accessing the pull tabs. However, as described above, a person outside of the tent can manipulate the zipper pulls even without having access to the pull tabs. This diminishes the security of the persons within the tent.
From the above examples, it is shown that there is a need for a secure zipper that can be used for enclosures and that prevents manipulation of the zipper pulls other than by the pull tabs of the zipper pulls.
The present invention therefore discloses a secure zipper that can be used for enclosures and that prevents manipulation of the zipper pulls other than by the pull tabs of the zipper pulls.


For producing metallic bar stock there is first of all fabricated a primary product of substantially regularly round or angular cross-section, and this primary product is then deformed in cross-section to the final dimension corresponding to the bar stock by means of shaping. To provide for an efficient production of high-quality bar stock also in a minor quantity, the completely solidified primary product is subjected to a forging operation for a structural improvement before shaping it to the final dimension, during which forging off in one processing plane a spreading-restricted reduction of the cross-section in the range from (1.5 to 5):1 is effected.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a method of producing metallic bar stock, where a primary product of substantially regularly round or angular cross-section is first of all fabricated by continuous casting and subjected to a forging operation, and this primary product is then deformed in cross-section to the final dimension corresponding to the bar stock by means of shaping.
2. Description of the Prior Art
For producing bar steel it is already known to prefabricate a primary product by continuous casting, and in a subsequent rolling process shape it into the finished product with a desired final dimension, where it is necessary, however, to achieve a reduction of the cross-section of about 8:1, so as to convert the coarse-grained cast structure of the primary product into a fine-grained structure providing the required mechanical properties of the bar steel. Since on each rolling stand, i.e. with each forming step, rolling can only lead to a reduction of the cross-section of about 1.2:1, a plurality of passes or rolling stands is required, until the desired reduction of the cross-section of about 8:1 has been achieved. This high rolling expenditure is unjustified for high-quality material, which is only required in small amounts, and in addition the large reduction requires large casting cross-sections, which in turn increase the expenditure for the continuous casting plant.
In accordance with U.S. Pat. No. 4,930,207 A it has already been proposed to subject the primary product to a forging operation, to prevent the formation of segregations and shrink holes in the interior of the strand material due to the solidification, for which purpose forging is effected during the transition of the core portion from the liquid phase into the solid phase and is performed with a forging frequency adapted to the casting speed and with tools adapted to the width of the liquid core portion. This type of forging specially applied for preventing segregations and shrink holes does, however, not lead to a change in the actual material structure, i.e. the crystalline structure of the strand material, so that here as well the primary product has a cast structure after forging.


An object of the invention is to provide a novel dendrimer serving as an organic semiconductor material which is isotropic and which exhibits remarkably high carrier conductivity. Another object of the invention is to provide an electronic device employing the dendrimer. These objects are attained by a dendrimer having a branching structure in which repeating units each having a branch portion are repeatedly linked through the divergent method or the convergent method, each of said repeating units having a structure represented by formula (1), and containing a linear portion X formed of an optionally substituted divalent organic group and a branch portion Y formed of an optionally substituted trivalent organic group: characterized in that the linear portion X contains at least one thienylene moiety and is at least partially conjugated with the branch portion Y.

Electrically conductive organic polymers have become of scientific and technical interest since the late 1970s. The polymers, which are based on a comparatively new technique, exhibit electronic and magnetic characteristics of metal as well as physical and mechanical characteristics of conventional organic polymers. Known conductive organic polymers include poly(p-phenylene)s, poly(p-phenylenevinylene)s, polyanilines, polythiophenes, polypyrroles, polyazines, polyfurans, polycenophenes, poly(p-phenylene sulfide)s, mixtures thereof, blends thereof with another polymer, and copolymers of monomers of the above-described polymers. These conductive organic polymers are conjugated-system polymers which exhibit electrical conductivity through doping caused by reaction such as oxidation, reduction, or protonization.
In recent years, efforts have been made to fabricate, from these conductive organic polymers, light-emitting elements of organic electroluminescent devices (organic EL, OLED) and active elements of field-effect transistors (organic FET, organic TFT). In one current practice, an expensive plasma CVD apparatus is used for forming an insulating layer or a semiconductor layer of an amorphous silicon TFT or polysilicon TFT, and an expensive sputtering apparatus is used for forming an electrode. In addition, film formation by CVD must be carried out at a temperature as high as 230 to 350° C., and maintenance operations such as cleaning must be carried out frequently, thereby reducing throughput. In contrast, apparatuses such as a coating apparatus and an ink-jet apparatus for fabricating organic FETs or similar devices are less expensive than the CVD apparatus and sputtering apparatus. In addition, film formation can be performed at lower temperature, and maintenance of the apparatuses is less cumbersome. Therefore, when display devices such as a liquid crystal display and an organic EL are fabricated from an organic FET, a remarkable cost reduction can be expected.
Typical organic EL devices include a transparent substrate made of material such as glass, a transparent electrode, a hole-injecting layer, a hole-transporting layer, a light-emitting layer, an electron-transporting layer, and a metal electrode. Three separate layers; namely, the hole-transporting layer, the light-emitting layer, and the electron-transporting layer, may be formed into a single hole-transporting and light-emitting layer, or into a single electron-transporting and light-emitting layer. The specific features are disclosed by Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (kokai) Nos. 7-126616, 8-18125, 10-92576, etc. However, problems such as service life still remain unsolved for organic EL devices, and studies for improvement are under way.
Typical organic TFTs include a transparent substrate made of material such as glass, a gate substrate, a gate insulating film, a source electrode, a drain electrode, and an organic semiconductor film. By modifying gate voltage, electric charge at the interface between the gate insulating layer and the organic semiconductor film is rendered excessive or deficient, whereby the drain current flowing between the source and drain electrodes via the organic semiconductor film is varied, to thereby perform switching.
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (kokai) No. 63-076378 discloses that an organic TFT is fabricated from polythiophene or a polythiophene derivative serving as the aforementioned organic semiconductor film. Fabrication of an organic TFT from pentacene is disclosed in Yen-Yi Lin, David J. Gundlach, Shelby F. Nelson, and Tomas N. Jackson, IEEE Transaction on Electron Device, Vol. 44, No. 8, p. 1,325 (1997).
However, use of pentacene raises problems. For example, film formation must be performed through a vapor deposition process, and crystallinity must be elevated for enhancement of device characteristics. Another possible approach is use of a soluble pentacene derivative for enhancing processability. However, in this case, characteristics remain unsatisfactory.
Application and development of an organic semiconductor formed of polythiophene, a polythiophene derivative, or a thiophene oligomer are under way, since the organic semiconductor has excellent formability; e.g., is readily formed into thin film through electrolytic polymerization, solution coating, or a similar method. However, in this case, characteristics remain unsatisfactory.
Meanwhile, in recent years, hyperbranched polymer materials in a broad sense such as dendrimers and hyperbranched polymers have become of interest. Characteristic features of dendrimers and hyperbranched polymers include amorphousness, solubility in organic solvent, and presence of a large number of branch ends to which a functional group can be introduced. L. L. Miller et al. describe in J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1997, 119, 1,005 that a polyamide dendrimer having, at branch ends, 1,4,5,8-naphthalenetetracarboxy-diimido residues to which a quaternary pyridinium salt is bonded has isotropic electron conductivity (also referred to as "transportability"), and that the conductivity is provided by interaction of π electrons generated by spatial overlapping of the branch end moieties. Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (kokai) No. 2000-336171 discloses a dendrimer containing a dendron having hole-conducting moieties at branch ends and no π-electron-conjugated system including a carbonyl group and a benzene ring, as well as a photoelectric conversion device employing the dendrimer.
However, in function elements employing semiconductive or conductive polymers such as conjugated polymers, high charge conductivity of the aforementioned organic semiconductor appears along a molecular chain orientation, and varies depending on the molecular structure. In addition, semiconductive or conductive polymers such as conjugated polymers are generally rigid and cannot be dissolved or melted. Most of them cannot be dissolved in solvent. To this end, there are used derivatives of such polymers into which side chains are introduced, and oligomers thereof (see Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (kokai) Nos. 4-133351, 63-076378, 5-110069, etc.). However, problems also arise. For example, when side chains are introduced, glass transition temperature appears, and thermochromism attributed to micro-Brownian motion is induced, resulting in temperature-dependent variation in characteristics. Use of oligomers may deteriorate reliability. Even when the side-chain-introduced polymer is used, satisfactory mobility cannot be attained. Thus, polymerization degree must be increased, or orientation degree of the conductive organic compound must be enhanced by use of orientation film as described in, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (kokai) No. 7-206599.
Furthermore, since conjugated polymers tend to be affected by oxygen and water, thereby readily causing deterioration, conventional organic FET elements employing the conjugated polymers have poor stability and electric characteristics and a short service life, which is problematic.
Meanwhile, a hyperbranched polymer having a thienylene-phenylene structure as a structural repeating unit is disclosed in literature (Japanese Patent No. 3074277B). However, the production method disclosed in this document employs polymerization based on the Grignard reaction, such a highly regulated repeating structure as a dendrimer has cannot be obtained. Thus, the compound synthesized through this method has a wide molecular weight distribution profile, as is the case with customary polymers. Therefore, when functional groups are attempted to be introduced to a core serving as a center moiety or end groups serving as a molecular surface, these functional groups are introduced randomly, raising a problem that a desired function is difficult to attain. In addition, the compounds disclosed in this reference are used as conducting material, after being doped with an electron-accepting reagent to thereby form conductivity-imparted polymer.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Dendrimer and electronic device element employing the same


A method of making a semiconductor device includes forming a high-k dielectric layer over a substrate; and forming a titanium nitride layer over the high-k dielectric layer. The method further includes performing a silicon treatment on the titanium nitride layer to form at least one silicon monolayer over the titanium nitride layer. The method further includes annealing the semiconductor device to form a TiSiON layer over a remaining portion of the titanium nitride layer.

High-k dielectric materials are now used in many semiconductor devices as replacements for the silicon dioxide gate insulator that has previously been used. The high-k dielectric materials allow the continued scaling of semiconductor devices to smaller dimensions without sacrificing performance of the semiconductor devices. Polysilicon is a gate electrode material used in semiconductor devices which use silicon dioxide as the gate insulator. To manage the inherent threshold voltage value in the semiconductor devices that use high-k dielectric materials as the gate insulator, the polysilicon is replaced by an n-type or p-type metal. Barrier layers are used to prevent diffusion of the n-type or p-type metal toward the high-k dielectric materials as the diffusion may cause Time Dependent Dielectric Breakdown (TDDB) of the semiconductor devices. Thinner barriers that prevent diffusion of the n-type or p-type metal toward the high-k dielectric allow smaller, more reliable, more power efficient and faster semiconductor devices to be fabricated.

Method of forming a semiconductor device comprising titanium silicon oxynitride

TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.


A STT-MRAM comprises a method to form magnetic random access memory (MRAM) element array having ultra small dimensions using double photo exposures and etch of their hard masks. The memory cells are located at the cross section of two ultra-narrow photo-resist lines suspended between two large photo-resist bases. Array of MRAM cells with small dimension is formed by a third magnetic etch.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to a method of manufacturing spin transfer magnetic-random-access memory (MRAM) having magnetoresistive elements as basic memory cells, more particularly to a method of fabricating magnetoresistive elements having ultra small dimensions by dual photo exposures and etching of hard masks.
2. Description of the Related Art
In recent years, magnetic random access memories (hereinafter referred to as MRAMs) using the magnetoresistive effect of ferromagnetic tunnel junctions (also called MTJs) have been drawing increasing attention as the next-generation solid-state nonvolatile memories that can cope with high-speed reading and writing, large capacities, and low-power-consumption operations. A ferromagnetic tunnel junction has a three-layer stack structure formed by stacking a recording layer having a changeable magnetization direction, an insulating spacing layer, and a fixed layer that is located on the opposite side from the recording layer and maintains a predetermined magnetization direction.
There has been a known technique for achieving a high MR ratio in a magnetoresistive element by forming a crystallization acceleration film that accelerates crystallization and is in contact with an interfacial magnetic film having an amorphous structure. As the crystallization acceleration film is formed, crystallization is accelerated from the tunnel barrier layer side, and the interfaces with the tunnel barrier layer and the interfacial magnetic film are matched to each other. By using this technique, a high MR ratio can be achieved.
As a write method to be used in such magnetoresistive elements, there has been suggested a write method (spin torque transfer switching technique) using spin momentum transfers. According to this method, the magnetization direction of a recording layer is reversed by applying a spin-polarized current to the magnetoresistive element. Furthermore, as the volume of the magnetic layer forming the recording layer is smaller, the injected spin-polarized current to write or switch can be also smaller. Accordingly, this method is expected to be a write method that can achieve both device miniaturization and lower currents.
In the mean time, since the switching current requirements reduce with decreasing MTJ element dimensions, STT-MRAM has the potential to scale nicely at the most advanced technology nodes. However, patterning of small MTJ element may lead to increasing variability in MTJ resistance and sustaining relatively high switching current or recording voltage variation in a STT-MRAM; accordingly a degradation of MRAM performance would occur. Due to the limitation (such as UV light source and photo-resist thickness) of the current photolithography technology, it is also difficult to form ultra-small photo-resist pillar pattern. Once a cell dimension is getting too small, the photo-resist pillars will not be strong enough to support themselves and bend or tilt; accordingly causing a variation in magnetoresistive element dimensions. More seriously, some photo-resist pillars may collapse before etching; thereby defects are generated.
Thus, it is desirable to pattern STT-MRAM elements into ultra small dimensions having a good uniformity and minimum impact on MTJ magnetic properties by a manufacturing method that realizes high yield, highly-accurate reading, highly-reliable recording and low power consumption while suppressing destruction and reduction of life of MTJ memory device due to recording in a nonvolatile memory that performs recording resistance changes, and maintaining a high thermal factor for a good data retention.

Method of manufacturing MRAM memory elements


The efficiency of a Viterbi algorithm in a communication system, in which the transmission channel contains memory, is improved when several sequences in a signal string are detected in descending probability order. An error detecting operation then selects the correct sequence, if any, to be the received sequence.

The invention relates to a Maximum Likelihood Sequence Estimation (MLSE) algorithm, and more specifically to a method for improving the efficiency of a Viterbi algorithm in a system receiving a signal string.
Generally, the communication on a memory containing channel becomes more difficult due to unintentional analog convolution coding, which is due to the interaction between symbols. In this context the term "memory containing" means that the values of respective bits in a sequence or in a bit string in a digital transmission system depend on the bits preceding and/or succeeding the respective bit, i.e. on the "memory" of the system. A memory containing channel is intentionally constructed when utilizing convolution codes. The memory of the system is utilized to make the transmission more reliable.
Usually efforts are made to remove unintentional interaction on the transmission path, e.g. with linear or non-linear filtering, the receiver "seeing" a channel almost without memory.
A receiver for data transmission systems containing memory is in a known way based on a MLSE algorithm. With the aid of the MLSE algorithm such a sequence or a bit string is found, which with the greatest probability is the same as the transmitted sequence.
In an ideal MLSE algorithm a signal formed through all possible symbol strings (combinations of symbols or bits) is tested against the signal actually received. Thereby, it is assumed that the response of the channel is known and/or measured. It is possible to select the "best" symbol string with different criteria, which minimize the error probability of the decision.
The use of a MLSE algorithm is in practice limited by the fact that when the length of the symbol string increases, the number of possible combinations to be tested will increase exponentially.
Efforts have been made to solve this problem by taking into account the length of the channel, whereby the calculation requirements are exponentially proportional to the length of the channel instead of to the length of the sequence. The Viterbi algorithm is a well-known algorithm of this kind. As an example of a system where the MLSE-algorithm may be used, the pan-European GSM system may be mentioned, in which it is possible with the Viterbi algorithm to solve the coding for error correction and unintentional coding due to the radio transmission path. With the Viterbi algorithm it is possible to find efficiently the best possible symbol sequence or that sequence, at which the ideal MLSE algorithm also would arrive.
Known methods, that are less complicated than the complete MLSE and the Viterbi algorithm, have a disadvantage of poorer performance than the MLSE.
So called look-up algorithms are also known, with which the Viterbi algorithm can be extended so that it will be able to find the most probable sequence, and in addition a desired number of sequences in descending probability order can be found. As an example of a look-up algorithm of this type there may be mentioned Henry S. Thomson, "Active Chart Parsing/Best First Enumeration of Parts in a Lattice", European Conference on Speech Communication and Technology, Paris, September 1989.
On the other hand, in transmission systems it is known to use error monitoring or error detection to detect, and possibly to correct, an error in a received sequence. Several error detecting functions are known; they are generally of a block type and based on the use of a polynomial. A generic name for these is CRC (Cyclic Redundancy Check)--in colloquial language we talk about parity checks.


A hair appliance providing a naturally, secure, comfortable hair supplement for enhancing the cosmetic appearance of an individual having a head net with a fitted band, surrounding tracks and vertical spacers. Hair, natural or artificial, is carried by at least the surrounding tracks and blends with the natural hair of the wearer. The head net construction allows the personal hair of the wearer to be pulled through the hair opening defined by the fitted band and tracks so the personal hair of the wearer and the appliance hair is blended together to provide a naturally appearing, secure, comfortable appearance. The hair appliance can also provide bangs when a front bang section is included. Additionally, the appliance hair can terminate at a variable length or at generally the same length.

This invention relates to a hair appliance which allow the wearer's natural hair to be supplemented and naturally blended with appliance hair thus providing for increased thickness, increased length, varying color, differing styles and differing textures.
The popularity of hair supplements for cosmetic use has dramatically increased in the recent years. The desire to enhance one's physical appearance is more prevalent in today's society than ever. Traditionally, the desire to change or alter one's hair was accomplished through the use of such devices as wigs, hair weaves or partial hair supplements.
Wigs, while well known in the art, still contain many problems to which much attention need be given. For example, wigs are hot, itchy and otherwise uncomfortable since they completely cover an entire portion or even the entire scalp. U.S. Pat. No. 3,862,638 illustrates such a wig which completely covers the wearer's head. Wigs also appear bulky since the wearer's personal hair is compressed under the wig. Additionally, this wig and does not providing adequate ventilation to the scalp. U.S. Pat. No. 3,613,695 shows a laminated base structure which prevents ventilation from reaching the scalp. Additionally, the traditional wig needs to be removed for sleep.
Hairweaves, while allowing ventilation to the scalp, require the assistance of another individual to weave the hair into the wearer's personal hair. Methods for securing the hair weave include hair bonding glues, weaving threads, hair clips, combs, braiding, or knotting human or synthetic hair to the wearer's hair. These methods of attachment place excessive tension on the hair and scalp and causes discomfort as well as damage to the wearers hair.
While partial hair supplements have been provided, they are primarily designed to hide thinning or bald spots of the wearer. For example, U.S. Pat. No. RE 34,186 is designed to provide a cap with a small hank of hair extending from the front of the cap. The invention of U.S. Pat. No. 4,016,889 only supplements the bangs of the wearer. The invention disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,651,821 describes a partial hair piece for a male. The hair piece does not surround the wearers head and only provides for partial covering. The bands of this invention are longitudinal and therefore can not encircle the wearer's head. Additionally, elastic is used to secure the hair piece to the head and causes discomfort since the hair piece is designed to be held sung onto the wearer's head. Likewise, the invention of U.S. Pat. No. 4,966,173 only cover strips on the top of the head and the invention of U.S. Pat. No. DE 376,444 only supplements the rear of the head.
Thus, the prior art has not provided a satisfactory comfortable hair appliance for supplementing the entire natural hair of a person where the natural and appliance hair may be naturally blended together to provide a full head of hair having increased thickness, length and varying color, style and texture.
Accordingly, an important object of this invention is to provide a naturally appearing hair supplement which is virtually undetectably to the observer and comfortable to wear.
Another object of this invention is to provide a hair supplement for increasing the thickness and length, varying the color, and differing the style and texture of the existing hair without requiring the assistance of another to wear the hair appliance.
Another object of this invention is to provide a hair supplement which allows for ventilation so that air can reach the scalp preventing the wearer's hair from heating.
Another object of this invention is to provide a hair supplement which can be secured to the wearer's head in a fashion which eliminates the need to remove the hair appliance before sleeping.
Another object of the invention is to provide a head net which securely fits to the wearer's head, can be worn while sleeping, and allows the appliance hair to be blended with the hair of the wearer to form a naturally appearing, virtually undetectable hair supplement.


Optical signals transmitted from optical transmission panels are received by photodetectors, which detect the number of actually transmitted optical signals. A control signal depending on the number of optical signals detected is supplied to an optical amplifier. The intensity of a combined optical signal amplified by the control signal is controlled by controlling a current supplied to a pumping light source. Information representative of the number of optical signals detected is superposed onto the amplified optical signal by generating the current supplied to the pumping light source as a sine-wave signal depending on the detected number of optical signals. In a downstream optical repeater, the information representative of the number of optical signals is extracted, and the optical signal is amplified, after which the information representative of the number of optical signals is superposed again onto the amplified optical signal for transmission. Even when some of the optical transmission panels fail to operate and the optical signals transmitted therefrom are interrupted, since the combined optical signal is amplified depending on the number of optical signals detected, the optical signals are maintained at a constant gain and output level.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a wavelength-division-multiplexing optical amplifier device for amplifying a plurality of optical signals having different wavelengths, and more particularly to the stabilization of an amplified optical output signal from such a wavelength-division-multiplexing amplifier device. The present invention is also concerned with a wavelength-division-multiplexing optical transmission system which employs wavelength-division-multiplexing optical amplifier device in an optical transmitter and an optical repeater.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventional optical linear amplifier devices are controlled by an optical amplifier control process which branches an inputted optical signal of the optical linear amplifier, detects the reception level of the optical signal with a reception level monitor, and controls the amplification factor of the optical linear amplifier depending on the detected reception level. However, no reliable control system has been established yet for an optical transmission system where a plurality of different optical signals are wavelength-division-multiplexed for transmission, particularly an optical linear amplifier that employs optical pumping for its operation.
Wavelength-division-multiplexing optical transmission systems to which conventional optical linear amplifiers are directly applied suffer various problems. In such a wavelength-division-multiplexing optical transmission system, two or more optical signals having different wavelengths are wavelength-division-multiplexed in a single wavelength band, and amplified by an optical amplifier for transmission. One of the problems is that when one or more optical signals are interrupted for some reason, such a signal interruption is erroneously detected as a reduction in the inputted level of the combined optical signal, and the system increases the amplification factor of the optical amplifier, resulting in an increase in the amplification factor for each of the optical signals. This phenomenon happens because the conventional optical amplifier control process branches an inputted optical signal, detects the reception level of the optical signal with a reception level monitor, and controls the amplification factor of the optical amplifier depending on the detected reception level.
Another problem is that while the amplification factor for each of the optical signals may be set to a desired level at an upstream optical signal terminal of the wavelength-division-multiplexing optical transmission system, the amplification factor for each of the optical signals tends to vary depending on the number of optical signals at a downstream linear repeater. This is because there has been no means whatsoever for transmitting information representative of the number of optical signals from the upstream optical signal terminals to the downstream linear repeater.

Wavelength-division-multiplexing optical amplifier device and wavelength-division-multiplexing optical transmission system


An integrated circuit and method having an extended drain MOS transistor with a buried drift region, a drain end diffused link between the buried drift region and the drain contact, and a concurrently formed channel end diffused link between the buried drift region and the channel, where the channel end diffused link is formed by implanting through segmented areas to dilute the doping to less than two-thirds the doping in the drain end diffused link.

An integrated circuit may contain a planar extended drain metal oxide semiconductor (MOS) transistor with a buried drift region, for example to provide an operating voltage above the dielectric strength of the gate dielectric layer in the MOS transistor. It may be desirable to form a low resistance drain end connection between the buried drift region and the drain contact, while it may be desirable to form a lightly doped channel end link between the buried drift region and the channel of the MOS transistor. It may further be desirable to minimize the number of photolithographic and ion implant operations in the fabrication sequence of forming the integrated circuit.

High voltage lateral extended drain MOS transistor with improved drift layer contact


A nonvolatile memory cell is provided. The memory cell includes a storage transistor and an injector in a well of an n-type conductivity. The well is formed in a semiconductor substrate of a p-type conductivity. The storage transistor comprises a source, a drain, a channel, and a charge storage region. The source and the drain are formed in the well and having the p-type conductivity with the channel of the well defined therebetween. The charge storage region is disposed over and insulated from the channel region by an insulator. Further provided are methods operating the memory cell, including means for injecting electrons from the channel through the insulator onto the charge storage region and means for injecting holes from the injector through the well through the channel through the insulator onto the charge storage region. The memory cell can be implemented in a conventional logic CMOS process.

Non-volatile semiconductor memory cells permitting charge storage capability are well known in the art. The charges stored thereon define the states of a memory cell. Typically, the states can be either two levels or more than two levels (for multi-level states storage). In terms of charge storage scheme, in general, the memory cells can be divided into two main categories. The first type of memory uses a conductive or semiconductor region as the storage site. The storage site is electrically insulated from but capacitively coupled to surrounding electrodes through a storage insulator. Charges stored in such memory are evenly distributed through out the conductive region. Memory cells with such type of charge storage scheme are commonly referred as "floating-gate" type of cells. Typically, such floating gate memory cells have been of the single-gate type, split-gate type, or stack-gate type, or a combination thereof.
The second type of memory stores charges in a plurality of discrete storage sites, such as trapping centers of an appropriate dielectric material ("trapping dielectric"). The storage sites in the trapping dielectric is electrically insulated from but capacitively coupled to surrounding electrodes through a storage insulator. The Memory cells employing such type of storage scheme are commonly referred as "charge-trapping" memory cells. The storage sites can be also in nano-crystal form, and the memory cells employing such type of storage scheme are commonly referred as "nano-crystal" memory cells. These memory cells do not require a floating-gate. Therefore, it provides advantages over the floating-gate memory cells in area such as negligible interference between adjacent cells, and reduced process complexity. Furthermore, the charges in such memory cell can be stored at localized sites (traps or nano-crystals). Therefore it also has the advantage that in the event there is a local breakdown in the storage dielectric or in surrounding dielectrics, charges stored at other sites can still be retained.
Single-gate memory has the advantages over other types of memory cells on a simpler process in manufacturing such type of memory cell. This type of memory can potentially be manufactured in process as simple as a conventional CMOS, thus can be manufactured with low cost and can be easily embedded in CMOS logic products. Such non-volatile memory cell has been proposed in U.S. published application Ser. Nos. 2004/0109364 A1, 2004/0109380 A1, in U.S. Pat. No. 6,617,637, and in U.S. published application Ser. No. 2004/0061168 A1, which are hereby incorporated by reference. As will be described hereinafter, there are several disadvantages in the disclosures of prior arts. The present invention provides cell structures and operation method with advantages over the prior arts.
The present invention can best be understood with an understanding of how the memory cells in prior arts are constructed and how they are operated for program and erase operations. Thus a short introduction is presented to describe the prior art cell structure, and the cell operations.
U.S. published application Ser. Nos. 2004/0109364 A1 and 2004/0109380 A1 taught memory cell structure and operation method (e.g. program and erase). Illustrated in FIG. 1 is a cross sectional view for cell structure 100 of the prior art. The cell 100 comprises a first and a second p-type metal-oxide semiconductor field-effect-transistors (p-FETs 10 and 12) formed in an n-type of Well 14 (n-Well). Both p-FETs 10 and 12 are connected in series by a shared region 16 with the gate of the first p-FET 10 functioning as a select gate (SG 18), and gate of the second p-FET 12 functioning as a floating-gate (FG 20) for storing charge carriers. A source region 22 of the first p-FET is connected to a source-line with a source-line voltage 24 applied thereto. Similarly, a drain region 26 of the second p-FET is connected to a bit-line with a bit-line voltage 28 applied thereto. The SG 18 of the memory cell 100 is connected to a select-gate voltage 30 of appropriate voltages during cell operations. The cells are electrically programmed by heating up channel holes 32 through which impacted channel hot electrons 34 (ICHE) are created and injected into the floating gate 20. For re-programmability, the cell need be erased by application of ultraviolet 36 (UV) light treatment. Therefore, the cells are used in devices typically known as EPROM devices well-known in the art. During cell operation (e.g. program and read), the n-Well 14 is biased at a voltage different than ground voltage. Therefore, though not shown in the prior art, the n-Well 14 need be formed in a p-type Well or a p-type substrate. Such type of memory cells can be manufactured in a conventional CMOS process having an n-Well in a p-type semiconductor substrate (Sub). However, erasing such cells requires erasure of the entire memory device by application of UV light even erase is made for changing the content of only a single byte. The memory device has to be removed from the circuit board in order to perform UV treatment for the erase operation. The process is tedious and adds inconvenience in product applications.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,617,637 taught an electrically erasable and programmable memory (EEPROM) cell structure and operation method, and is hereby incorporated by reference. The cell comprises a structure similar to the one in FIG. 1 except that the drain next to the floating gate comprises a heavily doped n-type region (n+ region) formed in a lightly doped p-type region (p− region). The cell is programmed by injecting ICHE into floating gate and erased by Band-to-Band-Tunneling (BTBT) injection of holes into the floating gate. The cell structure and operation method require the p− region having a metallurgical junction depth deeper than that of the n+ region and yet shallower than that of the n-Well, in order to isolate the n+ region from the n-Well. The needs on a shallower p− region (or equivalently a deeper n-Well region) prohibit this memory cell from being implemented in the conventional CMOS process, as neither of these regions is available in the base-line process of conventional CMOS.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,736,764 taught an electrically erasable and programmable memory (EEPROM) cell structure and operation method, and is hereby incorporated by reference. The cell comprises a p-FET-based cell structure similar to the one in FIG. 1 except that a control gate is added in the cell structure for operating the cell. The cell is programmed by injecting ICHE onto floating gate and erased by removing electrons from floating gate through Fowler-Nordheim tunneling mechanism. The control gate is essential for the cell operation and comprises a p-type diffusion layer. The memory cell is electrical erasable and thus has the advantage over cells in U.S. application Ser. Nos. 2004/0109364 A1 and 2004/0109380 A1. However, the p-type diffusion layer has to be disposed under a portion of the floating gate in order to effectively perform the control gate function. Such kind of p-type diffusion is unavailable in the conventional CMOS process, thus the cell structure cannot be realized in the conventional CMOS. Further, the control gate occupies a large portion of the cell area thus unavoidably enlarges the cell size.
U.S. published application Ser. No. 2004/0061168 A1 taught an electrically erasable and programmable memory (EEPROM) cell structure 200 and operation method. The cell is illustrated in n-FET based architecture, and is programmed by substrate hot electron injection (SHEI) and erased by Fowler-Nordheim tunneling. The cell structure comprises a floating gate, and two separated p-Wells with a first p-Well having a pair of n-type FETs (n-FETs) connected in series and a second p-Well having an n-FET. Illustrated in FIGS. 2A and 2B (prior art) are cross sectional view of a cut-plane along line BB in FIG. 3a of the prior art for the program and the erase operations, respectively. Referring to FIG. 2A, the floating gate 40 is disposed over and insulated from the first p-Well 42 and the second p-Wells 44 by an insulator 46. A n+ region 48 formed in the second p-Well 44 functions as a control gate of the memory cell 200 to allow charge carriers be added onto or removed from the portion of floating gate 40 that is disposed over the first p-Well 42. The bias condition shown in FIG. 2A permit substrate electrons 49 be heated up to transport through the n-channel layer 50 and be injected into the floating gate 40 along a trajectory 51 to perform a program operation on the memory cell. FIG. 2B is a similar cross sectional view as in FIG. 2A except bias condition is set for the erase operation. A voltage in the range of about 10V is applied across the insulator 46 between floating gate 40 and the 1st p-Well 42 (−5V applied at the control gate 48 and the second p-Well 44, and +5 V applied to the 1st p-Well 42). The bias and the cell structure permits electrons 52 in FG 40 be removed along the trajectory 53 shown in dash line. Notably, to support erase operation, both p-Wells are isolated from a p-substrate 54 by a deeper n-Well (deep n-Well 56) having a well depth deeper than the p-Wells 42 and 44 in order to avoid forward-biasing any p-Well during the erase operation of the cell 200. The memory cell 200 is electrical erasable and thus has the advantage over cells in U.S. application Ser. Nos. 2004/0109364 A1 and 2004/0109380 A1. However, the requirement on isolated p-Wells from the substrate prohibits this memory cell from being implemented in the conventional CMOS process, where the deep n-Well 56 is not available. Additionally, the requirement on a control gate 48 for operating the cell requires the second p-Well 44 be an isolation well (to isolate the control gate 48 from the deep n-Well 56). Therefore, it unavoidably enlarges the cell size. This issue is worse when a Well region is involved (due to the looser design rule for Well-to-Well spacing than other rules). It is noted that the memory cell can be configured to a p-FET based cell by replacing the n-FETs with p-FETs, and by proper changing the Well type to an opposite one. Specifically, in such case, the cell can comprise two n-Wells isolated by a deep p-Well in an n-type substrate. Nevertheless, the forgoing issues on larger cell size and on incompatibility with the conventional CMOS process remain be the main disadvantages of such cell.
As described hereinbefore, the memory cells in U.S. Pat. No. 5,736,764 and U.S. application Ser. No. 2004/0061168 A1 are erased by Fowler-Nordheim tunneling mechanism. Similar technique has been widely employed in other types of single-gate memory cells (for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,604,700, and 5,465,231). In erasing these types of nonvolatile memories with such mechanism, a large voltage drop (typically ranging from 9 to 20V) across the storage insulator is required to perform the operation in order to set a desired logic states (e.g. a "0" state) to the memory. Employing Fowler-Nordheim tunneling mechanism to erase these types of memory cells unavoidably introduces stress field in the range of about 10 MV/cm to the storage insulator, which isolates the floating gate or the storage sites from surrounding conductive regions. This high field stress effect on the storage insulator results in charge leakage and retention failure even when memory cells are under a low field condition. This effect is known as the Stress Induced Leakage Current (SILC), and has been shown being the dominant leakage mechanism causing retention failure in non-volatile memory industry (see K. Naruke et al, "Stress Induced Leakage Current Limiting to Scale Down EEPROM Tunnel Oxide Thickness", IEDM Technical Digest, pp. 424–427, 1988.). Therefore, the memory cell disclosed in U.S. published application Ser. No. 2004/0061168 A1 is believed suffered from high field induced SILC issue.
The present invention provides cell structure and operation method of a single poly electrical erasable programmable memory cell that can be fabricated in the conventional CMOS process. The erase operation of the present cell permits the voltage drop across the storage insulator be confined in range less than about 2 V. Therefore, it avoids the high field stress on the insulator and hence the SILC issue. Other advantages, objects and features of the present invention will become apparent by a review of the specification, claims and appended figures.

Electrically alterable non-volatile memory cell


A photoelectric cell which detects a distance of an object, including: a first detection component configured to produce a first current which is a function of the distance of the object; a second detection component configured to produce a second current which is a function of the distance of the object; and, a processing circuit configured to shape a first voltage signal and a second voltage signal that correspond to the first current and second current, respectively. The processing circuit includes a main comparator configured to determine whether the distance of the object is greater or less than a detection range of said photoelectric cell by comparing the first voltage signal and the second voltage signal and to output a switching signal indicative of whether the distance of the object is greater or less than the detection range, and, a locking comparator configured to maintain the switching signal in an inactive state when the first voltage signal is less than a set-point voltage which corresponds to a detection distance greater than the detection range.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a photoelectric cell, particularly one that excludes the background, using two either separate light-receiving components or two such components combined in a single device. The light-receiving components provide currents that vary differently depending on the distance of an object or target located in the path of the optical beam received by the components. The invention also uses an electronic circuit that carries out differential processing of the currents.
2. Discussion of the Background
Such cells, using for example a light-receiving device called a Position Sensitive Device (PSD), are well known in the art. They make use of the fact that, for a distance of the object greater than a nominal distance known as the detection range, the first current (provided by the first component) is greater than the second current (provided by the second component) whereas the opposite is the case at distances less than this range. Use is made of this phenomenon by means of an electronic circuit that transforms the currents into signals with different voltages and compares the voltage signals in a main comparator. This comparator provides an output signal that signifies the ON or OFF status of the cell; the cell then interprets the position of the object as being beyond or within the range.
It is found, however, that if the object is at infinite distance or very large the voltages representing the two currents are practically nil. This results in the comparator output being unstable under circumstances where interference is present.

Photoelectric cell with lockable differential processing


A method and system for ranking search results is disclosed. Search sessions are tracked to determined accessed search results. For each accessed search result occurring across the plurality of search sessions, the accessed search result is associated with each search query having been executed within a given search session, prior to the user accessing the accessed search result. A preselection is made among the query elements forming each search query, for indexing the selected query elements. For each pairing of a query element from the preselection and an associated accessed search result, a result score is calculated. A ranking model is then generated. The ranking model contains the result score in association with the corresponding pairing, for ranking subsequent search results from subsequent search queries according to the result scores.

Optimizing search results relevancy is highly challenging in an information retrieval system. First, the user's query must be matched with many potential search results, which is complex when queries are too general (i.e. matching too many documents), contain misspelled words or simply use the wrong vocabulary (i.e. words not present in the index). In addition, in order to optimize relevancy, it is not enough to only use the user's query, because it is often not expressive enough to understand what the user needs. Moreover, in most cases, the environment is constantly changing. For example, content is added or modified, new users are introduced to the system or existing user's needs evolve. Thus, results considered relevant at a given moment may not be the most relevant ones, days, weeks or months later. Therefore, the determination of the relevance of search results must evolve over time to reflect such contextual changes.
Hence, there is a need for an improved system which, by virtue of its design and components, would be able to overcome some of the above-discussed prior art concerns.

System and method for ranking search results


A screen of reflection-type operable with linearly polarized imagewise rays of light projected thereon for presenting a projected image, carried by the linearly polarized imagewise rays of light (8), to viewers occupying a position in front of the screen. The screen comprises a polarizing film (6) having first and second surfaces, a metal layer (4) formed on the second surface of the polarizing film (6) for reflecting the linearly polarized imagewise rays of light (8), and an indentation structure formed on both of the metal layer (4) and the polarizing film (6) for reflecting the imagewise rays of light (8) uniformly at a desired angle of reflection. The linearly polarized imagewise rays of light (8) enter the polarizing film (6) through the first surface thereof while the linearly polarized rays of light (8) have a plane of vibration of an electric field or a magnetic field in a direction required to exhibit a maximum light transmissivity. The screen may also be operable with a bundle of imagewise rays of light (8) projected from a projector (1) in the form of a cone of light as spherical waves onto the screen or a bundle of imagewise rays of light (8) projected from a projector as plane or approximately plane waves onto the screen.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to a projection screen of a reflection type for displaying a picture by means of a linearly polarized light and, more particularly, to the projection screen suited for use with a liquid crystal display device.
2. Description of the Prior Art
As compared with the display device utilizing a cathode ray tube, the liquid crystal display device has many advantages: compact in size, light-weight and less harmful to the environments when disposed of. Therefore, the liquid crystal display is now in widespread use. However, the liquid crystal display device has a problem in providing a sufficient brightness when imagewise ray of light descriptive of a series of pictures reproduced by the liquid crystal display device are projected onto the large-size screen. Therefore, viewers are generally required to look at the screen in a dark room in which entry of external light from the outside is minimized.
In view of the finding that, while rays of light projected from the liquid crystal display device are linearly polarized, external rays of light that constitute a cause of reduction in brightness of the image projected on the screen are generally non-polarized, the image projected onto the screen under bright environments can be reasonably viewed if the screen is so designed as to eliminate a reflection of the external rays of light impinging thereon from the screen. By way of example, Japanese Laid-open Patent Publications No. 62-266980 and No. 64-77085, published in 1987 and 1989, respectively, disclose the use of a light absorbing polarizing filter on one surface of the screen to minimize the amount of reflection of the non-polarized external rays of light from the screen surface.
Also, Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 2-267536 published in 1990 discloses an image projection system wherein a source of light such as a house room illuminator is covered up with the use of a light-absorbable polarizing filter having a direction of polarization oriented perpendicular to the direction of polarization of the polarizing filter on the screen.
It has, however, been that, in order to enhance the contrast or visibility of the linearly polarized image projected onto the screen under bright environments, a mere elimination or minimization of the non-polarized external rays of light is not sufficient, and the following problems which will now be discussed in detail with reference to FIG. 15 have to be eliminated.
As shown in FIG. 15, the prior art light-absorbable polarizing filter comprises a polarizing sheet 6 sandwiched between protective films of triacetyl cellulose (TAC) generally identified by 5. The polarizing sheet 6 used therein is in the form of a stretched film of poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) in which polarization developing substances are dispersed. This prior art light-absorbable polarizing filter has the following problems.
(a) Due to process limitations generally encountered in the process of stretching the PVA film, the polarizing filter that can be manufactured has a width generally limited to 50 to 100 cm and, where this polarizing filter is desired to be used for a screen of a size larger than the polarizing filter, a number of the polarizing filters must be joined together to provide a surface area corresponding to the desired screen size. The fact that the plural polarizing filters are joined together involves the presence of joints at which the polarizing filters are joined, and these joints tend to constitute a cause of reduction in quality of the image eventually projected on the resultant screen.
(b) The PVA film used in the prior art polarizing filter has a film thickness of about 20 .mu.m and is therefore very pliable. On the other hand, the TAC film that is applied on each of the opposite surfaces of the PVA film for the protection of the polarizing sheet has a film thickness of about 80 .mu.m and is therefore relatively rigid. Accordingly, the screen comprising the polarizing sheet sandwiched between the protective films lacks a flexibility generally required in the screen, involving a difficulty in bending and capability of being embossed.
(c) Since the polarizing sheet is flat in shape, disposition of the polarizing sheet in the screen tends to result in an increased local reflection of an image of the aperture of the liquid crystal display device to such an extent as to reduce the quality of the image projected on the screen considerably.
(d) While iodine is generally used as a polarization developing substance to be employed in the polarizing filter capable of exhibiting a high polarizability (99.9% or higher polarizability), the polarizing sheet using iodine has a low resistance to heat and also to humidity and is, therefore, susceptible to reduction in polarizability and transmissivity of polarized light.
It is generally well known that the liquid crystal display device is unable to make a maximized utilization of the light produced by a light source partly because a video signal applied to the liquid crystal display device is reproduced with the use of a polarizing filter of light absorbing type and partly because the aperture of the optical system thereof is small due to thin-film transistors disturbing a transmission of signal light therethrough. Accordingly, the screen used to project the imagewise rays of light emitted through the liquid crystal display device is required to have as high a reflectivity as possible and, therefore, this requirement brings about the following problem.
(e) If oxygen pass through material covering a surface of a reflector sheet, a metallic layer forming a part of the reflector tends to be oxidized in contact with air, resulting in an eventual reduction in reflectivity exhibited by the reflector sheet.
Particularly in the case of a large-size screen, the screen is generally folded or rolled up for storage when it is not in use. Therefore, this brings about the following problem.
(f) A finely indented structure employed in the reflector sheet for optimization of the angle of reflection of rays of light projected onto the reflector sheet is susceptible to damages when the screen is repeatedly folded or rolled up each time the screen is to be stored.


In a service level interworking unit, a service center (SC) address or a set of SC addresses dedicated for the service level interworking is used whenever an instant message (IM) is interworked to a short message (SM). In other words, if a message is initially sent as an instant message (IM) by user equipment (UE) and is interworked to a short message (SM) by the interworking function, the interworked short message (SM) is sent to a dedicated service center (SC) address. For originating messages that are not interworked, different service center address or addresses are used. A terminating short message (SM) received at the interworking unit is interworked to an instant message (IM) and the interworked instant message (IM) is delivered to the user equipment (UE), if a service center address in the terminating short message (SM) is one of the dedicated service center addresses. If the a service center address in the terminating short message (SM) is not one of the dedicated service center addresses, the terminating short message (SM) is delivered to the user equipment (UE) without a service level interworking.

IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) is a 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) standardised network architecture that provides an access network independent standardised interface for creating services, charging mechanisms and better Quality of Service (QoS) than best effort. Examples of the services that may be implemented on IMS are Instant Messaging (IM), IMPS (Instant Messaging and Presence Service), Simple/IM (SIP for Instant Messaging and Presence Leveraging Extensions/Instant Messaging). Instant message is a message delivered to a user in an instant, interactive manner. Generally short, even brief Instant Messages are often called IMs. IMs are often exchanged back-and-forth between users in a conversational fashion. In other words, it is a type of messaging service by which the sender expects immediate message delivery in (near) real time fashion. Instant Messaging using SIMPLE is defined in OMA-TS-SIMPLE_IM-V1—0-20070816-C.
The Short Message Service (SMS) has enjoyed great success in cellular networks. At the same time, specifications have been and are being developed for extending 3GPP services to non-cellular IP Connectivity Access Networks (IP-CANs). 3GPP TS 23.204 specifies how to deliver SMS over generic 3GPP IP access, where the Short Message (SM) is entirely encapsulated in the SIP based messages so that the traditional SM not only can be delivered in Circuit Switched domain (CS), but also in IMS over different IP-CANs. An IP-Short-Message-Gateway (IP-SM-GW) provides the protocol interworking for delivery of the short message between IP-based User Equipment (UE) in IMS and a Service Center (SC). The message is routed to the SC for delivery to the SMS-based user equipment or the message is received from the SC of an SMS-based UE for delivery to an IP-based UE.
However, the interworking between the Short Message and the Instant Messaging has not been defined yet, which prohibits the message interworking between the traditional SMS terminals and the non-SMS capable terminals. 3GPP TR 23.811 V1.2.1 (2008-02) discloses alternatives for how to provide a service level interworking for instance between short message (SM) and existing Instant Messaging (IM) services, which enables the communication between SMS terminals and the terminals that do not support the SMS, such as pure SIP terminals. It is responsible for converting the IM service to SMS and vice versa. It performs the conversion e.g. based on user preference and operator policy, i.e. when the UE is able to use both services, the policy or preference may define which service is used. It may also happen that the UE or the radio access network is capable for one service only, in which case the interworking function may need to perform the conversion to different service. This new interworking to support protocol interworking and translation between SMS and IM Messaging may be implemented in the IP-Short-Message-Gateway (IP-SM-GW).
Both IM and SM services define a delivery report mechanism. When a short message is sent, a service center SC or the recipient UE may send an SM status report or a delivery notification, which confirms the delivery of the short message to the recipient, or it may be a failure report, which informs the originator that the short message was never delivered and the reason why. Similarly, when an instant message is sent, a corresponding delivery notification of the IM service may be sent. When these delivery report messages are received at the service lever interworking function, such as at the IP-SM-GW, these messages are processed as any other message, e.g. they may be converted e.g. based on user preference and operator policy, i.e. when the UE is able to use both services, the policy or preference may define which service is used.
However, different messaging services may be implemented in independent, separate applications in the UE. This means that if the UE sends the actual message via SM service, it expects also the delivery report via that service. The same applies to IM service as well. If the delivery report comes to the UE via different service which was used to send out the actual message, the UE has no means to bind the delivery report to the actual message.
With the current IM-SMS interworking function, it may happen that a message and its delivery notification or status report are sent and received with different services: an SM status report is sent for an instant message (IM), or an IM delivery notification is sent for a submitted short message (SM). Let us study some examples of situations where this could happen. (i) UE sends an instant message (IM) while being registered to the IMS, but deregisters from the IMS before a delivery notification of the IM is sent back, thus the delivery notification is interworked to an SM status report. (ii) UE sends an instant message (IM), which is interworked to a short message (SM) according to operator policy, but the returning status report is not interworked. (iii) A message is sent as a short message (SM) (UE is not registered to the IMS), but the status report is interworked to an IM delivery notification according to user preferences.
Obviously, if an initial message and its delivery notification are handled by different applications in the UE, the UE cannot find the relation between these events. Thus, there is a need for avoiding or alleviating this problem.


Disclosed is a multi-media document editing system capable of editing display positions (spatial structures) of a group of multi-media data as well as display start and display end (temporal structures) in a simple manner through an editing interface. The multi-media document editing system is provided with a multi-media data storage means for storing a plurality of multi-media data elements, a multi-media document holding means for holding a multi-media document containing structural information relating to time and display position in the reproduction of each of the multi-media data stored in said multi-media data storage means, an editing means for connecting the elements in the structural information of the multi-media document through a link structure element, and a multi-media document reproducing means for reproducing each of the multi-media data elements stored in said multi-media data storage means in accordance with the structural information of the multi-media document which has been edited by said editing means.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a multi-media document editing system for editing a document composed of multi-media data as elements. More particularly, the invention is concerned with a multi-media document editing system for editing a display position (a spatial structure) of a multi-media data group as well as display start and end (a time-related structure) thereof and reconstructing multi-media data held in a data base, an AV device, or the like, on the basis of the results of the editing.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The multi-media document is constructed as a document including not only such static media data as characters, graphics and static images but also such dynamic media data as voice and dynamic images. In editing the multi-media document, therefore, there usually is conducted an editing operation for designating a display position and a display timing for each multi-media data.
As to the display timing, not only the display sequence of multi-media data in the multi-media document is designated but also a correlation of multi-media data is taken into account. For this reason the designation of the display timing is called synchronous designation. The following two types of methods are available as synchronous designation methods. Further, there is an editing user interface based on each of the methods.
The first method is a synchronous designation method based on time designation. According to this method, a display time of each individual multi-media data is designated explicitly. The second method is a synchronous designation method based on relation designation. According to this method, an interdependence relation of multi-media data is designated.
The first synchronous designation method based on time designation is a method used, for example, in the editing system shown in the literature "IEEE SOFTWARE, Construction Set for multimedia Applications, Vol. 6 No. 1, Jan. 1989, pp. 37-43." According to this designation method, a reproduction time is designated explicitly for each multi-media data. An example of the user interface based on the first synchronous designation method is shown in FIG. 1. In the display screen of the user interface, a rectangle having a width in the X axis direction is proportional to a display time width that is disposed on a time axis extending from the left to the right. This user interface, called the time line interface, is advantageous in that a temporal structure of the multi-media data can be grasped intuitively.
When multi-media data are to be reproduced at the same time in the time line interface, as shown in FIG. 1, both are designated to the same display start time. This is attained by positioning the left end points of the rectangular multi-media data on the time axis exactly at X coordinates on the same time axis. In FIG. 1, VIDEO1, NARRATION1 and SUBTITLE are designated at the same start time.
According to the second synchronous designation method based on relation designation, a temporal structure is expressed on the basis of a correlation of multi-media data. For example, a time relation is expressed in the following manner: "The start event of a certain multi-media occurs after the occurrence of the end event of another element." According to this synchronous designation method, even when the time information of a multi-media data is changed, the influence thereof can be limited to the object adjacent to that multi-media data.
For example, reference is here made to the literature "Specifying Temporal Behavior in Hypermedia Documents, Proceedings of the European Conference on Hypertext '92, Dec. 1992." As introduced in this literature, according to the synchronous designation method based on relation designation, multi-media data is expressed as a segment whose length is the display time width, and display start and end events are each expressed as a circle. Start and end events of the entire document are each expressed as a small rectangle. Further, a correlation of events is expressed in terms of a digraph. In FIG. 2 there is shown an example of user interface display in the synchronous designation method based on such relation designation.
As shown in FIG. 2, on the user interface display are arranged a plurality of segments (multi-media data) each having events at both ends thereof which events are each expressed as a circle. The user designates a relation of multi-media data by stretching a digraph between the events. Here there is no correlation between the spatial positional relation on the user interface and time.
The foregoing first synchronous designation method based on time designation involves a problem such that there is no time relation between multi-media data, so for example when the display time of one of the multi-media data arranged continuously on the time axis is changed, manual modification of the time information of each remaining multi-media data is required and thus the editing operation becomes complicated. For example, when VIDEO3 is to be inserted after VIDEO1 in FIG. 1, the user is required to move VIDEO2 by a distance corresponding to the display time width of VIDEO3 and thereafter dispose VIDEO3. This operation is complicated.
In this connection, in such a time line-based editing interface as shown in FIG. 1, the positions of VIDEO1, VIDEO2 and VIDEO3 represent display times of those elements, so for affecting a desired editing it is necessary to give consideration so that each element is disposed in a predetermined display time position without being superimposed on another. Thus, the user's burden in the editing operation is heavy.
In the case where the synchronism of plural elements is to be designated accurately by the synchronous designation method based on time designation, it is necessary to set the same time for all of the elements. In the example shown in FIG. 1, VIDEO1, NARRATION1 and SUBTITLE are arranged in the position corresponding to the time "3 seconds," but with this tacit synchronism relation kept intact, if the display start time of these multi-media data are to be set to the position corresponding to the time "1 second," it is necessary for the user to make rearrangement so that the left end points of those three multi-media data assume the position corresponding to the time "1 second."
More particularly, it is required that the tacit synchronism relation in the position of time "3 seconds" which has once been assumed by the user be destroyed and the operation for accurate time designation be newly performed for all of the related elements, which operation is troublesome. In the case of operation on the editing user interface, since the editing operation of elements alignment is a manual operation, the possibility of occurrence of an error is high.
The second synchronous designation method based on relation designation also involves a problem such that since there is no concept of time coordinates on the user interface, it is impossible to judge intuitively whether the reproduction timing of each multi-media data is relatively fast or slow. In FIG. 2, for example, which of NARRATION1 and NARRATION2 is to be reproduced first cannot be judged unless the digraph relation is traced.
The synchronous designation method based on relation designation further involves a problem such that it is impossible to collectively perform the operations of selecting plural multi-media data elements and moving them while maintaining their time relation in that range. For example, in FIG. 2, when NARRATION1 and VIDEO1 are to be "moved" behind VIDEO2 while maintaining start synchronism at display start event E1, it is necessary to take the following procedure.
(1) Delete all of the digraphs (those close to START, VIDEO1 and SUBTITLE) associated with the node of display start event E1. PA1 (2) Delete the node of display start event E1. PA1 (3) Delete all of the digraphs (those close to END and SUBTITLE) associated with the node of display end event E3. PA1 (4) Move VIDEO1 to the position where E3 is the start event. PA1 (5) Set the node of display end event E3 as the start event of VIDEO1. PA1 (6) Create a node of display end event E4 as an end event of VIDEO1. PA1 (7) Set a digraph between the node of display end event E3 and NARRATION1. PA1 (8) Set a digraph between the node of display end event E4 and END node. PA1 (9) Set a digraph among the node of display end event E2, START node and display start node of SUBTITLE.
Thus, when a desired editing operation is to be executed in the editing user interface according to the synchronous designation method based on relation designation, it is necessary to follow the above complicated procedure.
Another problem involved in the synchronous designation method based on relation designation is that the start timing of events depends on the reproduction time of multi-media data which is reproduced in advance of the event. For example, as shown in FIG. 2, in the case where there has been made a synchronous designation based on relation designation and the display start event E1 starts at the time "0 second," the start time of display end event E2 is "6 seconds," assuming that the reproduction of VIDEO1 requires 6 seconds. That is, the reproduction start time of VIDEO2 is the time "6 seconds" after the lapse of 6 seconds. If the reproduction start time of VIDEO2 is to be set to the time "10 seconds" while keeping VIDEO1 intact, the user is required to insert a 4-second, signal-free, multi-media data (blank) behind the display end event E2, then set a node of event E5 connected to the display end event of the 4-second, signal-free, multi-media data (blank) and connect the node of event E5 with the display start event of VIDEO2 through a digraph. Thus, the alterations are troublesome like the foregoing editing operation.
Generally, according to the conventional synchronous designation method based on relation designation, the temporal structure editing operation requires setting of both "synchronous events" and a digraph which expresses the relation between them and elements. This involves a drawback that in the case of performing the editing operation while maintaining the existing relation to a specific group of elements, the number of operations increases in proportion to associated elements. Another drawback is that the results of the editing operation are difficult to be judged intuitively on the user interface.

Editing system for multi-media documents with parallel and sequential data


This application relates to methods and apparatus for pneumatically separating adhesively joined components. A pneumatic release mechanism can be positioned between the adhesively joined components. The pneumatic release mechanism can be positioned adjacent to or within an adhesive joint so that when it is filled with air the pneumatic release mechanism can exert a force on the joined components sufficient to sever the adhesive bond. In some embodiments, the joined components can be housing components. In other embodiments, the joined components can be a battery cell and a housing component.

A housing formed from multiple housing components allows convenient access to interior portions of the housing when the housing components can be separated. Separation of the housing components provides convenient access to internal device components during both assembly and rework applications. Unfortunately, when a number of housing components are joined to form the housing, fasteners used to join the housing components generally cause at least one of two problems. In some cases the fasteners remain visible after the various housing components are joined. For example, a screw head may be left visible along an outside surface of the housing. This can prevent a sleek and unbroken cosmetic surface from being achieved. Alternative joining methods can be used that do not result in visible screw heads marring a cosmetic surface of a housing. For example, adhesive joints do not typically require visible fasteners; unfortunately, adhesive bonds do tend to be permanent or at least semi-permanent in nature. Many adhesive joints are difficult to remove because it can be difficult to get a removal tool between the housing components to exert a separating force from an effective position. In some cases, wedging the removal tool between the parts to achieve that effective position can take time and the wedging of the removal tool between the components can cause scrapes and/or gouges on one or more cosmetic surface of the housing components. For at least these reasons, disassembly of an adhesively joined housing can be a lengthy process with a high potential for causing damage to the housing components.

Screwless joining of an enclosure with pressure sensitive adhesive and removal via pneumatic release mechanisms


A support comfort cushion is disclosed comprising a plurality of gel springs absorbs, a plurality of interlocking support members, and a base cushion, all of which serve to redistribute directional force as applied, proportionate to the weight and anatomy of an animal or human, i.e. those areas of anatomy most susceptible to pressure points, e.g. elbows, paws, neck, shoulders, back, hip joints. The gel springs contain bellows and adjacent gel spring junctions which act together providing transitional resistive slippage to dynamic influence of weight and movement, all the while providing counter-pressure, suspension.

Animals and humans experience pain to the elbows and hips when subjected for long periods of contact, by laying down on or otherwise, with hard surfaces. Animals in particular are subjected to a lifetime of laying on hard surfaces e.g. concrete, wood flooring, mats, and padded bedding. As a result, and as they grow older, they experience a variety of ailments leading to discomfort, calluses, pain, and even arthritis from the cold and hard surfaces they must lay on. Humans develop bed sores from prolonged exposure to hard/firm surfaces.
An invention is needed that specifically addresses the problem of pressure points for humans and animals, and especially addressing pets in their sleeping environment.
With respect to pet bedding various foams, materials, compositions and the like offer cushion and support, yet have different means of supporting the weight being applied, either by more layers of foam and padding, or by some spun, spring like material. These items are mass produced, and generally lack sufficient body weight supporting composition. Whether foams, or other materials in combination, they tend to deflect under the pressure of weight, becoming compressed, thus yielding entirely, and therefore tending towards hardness, or at best semi-hardness.
Foams tend to encapsulate the weight applied, allowing the weight to sink inward, thus requiring extra thickness sufficient to uphold the weight. Foams tend to retain heat quickly, and continue to heat up, making them uncomfortable to some. Thick compositions of foams are costly.
Even pet bedding of various forms and embodiments do not provide effective comfort, as they are generally made from polyurethane open cell foam, a petroleum based product that out-gasses overtime, or layers of various combinations of materials, all of which are generic in nature, and typically flat with little or no support, or warmth, amounting to no more than a semi-hard mat, or padding.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,724,911 granted to McAlister for Cushion for a Household Pet features layers of raw, unwoven, uncovered polyester. However, this cushion suffers from compression when weight is applied and it does not provide uniform distribution of weight under pressure.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,685,257 granted to Feibus for Pet Support Cushion features layers of discrete material. However, this cushion also suffers from compression when weight is applied and it does not provide uniform distribution of weight under pressure.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,185,604 granted to Holte for Orthopedic Pet Cushion addresses orthopedic benefits by utilizing slow recovery visco-elastic foam. However, foam does not distribute weight vertically, it collapses under pressure, and will not recover until the weight is removed. When weight is applied, foam is compressed and becomes compacted by some measured thickness into a film with nearly zero counterforce, save the little resilience inherent to specific types of foam. Also, foams have a tendency to overheat and absorb more than can be dissipated. Additionally, foams outgas and deteriorate over time.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,756,184 granted to Yates for Gel Cushion discloses thermoplastic gel with voids. However, unlike the close configuration of gel springs, with bellows and bellows junctions (in between gel springs) which provide efficient body suspension system, gels with large void configurations collapse/fold over when weight is applied, resulting in the void spaces being filled into by the thin membrane walls, which translates into a flat, thin cushion with irregular surface contour. Gel springs provide counter pressure/spring back, as well as yielding to the weight applied. Additionally the interlocking configuration between the gel springs and the junctions act as a friction against collapse, reinforcing the suspension like support.
U.S. Pat. No. 8,434,748 to Pearce for Cushions Comprising Gel Springs discloses cylindrical gel structures. However, cylindrical gel springs without bellows would not provide the same friction with said forces being applied and would most easily fold over flat, not retaining the vertically parallel positions of the cylinders when weight is not present.


A system for controlling data access in a computer network comprises first means for establishing a first communication link between a client computer and a server computer. The client sends a request to the server for supply of a data item from the server to the client. The server selects the requested data item from a store of data items in response to the request from the client. The server associates each data item in the store with a service telephone number. The server also identifies a subscriber telephone number associated with the request. A second communication link is then established between the server and a telephone utility. The server instructs the telephone utility to register a telephone call from the subscriber telephone number to the service telephone number associated with the requested data item. The requested data item is supplied from the server to the client on receipt by the server of confirmation from the telephone utility that the telephone call is registered.

TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to a system and method for controlling data access in a computer network.
In recent years, there has been explosive growth in the Internet, and in particular of the WorldWide Web (WWW), which is one of the facilities provided via the Internet. The WWW comprises many pages or files of information, distributed across many different servers. Each page is identified by a Universal Resource Locator (URL). Each URL denotes both a server machine, and a particular file or page on that machine. There may be many pages or URLs resident on a single server.
To utilise the WWW, a user runs a computer program called a Web browser on a client computer system such as a personal computer. Examples of widely available Web browsers include the "WebExplorer" Web browser provided by International Business Machines Corporation in the OS/2 Operating System software, or the "Navigator" Web browser available from Netscape Communications Corporation. The user interacts with the Web browser to select a particular URL. The interaction causes the browser to send a request for the page or file identified in selected URL to the server identified in the selected URL. Typically, the server responds to the request by retrieving the requested page, and transmitting the data for that page back to the requesting client. The client-server interaction is usually performed in accordance with a protocol called the hypertext transfer protocol ("http"). The page received by the client is then displayed to the user on a display screen of the client. The client may also cause the server to launch an application, for example to search for WWW pages relating to particular topics.
WWW pages are typically formatted in accordance with a computer programming language known as hypertext mark-up language ("htm1"). Thus a typically WWW page includes text together with embedded formatting commands, referred to as tags, that can be employed to control for example font style, font size, lay-out etc. The Web browser parses the HTML script in order to display the text in accordance with the specified format. In addition, an html page also contain a reference, in terms of another URL, to a portion of multimedia data such as an image, video segment, or audio file. The Web Browser responds to such a reference by retrieving and displaying or playing the multimedia data. Alternatively, the multimedia data may reside on its own WWW page, without surrounding html text.
Most WWW pages also contain one or more references to other WWW pages, which need not reside on the same server as the original page. Such references may be activated by the user selecting particular locations on the screen, typically by clicking a mouse control button. These references or locations are known as hyperlinks, and are typically flagged by the Web browser in a particular manner. For example, any text associated with a hyperlink may be displayed in a different colour. If a user selects the hyperlinked text, then the referenced page is retrieved and replaces the currently displayed page.
Further information about html and the WWW can be found in "World Wide Web and HTML" by Douglas McArthur, p18-26 in Dr Dobbs Journal, December 1994, and in "The HTML SourceBook" by Ian Graham, John Wiley, New York, 1995.
Many organisations, particularly although not exclusively those in the entertainment industry, are now seeking to generate revenue from the Internet by granting users access to WWW pages and files, particularly those containing multimedia data, subject to an access charge to the user. Such electronic commerce has been inhibited because of difficulty in providing a secure method of charging and billing for transactions over the Internet. Conventional solutions to this problem have tended to involve credit card payments and the like. Such access control methods are however uneconomical in terms of data processing to be applicable to low cost transactions over the Internet.

System and method for controlling data access in a computer network