A solid state nanopore device including two or more materials and a method for fabricating the same. The device includes a solid state insulating membrane having an exposed surface, a conductive material disposed on at least a portion of the exposed surface of the solid state membrane, and a nanopore penetrating an area of the conductive material and at least a portion of the solid state membrane. During fabrication a conductive material is applied on a portion of a solid state membrane surface, and a nanopore of a first diameter is formed. When the surface is exposed to an ion beam, material from the membrane and conductive material flows to reduce the diameter of the nanopore. A method for evaluating a polymer molecule using the solid state nanopore device is also described. The device is contacted with the polymer molecule and the molecule is passed through the nanopore, allowing each monomer of the polymer molecule to be monitored.

This invention relates to solid state structures and to nanotechnology, and more particularly relates to dimensional control of solid state structures composed of two or more materials, and to the application of such structures as probes.
Precise dimensional control of solid state structural features is essential for many applications in fields ranging from biology and chemistry to physics, optics, and microelectronics. The term "solid state" is here meant to refer to non-biological materials generally. Frequently the successful fabrication of a solid state system critically depends on an ability to articulate specific structural features, often of miniature dimensions, within very tight tolerances. Accordingly, as solid state systems evolve to the micro-regime and further to the nano-regime, nanometric dimensional feature control is increasingly a primary concern for system feasibility.
There have been established a wide range of microfabrication techniques for producing and controlling structural feature dimensions in micromechanical and microelectromechanical systems. For example, high resolution lithographic techniques and high-precision additive and subtractive material processing techniques have been proposed to enable small-scale feature fabrication. But in the fabrication of many nano-regime systems, in which structural feature dimensions of a few nanometers are of importance, it is generally found that conventionally-proposed techniques often cannot form the requisite nano-scale features reproducibly or predictably, and often cannot be controlled on a time scale commensurate with production of such nano-scale features. As a result, volume manufacture of many systems that include nanometric feature dimensions and/or tolerances is not practical or economical.
Recently, a molecular probe device made from biological materials, referred to as a proteinaceous nanopore, has been developed for use as a molecular probe. While the diameters of the pores of this device reach the extremely low (appox. 1 nm) dimensions required for molecular probing, the device suffers many deficiencies due mainly to the fact that it is made from biological material. Among these deficiencies is the lack of robustness to mechanical manipulation and temperature variation, and the lack of flexibility in terms of pore size. Owing to the increased importance of molecular probing applications such as DNA sequencing, what is needed is a more robust, reliable, and adjustable molecular probe that can perform rapid molecular probing/detection. Such a device would reduce the time and effort required for probing in general, and DNA sequencing in particular, and would represent a highly significant advance in biotechnology.

President and Fellows of Harvard College


A fuel cell stack includes a plurality of fuel cells, and a plurality of fuel delivery ports. Each of the plurality of fuel delivery ports is positioned on or in the fuel cell stack to provide fuel to a portion of the plurality fuel cells in each stack.

The present invention is generally directed to fuel cells and more specifically to fuel cell stack configuration.
Fuel cells are electrochemical devices which can convert energy stored in fuels to electrical energy with high efficiencies. High temperature fuel cells include solid oxide and molten carbonate fuel cells. These fuel cells may operate using hydrogen and/or hydrocarbon fuels. There are classes of fuel cells, such as the solid oxide reversible fuel cells, that also allow reversed operation.
In a high temperature fuel cell system such as a solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) system, an oxidizing flow is passed through the cathode side of the fuel cell while a fuel flow is passed through the anode side of the fuel cell. The oxidizing flow is typically air, while the fuel flow is typically a hydrogen-rich gas created by reforming a hydrocarbon fuel source. The fuel cell, operating at a typical temperature between 750° C. and 950° C., enables the transport of negatively charged oxygen ions from the cathode flow stream to the anode flow stream, where the ion combines with either free hydrogen or hydrogen in a hydrocarbon molecule to form water vapor and/or with carbon monoxide to form carbon dioxide. The excess electrons from the negatively charged ion are routed back to the cathode side of the fuel cell through an electrical circuit completed between anode and cathode, resulting in an electrical current flow through the circuit.
Fuel cell stacks may be either internally or externally manifolded for fuel and air. In internally manifolded stacks, the fuel and air is distributed to each cell using risers contained within the stack In other words, the gas flows through riser openings or holes in the supporting layer of each cell, such as the electrolyte layer, for example. In externally manifolded stacks, the stack is open on the fuel and air inlet and outlet sides, and the fuel and air are introduced and collected independently of the stack hardware. For example, the inlet and outlet fuel and air flow in separate channels between the stack and the manifold housing in which the stack is located.

Fuel cell stack with internal fuel manifold configuration


A method of content production includes generating a survey of a performance area that includes a point cloud representing a first physical object, in a survey graph hierarchy, constraining the point cloud and a taking camera coordinate system as child nodes of an origin of a survey coordinate system, obtaining virtual content including a first virtual object that corresponds to the first physical object, applying a transformation to the origin of the survey coordinate system so that at least a portion of the point cloud that represents the first physical object is substantially aligned with a portion of the virtual content that represents the first virtual object, displaying the first virtual object on one or more displays from a perspective of the taking camera, capturing, using the taking camera, one or more images of the performance area, and generating content based on the one or more images.

One method of creating a virtual reality experience can include surrounding a user with large display screens that present a virtual environment for the user. For example, an immersive content production system that can be used in production of movies and videos can include a stage or performance area that is at least partially enclosed with one or more walls and/or a ceiling each of which can be covered with display screens. One or more cameras can be placed in the performance area and live actors can interact with physical props placed on the stage, as well as with virtual elements displayed on the displays. Such immersive content production systems can present challenges for seamlessly bridging the physical props in the performance area with the virtual elements displayed on the displays so that the virtual elements appear realistic in the movies or videos captured by the cameras.

Photogrammetric alignment for immersive content production


An optical transmission connector comprises a holder unit, a shutter mechanism unit for opening and closing an optical plug housing unit for housing an optical plug, an element housing unit for housing a photoelectric effect element, and a fixing metal plate for fixing the holder unit to a mounting board. The fixing metal plate has a fixing terminal unit which is butted and engaged with a side portion of the holder unit, and is protruded from a bottom portion of the holder unit at an appropriate position, so that the fixing terminal unit can be fitted into the mounting board. A bent portion is formed in the fixing terminal unit in a length direction thereof. The fixing metal plate has a positioning concave portion, corresponding to a positioning convex portion, and is in a shape which is fitted into a fitting slit.

This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(a) on Patent Application No. 2005-252123 filed in Japan on Aug. 31, 2005, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.
The present invention relates to an optical transmission connector for use in an electronic apparatus, such as a DVD player, a DVD recorder, a liquid crystal TV, a Set Top Box (STB: an adaptor apparatus for satellite broadcast), an AV receiver, or the like, and an electronic apparatus employing the optical transmission connector.
An optical transmission connector which transmits an electrical signal as an optical signal has been proposed. The optical transmission connector is constructed as an optical fiber link which employs an optical fiber, and is becoming adopted, as a transmission system which can reliably eliminate noise caused by an electrical signal, in a DVD player, a DVD recorder, a liquid crystal TV, an STB, an AV receiver, and the like which require a high level of noise withstanding capability.
The optical transmission connector is conventionally fixed to mounting boards of these electronic apparatuses with screws. However, from the viewpoint of workability and outer appearance, there has been a demand for an optical transmission connector of a self-standing type which is directly attached to a mounting board.
An optical transmission connector which functions as a transmitter unit or a receiver unit, comprises an element housing unit (a light emitting element unit or a light receiving element unit) for housing a photoelectric effect element (a light emitting element or a light receiving element), a holder unit comprising an optical plug housing unit for housing an optical plug which is composed of a fiber-optic cable and is used for transmission of an optical signal, a shutter mechanism for opening and closing the optical plug housing unit, a spring (coil spring) for biasing a shutter plate of the shutter mechanism in a direction in which the shutter plate is closed, and a fixing metal plate for mounting and fixing the holder unit to a mounting board.
This optical transmission connector is provided with the shutter mechanism which prevents dust and foreign matter from entering the element housing unit and the plug housing unit, and protects eyes from leakage light. The shutter mechanism is configured to open or close a lid (shutter plate), depending on insertion or extraction of an optical plug.
FIG. 8 is a front view of a conventional optical transmission connector as viewed from a side from which an optical plug is inserted.
A conventional optical transmission connector 101 comprises a shutter mechanism unit 105 which serves as an insertion opening through which an optical plug (not shown) is inserted into a front portion of a holder unit 102. A lead terminal 107 of a photoelectric effect element (not shown) housed in the holder unit 102, and a fixing terminal unit 108t of a fixing metal plate 108 (see FIGS. 9A and 9B) for mounting and fixing the holder unit 102 to a mounting board 140 (see FIGS. 9A and 9B), are each protruded from a bottom surface of the holder unit 102. A hemispherical protrusion 108b for fastening the holder unit 102 to the mounting board 140 is formed on the fixing terminal unit 108t.
FIGS. 9A and 9B are diagrams for explaining an action of the fixing metal plate of the conventional optical transmission connector. FIG. 9A is a partially cross-sectional, front view as viewed from a side from which an optical plug is inserted. FIG. 9B is a left side view thereof. Note that FIG. 9A indicates a cross-section of the mounting board 140, taken at a position corresponding to a fitting hole 140h, and FIG. 9B indicates a cross-section of the mounting board 140, taken along line B-B of FIG. 9A.
When the optical transmission connector 101 is mounted on the mounting board 140, the fixing terminal unit 108t formed at a tip of the fixing metal plate 108 for fixing the holder unit 102 to the mounting board 140 is inserted into the fitting hole 140h formed in the mounting board 140, so that the holder unit 102 is fixed to and held on the mounting board 140.
The protrusion 108b formed on the fixing terminal unit 108t is formed at a position which matches a board thickness of the mounting board 140, so that the protrusion 108b butts and engages with the mounting board 140 on a bottom surface 140bs (an opening end portion of the fitting hole 140h) of the mounting board 140. However, the protrusion 108b has a hemispherical shape, and therefore, the butt and engagement are only achieved at a point on the great circle (having the maximum diameter) of the hemisphere. Therefore, when external force is applied to the holder unit 102, the fixing terminal unit 108t can be moved and swayed along a hemispherical line, depending on the external force. In other words, the protrusion 108b (the fixing terminal unit 108t) for fixing and stabilizing the holder unit 102 does not achieve the desired purpose, so that the optical transmission connector cannot be stably connected to an optical plug (not shown).
FIG. 10 is an exploded side view for explaining how the conventional optical transmission connector is assembled.
The holder unit 102 included in the conventional optical transmission connector 101 has two separate units, i.e., a front housing unit 102f and a rear housing unit 102r.
The front housing unit 102f and the rear housing unit 102r are joined together to assemble the optical transmission connector 101 in accordance with the following procedure.
Initially, the shutter mechanism unit 105 including a shutter plate 110 is attached to the front housing unit 102f from the inside thereof. A coil spring 113 is engaged and incorporated with a coil spring holding post 117 provided in the rear housing unit 102r.
Next, the front housing unit 102f is fitted into the rear housing unit 102r in a direction indicated with arrow A to be mutually joined with the rear housing unit 102r. Thereafter, the fixing metal plate 108 is fastened to a metal plate fastening concave portion 102p formed on a surface of the rear housing unit 102r in a direction indicated with arrow B to be mutually joined with the metal plate fastening concave portion 102p. Further, a holder cover (not shown) is attached to surfaces of the rear housing unit 102r and the fixing metal plate 108, thereby obtaining a complete structure of the optical transmission connector 101.
Note that a fastening hole 102h for fastening a nail portion 108p provided on the fixing metal plate 108 is formed in the rear housing unit 102r. By fitting the nail portion 108p into the fastening hole 102h, the fixing metal plate 108 is fixed to the rear housing unit 102r so as to secure mechanical strength.
The conventional optical transmission connector 101 thus constructed has a complicated assembly structure and a large number of parts, resulting in high manufacturing cost.
The coil spring 113 is fixed to the rear housing unit 102r only by pressure applied by the front housing unit 102f after the coil spring 113 is incorporated into the rear housing unit 102r. Therefore, for example, the coil spring 113 is likely to be detached from the rear housing unit 102r, i.e., there is a problem with reliability. In addition, the assembly process is complicated, resulting in an increase in cost.
When the optical transmission connector 101 is mounted on the mounting board 140, a flux for soldering is used. The flux seeps up through a gap between the front housing unit 102f and the rear housing unit 102r, leading to an interference with opening/closing of the shutter plate 110.
When the nail portion 108p of the fixing metal plate 108 is fitted into the fastening hole 102h of the rear housing unit 102r, the fitting work is not easy, resulting in low workability.
Note that there is also a known conventional optical transmission connector which is disclosed in JP 2000-131564A.

Optical transmission connector and electronic apparatus


A power output apparatus of the invention includes a clutch motor (30) and an assist motor (40) that allow energy output from an engine (50) driven at a driving point of high efficiency to be converted to energy expressed as the product of a revolving speed and a torque of a drive shaft (22) and to be output to the drive shaft (22). In case that a large torque is required, for example, when the vehicle starts on a rising slope or runs at a low speed, the engine (50) is driven at a high-energy driving point having a large torque and a high efficiency. This structure causes large electric power to be generated by excess energy greater than the energy generally consumed and enables a battery (94) to be charged with the large electric power. The power output apparatus of the invention further has functions of predicting the process of charging the battery (94) with the large electric power based on a driving state of the vehicle and topographical information and lowering the remaining charge of the battery (94) in advance according to the requirements. This process effectively prevents the battery (94) from being damaged with excess charging.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a power output apparatus and a method of controlling the same. More concretely, the present invention pertains to a power output apparatus for outputting power generated by an engine to a drive shaft with a high efficiency and a method of controlling such a power output apparatus.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In known power output apparatuses mounted on a vehicle, an output shaft of an engine is electromagnetically linked with a drive shaft, which connects with a rotor of a motor, by means of an electromagnetic coupling, so that power of the engine is transmitted to the drive shaft (as disclosed in, for example, JAPANESE PATENT LAYING-OPEN GAZETTE No. 53-133814). In this prior art power output apparatus, the motor starts driving the vehicle. When the revolving speed of the motor reaches a predetermined level, an exciting current is given to the electromagnetic coupling to crank the engine, simultaneously with a supply of fuel to the engine and ignition with a spark, so that the engine starts its operation. After the start of the engine, the power output from the engine is transmitted to the drive shaft via the electromagnetic coupling to run the vehicle. When the power transmitted to the drive shaft via the electromagnetic coupling does not satisfy the required power of the drive shaft, the motor is driven to supplement the insufficiency. While transmitting the power to the drive shaft, the electromagnetic coupling regenerates electric power corresponding to a slip of its electromagnetic linkage. The regenerated electric power is stored in a battery to be used for starting the vehicle, or is used as power of the motor to supplement the insufficient power of the drive shaft.
This power output apparatus requires a motor having a large output torque. Only the power from the motor is used to start or launch the vehicle, and the motor with a large output torque is accordingly required for sufficient acceleration. Taking into account the starting operation on a rising slope, the motor is required to have a greater output torque. The motor having a large output torque is generally rather bulky and undesirably increases the size of the whole power output apparatus. This is especially not suitable when the power output apparatus is mounted on a limited space, such as a vehicle. The battery that supplies electric power to the motor is also required to have a large capacity and thereby has a relatively large size.
The applicant has invented a technique (not filed) of enabling the power output from an engine which starts its operation before a start of the vehicle to be transmitted to a drive shaft via an electromagnetic coupling, as well as addition of the power from a motor to the drive shaft. This lowers the required output torque of the motor and makes the whole power output apparatus relatively compact. At the moment of starting the vehicle, the revolving speed of the drive shaft is extremely small, so that the electric power regenerated by the electromagnetic coupling becomes greater than the electric power consumed by the motor. This may result in excess charging and damage the battery.

Power output apparatus and method of controlling the same


An embodiment of this invention provides a swivel joint for a working machine that makes it easy to install a device for detecting rotation angle and is able to suppress the increase of the size due to the installation of the device. An embodiment of the present invention includes the swivel joint that includes an outer body being secured on one of the lower traveling body and the upper swiveling body and having a blocking surface on one end; an inner body being secured on another of the lower traveling body and the upper swiveling body and being relatively and rotatably fitted in the outer body while opposing to the blocking surface at one end n in the manner of making a space; a pilot oil passage being formed on rotational center line CL of the inner body for distributing pilot oil; a rod being inserted into the pilot oil passage and being secured on one of the outer body and the inner body; and a rotation angle sensor being secured on the other end of the outer body and the inner body for detecting a rotation angle of the rod.

A working machine such as a hydraulic excavator includes articulated arm mechanism including a boom, a stick, a work attachment (bucket, for example), and others, and hydraulic cylinders are installed between two components of the boom, the stick, and the work attachment.
An operation of hydraulic cylinders is controlled by controllers. Each controller is configured to receive an input of detection information from various types of sensors and each controller makes each arm mechanism perform a desired action by appropriately controlling extension and contraction of each hydraulic cylinder based on the various types of detection information in an automatic or semiautomatic operation.
In the automatic or semiautomatic operation, since a relative angle between the upper swiveling body and the lower swiveling body is required, the swivel angle of the upper swiveling body is detected by a sensor and input into the controller. In general, the sensor for detecting a swivel angle is installed on a swivel joint, which supplies and receives hydraulic oil between the lower traveling body and the upper swiveling body. In particular, the swivel angle of the upper swiveling body is detected by detecting a relative rotation amount between a component installed on the upper swiveling body and a component installed on the lower traveling body among the components composing the swivel joint.
In patent document 1, a swivel angle measurement instrument is described that, in the swivel joint including a rotor having a center hole and being mounted on the lower traveling body and a shaft being rotatably contained in the rotor and being mounted on the upper swiveling body, is configured to detect the swivel angle of the upper swiveling body by detecting a rotation displacement of a rolling roller, which is depressed against a detection surface provided on the outer peripheral surface of the rotor and rotates according to a relative rotation angle between the rotor and the shaft, by using a rotation detector mounted on a side of the rotor and a side of the shaft.
In patent document 2, another swivel angle measurement instrument is described that, in a rotary joint (swivel joint) including a fixing shaft installed on a lower vehicle side and a housing being rotatably borne around the fixing shaft and being secured on the upper swiveling body, is configured to detect the swivel angle of the upper swiveling body by detecting a relative rotation amount between an end plate and a shaft rod coupled to a top center (that is, the center of the swivel joint) using a rotation detector installed on the end plate blocking a top surface of the housing.


The invention herein relates to a kind of tire pressure alarm device that mainly consists of a cap installed on a connector body, with a trigger device and a power supply fixture installed within the internal space surrounded by the said connector body and the said cap; a pressure switch that includes an active recessed seat having a circular contact edge and which is capable of upward and downward movement within the confines of a guide ring mount, with the lower section positioned against the top of a diaphragm; a hollow threaded base that is fastened onto a mounting base at the upper extent of the active recessed seat and in which the coil spring contained inside the active recessed seat is secured with an adjustment screw; and a conductive ring, the circular edge of which contacts the outer circumference of the active recessed seat such that electric power is conducted between the conductive ring and the trigger device. The metal connector base and the plastic sleeve base of the connector body are formed as a single integrated unit and the said cap is screwed onto the sleeve base. The connector base is divided into two spaces by a spacer mount, of which one space has internal threads as well as a valve nozzle, and can be fastened to the threads on a tire valve stem and the space on the other side conjoined to the said sleeve base contains the components of the said pressure switch and, furthermore, all the components of the said pressure switch are inserted in the same direction.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention herein relates to a kind of tire pressure alarm device that is of an uncomplicated structure, is not easily damaged and easy to assemble.
2. Description of the Related Art
Low tire pressure during vehicular travel is a frequent cause of automobile accidents and an alarm device that warns of insufficient tire pressure is urgently needed. As indicated in FIG. 1, previous tire pressure alarm devices had an insulative connector body (1) and a cap (2) mounted on the top, with a ring seal (10) installed between the connector body (1) and the cap (2), and positioned from top to bottom between the top section of the connector body (1) and the cap (2) were three circuit boards having surface mounted electronic components that formed the trigger device (31), and the power supply fixture (32) comprised of three batteries (321) installed in series, with a shell sleeve (322) constructed of an insulative material constitutig the exterior section of the batteries (321). An insertion hole (323) was drilled through the center of the shell sleeve (322) and installed at the insertion hole (323) by clipping, the trigger device (31) was mounted between the power supply fixture (32) and the spring (33) at the negative terminal at the topmost section of the batteries (321), and positioned at the bottom section of the shell sleeve (322) was a hollow recessed extension ring (34); the said extension ring (34) had an extension strip (341) that protruded upward and directly contacted the positive terminal of the said trigger device (31); inside the lower interior end of the connector body (1) was a brass threaded base (11) and the exterior section of the other end was covered by a metal protective shell (12), of which the hollow interior section of the threaded base (11) formed an air pressure chamber (111) for the induction of pressurized air, and the lower end had internal threads (112) that could be screwed onto the stem of a tire valve, and the said internal threads (112) were equipped with an oil seal (113) and a thrust rod (13) centered inside an air hole (131) such that the lower end of the thrust rod (13) was capable of pushing open the valve of the tire valve stem, thereby enabling air to pass into the air access hole (131) of the air pressure chamber (111) through the connector body (1), with the air pressure serving to produce the upward and downward movement of the flexible diaphragm (41) in the pressure switch (4) and, according to two presettable contact points, produce the continuity or non-continuity which determined whether the controlling trigger device (31) was provided with the electric current from the power supply fixture (32) required to invoke an audible signal. The said pressure switch (4) includes the diaphragm (41) that is mounted and sealed to the upper extent of the thrust rod (13) and the protrusion (411) at the center of the top section is capable of upward movement when pushed by air pressure; an active recessed seat (42) capable of upward and downward movement with the fixed confines of a guide ring (43), with the active recessed seat (42) having an upward facing opening and an outward projecting circular contact edge (421) and, furthermore, a hole (422) drilled at the center of the bottom section and the bottom surface against the protrusion (411) of the diaphragm (41); a coil spring (44) installed inside the active recessed seat (42); a hollow threaded base (45) that is positioned at a suitable interval at the upper extent of the active recessed seat (42) and has internal threads (451) along the interior and, furthermore, serrations (452) around the upper and lower circumference to prevent slippage; a conductive ring (46) fixed to the outer circumference of the active recessed seat (42), such that just before the active recessed seat (42) is supported by the top end of the diaphragm (41), the circular edge (421) contacts the inner edge along the top surface of the conductive ring (46) and, furthermore, the outer edge along the top surface of the conductive ring (46) is in solid contact with the relatively thin conductive extension ring (461), such that the pair of extension strips (462) projecting in an upward curve from the opposite sides of said extension ring (461) contacts the bottom surface of the extension ring (33) sleeved onto the lower end of the said shell sleeve (322) and thereby establishes continuity with the positive terminal of the power supply fixture (31) circuit and, furthermore, an adjustment screw (47), of which the external threads (472) of the head section (471) are screwed to the internal threads (451) of the hollow threaded base (45), and there is a shaft hole (473) through the center of the head section (471) as well as a slot (474) in the top surface to provide for the insertion of a screw driver, thereby enabling the upward and downward turning of the adjustment screw (47) to adjust the coil spring (44) that alters the pressure of the active recessed seat (42) exerted against the diaphragm (41).
Although conventional tire pressure alarm device are ideal in many respects, the said devices are quite difficult to utilize in actual application because: (1) Of the two different spaces formed in the upper and lower sections of the connector body (1), the active recessed seat (42), the coil spring (44), the hollow threaded base (45), the conductive ring (46), the extension ring (461) and the adjustment screw (47) are inserted into the upper space, while the diaphragm (41), the ring shell (43) and the threaded base (11) with the installed thrust rod (13) and the oil seal (113) are inserted into the lower space, a design that does not allow the insertion of all the components from a single end and which easily results in component droppage during assembly as well as other rather troublesome assembly difficulties. At the same time, since the degree of pressure sensitivity of the diaphragm (41), the ring shell (43) and the other pressure switch (4) components are of different design parameters, the pressure setting accuracy adjustments are often inconsistent and involves a lengthy testing period. (2) The seat area of the seal ring (10) in between the connector body (1) and the cap (2) is thin and fragile due to inadequate thickness and frequently breaks when impacted by rocks during the high speed rotation of the tire. (3) The enclosing of the connector body (1) in a metal protective shell (12) involves complex and difficult machine finishing and often leads to overall disassembly difficulties of the protective shell (12) and connector body (1).

No. 14, Lane 27, Section 1, Chung-Hua South Road


Content maintained in a first repository of a first installation (which can optionally be an on-premise installation) of a content management system, as well as metadata associated with the content, can be shared via an approach in which content items maintained in the first repository are synchronized with a copy of the content items maintained in a second repository of a second installation (which can optionally be a cloud-based installation). The first installation can be optionally firewall protected. The copy of the content items can be accessed by collaborative users both within and external to a firewall. Related systems, methods, products, etc. are described.

Enterprise content management (ECM) covers a broad range of applications, including document management (DM), Web content management (WCM), records management (RM), digital asset management (DAM), search of managed content, and the like. A content management system (CMS) suitable for managing the various content (also referred to herein in some examples as "files") that an enterprise produces or generates, retains or otherwise stores, manipulates or modifies, etc. can support the requirements of one or more of such applications, and optionally other requirements, to provide a coherent solution in which content and management processes are capable of accessing content across a variety of applications subject to access controls, permissions, and the like. Content managed by a CMS can include one or more of documents, images, photos, Web pages, records, XML documents, other unstructured or semi-structured files, etc. Content retained in a CMS can also include directory structures such as folders, file trees, file plans, or the like, which can provide organization for multiple content items in addition to storing or otherwise representing relationships between content item, etc. An "enterprise" can generally refer to an organization, such as for example a business or company, a foundation, a university, or the like, and can have content requirements related to one or more business processes, content uses, etc.
A CMS manages the actual digital binary content, the metadata that describes a context of each content item, associations between a content item and other content or content items, a place and classification of a content item in a repository, indexes for finding and accessing content items, etc. The CMS can also manage processes and lifecycles of content items to ensure that this information is correct. The CMS can also manage one or more workflows for capturing, storing, and distributing content, as well as the lifecycle for how long content will be retained and what happens after that retention period.
A CMS for use in enterprise content management can include one or more of document management tools, applications, and interfaces to support general office work, search, and discovery. Workflow management capabilities of a CMS can support numerous business processes, optionally including, but not limited to, case management and review and approval. Collaboration applications and services of a CMS can support the collaborative development of information and knowledge in the creation and refinement of content and documents. Web content management services of a CMS, which can be scalable, can support the delivery and deployment of content from the enterprise to its customers. Records management capabilities of a CMS can capture and preserve records based upon government-approved or other standards. A standards-based platform can also provide access to applications that use these standards, such as publishing, image management, email management, etc.

Linking of content between installations of a content management system


A method of operating a memory system including a plurality of memory devices coupled to a command address bus may be provided. In particular, a first memory device of the plurality of memory devices may be set to a first operating mode, and a second memory device of the plurality of memory devices may be set to a second operating mode different than the first operating mode. In addition, a read/write operation may be performed responsive to a read/write command address signal provided over the command address bus to the plurality of memory devices so that the first memory device operates according to the first operating mode during the read/write operation and so that the second memory device operates according to the second operating mode during the read/write operation. Related systems are also discussed.

Generally, in a DRAM (Dynamic Random Access Memory), an operation mode and/or various parameters, such as CAS (column address strobe) latency and burst length, may be set by a MRS (Mode Register Set) command. In semiconductor memory devices, a rank refers to a plurality of DRAMs controlled by a chip selection signal. A rank or a plurality of ranks can be installed in a memory system.
DRAMs belonging to a same rank may share buses through which chip selection signals, commands, and address signals are transmitted. Accordingly, if a MRS command is transmitted through an address bus, all DRAMs belonging to a corresponding rank may be set to the same operation mode. However, operation modes and/or parameters of DRAMs belonging to the same rank should be individually controlled.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a conventional memory system 100. Referring to FIG. 1, the memory system 100 includes a memory controller 10 and a memory module 20. The memory module 20 includes a plurality of memory devices 30. The memory devices 30 may be controlled according to a chip selection signal (not shown). That is, the memory module 20 shown in FIG. 1 includes a rank. Each memory device 30 receives a clock signal CK and a command address signal CA from the memory controller 10. Also, each memory device 30 receives/transmits data DATA1 through DATA9 and a data strobe signal (not shown) from/to the memory controller 10.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an individual memory device 30 shown in FIG. 1. Referring to FIG. 2, the memory device 30 includes a command decoder 31, an internal clock generator 32, a data input/output buffer 34, and a memory cell array 36. The command decoder 31 receives and decodes a command address CA from the memory controller 10 and generates an internal command. Here, the internal command may be a write command IWRITE, a read command IREAD, or a MRS command IMRS, according to a received command address CA. The internal clock generator 32 generates an internal clock signal ICLK in response to a clock signal CK and the internal command IMRS, IREAD, or IWRITE.
The data input/output buffer 34 stores data DATA input with a data strobe signal DQS, as internal data IDATA, in the memory cell array 36, in response to the internal clock signal ICLK. The data input/output buffer 34 outputs internal data IDATA stored in the memory cell array 36 to an external memory controller 10 in response to the internal clock signal ICLK.
Although the memory devices 30 receive data IDATA from the memory controller 10 at the same time, the memory devices 30 may respectively receive a clock signal CK at different times because the respective memory devices 30 may sequentially receive the clock signal CK per a delay T. As a result, the respective memory devices 30 may generate internal clock signals ICLK at different times, in response to the clock signal CK. Since the respective memory devices 30 generate the internal clock signals ICLK at different times, the data IDATA may also be stored and/or output at different times.
FIG. 3 is a timing diagram illustrating a data read operation performed by the memory system 100 shown in FIG. 1. Referring to FIG. 3, data read operations performed by a first memory device M1, a fifth memory device M5, and a ninth memory device M9 of the memory module 20 will be described. As shown in FIG. 3, the first memory device M1, the fifth memory device M5, and the ninth memory device M9 receive clock signals CK1, CK5, and CK9, at different times, respectively.
Accordingly, the memory devices M1, M5, and M9 generate first, fifth, and ninth internal clock signals ICLK1, ICLK5, and ICLK9, at different times, respectively. In FIG. 3, the first internal clock signal ICLK1 may be generated earlier than the fifth internal clock signal ICLK5 by a period 4T, and the fifth internal clock signal ICLK5 may be generated earlier than the ninth internal clock signal ICLK9 by a period 4T.
Referring to FIG. 3, when data is read, internal data IDATA stored in the memory cell array 36 may be output in synchronization with the internal clock signal ICLK1, ICLK5, or ICLK9. As shown in FIG. 3, first data DATA1, fifth data DATA5, and ninth data DATA9 may be respectively output at different times. In other words, the first, fifth, and ninth data DATA1, DATA5, and DATA9 may have a data skew DSK.
FIG. 4 is a timing diagram illustrating a data write operation performed by the memory system 100 shown in FIG. 1. Referring to FIG. 4, the first memory device M1, the fifth memory device M5, and the ninth memory device M9 may receive clock signals CK1, CK5, and CK9 at different times, respectively.
Accordingly, the memory devices M1, M5, and M9 may generate first, fifth, and ninth internal clock signals ICLK1, ICLK5, and ICLK9 at different times, respectively. In FIG. 4, the first internal clock signal ICLK1 may be generated earlier than the fifth internal clock signal ICLK5 by a period 4 T, and the fifth internal clock signal ICLK5 may be generated earlier than the ninth internal clock signal ICLK9 by a period 4 T. When data is written, data DATA received from the outside may be stored in the memory cell array 36 in synchronization with the internal clock signal ICLK1, ICLK5, or ICLK9. Referring to FIG. 4, first internal data IDATA1, fifth internal data IDATA5, and ninth internal data IDATA9 may be generated at different times. That is, the internal data IDATA1, IDATA5, and IDATA9 stored in the memory cell array 36 may have data skew DSK.
Because the memory devices 30 of the memory module 20 shown in FIG. 1 may receive a clock signal CK at different times, skew may be generated when data is stored or read. Accordingly, synchronization of internal clock signals ICLK from the memory devices 30 may be desired.

Methods of operating memory systems including memory devices set to different operating modes and related systems


An illuminated sign system using high brightness LEDs and a translucent graphic panel with suitable opacity for the transmission of light. The graphic panel is illuminated by light from the LEDs which is injected into the edge of the graphic panel causing graphics applied to a surface of the graphic panel to become illuminated. Although LEDs produce a very narrow beam of light, uniform lighting of the graphic panel is possible due to the efficient internal reflection of light that occurs within the translucent graphic panel. Light injected into the edge of the graphic panel is efficiently diffused without the uses of a diffusing sheet between the LEDs and the graphic panel. Unlike illuminated signs of illumination that use LEDs for direct illumination of a graphic panel, the invention produces an equivalent level of graphic brightness while requiring fewer LEDs.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to the field of illuminated sign systems. In particular, the invention concerns the edge lighting of signs using light emitting diodes or LEDs. The invention utilizes high brightness LEDs aligned so as to inject light directly into the edge of a transparent plate or sheet. The result is a low power, low profile, high visibility, high durability illuminated sign system which is particularly useful for "exit" signs.
2. Prior Art
Light Emitting Diodes or LEDs have been previously applied to the field of illuminated sign systems. A common LED based sign system uses an X-Y matrix of closely spaced LEDs arranged so as to emit light in the direction of the observer. The LEDs in the matrix are selectively illuminated, forming letters, words or graphic symbols. When an LED matrix sign is viewed from distances of less than 100 feet, the graphic patterns produced by the LEDs appears as lines composed of discrete points or dots of light; even at distances in excess of 100 feet the human eye does not readily "merge" the discrete points of light into a continuous form. Although the sign utilizing an X-Y matrix are quite legible, the graphic appearance is not preferred by building owners, architects and specifiers, who recommend evenly illuminated graphics.
LEDs emit light at a wavelength which is predetermined by their semiconductor composition. An illuminated sign system based on a LED matrix is thus limited in the colors that can be displayed. However, there are at least a few color selections available. Although some LED matrix systems allow the user to modify or customize messages for display these systems do not represent an acceptable replacement for illuminated graphic panels, which can be decorated using a wide variety of colors and/or patterns.
Graphic panels for purposes of this disclosure include any panel surfaces having graphics applied by some means such as painting, silk screening, etching, etc., to define indicia by negative or positive means. Graphic panels can be illuminated by several methods of direct or indirect as well as edge lighting. Lighting systems generally direct light from a light source onto either the viewing surface of the graphic panel or through a translucent graphic panel disposed behind the graphic information to be viewed. Edge lighting systems, on the other hand, use a light source to inject light into the edge of a transparent or translucent graphic panel, whereby the panel is caused to glow and any graphics in contact with the panel are made apparent. For example, a message painted on the back side of a panel viewed from the front can be illuminated in this manner, or a panel can be caused to glow generally, the indicia being defined by or between opaque areas on the front side.
LEDs emit a very narrow beam of light, making uniform lighting of large panel surfaces difficult or impossible. LED illumination systems utilizing direct illumination or illumination from behind a translucent diffuser panel, i.e., where light emitted by the LEDs is aimed at a graphic panel in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the graphic panel, produce only marginal uniformity of light intensity over the entire graphic panel unless large numbers of LEDs are used. A diffuse panel helps to spread the LED beams, but diffusers attenuate the light from the source, and thus adversely affect efficiency. A diffuser adds to the cost of the illumination system, adds to the cost of operating the system, and adds dimensional thickness.
The present invention employs the durability and long service life of high brightness LEDs which are now available, and provides more uniform lighting of a graphic panel using an edge lighting technique. Edge lighting takes advantage of internal reflections within the graphic panel, allowing the entire panel to be evenly illuminated using fewer LEDs than conventional methods. Since fewer LEDs are used, the invention results in a cost savings during both manufacture and operation of the sign. The LEDs can be mounted in a row at a housing or mounting portion of a panel which protrudes from a wall or ceiling, resulting in a durable, efficient and aesthetically pleasing illuminated sign structure.
Edge illumination has been employed using fluorescent and incandescent light sources. Systems using fluorescent light sources have several disadvantages since they require complicated circuitry including a ballast reactor (a coil of wire wrapped around a heavy iron core). Fluorescent lighting systems require substantial space for the location of the fluorescent lamps and circuitry, increasing the profile of the sign systems. Additionally fluorescent systems are heavy and fragile when compared to the lighting apparatus of the invention. Incandescent illumination systems also have significant disadvantages since they are relatively inefficient and fragile, and produce a great deal of heat.

Sign with indirect illumination from light emitting diodes


Method for CVT and powertrain control in a kinetic hybrid that integrates two constituent control strategies at the same time, one for the kinetic energy exchange between a vehicle and a flywheel to recover the vehicle's kinetic energy and to cancel the effect of the vehicle's inertia on changes in speed, and one for operating the kinetic hybrid's prime mover on its ideal operation line to optimize efficiency. Two different rates of change in the CVT ratio are computed in real time and are superimposed to realize both strategies. Using the combined rate of change in the CVT ratio derived by the present invention to control the powertrain, the primary power source need not expend a significant portion of its power to overcome the vehicle's inertia, and performance is not compromised.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention pertains in general to a method of controlling the CVT in a vehicle powertrain. More particularly, the invention relates to a method of control for a kinetic hybrid vehicle, where the prime mover is either a motor, an engine, or a combination of both, and a flywheel acts as both a secondary power source and a secondary energy storage.
2. Description of the Related Art
Transportation accounts for a significant portion of global energy use and pollution, and there have been considerable efforts worldwide to promote new technology in transportation to improve fuel efficiency, aimed at promoting energy independence and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. As a result a market for hybrid vehicles and for electric vehicles has emerged, and many of the technologies being developed with raising the corporate-average fuel economy in mind have been directed at electric and hybrid vehicles.
Electric vehicles (EVs) and electric hybrids are able to bring improvements in efficiency from two main principles. One is to operate the primary power source (be it a motor or an engine) on the ideal operation line (IOL) for optimal efficiency. The other is to try to recover the vehicle's kinetic energy during deceleration (regenerative braking), which would otherwise be dissipated as heat in the brakes.
In conventional vehicles, efficiency is generally inversely related to performance. Engines should typically operate at a relatively high load for optimal efficiency, so relatively small engines are more efficient. However, relatively small engines have less reserve power, leading to poorer acceleration performance.
There are two components to the energy used to accelerate a vehicle: a portion used to overcome resistive forces like rolling resistance and air drag, and a portion used to overcome the vehicle's own inertia. Typically a vehicle requires its power source to provide a relatively high torque during acceleration, primarily to overcome inertia. When the vehicle is not accelerating or climbing a hill, the operation state of its primary power source lies below the IOL, resulting in low efficiency during most of the drive.
In a kinetic hybrid, where the vehicle's kinetic energy is recovered, stored, and reused kinetically, such as with a flywheel, countering the undesired effect of the vehicle's inertia is possible. Since a flywheel is a passive device, it should generally be controlled with a continuously variable transmission, or CVT, and control strategy is crucial in deciding how effectively the flywheel can contribute to increasing the vehicle's efficiency and performance. If the control is ineffective, the passive flywheel can become a "dead weight".

Optimized de-inertia control method for kinetic hybrids


The present disclosure relates to a dust-collection system for use with a power tool such as a router. The system includes a router sub-base adapted for connection to a router. The router sub-base defines an opening configured to receive a cutting tool of the router. The system also includes lower and upper vacuum flowpaths. The lower vacuum flowpath is arranged and configured to evacuate dust from beneath the opening of the router sub-base. The upper vacuum flowpath is arranged and configured to evacuate dust from within the opening of the router sub-base.

A router is a versatile power tool adapted to perform a variety of functions such as making grooves in wood, trimming or shaping edges, and making joints. A typical router includes an electric motor contained within a motor housing. The electric motor is operatively coupled to a collet configured for selectively retaining one of a plurality of cutting blades or bits. The router also includes a sub-base which is connected to the housing. The sub-base can be adjusted relative to the motor housing such that a bit retained in the collet can be set to project a desired distance through the sub-base. By activating the motor with the bit projecting through the sub-base, the router is adapted to perform routing functions on a work piece. The depth of cut provided by the router can be varied by altering the distance the cutting bit projects through the router sub-base.
A problem with conventional routers is that such routers typically generate a large amount of wood dust. What is needed is an effective dust-collection system for capturing or extracting dust generated by a router. What is also needed is a dust-collection system that can be easily used with existing routers.


An instrument set for plumbing or leveling and relative height setting of members such as posts or beams, each instrument including orthogonal sides and a feature projecting from the top of one side allowing each instrument to be set atop a respective post with the orthogonal sides against the post and a rabbeted feature on the bottom of one side allowing the instruments to be set atop a beam. Bubble levels on the sides of at least one of the instruments enable plumbing of a post or leveling of a beam, and open topped sight tubes attached to each instrument and interconnected with a water filled hose enable height setting with the same instruments.

This invention concerns instruments for setting posts or beams so as to be both plumb or level and at a predetermined height relationship with other posts or beams being set.
There has heretofore been developed angled side instruments having a bubble level mounted on each side of the angled side instrument, the instrument adapted to be held against two sides of a round or square post such as a 4.times.4 or 6.times.6. The post is thus able to be set plumb by centering the bubble of each level extending in two orthogonal directions to set the plane of the top of the post horizontal.
It often is required to set the height of a number of posts relative each other, as when constructing a post supported deck. This must be done by using other devices or techniques, as by leveling a long piece of lumber between the posts. Line levels are also sometimes used. These techniques are slow and inaccurate.
There has also long been used water level devices in which a water filled flexible hose connects two sight tubes, the level of water in each tube being the same to enable height comparison of two widely separated posts or other structural member.
See U.S. Pat. No. 4,991,302 issued on Feb. 12, 1991, for an "Open Circuit Levelling Measuring System" and U.S. Pat. No. 4,686,773 issued on Aug. 18, 1987 for a "Structure Leveling System" for examples of these systems.
Use of these devices require a separate set up, also slowing completion of the project.
While water level devices have sometimes been provided with bubble levels, these have been only used to plumb the tubes. See U.S Pat. No. 4,231,163 issued on Nov. 4, 1980, for a "Level Indication and Elevation Indicating Device" and U.S. Pat. No. 318,885 issued on May 26, 1885 for a "Device for Leveling Aligning Shafts".
It is the object of the present invention to provide instruments which conveniently enable establishing both plumb or level, and a predetermined height relationship between posts, or a level or predetermined slope and relative height of horizontally extending structural members such as beams.

Combination plumb or level and height setting instruments


In a component feeding apparatus, forwarding pitches of the storage tape are reduced without using an alternative forwarding gear corresponding to the reduced pitches. The component feeding apparatus feeds chip components by intermittently forwarding the storage tape having the chip components by predetermined pitches. Thy apparatus has a sprocket for intermittently forwarding the storage tape, a forwarding gear supported by the same axis as that of the sprocket and rotating together with the sprocket, a forwarding lever turnably supported, and first and second forwarding pawls both attached to the forwarding lever. Every time the forwarding lever turns in a predetermined direction, the first forwarding pawl and the second forwarding pawl engage with the forwarding gear alternately to rotate the forwarding gear by half a tooth pitch.

1. Field of the Invention:
The invention relates to a component feeding apparatus for feeding electronic components to a pick-up position by intermittently forwarding a storage tape storing the electronic components at predetermined pitches.
2. Description of the Related Art:
In a conventional component feeding apparatus, a storage tape is intermittently forwarded by predetermined pitches by using a forwarding gear corresponding to storing pitches of components in the storage tape (for example, Japanese Patent Application Publication No. Hei 7-283596). When changing the pitches for forwarding the storage tape, it is necessary to change a connecting position of a link for controlling a forwarding operation of the storage tape or replace mechanical elements such as the link and a forwarding gear. For example, for intermittently forwarding the storage tape of 2 mm storing pitches by 2 mm pitches, a forwarding gear having teeth, which corresponds to 2 mm forwarding pitch, is used. For intermittently forwarding the storage tape of 1 mm storing pitches by 1 mm pitch, a forwarding gear having teeth, which corresponds to 1 mm forwarding pitch, is used.
However, it is difficult and impractical to form a forwarding gear having teeth corresponding to 1 mm forwarding pitch, since the durability of such a miniature gear is low and manufacturing costs are high.


A method for manufacturing a structure includes providing a structure having an insulator layer with at least one interconnect and forming a sub lithographic template mask on the insulator layer. A selective etching step is used for etching the insulator layer through the sub lithographic template mask to form sub lithographic features near the at least one interconnect. A supra lithographic blocking mask may also be utilized. In another aspect, the method includes forming pinch off sections of sub lithographic size formed in a capping layer on the insulator layer. A semiconductor structure includes an insulator layer having at least one interconnect feature and at least one column formed in the insulator layer. A plurality of sub lithographic features formed on a top portion of the insulator layer and communicating with the at least one column is also provided. The plurality of sub lithographic features have a cross section or diameter less than any of the at least one column. A gap may be prohibited from forming on or near scribe lines or vias.

The invention generally relates to a semiconductor device and method of manufacture and, more particularly, to a semiconductor device and method of manufacturing sub lithographic features within a dielectric material to reduce the effective dielectric constant of such material.
To fabricate microelectronic semiconductor devices such as an integrated circuit (IC), many different layers of metal and insulation are selectively deposited on a silicon wafer. The insulation layers may be, for example, silicon dioxide, silicon oxynitride, fluorinated silicate glass (FSG) and the like. These insulation layers are deposited between the metal layers, i.e., interlevel dielectric (ILD) layers, and may act as electrical insulation therebetween or serve other known functions. These layers are typically deposited by any well known method such as, for example, plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD), chemical vapor deposition (CVD) or other processes.
The metal layers are interconnected by metallization through vias etched in the intervening insulation layers. Additionally, interconnects are provided separately within the dielectric (insulation) layers. To accomplish this, the stacked layers of metal and insulation undergo photolithographic processing to provide a pattern consistent with a predetermined IC design. By way of example, the top layer of the structure may be covered with a photo resist layer of photo-reactive polymeric material for patterning via a mask. A photolithographic process using either visible or ultraviolet light is then directed through the mask onto the photo resist layer to expose it in the mask pattern. An antireflective coating (ARC) layer may be provided at the top portion of the wafer substrate to minimize reflection of light back to the photo resist layer for more uniform processing. The etching may be performed by anisotropic or isotropic etching as well as wet or dry etching, depending on the physical and chemical characteristics of the materials. Regardless of the fabrication process, to maximize the integration of the device components in very large scale integration (VLSI), it is necessary to increase the density of the components.
Although silicon dioxide material has been used as an insulating material due to its thermal stability and mechanical strength, in recent years it has been found that better device performance may be achieved by using a lower dielectric constant material. By using a lower dielectric constant insulator material, a reduction in the capacitance of the structure can be achieved which, in turn, increases the device speed. However, use of organic low-k dielectric materials such as, for example, SiLK (manufactured by Dow Chemical Co., Midland, Mich.) tend to have lower mechanical strength than conventional dielectric materials such as, for example, silicon oxide. In some applications, it has been found that the following materials, in combination with other materials within a device, have a certain effective dielectric constant, such as, for example: (i) undoped silicon glass (USG) has a K of 4.1 and a Keff of approximately 4.3; (ii) USG and fluorosilicate glass (FSG) (K of 3.6) has bilayer Keff of approximately 3.8; (iii) organo silicate glass (OSG) has a K of 2.9 and has a Keff of approximately 3.0; and (iv) porous-OSG has a K of 2.2 and a bilayer of porous-OSG and OSG has a Keff of approximately 2.4.
By building a device having a low-k dielectric or a hybrid low-k dielectric stack, the large intra-level line-to-line component of wiring capacitive coupling is reduced, thus maximizing the positive benefit of the low-k material while improving the overall robustness and reliability of the finished structure. The hybrid oxide/low-k dielectric stack structure is much more robust than an "all low-k" dielectric stack, which is known to be relatively more susceptible to via resistance degradation or via delamination due to thermal cycle stresses driven by the high CTE (coefficient of thermal expansion) of organic and semiorganic low-k dielectrics. However, the overall strength of the dielectric is considerably reduced at the lower dielectric constants.
Nonetheless, even with the lower dielectric constant materials including, for example, a hybrid oxide/low-k dielectric stack structure, there is still the possibility to improve even further the electrical properties of the device by lowering the effective K (Keff) of a multilevel structure or a K of the dielectric material by forming voided channels within the dielectric material between the interconnects and vias. The channels are vacuum filled and have a dielectric constant of about 1. By using such channels, a higher dielectric constant dielectric material, itself, may be used to increase the overall strength of the structure without reducing the electric properties.
In known systems, sub-resolution lithography processes have been used to create such channels. This typically consists of new manufacturing processes and tool sets which add to the overall cost of the fabrication of the semiconductor device. Also, in sub-resolution lithography processes, it is necessary to etch wide troughs in empty spaces which, in turn, cannot be pinched off by ILD PECVD deposition. Additionally, although the channels create low line-line capacitance, there remains a high level-level capacitance for wide lines. This, of course, affects the overall electrical properties of the device. Also, air gaps can occur near the vias from a higher level which creates the risk of plating bath or metal fill at these areas. Lastly, in known processes, there is also the requirement of providing an isotropic etch which may etch underneath the interconnect thus leaving it unsupported or floating and, thus degrading the entire structural and electrical performance of the device.
The present invention is directed to solving these and other problems.

Device and methodology for reducing effective dielectric constant in semiconductor devices

International Business Machines Corporation


A fixture is provided for supporting a vehicle hub assembly during manufacturing operations that include rotating the assembly. The fixture includes a base with an upper surface, a linearly movable housing slidably supported on the base, an adjustable support block defining two selectable bores, each for slidably receiving a stud from one of two corresponding hub assembly types, and a handle for sliding the housing along the base. An operator checks the type of hub assembly to be worked on and rotates the support block if necessary to select the proper bore. The operator then slides the housing, causing the bore in the support block to slidably engage the stud. Each bore is configured within the support block so as to be accurately aligned with a stud on a corresponding hub assembly when supported in a jig, thus, allowing repeated fixture and hub assembly engagement without any additional adjustments.

Fixtures have been used for years on assembly lines and workbenches to increase manufacturing speeds, and as a result overall productivity. Typical fixtures aid, for example, in welding, brazing, screw attachment and sub assembly installation processes. In operations where the part being manipulated is heavy, fixtures play an additional role of providing support. This support is important to prevent injury to workers performing assembly operations. An assembly worker who can avoid prolonged movement of heavy objects or having to significantly change position (through crouching, reaching, etc.) is less apt to become injured on the job.
One drawback inherent to fixtures is added clutter in the manufacturing area due to the presence of the fixture. Additionally, the part being manipulated must be loaded into and out of the fixture, preferably with little time and effort. The most efficient fixtures are small and can be loaded and unloaded very quickly. In order to maximize the efficiency of assembly lines, often more than one product model is assembled on a single assembly line. Thus, fixtures that can support multiple sized or shaped parts with little or no additional set up time are preferred.
Automobile manufacture utilizes assembly lines extensively. The assembly lines often support more than one type of vehicle. Additionally, vehicle components are often heavy and difficult to move or shift in order to complete operations thereon. What is desired in the present case is an efficient fixture for use in supporting the hub assembly of a vehicle so the hub assembly may be moved between multiple positions. The fixture, itself, should be easily moved from a use position to a position of non-use and moved out of the assembly area if desired.

Slide assembly fixture for rear hub assembly


The invention pertains to a transport system for transporting containers or products within and along an essentially vertical tube with concurrent rotation of the containers on the axis of the tube. In order to facilitate simple construction despite conditions of limited space, it is proposed that the tube be designed as a vertical rotary tube, to which a rotatably retained worm sleeve is connected at the end of the transport path. Provided within the rotary tube are longitudinal guide grooves, in which dogs carried by the containers engage. These dogs also engage in the screw thread of the worm sleeve. On their upper and lower sides, the containers have couplings, e.g., an end toothing, which, during the transport of a group of adjoining containers, impart a rotary movement from container to container but also make possible a separation of one container from another in the direction of the axis of the tube. During a rotation of the rotary tube, the containers are successively rotated through by the worm sleeve, which can accommodate least one container. The transport system is especially suited for transporting silicon monocrystals, which are enclosed within the containers, through the heavy water tank of a research reactor for doping said silicon monocrystals by way neutron bombardment.

The invention pertains to a transport system for transporting containers through a reactor basin. More particularly, the invention relates to a transport system for transporting containers or products within and along an essentially vertical tube, such as containers packed with semiconductor monocrystals, with concurrent rotation of the containers on the axis of the tube. Such a transport system is used, e.g., in research reactors, in which silicon monocrystals are doped with phosphorus by neutron bombardment. Therein, the silicon crystals are arranged in containers, which are transported along and within a vertical tube traversing the heavy water tank of the reactor basin. In order to achieve the most uniform radiation possible, the containers are also rotated on the axis of the tube. This is accomplished, e.g., by means of a long rod, to which the containers are affixed and then pushed through and rotated within the tube.
Such transport systems can also be used, e.g., in bioreactors or in galvanizing facilities. Due to the limited space usually available, care must be given to space-saving construction in all applicatory possibilities. In particular, the aggressive environment, which is partially dependent upon the reason for the treatment, e.g., radioactivity or aggressive liquids, dictates a sensible selection of the materials employed and a construction, which is as simple as possible, easy to maintain, and long-lived.
In the case of the aforementioned doping of semiconductor crystals in a reactor, the possibility should also be given for executing this doping as uniformly as possible and continuously, i.e., that each container passing through the reactor is subjected to approximately the same radiation conditions, and that a high feed capacity is nevertheless attained.

Transport system, in particular for transporting silicon monocrystals through the tank of a research reactor


A method and circuit for controlling the brightness of a backlight in a display device. The circuit comprises a backlight brightness selecting block that measures the brightness of ambient light and selects brightness information of the backlight based on the measured brightness of the ambient light. An image processing block performs image processing on received image signal based on the measured brightness of the ambient light, and calculates an image processing gain of the received image signal based on the result of image processing and the received image signal. A backlight adjusting unit controls the brightness of the backlight based on the selected backlight brightness information and the image processing gain.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to a display device, and more particularly, to a method and apparatus for controlling a backlight in a display device.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
Apparatuses having display devices can be used in environments having various levels of illumination. For example, they can be used in a high-illumination ambient environment, such as an office using fluorescent lamps, a general illumination environment, in which sunlight is used as main light, and in a low-illumination ambient environment, such as a theater.
A backlight is available for a user to more conveniently use an apparatus having a display device under various environments. For example, a Light Emitted Diode (LED) may be mounted as the backlight on a keypad or a display unit of a mobile communication terminal, such as a mobile phone, so that a user can conveniently use the terminal in a dark place.
Power consumption required to operate a backlight in a display panel, e.g., a Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) panel, is about 70% of the total power consumption of the LCD panel.
Power consumption may be reduced by actively controlling the intensity of a backlight according to the brightness of ambient light and power consumption may be reduced by applying a brightness enhancement algorithm to an input image.
However, when the backlight is simply controlled according to the brightness of ambient light, the rate of power consumption varies depending on the brightness of the ambient light. Accordingly, power consumption may still be high under a high-illumination environment, such as an office or the outdoors.
When applying the brightness enhancement algorithm to an input image, power consumption can be reduced irrespective of an ambient illumination environment. However, since power consumption is not controlled adaptively to the ambient illumination environment, an image looks too bright when the environment is dark and looks too dark when the ambient environment is bright.

Method and apparatus for controlling backlight in display device


The present disclosure relates to a display device, the display device includes a display screen, at least one laser device, a microprocessor and at least one reflection stripe. The display screen is consisted by at least two displays arranged at a matrix, and each display includes frames. The laser device includes a laser scanning system and a laser projector. The microprocessor is used to process image, then transfer the image to the at least two displays and the laser projector of the at least one laser device respectively. The at least one reflection stripe covers the frames between each two of the at least two displays, the laser projector project the image to the reflection stripe, the image displayed on the display screen and the image projected on the reflection stripe by the laser projector form a complete picture.

A display device having large size, such as an outdoor display screen, is widely used. Because of limited size of a single display screen, the outdoor display screen is generally composed of several display units, and the several display units are used to show a whole picture together. Each display unit includes several borders which divide the picture to several parts.


A power transmission system for transmitting power between a plurality of toothed sprockets mounted on rotating members. The system includes a chain comprising a plurality of transverse elements arranged in an endless loop and maintained in a stack by a plurality of endless carriers received in slots in each transverse element. Power is transmitted along the chain by contact between the principal faces of the transverse elements. The transverse elements include a plurality of load bearing elements which are configured to engage the teeth of the sprockets and provide power transmission therewith.

The present invention relates generally to a system of transmitting power from a rotating shaft to at least one other rotating shaft, and to a chain for transmitting power between the shafts. The present invention is particularly directed to a system where sprockets of fixed diameter are mounted on the shafts, and the chain engages the teeth of the sprockets. However, the chain of the present invention may be used with various types of power transmission systems employing rotating shafts.
Power transmission chains are widely used in the automotive industry in automobile transmission systems as well as in engine timing drives. Engine timing systems conventionally include at least one driving sprocket located on the crankshaft and at least one driven sprocket located on a camshaft. Rotation of the crankshaft causes rotation of the camshaft through a chain. In automotive transmission systems, power transmission chains are used, for example, between a torque converter and the input to an automatic transmission. Power transmission chains are also used in transfer cases for four-wheel drive vehicles.
A number of different methods are employed to provide power transmission between rotating shafts. One such method involves a continuously variable transmission system (CVT). In contrast to a transmission system employing sprockets or gears which provide a discrete number of fixed transmission ratios, a CVT system provides any transmission ratio within an allowable range. In general, an endless belt provides power transmission between a drive shaft pulley and at least one driven shaft pulley. Each pulley comprises a pair of conical disks, or sheaves, with converging ends facing each other, so that a groove is formed between the conical disks, and the belt is positioned within the groove. In at least one pulley, one conical disk is axially moveable with respect to the other. Because the diameter of the conical disk varies along the axis of the disk, axial movement of the moveable disk changes the running diameter of the belt around the pulley. This change in the running diameter results in a change of the transmission ratio.
Typically, CVT belts comprise a number of endless metal bands, such as laminated metal strips formed in a loop. A plurality of transverse elements are positioned along the bands, with the bands received in slots in the transverse elements. The transverse elements are typically stamped metal plates arranged front to back around the loop of the endless carriers. The transverse elements typically have a generally trapezoidal shape, with at least two surfaces adapted to contact the sides of the pulleys, thereby providing power transmission between the belt and the pulleys. U.S. Pat. No. 4,894,049, which is incorporated herein by reference, discloses a typical CVT belt known in the art.
Another type of power transmission system employs a chain with links having inverted teeth, sometimes referred to as a silent chain, and at least one toothed sprocket on each rotating shaft. Power transmission between each sprocket and the chain, and consequently between one sprocket and another sprocket, is provided by the meshing of the sprocket teeth with the inverted teeth of the chain.
Inverted tooth chains are formed by an arrangement of link plates in lateral and longitudinal directions. The links are interlaced and joined by pins. A typical chain is composed of inner links, which contact the teeth of a sprocket to provide power transmission, and guide links, which do not provide power transmission. Guide links are employed to maintain the chain on the center of the sprocket when the chain is wound around the sprocket. A row of link plates, arranged in the lateral direction, typically has a number of inner links combined with guide links in the center or at both edges of the row. Each inner link plate typically comprises a body portion having a pair of apertures for receiving the pins, and at least one depending toe shaped to fit between the teeth of the sprocket and provide power transmission therewith. U.S. Pat. No. 5,347,581, which is incorporated herein by reference, shows an inverted tooth chain known in the art.
Inverted tooth chains and CVT belts each have certain disadvantages with respect to strength and durability. CVT belts typically have limited capacity when wrapped around pulleys of small diameter, because of the acute bending required of the metal bands. Inverted tooth chains, which articulate by the rotation of link plates about the pins, do not have this problem when employed with sprockets of small diameter. However, inverted tooth chains are susceptible to damage resulting from a large torque applied to one of the rotating shafts. Excessive torque applied to an inverted tooth chain may cause bending of the pins or failure of the link plates in the area around the pin apertures.
In contrast, excessive torque applied to a CVT belt is transmitted along the length of the belt by compression of the transverse elements against each other. Failure resulting from such torque only occurs if the torque is sufficient to cause deformation of the transverse elements or tensile failure from the bending of the CVT belt. Accordingly, CVT belts are generally less susceptible to failure from excessive torque when operated over a large diameter rotating member.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a power transmission system capable of withstanding high torques applied to the rotating members. It is another object of the present invention to provide a power transmission system having advantages of both CVT belts and silent chains. It is a further object of the present invention to provide a power transmission system having a chain of which absorbs torque by compression of its members which is suitable for use in a fixed ratio power transmission system. It is still another object of this invention to provide a power transmission system having a chain which absorbs torque by compression of its members which is adapted to operate with a toothed sprocket and to provide power transmission therewith. Other objects of the invention will be apparent to one skilled in the art.


A circuit is configured to drive a switch mode regulator and to control the slew rate at a switching terminal of the regulator. The circuit includes first and second transistors coupled between a voltage supply terminal and a switching terminal, and includes third and fourth transistors coupled between the voltage supply terminal and the switching terminal. The circuit includes a fifth transistor coupled to the fourth transistor in a current mirror configuration and a sixth transistor coupled between the voltage supply terminal and the third transistor. The circuit includes a first resistor coupled between the voltage supply terminal and the fifth transistor, and includes a second resistor coupled between the sixth transistor and the second transistor.

In switch mode regulators (e.g., buck regulator, boost regulator), the voltage at a switching terminal transitions between an input voltage and a voltage at a ground terminal. As a result, electromagnetic interference (EMI) is generated at the switching terminal. The EMI is correlated to the slew rate dV/dt of the voltage at the switching terminal. If the slew rate is too high, then the resulting EMI is high. But if the slew rate is too slow, then the efficiency of the regulator suffers.

Switch mode regulator with slew rate control


The distortion compensation apparatus includes: a branching unit to branch a part of the output signal of an amplifier to a signal path to a distortion compensating unit; a switch to pass the output signal of the amplifier to the interference or branching unit; and a controlling unit to control an amount of the compensation of the distortion under a pass-permitted state in which the switch passes the output signal in response to a result of measurement of a signal transmitted through the signal path under a state where the switch is in an interruption state.

In a transmission system of a radio apparatus, a digital pre-distortion (DPD) circuit can be used for compensating non-linear distortion of an amplifier. The DPD circuit compares the input and output signals of the amplifier, for example, thereby detecting a signal difference generated by distortion, and multiplies the input signal of the amplifier by a coefficient having characteristics that cancel the signal difference.
[Patent Document 1] Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 2002-77284
[Patent Document 2] Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 2001-16283
[Patent Document 3] Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 2006-94486
For comparing the input and output signals of the amplifier, the DPD circuit branches a part of the output signal of the amplifier by use of a coupler or the like. Here, if an unnecessary high-frequency signal, which is radiated from other circuit parts to space, is coupled to the branched signal, it can occur that sufficient distortion compensation cannot be performed because of an error generated in detection of the signal difference. The previous techniques do not pay a consideration to the generation of an error caused by such coupling of the undesired wave.

Distortion compensation apparatus and method


Provided is a data storing and reading apparatus for storing and reading data using a nano device with nano-dots dots regularly arranged, comprising a probe movable by a cantilever so as to be placed onto each nano-dot of the nano device, a bias power supply unit for supplying a storing bias voltage and a reading bias voltage between the probe and the nano device, a light beam generator for generating a light beam to detect a position of the probe, a position detector for detecting the light beam reflected from the probe, an amplifier for amplifying an output signal of the position detector, and a detection circuit for reading data stored in the nano-dot using an output signal of the amplifier.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to a data storing and reading apparatus, and more particularly, to a data storing and reading apparatus for electrically recording and storing data in a nano device that uniform size of nano-dots are regularly arranged and reading the data from the nano device.
2. Discussion of Related Art
There have been several kinds of data storing and reading apparatuses, a magnetic storage device, an optical storage device and an electronic storage device. The magnetic storage device is commonly used for a large amount of data and the optical storage device is mainly for potable electronic devices.
Recently, electronic storage devices such as a flash memory which stores data using electric signals are developed and getting rapidly popularized due to rapid technical progress and cost reduction. However, all the conventional data storage devices have problems below.
As for the magnetic storage device, the maximum storage density is limited due to superparamagnetic limit even though sensitivity of a sensor is highly increased. The optical storage device can not increase its maximum storage density due to diffraction limit determined by wavelength of light and numerical aperture of a lens. As for the electronic storage device, since a storage medium for storing the electric signal is not limited in size, storage density can be increased to a great extent as long as the sensitivity of the sensor for detecting electrical charges is increased.
The electrical data storing is accomplished by injecting electrical charges into a SiNxOy layer for a flash memory and using dielectric polarization of a ferroelectric material with a high dielectric constant for a ferroelectric random access memory (FRAM). However, the flash memory has problems that it is difficult to control storage density since the charge injection area exists in a trap state of an interface of the SiNxOy layer and it exhibits fatigue as the storing operations are repeated. The FRAM has a problem that as a size of the ferroelectric material decreases, polarization intensity is reduced and ferroelectricity will be lost. Further, imprint and retention of the FRAM are degraded due to hydrogen-induced thermal damage caused during manufacturing processes and repeated storing operations.

Data storing and reading apparatus for storing data in a nano-device

Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute


The occurrence of a package crack in the back vicinity of a die pad is restrained by making the outward appearance of the die pad of a lead frame smaller than that of a semiconductor chip which is mounted on it, and also the occurrence of a package crack in the main surface vicinity of the semiconductor chip is restrained by forming a layer of organic material with good adhesion property with the resin that constitutes the package body on the final passivation film (final passivation film) that covers the top layer of conductive wirings of the semiconductor chip.

A surface mounted type resin mold package of QFP (QUAD FLAT PACKAGE), etc. becomes a problem that is important to prevent the package crack that occurred in the solder reflow process at the time of a surface mounting of the package. After molding a resin by the transfer mold method, some extent of moisture in the atmosphere has penetrated into the package because the resin that constitutes a package has absorbency. Therefore, heat at the time of a temperature cycle test after package completion, moisture in the resin is suddenly vaporized and expanded by heat at the time of soldering a package to the printed circuit board, and a package crack is caused.
As for a package crack that happened like this, it is known that it is especially easy to generate it in the vicinity of the interface between the back of a die pad on which a semiconductor chip is mounted and a resin surrounding it. This is because the adhesion strength of the metal that constitutes a lead frame and a resin is relatively weak, and especially because the die pad is the widest area in the lead frame sealed to the package, a resin breaks away locally from the back of the die pad by the reason why the heat stress that occurs at the time of a resin sealing process is large and moisture has accumulated in that portion.
The Japanese patent Laid-open No. Toku-Kai-Syou 63-204753 official gazette and the Japanese patent Laid-open No. Toku-Kai-Hei 6-216303 official gazette are proposing the lead frame structure that restrains an occurrence of a package crack, that is, they are proposing the lead frame structure which has the die pad whose outward appearance is smaller than that of the semiconductor chip mounted on it. According to this lead frame structure, an interface of a die pad and a resin becomes small, and the quantity of accumulated moisture also becomes small in the interface of them. And the occurrence of a package crack in the back vicinity of a die pad is restrained because a part of the back of a silicon wafer with good adhesion with a resin as compared with a lead frame comes to touch a resin and makes a direct interface.
On the other hand, as for the side of the main surface (element formation surface) of a chip mounted on a die pad, the surface passivation film (final passivation film) formed to the top layer part of a chip contacts with the resin that constitute a package. This final passivation film is made of inorganic system insulation materials such as the silicon oxide film or the silicon nitride film that formed by the method of a CVD (CHEMICAL VAPOR DEPOSITION), and the adhesion strength with the resin that constitutes a package is larger than that of a lead frame (metal) and a resin.
In case of the resin mold package that used the above lead frame structure which the outward appearance of a die pad is smaller than that of a chip mounted on it, the package crack in the interface vicinity of the back of a die pad and the resin is restrained, but the adhesion strength of the surface of a chip and a resin does not change.
Therefore, in case a package has a lot of moisture-absorption quantities, a package crack occurs on the side of the surface of a chip because an adhesion strength of the side of the surface of a chip relatively declined comparing to the side of the back of a die pad. And the serious defective as like as a breaking of wires was caused by these problems which has been clarified by the inventors.
The purpose of this invention is providing the technique that can improve reflow crack resistance of a resin package.
The foregoing and other purposes of this invention, and the new feature of this invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Method of manufacturing a semiconductor device


A computer-implemented system for scripting an animation sequence. The scripting system creates an instance of a script interpreter in response to an event. The script interpreter instance is assigned to a graphical object (GOB) having a graphical image associated with the animation sequence, and is invoked in response to an event received by the GOB. A script is attached to the script interpreter instance, the attached script comprising control logic for implementing the animated sequence. The control logic supports interactive animation by enabling the attached script to communicate with another GOB or another program module, such as an application program. The attached script is executed on the script interpreter instance to conduct the animated sequence. In response to executing the script, the animated sequence is displayed. The attached script and the script interpreter are destroyed in response to executing the attached script.

In the animated film classic "Steamship Willie", which introduced an animated character called "Mickey Mouse" to the entertainment world, Walt Disney relied upon a team of illustrators to hand draw the thousands of animation cells required to create an animated feature film. Although the creation of an animation sequence remains a time-consuming, detailed artistic practice, animation techniques have advanced from hand-drawn animation cells to computer-generated renderings. These computer-supported animation techniques are commonly used by artists to create animated sequences for movies, television programs, computer programs, and video games.
Computer programs are available to address the animation of an object based on the use of an animation table. An animation table typically contains a list of delays, positions, and bitmaps. Based on the entries in the animation table, an animation is completed by drawing the correct bitmap at a specified screen location after a predetermined delay has occurred. For example, to generate a relatively simple animated activity of an object "walking" between a start and an end position, an animation table contains multiple entries specifying the placement and timing of bitmaps representing the images of leg movement. Each entry dictates drawing a particular walking position at a specified time interval to capture the desired animation of a walking object.
An animation table can be viewed as a "hard-coded" animation technique because the animation is restricted to the precise limitations set forth by the entries in the table. The object will be animated in the manner dictated by the animation table, without deviation, because the table entries lack the flexibility offered by a control logic mechanism. In a table-driven animation system, each position and time for drawing the object must be specified prior to the animation. Thus, the conventional animation table can be viewed as a menu of graphical images, specified by a combination of bitmaps, screen locations and timing entries, which effectively limits the field of possible animation options.
Animation accomplished by the use of animation tables can be difficult for applications requiring an animated object to react to other objects within its environment. For example, it can be a difficult task to synchronize the interaction of objects by the use of a single animation table. Synchronization is typically accomplished by developing multiple tables, each specifying a particular action, which must be executed in a predetermined manner. For complex multi-media applications, this synchronization task is further complicated by a need to link the animation of interactive objects with sounds.
In view of the foregoing, there is a need for computer-implemented system for generating an interactive animation that allows an animated object to respond to events within the animation environment, including other objects, user-generated events, and system-level events. The present invention provides a flexible animation system for encoding an interactive animation by combining conventional animation information, such as delay, position, and image, with logic to control the animation.

Method and apparatus for scriping animation