A static random access memory cell according to the present invention comprises first and second cross-coupled inverters. The first inverter includes a first P-Channel MOS transistor having a source connected to a first power supply node, a gate, and a drain, and a first N-Channel MOS transistor having a drain connected to the drain of the first P-Channel MOS transistor and forming an output node, a gate, and a source connected to a fixed power supply potential. The second inverter includes a second P-Channel MOS transistor having a source connected to the first power supply node, a gate, and a drain, and a second N-Channel MOS transistor having a drain connected to the drain of the second P-Channel MOS transistor, a gate, and a source connected to the fixed power supply potential. The gates of the first P-Channel and N-Channel MOS transistors are connected to the common drains of the second P-Channel and N-Channel MOS transistors and the gates of the second P-Channel and N-Channel MOS transistors are connected to the common drains of the first P-Channel and N-Channel MOS transistors to form the cross coupling connections. A pass transistor is connected between the output node of the memory cell and a bitline. Circuitry is provided to provide a first power supply potential during a read operation and a second power supply potential during a write operation to the first power supply node. The first power supply potential is higher than the second power supply potential.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to static random access memory devices. More particularly, the present invention relates to a static random access memory cell which may be reliable read and written.
2. The Prior Art
The implementation of Static Random Access Memory (SRAM) cells from cross-coupled inverters using CMOS logic is well known in the prior art. Cell reliability is an important design consideration for SRAM cells. One way of evaluating the reliability of an SRAM memory cell is to observe the content of the cell as it is accessed. During a read operation, it is desired that the data contained in the memory cell remains unchanged. In addition, during a write operation it is important that the intended data is actually written into the memory cell.
A typical SRAM cell is configured from cross-coupled inverters coupled to a bitline through a pass transistor connected to an output node of the cell comprising the common drain connection of the complementary MOS transistors of one of the inverter pairs. The SRAM cell is accessed for a read or write operation by applying a voltage potential to the gate of the pass transistor so that the content of the cell may be read or altered. Ensuring that writes occur as intended and that reads do not change the content of the SRAM cell depends upon the sizing of the inverter transistors and the pass transistor. The appropriate sizing of these transistors, however, presents a significant design problem in that the ideal sizing of these transistors for a read operation is in conflict with the ideal sizing for a write operation.
The prior art has provided numerous compromises to attempt to deal with this design problem. An illustrative prior art approach is set forth in U.S. Pat. No. 4,750,155, which provides three suggested solutions to this problem. According to a first approach, the rise time of the voltage to the gate of the pass transistor is greatly increased. To increase the rise time of the pass transistor, a weak address driver pull-up transistor is used. This reduces the coupling of the bitline to the output node of the inverter, however, it also severely limits performance of the memory cell.
According to a second approach, the bitline is precharged during a read operation to a trigger voltage for the inverter coupled to the output node of the cell. In doing so, the voltage at the output node of this inverter, which for a logic low is set by the division of the voltage between the voltage on the bitline and ground by a resistive divider comprising the channel on resistances of the pass transistor and the N-Channel MOS transistor in the inverter, is kept lower than the trigger voltage, thus ensuring that the voltage at the output node of the inverter remains low. Conversely, for a logic high at the output node of the inverter, which is set by the division of the voltage between the voltage on the bitline and Vcc by the resistive divider comprising the equivalent channel on resistances of the pass transistor and the P-Channel MOS transistor in the inverter, the voltage at the output node of the cell is kept higher than the trigger voltage, thus ensuring that the cell output voltage remains high.
This approach has several severe limitations. The first limitation is that it is critical that the trigger voltage be accurately maintained at the inverter trigger point for all memory cells, across all process variations. Since this scheme uses a reference inverter to set the trigger voltage for each bitline, the same trigger voltage is applied to each memory cell along the bitline. Due to the normally-encountered process variations among inverters along the bitline, the trigger point of each of the memory cells will be slightly different, and as such will not match the trigger voltage on the bitline. A greater limitation is that the noise margin on the bitline is approximately zero. Hence, any bitline noise or coupling may disturb the cell content during a read operation, and will make sensing the bitline level difficult.
According to a third approach disclosed in this patent, the channel resistance of the pass transistor is varied depending upon whether a read or write operation occurs. The channel resistance of the pass transistor is varied by changing the voltage level supplied to its gate. During a read operation the gate voltage of the pass transistor is dropped to a trigger voltage level corresponding to the trigger point of a reference inverter. This scheme addresses some of the problems present in the above described approaches, however, it has drawbacks of its own. One limitation is that the size of the inverters in the memory cell and the corresponding reference inverter are critical, and these sizes are affected by process variations. A second limitation is that this approach significantly increases the layout area due to the fact that each bitline needs a trigger voltage level supply generator and a modified driver.
There remains a need for an SRAM memory cell which overcomes these drawbacks of prior art SRAM memory cells. It is an object of the present invention to provide such a memory cell.

Static random access memory cell with single logic-high voltage level bit-line and address-line drivers


A drive system base or platform, such as for a mobile robot, is disclosed having multiple caster wheels, each wheel having its own first motor for independent driving and its own second motor for independent steering. Each wheel is rotably and pivotably mounted in a separate wheel module, which includes both the driving and steering motors associated with the wheel. All of the wheel modules on the base are identical and interchangeable. The two motors of each module are mounted side by side in a vertical arrangement for compactness. Each wheel module includes a suspension for allowing each wheel to move vertically and independently relative to the base. The hub and tread of each wheel are each cast concentrically around a bevel drive gear in an offset manner to provide a wheel and bevel gear that turn more smoothly and precisely.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to drive systems, and more particularly to powered caster wheel modules used to create drive systems such as for a mobile robot platform, automated guided vehicle (AGV), forklift, or omnidirectional powered roller conveyor.
2. Discussion of the Prior Art
Mobile robots have been developed in a myriad array of configurations. In general, a mobile robot will typically have a base or platform for supporting drive systems, controllers, sensors, manipulators, and whatever equipment is needed to allow the robot to perform its desired tasks. A mobile robot base can be driven by wheels, tracks, xe2x80x9clegsxe2x80x9d or a variety of other means.
It is useful for a mobile robot to be very maneuverable. The more agile the robot, the better it can deal with changing goals, obstacles, environments, and tasks. This is even more important when a manipulator is integrated with a mobile robot.
The mobility of a drive system increases with the ability to control an increasing number of independent degrees of freedom. For a vehicle that moves along the ground, there are three degrees of freedom available, most commonly described as two translations and one rotation. The ability to independently control all of the degrees of freedom available in the environment means that the system is omnidirectional. The ability to independently control the acceleration of all of the degrees of freedom available in the environment means that the system is holonomic.
To help achieve greater mobility, one or more caster mounted wheels can be utilized that pivot about a vertical axis as well as rotate about a horizontal axis. This arrangement makes the drive system omnidirectional. Preferably, the vertical steering axis does not intersect the horizontal drive axis. This offset arrangement allows the caster wheels to drive the robot and accelerate it in any direction, making it holonomic. In other words, the drive system can always create planer omnidirectional accelerations, velocities, and displacements of the robot, rather than requiring the robot wheels in some orientations to skid or to drive forward before turning to the side.
A mobile robot base has been previously developed which uses four caster wheels with intersecting horizontal and vertical axes for driving and steering the base. (Although the axes intersect, the xe2x80x9ccontact patchxe2x80x9d of each wheel is offset from the vertical steering axis, making the system non-holonomic.) The driving axes of all of the wheels are linked together by a drive belt, and are driven by a single motor. Similarly, all of the steering axes of the wheels are linked together by a drive linkage, and are actuated by a second motor. However, this type of system, known as xe2x80x9csynchro-drive,xe2x80x9d has several drawbacks. Because the wheels must all drive in the same direction and at same speed at any given moment, certain complex maneuvering cannot be performed. The motion-transmitting belts and linkages also add complexity and backlash to the drive train.
Prior art mobile robot caster wheels are typically driven by a bevel gear mounted on one side the wheel, outwardly facing and concentric with the axis of rotation. Both the bevel gear and the wheel often are standard xe2x80x9coff the shelfxe2x80x9d components. Mounting holes are provided through a flange on the bevel gear for receiving fasteners to secure the gear to the wheel. The bevel gear is aligned with the center of the wheel before being secured. However, inaccuracies in aligning the gear and accumulation of tolerances between the gear and the wheel bearings prevent the gear from being located in a truly concentric fashion, and from being precisely perpendicular to the rotation axis. Inaccuracies in the manufacture of the wheel and over, under, or uneven tightening of the fasteners can prevent the bevel gear from being precisely located laterally with respect to the mating pinion. Such misalignments of the bevel gear cause the gear to turn inconsistently and wear prematurely. Also, lack of concentricity precision between the wheel tread or outer wheel circumference and the axis of rotation causes the mobile robot base to run unevenly. These problems can prevent the robot from accurately maintaining its desired trajectory.
What is needed and is not provided by the prior art is an omnidirectional or holonomic drive system that exhibits a high degree of mobility and accuracy, yet is simple, compact and reliable.
Broadly stated, a drive system constructed according to the present invention can provide a robot, vehicle, or other device with a high degree of mobility and accuracy, yet is simple, compact and reliable.
In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, a drive system is provided with multiple caster wheels, each wheel having its own separate motor for driving the wheel and its own separate motor for steering. This allows each wheel to be driven and steered independently. The motion of multiple wheels can be coordinated for increased mobility. Complex linkages interconnecting the wheels are also eliminated.
In accordance with another aspect of the invention, each wheel is mounted in a separate wheel module, which includes both the driving and steering motors associated with the wheel. This modular arrangement of powered caster wheels allows a drive system for a mobile robot base or other device to be designed and built much easier than before. Since there are no mechanical, motion-transmitting linkages between modules, each can be built and tested independently. The easily removable modules can be extracted for maintenance. Using a common module in several places in a drive system reduces the cost of the system because of the increased number of each part. Common modules are easily replaced when damaged. Modules can be fastened to different sizes and configurations of robot bases to produce different vehicles without redesigning the drive system. The design is easily scaled to produce a powered caster wheel module of any size.
In accordance with still another aspect of the invention, the drive and steering motors are arranged in compact orientation such that their armatures are both vertically aligned and their outer housings are close together. This arrangement provides an efficient use of space and a compact footprint. Because the wheel module takes up less space on the mobile robot base or device, space is made available for more wheel modules or other components.
In accordance with yet another aspect of the invention, each wheel module is individually mounted on a resilient suspension to give a robot base a suspension. This ensures that all of the wheels maintain contact with the ground for precise motion and position tracking of the robot, and allows for smooth driving of the vehicle on uneven terrain.
In accordance with yet another aspect of the invention, a bevel gear is provided on one side of each wheel for driving the wheel, and bearings for rotatably mounting the wheel are located within a precision bore through the wheel. A rigid hub and resilient tire tread are cast in place around the bevel gear to form a wheel having a bevel gear and outer tire circumference that are highly concentric with the axis of rotation of the wheel. This arrangement provides for smooth rotation of each wheel and precise alignment between each bevel gear and its associated drive pinion.

Powered caster wheel module for use on omnidirectional drive systems


A device for acquiring color images using a color filter array. The color filter array includes a pattern of red array elements, green array elements, and blue array elements. The red array elements and green array elements occur in the color filter array more frequently than the blue array elements. This multiplicity of red, green, and blue color filters adheres closely to known human visual system (HVS) chrominance and luminance responses. Also, the pattern has periodicity in the diagonal directions and is relatively immune to Moire artifacts that arise due to interference between periodic sampling patterns of the CFA and periodic features in imaged scenes.

The present disclosure relates to the field of image capture, and, in particular, to a color filter array and a method for performing color interpolation, also known as demosaicking.
Digital image acquisition devices, such as digital cameras, utilize optical sensors to capture images. The optical sensing elements are typically multi-pixel arrays of charge coupled devices (CCD) or complementary metal oxide semiconductors (CMOS). Both of these sensor types are inherently monochromatic. The incident radiation at each pixel of a sensor-array is integrated over a range of wavelengths (in which the device is sensitive) to give intensity values over the sensor-array. To acquire color images, cameras utilize filters that are sensitive in particular ranges in the visible spectrum that are placed before the optical sensor-array in the imaging pipeline. The sensor-array output is then the image band corresponding to the spectral transmission of the color filter. Since at least three color bands are required to represent an image for the human visual system, at least three sensor-arrays with three different color filters are required to acquire a color image. Although other color combinations are used, arrangements of color filters typically extract the three primary colors: red, green, and blue.
Such multi-sensor acquisition schemes have several drawbacks. For example, multi-sensor cameras typically include one or more beam-splitters that send the light to the different color sensors which contribute substantially to the cost of the camera. Also, since the color bands are acquired at different planes, a post-processing operation is required to correct for the associated misregistration. To avoid the cost and complexity of multi-sensor acquisition systems, most consumer-level digital color cameras employ only one optical sensor. The sensor is overlaid with a color filter array (CFA) such that only one color is sampled at each pixel location. The full-color image is reconstructed from the sub-sampled data in a later step commonly referred to as demosaicking. Demosaicking depends on the pattern that defines the layout of the filters on the pixels of the sensor.
The most significant desirable feature of a CFA pattern, particularly for devices that have limited computational capabilities (cell-phone cameras, low-end digital still cameras, PDA cameras, etc.), is the ease of demosaicking. Regular, repeated CFA patterns work best to satisfy this requirement. Techniques for performing demosaicking, sometimes referred to as "interpolation," are known in the art. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,642,678 to Cok, U.S. Pat. No. 5,373,322 to Laroche et al., and U.S. Pat. No. 5,475,769 to Wober et al. describe various methods for recovering missing pixel values from sampled color image data. The Wober patent describes a common approach using a convolution kernel to compute missing pixel values for each pixel location based on the pixel values of a neighborhood of pixels surrounding each pixel location. For an n×m neighborhood of pixels, the convolution kernel is an n×m set of coefficients.
Another useful feature of uniform CFA patterns is their relative immunity to optical and electrical cross-talk among pixels in the sensor array. Cross-talk or leakage between adjoining differently colored pixels can significantly alter the effective spectral transmittance function of a pixel. Regular patterns ensure a measure of consistency in the transmittances of similarly colored pixels across a sensor-array. A drawback of regular arrays is that they may suffer from Moire artifacts, or beats, in cases where the scene has periodic patterns similar in frequency to the period of the CFA pattern.
A successful CFA pattern must adhere to the properties of the human visual system (HVS). One common periodic pattern is known as the Bayer pattern. In a Bayer pattern, green (50%) is sampled at twice the density of either red (25%) or blue (25%) since the luminance response of the human visual system (HVS) corresponds closely with the HVS response to the green range of the spectrum.
The most distinctive features of the HVS are its low-pass response to luminance and chrominance components, and the fact that the cut-off for the luminance component is between two and three times as high as the cut-off for the chrominance components. These properties have been used to arrive at the ideal NTSC human visual R:G:B ratios of 30:59:11. These ratios are difficult to achieve with periodic CFAs formed by repeating 2×2 patterns like the Bayer array.
It is desirable to provide for a CFA with a suitable arrangement of color filters that closely adheres to the properties of the HVS, and also addresses the above-described factors that affect CFA performance.

Color filter pattern for color filter arrays including a demosaicking algorithm


A light-emitting device (1) is provided having a current blocking layer (9) of buried structure, a portion of the current blocking layer (9) having an oxygen concentration higher than that of a light-emitting layer, the current blocking layer being of a thickness of not less than 5 nm and not more than 100 nm. It includes an etching stop layer (24) below the current blocking layer (9), the etching stop layer being good in oxidation resistance. The light-emitting device (1) and its manufacturing method are provided such that the device has its current confinement effect improved and its output increased at lower forward voltage.

A light-emitting device of current confinement structure has been realized having an increased output and a high speed characteristics, and in order to confine the emitting region of in a light-emitting device, this device has been provided a current blocking layer which has a high resistive region etc. and increases the carrier densities of a part of an active layer.
In order to make the output higher and the response more higher of the light-emitting device of current confinement structure, a vertical resonator type of light-emitting device is used having a resonator structure that causes light to resonate and with a current confinement structure to increase the current density of the active layer.
As a technique to fabricate the current confinement structure in a light-emitting device, there have been known, e.g., ion implantation, impurity diffusion, selective oxidation and burying methods.
Patent Reference 1 discloses a light-emitting device having a current confinement structure of a high resistant area that is formed by implanting accelerated hydrogen (H) ions into the light-emitting device from surface or side face thereof. In this ion implantation method, damages have been introduced to crystal by this method and the reliability was deteriorated.
Patent Reference 2 discloses a light-emitting device having a current confinement structure in which a current conducting area is provided by implantation of zinc (Zn) ions from a surface of the device and diffusing them into a high resistance area to inverse its conduction-type. In this impurity diffusion method, the concentration of carriers in the region of an active layer has been changed when electrically conducting so that the light output has been unstable, since the impurity that has a large diffusion coefficient has been diffused.
Patent Reference 3 discloses a light-emitting device of a current confinement structure which is fabricated by oxidizing a layer that is large in percentage composition of aluminum (Al) from a side face of the device when heat treated in a water vapor atmosphere. In this selective oxidation method, the control of the oxygen content was difficult. Since the layer of high Al content has been changed its volume and the distortion was introduced to the crystal, the reliability was deteriorated.
Patent References 4 and 5 disclose a light-emitting device of a current confinement structure in which a current blocking layer is locally buried in the device using a forbidden band gap barrier of pn junction. Further, Patent Reference 5 discloses a light-emitting device having an etching stop layer.    Patent Reference 1: JP 3638515 B    Patent Reference 2: JP 2001-44501 A    Patent Reference 3: JP 2003-8142 A    Patent Reference 4: JP 3406907 B    Patent Reference 5: JP H05-175615 A

Light-emitting device and manufacturing method of the same


A piezoelectric transformer driving circuit comprises a piezoelectric transformer which boosts an input voltage to obtain a voltage required in igniting a cold cathode tube, a restart circuit which detects the voltage output from said piezoelectric transformer and allows said piezoelectric transformer to repeatedly output a high voltage required in initially igniting said cold cathode tube, a PWM controller which allows said piezoelectric transformer to intermittently output a voltage in order to adjust the brightness of said cold cathode tube, and a stopping unit which stops the control operation of said PWM controller when restart circuit is operative.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a piezoelectric transformer driving circuit for igniting a cold cathode tube, and more particularly relates to the circuit which can obtain sufficient restart output when using PWM light modulation.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventionally, a wire wound transformer is used in devices which require high voltage, such as a cold cathode tube, a copying machine, and an electrostatic remover.
In recent years, however, a piezoelectric transformer has started to be used for reasons that it can be miniturized and is more stable, etc. This piezoelectric transformer is used as a piezoelectric inverter, since its characteristics are suitable for igniting a cold cathode tube and it can be made thin.
In a piezoelectric inverter for igniting a cold cathode tube, a much higher output voltage is required at initial ignition than during continuous ignition. This is due to the characteristics of the cold cathode tube. For example, a cold cathode tube which can be continuously ignited at a voltage of between 200 to 300 V requires a voltage of more than 1 kV at initial ignition. An even higher voltage is required when the cold cathode tube has not been used for a while, or when it has been left in a cold place, and sometimes the cold cathode tube cannot be ignited by a single application of high voltage. As shown in FIG. 3, when the cold cathode tube ignites after a single application of high voltage, it can be continuously ignited at a constant voltage thereafter.
On the other hand, in case the cold cathode tube cannot be ignited after a single application of high voltage, a high voltage must be continuously or repeatedly applied to the cold cathode tube.
However, the stability of a miniaturized apparatus becomes a big problem when continuously generating a high voltage of more than 1 kV.
Accordingly, as shown in FIG. 4, a restart circuit is provided to control the output voltage over time and repeatedly output a high voltage. The high voltage is continuously output until the tube ignites.
The output voltage is time-divided by using a pulse in order to adjust the brightness (modulate the light) of the cold cathode tube when it is being continuously ignited. FIG. 5 shows the voltage output when the cold cathode tube is continuously ignited while adjusting its brightness.
In a circuit which adjusts brightness using a pulse as described above, the output of the restart circuit shown in FIG. 4 is also time-divided. As a result, only the cut output voltage shown in FIG. 6 can be obtained. Since the width of the pulse used in pulse light modulation is not synchronized to the cycle of the restart circuit, the number of maximum voltages generated is small. Shortening the cycle of the restart circuit would increase power consumption.
In the restart circuit, the secondary side voltage of the piezoelectric transformer is monitored, and, when it reaches the limit voltage, a control circuit reduces the output voltage of the piezoelectric transformer. In this case, drive delay and the like of the restart circuit and the piezoelectric transformer cause a delay in the feedback loop, and the output voltage reaches its maximum just before the brightness adjusting pulse turns OFF. Unless the limit is determined, the delay causes an abnormal voltage exceeding the limit voltage to be generated at the next ON.
It is an object of this invention to provide a piezoelectric transformer driving circuit in which the output of the piezoelectric transformer is controlled by a brightness adjusting pulse, whereby restart output can be continuously output without being cut and a cold cathode tube can be reliably ignited.
In order to achieve the above objects, this invention provides a piezoelectric transformer driving circuit comprising a piezoelectric transformer which boosts an input voltage to obtain a voltage required in igniting a cold cathode tube; a restart circuit which detects the voltage output from the piezoelectric transformer and allows the piezoelectric transformer to repeatedly output a high voltage required in initially igniting the cold cathode tube; a PWM controller which allows the piezoelectric transformer to intermittently output a voltage in order to adjust the brightness of the cold cathode tube; and a stopping unit which stops the control operation of the PWM controller when the restart circuit is operative.
According to this constitution of the invention, the PWM controller becomes operative when the restart circuit is operative. Therefore, the voltage output from the piezoelectric transformer is disjointed as shown in FIG. 6, but achieves the original continuously repeated output as shown in FIG. 4. The PWM controller becomes operative after initial ignition, obtaining an intermittent output voltage such as that shown in FIG. 5.

Piezoelectric transformer driving circuit


An improved outdoor hydrant-type water faucet comprised of a water control connector at the top section of a hydrant-type standpipe equipped with a water control connector adjustment fixture and a downwardly extending coupling rod at the bottom section of the hydrant-type standpipe, and a water input valve that opens and closes to vary flow volume. The feature of the present invention is that the hydrant-type standpipe bottom section consists of a wide-mouth sleeve section that provides for the installation therein of a higher specification water input valve having a greater flow volume rating, thereby achieving an increase in water output volume and a reduction in blockage, effectively relieving ice formation and consequent water obstruction due to low temperature outdoors.

1) Field of the Invention
The invention herein relates to an improved outdoor hydrant-type water faucet capable of increased water output volume, reduced blockage, and ice formation relief in the water admission portion which consists of a water control connector installed at the top section of a hydrant-type standpipe and a wide-mouth sleeve section of a large inner diameter disposed along its bottom section that provides for the fitting therein of a higher specification water input valve having a greater flow volume rating and thereby effectively relieving ice formation in the water admission portion and consequent water obstruction.
2) Description of the Prior Art
Conventional hydrant-type water faucets in the ground outdoors are necessary devices utilized to facilitate the drawing of water for ground sprinkling, but in such a prior art hydrant-type water faucet (referring to FIG. 1), since the inner diameter of the standpipe 3 is typically the same along its entire length, the water input valve 2 fitted into the bottom section must have the inner circumferential dimensions of a smaller specification valve body and due to the water input valve 2 outer circumference dimensions, the internal passage size of the water control valve element 2A is limited by the smaller inner diameter of the standpipe 3; as a result, the output water flow volume of the said conventional hydrant-type water faucet is subject to a certain degree of limitation; increasing the supplied water volume when needed or a raising the flow volume as required for sprinkling over a wider surface area and at greater depth is not possible; in some frigid zones or regions having seasonal winter low temperature conducive to ice formation, when the internal passage of the water control valve element 2A inside the water input valve 2 is smaller, water remaining in the said position readily freezes, preventing water admission and giving rise to water output blockage; encountering such situations, the user must consider changing to a larger specification water faucet (since the hydrant-type standpipe 3 is entirely of an enlarged fabrication, the water input valve 2 is fabricated at a matching large specification; as such, the structural cost and sales price is higher, and are generally called frostproof faucets), which results in inconvenience and wastefulness that has long existed and await improvement.


A system for managing a work flow functions efficiently at a high speed. To attain this, the system includes a plurality of work flow support units, and a work flow support unit management unit. The work flow support unit management unit determines which work flow support unit is to manage a work flow. At this time, the work flow support unit management unit refers to the load condition of each work flow support unit to instruct the work flow support unit indicating the smallest load state to manage work flows, thereby preventing the process load from concentrating on a specific work flow support unit.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an apparatus and a system for managing a series of operations according to a predetermined work flow, and supporting the successful performance of the series of operations by a plurality of users, and also relates to a storage medium for storing a program used to direct a computer to manage the operations and support the successful performance of the operations.
2. Description of the Related Art
There has been a system called a work flow management system for managing information about, for example, persons to be assigned to respective jobs, the term limit of each job, etc. which are necessary in performing a process based on the work flow of a series of predetermined jobs. FIG. 1 shows the configuration of the conventional work flow management system.
In FIG. 1, a server 111 is provided with a work flow engine 112 for managing a work flow.
A work flow definition information storage device 121 stores a work flow of a series of operations managed by the work flow engine 112. The work flow is stored for each a work process (for example, a series of operations such as production management, personnel management, etc.). For example, when a work process refers to production management, the work flow definition information storage device 121 stores, as a work flow, an order slip issuing operation, an operation of issuing production management information (product specification, etc.), an operation of issuing a production instruction slip, etc. Such operations forming a work flow of a work process are referred to as work activities.
A work information storage device 122 stores work information about, for example, the work flow of a work process being performed. For example, the work information storage device 122 stores the name of a person assigned to each job, a work instruction, the term limit of each job, a work history, etc.
A work database 123 is a product specification database for production management, and is a common database of the server 111.
In this example, a client A 141 belongs to the sales department of a company.
In this example, a client B 142 belongs to the production management department of the company.
In this example, a client C 143 belongs to the production department of the company.
FIG. 2 shows the operation of the conventional work flow management apparatus shown in FIG. 1.
FIG. 2 shows an example of the work flow of the production management work process. In this work flow, the sales department first receives from a customer a request for product delivery, and issues a product order slip to the production management department. Then, the production management department receives the slip, and issues a production request to the production department. The production department receives the production request.
The work flow engine 112 performs a work activity transfer process 114 between clients and a next work activity determining process 115 based on the progress of the work process.
The work flow definition information storage device 121 stores a table 121xe2x80x2 showing the work flow for production management.
The work database 123 stores the database of the product specification (including the product specification A 130 of a product specified in a production request) of each product which can be manufactured by the production department. Furthermore, the work database 123 also stores the listing format of each slip transmitted and received among the departments in the company. The format of the slip can be individually generated and used by a user system of each client.
In this example, work information 126 stored in the work information storage device 122 includes necessary information (ordered work information 001, a person A of the sales department as an order receiver, a person B of the production management department as a production request receiver, a person C of the production department as a person in charge of production, and Dec. 11, ""99 as the term limit of production) in processing the work process by a user system, together with an order slip 127, a production request slip 128, and a product specification sheet A 129.
The order slip 127 is generated by the person A of the sales department in the client A 141.
The production request slip 128 is generated by the person B of the production management department in the client B 142.
The product specification sheet A 129 refers to the specifications of a product specified in the production request slip generated by the client B 142 based on the product specification A 130 of the product A stored in the work database 123.
An order slip 151 is generated by the person A of the sales department in the client A 141 by inputting data in a corresponding item in a predetermined listing form.
An ordered work item information 152 is the order slip 151 received by the client B 142.
A production request slip 153 is generated by the person B of the production management department in the client B 142 by inputting data in a corresponding item in a predetermined listing form.
A product specification sheet A 154 is generated according to the product specification A 130 of a product A stored in the work database 123. It is the specification of the product specified in the production request, and is generated by the client B 142 and then transferred with the production request slip 153.
A production request slip 155 is the production request slip 153 transferred from the client B 142 and received by the client C 143 in the production department.
A product specification sheet A 156 is attached to the production request slip 155, and transferred with the production request slip 153 by the client B 142.
Described below are the operations shown in FIG. 2.
In the client A 141, the person A of the sales department generates the order slip 151 using an input tool provided in the client A 141. After the slip has been generated, the work flow engine 112 generates the work information 126, refers to the table 121xe2x80x2 stored in the work flow definition information storage device 121, and transfers the order slip 151 to the client B 142 based on the work flow indicated by the table 121xe2x80x2. At this time, the work information 126 does not contain the production request slip 128 or the product specification sheet A 129.
In client B 142, the person B of the production management department generates the production request slip 153 using the input tool provided in the client B 142 according to the ordered work item information 152 obtained from the transferred order slip 151. Furthermore, the person B generates the product specification sheet A 154 based on the product specification A 130 of the product specified in the production request stored in the work database 123, attaches it to the production request slip 153, and terminates the production request process.
When the production request process terminates in the client B 142, the work flow engine 112 adds the production request slip 128 and the product specification sheet A 129 to the work information 126 stored in the work information storage device 122, and updates them. Then, the work flow engine 112 refers to the table 121xe2x80x2 stored in the work flow definition information storage device 121, and transfers the production request slip 153 and the product specification sheet A 154 to the client C 143 based on the work flow shown in the table 121xe2x80x2.
In the client C 143, when the production request slip 155 and the product specification sheet A 156 are obtained, the person C of the production department confirms them, and notifies the work flow engine 112 of the completion of the entire production management process.
When the work flow engine 112 receives a completion notification of the production management process from the client C 143, it terminates a series of the operations (starting with the generation of the order slip 151) of the work flow management process.
Since the conventional work flow management system functions as described above, access is necessarily gained to the work flow definition information storage device 121 and the work information storage device 122 each time a work activity transfer process is performed. Therefore, when the amount of the work process and the work activities increases, the access is concentrated on the work flow definition information storage device 121 and the work information storage device 122. Thereby, the transfer speed is extremely reduced and the efficiency of the system is deteriorated.
The present invention aims at quickly managing a work flow with efficiency using a work flow management apparatus/system.
According to one of the embodiments of the present invention, a plurality of work flow support units and a work flow support unit management unit are provided so that the work flow supply unit management unit can determine the work flow support unit for managing each work flow. At this time, to prevent a load from being concentrated on a specific work flow support unit, the state of the load in each work flow support unit is recorded when a work process is started, and the previously recorded state of the load is referred to so that it can be determined based on the information which work flow support unit is to manage the work flow.
Then, each work flow support unit is provided with a work flow definition information storage apparatus and a work information storage unit so that necessary work information (for example, a work activity to be next started) can be specified, among the information stored in the work flow definition information storage apparatus, for the process of each work activity. The work flow support unit is designed to transfer only necessary work information for each work activity.
With this configuration, a load is not concentrated on a specific work flow support unit, thereby keeping a constant load state in each work flow support unit. Therefore, access is not concentrated on a specific work flow definition storage apparatus and a specific work information storage apparatus. As a result, the transfer speed is not extremely lowered even if the amount of the work to be managed increases.
According to another embodiment of the present invention, the system is designed to manage a work flow using a main server and a home server.
The main server includes a work flow support unit provided with the work flow definition storage unit and the work information storage unit so that the work information can be transferred by the work flow support unit to the home server to which the work information is to be transferred and the person in charge belongs.
The home server is designed to have a storage unit for storing work information transmitted from the main server so that the work information for each person in charge can be individually provided at a request from the person in charge belonging to the home server.
With the configuration, a person in charge of a work activity is allowed to start an assigned work activity in any client provided in the home server to which the person belongs. As a result, work activities can be started in parallel by a plurality of persons belonging to the home server, thereby improving the efficiency of the entire work.

Apparatus and system for managing work flow, and computer-readable storage medium for storing work flow management program


The invention is a process of making a chemically and UV treated polymer of intrinsic microporosity membrane comprising preparing a polymer of intrinsic microporosity, chemically cross-linking said polymer of intrinsic microporosity with a cross-linking compound to produce a chemically cross-linked polymer of intrinsic microporosity and then treating said chemically cross-linked polymer with UV radiation for a period of time sufficient to provide a product membrane. This product membrane is useful in the separation of C3 and higher hydrocarbons, as well as CO2, from natural gas and other gas streams.

This invention relates to gas separation membranes from chemically and UV treated polymers of intrinsic microprosity and methods for making and using these membranes.
Membrane-based technologies have advantages of both low capital cost and high-energy efficiency compared to conventional separation methods. Several applications of membrane gas separation have achieved commercial success, including nitrogen enrichment from air, carbon dioxide removal from natural gas and from enhanced oil recovery, and also in hydrogen removal from nitrogen, methane, and argon in ammonia purge gas streams. For example, UOP's Separex™ cellulose acetate (CA) spiral wound polymeric membrane is currently an international market leader for carbon dioxide removal from natural gas. Polymers provide a range of properties including low cost, high permeability, good mechanical stability, and ease of processability that are important for gas separation. Glassy polymers have stiffer polymer backbones and therefore let smaller molecules such as hydrogen and helium pass through more quickly, while larger molecules such as hydrocarbons pass through more slowly as compared to polymers with less stiff backbones. CA glassy polymer membranes are used extensively in gas separation. Currently, CA and polyimide membranes produced by UOP are used for natural gas upgrading, including the removal of carbon dioxide. Although these membranes have many advantages, improvements would be desirable in several areas including selectivity, permeability, and in chemical, thermal, and mechanical stability. In addition, gas separation processes based on glassy polymer membranes frequently suffer from plasticization of the stiff polymer matrix by the sorbed penetrating molecules such as CO2 or C3H6. Plasticization of the polymer is exhibited by swelling of the membrane structure and by a significant increase in the permeances of all components in the feed and decrease of selectivity occurring above the plasticization pressure when the feed gas mixture contains condensable gases.
Polymers of intrinsic microporosity (PIMs) were originally reported by McKeown, et. al. These polymers have an extremely porous structure because of their spirocyclic backbone. Membranes formed from these polymers exhibit extremely high permeability for gases such as CO2, CH4, and propylene. However, these membranes made from polymers of intrinsic microporosity typically have low selectivity for gas separations, including CO2/CH4 separations. U.S. Pat. No. 7,758,751 taught that some membranes made from polymers of intrinsic microporosity that are subjected to UV light display much higher selectivity. Diazides have shown the ability to undergo chemical cross-linking with certain polymers when subjected to high temperatures. Most notably, Guiver, et. al. (Macromol. Rapid Commun. 2011, 32, 631) showed that diazides can react with PIM-1 to generate chemically cross-linked structures. However, no significant improvement in selectivity of these membranes for carbon dioxide/methane separation was observed with these chemical crosslinking reagents. A desirable membrane needs to have a combination of high permeability with high selectivity.
The present invention discloses a new type of chemically and UV treated polymer of intrinsic microporosity membrane and methods for making and using these membranes.

Gas separation membranes from chemically and UV treated polymers of intrinsic microporosity


A card issuing device and method capable of handling a plurality of types of cards with a single card extracting and moving mechanism having two motors. The device has a plurality of card stackers each for storing a plurality of cards, and a card extracting and moving mechanism movably provided for extracting cards one at a time from any one of the card stackers. A card reader for recording or reading information on or from the card, an engraving/embossing device for marking characters on the card, and a topper mechanism for applying color to the marked characters are provided. A waste card receiver is also provided and is driven by the same motors that drive the card extracting and moving mechanisms. Correction of card inclination effect can be performed so that the marked characters for a row parallel to a desired edge of the card even when the card is held at an angle with respect to the moving direction during the marking process. The correction is carried out by measuring the degree of inclination of the card, and moving the card in a direction perpendicular to the moving direction of the marking before marking each subsequent character, the amount of the perpendicular movement being dependent on the measured degree of inclination of the card.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a card issuing device and a method for issuing a card. In particular, it relates to a card issuing devices having a plurality of card stackers for handling different types of cards.
2. Description of the Related Art
In a conventional card issuing device, a mechanism is provided for delivering cards to a card stacker stocked with many cards and a card is issued by delivering a card from the card stacker and carrying out a specified recording on the card in a card reader. In a card issuing device provided with a plurality of card stackers, there is a mechanism that moves the plurality of card stackers sequentially on one roller mechanism which delivers the cards and moves the next card stacker onto the card delivery roller mechanism when all the cards in one card stacker have been delivered. Technology capable of handling the same type of cards in a large volume is known (Japanese Kokai Patent Application No. Hei 3-294985).
Prior card issuing devices are capable of extracting one card from a card stacker stocked with cards, and then issuing the card after it has been subjected to a specified processing. This process includes a marking process for marking characters (including codes, symbols and the like) by applying irregularities to the card, such as by engraving, embossing, etc., and a topper process for applying colors to the characters.
In the marking process, concaving processes (engraving) or convexing processes (embossing) of a specified shape are executed on the card surface by applying pressure from the front or back of the card at specified positions using a known card marking device. To transport the card to the marking position of the marking device, the card is placed in a card holding member such as a carriage. Embossing or other processes are subsequently executed as shown in FIG. 33(A).
Another type of conventional card issuing device has a plurality of card stackers for handling a plurality of cards, and is equipped with a card delivery mechanism for each card stacker. In such a device, the plurality of card delivery mechanisms are not always used simultaneously and therefore constitute duplicate structures. This leads to complex structures, large device sizes, and increased manufacturing cost.
On the other hand, in a conventional card issuing device capable of handling a large volume of the same type of cards by moving a plurality of card stackers arranged in a series, a large dead space is created, increasing the size of the device. In addition, even though a plurality of card stackers are provided, the same type of cards are stocked in the plurality of card stackers, and the device cannot handle different types of cards.
When marking surface irregularities of a specified shape on a card, marking is done while the card is inside a card holding member. This marking must to be done parallel to an edge of the card. However, when marking while moving the card, it is difficult to maintain a perfect degree of parallelism between the edge of the card and the moving direction. When marking is done while not maintaining a perfect degree of parallelism, slanted marking results as indicated in FIG. 33(B), and when the mark length is long or when making marks near an edge of the card, the slanting is clearly visible and results in a low-quality or defective product. Accurate correcting devices have been used to correct the inclination of the card, which makes the device complex, large and costly to produce.
Accordingly, the present invention is directed to a card issuing device that substantially obviates one or more of the problems due to limitations and disadvantages of the related art.
It is an object of a preferred embodiment of the present invention to provide a card issuing device that can handle a plurality of types of cards, especially such a device that is compact, simple and easy to manufacture.
According to one aspect of the present invention, a card issuing device comprises a card stacker part having a plurality of card stackers arranged in a row, each card stacker being stocked with a plurality of cards and having a card supply part at the bottom, a card extracting and moving mechanism movably provided for extracting cards from the card supply parts of the plurality of card stackers, a card reader for recording specified information on the card and issuing the card from a card issuing port. The card issuing device extracts one card with the card extracting and moving mechanism from the card stackers, and issues the card from the card issuing port after recording information on the card. A card can be extracted from any one of the plurality of card stackers. Consequently, the device can handle different types of cards, or a large quantity of the same type of cards. Since the plurality of card stackers share a common card extracting and moving mechanism, the structure is simplified and the size of the device is minimized.
According to another aspect of the present invention, a method of correcting the effect of inclination of the card during the card marking process is provided. The degree of inclination or the slanting of the extracted card is determined by detecting the positions of a plurality of edge portions of the card with a sensor. Based on this inclination, the marking direction is corrected by correcting the position of the card during the marking process to offset the effect of the card inclination. As a result, the row of characters marked on the card can be made parallel to the edge of the card even if the card is slanted. This eliminates the need to provide a separate device for correcting the effect of card inclination.
These and other aspects, features and advantages of the present invention will be better understood by studying the detailed description in conjunction with the drawings and the accompanying claims.


The disclosure is directed to a burner-containing apparatus, such as a boiler or a furnace, having reduced noxious emissions. A burner receives input air and has an exhaust for exhausting flue gases. A flue gas recirculation system is provided for recirculating a portion of the flue gases back to an input of the burner. A fogging device, which produces a fog from a fogger water supply and a fogger air supply, humidifies the recirculated flue gases.

Flue gas recirculation has been used in various types of systems to reduce noxious exhaust emissions. A prior art flue gas recirculation apparatus, used in a boiler system, is illustrated in FIG. 1. A boiler system 100 includes a boiler 110 that has a burner, represented at 115 with a controlled air input 116. An exhaust stack, represented at 120, exhausts the flue gases from the system via breeching 117. A recirculation section 130 includes a damper 132 that communicates with the exhaust stack 120 and permits a portion of the flue gases to be drawn by a blower 134 through a duct 135 that couples back to a further input of the burner 115. A sensor 136, which senses noxious emissions (typically, oxides of nitrogen, or "NO.sub.x ") is coupled to a controller 137, the output of which controls a recirculation supply damper 138.
In operation, a selected fraction of the flue gases is recirculated to the burner. The prior art literature indicates that flue gas recirculation acts as a flame quencher, reducing combustion temperatures by thermal dilution. In doing so, among other indicated advantages, it significantly reduces excess air requirements, flame temperature, and flue gas heat loss, thereby reducing NO.sub.x emissions and improving boiler efficiency (see e.g. G . Tompkins, "Flue Gas Recirculation Works For Packaged Boilers Too", POWER, April, 1990). In the FIG. 1 apparatus, the sensor 136 and controller 137 sense the concentration of noxious emissions in the exhaust gas, increase the recirculation fraction when NO.sub.x emissions increase, and reduce the recirculation fraction when NO.sub.x emissions decrease.
Although existing flue gas recirculation techniques are useful in reducing noxious emissions and improving boiler efficiency, they have limitations. For example, although noxious emissions tends to decrease as the fraction of recirculated flue gas is increased, there is a limit on the fraction of recirculated flue gas that can be fed back to the burner input. The upper limit is approximately 25% recirculation. Above this level, the burner flame tends to become unstable, which can severely limit the efficiency of the burner. Accordingly, further reductions in noxious emissions that might result from higher percentage flue gas recirculation generally cannot be achieved.
It is among the objects of the present invention to attain further reduction in noxious emissions without undue sacrifice of flame stability and/or burner efficiency.

Fog conditioned flue gas recirculation for burner-containing apparatus


A power amplifier circuit includes a first amplifier that amplifies an input signal and outputs an output signal; a second amplifier that, in accordance with a control signal, amplifies a signal corresponding to the input signal, generates a signal having an opposite phase to that of the output signal, and adds the signal to the output signal; and a control circuit that supplies the control signal to the second amplifier. The control circuit outputs the control signal so that during operation of the power amplifier circuit in a first power mode, a gain of the second amplifier is not less than zero and less than a predetermined level and during operation in a second power mode lower than the first power mode in output power level, a gain of the second amplifier is not less than the predetermined level and less than a gain of the first amplifier.

The present disclosure relates to a power amplifier circuit. In mobile communication devices, such as cellular phones, a power amplifier circuit that amplifies power of a transmission signal is mounted. A desired power level of a transmission signal differs according to a distance between a mobile communication device and a base station, or a radio wave propagation environment. Hence, it is desirable that, in the power amplifier circuit, power can be amplified in a wide range. For example, Satoshi Tanaka, "Progress of the linear RF power amplifier for mobile phones", IEICE Trans. Fundamentals, vol. E101-A, No. 2, pp. 385-395, 2018 discloses a power amplifier circuit that includes a path configured to output relatively high power and a path configured to output relatively low power, and that performs, in accordance with a necessary power level, switching to a path to be used.
However, in the power amplifier circuit disclosed in Satoshi Tanaka, "Progress of the linear RF power amplifier for mobile phones", IEICE Trans. Fundamentals, vol. E101-A, No. 2, pp. 385-395, 2018, a switch for switching between the paths is necessary. When this switch is inserted into a path, power consumption at a time when maximum power is output in particular may increase. On the other hand, if amplification to a necessary power level is to be performed by adjusting the gain of a single amplifier without necessarily using such a switch, it is difficult to provide a wide range.


An apparatus for processing a workpiece in a micro-environment includes a workpiece housing connected to a motor for rotation. The workpiece housing forms a substantially closed processing chamber where processing fluids are distributed across at least one face of the workpiece by centrifugal force generated during rotation of the housing. The housing may also be detached from the motor and moved to another location. The housing consequently serves as a processing chamber, as well as a storage or transport chamber.

The semiconductor manufacturing industry is constantly seeking to improve the processes used to manufacture integrated circuits from wafers. The improvements come in various forms but, generally, have one or more objectives as the desired goal. The objectives of many of these improved processes include: 1) decreasing the amount of time required to process a wafer to form the desired integrated circuits; 2) increasing the yield of usable integrated circuits per wafer by, for example, decreasing the likelihood of contamination of the wafer during processing; 3) reducing the number of steps required to turn a wafer into the desired integrated circuits; and 4) reducing the cost of pint into the desired integrated circuit by, for example, reducing the costs associated with the chemicals required for the processing
In the processing of wafers, it is often necessary to subject one or more sides of the wafer to a fluid in either liquid, vapor or gaseous form. Such fluids are used to, for example, etch the wafer surface, clean the wafer surface, dry the wafer surface, passivate the wafer surface, deposit films on the wafer surface, etc. Control of the physical parameters of the processing fluids, such as their temperature, molecular composition, dosing, etc., is often quite crucial to the success of the processing operations. As such, the introduction of such fluids to the surface of the wafer occurs in a controlled environment. Typically, such wafer processing occurs in what has commonly become known as a reactor.
Various reactors have been known and used. These reactors typically have a rotor head assembly that supports the wafer. In addition to introducing the wafer into the processing chamber, the rotor head assembly may be used to spin the wafer during introduction of the processing fluid onto the surface of the wafer, or after processing to remove the processing fluid.
During processing, the wafer is presented to the rotor head assembly by a robot in a clean environment in which a number of processing reactors are present. The robot presents the wafer in an exposed state to the rotor head assembly in an orientation in which the side of the wafer that is to be processed is face up. The rotor head assembly inverts the wafer and engages and seals with a cup for processing. As the wafer is processed, the wafer is oriented so that the side of the wafer being processed is face down.
These types of reactors are useful for many of the fluid processing steps employed in the production of an integrated circuit, However, there remains a need for more control and efficiency from the reactor. As such, a substantially new approach to processing and reactor design has been undertaken which provides greater control of the fluid processes and provides for more advanced and improved processes.
An apparatus for processing a workpiece in a micro-environment is set forth. The apparatus includes a rotor motor and a workpiece housing. The workpiece housing is connected to be rotated by the rotor motor. The workpiece housing further defines a processing chamber where one or more processing fluids are distributed across at least one face of the workpiece by centrifugal force generated during rotation of the housing.
In one embodiment, the workpiece housing includes an upper chamber member and a lower chamber member joined to one another to form the processing chamber. The processing chamber preferably generally conforms to the shape of the workpiece and includes at least one fluid outlet at a peripheral region. At least one workpiece support is advantageously provided to support a workpiece in the processing chamber in a position to allow centrifugal distribution of a fluid supplied through an inlet opening into the process chamber. The fluid may be distributed across at least an upper face and/or lower face of the workpiece, when the workpiece housing is rotated. The fluid outlet is positioned to allow extraction of fluid in the processing chamber by centrifugal force.
In another embodiment, an apparatus for processing a workpiece includes a rotor portion and a process housing attachable to the rotor portion for rotation, and detachable from the rotor portion for transport. The process housing preferably includes a first chamber member and a second chamber, with the fist chamber member engageable with the second chamber member to form a process chamber between them. At least one inlet and at least one outlet extend into the process chamber. The process housing is useful for processing a workpiece, as well as for transporting or storing the workpiece.


A device for detecting (D) at least one predetermined particle (P) includes an interferometric element (EI) arranged so as to be illuminated by an incident radiation (Lin) and comprising at least one so-called thin layer (CM) disposed on top of a so-called substrate layer (Sub), the particle being attached to a surface (Sm) of the thin layer, the interferometric element (EI) forming a Fabry-Pérot cavity with or without attached particle P; a matrix sensor (Det) adapted to detect an image comprising a first portion (P1) deriving from the detection of the incident radiation transmitted (LTBG) by the interferometric element alone and a second portion (P2) deriving from the detection of the incident radiation transmitted (LTP) by the interferometric element and any particle (O, P) attached to a surface (Sm) of the thin layer; a processor (UT) linked to the sensor and configured: to calculate, as a function of wavelengths of the incident radiation λi i∈[1,m], the variation of intensity of at least one first pixel of the first portion, called first variation (FBG) and of at least one second pixel of the second portion, called second variation (FP), to determine a trend, as a function of the wavelengths of the incident radiation λi i∈[1,m], of a phase shift ϕi between the first variation and the second variation; to detect the attached particle when the phase shift ϕi is not constant as a function of the wavelengths of the incident radiation λi i∈[1,m].

In many fields of application such as the agri-food industry, defence or chemistry, the detection and identification of particles are necessary to warn of a possible attack or contamination. Many techniques known to the person skilled in the art allow a chemical composition of a sample to be determined.
Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) is an analytical technique that is extremely widely used, in which the molecules of the sample absorb the incident radiation, thus modifying their vibration energies. Based on the bonds and the chemical functions present in the sample, a characteristic infrared spectrum (IR) is obtained.
In addition to FTIR spectroscopy, there are many techniques that allow particles to be identified within a sample, such as Raman spectroscopy, laser induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS), or even the photo-fragmentation laser-induced fluorescence (PF-LIF) method, specific to NO2 bonds.
The techniques involving infrared absorption can be declined according to several modalities:
transmission or backscattered IR imaging, by direct absorption of light by the particle. In these methods, optical power collected decreases in the presence of the sample. It is known practice to analyse the gas generated by the breakdown of the sample subjected to a pulsed intense laser with medium infrared (MIR) backscattering. This so-called passive imaging technique allows gas clouds to be detected and identified. It is not possible to use this technique for objects of small dimensions such as particles since the optical path covered in the object is too small.
active thermal imaging, by measuring the temperature rise of the particle subjected to an IR laser flux. The particle absorbs the laser radiation, the collected heat flux increases. This technique is extremely dependent on the substrate where the particle is located. Indeed, the heating induced by the absorption of the laser is transmitted very rapidly to the substrate, which renders detection very complicated.
photoacoustics which can be separated into 4 steps:
(1) absorption of the laser radiation by the gas thus exciting the rotational, electronic and vibrational energy levels;
(2) in the case of ro-vibrational excitations, de-excitation of the gas, preferentially by molecular collisions which will be reflected by a transfer of rotation/vibration energy and kinetic energy creating a localized heating of the gas;
(3) generation of an acoustic wave and of a thermal wave provoked by the expansion due to the heating of the gas;
(4) microphone detection of the acoustic signal. The amplitude of vibration of the microphone is representative of the concentration of the gas and the wavelength of the laser radiation absorbed by the gas indicates its composition. This method is very interesting but it does not allow an image of a zone to be obtained. It will be necessary to scan the laser over the sample which demands instrumentation and measurement time.
These techniques therefore do not allow a spatially and spectrally resolved image to be obtained with a simple and compact device.

Device and method for detecting particles and method for manufacturing same

COMMISSARIAT A L'ENERGIE ATOMIQUE ET AUX ENERGIES ALTERNATIVES


A method for location aware networking in a wireless ad-hoc network having a plurality of wireless nodes in a geographic area comprising: dividing the geographic area into a plurality of grids; determining a location of a particular wireless node; determining a corresponding grid where the particular wireless node resides; determining a cluster head for the corresponding grid; connecting corresponding wireless nodes in the corresponding grid to the cluster head, wherein the cluster head of the corresponding grid periodically gather data from the corresponding wireless nodes, aggregate the data and transmits the data to a gateway; and coupling the cluster head of the corresponding grid to cluster heads of each of the plurality of grids forming a pathway to the gateway, the cluster head of the corresponding grid transmitting the data through the pathway or directly to the gateway.

An ad hoc wireless network may be defined as a network that may be composed of individual devices wireless communicating with each other directly. These types of networks may bypass a central access point such as a router. Ad hoc wireless networks may eliminate the complexities of infrastructure setup and administration, enabling wireless devices to create and join networks on-the-fly-anywhere-anytime, for virtually any application. Ad hoc wireless networks may exist without any existing stationary infrastructure.
Ad hoc wireless networks and wireless sensor networks are often deployed in an ad hoc fashion, that is, their location is generally not known a priori, creating a dynamic nature of wireless nodes/sensor nodes. Furthermore, in many situations, it is very difficult to establish wireless infrastructure to provide reference nodes such as a base station or hub.
Many ad hoc wireless system applications may require ad-hoc localization techniques. For example, in the wireless sensor network domain, wireless sensor nodes are typically randomly deployed. In many situations, GPS location information may be unavailable and/or does not work in all places. GPS location information may be prohibitive due to cost and power requirements. In another example, sensor network operations and services may rely on the knowledge of sensor positions, including coverage area management, and geographic-aware routing for more efficient data routing (i.e., multi-hops data routing) in larger networks that span large geographic regions.
Thus, a wireless sensor's location generally needs to be known for its data to be meaningful. Localization is necessary to provide a physical context to a sensor's readings. For example, in many applications such as environmental monitoring, sensor readings without knowledge of the location where the readings were obtained are meaningless. Location information is further necessary for services such as intrusion detection, inventory and supply chain management, and surveillance. Location discovery is also becoming an important component for establishing correspondence between the Internet and the physical world; and mechanism for discovering spatial relationships among wireless nodes (i.e., objects or people).
Since ad hoc networks do not include fixed base stations, the wireless nodes need to dynamically determine a communication pathway to route data packets. In general, the wireless nodes should determine the shortest route to transmit the data packets. However, this may be difficult since the wireless nodes may move and change location. This situation is further compounded as in many ad hoc wireless systems, multiple hops may be need in order to transmit the communication package to a desired location.
In many ad hoc networks, bandwidth resources may be used inefficiently. In a fully meshed ad hoc wireless network, data packages may be propagated ineffectively through the network wasting valuable bandwidth. Further, the number of connections required for a fully meshed ad hoc network may be bandwidth prohibitive.
Therefore, it would be desirable to provide a system and method that overcomes the above.

Location aware networking for ad-hoc networks and method therefor


A method and apparatus for verifying routing of a number of signal lines in an aircraft. A number of pathways through a volume is identified in the aircraft for a desired routing of the number of signal lines using a preferred systems layout for the aircraft. A determination is made as to whether a designed routing of the number of signal lines in a design of the aircraft is within the number of pathways through the volume for the desired routing of the number of signal lines. The number of signal lines is identified as having the desired routing in response to a determination that the designed routing is within the number of pathways through the volume.

1. Field
The present disclosure relates generally to aircraft and, in particular, to transport elements in aircraft. Still more particularly, the present disclosure relates to a method and apparatus for verifying that wires in an aircraft provide a desired level of performance.
2. Background
Aircraft have become increasingly more complex over time. More and more components in the aircraft are comprised of electrical devices. These electrical devices may form the avionics in the aircraft. For example, the avionics may include communications systems, navigation systems, sensor monitoring systems, environmental control systems, in-flight entertainment systems, aircraft flight control systems, collision avoidance systems, weather systems, aircraft management systems, and other suitable systems.
These and other systems may form a network within the aircraft. The different systems may be powered by and communicate with each other through transport elements such as wires, optical fibers, wireless signals, and other types of transport elements. For example, wires may run through different portions of the aircraft such as the fuselage, wings, stabilizers, and other portions of the aircraft.
The wires may form a wiring system within the aircraft. With the amount of wires present in an aircraft, selecting locations and redundancy for wiring systems in an aircraft may follow different designs to provide for a desired level of operation of the aircraft. For example, it is desirable that the aircraft be capable of continued safe flight and landing in the event that portions of the wiring system do not operate as desired.
Different undesired events may affect the ability of portions of the wiring system to function as desired. An undesired event may be, for example, an electromagnetic event such as lightning, a bird strike, excessive power flow, and other undesired events. In providing a desired level of operation, the routing of wires through the aircraft may be selected such that different events leave sufficient portions of the wires in the wiring system in a condition to carry power, data, and other types of signals such that different electrical systems may operate as desired in the aircraft during flight.
The number of redundancy in wires, the routing of wires, and other parameters about wires used with electrical systems are regulated through rules from governmental entities. For example, the Federal Aviation Administration provides regulations on requirements for electrical systems and the wiring for those systems. Manufacturers design wiring systems to connect electrical systems that fulfill these requirements.
In fulfilling these requirements, aircraft designs are created to meet the requirements of the regulations. Simulations are run, designs are revised, tests are performed with wiring systems, and other operations are performed in the development of an aircraft.
Further, after an aircraft is developed, customers may select different types of electrical systems. For example, some clients may select different types of in-flight entertainment systems, environmental control systems, and other types of systems. These different systems often result in changes to the wiring system. As a result, the changes are analyzed to verify that the wiring system will meet the requirements of the regulations.
With the numerous systems and large amounts of wiring, identifying desired routing and redundancy in an aircraft to meet regulations may take more time and effort than desired. Currently, the verification of the routing is performed line by line for wires and other lines by a human operator. This process is extremely tedious and time consuming even with the use of computer aided design programs due to the complexity of the systems in aircraft. Therefore, it would be desirable to have a method and apparatus that takes into account at least some of the issues discussed above as well as other possible issues.

Aircraft wiring layout verification system


A high breakdown voltage pch-MOSFET having a breakdown voltage of 150V or more and a control element controlling the same are formed in a common n.sup.- epitaxial layer. Only an n-type region of n.sup.- epitaxial layer is distributed at a region located between the high breakdown voltage pch-MOSFET and the control element and extending along the substrate surface. A semiconductor device thus formed achieves a good throughput and reduces a required chip area.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a semiconductor device, and in particular to a semiconductor device including a lateral power device.
2. Description of the Background Art
Power IC (Integrated Circuit), which include power elements allowing a large current and having a high breakdown voltage as well as their drive circuits and protection circuits integrated integrally with the power elements, will be the mainstream of power elements hereafter. It is preferable to perform gate driving in such a power element by a system of a voltage control type using an insulated gate electrode (MOS (Metal Oxide Semiconductor) gate). In this voltage control type, the gate driving requires a smaller current compared with a current driving type.
Among integrated circuits (ICs) each including a plurality of semiconductor elements integrated on a single semiconductor substrate, ICs including high breakdown voltage elements are called power ICs. High breakdown voltage elements generally include MOS gates such as power MOSFETs (Field Effect Transistors) and IGBTs (Insulated Gate Bipolar Transistors), and such elements are achieved by RESURF (Reduced Surface Field) technologies.
The RESURF technology which was named by Apple Corporation and others in 1979 is essentially the same as the offset gate technology which is used for accomplishing the lateral MOS transistor with a high breakdown voltage.
A conventional semiconductor device will be described below as an example of a structure for achieving a level shift function with a high breakdown voltage pch-MOSFET having the RESURF structure.
FIG. 20 is a plan schematically showing a structure of a conventional semiconductor device. FIG. 21 is a schematic cross section taken along line D-D' in FIG. 20.
Referring to FIGS. 20 and 21, n.sup.- epitaxial layers 103a and 103b are formed at a surface of p.sup.- silicon substrate 101 and are spaced from each other with a p-type isolation diffusion region 105 therebetween. Each of n.sup.- epitaxial layers 103a and 103b is surrounded at the surface of silicon substrate 101 by p-type isolation diffusion region 105, so that n.sup.- epitaxial layers 103a and 103b form a high breakdown voltage pch-MOSFET formation region and a high breakdown voltage island region, respectively.
A pch-MOSFET with a high breakdown voltage is formed at n.sup.- epitaxial layer 103a which is the high breakdown voltage pch-MOSFET formation region. The high breakdown voltage pch-MOSFET has a p-type diffusion region 111 forming a source, a p-type diffusion region 113 forming a drain, a gate insulating layer 115 and a gate electrode layer 117. Source region 111 and drain region 113 are formed at a surface of n.sup.- epitaxial layer 103a with a space between each other. In particular, drain region 113 is formed of a two-layer structure including a relatively lightly doped p.sup.- diffusion region 113a and a relatively heavily doped p-type diffusion region 113b. A gate electrode layer 117 is formed on a region, which is located between source region 111 and drain region 113, with gate insulating layer 115 therebetween.
An n.sup.+ buried diffusion region 107a located immediately under source region 111 is formed between n.sup.- epitaxial layer 103a and p.sup.- silicon substrate region 101.
The high breakdown voltage pch-MOSFET has a track-like form in a plane as shown in FIG. 20. More specifically, drain region 113 formed at the surface of substrate 101 surrounds source region 111 with a predetermined distance therebetween.
At a central region surrounded by source region 111 having a track-like planar configuration, there is formed an n.sup.+ diffusion region 121 adjoining to source region 111.
At n.sup.- epitaxial layer 103b forming the high breakdown voltage island region, there is formed a circuit (not shown) for controlling an operation of high breakdown voltage pch-MOSFET 110. An n.sup.+ buried diffusion region 107b is formed between n.sup.- epitaxial layer 103b and p.sup.- silicon substrate region 101.
Conductive layers 141 forming field plates are formed above a region at which n.sup.- epitaxial layer 103a and p-type diffusion region 105 are in contact with each other and a region at which n.sup.- epitaxial layer 103b and p-type diffusion region 105 are in contact with each other.
An insulating layer 123 covering gate electrode layer 116, field plates 141 and others is formed on the surface of p-type silicon substrate 101. Insulating layer 123 is provided with a contact hole 123a reaching surfaces of source region 111 and n.sup.+ diffusion region 121, a contact hole 123g reaching a partial surface of gate electrode layer 117, a contact hole 123b reaching a partial surface of p-type diffusion region 113b, and a contact hole 123c reaching a partial surface of p-type isolation region 105.
A source electrode 125a is electrically connected to source region 111 and n.sup.+ diffusion region 121 through contact hole 123a. An aluminum interconnection layer 143 is electrically connected to gate electrode layer 117 through contact hole 123g. Source electrode 125a and aluminum interconnection layer 143 are electrically connected to elements formed at the high breakdown voltage island region.
A drain electrode 125b which is electrically connected to p-type diffusion region 113b through contact hole 123b is connected via a resistor 127 to an aluminum interconnection layer 125c which is electrically connected to p-type isolation diffusion region 105 through contact hole 123c.
When a control circuit in the high breakdown voltage island region negatively biases aluminum interconnection layer 143 with respect to source electrode 125a, the high breakdown voltage pch-MOSFET is turned on. Thereby, a current flows through resistor 127 and a voltage signal is generated. In this manner, the level shift-down function is achieved.
In the conventional semiconductor device described above, a high voltage is usually applied to n.sup.- epitaxial layers 103a and 103b shown in FIG. 21. In the high breakdown voltage pch-MOSFET formation region, therefore, a depletion region 150 defined by dotted line in FIG. 17 expands from regions such as a pn junction between n.sup.- epitaxial layer 103a and p-type isolation diffusion region 105 and a pn junction between p.sup.- silicon substrate region 101 and n.sup.- epitaxial layer 103a. The depletion region 150 expands into a majority of the high breakdown voltage pch-MOSFET formation region except for p-type diffusion region 113b, source region 111, n.sup.+ diffusion region 121, a portion of n.sup.- epitaxial layer 103a and a portion of n.sup.+ buried diffusion region 107a. Owing to the fact that a majority of high breakdown voltage pch-MOSFET 10A is taken into depletion region 150 as described above, high breakdown voltage pch-MOSFET 10A can achieve a high breakdown voltage.
Likewise, in the high breakdown voltage island region, depletion region 150 defined by dotted line expands from a pn junction between n.sup.+ epitaxial layer 103b and p-type isolation diffusion region 105 and a pn substrate region 101. This depletion region 150 has a configuration surrounding or extending around the high breakdown voltage island region. In general, an element such as an MOS transistor forming a circuit is not formed at the region in the high breakdown voltage island region through which depletion region 150 expands. This is because accurate operation would be difficult if such an element were taken into depletion region 150.
In the conventional semiconductor device shown in FIGS. 20 and 21, the potentials on source electrode 125a and aluminum interconnection layer 143 are controlled by a drive circuit in the high breakdown voltage island region. For this purpose, source electrode 125a and aluminum interconnection layer 143 extend from the high breakdown voltage pch-MOSFET formation region to the high breakdown voltage island region, so that they extend over p-type isolation diffusion region 105.
In general, p-type isolation diffusion region 105 surrounding n.sup.- epitaxial layer 103a is set to the lowest potential (e.g., the substrate potential). Thereby, n.sup.- epitaxial layer 103a and p-type isolation diffusion region 105 are always reversely biased, so that a depletion region of a high resistance exists at the pn junction between them, and this depletion region ensures a breakdown voltage.
However, the aluminum interconnection layer 143 and source electrode 125a, which are at a high potential and extend across this p-type isolation diffusion region 105, suppress extension of the depletion layer at the pn junction between p-type isolation diffusion region 105 and n.sup.- epitaxial layer 103a, resulting in reduction of the breakdown voltage.
In order to prevent reduction of the breakdown voltage, such methods have been employed that use insulating layer 123 having a increased thickness, that form a field plate 141 above the pn junction between n.sup.- epitaxial layer 103a and p-type isolation diffusion region 105 as shown in FIG. 21 for providing a shield against an electric field, and that employ a multilayer structure of the field plate in a floated state for stabilizing a surface electric field by capacity coupling.
However, as the breakdown voltage has been improved, it is now required to give a high insulating strength to insulating layer 123 itself between field plate 141 and aluminum interconnection layer 143 (or source electrode 125a). In order to ensure a high insulating strength, the film thickness of insulating layer 123 must be increased considerably, and therefore a long time is required for depositing insulating layer 123. As a result, a throughput decreases, and a process cost increases considerably.
The high breakdown voltage pch-MOSFET is isolated from the high breakdown voltage island region. This naturally increases a chip area.

Semiconductor device with high breakdown voltage island region


A flow chamber and method for detecting the presence of one more cell produced analytes under flow conditions. The flow chamber includes two compartments separated by a permeable membrane on which a plurality of cells may be positioned. The permeable membrane shields one or more analyte sensors positioned one compartment from the convective transport forces of a fluid flow within the other compartment to allow reliable and accurate detection of cell-produced analytes and determination of the concentration of cell-produced analytes.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a flow chamber and a method for detecting low concentrations of molecules produced by cells.
2. Description of the Related Technology
The flow conditions in conventional single compartment flow chambers present difficulties in detecting and measuring cell-produced diffusible molecules, which are typically produced in low concentrations. Diffusible molecules are rapidly carried from the cell surface into the flow current due to convective transport, forming a steep concentration gradient that inhibits the accurate measurement of the diffused molecule concentration. The sensors utilized in conventional flow chambers are also typically unable to make accurate measurements under flow conditions due to the sensor placement and poor flow signal sensitivity. Consequently, single compartment flow chambers are unable to accurately or reliably detect or measure the amount of diffusible molecules produced by cells contained within the single compartment flow chamber.
Specifically, conventional flow chamber systems are incapable of accurately detecting and measuring cell nitric oxide (NO) generated by cells placed under shear stress by contact with a flowing fluid. NO is known to rapidly diffuse and has a short half-life of about 2-30 seconds. Consequently, NO produces sharp gradients in concentration near the source of production due to convective transport which rapidly removes the NO that diffuses into the fluid from the cell surface. The steep concentration gradient and low concentration levels of NO produced by cells make accurate and reliable NO measurements under controlled in vitro conditions virtually impossible. Although, placement of the NO sensing electrodes close to the exposed cell surface can reduce the potential effects discussed above, such an electrode placement will cause disturbances in the flow profile in the vicinity of the cells being monitored thereby altering the results by changing the effective shear stress due to the flow on some or all of the cells. Furthermore, the electrodes used for NO measurement, can also be sensitive to flow, thereby further distorting or masking the NO signal.
Research on shear stress-induced NO production has been severely limited because of the foregoing experimental difficulties and detection limitations on concentration and accuracy. NO detection measured in a system which applies changes in shear stress by changing the fluid flow is particularly challenging because of the low NO concentrations and the many competing phenomena including convection, diffusion, and chemical degradation. Similar problems exist in relation to measurement of other cell-generated species as well.
Consequently, there is a need to develop an improved flow chamber that addresses the deficiencies of the prior art and enables detection and measurement of low concentration cell produced diffusible molecules, such as NO.


The present invention generally relates to electrolytes for use in various electrochemical devices. In some cases, the electrolytes are relatively safe to use; for example, the electrolytes may be resistant to overheating, catching on fire, burning, exploding, etc. In some embodiments, such electrolytes may be useful for certain types of high-voltage cathode materials. In some cases, the electrolytes may include ion dissociation compounds that can dissociate tight ion pairs. Non-limiting examples of ion dissociation compounds include trialkyl phosphates, sulfones, or the like. Other aspects of the invention are generally directed to devices including such electrolytes, methods of making or using such electrolytes, kits including such electrolytes, or the like.

Accompanying the rise of energy densities of lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) and the expansions of scale, high-voltage cathode materials have been extensively developed, but are limited by the lack of appropriate electrolytes having suitable electrochemical stabilities at high oxidation potential. In addition, safety issues in lithium batteries may arise, for example, from the use of mixed flammable solvents such as carbonate/ether as solvent systems, which, when overcharged, short-circuited, over-heated, etc., can lead to serious accidents by catching on fire, burning, or even exploding, etc. Thus, appropriate electrolytes which are safe, and which have electrochemical stability at high oxidation potentials, e.g., suitable for high-voltage lithium batteries and other applications, are still needed.

Electrolytes for high-voltage cathode materials and other applications


A diaphragm pump (1) is provided with an annular working chamber (6) and an annular diaphragm (3), which is fixed on its outer peripheral region (12) and on its inner edge region (13). The inner and the outer diaphragm fixing points are stationary relative to each other, and a drive element (8) connected to a pump drive for deflection of the annular diaphragm (3) contacts between the outer and inner fixing points. The drive element (8) is formed facing the diaphragm with a sleeve or ring shape with a diameter corresponding approximately to the annular working chamber (6) and contacts with one of its annular ends perpendicular to the diaphragm plane on the side of the annular diaphragm (3) facing the pump drive for deflection and for transmission of a back-and-forth movement to the annular diaphragm (3). A quick-running diaphragm fluid pump is created, for which a combination of high stroke count for simultaneously low pump capacities is provided and which nevertheless is structurally simple and stable in design.

The invention relates to a diaphragm pump with an annular working chamber and an annular diaphragm, which is fixed at its outer peripheral region and at its inner edge region. The inner and the outer diaphragm fixing points are stationary relative to each other, and a drive element connected to a pump drive for deflection of the annular diaphragm is attached between the outer and inner fixing points.
Dosing at small and very small pump capacities with the help of quick-running diaphragm pumps presents the problem that with increasing structural miniaturization, the production, especially of the diaphragm and its attached, preferably molded-on steel parts, is very difficult and/or non-economical. The high rpms of such diaphragm pumps are necessary so that the valves can work exactly and the tolerances for the manufacture of valve parts do not have to be set too tightly. Here, the diameter of the generally circular diaphragm, that is, the change in volume of the working chamber due to the deflection of the diaphragm, determines the pump capacity of the diaphragm pump, with the diaphragm being moved with the help of a steel connecting rod preferably molded-on in the center of the diaphragm. If the diameter of the diaphragm is very small, for example, approximately 5 mm or even smaller, then the steel connecting rod, which under some circumstances has a diameter of less than 1 mm, can be molded-on only with great difficulty. In addition, for such a miniaturization, it is also difficult to manufacture the hydraulic or pneumatic connections to the inlet and outlet valves of the working chamber. Despite the very small dimensions of the diaphragm with a diameter of, for example, 5 mm, a pump capacity of approximately 25 ml per minute would be achieved already for a working rpm of 3000 rotations per minute and a stroke of 0.8 mm. However, in many applications it would be desirable, to realize these or also smaller pump capacities with acceptable yet easily handled pump sizes.