An input data obtained by differential-decoding a signal transmitted from a transmitting equipment is input to a DMF. The DMF obtains a correlation value, and outputs the correlation value and data value to a maximum value detection unit. The maximum value detection unit extracts the maximum value from the correlation values output at the sampling timing, and outputs the position of the maximum correlation value (synchronous point signal) and the data value corresponding to the maximum correlation value. The synchronous point comparison unit monitors a synchronous point signal, detects whether or not a synchronous point deviates, and resets a counter based on the deviation of the synchronous point. A counter reset determination unit also monitors the synchronous point signal, and resets the counter so that the apparent position of the synchronous point can be around the center of the window when the counter value indicating the synchronous point is not in a predetermined range.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a synchronization device in a receiving device operated in a spread spectrum communications system.
2. Description of the Related Art
Recently, wireless communications such as portable telephone, etc. are widely used, and therefore it is important to effectively use the frequency channels so that a large number of subscribers can use their portable telephones. To solve this problem, a frequency division multiplexing system limits a band to be assigned to one frequency channel to accommodate the largest possible number of frequency channels in one frequency band.
It is also effective to limit the time of occupying one frequency channel by one subscriber to assign a channel to each subscriber after dividing communications time. It is a time division multiplexing system.
Another effective system is a spread spectrum system. For example, it is realized by superimposing a predetermined signal having a frequency band much larger than a base band signal on a phase-shift-keying modulated base band signal to spread the frequency band of a signal and send it as an electric wave.
This spread spectrum communications system can be a direct sequence (DS) system, a frequency hopping system, a time hopping system, etc. depending on the spreading method. Described below is the DS system.
In the DS system, a pseudo noise (PN) code is used as a predetermined signal to spread the frequency band. The PN code refers to binary data transmitted much faster than normal transmission data. The frequency band of the transmission data spread by the PN code is much broader than that of the original transmission data.
In the receiving equipment, a reverse-spreading process is performed by multiplying the data signal spread-spectrum-modulated in the transmitting equipment by the PN code used by the transmitting equipment so that the original transmission data can be retrieved. At this time, the phase of the PN code by which the received data is multiplied should be the same as that of the PN code used by the transmitting equipment. Therefore, a synchronizing process is performed for phasing.
FIG. 1 shows the configuration of a part of the conventional spread spectrum communications system.
A multiplier 111 multiplies the data transferred on the carrier from the transmitting equipment by an output signal from a crystal oscillator 112. The frequency of the carrier can be, for example, 2.4GHz. The crystal oscillator 112 outputs a periodic wave having the same frequency as the above described periodic wave, that is, 2.4GHz. A low-pass filter 113 passes only a signal around the base band, and filters the output signal from the multiplier 111. A limiter 114 monitors the output value from the low-pass filter 113 in one-chip units of PN codes, and binarizes (represents by digits) through the collation between the output value and a predetermined limit value. That is, the limiter 114 performs the 1-bit A/D converting process.
A PN code generation circuit 117 provides a correlation unit 118 with a PN code having the same pattern as the PN code multiplied in the transmitting device. The correlation unit 118 has a matched filter, and detects the phase-synchronization of a PN code in the transmitting and receiving devices at the timing of a peak value (detection of correlation) of the output when the output signals from the multiplier 111 are sequentially input. Then, it outputs data being regenerated by multiplying the signal output from the multiplier 111 at the timing by the PN code as reproduced data.
In the spread spectrum communications system, a reverse-spreading process should be performed by multiplying a PN code in the receiving device in synchronism with the PN code multiplied in the transmitting device.
FIGS. 2A through 2C show examples showing the conventional configuration for maintaining synchronization.
In the configuration shown in FIG. 2A, a maximum value detector 122 monitors the correlation value output from a correlation unit 121, and stores the timing at which the maximum value of the correlation value is detected. The information about the timing at which the maximum value has been detected is transmitted to a synchronous point comparator 123, and it is determined whether or not the timing (synchronous point) at which the maximum correlation value is obtained is shifting. When the synchronous point shifts, it indicates that the timing of the sampling clock used in the transmitting device is asynchronous with the timing of the sampling clock used in the receiving device. Therefore, the timing should be amended to correctly receive data in the receiving equipment. Using the synchronous point comparison information (a signal indicating how the timings of the maximum correlation values deviate from each other), the voltage, etc. applied to an oscillator 124 is controlled to adjust the output timing or the phase of a sampling clock. Thus, the timing at which the maximum correlation value is obtained is not deviated to stably receive the data.
With the configuration shown in FIG. 2B, the correlation unit 121 outputs a correlation value. The maximum value detector 122 detects a timing at which the maximum value detector 122 detects the maximum correlation value. The synchronous point comparator 123 outputs a control signal to control the oscillator 124 according to the synchronous point comparison information indicating whether or not the timing has deviated. A PN code generator 125 outputs a PN code to the correlation unit 121 based on the signal of a frequency oscillated by the oscillator 124, adjusts the timing (position of a synchronous point) at which the maximum correlation value can be obtained, and thus performs a control process to stabilize the position of a synchronous point. Since the PN-code multiplication can be performed in synchronism with the signal transmitted from the transmitting equipment, a correct signal can be received.
With the configuration shown in FIG. 2C, as in the above described configuration, the correlation unit 121 outputs a correlation value. The maximum value detector 122 detects the position of a synchronous point at which the maximum correlation value can be obtained. The synchronous point comparator 123 detects the deviation of the position of a synchronous point. With the configuration shown in FIG. 2C, the output from an oscillator 127 is not used as is in the correlation unit 121, but is input to a divider 126, and then input to the correlation unit 121 after controlling the phase of the sampling clock.
Thus, in the spread spectrum communications system, a correct signal should be received with synchronism by generating a sampling clock in the receiving equipment in a way that the sampling clock agrees in phase and synchronism with the sampling clock at which the transmitting equipment performs a PN-code multiplication.
FIG. 3 shows an example of the configuration of the digital matched filter which is a correlation unit. In this example, 128 chips are assigned to 1-bit transfer data, and a double-oversampling system is used to enhance the precision in detecting correlation.
Flipflops 131-1 through 131-128 can be, for example, a flipflop group for storing PN codes generated by the PN code generation circuit 125. The Q output of the flipflop 131-i is applied to the D terminal of the flipflop 131-i+1. The PN code applied to the D terminal of the flipflop 131-1 is sequentially shifted step by step using the sampling clock. The clock stops when a 128-chip PN code is stored, and the value is stored.
Flipflops 132-1a, 132-1b, . . . , 132-128a, and 132-128b are a flipflop group for storing input data. The Q output of each flipflop is applied to the D terminal of the next flipflop. The input data applied to the D terminal of the flipflop 132-1a is shifted step by step by the sampling clock. The frequency of the sampling clock is double the frequency of the PN code (clock frequency of a chip) so that a double-oversampling process can be performed.
An adder 134 adds up the logical values output from the exclusive NOR circuits 133-1a, 133-1b, 133-128a, and 133-128b. That is, the number of exclusive NOR circuits which outputs 1 is obtained.
The sum1 computed by the adder 134 is input to a subtractor 135, a comparator 136, and a selector 137.
The subtractor 135 computes sum2=256-sum1 and outputs sum2 to comparator 136 and selector 137.
The comparator 136 compares sum1 with sum2. If sum1 >sum2, then 1 is output. If sum1 .ltoreq.sum2, then 0 is output. The selector 137 outputs sum1 when the output value from the comparator 136 is 1, and outputs sum2 when the output value from the comparator 136 is 0.
In the receiving equipment, there is a data clock for generating a timing at which output data can be obtained in addition to the sampling clock for use in multiplying a reception signal by the PN code. The output data is formed in a way that one bit is output on one cycle of data clock. This bit outputs data corresponding to the largest correlation value in all values obtained in the correlation unit on one cycle of the data clock. However, a correlation value can be variable for each timing of a sampling clock, and data can be generated corresponding to the maximum correlation value on one cycle of the data clock even without synchronization. Therefore, wrong data may be inserted or correct data may be lost unless only one correlation value indicating the correct synchronization appears on one cycle (window) of the data clock.
FIGS. 4A through 4C show the problems with the case where clocks are not in synchronism with each other between the transmission equipment and the receiving equipment.
In each of FIGS. 4A through 4C, the correlation value is indicated on top among the three values at each timing. Each of the peaks indicates a synchronous point. Indicated below each correlation value is a data clock, and one cycle of the data clock is hereinafter referred to as a window. Indicated at the bottom among the three values is a counter value in synchronism with the sampling clock.
As shown in FIG. 4A, data can be correctly regenerated when one synchronous point exists in one window. That is, a data value corresponding to the maximum correlation value detected by the maximum value detector is stored in one window. At the right end of the window (at the end of one cycle of the data clock), the data value corresponding to the stored maximum correlation value is output.
FIG. 4B shows the case where two synchronous points exist in one window. Since only one data value can be output in one window, one data value is regenerated although two data values should be regenerated corresponding to the two synchronous points in the above described window. As a result, one data value to be regenerated cannot be successfully output.
FIG. 4C also shows the case where no synchronous points exist in one window. In FIGS. 4A through 4C, the correlation values are similarly small at points other than the synchronous points. However, an actual correlation value can be any value at points other than a synchronous point. In FIGS. 4A through 4C, the correlation values indicate concave and convex figures (like ripples) between synchronous points. Therefore, if there are no synchronous points in one window in FIG. 4C, then a data value is regenerated at a timing corresponding to the largest correlation value in the correlation values forming ripples. However, since there are actually no synchronous points in this window, a wrong data value is regenerated.
If the clock indicates such a deviation, a synchronous point deviates in a window. If this occurs in series, the synchronous point deviates to the end of the window. When the synchronous point further deviates, it goes beyond the end of the window and enters the next window. In such a case, a problem of wrong data occurs (an excess piece of data is inserted or a piece of necessary data is lost).
Therefore, if a correct data value should be regenerated, one synchronous point is required to exist in one window. As described by referring to FIGS. 2A through C, an oscillator is operated to change the phase of the sampling clock to set one synchronous point in one window according to the conventional technology.
However, according to the conventional configuration, the clock must be controlled at a precision level equal to or higher than the PN code chip rate level or the sampling clock level, thereby requiring a difficult circuit configuration. Furthermore, a large-scale circuit is required and the entire system becomes costly.

Synchronizing apparatus for spread spectrum communications

Kabushiki Kaisha Toyoda Jidoshokki Seisakusho


A gas sampling system 36 capable of testing and certifying internal combustion engines 16 under transient conditions is provided and includes a partial flow dilution tunnel 38, master and slave mass flow controllers 80,60 and a transient dilution air flow controlling arrangement 110. The transient dilution air flow controlling arrangement 110 measures the transient changes in intake air and varies the flow of diluent air to the partial flow dilution tunnel 38. By controlling the diluent air in this manner ensures that a particle sample can be taken at any time that is at a constant proportion to the exhaust flow rate.

Exhaust gas sampling systems that utilize partial flow dilution tunnels (PFDT) have been used since the early 1990's as an effective alternative to full dilution tunnels systems for development and certification of engines where steady-state model testing was permitted. Previously, all off-highway and until recently, much of European-bound on-highway engine testing and certification was performed with systems utilizing PFDT's, due to the fact that they are more portable, cheaper and more repeatable than their full dilution counterparts. Regulatory organizations such as ISO, CARB, EPA and EEC all permit the use of PFDT's for steady state test cycle certification. One such system is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,058,440 issued on Oct. 22, 1991 to Russell R. Graze and is assigned to the owner of the present application.
The Environmental Protection Agency has declared its interest in promulgating transient cycle regulations of large off-highway diesel engines in order to better control particulate emissions output from these engines. These regulations are expected to be in effect by 2006. The size of the off-highway diesel engines to be regulated eclipses the mass flow rate capacity of the industry's full dilution tunnels that have been in use for the past twenty plus years to quantify on-highway engine emission levels including particulate matter (PM). Furthermore, the sheer number of off-highway ratings to be developed, in combination with concurrent regulatory pressures placed on on-highway engine development teams, preclude the use of existing full dilution tunnels for off-highway development even for small engines.
Therefore it is desirable to develop a PFDT that can be used to test and certify off-highway diesel engines under transient conditions and more than likely will be utilized to test on-highway engines under transient conditions as well. One such system is described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,062,092 issued to Christopher Weaver on May 16, 2000 and is assigned to Engine, Fuel, and Emissions Engineering, Incorporated. This system utilizes a feedback arrangement to change the proportion of exhaust gas being sampled based on changes in the exhaust flow from an engine. However, this system uses the pressure differential between the exhaust gas flow stream and the pressure inside a sampling probe for feedback to control the proportionality of the exhaust sample and diluent air in a dilution tunnel. This system uses the last possible point in a test system to check for excursions in engine gas flow to sample for test changes (i.e. the exhaust gas flow stream) and does not discuss or take into account the pneumatic capacitance of the system. Pneumatic capacitance is the resistance in the sampling system to react to changes in system under transient conditions. Additionally, the U.S. Pat. No. 6,062,092 prior art does not take into account particulate deposition which is caused by thermophoresis.
The present invention is directed to overcome one or more of the problems as set forth above.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Exhaust gas particulate measuring system


A microfluidic device comprises a matrix of rotary flow reactors. The microfluidic matrix device offers a solution to the “world-to-chip” interface problem by accomplishing two important goals simultaneously: an economy of scale in reagent consumption is achieved, while simultaneously minimizing pipetting steps. N2 independent assays can be performed with only 2N+1 pipetting steps, using a single aliquot of enzyme amortized over all reactors. The chip reduces labor relative to conventional fluid handling techniques by using an order of magnitude less pipetting steps, and reduces cost by consuming two to three orders of magnitude less reagents per reaction. A PCR format has immediate applications in medical diagnosis and gene testing. Beyond PCR, the microfluidic matrix chip provides a universal and flexible platform for biological and chemical assays requiring parsimonious use of precious reagents and highly automated processing.

As described by at least Mitchell in Nat. Biotechnol. 19, 717-721 (2001), incorporated by reference herein for all purposes, microfluidic technology offers many possible benefits in chemistry, biology and medicine. One important possible benefit is to automate rote work while reducing the consumption of expensive reagents to the nanoliter or sub-nanoliter scale.
As described in Anal. Chem. 69, 3407-3412 (1997), incorporated by reference herein for all purposes, Hadd et al. developed a microchip for performing automated enzyme assay, in which precise concentrations of substrate, enzyme, and inhibitor were mixed in nanoliter volumes using electrokinetic flow. In Anal. Chem. 74, 2451-2457 (2002), incorporated by reference herein for all purposes, Fu et al reported an integrated cell sorter with a 1 picoliter minimum active volume by the actuated valve.
However, as pointed out by Meldrum et al. in Science 297, 1197-1198 (2002), incorporated by reference herein for all purposes, since microfluidic devices must at some point be interfaced to the macroscopic world, there is a minimum practical volume (of order—1 μl) that can be introduced into a device. The so-called "world-to-chip" interface problem described by Ramsey in Nat. Biotechnol. 17, 1061-1062 (1999), incorporated by reference herein for all purposes, has plagued the microfluidic field since its inception. As noted by Ross et al. in Anal. Chem. 74, 2556-2564 (2002), it is always questionable how the desired economies of scale in microfluidics can practically be achieved, unless an effective approach is developed to solve the mismatch between those two scales.
Although integrated glass capillaries have been used to reduce sample consumption for simple titration between two reagents, these devices are fundamentally serial and have the possibility of sample cross-contamination during the loading process. See Farinas et al., Analytical Biochemistry 295, 138-142 (2001), incorporated by reference herein for all purposes.
On the other hand, there has been an effort to develop techniques to concentrate analytes from a large input volume. In Anal. Chem. 73, 1627-1633 (2001), incorporated by reference herein for all purposes, Macounova et al. describe microfluidic isoelectric focusing (IEF) techniques. Ross et al. describe temperature gradient focusing (TGF) techniques. However, only a limited species of samples have successfully been demonstrated so far.
The challenge associated with realizing the desired economies of scale in microfluidic devices is to simultaneously reduce the number of pipetting steps needed to load the devices, while amortizing the sample volume from each pipetting step over a large number of independent assays. As pointed out in U.S. Pat. No. 6,508,988, incorporated by reference herein for all purposes, microfluidic matrix geometries offer the advantage of performing N2 independent reactions with only 2N pipetting steps.
In Lab on a Chip 2, 188-192 (2002), Kikutani et al. used N=2 matrices for chemical synthesis. In Anal. Chem., 73, 5207-5213 (2001), Ismagilov et al. used N=5 passive matrices to demonstrate two-component biochemical assays such as optical detection of enzymatic activity. However, in those devices the reagent consumption scaled only with N, which was so small that there were little practical savings.
Passive devices also have technical limitations in sample metering and device operation. For example, precise pressure balancing was required during operation of the devices of Kikutani et al., and the kinetics of mixing were limited due to the static nature in the devices of Ismagilov et al.
Accordingly, there is a need in the art for microfluidic techniques and apparatuses for addressing the "world-to-chip" interface problem.


Apparatus and methods relating to semiconductor assemblies. A semiconductor assembly includes an interposer which may be constructed from a flexible material, such as a polyimide tape. A pattern of conductive traces disposed on a first surface of the interposer is in electrical communication with a semiconductor die attached to the first surface. Interconnect recesses accessible on the opposite second surface expose one or more conductive traces. A conductive element, such as a solder ball, disposed substantially within the interconnect recess allows the assembly to be mounted on a substrate or a similar assembly. By substantially containing the conductive element within the interconnect recess, the height of the completed assembly is reduced. Assemblies may be stacked to form multidie assemblies. Interconnect structures, such as connection pads, or enlarged traces upon the first surface are employed to connect stacked assemblies.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to ball grid array semiconductor packages and methods of attaching and interconnecting the same. In particular, the present invention relates to interposers for mounting a semiconductor die to a substrate with which the semiconductor die is in electrical communication The semiconductor die may be encapsulated upon the interposer to form a complete semiconductor die package. The interposer may be constructed in order to allow a number of similar semiconductor die packages to be electrically connected to a single substrate in a stack.
2. State of the Art
Ball grid array ("BGA") packages are well known in the art. BGA packages typically comprise a substrate, such as a printed circuit board, with a semiconductor die mounted on top of the substrate. The semiconductor die has a multitude of bond pads electrically connected to a series of metal traces on the top side of the printed circuit board. This series of metal traces is connected to a second series of metal traces located on the underside of the printed circuit board by a series of vias. The second series of metal traces each terminate with a contact pad where a conductive element is attached. The conductive elements are typically solder balls or conductive-filled epoxy. The conductive elements are arranged in an array pattern and the semiconductor die along with its electrical connections is encapsulated with a molding compound.
As die and grid array densities increase, the desire in packaging semiconductor dies has been to reduce the overall size of the package, allowing the mounted packages to take up less "real estate" or area within a device. A BGA package mounted in a flip-chip fashion conserves real estate laterally by eliminating the connection structures (wirebond, TAB, etc.) around the package. Conserving real estate vertically presents different challenges. One way this has been accomplished is by reducing the overall height or profile of BGA packages. Another way is by using molded packages with leadframes that can be stacked atop one another.
Stacking BGA packages allows additional lateral real estate to be conserved in exchange for vertical space. The height of a BGA package, including the substrate, semiconductor die, wirebonds, encapsulant and conductive elements, limits the effectiveness of this method. One example of an attempt to reduce the height of BGA packages in a stack is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,072,233 issued to Corisis et al., Jun. 6, 2000. The disclosed packages consist of a semiconductor die mounted face down on a thin substrate. The die is electrically connected to the substrate by centrally located wirebonds, which are encapsulated on the base of the substrate. Solder balls which have a height greater than the combined heights of the mounted semiconductor die and the wirebond encapsulant are spaced along the perimeter of the substrate. By moving the encapsulant to the lower surface of the package and using a thin substrate, a fine ball grid array (FBGA) can be used, reducing the overall height of a package. The ability to reduce the height of the package is still limited by the placement and size restrictions on the solder balls, which must have a diameter greater than the combined heights of the semiconductor dies and wirebond encapsulant. The substrate must be rigid to hold the individual packages apart. The solder balls are exposed at the side of the stack, increasing the chances of breakage or contamination.
Therefore, it would be advantageous to develop an apparatus and method that allow for the height of stacked packages to be reduced in comparison to conventional packages. It would further be advantageous for such an apparatus and method to provide for at least enclosing the conductive elements, providing enhanced support as well as protection from breakage and contamination. It would be an additional advantage for certain embodiments of such an apparatus and method to employ at least somewhat flexible substrates, allowing use in an increased number of applications.

Semiconductor die packages with recessed interconnecting structures


The present invention provides touch sensors that incorporate electrodes that are capacitively coupled through a dielectric layer to one or more resistive touch sensing layers, for example for linearizing the electric field across the resistive layer of an analog capacitive touch screen or for addressing the conductive elements of a matrix type capacitive touch screen. Such a construction allows for new manufacturing methods and new ways of constructing touch sensors.

Touch panels can provide a convenient and intuitive user interface for many electronic devices including personal digital assistants, tablet computers, public information kiosks, point of sale machines, gaming and entertainment devices, and the like. In many systems, connecting the touch sensitive elements to controller electronics and integrating the touch panel into the system can pose challenges.

Touch sensors incorporating capacitively coupled electrodes


A system and method provides video recommendations for a target video in a video sharing environment. The system selects one or more videos that are on one or more video playlists together with the target video. The video co-occurrence data of the target video associates the target video and another video on one or more same video playlists and frequency of the target video and another video on the video playlists is computed. Based on the video co-occurrence data of the target video, one or more co-occurrence videos are selected and ranked based on the video co-occurrence data of the target video. The system selects one or more videos from the co-occurrence videos as video recommendations for the target video.

Described embodiments relate generally to web-based video viewing and specifically to recommending videos based on video co-occurrence statistics in an online video content distribution system.
Networked video viewing provides users with rich opportunities to upload, watch and share videos in fast-growing online video entertainment communities. Video viewing sites such as YOUTUBE allow content providers to upload videos easily as individual videos or groups of videos. Users can easily share videos by mailing links to others, or embedding them on web pages or in blogs. Users can also rate and comment on videos, bringing new social aspects to video viewing.
Videos are typically viewed at a video hosting website such as YOUTUBE. Users browsing the video hosting website can find videos of interest by, for example, searching for videos, browsing video directories, or sorting videos by ratings assigned to the videos. Some video hosting sites allow users to create video playlists, create a video viewing channel associated with a personal account on the hosting website to upload videos, look at comments posted by other viewers, and other video viewing activities. Some video hosting services group related videos together based on some measurement of relatedness among the videos and present the related videos as video recommendations when one of the videos is watched by a viewer. One existing measurement of relatedness is co-visitation (also called "co-watch"). Co-visitation based video recommendation selects videos being watched together frequently by users in an online video sharing environment. However, a video that does not get enough co-watches with other videos does not get recommended. Majority of user uploaded videos fall into this scenario because these videos are only interesting to very limited number of viewers.

Video recommendation based on video co-occurrence statistics


A data display method and device based on an ARM micro-controller, and a readable storage medium are provided. The data display method includes receiving data signals of a display image, and storing the data signals; extending the stored data signals into multiple data signal sets in a preset sequence, and synchronously caching the multiple data signal sets in a rising edge and a falling edge of a clock signal; and controlling the multiple data signal sets to be respectively output to multiple output ports to control a display unit to display the image.

At present, mini light emitting diodes (mini LEDs), mainly applied to the fields of direct backlight and RGB display, are developing vigorously and have become an irresistible tread in the display industry because of their technical advantages of high dynamic contrast, high resolution, and high-brightness display. ARM micro-controllers have been widely used on account of their advantages of low power consumption, low cost, high performance, flexible operation, and the like.

Data display method and device, and readable storage medium

BEIJING BOE OPTOELECTRONICS TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.


While the amplification factor of an external amplifier is increased to raise the minimum volume level, synthesized speech of text data is generated as PCM data. When the PCM data is output for each frame (63 ms), the voltage of a battery power supply is detected and different ATT values (attenuation ratios) are set in accordance with threshold values (Level 1˜4) corresponding to the detected voltage. The lower the power supply voltage, the larger the attenuation ratios. The PCM data is attenuated by such an attenuation ratio to reduce a load to the battery power supply. Even though the battery power supply is exhausted to some extent, no power-down due to an instantaneous increase in power load occurs, with the result that a high-level part of a series of speech data items is output at an adequate volume level that makes a low-level part thereof easy to hear.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a speech output control device for use in electronic apparatuses having a speech output function and driven by a battery, and a recording medium recorded with speech output control programs.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventionally, electronic apparatuses having a speech output function, such as audio equipment, include an output volume control device that optimizes the volume and tone of output speech in accordance with various use environments of the electronic apparatuses.
For example, vehicle-mounted audio equipment includes an output volume control device. The output volume control device varies the volume and tone of output speech in accordance with its surrounding noise level. When the noise level rises to distort the output speech, the output volume control device controls the volume such that an audience can easily listen to the output speech.
The speech output device of a personal computer includes an output volume control device. The output volume control device controls the output volume and sets it at a fixed level each time the speech output device receives speech signals of different recording levels. When the device outputs a different speech signal at the same volume level as that of the last speech signal, it controls the volume of the output speech signal and prevents it from being distorted.
The above prior art output volume control devices compress an input speech signal over a dynamic range in order to prevent an output speech from being distorted in consideration of an external influence such as a surrounding noise level and an output gain of volume.
There is a small-sized electronic device, such as an electronic dictionary with a speech output function, which outputs reading speech of text such as words and examples. The dynamic range of the output reading speech is greatly widened in accordance with the rhythm, stress, and intonation of reading.
Such a small-sized electronic device is driven by a battery. It is thus necessary to control the volume of text speech and restrict its maximum output volume in order to prevent the maximum part of text speech from being powered down due to a temporary voltage drop even though the battery is almost dead. If, however, the maximum output volume is restricted, a user can hardly listen to or cannot listen to a low-level part of the text speech.
When text speech data of recorded real speech is output, a low-level part of the recorded speech can be raised to an audible level in advance. However, when not recorded speech but reading text speech is synthesized and the synthesized speech is output in real time, the volume level cannot be controlled (changed) in advance.

Speech output control device and recording medium recorded with speech output control programs


Disclosed is a low power LCD which comprises a scan signal line for supplying scanning signals to pixels configuring an LCD panel; a source signal line for supplying image signals to pixels configuring an LCD panel; a pixel switch for outputting the image signals to a third electrode from a first electrode connected to the source signal line or stopping the same according to a high or low voltage state of a second electrode connected to the scan signal line; a power unit for respectively supplying first and second powers to all pixels from the outside of a pixel area of the LCD panel; a control signal line unit respectively including a first control signal line for transmitting a first control signal to all pixels from the outside of the pixel area of the LCD panel, and a second control signal line for transmitting a second control signal to all pixels from the outside of the pixel area of the LCD panel; a liquid crystal unit for transmitting or blocking light according to voltage difference between the image signals and the second power; and a memory cell unit for receiving the first control signal and the second control signal from the control signal line unit, and when the first control signal is in low state and the second control signal is in high state, transmitting an operation mode image signal output by the third electrode of the pixel switch to the liquid crystal unit, and when the first control signal is in high state, transmitting either a still mode image signal output by the third electrode of the pixel switch or its inverting signal to the liquid crystal unit as the second control signal periodically repeats the low and high states according to characteristics of the LCD panel.

(a) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a liquid crystal display (LCD). More specifically, the present invention relates to a pixel forming circuit for driving an LCD with low power.
(b) Description of the Related Art
An LCD generally comprises an LCD unit including an LCD panel having liquid crystal cells between two glass substrates in a matrix pattern, a backlight unit provided on the rear side of the LCD panel, a printed circuit board (PCB) unit for driving the LCD panel, and a case for protecting and integrating the units. Here, the PCB unit is a driving circuit for receiving red R, green G and blue B image data and synchronization signals, processing the same, and providing image data, scanning signals and timing control signals to the LCD panel so that the LCD panel normally displays computer images, television image and other images. The PCB unit comprises a plurality of PCBs and a plurality of flexible printed cables (FPC) for transmitting signals between the PCBs.
Referring to FIG. 1 showing a schematic diagram of a conventional LCD, a PCB unit of relative low resolution such as SVGA (600×800) for driving the LCD panel 40 on the rear side of the LCD panel 40 comprises a main PCB 10 for receiving the R, G and B image data and the synchronization signals, processing the same using a timing controller that is a customized integrated circuit (IC) of a flat pin grid array (FPGA) type, and processing and generating the image data and various control signals; a scan driver PCB 20 having a scan driver IC tape automated bond (TAB) that provides scanning signals to scan signal lines according to scan driver control signals provided by the main PCB 10; and a source driver PCB 30 having a source driver IC TAB that receives the image data and the control signals processed and provided by the main PCB 10, and provides the same to the LCD panel 40.
Referring to FIG. 2, a pixel configuration on the LCD panel comprises a scan signal line 21 for transmitting the scanning signals provided by the scan driver IC TAB of the scan driver PCB 20, a source signal line 31 for transmitting the image signals provided by the source driver IC TAB of the source driver PCB 30, liquid crystal 42, a metal oxide semiconductor (MOS) type thin film transistor (TFT) 41 for receiving the scanning signals and the image signals and transmitting the same to the liquid crystal 42 and a storage capacitor 43. At this time, the TFT 41 is turned off when receiving the scanning signal via a gate electrode, and receives the image signals from the source signal line 31 via a source electrode and transmits the same to the liquid crystal 42 and the storage capacitor 43 when the scanning signal is in high state. Next, when the scanning signal is in low state, the image signals stored in the liquid crystal 42 and the storage capacitor 43 are maintained during a frame set for respective resolutions.
However, the consuming power for driving the LCD adapted to notebook computers, portable personal digital assistants (PDA) and reflective PDAs ranges from several tens to several hundred watts [W] according to the size of the LCD panel. This power becomes a problem when a user goes out and uses the battery for a long time. Therefore, increased lifetime of the battery by low power consumption becomes main factor in business competitiveness.


The present invention provides a curved liquid crystal display panel and a display device. The curved liquid crystal display panel includes a middle region, an edge region, and has a cross-sectional structure including a first substrate, a second substrate disposed opposite to the first substrate, a liquid crystal layer disposed between the first substrate and the second substrate, a compensation layer disposed on a side of the second substrate in the middle region away from the liquid crystal layer, and compensating liquid crystal molecules filling a space between the second substrate and the compensation layer. A difference between a middle thickness of the middle region of the curved liquid crystal display panel and an edge thickness of the edge region of the curved liquid crystal display panel is less than or equal to a preset value. The present invention can improve transmittance and reduce color shift, thereby improving display effects.

Curved screens can generally be implemented by bending flexible organic light-emitting diode (OLED) display panels and liquid crystal display (LCD) panels. Curved surfaces are not only a subversion of appearances of TVs but also a significant improvement in viewing comfort. A proper curvature provides a wider field of view and a stronger presence. Human eyes are convex and curved, and curvature of a curved screen can ensure an equal distance of the human eyes, thereby improving viewing effects.

Curved liquid crystal display panel and display device

TCL China Star Optoelectronics Technology Co., Ltd.


A process to detect metal impurities in a gas or gas mixture including the steps of directing the gas or gas mixture through non-metallic pipings to a sampling device and sampling the gas or gas mixture for metal impurities detection, wherein the sampling device is close to an inlet and/or outlet of a machine employing the gas or gas mixture as a processing gas, the machine being surrounded by a booth containing a gaseous atmosphere which is continuously circulated in the booth, partially renewing said atmosphere continuously, and exhausting excess atmosphere.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to detection of metal impurities in the semiconductor process gases and more particularly immediately at the inlet/outlet of the semiconductor process machine.
2. Description of the Related Art
Trace metal contamination in the Ultra Large Scale Integration manufacturing process ULSI, causes poor electrical property in the devices. Electrical properties of the integrated circuit can be altered by the presence of metal impurities in the process gases used during the manufacturing process of the integrated circuits, even with impurity level as low as 10 ppb or even 1 ppb. Therefore, it is an aim of the present invention to control the metal impurity levels in the process gases below those levels. As the integration of the semiconductor devices are advanced, the requirement for the metal contamination control will become even stricter.
Various methods are known to detect metal impurities in the process gases. A first method known as the bubbling method consists of bubbling the process gases through pure water or a dilute acid solution to trap metal impurities in it. The water or the acid solution is then analysed by ICPAES (Inductively Coupled Plasma Atomic Emission Spectrometry), ICPMS (Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry), and/or GFAAS (Graphite Furnace Atomic Absorption Spectrometry) after the appropriate solution preparation, knows by the man skilled in the art.
A second method known as the hydrolysis method consists of absorbing the process gas to be analyzed into pure water together with metal impurities in the gas and to analyze the resultant solution by ICPAES (Inductively Coupled Plasma Atomic Emission Spectrometry), ICPMS (Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry), and/or GFAAS (Graphite Furnace Atomic Absorption Spectrometry) after appropriate solution preparation, well known by the man skilled in the art.
A third method known as the filtration method consists of passing the gas through a filter to trap metal impurities in the gas, then washing out the trapped metals into a dilute acid solution, and analyzing the solution by ICPAES (Inductively Coupled Plasma Atomic Emission Spectrometry), ICPMS (Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry), and/or GFAAS (Graphite Furnace Atomic Absorption Spectrometry) after appropriate solution preparation.
These various methods are disclosed for example in Proceedings of Technical Conference in Semicon Europe 1992, <<Metals and dopants analysis in electronic specialty gases>> by Martine Carre, which is incorporated herein by a reference.
Semiconductor manufacturing, such as etching, is made by using pure or diluted gases. These gases are usually provided to the semiconductor manufacturer in cylinders which are installed usually in gas cabinets at a remote location from the reactor where semiconductors are manufactured and gas is provided therein through pipings. Most of the semiconductor process gases are either reactive or corrosive and metal contamination can be introduced not only from the source gas in the cylinder but also from various components in the gas delivery system. Therefore, it is desirable that the metal impurities can be monitored and controlled at the immediate inlet of the process machine or reactor (the point of use) rather than at the exit of the gas cylinder in order to know exactly which quantity of the metallic impurities is introduced in the process machine.
Semiconductor process machines are generally placed in a clean room where workers are present. In a monitoring/controlling process at the point of use, as new devices are introduced in the gas delivery pipings, there is an increased risk of leaks and the safety of the workers in the clean room not including the damage to various process, equipment there, can be very serious.
On the other hand, since the required control level of the metal impurities in the process gases are at least in the order of a few ppb or a few tens of ppb, it is desired to avoid metallic materials in the sampling device as much as possible which may in turn, increase the level of metallic impurities. The problem, if using non metallic sampling device, however, is that it is difficult to obtain sufficient pressure resistance and leak tightness with non-metallic materials.

Method to detect metal impurities in the semiconductor process gases

L'Air Liquide Societe Anonyme Pour L'Etude et L'Exploitation des Procedes Georges Claude


An end cover for an external rotor motor. The external rotor motor has a stator core having a center hole, and the end cover including a body, a cylindrical connecting portion, and multiple protruding bars each having an arc-shaped top surface. The cylindrical connecting portion is extended from the center of the body and received in the center hole of the stator core, the protruding bars are disposed on outer surface of the cylindrical connecting portion and extended in an axial direction, and the arc-shaped top surface of the protruding bar is fit with inner wall of the center hole of the stator core. The end cover is accurately fit with a stator core, requires no further processing after die-casting and thus reducing production cost, and is capable of preventing aluminum scraps from entering a stator.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to an end cover and a motor using the same, and more particularly to an end cover and an external rotor motor using the same.
2. Description of the Related Art
A conventional motor comprises a stator, motor coil, along with a stator core and an end cover fit with each other. However, there are several problems with the motor: fitting precision is limited since the end cover cannot be directly die-casted and accurately fit with the stator core, and thus further processing is required, which increases production cost; moreover, aluminum scraps generated during the fitting process often enter one end of the motor coil and an air gap of the stator, and affect product quality.

End cover and external rotor motor using the same


A system that allows secure processing in a case where a download-requesting terminal and a download-destination terminal are different devices is implemented. A content distribution server receives a ticket carrying a signature of a download destination from a terminal requesting downloading of content, and verifies the ticket to verify that a device serving as the download destination is a device authorized by the download-requesting terminal, thereby verifying the authenticity of the device serving as the download destination without directly authenticating the device serving as the download destination. Furthermore, a content-signing key [Ksig] or a hash value is exchanged as data that can be cryptographically processed only at the download-requesting device and the download-destination device, so that, for example, checking of the integrity of the content is allowed only at a legitimate download-destination device.

Recently, a form of content utilization using a mobile device is becoming common, in which various software data, such as image data, audio data, and game programs (hereinafter referred to as content), is distributed from a data distribution server via a network such as the Internet to a user device, for example, a PC, or a mobile device such as a mobile computer, a PDA, or a cellular phone, the data being stored in a storage medium of the device.
An information device such as a PC or a mobile terminal has an interface for receiving content from a network, and it also includes control means that is needed to play back content, and a RAM and a ROM that are used as memories for storing programs and data.
Various content such as music data, video data, or programs is stored in a storage medium in a storage medium of a user device, such as a hard disk or a flash memory, via, for example, the Internet. The content is retrieved from the storage medium according to a user's instruction to an information device that is used as a content-playback device, such as a PC or a mobile terminal, and is played back by a main unit of the information device or by a display or a speaker that is connected.
When content is distributed, that is, when content is downloaded from a content distribution server to a user device, usually, an authentication process of various types as to whether the user device is a legitimate device that is allowed to access content is executed, for example, based on a public-key cryptosystem or a shared-key cryptosystem, thereby verifying the authenticity of the user device.
In accordance with the recent spread of various information processing terminals, use of a plurality of information devices by an individual user has become common; for example, an individual user has a PC at home, and uses a mobile device outside such as a cellular phone, a mobile computer, or a PDA. It has become possible to issue requests for downloading various content from the various devices to content distribution servers.
When content is downloaded on condition of authentication, for example, when a user using a mobile terminal outside issues to a content distribution server a request for content distribution, authentication is executed between the mobile terminal the user is using and the server, and content is sent when the mobile terminal is a legitimate device. When the user using a PC at home issues to the content distribution server a request for content distribution, authentication is executed between the PC the user is using and the server, and content is sent and downloaded if the PC is a legitimate device. That is, the content distribution server permits downloading of content by executing authentication with a device that serves as a content-download destination.
Types of content to be downloaded have become diverse, and content available for downloading includes small-volume content that can be stored in a small memory of a cellular phone or the like, such as music content or a game program, and large-volume content that can be stored in a hard disk of a PC or the like but cannot be stored in a small memory of a cellular phone or the like, such as moving-picture content of a movie or the like.
If a user using a mobile terminal having a relatively small memory, such as a flash memory, issues a request to a content distribution server for downloading large-volume content such as a movie, the content cannot be stored in the memory of the mobile terminal, so that the user inevitably has to give up downloading the content.


The invention relates to a glove for protecting the hand against cuts, consisting of a lattice of interwoven rings, in particular of metallic rings, with at least one closure clement which is elastic.

Gloves of the aforementioned type for protecting the hand against cuts are used particularly in meat-processing plants as protection against injuries by, for example, cutting tools. Such gloves are known in short and long versions. In the first case, they extend as far as the wrist. In the second case, they extend as far as the forearm. For fastening the gloves, which are intended to protect the hand against cuts, at the wrist or at the arm, the construction of such protective gloves with closure elements is known. Conventionally, this is accomplished by sewing a nylon tape with a locking buckle on the lattice of interwoven rings. Alternately, it is also known that such nylon tape can be fixed with a snap fastener.
It is a disadvantage of these known gloves for protecting the hand against cuts that they must be adjusted each time by the user to the closure length required by the user. For protective gloves with a snap fastener closure, the individual length dimension of the closure frequently cannot be attained, so that only supplies of individually usable protective gloves can be kept in meat-processing plants. Furthermore, the known gloves, for protecting the hand against cuts, are not safe bacteriologically since, despite cleaning, residues of meat particles can adhere not only to the nylon tape itself, but also to the locking buckles and the snap fasteners. Moreover, the known protective gloves are provided at their side with an opening, in order to be able to close the glove at all. This can lead to unprotected regions of the hand, which is to be protected by the glove.

Glove for protecting the hand against cuts

van Marwijk; Johannes Adrianus Augstinus


A new tip for a conventional lancer that provides for improved blood flow from a lancet puncture site not located on a patient""s finger. The new lancer tip includes a plurality of crenellations that exert rotational force on the skin surrounding the lancet puncture site when the lancer is rotated to enhance blood flow from the lancet puncture site.

The present invention relates to a lancer for withdrawing a sample of blood from a patient via a lancet. More particularly, the invention is drawn to a lancer for obtaining blood samples from alternate sites, i.e., an arm, leg, or sites other than the fingertip, for the purpose of measuring the concentration of an analyte in blood, i.e., glucose.
Conventional lancers on the market are designed to sample blood to determine an analyte in blood such as glucose. These conventional lancers use a finger blood-sampling approach which can be quite painful for the patient because of the concentration of nerves that are present on fingertips. Some companies are developing lancer technology to obtain blood samples from sites other than fingertips (xe2x80x9calternate sitesxe2x80x9d). Such alternate sites include arms and legs which have a smaller concentration of nerves thus resulting in less pain being associated with the blood sampling process. However, the problem with these alternate sites in that they do not bleed as easily or as well as sites on the finger when pierced using fine gauge lancets. Therefore, there is the need for a new lancer mechanism that can obtain sufficient blood samples from these alternate sites.
The present invention is drawn to an improved lancer having features that increase the capability of drawing blood from alternate sites. The present invention forces or milks blood from the lancet puncture on an alternate site by using a twisting motion to act as the mechanism to force blood from the alternate site. During operation, the user activates the lancer to create a lancet puncture in the alternate site, i.e., arm or leg. Once a puncture is created, the user twists the device approximately xc2xc of a rotation while the alternate site tip is against the patient""s skin. The user maintains the twisting force for several seconds while fingers, crenellations (castle-like features) or trapezoid features on the alternate site cap grab the skin and apply a twisting motion to the patient""s skin. The twisting motion on the skin causes the puncture wound to bleed at a higher volume than if no twisting is applied. The twisting action is analogous to wringing a wet towel to force water from the fibers of the towel.
In addition, the alternate site cap also provides an advantage in that it is removable which allows the user to use the lancer as a conventional lancer when the conventional cap is attached.
Another feature of the present invention to enhance blood flow is provided by the new chisel point geometry of the lancet.
These and other aspects, features and advantages of the present invention, will become apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.


A motorized system is provided for adjusting the vertical height of a container within a base located between front seats of a motor vehicle. A flap which is used as an armrest is pivotally mounted on the housing to close a top opening of the housing. A linear drive linearly moves the container relative to the base along a vertical axis. A positioning drive including a reversible electrical motor has a rotary driveshaft for applying motion to the linear drive. A power transmission in the form of a flexible shaft is coupled to the driveshaft of the motor and a pair of worm gears is coupled to the linear drive. A manually operable switch is provided for selectively coupling the electrical power to the electrical motor to cause the driveshaft to rotate in a desired direction to position the linear drive which, in turn, linearly positions the container within the base.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,639,002 discloses a coverable container for a vehicle having a box-like opening which is open towards the top and a flap or cover which can be pivoted on the housing and is designed as an armrest for a seat occupant. The flap provides a vertically adjustable armrest in that a support lever is articulated on the underside of the flap at a distance from the pivot axis of the flap which supports the lever by means of a latching lug.
A problem with such a vertically adjustable armrest is that the adjustable flap may not support a large amount of weight (i.e., 200-250 pounds) in its adjusted state.

System for adjusting vertical height of an armrest


A method and an apparatus for adjustment of the rotor angle of an elevator motor (M), in which method: the rotor angle of the elevator motor is measured, the rotor angle is adjusted by using the measured rotor angle value as feedback data, and the rotor angle is measured by a pulse emitter (PE) or tachometer connected to the elevator motor. In the method, a disturbance signal (u) is fed into the rotor angle feedback data to produce a change (disturbance) in the rotor angle, the change (disturbance) is compared to the disturbance signal (u), and, on the basis of the comparison, a control signal is generated to adjust the rotor angle.

The torque of a synchronous motor is proportional to the angular difference between the magnetic field of the rotor and the magnetic field of the stator, i.e. to the rotor angle. The torque is at a maximum when the rotor angle is 90° and decreases according to a sine function as the rotor angle changes. The torque curve of synchronous motors designed for use in elevator drives is a nearly sinusoidal function of the rotor angle. One of the tasks of the elevator control system is to keep the torque at the maximum point.
At present, the rotor position is typically determined by means of a resolver, which produces feedback data on the absolute rotor position, which is needed e.g. in vector control.
However, flat elevator motors designed for elevators without machine room and placed in the elevator shaft provide relatively little space, which is why it is often not possible to use a resolver in such a situation because it can not be mounted in the elevator shaft due to insufficient space. In addition, a resolver is relatively expensive and adjusting it is a complicated task.
To determine the rotor position data, it is also possible to use a pulse emitter or a tachometer. However, such systems are relatively device-dependent and are therefore not directly applicable e.g. for use in elevators. The pulse emitter or tachometer is generally connected to the rotor via a belt transmission or a friction wheel. This involves a slip, which tends to increase. Thus, there is the risk that the torque will decrease. The motor may even fall out of synchronism, in which case the torque is lost completely.

Method and apparatus for adjustment of the rotor angle of an elevator motor


Disclosed is a data sequence conversion circuit for converting a plurality of input data sequences having different data widths into output data sequences having a prescribed data width without converting the input data sequences into serial data. The data sequence conversion circuit, which takes as an input any one of a plurality of input data sequences having different data widths and converts the input data sequence into an output data sequence having a prescribed data width for output, includes: a first parallel shift register for holding the input data sequence; a switch matrix for taking the data held in the first parallel shift register as input data, and for outputting the input data in distributing fashion in accordance with a rule selected by a control signal from a plurality of predetermined rules; and a second parallel shift register for taking the data output from the switch matrix as input data, and for outputting the input data as a data sequence having the prescribed data width.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a data sequence conversion circuit for converting a plurality of input data sequences having different data widths into output data sequences having a prescribed data width, and also relates to a printer using the same.
2. Description of the Related Art
An LED printer is a form of electrophotographic image forming apparatus, and uses an LED array head as a means for exposing optical image information onto a photosensitive drum. Such an LED array head comprises: an LED array consisting of a row of LEDs arranged at prescribed pitch; a shift register consisting of storage elements each for storing one image data unit corresponding to one LED, the number of storage elements being the same as the number of LEDs; and an LED driving circuit for driving the LEDs to emit light in accordance with the image data stored in the shift register.
With increasing LED printer speed, and with increasing resolution and printing width, the amount of image data, that is transferred into the register section of the LED array head within a unit time, has increased. To increase the speed of image data transfer to the register section without increasing the transfer clock frequency of the shift register, the LED array head employs a parallel shift register configuration in which a sequence of image data corresponding to the plurality of LEDs is input simultaneously in parallel form.
The printing resolution of an LED printer is determined by the pitch of the LED arrangement. Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 7-156442 discloses an LED printer that uses an LED array consisting of LEDs arranged at a pitch corresponding to the pixel pitch of resolution equal to the least common multiple of a plurality of different resolutions. For example, image data of resolutions 240 dpi, 300 dpi, and 400 dpi are printed using an LED array head having a resolution of 1200 dpi which is the least common multiple of the image data resolutions.
The above Unexamined Patent Publication number also discloses an LED printer in which, using the fact that one pixel unit of low resolution print data is formed by a plurality of LEDS, control is performed to add smaller print dots around an attention pixel or erase smaller print dots from an attention pixel by individually and selectively lighting or extinguishing the LEDs forming the pixel unit. That is, the LED printer disclosed therein has the function of correcting for jagged edges (jaggies) that appear when printing a low resolution image.
In an LED printer that prints low resolution print data of 240 dpi, 300 dpi, and 400 dpi using an LED array head having a resolution of 1200 dpi which is the least common multiple of the print data resolutions, one dot of print image data of 240 dpi is formed from five print dots of 1200 dpi, one dot of print image data of 300 dpi is formed from four print dots of 1200 dpi, and one dot of print image data of 400 dpi is formed from three print dots of 1200 dpi. When the jaggy correction method described above is applied to this LED printer, a jaggy correction circuit determines a pattern of five, four, or three high resolution print dots, respectively, and outputs the pattern at the attention dot position of the low resolution print data of 240 dpi, 300 dpi, or 400 dpi, respectively. That is, one unit of data output from the jaggy correction circuit varies depending on the resolution of the input low resolution print image data.
If an LED array head employing a parallel shift register configuration is used as the LED array head of 1200 dpi, the data width of the parallel input to the LED array head does not necessarily coincide with the width of the print dot pattern that the jaggy correction circuit outputs. Data sequence conversion is therefore needed for converting the output data sequence of the jaggy correction circuit, which varies depending on the input image data resolution, into a data sequence that matches the data width of the parallel input to the LED array head.
A data sequence conversion circuit may be constructed using a PS conversion circuit, which applies a parallel-to-serial conversion to the output data of the jaggy correction circuit, and an SP conversion circuit, which applies a serial-to-parallel conversion to the PS converted output so as to match the parallel input data width of the LED array head, and the data sequence conversion may be accomplished by applying a suitable control signal (clock signal).
However, in the data sequence conversion circuit of the above configuration, since the print dot data is first converted into serial data, this is equivalent to serially transferring the high resolution print dot data. Accordingly, the data conversion circuit must be constructed using high speed operating shift registers, defeating the purpose of the LED array head of the parallel shift register configuration in which the print dot data are input in parallel in order to increase the print speed without increasing the frequency of the shift register transfer clock.

Data sequence conversion circuit and printer using the same


A method of manufacturing an image sensor comprises forming an isolation layer defining an active region in a semiconductor substrate using a first mask pattern formed on the semiconductor substrate, forming a first ion implantation mask pattern by reducing a width of the first mask pattern to expose an edge portion of the active region around the isolation layer, forming a first hole accumulation region by implanting a first conductive type of impurity ions into the edge portion of the active region using the first ion implantation mask pattern, forming a second ion implantation mask pattern covering the isolation layer and the first hole accumulation region, and forming a photodiode by implanting a second conductive type of impurity ions into a region of the semiconductor substrate using the second ion implantation mask pattern, wherein at least a portion of the region is surrounded by the first hole accumulation region in the active region.

1. Technical Field
The present disclosure relates to a method of manufacturing an image sensor for converting optical images to electric signals, and more particularly, to a method of manufacturing an image sensor having a reduced dark current in a photodiode.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
A photodiode is used for an image sensor to convert incident light to charges. Image sensors such as, for example, a complimentary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) image sensor (CIS) and a charge coupled device (CCD) image sensor are widely used. In the CIS and the CCD image sensors, incident light on a two-dimensionally disposed photodiode is converted to signal charges (i.e., electrons) which are sequentially read by signal voltages in accordance with a time axis. The CIS and CCD image sensor can have similar structural configurations. In the CIS image sensor, charges are converted to voltages in a plurality of unit pixels, and signals are output by a switching operation in a signal line. In the CCD image sensor, signal charges are transferred by the order of a vertical register and a horizontal register, and the signal charges are converted to voltages before an output terminal.
In conventional image sensors, a charge transfer efficiency and a charge accumulation capability are decreased due to noise or dark current, thereby causing image defects. The dark current refers to charges stored in a photosensitive element of the image sensor without an input of light. The dark current can be caused by defects existing at an interface portion between an isolation layer around a photodiode and an active region. The dark current can also be caused by a silicon dangling bond. The silicon dangling bond is located, for example, around side-portions of the photodiode or adjacent to a silicon substrate surface or an isolation layer, and may easily generate charges without the input of light. Hence, dangling bonds existing around side-portions of the photodiode may generate signal charges even if light is not incident, thereby causing a dark current. Since the dark current is generated due to a crystal combination, an amount of the generated dark current is varied in accordance with each photodiode. Thus, when an image sensor reacts due to the dark current, the quality of image in a display device using the image sensor can be deteriorated.
A conventional technology for minimizing the dark current generated around the side-portions of the photodiode forms a hole accumulation region. The hole accumulation region can be formed by implanting p-type impurity ions into an active region formed between an isolation layer and a photodiode using a photoresist pattern formed by a photolithography process using an ion implantation mask. However, in the conventional method, if a substrate area opened by the photoresist pattern is increased, a photodiode region and an active region formed between an isolation layer and a photodiode are also opened. Thus, an effective area of the photodiode and a saturated current are reduced, thereby causing a deterioration of photosensitivity. The deterioration of photosensitivity can be prevented by minimizing the substrate area opened by the photoresist pattern. The conventional method using the photolithography process causes misalignment of a photoresist pattern or causes a critical dimension (CD) deviation on a wafer. The conventional method using the photolithography process has a difficulty in forming a photoresist pattern having a vertical profile. Thus, there is a need to ensure both an effective area of the photodiode and a sufficient process margin during the photolithography process by minimizing the substrate area opened by the photoresist pattern.


A method of identifying highly fecund males in which an isotonic, buffered liquid test specimen of semen is layered on top of a barrier medium that inhibits net movement (migration) of less mobile sperm into the barrier medium. Differences in mobility of populations of sperm among test subjects have been found to predict whether a male will be highly fecund or not. Sperm migration into the barrier medium is quantitated, for example by analyzing the barrier medium in a spectrophotometer or a photometer after sperm migration is allowed to occur. Alternatively, a collection member coated with a sperm binding protein may be placed below the barrier medium, and the number of sperm that bind to the collection member quantitated after incubation. The invention also includes a device for incubating the barrier medium at a physiologic temperature for a sufficient period of time to allow the highly mobile sperm to migrate into the barrier medium. A suction device is positioned to rapidly remove the test specimen and barrier medium from the collection member, to provide an accurate and reproducible end point to the assay.

Commercial breeding and egg-laying operations have long sought to identify highly fecund males that would be effective breeders. A "fecund" male is one capable of producing many offspring, as opposed to a "fertile" male, which is merely capable of producing offspring. The identification of highly fecund animals is very important to the profitable operation of commercial breeding businesses. High producing males, whose sperm reliably fertilizes female eggs, improve the productivity and profitability of breeding and laying operations. A variety of techniques have been used to improve male productivity, including artificial insemination and semen evaluation.
Aside from relying on historical data demonstrating fecundity of males, many techniques have been developed to attempt to predict fecundity of a male from examination of a seminal sample. Tests evaluating percentages of motile sperm, ion characteristics of sperm, or membrane integrity have been moderately useful but not reliably predictive of effectiveness as a breeder. Morphological examination and characterization of sperm has also been helpful, because morphologically normal sperm are more likely to be fertile. However tests evaluating these characteristics of sperm have been much more effective at distinguishing sub-fertile males from normal males, without identifying the relatively few males (top 30%) who will be the most effective breeders. Given the many morphologic, anatomic, and physiologic variables that are involved in fertilization, some experts in this field have declared that it does not appear possible to predict fertility of a male from a semen sample in the absence of historical breeding data.
The identification or isolation of motile sperm has been extensively studied in both human and veterinary medicine. The widespread adoption of assisted insemination, such as intrauterine insemination, gamete intrafallopian transfer (GIFT), or in vitro fertilization (IVF) for infertile human patients, has particularly stimulated the development of techniques for isolating, from an individual donor, a sub-population of sperm that has increased fertilizing capacity. One such assay involves layering a liquid medium on top of a semen sample, and allowing the sperm to swim-up into the medium. The sperm are then recovered and evaluated for concentration, motility and morphology. Almagor et al., J. Assisted Repro. and Gen. 10:261-265 (1993). Alternatively, sperm for in vitro fertilization can be selected by centrifuging sperm samples through gradients of Percoll solution. Chan et al., Fertil. and Steril. 61:1097-1102 (1994).
The quality of sperm from oligospermic and asthenospermic males has also been improved by allowing sperm in a seminal specimen to migrate through a tube that contains polysaccharide beads that develop rough surface ridges after hydration. Abnormal sperm are delayed from penetrating the column's pores by these ridges, which selectively allows motile sperm to be filtered out of the column. Ohashi et al., Fertil. and Steril. 57:866-870 (1992). The authors of this study reported that it was effective at slightly improving conception in infertile couples, resulting in conception in 2 out of 21 couples where the male was oligospermic.
Motile sub-populations of human sperm from an individual donor have also been isolated by suspending the sperm in a hypoosmotic medium (210 mOsm/kg) that is overlaid on an isolation medium of higher osmolality (360 mOsm/kg), that in turn overlays a recovery medium having an osmolality (290 mOsm/kg) identical to that of human uterine fluid. Motile sperm swim downward from the hypoosmotic medium toward the physiologically suitable medium (290 mOsm/kg), through interface barriers, to isolate motile sperm for IVT or GIFT. Lin et al., Arch. Androl. 27:177-184 (1991). This method is said to selectively isolate highly motile sperm from ejaculates, but it is not taught to be useful in the identification of highly fecund males.
The techniques described above are used to help improve fertilization capacity of an individual (usually oligospermic) male, instead of selecting breeding stock. Moreover, many of the findings from mammalian fertility research may not be applicable to avian breeding operations, such as poultry farms, because of substantial differences between mammalian and avian anatomy and physiology. In particular, mammalian sperm requires a biochemical activation step known as "capacitation" before fertilization can occur. Hence morphologically and functionally normal appearing mammalian sperm may be incapable of fertilization because of biochemical subtleties not measured by many morphologic and functional assays.
Fertilization in poultry also differs from mammals because spermatozoal sequestration in the oviduct's sperm-storage tubules allows a hen to lay multiple fertilized eggs after a single insemination. When a hard-shelled egg is laid, the vaginal sphincter relaxes and allows the oviduct to become momentarily patent. If sperm are sequestered in the storage tubule when the oviduct opens, fertilization may occur if sperm are released concurrently with relaxation of the sphincter, and passively transported upwardly through the oviduct by muscle contraction. These differences between mammalian and avian reproduction make it difficult to extrapolate from the results of mammalian assays, and draw reliable conclusions about the use of mammalian assays in avian species such as chickens and turkeys. Moreover, these tests have been designed to assess fertility and not fecundity.
A variety of methods have previously been proposed for the objective measurement of sperm motility in animals. In one such assay, sperm cells from a test specimen are allowed to "swim-up" into a clear medium from a concentrated sperm suspension at the bottom of an optical cuvette. Highly motile sperm cause a time-dependent increase in turbidity of the medium, which can be used to determine a fraction of rapidly moving sperm and an average velocity of the sperm. The changing turbidity of the medium is recorded by a spectrophotometer as an increase in absorbance. Sokoloski et al., Fertil. and Steril. 28:1337-1341 (1977). This reference states that no firm correlation has been established between motility and fertilizing capacity.
A swim-up technique for evaluating ram semen motility is also described in Suttiyotin and Thwaites, J. Repro. Fertil. 97:339-345 (1993). In this assay, ram semen is layered at the bottom of disposable cuvettes, and overlaid with a variety of clear media. Turbidity of the overlying medium is measured using a calorimeter, and the turbidity of the medium is said to correlate with motility. This reference does not disclose a use for this motility data.
PCT publication WO 95/29983 (Hammerstedt et al.) discloses a method for testing the potential fertility of spermatozoa in a sample by incubating an aliquot of the sperm sample with a binding protein extracted from native vitelline membranes removed from chicken or turkey eggs. The number of sperm that bind to the protein are then determined by examining the surface of a substrate on which the protein is coated. The PCT publication notes that there is a direct and linear correlation between sperm binding to the protein and the fertility of the spermatozoa in the sample. This assay is an in vitro test designed to simulate in vivo binding of the sperm to egg proteins, and the assay therefore provides an index of binding capacity of the sperm. This isolated measure of fertilization capacity does not alone provide a highly predictive measure of fertilization capacity of a male from which the sample is obtained.
In spite of years of research into the identification of highly fecund avian males, and the motivation of the commercial need for such identification, a reliable assay has not been found that predicts fecundity in males not having a breeding record. These failures have provoked pessimism among expert andrologists, who have predicted that such an assay will never be found for any species. Amman and Hammerstedt, J. Androl. 14:397-406 (1993).
It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a quick and reliable assay for the ready identification of highly fecund avian males who do not already have a breeding record.
Another object of the invention is to provide a device that is capable of performing such a method in an economical and efficient manner.
These and other objects of the invention will be better understood by reference to the following drawings and detailed description.

The State of Oregon Acting By and Through the State of Board of Higher Education on Behalf of Oregon State University


Various implementations of through silicon vias with pinched off regions are disclosed. A semiconductor substrate includes a plurality of the through silicon vias disposed in the substrate and extending from a top surface of the substrate to a bottom surface of the substrate. A conductive filler is disposed within each of the plurality of through silicon vias, each of the plurality of through silicon vias having a hollow center which reduces thermal stress in the semiconductor substrate. The plurality of through silicon vias also have pinched off regions at the bottom and/or the top portions of the through silicon vias, which prevent contamination during processing of the semiconductor substrate.

Semiconductor die density has continuously increased, and continues to increase. Further miniaturization and increased density in semiconductor dies require an increasing number of signal, ground and power electrical interconnects and connections. To make efficient use of limited surface area on semiconductor dies, conventional methods have included forming interconnects within the semiconductor dies using through wafer vias (TWVs). Conventional TWVs may, for example, connect a ground plane on a bottom surface of a semiconductor die with circuitry on a top surface of a semiconductor die. However, such conventional TWVs are typically very wide, for example, 50 μm (micrometers) in diameter. Such large widths result in undesirable characteristics in semiconductor dies and their semiconductor substrates. For example, placement of numerous conventional TWVs within a semiconductor substrate can result in a significant reduction in mechanical stability of the semiconductor substrate. Thus, the number and density of such conventional TWVs placed within a semiconductor substrate must be limited. Such limitations result in large minimum distances between TWVs and semiconductor devices, such as transistors, situated in a semiconductor die.
Moreover, utilizing a small number of conventional TWVs results in an uneven thermal dissipation within the semiconductor substrate, especially during high power operation. The uneven thermal dissipation can result in increased thermal stress in the semiconductor substrate, thus reducing mechanical stability and reliability of the semiconductor die.
Further, although it is desirable to completely fill TWVs with conductive material, conventional fabrication methods result in incomplete filling of the TWVs, especially at their top and bottom portions. The incomplete filling can result in unwanted gaps in the top and bottom portions of the TWVs which can, for example, lead to contamination of the TWVs during subsequent processes.

Through silicon via structure, method of formation, and integration in semiconductor substrate


A selective recovery circuit and method for a memory array allows bit line recovery after a write operation on a selective basis so that only those column circuits actually written are recovered to at least non-write voltage levels. For each column circuit within the memory array, a recovery signal generation circuit is provided to determine whether the column circuit was actually written and to generate a recovery signal if the column circuit was written. Each column circuit includes a recovery circuit coupled to the bit line pair which, in response to the recovery signal, restores the voltage level of the bit lines of the column circuit back to an at least non-write voltage level. Other columns which are not actually written by the write operation include those not selected by the column decode circuitry, as well as those selected by the column decode circuitry but which correspond to a non-enabled byte of the data word. The recovery circuit for these non-written column circuits is not activated after the write operation, which results in a substantial savings in power. In one embodiment, the voltage levels of the bit lines are sensed to determine whether the column circuit was written, and the recovery signal is initiated upon deactivation of a signal controlling the write operation. The recovery signal may be coupled to an equilibrate transistor as well, which equilibrates the bit lines after a write operation. The invention is particularly well-suited to use within a static RAM-based cache memory array for a processor having byte enable capability, such as an X86-compatible processor.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to memory arrays for usage in circuits including microprocessors. More specifically, the invention relates to the recovery of bit lines in a memory array after a write operation.
2. Description of the Related Art
Today's computer systems and other electronic devices utilize memory arrays to store data. Some examples of memory arrays are data caches and instruction caches on an integrated processor chip such as the K6 processor manufactured by ADVANCED MICRO DEVICES, INC. of Sunnyvale, Calif. Most memory arrays utilize a two bus or bit lines per bit arrangement to write and read data stored in a memory cell electrically coupled to the bit line pair. Typically, to write a logical one or logical zero to a memory cell, one of the two bit lines is driven to a low voltage level during the write operation. The specific bit line of the two bit lines driven low during a write operation determines whether a logical one or logical zero is stored in the memory cell during the write operation.
To read a memory cell to determine whether a logical one or logical zero is stored, a word line electrically coupled to each memory cell in a row of cells is activated or driven high to cause one of the bit lines to dip in voltage. Which bit line of the pair that dips in voltage depends on whether a logical one or a logical zero is stored in the memory cell. Each bit line of a bit line pair is connected to an input of a differential sensing amplifier. During a memory read, the voltage level of the output of the sensing amplifier indicates whether a logical one or logical zero is stored in the memory cell.
After a write to the memory cell is complete, the voltage level of the written bit line (the bit line driven low during the write operation) needs to be recovered before the next read or write operation. To decrease the recovery time or propagation delay after a write operation, a recovery circuit can be implemented in each column circuit of the array to recover the bit line pair after a write operation. Typically, these recovery circuits are activated by a global recovery signal which activates all of the recovery circuits in a memory array after a write operation regardless of whether a particular column circuit was involved in a write operation.
One problem with indiscriminately activating the recovery circuits of a memory array is that power is dissipated in activating the recovery circuits of a column circuit not selected for a write operation. With the power consumption and heat dissipation requirements of today's processors, it would be desirable to reduce the power consumed and heat produced by a memory array due to a write operation.
What is needed is a memory array that consumes less power and produces less heat due to a write operation.

Selective bit line recovery in a memory array


This invention is a heat engine operating on the afterburning Ericsson cycle whose principle is heat addition to the cycle by an afterburner in which fuel is burned with the low-pressure air working fluid exhausted by the expander. The resulting combustion gases are used in a countercurrent heat exchanger continually heating (1) the air expanding in the expander and (2) further upstream the high-pressure air (compressed by the compressor) in the regenerator. The ideal efficiency of this cycle is the Carnot cycle efficiency between the same top and bottom temperatures. Practical engines are more efficient than those in which heat addition takes place upstream of the expander. All moving parts are only exposed to clean air, and expander valves can be operated at temperatures comparable to current internal combustion engines. Liquid or gaseous fuels can be used and control of speed and power is simple, based on keeping engine temperatures constant. With the low-pressure continuous combustion, pumping and sealing problems are easily solved, engine noise level is low, and air-polluting emissions are minimal. Dual-cylinder engines with synchronized alternating pistons give rise to completely constant afterburner conditions which avoid thermal transients and facilitate engine operation. The performance of afterburning Ericsson cycle engines exceeds that of current internal combustion engines, in terms of thermal efficiency and specific fuel consumption.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to heat engines operating on the Ericsson cycle which comprises the steps of isothermal compression, regenerative heat addition, isothermal expansion, and regenerative heat removal. More particularly, it relates to an improved Ericsson open cycle air engine where regenerative heat addition is effected solely by burning fuel in the expanded low pressure exhaust stream.
2. Description of Related Art
The Ericsson cycle, disclosed in Ericsson U.S. Pat. No. 13,348 (1855), U.S. Pat. No. 14,690 (1856), and U.S. Pat. No. 431,729 (1890) consists of isothermal compression of the working fluid at a low temperature followed by: heat addition at constant pressure to a high temperature, isothermal expansion at the high temperature, and heat removal at constant pressure to the low temperature. The Ericsson cycle can ideally achieve the optimum thermodynamic efficiency of the reversible Carnot cycle, dependent only on the absolute values of the high and low cycle temperatures.
Practical Ericsson engines are of the open cycle type with either internal or external combustion. Ericsson's original engines had an external combustor producing hot gases which supplied heat to the working fluid via a heat exchanger or by directly heating the exterior of the high temperature expander cylinder. These engines had limited success because the materials of the time could not withstand the high temperatures needed to compete with the fuel economy of contemporary steam engines. Also, the complexity of the Ericsson valve mechanism was a disadvantage compared to that of the simpler contemporary Stirling cycle engines. Another, more significant, drawback to the external combustion Ericsson engine is that fuel and air enter the external combustor at ambient environmental temperature. The energy required to heat the combustion gases to the high cycle temperature is not available to the working fluid and is lost to the cycle. The potential of the external combustion Ericsson cycle to approach Carnot cycle efficiency is therefore compromised by the combustion efficiency.
In the internal combustion Ericsson cycle engine the combustion efficiency loss of the external combustion Ericsson cycle engine can be avoided by using the working fluid as the combustor air. Combustion is initiated in the high pressure/high temperature air stream between the regenerator and the, expander. In this way the air is preheated by the regenerator and the heating loss is minimized.
Previous internal combustion Ericsson cycle engines have been of the gas turbine or reciprocating type. The gas turbine version, used for large-scale power generation, is based on a Brayton cycle having a compressor with multiple intercooled stages, and an expander with multiple stages having intermediate reheaters. As the, number of intercoolers and reheaters is increased, the compression and expansion become more isothermal and the cycle approaches the Ericsson cycle.Lay, Joachim E.: "Thermodynamics", Charles E. Merrill Books (1963) p.572!. The turbine Ericsson cycle is impractical for all but large powerplants because of the high cost and complexity of the multiple stage turbines.
Reciprocating Ericsson cycle engines are more economical for small scale power generation. Fuel is injected into and burned with air, the normal working fluid, to achieve heat addition. Here, as in other open-cycle internal combustion engines, valves are required to admit and exhaust air and hot combustion gas streams. Top cycle temperatures and pressures are limited by the thermo-structural properties of valve materials.
An example of the internal combustion approach is the "Modified Ericsson.degree. Cycle Engine" disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,133,172 (1979) to Cataldo. Here fuel is injected and burned in the high temperature/high pressure air stream between the Ericsson cycle regenerator and expander. Although combustion efficiency is boosted by preheating the combustion air by an exhaust gas regenerator, the combustion process becomes complex and is not everywhere continuous. Combustion occurs continuously in a primary combustor located between the regenerator and the expander. However, during the expansion, the expander inlet valve closes and isolates the primary combustor from the expander. Additional fuel must then be added via a second, intermittent, combustor to the expander to keep the expansion isothermal. This two-stage process requires two separate high-pressure fuel injection systems, one, continuous and the second synchronized with the downstroke of each individual expander. A proper amount of fuel must be injected into each stage to assure smooth running, maximize efficiency and minimize emissions. The required amounts vary continuously with load conditions, engine speed, and temperatures. The result is a very complex engine with a high potential for unsatisfactory exhaust emissions, particularly during transients. A further limitation of the Cataldo engine is that the expander inlet valves are exposed to the full flame temperature of the primary combustor. The inability of valves to tolerate such high temperatures--at high pressure--has historically limited the life of Ericsson engines.
It is the primary aim of this invention to overcome the disadvantages of current Ericsson cycle engines discussed above and to achieve long engine life, reduced emissions and ease of control by implementing the several objects listed below.