A reflective type active matrix liquid crystal display device is provided which is capable of offering preferred images. The present invention provides a reflective type display device comprising an insulation substrate, a TFT array formed over the insulation substrate and having a plurality of pixel TFTs formed in a matrix form, at least one driver circuit formed over the substrate and having a plurality of driver TFTs to drive the TFT array, a reflective pixel electrode connected to the pixel TFTs and arranged above part or an entire of the driver circuit, and at least one power source interconnect connected to the driver circuit and formed between the reflective pixel electrode and one of a source electrode and a drain electrode of the driver TFTS. This power source interconnect serves to shield against electrical noise caused by the driver TFTs constituting the driver circuit.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to reflective type semiconductor display devices. More particularly, the invention relates to a reflective type active matrix liquid crystal display device using a display medium. The reflective type semiconductor display device of the invention, however, may use any of other display mediums with which modulation in optical property can be made responsive to a voltage applied to the display medium (for example, an elecroluminescent device, etc.).
2. Description of the Prior Arts
Recently, advancement has being made for the technology to manufacture a semiconductor device, such as with thin film transistors (TFTs), on an inexpensive glass substrate. The reason of this lies in increase of demand for active matrix liquid crystal display devices (liquid crystal panels).
The active matrix liquid crystal panel has pixel TFTs which are arranged in respective pixels in number of from several hundreds to several millions to form TFT array so that electric charge can be controlled of input to and output from each pixel electrode through TFT switch function.
The TFT array includes thin film transistors utilizing amorphous silicon formed over a glass substrate.
Meanwhile, there has been recent realization of active matrix liquid crystal display devices utilizing a quartz substrate to form polycrystalline silicon thin film transistors. This structure can afford to form driver circuits for driving TFTs on the same substrate as the TFT array.
Furthermore, there is a known technology of utilizing laser annealing or the like, in order to form thin film transistors using a crystalline silicon film on a glass substrate. This technology, if utilized, can integrate the TFT array together with the driver circuits on a glass substrate.
In recent years, active matrix liquid crystal display devices have been frequently utilized on notebook personal computers. The personal computers require a multi-tone liquid crystal display device to simultaneously start a plurality of software or process images fetched from a digital camera.
Furthermore, recently there has been recent demand for an active matrix liquid crystal display device that is small in size but high in definition, resolution and image quality, as become popular the portable intelligence terminals, mobile computers, car navigators.
The drive to the active matrix liquid crystal device used on the portable intelligence terminal or mobile computer is based on a battery, hence requiring low power consumption. Under such a circumstance, the reflective type active matrix liquid crystal devices drawn attentions toward the mobile computer application and the like. The reflective type active matrix liquid crystal display devices are low in power consumption because, as one reason, of the unnecessity of backlight, unlike the transparent type active matrix liquid crystal display devices.
It is needless to say that the active matrix liquid crystal display devices for mobile computers or the like has to be made as small as possible. There is a recent attempt to form driver circuits to drive the TFT array on a same substrate as the TFT array.
Furthermore, attentions are drawn to an SOP (System On Panel) structure built on a same substrate with control circuits, including a processor circuit, memory circuit, A/D (D/A) converter circuit, correction circuit (gamma correction circuit) and pulse oscillation circuit, besides the driver circuits (shift register circuit, buffer circuit, etc.) for driving pixel TFTs constituting the TFT array.
One example of an active matrix liquid crystal display device structure is herein shown in FIG. 9. FIG. 9 shows only an active matrix substrate for an active matrix liquid crystal display device, wherein 901 is an active matrix substrate, 902 and 903 are source drivers, 904 and 905 are gate drivers, and 906 is TFT array. Incidentally, the active matrix substrate 901 basically uses an insulation substrate such as a glass or quartz substrate.
The active matrix substrate shown in FIG. 9 has two source drivers and two gate drivers. This is due to a structure to drive odd-numbered source signal lines by the source driver 902 and drive even-numbered source signal lines by the source driver 903. Also, the gate drivers on left and right are formed in a redundant structure.
Note that the TFT array 906 includes a plurality of pixel TFTs arranged in a matrix form.
Also, the source drivers 902 and 903 includes a shift register circuit, level shifter circuit, buffer circuit and sampling circuit. The level shifter circuit is a circuit to amplify a drive voltage.
For example, where the shift register circuit is on 10 V drive and the buffer circuit is 16 V drive, voltage has to be converted by the level shifter circuit. There are cases that the shift register circuit be substituted by a combination of counter and decoder circuits.
On the other hand, the gate driver includes a shift register circuit, level shifter circuit, buffer circuit and so on.
Meanwhile, for more complicated structures of active matrix liquid crystal display devices, consideration is made to place other logic circuits in positions as shown at 907 to 910 in FIG. 9. The other logic circuits include a complicate circuit such as a control circuit and processor circuit, and a broad occupation-area circuit such as a memory circuit. It is expected that the total occupation area results in large.
As discussed above, it is a general practice to arrange, on one insulation substrate, a TFT array 906, source drivers 902 and 903, gate drivers 904 and 905, and other logic circuits. Consequently, the occupation area of other than the TFT array has to be reduced to a size as small as possible, in order to secure a display area maximally enlarged for realizing high definition, high resolution and high image quality.
In the structure shown in FIG. 9, however, it is difficult to reduce the occupation area of other than the TFT array. This is one of factors to obstruct the size reduction for the active matrix liquid crystal display devices.
Under such situations, Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication 10-104663 discloses a structure that, in forming a reflective type active matrix liquid crystal display device including a TFT array, driver circuits and other control circuits on one insulation substrate, the driver circuits and the other control circuits are formed within a region of the TFT array. The Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication 10-104663 corresponds to a pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/937,377, an entire disclosure of which are incorporated herein by reference.
In the Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication 10-104663, there are disclosed the TFTs of the driver and control circuits are placed underneath a reflective pixel electrode connected to pixel TFTs of the TFT array.
Here, FIG. 11 shows FIG. 8A of the Japanese Laid-Open patent Publication 10-104663. There is shown in FIG. 11 a sectional view of an active matrix substrate according to a certain embodiment of the Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication 10-104663. FIG. 11 depicts that interconnects for the driver and control circuits are formed in a layer different from a layer having source and drain electrodes of TFTs for the driver and control circuits (the interconnect denoted at A in FIG. 11). In this structure, however, clock and data signals flowing through the driver and control circuits are passed through the interconnect shown at A. This results in occurrence of electrical noise on the interconnects shown at A, due to the clock and data signals. In brief, it is unavoidable that the electrical noise caused on the interconnect A have adverse effects on pixel electrodes. This leads to disturbance in display images due to such electrical noise, thus making difficult to obtain favorable images.
Therefore it is an object of the present invention to provide a reflective type active matrix liquid crystal display device which is capable of offering favorable display images.
In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, a reflective type semiconductor display device comprises: an insulation substrate; a TFT array formed over the insulation substrate, the TFT array having a plurality of pixel TFTs formed in a matrix form; at least one driver circuit formed over the insulation substrate and having a plurality of TFTs to drive the TFT array; wherein part or entire of the driver circuit is arranged underneath reflective pixel electrodes; and the driver circuit having a power source interconnect formed between the reflective pixel electrodes and source electrodes or drain electrodes of the TFTs. This structure achieves the above-described object.
In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, a reflective type semiconductor display device comprising: an insulation substrate; a TFT array formed over the insulation substrate, the TFT array having a plurality of pixel TFTs formed in a matrix form; at least one driver circuit formed over the insulation substrate and having a plurality of TFTs to drive the TFT array; a logic circuit formed over the insulation substrate; wherein part or an entire of the driver circuit or part or an entire of the logic circuit is arranged underneath reflective pixel electrodes connected to the pixel TFTs; and the driver circuit having a power source interconnect formed between the reflective pixel electrodes and source electrodes or drain electrodes of the TFTs. This structure also achieves the above-described object.
The logic circuit is a memory circuit, a correction circuit, a processor circuit or a signal dividing circuit.

Reflective type semiconductor display device

Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.


A test tray for a handler for testing semiconductor devices is disclosed which is capable of reducing the costs and time taken for replacement of carrier modules, and achieving an enhancement in workability. The test tray includes a frame, pockets mounted to the frame while being uniformly spaced apart from one another, each of the pockets including a seat on which a semiconductor device is to be seated, latches mounted to the frame to be arranged in pairs for respective pockets such that the latches of each latch pair face each other at opposite sides of an associated one of the pockets, respectively, each of the latches being movable between a first position where the latch holds a semiconductor device seated in the seat of the associated pocket and a second position where the latch releases the held state of the semiconductor device, and latch operating members each mounted to the frame, and adapted to move an associated one of the latches between the first position and the second position, each of the latch operating members being separate from the associated latch.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a handler for testing semiconductor devices, and more particularly, to a test tray for a handler for testing semiconductor devices which is adapted to feed the semiconductor devices, and includes carrier modules for holding the semiconductor devices.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
Generally, memory or non-memory semiconductor devices or modular ICs, each of which includes memory or non-memory semiconductor devices appropriately arranged on a substrate to form a circuit, are subjected to various tests after production thereof, but prior to shipment thereof.
In order to automatically achieve such a test for semiconductor devices or modular ICs, a handler is used. In such a handler, trays, in which semiconductor devices to be tested are received, are manually stacked in a loading stacker. The semiconductor devices are then loaded in a separate heat-resistant test tray which is, in turn, sent to a test station or site in order to test the semiconductor devices. In the test site, respective leads or balls of the semiconductor devices in the test tray are electrically connected to connectors of test sockets arranged in the test site, and are subjected to a desired electrical test. The semiconductor devices in the test-completed test tray are unloaded from the test tray, and are then sorted in accordance with the results of the test. The sorted semiconductor devices are then loaded in associated consumer trays, respectively. Thus, the test of the semiconductor devices is completed.
The test tray of the above-mentioned handler includes a plurality of carrier modules for aligning semiconductor devices to be tested at a pitch identical to the pitch of the test sockets, and holding the aligned semiconductor devices.
FIGS. 1 and 2 are views illustrating one test tray which is used in a conventional handler and is provided with carrier modules.
As shown in FIG. 1, carrier modules 20, to which semiconductor devices will be mounted, are arranged in a test tray 10 while being uniformly spaced apart from one another. Typically, 64 (16×4) carrier modules 20 are arranged in one test tray 10. However, various numbers of carrier modules, for example, 32 or 128 carrier modules, may be arranged in one test tray.
Each carrier module 20 is elastically held in the test tray 10 by a spring (not shown) mounted to a frame 11 of the test tray 10 such that the carrier module 20 is movable within a certain range.
Each carrier module 20 includes a rectangular body 21, a seat 22 formed at the body 21 to seat a semiconductor device D in the seat 22, and a pair of latches 23 movably mounted to the body 21 at opposite lateral ends of the seat 22 to hold the semiconductor device D seated in the seat 22, respectively. Operating buttons 24 are provided at the rear side of the body 21. When the operating buttons 24 are pressed, the latches 23 are moved away from each other, thereby releasing the semiconductor device D held by the latches 23. When the pressing force applied to the operating button 24 is released, the latches 23 are returned to their original positions by virtue of elastic force of elastic members (not shown) connected to the latches 23, so that the latches 23 can hold the semiconductor device D.
However, the conventional test tray with the above-mentioned carrier modules has a problem in that, when it is desired to test semiconductor devices having a thickness or size different from those of semiconductor devices corresponding to the carrier modules, it is necessary to replace the carrier modules themselves with appropriate ones.
For this reason, the costs and time taken for the replacement of the carrier modules increase.

Test tray for handler for testing semiconductor devices


Disclosed is a firearm configuration for a handgun. The firearm configuration is designed to reduce the recoil forces encountered by a user upon firing the weapon. It further includes a recoil plate that absorbs forces generated by the slide during firing. The various details of the present disclosure, and the manner in which they interrelate, will be described in greater detail hereinafter.

Recent technological advances have led to increasingly more powerful firearms and handgun cartridges. One resulting complaint is that weapons firing these more powerful cartridges tend to demonstrate higher wear compared to identical weapon models firing older, less powerful cartridges. This is particularly evident in semiautomatic handguns in the area of the frame where the slide impacts at the end of the recoil stroke. This is the result of the slide moving violently to the rear and then being stopped by the frame before the next phase of the recoil stroke is undertaken (i.e. the propulsion of the slide forward by the recoil spring to strip a fresh cartridge out of the magazine and seat it in the chamber of the barrel). This condition of excessive wear in the frame area impacted by the slide is called frame battering.
Frame battering is exacerbated by the construction of most modern semiautomatic handguns, which leaves very little surface area on the frame to bear the transfer of force from the slide during impact. To make matters worse, many modern semiautomatic handguns are constructed with frames composed of less durable materials than traditional carbon or stainless steel. For instance, many firearms are now constructed from less durable materials such as aluminums or polymers. Though such materials offer weight savings for the frame component and thus the weapon as a whole, conditions conducive to frame battering are increased and higher wear is again realized. Indeed, frame battering in the Glock® series of handguns (which utilize polymer frames) has been commonly recognized in the industry. In response, the manufacturer now includes steel rail inserts closer to the area of the frame under the slide impact so that. These rails are included so that if the polymer frame material disintegrates, further degradation can be halted.
Though such a solution functions to halt further frame degradation, it does not address the root of the problem. The present invention addresses the problem by modifying the traditional handgun configuration. More specifically, the guide rod is moved to a lower position in front of the trigger. As a result, the frame gains a significant amount of surface area in the area subject to slide impact. The area of the rear of the slide which impacts the frame is likewise increased substantially. This is advantageous because it increases the surface area for absorbing forces imparted by the slide striking the frame during the recoil stroke. The increased surface area necessarily reduces wear in this area.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Firearm configuration for reducing frame battering


A mobile communication system for displaying a three-dimensional (3D) image is provided. The mobile communication system includes an image providing apparatus to generate a first two-dimensional (2D) image Transport Stream (TS), and a second 2D image TS by capturing the same target in different directions, a Multicast Broadcast Service (MBS) server to control at least two base stations included in an MBS area to individually transmit the first 2D image TS and the second 2D image TS, and a portable display apparatus to receive the first 2D image TS and the second 2D image TS, to divide the first 2D image TS and the second 2D image TS into first 2D image data and second 2D image data, respectively, and to display a 2D image or a 3D image based on an image quality of each of the first 2D image data and the second 2D image data.

1. Field of the Invention
Embodiments of the present invention relate to an apparatus and method for providing images in a mobile communication system, and a portable display apparatus and method for displaying images.
2. Description of the Related Art
Recently, with increasing interest in three-dimensional (3D) images, a mobile communication system, such as an Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) system to provide a 3D image to a portable display apparatus using a wireless communication network is developed. The portable display apparatus may receive a 3D image from an image providing apparatus connected via the wireless communication network, and may display the received 3D image. A quality of the 3D image displayed on the portable display apparatus may vary based on an environment of the wireless communication network. Accordingly, to provide a 3D image with good quality to the portable display apparatus, the environment of the wireless communication network needs to be maintained to enable a 3D image to be easily transmitted and received.
To improve the environment of the wireless communication network, a mobile communication system based on 3rd Generation Partnership Project/Long Term Evolution (3GPP/LTE) and based on the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.16m may employ a Multicast Broadcast Service (MBS) technology.
The MBS technology enables multiple base stations included in an MBS area to simultaneously transmit the same content to all users requesting a broadcasting service. When a 3D image providing apparatus transmits a 3D image to the multiple base stations included in the MBS area, the multiple base stations may transmit the 3D image to a portable display apparatus. Accordingly, the multiple base stations may have a high transmission rate, which may result in inefficient use of wireless communication resources. In other words, since the wireless communication network becomes unstable due to the high transmission rate, the 3D image may be damaged, or may be abnormally transmitted. A user of the portable display apparatus may view a 3D image with a low quality, and accordingly a satisfaction level of the user may be reduced, compared to when viewing a two-dimensional (2D) image. The above problem may occur in a mobile communication system that transmits content using a typical wireless communication technology, as well as, in a mobile communication system that transmits content using the MBS technology.

Apparatus and method for providing images in wireless communication system and portable display apparatus and method for displaying images

ELECTRONICS AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS RESEARCH INSTITUTE


In a storage medium, an address space is defined which is divided into a first area and a second area. According to the invention, at least one file is stored on the medium which is split into small data packets and large data packets. All small data packets are stored on said first area, and all large data packets are stored on said second area. A single file allocation table (FAT) is used and is small by having one entry per data packet.

When storing files on a storage medium, usually an address space is defined in the storage medium. The files are not always stored as a whole. Rather, they are divided into different packets. Then, it has to be registered where the different portions of the file are stored. To this end, a so-called file allocation table also denoted as FAT is defined. If the address space is defined with respect to units of constant size, the file allocation table usually comprises one entry per such unit. If a packet of the file is stored under an address, there is a respective entry in the file allocation table for that address. In that entry, another address is written. This other address is the address of the location in the address space where the next portion of the file can be found. Therefore, when jumping from one address to the next, the file can be successively retrieved. The file allocation table defines the way the reading head or other transducer accessing the storage medium must go. The smaller the different packets of the file are, the more often the head must jump, causing idle time not usable for data transfer and lowering the average transfer bitrate. Notably, idle times occur upon head jumps both when writing these files and when reading these files. In a video recording apparatus, it is essential that writing as well as reading of files be performed in real time. Every jump the write/read head of the storage medium has to do means a loss in bandwidth. It is therefore desirable that in video recording apparatus the streaming data be stored in large packets. If too small data packets are used, the longer files occupy a multiplicity of small data packets. There is not always a single, contiguous storage place for the whole multiplicity. This means that the data have to be divided and the space will be fragmented.
On the other side, storing data in large packets means a high degree of so-called internal fragmentation, since small files and directories, although physically requiring only a small fraction of a packet, will nevertheless block the entire large packet. Traditional file systems overcome the conflicting requirements of high bandwidth versus low internal fragmentation by using a small packet size but allowing the allocation of so-called extents, that is, a multiplicity of contiguously arranged small data packets. One problem with extents is that frequent allocation and freeing of differently sized data packets, be it single packets or extents, leads to scattered occupancy of available address space. Thus, a situation can occur where the file system doesn't allow further allocation of extents, though there's still enough free space on the partition. This is called external fragmentation. External fragmentation may be overcome by a defragmentation step, which is however time consuming.
In order to meet the requirements that streaming data be stored and read in real-time on one hand, and that the storage medium be not too much internally fragmented on the other hand, WO 02/33586 A2 discloses a single file system featuring a first type of storage unit for storing audio and/or video streams and a second type of storage unit for storing non-stream data, wherein the size of the first storage unit is a predetermined multiple of the size of the second storage unit and second storage units exclusively occur in groups the same size as first storage units. For managing such file system, first to third data structures, first to third indicators, and first to fourth file information structures are used, indicating for the units, among others, whether they are free or not and/or whether they are subdivided or not. This prior art can be seen to have the disadvantage of a high complexity and computing power necessary to implement and execute effective maintenance algorithms for each of the numerous data structures.
A similar scheme has been disclosed in US 2006/0008257 A1. In this system, too, the data type is predetermined. Small files are stored using predetermined units of constant size also named clusters, and video data and large files are stored by using so-called superclusters which are the size of four regular clusters. A first file allocation table is provided for the small files, and a second file allocation table is defined for the large files. The second file allocation table is provided only dynamically upon writing. During interruptions in writing and at the end of the writing, the second file allocation table is converted and transferred to the first file allocation table. The first file allocation table is rather long and difficult to handle. The second file allocation table is more compact than the first allocation table, since there are far fewer superclusters than clusters. However, this advantage is lost at the end of the procedure because the second file allocation table is not maintained.

Method for storing files on a storage medium, storage medium, and video recording apparatus using the method


The selection and output of a signal, such as an alphanumeric character, is provided depending upon the orientation of a device, such as a mobile telephone. In particular, a neutral position of a device is determined in relation to at least a first axis, the device including at least a first control associated with a first plurality of output signals, and an angular displacement of the device is measured about at least the first axis. A selection of the first control is also received, and one of the first plurality of output signals is output based at least upon the selection and the angular displacement.

1. Field
The present disclosure generally relates to orientation-sensitive signal output and, in particular, relates to the selection and output of a signal, such as an alphanumeric character, based upon the orientation of a device, such as a telephone.
2. Description of the Related Art
Many devices use buttons or other controls to enter characters, such as alphanumeric characters and/or symbols. A conventional telephone, for example, uses a ten-button keypad to enter alphanumeric characters representing a telephone number or a text message. Due to device design and layout restrictions, the number of controls, or keys, on many devices is often limited, requiring that each control correspond to multiple characters. Telephones, for example, often assign the letters "J," "K," and "L," as well as the number "5" to the button labeled "5".
To enter one of the multiple characters associated with a single control, the control is repetitively selected until the signal corresponding to the desired character is output. In a telephony example, selecting the "5" button once will cause the character "J" to be output, selecting the "5" button twice will cause the character "K" to be output, selecting the "5" button three times will cause the character "L" to be output, and selecting the "5" button four times will cause the character "5" to be output.
In addition to these repetitive control selections, other controls may also need to be selected for a desired character to appear. A capitalized character or a symbol, for example, may require that the a special control be selected, or that multiple controls be selected in a confusing sequence.
Because repetitive control selection is required to cause the output of a single character, entry of characters into a device often occurs slowly. Furthermore, output of a subsequent character which is also associated with the same control requires that a predetermined amount of time pass since the prior selection of the control. When entering two consecutive characters using the same control, for example to enter "h" and "i" to form the word "hi", the predetermined amount of time must pass after the "h" character was output before the "i" may be output, or a separate control selection may be required to move a cursor to the next position. This approach, however, is both frustrating and time consuming.
Accordingly, it is desirable to provide for the enhanced output of signals, such as signals corresponding to characters, which overcomes the deficiencies of conventional signal output techniques.


A base connection device used to change a flapper drain valve to a barrel drain valve includes a flapper base and a first overflow pipe disposed in the external side of the flapper base; further includes a connection base and a second overflow pipe, the bottom of the connection base is sleeved on the flapper base in sealing way, and closing the bottom of the first overflow pipe, the top of the connection base is formed to a matching portion; the bottom of the second overflow pipe is connected to the outlet of the flapper base. To change a flapper drain valve to a barrel drain valve, the flapper base does not need to be disassembled. The barrel drain valve is inserted to the connection base to sleeve the connection base on the flapper base, with the second overflow pipe as an overflow pipe of the water tank.

Traditional toilet water tank is applied with flapper type drain valve, as a flapper drain valve has problems of large discharge volume and bad sealing resulting in waste of water resource, the flapper drain valves are used less and less. In idea of low carbon and environmental protection, more users change the traditional flapper drain valve to barrel drain valve. however, as the discharge port of the base of a barrel drain valve is not coupled to that of a flapper drain valve, it needs to disassemble the flapper base to change a flapper drain valve to a barrel drain valve, resulting in long-running and laborious to disassemble the flapper base, and it is inconvenient for users to change by themselves.

Base connection device used to change a flapper drain valve to a barrel drain valve


The sizes of crystal masses are made to be a uniform in a crystalline silicon film obtained by a thermal crystallization method in which a metal element is used. An amorphous silicon film to be crystallized is doped with a metal element that accelerates crystallization, and then irradiated with laser light (with an energy which is not large enough to melt the film and which is large enough to allow the metal element to diffuse in the solid silicon film) from the back side of a light-transmissive substrate. Thereafter, heat treatment is performed to obtain a crystalline silicon film. Thus crystal masses in the crystalline silicon film can have a uniform size and the problem of fluctuation between TFTs can be solved.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a semiconductor device which has a circuit composed of a thin film transistor (hereinafter referred to as TFT), and to a method of manufacturing the semiconductor device. For instance, the present invention relates to an electro-optical device represented by a liquid crystal display panel. and to electronic equipment which has such electro-optical device as its component.
In this specification, the term semiconductor device refers to a device in general that utilizes semiconductor characteristics to function, and electro-optical devices, light emitting devices, semiconductor circuits, and electronic equipment are all semiconductor devices.
2. Description of the Related Art
In recent years, development of a semiconductor device has been advanced, which has a large area integrated circuit composed of a thin film transistor (TFT) that is formed from a semiconductor thin film (several nm to several hundreds nm in thickness) on a substrate with an insulating surface. Typical examples of the semiconductor device include a liquid crystal display device with a liquid crystal module, an EL module, and a non-magnification image sensor.
Of liquid crystal display devices, one that is attracting attention is an active matrix liquid crystal display device in which pixel electrodes are arranged so as to form a matrix and TFTs are used for switching elements that are respectively connected to the pixel electrodes in order to obtain a high quality image.
In a liquid crystal module to be mounted to a liquid crystal display device, a pixel portion for displaying an image and a driving circuit for controlling the pixel portion are formed in different functional blocks on the same substrate. The driving circuit is based on a CMOS circuit and includes a shift register circuit, a level shifter circuit. a buffer circuit, a sampling circuit, and the like.
The pixel portion of the liquid crystal module has several ten thousands to several millions of pixels and each of the pixels is provided with a TFT (pixel TFT). A pixel electrode is provided for each pixel TFT. An opposite electrode is formed on an opposite substrate that faces the substrate which has the pixel portion and driving circuit across the liquid crystal. A kind of capacitor is formed with the liquid crystal as dielectric. The voltage applied to each pixel is controlled by switching function of the TFT, and electric charges given to the capacitor are controlled to drive the liquid crystal and control the amount of light transmitted for displaying an image.
Conventionally, a TFT is formed from an amorphous silicon film. In order to achieve higher performance, it has been attempted to use a crystalline silicon film (typically called a polysilicon film) for an active layer of a TFT (hereinafter referred to as polysilicon TFT). A polysilicon TFT is high in field effect mobility and therefore can make a circuit which has various functions.
A technique for employing such crystalline silicon film over a glass substrate is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. Hei 8-78329. According to the technique described in the publication, an amorphous silicon film is selectively doped with a metal element that accelerates crystallization (typically nickel) and then subjected to heat treatment to grow a crystalline silicon film from the doped region. Crystal grains obtained by this technique are very large in size.
Owing to the effect of the metal element, the technique is capable of lowering the temperature, at which the amorphous silicon film is crystallized, by 50 to 100° C. as compared to the case where the metal element is not used in crystallization. In addition, time required to complete crystallization is ⅕ to 1/10 of the case where the metal element is not used for crystallization. This technique is superior also in terms of productivity.
The crystalline silicon film obtained in accordance with the technique of the above publication (Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. Hei 8-78329)) has a unique crystal structure. A large number of columnar crystal masses (also called domains) are formed in the crystal silicon film and crystals in one crystal mass (domain) all have the same crystal orientation. The size of one crystal mass (domain) is as large as 200 to 300 μm. Adjacent crystal masses (domains) have different orientations and there is a boundary between adjacent crystal masses. When a TFT is formed so that its channel formation region is confined within one crystal mass, it is expected that almost the same level of electric characteristics as those of single crystal are obtained. However, with the technique of the above publication, crystal masses are formed at random and it is difficult to manufacture a TFT with its channel formation region placed within one of the randomly-formed crystal masses. Accordingly it is also difficult to form a channel formation region of every TFT in the pixel portion within one crystal mass.
When a crystalline silicon film obtained by the technique of the above publication is used for an active layer of a TFT, the TFT is advantageous in excellent electric characteristics. On the other hand, there is a slight difference, namely, fluctuation., in TFT characteristics between TFTs obtained by the technique due to the presence or absence of a boundary between adjacent crystal masses (between crystal masses with different orientations), or due to varying sizes of crystal masses formed.
If there is a fluctuation in electric characteristics among the TFTs placed in the pixel portion, voltages applied to the respective pixel electrodes are fluctuated and the amount of light transmitted is then fluctuated, to result in uneven display to the eves of an observer. Although the fluctuation is in an acceptable range and does not cause a problem at present, it is conceivable that the fluctuation is a very serious problem as the pixel size is more minute to obtain an image with higher definition in future.
With the reduction in size of a channel formation region (channel length and channel width) as wall as the upcoming reduction in the width of a wiring line, it is unavoidable that a TFT has its channel formation region at a boundary between crystal masses. TFT characteristics (the mobility, S value, ON current value, and OFF current value, and the like) of the TFT is different from TFT characteristics of TFTs whose channel formation regions are not formed in boundaries, which is considered as a cause of display fluctuation.
Despite several attempts, there have not been found the optimum measure to form a crystalline silicon film which has a uniform grain size at a process temperature equal to or lower than the distortion point of glass substrate, namely, 600° C.
It is difficult to obtain a highly uniform crystalline silicon film and high mobility at the same time in prior art. It is also difficult to manufacture a TFT at a process temperature equal to or lower than 600° C. in prior art.
An active matrix type light emitting device which has an OLED as a self-luminous element (hereinafter simply referred to as light emitting device) is being researched actively. A light emitting device is also called as an organic EL display (OELD) or an organic light emitting diode (OLED).
An OLED, which is self-luminous, does not need back light which is necessary in liquid crystal display devices (LCDs) and is therefore suitable for making a thinner device. In addition, a self-luminous OLED has high visibility and no limitation in terms of viewing angle. These are the reasons why light emitting devices using OLEDs are attracting attention as display devices that replace CRTs and LCDs.
Known as one mode of light emitting devices using OLEDs is an active matrix driving method in which each of pixels has a plurality of TFTs and video signals are sequentially written in the pixels to display an image. In the light emitting device using OLEDs, a TFT is an indispensable element when the active matrix driving method is employed. However, TFTs formed from polysilicon easily fluctuate in characteristics due to defects in grain boundaries.
In light emitting devices using OLEDs, each pixel is provided with at least a TFT for functioning as a switching element and a TFT for supplying current to an OLED. Irrespective of circuit structures and driving methods of pixels, the luminance of a pixel is determined by the ON current (Ion) of a TFT electrically connected to an OLED to supply a current to the OLED. Therefore, when the entire screen displays white, for example, the luminance is fluctuated unless the ON current of each pixel is constant.

Semiconductor device and method of manufacturing the same

Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.


The embodiments herein provide a system and a method for integrating a data from a source to a destination. The method comprises generating a global-id, setting an event-id corresponding to an entity id in the global id, polling a data from a source, sorting changes of a source system based on a time of update and an entity id, creating and comparing an old as of state value and a new as of state value for each field for each update in the entity in the source and destination to detect a conflict on an entity, sending a time of update in the entity and a revision id of a change to the destination, comparing the global id with an event id for each entity at the destination to detect a presence of an entity in the destination and processing an entity at the destination based an event id.

1. Technical Field
The embodiments herein generally relate to a data integration process and particularly relate to a method of integrating a data from a source to a destination. The embodiments herein more particularly relate to a method and system for integrating a data from a source to a destination in real time.
2. Description of the Related Art
A data integration process involves combining a data residing in different sources and providing the users with a unified view of the data. In this process, a data is frequently fetched (polled) from a source system to achieve the changes in the destination. The data integration process becomes significant in a variety of situations such as commercial and scientific fields. In commercial field, the data integration plays very important role in merging the databases of two similar companies. In a similar way, there is a need to provide an integration among the data in scientific field while combining the research results from different repositories.
An important aspect of data integration is writing the polled data at the destination after processing the polled data. At present there are many systems and methods for processing a data. A polling of the data from a source system means reading the data from the source system. A processing of the data involves writing the authenticated data in the destination system after reading a data from the source system. A polling frequency indicates a frequency of polling and reading the data from the source. A difference in time between two polling processes is referred as a polling interval. A polling data can be a data of same entity or different entities or new entity.
An integration solution is always expected to process the data as soon as it is generated at the source. A polling process can be done frequently to bring the changes quickly. But this is not enough to bring the source and destination systems in a synchronized stated until the polled data is processed. After processing the data the systems are synchronized. Therefore a processing of the data need to be fast besides a frequent polling process. One way of achieving a quick processing of data is to perform a parallel processing operation. The processing of the data in parallel can work as long the data are independent in nature. But the parallel processing will bring either inconsistency or failure when the data are dependent on each other.
An integration solution provides an effective way to keep two systems in a synchronized state. So it is very important to transfer all the changes from the source to the destination in an integration process. For fetching all the changes, the integration solution has to look into a source after every preset time interval, to check for any updates of an entity. The standard integration solution is designed based on a current state of date. Consider a case in which an entity gets updated more than once between two successive polling intervals. Consider case in which a first polling is done at a time t1 and the next polling is done at a time t5. But before t5 and after t1, the entity E1 is updated twice at the times t2 and t4. c1 is a change done at the time t2 and c2 is the change done at the time t4. Now suppose that the change c2 is dependent on the change c1 so that the change c2 can only be made only after doing the change c1. During an integration process, the polling done at t5 will fetch the entity E1 updated at t4 so that only the latest state of E1 which is c2 is polled and synchronized to the destination. The change c1 is not synchronized to destination and c2 fails as c1 which is a prerequisite is not found in the destination. One way of solving the problem is to attach a trigger to the source. The trigger on each update in system publishes a change list to the integration system. The integration system can then work on it effectively. In the above case, a trigger is generated to invoke an integration application with the set of changes done in c1 as soon as a change c1 is done and it will be repeated for c2. This allows the integration system to track all the changes done in the system and the integration solution will be able to synchronize the changes immediately. But consider the case in which an integration system goes down because of power shutdown or system crash or some other run time failures. Whenever there is any change in system, a trigger invokes an integration system and ensures that no other component is activated. When the trigger does not initiate any action, then the integration system will miss the change. Even when the trigger initiates an exemption then also the integration system will miss the change. When the integration system is operated afterwards, it will be unaware of the changes made to the entity in the source system and will try to synchronize the next incoming change normally. Thus attaching the trigger also does not work at times. This solution is not versatile and does not provide a robust approach.
Every integration solution has two functions. One function is a polling process to fetch all the changes to an entity from the system and pass the same for further processing. The integration solution also functions as an adapter to accept the changes coming from other systems to write the same to the destination. During a polling process, the integration solution has to take care of various expected and unexpected failure cases besides a data fetching process to ensure that all the changes are polled and a given change is fetched only once. Similarly the adapter is operated not only for writing the changes but also for ensuring that no change is written twice or no change is overwritten in the destination. Even when the polling module ensures that no change is polled and sent twice, the adapter is also operated to prevent the handling of update request coming more than once. For any good integration solution, all parts are decoupled from each other and all the components are not aware of the existence of anything else than their function in an integration solution. The polling part is not aware of the working and functioning of the adapter and the same holds good for the adapter too. Sometimes the adapter has to handle the situation in which a same change is to be written twice in the destination. Consider a case in which the adapter does not keep track of the changes till the changes are written. The adapter fetches an event E1 and writes the same to destination with state S1 and system goes down afterwards. Now a user comes and updates the destination entity to a state S2. When the polling module sends the entity E1 again at this moment due to some reason, then the adapter will write E1 again rolling back the state in S2 to S1. To ensure that the adapter does not roll back any changes done by an external user, it is important to check whether the event has already been addressed or not. It can be solved in one way by comparing a current/latest state in the destination with the incoming new values and updating the new value in the destination when it is found that the latest state/value is not same as the new value. But this solution does not work when the destination is updated by some other user and the incoming new values may not be equal to the current state in the destination after this update. As a result, the adapter will overwrite the new changes done by user and will roll back to the old state thereby leading to the old problem. Thus the currently available solutions do not solve the failures in the integration process fully and reliably. Thus the sync is not recoverable with the existing solutions for any kind of failures.
The main job of an integration solution is to synchronize the data from a source to a destination and to keep all the updates done in the source in a synchronized condition with the destination. It is very critical for an integration solution to ensure that the source data is written at a right place in the destination. Any failure in a synchronization process results in an invalid or irrecoverable condition in the destination which may result in a loss to the company in terms of time or money as important data is no more valid. Hence there is a need to develop an integration process to ensure that the data is written at a right place in the destination.
Consider a case in which a user created an entity E1 in a source system and the integration solution fetched the entity and wrote the same into the destination as TE1. A synchronisation process is carried out once but there is a need to consider the further updates done on E1. The integration solution has to ensure that the further updates are written on TE1. When there is a failure in the integration process and TE2 is updated, then the first user will lose data in TE2 and TE1 will not be in a synchronized condition. The integration solution has to identify the right entity since the update has to be written only on the right entity at the destination. And also the integration has to confirm that E1 in the source is in the same state as the TE1 in destination. The currently available solutions for achieving this explained as follows. The name or title of the entity is checked first. Secondly a primary key is written in the custom field in a target. By sorting the entity by name, an entity E1 in the source created with name N1 is synchronized to the destination with the same name N1. When the entity E1 is updated next time, then the destination is searched to get the entity with name N1. When TE1 is obtained based on the name N1, then TE1 is updated correctly. But systems can allow different entities to have the same name. For example, when an entity E2 is also assigned with a name N1 in the source, then TE2 is also assigned with the same name N1 in the destination or target. In such a condition it will be difficult to select an entity (TE1 or TE2) from the destination based on name for updating when E1 or E2 is updated at the source, as both the TE1 and TE2 are assigned with the same name N1 in the destination. Thus a process of searching an entity by name to update the changes in the destination does not result in a proper updating process. Hence a global id is generated to solve this problem. With the existing global id generation method, it is very difficult to find the replica of the entity in all the synchronized systems. Further the existing solutions are also not extensible.
According to embodiment herein, the system further comprises using an event based trigger and a scheduler based trigger to poll and synchronize a data from a source to a destination.
When a poll is active at the time of a scheduler based trigger, then the scheduler based trigger is skipped. When an event based trigger is received and no poll is active, then the event based trigger kicks off the polling process. When the poll is active, the event based trigger sets a flag indicating a need to repoll at the end of a poll. At the end of a poll, the repoll flag is checked for. When the repoll flag is set, then another poll cycle is immediately kicked off.
Hence, there is a need for a method for integrating a data from a source to a destination in real time to replicate all the changes done to an entity in the source in the destination without missing any updates. There is also a need for a method to address the problems with incremental changes, bulk changes, changes from multiple locations of a source. Further there is a need for a solution to integrate a data based on a as of state condition of the entity. Yet there is a need to integrate a data using a multistep recovery process.
The abovementioned shortcomings, disadvantages and problems are addressed herein and which will be understood by reading and studying the following specification.

Method and a system for integrating data from a source to a destination


A semiconductor integrated circuit device having a plurality of circuit elements and a plurality of wires connecting the circuit elements, includes an orthogonal wire having a first minimum wire width which is formed on a first wiring layer and extends horizontally or vertically; a diagonal wire having a second minimum wire width which is substantially equal to the first minimum wire width, formed on a second wiring layer which differs from the first wiring layer and extending in a diagonal direction in relation to the orthogonal wire; and a via having a size which is no greater than the first or second wire width, formed at point at which the orthogonal wire and diagonal wire overlap so as to connect the orthogonal wire and diagonal wire, wherein one of the diagonal wire and orthogonal wire includes an enlarged wire width region in the position at which the via is formed, the wire width of the enlarged wire width region being enlarged beyond the first or second minimum wire width.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a semiconductor integrated circuit device having diagonal direction wiring, and a layout method therefor, and more particularly to a semiconductor integrated circuit device and a layout method therefor in which the width of the diagonal direction wiring can be narrowed, thereby enabling an increase in the density of the diagonal direction wiring.
2. Prior Art
A semiconductor integrated circuit device (LSI) is a large-scale circuit constituted by connecting a plurality of circuit elements formed on a semiconductor substrate with wires in a multi-layer wiring layer on the substrate. The number of wires in this multi-layer wiring layer is great, and hence layout of the wires is usually performed automatically using an automatic layout tool controlled by a computer program rather than manually. In the layout performed by this automatic layout tool, wires extending in a vertical direction and a horizontal direction are combined to form connecting wires between the circuit elements.
This automatic layout method is based on a grid architecture and a preferred direction. In the grid architecture, wires are formed in a horizontal direction and vertical direction over a standard grid which is defined at a constant pitch in the horizontal and vertical directions. Hence all of the wires are disposed on the standard grid at intervals of integral multiples of the grid pitch, and, as a result, algorithms for data processing, wire retrieval, and so on can be simplified. A preferred direction, on the other hand, is an architecture in which wires only in a vertical direction are formed on a first wiring layer, and wires only in a horizontal direction are formed on a second wiring layer above or below the first wiring layer. By limiting the wiring directions in each wiring layer, the automatic layout algorithms can be simplified.
In these layout architectures, the wiring is invariably positioned on a grid and connection points connecting the wires of different layers are positioned at grid points, and thus such architectures have the merit of enabling simplification of the automatic layout algorithms.
However, in these architectures, circuit elements are connected only by a combination of wires in a horizontal direction and vertical direction, and hence the wiring tends to increase in length, delay times caused by the wiring configuration increase, and it is sometimes difficult to form a critical pass with severe restrictions on the signal timing. Hence in recent years, an architecture which allows diagonal wiring with a 45° or 135° incline in relation to the standard grid has been proposed, for example in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication 2000-82743, Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication 2001-142931, and so on.
By allowing the formation of diagonal wiring, the length of the wires can be reduced, flexibility for the formation of the critical pass can be increased, and the layout capability of automatic layout can be greatly improved.
In Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication 2000-82743, the formation of diagonal wiring on a diagonal wiring grid is proposed, whereby in addition to a standard horizontal direction and vertical direction wiring grid, a diagonal wiring grid having a pitch of √2 P in relation to the pitch P of the standard wiring grid is provided so that a diagonal wiring is formed on the diagonal wiring grid. According to this method, the grid points on the standard wiring grid and the grid points on the diagonal wiring grid match, and hence vias for connecting different wiring layers can be limited to positions on the grid points, enabling simplification of the automatic layout algorithms.
In Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication 2001-142931, a proposal is made to employ a diagonal wiring grid similar to that described above, in which a first conductive layer having the wire width of the horizontal or vertical wires, a second conductive layer having the wire width of the diagonal wires, and a connection pattern comprising vias between the first and second conductive layers are provided at the connection points where the diagonal wires overlap with the horizontal or vertical wires. In other words, it is proposed that the diagonal wire width be set to √2 W in relation to the horizontal or vertical wire width W, and accordingly that the via figure be set to the width W on the horizontal or vertical wiring side, and to √2 W on the diagonal wiring side.
FIG. 1 is a view showing the example of diagonal wiring proposed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication 2000-82743, as described above. In the drawing, the dot/dash lines correspond to the standard grid and the diagonal grid. Vertical direction wires 10 are formed on the standard grid, and diagonal wires 12 are formed on the diagonal grid. By setting the pitch of the diagonal grid to √2 P in relation to the pitch P of the standard grid, the grid points of the two grids match, and vias 14 can be formed at the matching grid points.
FIG. 2 is a view showing a gridless architecture. In this gridless architecture, the pitch of a grid for diagonal wiring is set to be equal to the pitch P of the standard grid, enabling an increase in the density of the diagonal wires. However, the grid points 16 of the two grids do not match whatsoever, creating complications in the automatic layout algorithms. Such an architecture is impracticable, and hence unfavorable.

Semiconductor integrated circuit device having diagonal direction wiring and layout method therefor


X-ray images are recorded of a patient's heart and the heartbeat phase is registered as that is done. The heartbeat phases are coarsely divided into intervals and all X-ray images that have been assigned heartbeat phase from the interval are used for reconstructing a 3D image dataset. The movement fields of the other 3D image datasets are then calculated for one of said 3D image datasets. Movement fields are vector fields indicating the movements of similar structures from one local area to the other. A departure is then made from the coarse interval division, and for each heartbeat phase a movement field is interpolated individually or at least for fairly short intervals from the movement fields determined in advance, which field is used for generating a deformed 3D image dataset that has been imaged onto a reference heartbeat phase. The deformed 3D image datasets are then added together.

A 3D image dataset is a three-dimensional field of volumetric pixels (voxels) each of which has been assigned a gray or color value.
To generate a 3D image dataset, a sequence of individual 2D images is usually recorded. The 3D image dataset is generated from the individual 2D images with the aid of what is termed a reconstruction process; with the aid of, for instance, filtered back-projection.
A particular feature associated with cardiac imaging is that the heart is in constant motion. The time usually required to record a sequence of X-ray images is longer than the heartbeat period. The 2D X-ray images can not, therefore, be readily reconstructed from a recorded sequence into a 3D X-ray image dataset to practical effect.
For that reason, the approach has instead been adopted of performing an electrocardiogram (ECG) measurement on the patient during image recording and then measuring the heartbeat phase for each recording. What is measured as the heartbeat phase is the time elapsing between the occurrence in the electrocardiogram of a reference structure (usually what is termed an R peak) and the image recording instant (or vice versa).
The knowledge about the heartbeat phase can be applied in two different ways: A first sequence of X-ray images for each of which the heartbeat phase is measured can first be recorded with the aid of an X-ray C-arm. The sequence of X-ray images corresponds to different traversing angles of the X-ray C-arm. A range of 180 degrees plus what is termed the fan angle of the X-ray source is usually traversed. The time taken overall to record the X-ray image sequences is always the same. Whereas the heartbeat phase is to be randomly selected for the first sequence of X-ray images, the knowledge about the heartbeat phase can then be used for initiating the recording of further sequences of X-ray images in a defined manner. In other words, a succeeding traversal will in each case be triggered. That can be arranged such that an interval of heartbeat phases can after a predetermined number of traversals be defined in such a way that at each angular position of the X-ray C-arm there will be precisely one (or, in a progression thereof, at least one) X-ray image that has been assigned a heartbeat phase from the interval. The greater the number of traversals, the shorter can be the interval. In the case of N traversals, the interval will usually extend across an N-th of the entire range of heartbeat phases (from reference peak to reference peak). Since for each angular position there will be a complete set of X-ray images where the heartbeat phase occurs within the interval, a 3D X-ray image dataset can be reconstructed exclusively on the basis of said X-ray images. If the interval is sufficiently small, the structures will be sufficiently well defined. If, for instance, four traversals of the X-ray C-arm are selected, then a time resolution of one fourth of the heart's beat length will be achieved, which will suffice to see the ventricles and the large branches of the coronary arteries in the reconstruction images. The greater the number of traversals, the shorter will be the interval and the more there will be to see in the reconstruction images. The method just described is explained in more detail in the article by G. Lauritsch, J. Boese, L. Wigström, H. Kemeth, and R. Fahrig, titled "Towards Cardiac C-arm Computed Tomography", appearing on pages 922 to 934 in IEEE Transactions on Medical Imaging, Vol. 25, published in 2006.
A second approach to employing the measured heartbeat phase to practical effect is described in DE 10 2004 048 209 B3.
X-ray images for each of which the heartbeat phase (cyclic relative time) has been measured are in that method grouped as a function of the measured heartbeat phase. A preliminary 3D image dataset is generated from each group. One of the 3D image datasets is selected as the reference image dataset. A movement matrix is then calculated from each of the other 3D image datasets in relation to the reference image dataset. What is referred to as a movement matrix (below, also "movement field") is a three-dimensional vector field by means of which voxels or groups thereof in one 3D image dataset are linked to voxels or groups thereof in the other 3D image dataset. The movement matrix therein characterizes a "movement", which is to say a spatial change in mutually corresponding image structures between the first 3D image dataset serving as the starting point and the second 3D image dataset. A correlation method, for example what is termed block matching known per se, or a method based on optical flow, is preferably used for calculating the movement matrix from the two 3D image datasets.
The movement matrix is in the method described in DE 10 2004 048 209 B3 subsequently employed for deforming the preliminary 3D image datasets. In other words, the preliminary 3D image datasets that have been assigned to any heartbeat phases are imaged onto the reference image dataset's situation. With the aid of the movement field, back-calculating is as it were performed from the 3D image dataset so that the situation prevailing during the heartbeat phase for which the reference image dataset was defined will be imaged. The defined preliminary 3D image datasets are then added together and a final 3D image dataset is obtained.

Method for providing a 3D X-ray image dataset of a patient's heart


Methods of speeding error analysis of electronic devices under test using simulation software that has the capability of simultaneously executing up to 32 tests on one image of the design model. One embodiment of the method contemplates executing the tests staggered in time so that a larger portion of the test is available for examination and execution at any given time. This allows errors to be found more quickly. Another embodiment contemplates more quickly testing a device initialization sequence by randomly establishing values for each state device, separately for each of the 32 tests, running the simulation, and then determining whether the state device values converge.

Cycle-based simulation software is used to simulate electronic devices to decrease the cost and complexity of building large electronic systems, microprocessors, and ASICs. Such simulation software is much faster than event-driven simulators, and has performance levels that approach those of more expensive hardware accelerators.
One cycle-based simulation software product, SpeedSim/3 available from SpeedSim, Inc. of Chelmsford, Mass. is able to perform up to 32 tests simultaneously on one image of the design model on a single workstation. This technique of simultaneously running multiple diagnostics or application program streams results in a 5 to 10 times performance gain in total throughput.
Large microprocessors include many state devices. When such microprocessors are powered up, the values of the state devices are unknown. However, their values must converge each time an initialization sequence is completed. The SpeedSim/3 product is a two-state simulator that does not have the provision for simulating an unknown state. Accordingly, the SpeedSim/3 product must assign a value of 1 or 0 to any state device involved in the test. When the initialization sequence of a device under test is being tested, for the test to be successful the output pin values of all of the state devices must converge to a single solution after each initialization sequence test. If the value of even a single state device changes from one initialization sequence to another, there is a design problem which must be resolved. Thus, to use a two-state simulator to test device initialization sequences, provision must be made for the inability to simulate an unknown state.
Large device designs require lengthy test procedures. Some designs can take days to test using cycle-based simulation software such as the SpeedSim/3 product. If an error occurs during the test, it can be extremely time consuming to find the error source. To do so typically requires the creation of a tracing file that slows the simulation test, and creates a large data file that must be reviewed to pinpoint the error. Alternatively, the simulation can be rerun, and the data can be saved for analysis. In either case, it is extremely difficult and time-consuming to locate the source of an error. Additionally, these error pinpointing procedures tie up valuable test hardware that could be used to perform additional testing.

Methods of using simultaneous test verification software


According to the present invention, provided are a list generator for generating, upon receipt of a printer command from a host computer, a display list that serves as intermediate code that printers use in common, a storage section for storing, in advance, an estimated drawing time for each object, which is required for drawing a raster image of the display list, a determination section for ascertaining, before drawing of the raster image for each band width is begun, whether or not an estimated drawing time for the display list is stored in the storage section, and a controller for calculating a drawing time by the addition of the estimated drawing time for the display list when the determination section ascertains that the estimated drawing time is stored, and for performing a predetermined calculation to acquire a drawing time that is required for developing the display list into a raster image when the determination section ascertains that the estimated drawing time is not stored.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus, which converts a printer command input by a host computer into intermediate code (a display list) that is specifically for printers, and which develops the intermediate code into a bit map for each specific band or for each page; to a drawing processing method therefor; and to a memory medium, in which is stored a drawing processing program.
2. Related Background Art
Conventionally, when the time that is required for the development of a bit map by such a printing device is to be calculated, a printer command that is input by a host computer is converted into intermediate code (a display list) that is specifically for printers, and the time for drawing the display list in a raster memory is calculated before the list is physically drawn in the raster memory.
The printing device comprises a display list storage section for managing and storing, for each band, a display list for at least one page; a band drawing section for drawing the display list for each band; a band raster storage section for storing the band rasters that are drawn; and a drawing time control section for managing, for each band, a time for drawing the display list in the band raster. The time for drawing, for each band, a display list in the band raster is compared with a specified time, and when the drawing time is shorter than the specified time, the band raster is output for each band. When the drawing time is longer than the specified time, the display list storage section and a system work memory are employed as band rasters to acquire the band raster for one page, the raster for one page is generated and is output.
In the above prior art, however, time T for drawing characters from the display list to the band raster, for example, is calculated by expression (1), below, wherein the width of a character is denoted by wd and the height of a character is denoted by ht: EQU T=a+b.multidot.wd+c.multidot.ht (1)
(a, b and c are constants) PA1 (a, b, c and d are constants)
For compressed characters, drawing time T is roughly calculated by expression (2), wherein the width of a decompressed character is denoted by wd, the height of a decompressed character is denoted by ht, and the size of compressed data is denoted by S1: EQU a+b.multidot.wd+c.multidot.ht+d/S1 (2)
Therefore, it takes much time to calculate the drawing time, and especially for compressed data (when the contents of compressed data are analyzed and the number of monochrome inversions is acquired to calculate the exact data decompression time), an error in the drawing time calculation is large.

Drawing time estimation in image processing including data compression/decompression


A switching control circuit having a synchronous input for the synchronization of power converters is provided. It includes a synchronous input circuit for receiving a synchronous input signal. An oscillation circuit is connected to the synchronous input circuit for generating an oscillation signal in response to the synchronous input signal. A signal converter is coupled to receive a feedback signal of the power converter for modulating the oscillation signal in response to the feedback signal for achieving power savings. The oscillation signal is connected for enabling the switching signal of the power converter. The switching signal can be synchronized with the synchronous input signal immediately after the synchronous input signal is inputted. Otherwise, the switching signal will be running free.

1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates in general to power converters, and more particularly, to the control circuit for switching power converters.
2. Description of Related Art
Power converters have been used for converting an unregulated power source to a regulated voltage and/or current source. The control circuit of the power converter generates a switching signal for the power regulation. The duty cycle of the switching signal is modulated in accordance with the output of the power converter. The switching frequency of the switching signal generally is self-determining in the control circuit of the power converter. To reduce the switching noise and the EMI (electrical and magnetic interference) while more than one switching power converters are used in a system, the synchronization of the switching signal is required. However, in recent developments, many PWM (pulse width modulation) control circuits have been proposed for power converters for saving power losses, such as "PWM controller having off-time modulation for power converter" by Yang, U.S. Pat. No. 6,545,882; "PWM controller having a modulator for saving power and reducing acoustic noise" by Yang, et al, U.S. Pat. No. 6,781,356. The switching frequency of the above prior arts is varied in response to the change of the load, which causes difficulties for the control circuit to synchronize the switching signal with other power converters. Besides, the fast synchronization of the switching signal is required. A slow phase locking of the switching frequency will generate jitters and acoustic noises in the power supply. Furthermore, due to the variability in load conditions, the synchronization of the switching signal may cause an unstable supply voltage during the turning-on of the power converter.

Switching controller having synchronous input for the synchronization of power converters


Disclosed is a capacitor. The capacitor includes a plurality of capacitor units connected to each other in parallel. The capacitor unit includes a first capacitor, a second capacitor connected to the first capacitor in parallel, and a switch selectively connected to the first capacitor or the second capacitor.

Communication equipment requires various frequency bands when operating. To this end, the communication equipment must include devices for generating and processing (amplifying) frequencies. The devices for generating and processing (amplifying) frequencies may be realized by using crystal and LC resonance circuits.
The frequencies generated by the LC resonance circuit vary depending on an inductor L and a capacitor C. Therefore, various frequencies may be generated by adjusting the inductor L and the capacitor C in the LC resonance circuit. In most of cases, the frequencies are changed by adjusting the capacitor C in the LC resonance circuit.
Therefore, researches and studies on a scheme of continuously or discretely varying a capacitance by using micro electro mechanical systems (MEMS) have been variously performed. In particular, researches and studies of varying the capacitance and the inductance through the continuous mechanical displacement of a driving unit of the MEMS have been performed.

Capacitor, MEMS device, and method of manufacturing the MEMS device


The invention relates to towed acoustic transmitters forming an underwater vehicle which is itself intended for towing a linear acoustic receiving array (105). It consists in placing the vertical faired acoustic array (303) of such a transmitter at the very rear of the underwater vehicle, and in balancing the weight of this array by a faired ballast (313) situated at the very front thereof. These two parts are joined by a girder (310) of small cross-section, and the center of gravity of the whole is situated at the front of this girder and beneath it. The vehicle is towed by a cable (101) fastened to the vehicle by a hook (314) fixed to a swivel joint (315) above the center of gravity. It makes it possible to facilitate the operations of submersion and fishing-out of the whole while also achieving a greater depth of submersion.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to towed acoustic transmitters which make it possible to transmit acoustic signals in seawater which are intended in particular to be received, after reflection on a detected obstacle, by a linear acoustic receiving array which is itself towed astern of this transmitter.
2. Description of the Related Art
It is known to tow behind a boat an underwater vehicle which may contain various payloads such as a sonar. This vehicle sails astern of the towboat at a submersion determined for example by flaps which are manoeuvred appropriately so as to maintain this submersion at the desired value.
A particular case consists, as represented in FIG. 1, in towing behind a hauling boat 101, with the aid of a towing cable 102, a vehicle 103 essentially comprising an acoustic transmitter which makes it possible to sweep the underwater volume with sound. The return echoes obtained through this sound-sweeping are received by an acoustic linear array 105, which is itself towed by a cable 104 fastened astern of the underwater vehicle 103. This kind of device being intended to operate at relatively low frequencies, of the order of a kHz, the transmitter contained in the vehicle 103 is therefore relatively voluminous. To obtain the directivity characteristics which are generally desired, in particular in the vertical plane so as to combat the phenomena of reverberation, this acoustic transmitter is generally of elongate shape, with a height of around 4 to 5 times its thickness as well as its width.
In order to be able to maintain these directivity characteristics, it is of course necessary for the transmitting array, and hence the body of the vehicle to which it is generally rigidly attached, to move along a rectilinear trajectory, at the very least while the boat is not turning, and to maintain a constant trim and constant heading, that is to say in practice for the body to remain vertical and oriented towards the boat. To achieve this, use is generally made of a structure such as represented in FIG. 2. The body 203 of the vehicle, which has substantially the shape of a column with elliptical cross-section of fairly large aspect ratio, is hauled by the cable 102, to which it is joined by a rigid stirrup 202, whose points of fixing to the vehicle are fixed in an articulated manner at the location of the centre of drag of this body. In this way this stirrup ensures good roll stability of the hauled vehicle. The cable 104 for towing the linear array 105 is itself tied to the rear of the body, at a spot situated in the horizontal plane passing through this centre of drag. To ensure the vertical stability of the vehicle, the distribution of the masses inside the body is contrived in such a way that the centre of gravity 101 of the latter is located well beneath the articulation between the stirrup 202 and the body 203. The yaw stability originates in part from the action of the stirrup 202 and it is improved by using vertical fins 205 fixed to the top and bottom of the body.
Such a device operates relatively well, at the very least while the height/width ratio of the body of the vehicle is not too large and it is not sought to submerge it too deeply.
Now, the current tendency consists in seeking deeper and deeper submersions both in respect of the transmitter and in respect of the receiving array associated therewith, essentially so as to increase the detection range. Under these conditions, and since the length of the hauling cable 102 cannot be permitted to be excessively lengthened, for large depths an inclination of the stirrup 202 with respect to the vertical of the body of the vehicle is obtained which is itself large. Bringing the stirrup closer to this vertical tends to increase the instability of the body of the towed vehicle considerably.
Furthermore, in order to have simultaneously a higher array gain and lower electrical consumption, it is also sought to use much taller transmitters than those already known. The vehicles comprising these transmitters then have substantially the shape of a vertical wing of large height/width ratio. Such vehicles have very poor stability in yaw and in the event of the manoeuvring of the hauling boat, thus tending to make them drift from a rectilinear trajectory. Furthermore, as soon as the speed exceeds about ten knots the appearance of an effect of the "kite" type is observed. Under this effect the body pulls to one side or the other and tends to lie down, and this causes it to resurface beyond a certain speed since the hydrodynamic lift then becomes very large compared with this body's weight in the water.
All these effects are unacceptable during operational use and it is not conceivable to limit the operational capacity of this system as a function of the circumstances encountered, for example by reducing the speed.
It has been attempted to improve this system by fitting it with a tail assembly, articulated to the same point of articulation as the stirrup 202 and which makes it possible to stabilize this undesirable motion to a certain extent. The cable 104 enabling the linear array to be towed is then fastened to the rear of this tail assembly. Unfortunately, when extracting from the water during the operations for recovering the whole the tail assembly tends to rise up, and in order to avoid this undesirable effect it is expedient to motorize the articulation between the tail assembly and the body, so as to align the latter with the tail assembly before extraction from the water. This motorization naturally complicates the device and increases its cost. It is furthermore only relatively effective and it is observed that the placing of such a body into the water and its recovery present major difficulties. In fact, when part of the body begins to emerge, the drag of the submerged part becomes predominant and tends to make the device as a whole tip up. The motions can then no longer be controlled, all the more so since disturbances due to the wake from the boat and to the wash from the propellers are added to the disturbances due to the transit at the air/water interface.
Furthermore the location for storing this device in the towboat outside of operational periods is of limited dimensions. In order to be able to stow the vehicle in this location, it is then expedient to install a system for tipping the vehicle up at the time of anchorage or recovery, so as to be able to stow it in a position which is compatible with the limited height available in the storage location. The means to be implemented are heavy and expensive and their use is risky and dangerous.


A film-like electrode member, used as a stationary member or a movable member of an electrostatic motor. The film-like electrode member is provided with an insulating substrate including a major surface and a back surface opposite to the major surface; a plurality of electrodes arranged along the major surface of the insulating substrate at predetermined intervals; a main section including at least a part of the plural electrodes and of the insulating substrate carrying the electrodes; a locally thick section integrally joined to the main section and having a thickness larger than the main section; and a conducting element formed on the thick section and connected to the plurality of electrodes. The thick section includes a protrusion element having insulating properties and locally protruding from the major surface of the insulating substrate; and the conducting element is formed continuously on the insulating substrate and the protrusion element. The major surface of the insulating substrate of a first film-like electrode member is disposed to be opposed to the back surface of the insulating substrate of a second film-like electrode member, and the thick section of the first film-like electrode member and the thick section of the second film-like electrode member is brought into abutment with each other.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an electrostatic motor which generates a driving force using an electrostatic force and, more particularly, to a film-like electrode member used for the electrostatic motor.
2. Description of the Related Art
There has been developed an electrostatic motor in which each of a stationary member (or a stator) and a movable member is formed from a film-like electrode member including a film-like insulating substrate and a plurality of electrodes arranged thereon, a multi-phase AC power source being connected to each film-like electrode member so as to move the two film-like electrode members relative to each other. As compared to an electric motor using an electromagnetic force, this type of the electrostatic motor does not require a large mass component, such as a magnetic coil or a permanent magnet, and thus can be easily fabricated in a small size, which permits it to be utilized as, e.g., a drive source for a micro-machine.
Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication (Kokai) No. 6-78566 (JP6-78566A) discloses an electrostatic motor provided with a stationary member including an insulating substrate and a plurality of electrodes arranged along a major surface of the insulating substrate at predetermined intervals, and a movable member including another insulating substrate and a plurality of electrodes arranged on a major surface of the insulating substrate at predetermined intervals. In this electrostatic motor, the stationary member and the movable member are assembled together relatively movably in a direction along the major surfaces thereof, with the respective plural electrodes (usually, strip-shaped or line-shaped electrodes) being regularly opposed to each other. In this state, a three-phase AC voltage is applied to, e.g., every three parallel electrodes in the respective sets of electrodes of the stationary member and the movable member, to generate an electrostatic force between the two sets of electrodes due to traveling-wave electric fields having different phases, so that a driving force is generated in the movable member so as to act in a direction of the parallel arrangement of the electrodes (or in the direction along the major surface).
JP6-78566A also discloses a laminated configuration constructed by alternately stacking plural stationary members and plural movable members, so as to provide plural sets of stationary members and movable members, each set having opposing electrodes, for the purpose of increasing the output power of a single motor. JP6-78566A further discloses a linear electrostatic motor in which the movable member linearly moves relative to the stationary member, and a rotary electrostatic motor in which the movable member rotates about an axis relative to the stationary member.
In the laminated configuration, in general, the plural stationary members are arranged to be stacked at predetermined intervals with spacers interposed therebetween, the plural movable members are arranged to be stacked at predetermined intervals with other spacers interposed therebetween, and the stack of the stationary members and the stack of the movable members are assembled together in such a manner that the respective stationary members and the respective movable members are alternately arranged. Each spacer is dimensioned to have a thickness slightly larger than the thickness of the insulating substrate of the stationary or movable member, in order to maintain a required small clearance between the major surface of the stationary member and the major surface of the movable member. Further, each spacer may incorporate therein a connection conductor, such as an electrically conductive rubber, an electrically conductive spring or an electrically conductive pin, for electrically connecting the plural stationary members with each other or for electrically connecting the plural movable members with each other.
In the conventional electrostatic motor having the laminated configuration, as described above, in order to maintain the plural stationary members and the plural movable members at respective predetermined intervals, the spacers formed separately from the film-like electrode members of the stationary and movable members are used, and the laminated configuration is provided through an assembling process. Such an assembling process is generally complex and requires skill. For example, in the case where the connection conductor as a resilient member, such as an electrically conductive rubber or an electrically conductive spring, is incorporated in each spacer, a positional deviation may be caused between the stationary member and the movable member in a direction other than the direction of thickness thereof. In this connection, generally in the electrostatic motor, the electrode pitch of the stationary or movable member is about 0.1 to 1 mm. Therefore, the slight positional deviation caused during the assembling process turns into a large error of the fine electrode patterns in the stationary and movable members, which may result in a difficulty in obtaining a theoretical output power. Besides, it is difficult to visually confirm whether the spacers and the connection conductors are accurately arranged between the stacked plural stationary and movable members.

Film-like electrode member with local thick section for assembling and positioning purposes, and electrostatic motor having the same


Container with at least one vacuum enclosure with an access opening, especially a beverage container with a self-cooling device having a vacuum enclosure, such as a beer barrel or the like, the access opening of which is closed off by a closing mechanism after the vacuum is produced, a chamber being provided, which is downstream from the access opening and in which a valve element is disposed, which is opened during the generation of the vacuum and closed after the vacuum is generated, which chamber is filled with a medium containing an element or compound capable of diffusing, which diffuses if the chamber and, with that, the vacuum chamber is not closed off tightly, through the access opening.

The invention relates to a container with at least one vacuum chamber with an access opening, especially to a beverage container with a self-cooling device having a vacuum chamber, such as a beer barrel or the like, the access opening of which is closed off by a closing mechanism after the vacuum is produced.
A self-cooling beer barrel is known, for example, from the EP 1 054 222. Such a beer barrel has several chambers, namely, on the one hand, a bubble for holding the beverage, a chamber, which surrounds the bubble and forms an evaporator space, and a third chamber, which surrounds these two chambers and forms an absorber space, in which an absorbent, especially a zeolite granulate, is disposed. The evaporator space and the absorber space are divided from one another by a partition, in which a valve device is disposed. Water is used as evaporator material. In order to be able to cool the beverage, the absorber space, to begin with, is evacuated with the help of a heating step and dried. The zeolite granulate, contained in the absorber space, is brought to ambient temperature once again before the beverage is filled into the bubble or while it is already in the bubble. If now the valve device is opened before the barrel is tapped and, with that, the evacuated absorber space is connected with the evaporator space, water vapor flows from the evaporator space into the absorber space. An evaporation process takes place, which requires heat, which, in turn, is withdrawn from the beverage, so that the latter is cooled. This evaporation and absorption take place until the crystalline zeolite is saturated with water or the valve is closed and the transfer of water vapor is interrupted. In order to start the cooling process, the valve in the partition can be actuated from outside by a suitable mechanism with an opening lever or the like.
Such a beverage container is a reusable container, that is, the possibility exists of regenerating the self-cooling device and, after the bubble is filled, of operating the barrel once again. The key feature for the functioning of the self-cooling device is the vacuum in the vacuum chamber of the self-cooling device. This vacuum must be maintained for a long time, in order to be able to ensure the reversible evaporation operation and, by these means, the repeated usability of the container.
In the case of a container, known from the state-of-the-art described above, the vacuum chamber of the self-cooling device is closed off after the final evacuation using suitable means, usually a screw with a washer that is screwed into a threaded borehole. As a further precaution, a cover is welded tightly over the closing screw. However, these means do not necessarily ensure that the barrel actually is closed tightly and does not have a leak, because there is no possibility of measuring the vacuum produced after the access opening of the container has been closed off.
However, this is a problem, which exists not only for the container described above in the form of a self-cooling beverage barrel, but also in the case of other one-chamber or multichamber vacuum containers, which are closed off after the vacuum is produced.

Container with at least one vacuum chamber with an access opening especially a beverage container, such as a beer barrel on the like