A method for reproducing a magneto-optical recording medium the recording pits of which are erased or relieved with rise in temperature of the recording medium caused by radiation of a readout beam, or an optical recording medium the reflectance of which is changed with rise in temperature of the recording medium caused by radiation of the readout beam, in which changes in the size of an effective reproducing region due to the temperature of the magneto-optical or optical recording medium may be inhibited. To this end, a temperature sensor 20 for sensing the temperature of the magneto-optical disc 11, for example, is provided and the laser power or the external magnetic field is controlled depending on the detected temperature by the temperature sensor 20 to maintain a constant size of the effective reproducing region at all times.

An optical recording medium may be roughly classified into a read-only medium, such as a so-called compact disc, and a medium on which signals can be recorded, such as a magneto-optical disc. With any of these optical recording media, it is desired to improve the recording density to a higher level. It is because a data volume several to more than ten times that of digital audio signals is required when recording digital video signals and because a demand is raised for reducing the size of the recording medium, such as a disc and hence the size of a product, such as a player, even when recording digital audio signals.
Meanwhile, the recording density of recording the information on the recording medium is governed by the S/N ratio of the playback signals. In the typical conventional optical recording and reproduction, the total area of a beam spot SP, which is a radiation region of the readout beam, such as the laser beam for the optical recording medium, as shown in FIG. 1, is a playback signal region. Thus the reproducible recording density is governed by the diameter D.sub.SP of the beam spot of the readout beam.
If, for example, the diameter D.sub.SP of the beam spot SP of the readout laser beam is lesser than a pitch q of a recording pit RP, two recording pits cannot be present in the spot SP, and the playback output waveform is as shown at B in FIG. 1, so that the playback signals can be read. However, if the recording pits SP are formed at a higher density, and the diameter D.sub.SP of the beam spot SP becomes larger than the pitch q of the recording pit RP, as shown at C in FIG. 1, two or more pits may be present simultaneously in the spot SP, so that the playback output waveform becomes substantially constant as shown at D in FIG. 1. In this case, these two recording pits cannot be reproduced separately, so that reproduction becomes infeasible.
The spot diameter D.sub.SP depends on the wavelength .lambda. of the laser beam and on the numerical aperture NA. It is this spot diameter D.sub.SP that governs the pit density along the scanning direction of the read-out beam or the recording track direction, or the so-called line density, and the track density conforming to the track interval between neighboring tracks in a direction at right angles to the scanning direction of the readout beam, or the so-called track pitch. The opto-physical limits of the line density and the track density are set by the wavelength .lambda. of the readout beam source and the numerical aperture NA of the objective lens and the read-out limit of 2NA/.lambda. is generally accepted as long as the spatial frequency at the time of signal reproduction is concerned. For this reason, for achieving high density of the optical recording medium, it is necessary to diminish the wavelength .lambda. of the light source of the reproducing optical system, such as a semiconductor laser, as well as to enlarge the numerical aperture NA of the objective lens.
The present Applicant has already proposed an optical recording medium in which the recordable line recording density as well as the track density may be increased without changing the spot diameter of the readout beam spot, and a method for reproducing the optical recording medium. The optical recording medium capable of reproducing the high density information in this manner may be enumerated by a magneto-optical recording medium capable of recording information signals and a variable reflectance type optical recording medium at least capable of reproducing information signals.
The above-mentioned magneto-optical recording medium includes a magnetic layer, such as a rare earth-transition metal alloy thin film, deposited on a major surface of a transparent substrate or light-transmitting substrate of e.g. polycarbonate, together with a dielectric layer and a surface protecting layer. The magnetic layer has an easy axis of magnetization perpendicular to the film surface and exhibits superior magneto-optical effect. The laser beam is irradiated from the side of the transparent substrate for recording/reproducing information signals. Signals are recorded on the magneto-optical recording medium by so-called thermo-magnetic recording in which the magnetic layer is locally heated by e.g. laser beam radiation to close to the Curie temperature to reduce the coercivity to zero in this region and a recording magnetic field is applied to this region from outside for magnetization in the direction of the recording magnetic field. The recorded signals may be reproduced by taking advantage of the magneto-optical effect, such as the so-called magnetic Kerr effect or Faraday effect, in which the plane of polarization of the linearly polarized light, such as laser beam, is rotated in the direction of the magnetization of the magnetic layer.
The variable reflectance type optical recording medium is produced by depositing a material changed in reflectance with temperature on a transparent substrate on which phase pits are formed. During signal reproduction, the readout beam is radiated on the recording medium and the reflectance is partially changed within the scanning spot of the readout beam to read out the phase pits.
In connection with the above-mentioned magneto-optical recording medium, high density reproduction or so-called high resolution reproduction is hereinafter explained.
The present Applicant has previously proposed in e.g. Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 1-143041 (1989) and Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 1-143042 (1989) a method for reproducing information signals for a magneto-optical recording medium wherein information bits (magnetic domains) are enlarged, diminished or reduced to zero for improving the playback resolution. The essential point of the technology consists in that the recording magnetic recording layer is an exchange-coupled multilayer film composed of a reproducing layer, an intermediate layer and a recording layer, and in that the magnetic domain heated by the playback light beam during reproduction is enlarged, diminished or erased at a zone of higher temperatures for diminishing the inter-bit interference during reproduction to render it possible to reproduce signals of a period lower than the light diffraction threshold. There is also proposed in the application documents of JP Patent Application No. 1-229395 (1989) a technology in which the recording layer of the magneto-optical recording medium is formed by a multilayer film including a magnetically coupled reproducing layer and a recording holding layer, the direction of magnetization is aligned in advance to an erased state, the reproducing layer is heated to a temperature higher than a predetermined temperature by irradiation of the laser light and in which magnetic signals written on the recording holding layer only in this heated state are read out while being transcribed on the reproducing layer to eliminate signal crosstalk to improve the line recording density and the track density.
The above-described high density reproducing technology may be roughly classified into an erasure type and a relief type, shown schematically in FIGS. 2 and 3, respectively.
Referring first to FIGS. 2A, 2B and 2C, the erasure type high density reproduction technique is explained. With the erasure type, the recording medium, on which information recording pits RP are exhibited at room temperature, is heated by irradiation of a laser light LB to produce an erased region ER within the beam spot SP of the radiated laser beam LB, as shown at B in FIG. 2, and the recording pit RP within a remaining region RD within the beam spot SP is read, by way of achieving reproduction with improved line density. In sum, this technique consists in that, when reading the recorded pit RP within the beam spot SP, the erased region ER is used as a mask to narrow the width d of the read-out region (playback region) RD to provide for reproduction with an increased density along the scanning direction of the laser light (track direction), that is the so-called line recording density.
The recording medium for erasure type high density reproduction has an exchange-coupled magnetic multilayer film structure composed of an amorphous rare earth for photomagnetic recording (Gd, Tb)-iron group (Fe, Co) ferrimagnetic film. In an example shown at A in FIG. 2, the recording medium has a structure in which a reproducing layer as a first magnetic film 61, an interrupting layer (intermediate layer) as a second magnetic layer 62 and a recording holding layer as a third magnetic layer 63, deposited in this order on a major surface (the lower surface in the drawing) of a transparent substrate 60 formed of e.g. polycarbonate. The first magnetic layer (reproducing layer) 61 is e.g. a GdFeCo layer with a Curie temperature T.sub.c1 >400.degree. C., while the second magnetic layer (interrupting layer or an intermediate layer) 62 is e.g. a TbFeCoAl film having a Curie temperature T.sub.c2 of 120.degree. C. and the third magnetic layer (recording holding layer) is e.g. a TbFeCo layer with a Curie temperature T.sub.c3 of 300.degree. C. Meanwhile, arrow marks in the magnetic films 61 to 63 shown at C in FIG. 2 represent the direction of magnetization of the magnetic domains. H.sub.read represents the direction of the reproducing magnetic domain.
The reproducing operation is briefly explained. At an ambient temperature below a predetermined temperature T.sub.OP, the layers 63, 62 and 61 of the recording medium are magnetically coupled in the state of static magnetic coupling or exchange coupling, while the recording magnetic domain of the recording holding layer 63 is transcribed to the reproducing layer 61 by means of the interrupting layer 62. If the laser beam LB is radiated on the recording medium for raising the medium temperature, changes in the medium temperature are produced with a time delay with the scanning of the laser beam, so that a region at a temperature higher than the predetermined temperature T.sub.OP, that is the erased region ER, is shifted slightly towards the rear side of the laser spot SP in the laser scanning direction. At the temperature higher than the predetermined temperature T.sub.OP, the magnetic coupling between the recording holding layer 63 and the reproducing layer 61 disappears and the magnetic domains of the reproducing layer 61 are aligned in the direction of the reproducing magnetic field H.sub.read, with the recording pits being erased on the medium surface. A region RD of the scanning spot SP, excluding a superposed region with the region ER where the temperature is higher than the predetermined temperature T.sub.OP, substantially represents a reproducing region. That is, the laser spot SP of the laser beam is partially masked by the region ER where the temperature becomes higher than the predetermined temperature T.sub.OP, so that the small unmasked region becomes the reproducing domain RD to achieve high density reproduction.
Since pits may be reproduced by detecting e.g. the Kerr rotation angle of the beam reflected from a small reproducing region (readout region RD) in which the scanning spot SP of the laser beam is not masked by the masking region (erased region ER), the beam spot SP is equivalently increased in diameter for increasing the line recording density and the track density.
In the relief type high density reproducing technique, shown at B in FIG. 3, the recording medium in a state in which information recording pits RP are erased at ambient temperature (initialized state) is irradiated with a laser beam and thereby heated to form a signal detecting region DT, as a recording relieved region, within the beam spot SP of the laser beam, and only the recording pit RP within this signal detecting region DT is read for improving the playback line density.
The recording medium for such high density relief reproduction has a magnetic multilayer structure according to magnetostatic coupling or magnetic exchange coupling. In an example shown at A in FIG. 3, a reproducing layer 71 as a first magnetic layer, a reproduction assistant layer 72 as a second magnetic layer, an intermediate layer 73 as a third magnetic layer 73 and a recording holding layer 74 as a fourth magnetic layer are stacked sequentially on a major surface (the lower surface in FIG. 3) of a transparent substrate 70 formed of e.g. polycarbonate. The first magnetic layer (reproducing layer) 71 is formed e.g. of GdFeCo and has a Curie temperature T.sub.c1 >300.degree. C., the second magnetic layer (reproduction assistant layer) 72 is formed e.g. of TbFeCoAl and has a Curie temperature T.sub.c2 .apprxeq.120.degree. C., the third magnetic layer (intermediate layer) 73 is formed e.g. of GdFeCo and has a Curie temperature T.sub.c3 .apprxeq.250.degree. C. and the fourth magnetic layer (recording holding layer) 74 is formed e.g. of TbFeCo and has a Curie temperature T.sub.c4 .apprxeq.250.degree.. The magnitude of an initializing magnetic field H.sub.in is selected to be larger than a magnetic field H.sub.cp inverting the magnetization of the reproducing layer (H.sub.in >H.sub.cp) and sufficiently smaller than the magnetizing field H.sub.cr inverting the magnetization of the recording holding layer (H.sub.in <<H.sub.cp). The arrows in the magnetic layers 71, 72 and 73 at C in FIG. 3 indicate the direction of magnetization in each domain, H.sub.in indicates the direction of the initializing magnetic field and H.sub.read the direction of the reproducing magnetic field.
The recording holding layer 74 is a layer holding recording pits without being affected by the initializing magnetic field H.sub.in, the reproducing magnetic field H.sub.read or the reproducing temperature, and exhibits sufficient coercivity at room temperature and at the playback temperature.
The intermediate layer 73 exhibits perpendicular anisotropy less than that of the reproduction assistant layer 72 or the recording holding layer 74. Therefore, a magnetic wall may exist stably at the intermediate layer 73 when the magnetic wall is built between the reproducing layer 71 and the recording layer 74. For this reason, the reproducing layer 71 and the reproduction assistant layer 72 maintain the erased state (initialized state) in stability.
The reproduction assistant layer 72 plays the role of increasing coercivity of the reproducing layer 71 at room temperature, so that magnetization of the reproducing layer 71 and the reproduction assistant layer 72 may exist stably despite presence of the magnetic wall. On the other hand, coercivity is decreased acutely during reproduction in the vicinity of the reproduction temperature T.sub.s so that the magnetic wall confined in the intermediate wall 73 is expanded to the reproduction assistant layer 72 to invert the reproducing layer 71 ultimately to extinguish the magnetic wall. By this process, pits are caused to appear in the reproducing layer 71.
The reproducing layer 71 has a low inverting magnetic field H.sub.cp so that the domains of overall surface of the layer 71 may be aligned by the initializing field H.sub.in. The aligned domains are supported by the reproduction assistant layer 72 and may thereby be maintained stably even if there exist a magnetic field between the layer and the reproduction assistant layer 74. Recording pits are produced by the disappearance of the magnetic wall between the layer and the recording holding layer 74 during reproduction, as described above.
The operation during reproduction is explained briefly. The domains of the reproducing layer 71 and the reproduction assistant layer 72 are aligned before reproduction in one direction (in an upward direction in FIG. 3) by the initializing magnetic field H.sub.in. At this time, a magnetic wall (indicated in FIG. 3 by a transversely directed arrow) is present stably so that the reproducing layer 71 and the reproduction assistant layer 72 are stably maintained in the initialized state.
A reproducing magnetic field H.sub.read is applied in an inverse direction while a laser beam LB is radiated. The reproducing magnetic field H.sub.read needs to be in excess of the magnetic field which inverts the domains of the reproducing layer 71 and the reproduction assistant layer 72 at a reproduction temperature T.sub.RP following temperature increase by laser irradiation to cause extinction of the magnetic field of the intermediate layer 73. The reproducing magnetic field also needs to be of a such a magnitude as not to invert the direction of magnetization of the reproducing layer 71 and the reproduction assistant layer 72.
With scanning by the laser beam, temperature changes in the medium are produced with a delay, so that the region whose temperature exceeds a predetermined reproducing temperature T.sub.RP (recording relieved region) is shifted slightly from the beam spot SP towards the rear side along the scanning direction. With the temperature above the predetermined reproducing temperature T.sub.RP, coercivity of the reproduction assistant layer 72 is lowered, so that, when the reproducing magnetic field H.sub.read is applied, the magnetic wall is caused to disappear so that the information of the recording holding layer 74 is transcribed on the reproducing layer 71. Thus a region within the beam spot SP which does not reach the reproducing temperature T.sub.RP is masked and the remaining region within the beam spot SP becomes the signal detecting region (reproducing region) DT which is the recording relieved region. High density reproduction may be achieved by detecting e.g. the Kerr rotation angle of a plane of polarization of the reflected beam from the signal detecting region DT.
That is, the region within the beam spot SP of the laser beam LB which does yet not reach the reproduction temperature T.sub.RP is a mask region in which recording pits are not displayed, while the remaining signal detecting region (reproducing region) DT is smaller in area than the spot diameter, so that the line recording density and the track density may be increased in the same manner as described above.
There is also devised a high density reproducing technique consisting in a combination of the erasure type and the relief type. With this technique, the laser beam is radiated to the recording medium in an initialized state thereof in which recording pits are extinct at room temperature. This heats the recording medium for forming a recording relieved region at a site slightly deviated towards the rear side of the beam spot of the radiating laser beam, simultaneously forming an erased region of a higher temperature within the recording relieved region.
In the specification and the drawings of our co-pending JP Patent Application No. H 3-418110 (1991), there is proposed a signal reproducing method for a magneto-optical recording medium wherein a magneto-optical recording medium having at least a reproducing layer, an intermediate layer and a recording holding layer is employed, a laser beam is radiated and a reproducing magnetic field is applied to the reproducing layer, a temperature distribution generated by the laser radiation is utilized to produce a region where an initialized state is maintained, a region to which the information of the recording holding layer is transcribed and a region the domains of which are aligned in the direction of the reproducing magnetic field, in a field of view of the lens, to produce a state equivalent to optically masking the field of view of the lens to increase the line recording density and the track density as well as to assure satisfactory frequency characteristics at the time of reproduction, there being no risk that, even if the reproducing power is fluctuated, the region of transcription of the information of the recording holding layer be diminished or enlarged.
According to the above-described high density reproducing technique employing such magneto-optical recording medium, only the read region RD, which is in effect the signal reproducing region, or the recording pit RP within the signal detecting region DT, is read within the beam spot SP. Since the size of the read region RD or the signal detection region DT is smaller than the size of the beam spot SP, the distance between adjacent pits in the directions along and at right angles to the laser beam scanning direction may be reduced to raise the line density and the track density to increase the recording capacity of the recording medium.
Meanwhile, with the above-described method for reproducing the high-density information, even although the external reproducing magnetic field is constant and the laser light power is constant, the size of the region RD of FIG. 2 or that of the region DT of FIG. 3, as the reproducing region, is fluctuated with changes in the temperature of the recording medium, such as the magneto-optical disc, brought about by changes in ambient temperature.
For example, with the erasure type reproducing method, explained in connection with FIG. 2, if the temperature of the recording medium, such as the magneto-optical disc, is high, the state of temperature distribution shows a shift towards a higher temperature, as shown by a curve a at B in FIG. 4, so that the erased region exceeding the Curie temperature T.sub.c (mask region) is as shown at ER.sub.HT at A in FIG. 4, so that the effective reading region (reproducing region) RD is diminished.
On the other hand, if the temperature of the recording medium is low, the state of temperature distribution shows a shift towards a lower temperature, as shown by a curve b at B in FIG. 4, so that the erased region exceeding the Curie temperature T.sub.c (mask region) is as shown at ER.sub.LT at A in FIG. 4, so that the effective reading region (reproducing region) RD is diminished.
With the relief type, as will become apparent from its operating principle, if the temperature of the magneto-optical recording medium is high, the reproducing region is increased, whereas, if the temperature of the magneto-optical recording medium is low, the reproducing region is diminished.
As described above, if, with the erasure type reproducing method or with the relief type reproducing method, the effective reproducing region is fluctuated, there is a risk that stable reproduction with a high S/N ratio cannot be achieved.
The same may be said when reproducing a variable reflectance optical recording medium by way of high density reproduction or ultra high resolution reproduction. That is, since the portion within the readout beam which is changed in reflectance is changed in size with changes in the medium temperature, the high reflectance portion, which is in effect the reproducing region, is fluctuated in size with the medium temperature, so that stable reproduction can occasionally not be achieved.
In view of the above-described status of the art, it is an object of the present invention to provide a method for reproducing an optical recording medium in which, even although the temperature of the magneto-optical recording medium of the variable reflectance type optical recording medium is changed, the size of the effective reproducing region may be maintained constant to assure stable reading of information signals.

Temperature detection of a magneto-optic recording medium for controlling irradiation of an erasure region


A contactor has contact electrodes elastically deformable in a direction of thickness of the contactor so that the contactor can make a contact with a semiconductor device with an appropriate contact pressure. The contactor is positioned between the semiconductor device and a test board so as to electrically connect the semiconductor device to the test board. Each of a plurality of contact electrodes has a first contact electrode part, a second contact electrode part and a connecting part electrically connecting the first contact electrode part to the second contact electrode part. The first contact electrode part contacts an electrode of the semiconductor device. The second contact electrode part contacts a terminal of the test board. A combining member has an insulating characteristic and holds the connecting part of each of the contact electrodes in a predetermined arrangement.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to a contactor for electronic products and, more particularly, to a contactor for contacting electrodes of a semiconductor device to achieve a conductive connection so as to examine the semiconductor device such as a large-scale semiconductor integrated circuit (LSI) and a manufacturing method of such a contactor.
In recent years, manufacturing technology of a semiconductor substrate or the like has accomplished remarkable development. In connection with the development, circuit patterns of semiconductor devices such as an LSI have been changed to a fine structure, and an increase in the number of terminals and miniaturization of terminals have also been progressed with remarkable speed.
Moreover, high-density mounting is also required for electronic equipment using a semiconductor device. For example, the number of portable devices that require a small size and high performance, such as a mobile telephone, a mobile personal computer or a video-equipped camera, has increased rapidly. Moreover, a demand for a highly efficient computer, which minimize a distance between adjacent LSIs so as to guarantee a high-speed operation, has also increased rapidly.
For this reason, the form of shipment of semiconductor devices such as LSIs that the LSI chips are delivered with guarantee of its function has been increasing. Such a form of shipment is referred to as known good die (KGD). Moreover, the number of shipments of the chip-size package (CSP), which is a semiconductor devices packaged in the same size as the LSI chip, has also been increasing rapidly.
In the above-mentioned situation, in order to examine semiconductor devices such as LSI, a supply of contactors, which can make reliable electric contact with many terminals formed as a part of fine circuit patters, has become indispensable.
Moreover, in view of an increase in efficiency of an LSI test, a demand has become large for performing all tests including a final test (FT) and a burn in test (BI) as a wafer on which a plurality of LSIs are formed in the LSI manufacturing process.
The full test in a wafer state is effective in maintaining good handling efficiency rather than testing in the state where chips are separated from each other. That is, although the versatility of handling equipment will be lost if the sizes of chips differ from each other, bulk conveyance can be made in the wafer state since an outer configuration of wafers is standardized.
Moreover, there is an advantage that information regarding defective chips can be managed according to a wafer map. Furthermore, a manufacturing process of the wafer level CSP, of which development has been progressing in recent years, is manageable in the wafer state up to an assemble process. For this reason, if a test in the wafer state is realized, chips can be handled in the wafer state throughout the process from a wafer process to packaging (assembly) and testing, thereby achieving an efficient manufacturing process of LSI.
Therefore, it is desirous to develop a contactor which can contact many fine-structure pins of an LSI with corresponding terminals of a test board.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventionally, the following contactors are used as a contactor for an LSI examination: 1) a contactor using a needle-type mechanical probe; 2) a contactor using a membrane probe; and 3) a contactor using an anisotropic conductive rubber.
1) Contactor Using a Needle-type Mechanical Probe
1-1) Cantilever Probe
The contactor using a cantilever-type mechanical probe is formed by arranging needles (formed of a tungsten wire or the like) in positions on a contactor substrate corresponding to positions of terminals of an LSI to be tested. Generally, each needle is constituted so as to extend toward a terminal of the LSI in an inclined state with respect to the LSI.
The contactor using the cantilever probe is used mainly for a peripheral-terminal LSI for a bare wafer. However, such a contactor has a large length of each needle (generally, 20 mm or more), and it is difficult to be used for an LSI having area array terminals. Moreover, since roots of the probes are arranged around one LSI, contact electrodes for an adjacent LSI cannot be formed.
For this reason, a perpendicular probe has attracted attention in recent years. The perpendicular probe is a probe in which contact electrode pins are arranged at the same pitch as LSI terminal so as to acquire a contact action and a contact force sorely by bending of the probe in a vertical direction.
1-2) Spring Probe
A coil spring is used as a contact electrode pin. For example, coil springs are arranged and resin or rubber is filled therebetween so as to connect mutually. The interval of adjacent coil springs is determined by a pitch of terminals of an LSI and a diameter of the coil springs. That is, the interval of adjacent springs is a value obtained by subtracting the diameter of the coil springs from the pitch of the terminals of the LSI.
2) Contactor Using Membrane-type Probe
A membrane-type probe is formed as a film-like circuit board having a metal projection (herein after, referred to as a bump) as a contact electrode for probes. For example, a wiring layer is formed in a flexible thin film insulation substrate (polyimide substrate, etc.), and projections (bumps) are formed in the portion equivalent to the contact electrode terminal parts of the wiring layer by plating etc. As for this method, a contact electrode is beforehand formed on an insulating substrate. There is no problem resulting from the interval of adjacent contact electrodes like a mechanical probe.
3) Contactor Using an Anisotropic Conductive Rubber
An anisotropic conductive rubber is formed by embedding materials (metal wire etc.), which are conductive only in a direction of thickness, in an insulating material such as rubber.
I) The needle-type mechanical probe has the following demerits.
a) Since needles are formed one by one on an individual needle basis, a manufacture cost of the contactor is high.
b) Since needles are attached to a contactor substrate individually, there is a limit in accuracy of positioning of the needle tip.
c) When needles are inclined, there is a limit in arrangement of the needles, and, thus, it is difficult to make the contactor to simultaneously contact electrodes of a plurality of LSIs.
d) In the case of a coil spring type, the interval of adjacent coil-springs is very small when the coils springs are arranged at a small pitch, and, thus, it is difficult to manufacture a structure itself in which the coil springs are arranged and supported in one piece.
II) The membrane-type probe has the following demerits.
a) Each contact electrode cannot move freely. Each contact electrode is embedded into the insulating substrate, and the movable range each contact electrode is small. Moreover, each contact electrode is formed of a metal bump which has less flexibility. For this reason, if there is variation in the height of the bumps, there is a problem in that a low bump does not make a contact or causes insufficient contact may occur.
b) Since the bump forming each contact electrode is generally formed by accumulating metal plating layers, it takes a time for manufacturing the contactor and the manufacturing-cost is high.
III) The anisotropic conductive rubber has the following demerits.
a) A service life is short. Especially, when using at a high temperature, the contactor may be used only 20 to 30 times due to plastic deformation of a rubber part, and only once in the shortest case.
b) Since it is difficult to embed conductive materials into rubber at a small pitch, it cannot be applied to an LSI having electrodes of a small pitch. The pitch of the electrodes to which the anisotropic conductive rubber can be applied is about 150 μm.
Furthermore, since the total number of terminals of all LSIs on a single wafer may reach a few ten thousands in the contactor used for simultaneous wafer-level contact, there are following problems common to the above-mentioned types of contactors.
i) A surface of an LSI terminal (mainly an aluminum pad and a solder bump) is covered by an oxidization film. For this reason, it is desirable to perform a wiping operation, when the contactor makes a contact so as to remove the oxidization film. The wiping operation is an action to wipe a contact surface by sliding a contact tip of a contactor on the contact surface. Among the above-mentioned probes, the probes other than the cantilever-type probe basically deform in a vertical direction and cannot perform the wiping operation.
Moreover, since the terminal size is small, a distance of slide in the wiping operation is preferably as small as possible. Thus, it is necessary to find out the minimum wipe distance while maintaining a sufficient contact pressure. In order to attain this, it is necessary to develop a contactor which can control a contact pressure and a wipe distance separately.
ii) The pressure for pressing a contact electrode against the terminal of LSI is very large.
In the method of the above-mentioned conventional method, a pressure more than 0.1 N (about 10 g) per one terminal is needed, and, thus, when there are about hundred thousand terminals in an entire wafer, a pressure of about 10000 N (about 1000 kg) is needed. Since it is difficult to apply a pressure uniformly to whole terminals due to variation in the height of the contact electrodes, there may be a case in which an excessive pressure is applied to a specific terminal. Moreover, if there is no equipment which receives a total pressure, a wafer may break or bend, which may cause a damage of circuits on the chip.
iii) A position gap occurs due to a difference in thermal expansion coefficient. The LSI wafer is made from silicone in many cases, and the thermal expansion coefficient of silicon is about 3 ppm. However, since the insulating substrate of the above-mentioned contactor is formed of a resin or rubber material, the thermal expansion coefficient thereof is about 13-30 ppm. Therefore, although the contactor is accurately in contact with the LSI terminals at a normal temperature, the contact position of the contact electrodes may shift, when the contactor and the LSI are exposed to a high temperature such as in a BI test, due to a difference in the thermal expansion coefficient between the insulating substrate material and the silicon material of the wafer. Thus, there is a possibility that the contact electrode disengages from the LSI terminal or contacts an adjacent terminal. In a case in which polyimide is used for the insulating substrate material which has a thermal expansion coefficient of about 13 ppm, when a 8-inch wafer (a radius is about 100 mm) is used, if the wafer is heated up to 125 degrees C., a position shift of about 100 μn may occur in the terminal position near an outermost circumference of the wafer even when the contactor is accurately positioned at a normal temperature.

Contactor having contact electrodes of metal springs embedded in a plate-like structure


The invention is a system for a printing press which maintains the density of the colored ink put down on a moving paper web. The system includes a scanning device having a strobe light for illuminating a color patch in a color bar which runs transversely across the web, a camera for photographing the illuminated color patch and a step motor for moving the scanner incrementally across the web. Actuation of the scanner is timed through a microprocessor using input from an optical sensor and encoder. A signal is sent from the camera to a computer which determines the density of the color patch shot. A work station calculates how much the existing ink control console must be adjusted to maintain density and a command signal is sent from the work station to the console to effect the adjustment. Lateral movement of the scanning means is offset or adjusted dependent on signals received from edge detectors, located at the press infeed and at the closed loop roller stand, to compensate for web lateral movement or distortion.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to maintaining the densities of inks put down on a paper web as same is being fed from a multi-color printing press.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In a typical printing press, multi-colored data is printed repetitively on a web of paper fed from the press using a plurality of zone controlled inking units. The number of inking units corresponds to the number of different colors that may be applied to the web while the number of zones in a unit corresponds to the number of patches of ink that can be put down by a given inking unit.
The density of each patch is dependent on the amount of ink deposited on the paper during printing. Ordinarily, the amount to be deposited is preset prior to the commencement of a run.
From a quality standpoint, proper color density must be established and maintained throughout the run. In the past, there have been systems to monitor the quality of the print and correct it when there is a variation from a preset standard. This is accomplished by adjustment of the inking elements to change the amount of ink being deposited.
Prior art teaches some methods to detect the density of the ink laid down on the paper by evaluating a color bar with some type of detector means. Variations in density are noted and ink adjustments are made to correct for the variation. Examples of same are found in: Schramm, et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,200,932; Lecha, U.S. Pat. No. 4,752,892; Brunner, U.S. Pat. No. 4,852,485; Keller, et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,975,862; Pfeiffer, U.S. Pat. No. 5,122,977; Kipphan, et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,182,721; and, Christie, Jr., et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,003,660.
It is also known that video inspection is an important part of some process controls. A key element of the inspection of a high speed object, such as a printed web, is the synchronization of a stroboscopic light source and video source. This is done in such a way as to stop the action of motion with the area or object of interest in the field of view of the video source. An example of same is found in Gneuchtel, et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,794,453.


What is described is a length measurement system and method for measuring relative movements between first and second machine parts, said measurement system comprising a sensing head and a rule sensed by it, said sensing head being securely mountable on the first machine part and said rule being connectable with the second machine part during final assembly of the length measurement system, wherein the rule is mounted within a profiled part which is securely mountable on the second machine part in final assembly and into which the sensing head protrudes, said sensing head being preadjusted, via a removable mounting element, and being releasably connected with said profiled part, in a state prepared for final assembly, or said sensing head, when finally assembled, protruding into the profiled part without being supported thereon.

The invention relates to a protected length measurement system for measuring relative movements between a first machine part and a second machine part, which system comprises a sensing head and a rule sensed by it, said sensing head being securely mountable on the first machine part and said rule being connectable with the second machine part during final assembly of the length measurement system. The invention further relates to a method of final assembly of such length measurement system.
Length measurement systems for measuring relative movements between a first and a second machine part are known and are often used in machine tools, for example in order to sense the movement of a machine head or of a machine carriage relative to a machine bench. For this purpose, use is conventionally made of a rule which is mounted on the machine bench. A sensing head senses the rule, which may be effected in a non-contacting as well as in a contacting manner. However, because of their higher precision of measurement, optical, and thus non-contacting, sensing principles have found acceptance.
Length measurement systems of the aforementioned type may be divided into two categories: open and encapsulated measurement systems. In open measurement systems, the rule is openly mounted on the machine bench, and the sensing head mounted on the machine head moves above the rule. In encapsulated measurement systems, the rule is located in a closed capsule, in which the sensing head is also located. The sensing head runs on guiding elements located within the capsule and is connected with the machine head via a linking element so as to move along with it. An encapsulated measurement system is shown, for example, in DE 3,020,003 A1.
While encapsulated measurement systems achieve greater protection than open systems of the rule and of the sensing head against soiling, they do so at the cost of a great constructional complexity. Encapsulated measurement systems are accordingly more expensive than open measurement systems.
The mounting of a length measurement system on a machine, for example, on a machine tool, requires adjustment to the particular conditions present. The positions of the mounting spots for the rule as well as for the sensing head can be specified only within certain tolerances. For example, a certain tolerance is given with regard to the angle at which the mounting surfaces for the rule and for the sensing head are located relative to each other. In this connection, encapsulated measurement systems are advantageous because the sensing head, being guided within the capsule, is not connected directly with the machine head, but via a relatively easy to modify linking element. Said linking element needs to have as little clearance as possible in the direction of measurement. In the other directions, especially along the axis of the linking element, there is a certain flexibility simply because, due to the guiding means for the sensing head in the capsule, the distance between the machine head and the guiding means in the capsule may vary somewhat along the measured path to be covered.
In open systems, whose sensing head is usually securely attached to the machine head, no such flexibility is present, so that they require greater precision in terms of the relative positions of the mounting surfaces for the sensing head and the rule. This makes final assembly more difficult.
Therefore, it is the object of the invention to provide a length measurement system which achieves improved protection of the sensing head and of the rule with reduced technical complexity.


A package or a chip including a linear amplifier and a power amplifier is provided, wherein the linear amplifier is configured to receive an envelope tracking signal to generate an amplified envelope tracking signal, the power amplifier is supplied by an envelope tracking supply voltage comprising a DC supply voltage and the amplified envelope tracking signal, and the power amplifier is configured to receive an input signal to generate an output signal.

In a conventional envelope tracking supply modulator (ETSM) architecture, a power management integrated circuit (PMIC) provides an envelope tracking supply voltage to a power amplifier within another chip. In addition, for a wide-bandwidth application such that the envelope tracking bandwidth is higher than 100 MHz, the ETSM requires high linearity, however, the parasitic inductance of a trace of a printer circuit board (PCB) and a capacitor load of the power amplifier induce inductive peaking at the envelope tracking supply voltage, and the inductive peaking degrades the performance and the efficiency of the ETSM. Therefore, how to provide a new ETSM architecture that can improve the performance of the ETSM is an important topic.

Envelope tracking supply modulator topology for wipe-bandwidth radio frequency transmitter


An SDH (Synchronous Digital Hierarchy) telecommunications network has a plurality of interconnected nodes (1, 2, 3, 4). Working channels (7,6) are defined between respective pairs of nodes (1,2 and 3,4) with one common protection channel (5) serving a plurality of working channels (5,6) such that in the event of a fault on a working channel traffic signals passing from a first node (3) to a second node (4) along that working channel (6) are switched onto the protection channel (7). The first node (3) is then operative to transmit a channel trace signal along with the traffic signals which serves to identify the respective channel. The second node (4) is operative to monitor for the presence of a channel trace signal on the protection channel (7) for which it is the terminating node and upon detection thereof to switch traffic signals associated with that trace signal on the protection channel (7) into the second node (4) for connection to an onward destination.

This invention relates to a telecommunications network including a channel switching protection arrangement and in particular relates to a way of identifying a channel, section, path or the like so that it can be switched remotely in an SDH (Synchronous Digital Hierarchy) network.
Conventionally in SDH the term "section" is associated with the physical links between adjacent nodes in a network, while the term "path" is associated with a communication link between a pair of nodes, wherever they are located in the network. Each section and path is uniquely identified in SDH by a so called section or path trace signal respectively which has in the past been used as a means of checking that a traffic signal arriving at a particular node is the correct one and for raising an alarm signal if it is not. As used within the specification the term "channel" will be used to describe either a path or a section, the important factor being that each channel, path or section connecting a pair of nodes is uniquely identified by means of a trace signal.
SDH, and the similar North American SONET (Synchronous Optical Network) system, provide a number of protection strategies including Multiplex Section and Path Protection. These strategies provide an adequate means for supporting a 1+1 or 1:1 architecture (i.e. those where one protection path or section serves one working path or section). However a 1:n architecture (i.e. where one protection path or section serves n working paths or sections) is of limited use in Multiplex Section Protection and is not provided for at all by Path Protection.
Multiplex Section Protection (MSP) provides a means of protecting the STM-N (Synchronous Transport Module)/STS-n (Synchronous Transport Signal) signal against channel-associated failures within the multiplex section. A protocol is supported by the K1/K2 bytes and as such provides for either linear protection switching between two adjacent sites or ring switching where the protection between two adjacent sites has also failed.
Path Protection provides a means of protecting the VC-n (Virtual Container)VT-n (Virtual Tributary) signal against channel associated failure within the higher-order/lower-order path respectively. A protocol has been proposed that will support a 1+1 or 1:1 switching only and in its present form could never support a 1:n architecture due to the vast amount of paths present at any one node and as such in the entire network.

Telecommunications network including a channel switching protection arrangement


‘Sweet Catalina’ is a new and distinctive variety of Spathiphyllum plant which is characterized by broad, dark green foliage, strong and rigid petioles, the lack of pollen production, and the stability of all characteristics from generation to generation. The new variety is typically produced as an indoor ornamental plant.

Parentage: The new cultivar is a seedling selection which resulted from the controlled pollination of the proprietary seed parent, Spathiphyllum sp. '09061-44' (not patented), and the proprietary pollen parent, Spathiphyllum sp. '09076-4' (not patented). Both parents are developed and owned by the inventor and were never commercially released. Said cross was performed by the inventor at a commercial greenhouse in Honselersdijk, The Netherlands during the early autumn of 2014. After approximately one and a half years of evaluating the seedlings that resulted from said cross, the new cultivar was selected in the summer of 2016 due to its broad, dark green foliage and lack of pollen production. The new cultivar was given the breeder denomination 'Sweet Catalina'.
Asexual Reproduction: Asexual reproduction of 'Sweet Catalina', by way of meristematic tissue culture, was first performed in 2017 at a commercial laboratory in Honselersdijk, the Netherlands. Four successive generations so produced have shown that the unique features of the instant cultivar are stable and reproduced true to type.


A method is disclosed for optically pre-aligning and referencing an antenna set-up outside an antenna measurement range. The pre-alignment is performed in an integration room close to the antenna measurement range in order to avoid unnecessary occupation of the measurement range. The method teaches a technique using generally a pair of high accuracy theodolites (T1, T2) to by means of a room mirror reference (RM) and an antenna mirror-cube transfer a difference between the co-ordinate system of an integration tower (INT) used and the measurement range antenna tower.

Antenna measurements require that the antenna under test (AUT) is illuminated by a uniform plane wave. This requirement is generally achieved in the far field for a range length greater than 2D2/λ where D is the largest dimension of the AUT. In many cases particularly for very short λ this will dictate large distances. A compact range creates a plane wave field at distances considerably shorter than those needed under conventional far-field criteria. The required compact range is usually so short that the implementation can be accomplished indoors. In the compact range a uniform plane wave is generated by a large parabolic reflector with high surface accuracy. Room reflections are minimised by using absorbing material on the walls.
The classic way to align an antenna to the electrical co-ordinate system of an antenna measurement range is to do this alignment with the AUT mounted to the stable antenna tower at the measurement range to then determine the positioning of AUT in relation to the electrical co-ordinate system of the measurement range.
A problem with this classical way of measurement set-up is for instance that while the often time-consuming alignment is performed the quite expensive antenna measurement range will be occupied and can not be used for other antenna measurements. Since the antenna often also is mounted at a great height it is then complicated to achieve the desired accurate determination of the co-ordinates.
Therefore, there is a desire to simplify, as well as if possible speed up, this setting up procedure for the antenna to be tested, which has led to a new inventive method now disclosed by the present patent application.

Pre-alignment outside an antenna measurement range


A hearing aid includes a microphone (1), a signal-transmission unit (2, 3,) for forming or otherwise processing the signal, an output amplifier (4) to which an earphone (10) is connected, and a battery as the power supply. The output amplifier (4) is implemented essentially as a .SIGMA.-.DELTA. amplifier and is connected to a pulse generator (8) which produces a high-frequency pulsed clock signal in the 1 MHz region. A series-connected low-pass filter (15) is also provided. The input signal to the signal converter is a representation, produced by signal processing in the transmission unit, of the low-frequency input signal to the hearing aid, this signal being converted in the signal converter into a binary signal. The output signal (14) thus appears, after passing through the low-pass filter, essentially as an amplified copy of the low-frequency input signal.

The invention relates to a hearing aid with a microphone, a transmission section for signal processing and an output amplifier with connected earphone.
Output amplifiers for hearing aids should have a low power consumption, even for a high output power, in addition to low distortion.
Class B amplifiers possess a higher efficiency than Class A amplifiers. Amplifiers of this type have also been usual for hearing aids in the past.
Output amplifiers in the form of switching amplifiers have an even better efficiency, since the losses in the switches can be theoretically zero.
Known switching amplifiers use pulse duration modulation.
Examples of such D amplifiers are disclosed and described in detail in the European patent application 0 590 903 A1 of Exar Corporation and in U.S. Pat. No. 5,247,581 of Exar Corporation as well as U.S. Pat. No. 4,689,819 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,592,087 of Industrial Research Products Inc., for example.
Such D amplifiers operate in principle as follows:
The square-wave pulse sequence of an oscillator in the ultrasonic frequency range is supplied to an integrator, to which the output voltage of a low-frequency signal is also supplied, whereby this signal arrives from a microphone via an amplifier arrangement and serves as a bias voltage. The output signal of the integrator is then a sawtooth pulse sequence, of which the zero crossings can be varied by the bias voltage in the audible frequency range that is supplied to the integrator. In other words, this low-frequency bias voltage variably shifts the zero crossings of the sawtooth signal from a characteristic which is symmetrical to the symmetry axis without bias voltage signal to an asymmetrical state, whereby the sign and magnitude of the asymmetry are a continuously changing function of the amplitude of the low-frequency input signal.
The zero crossings are then used to control the timing and polarity of the output signal of a polarity-reversing, symmetrical CMOS switching driver stage, which varies the duration of the positive and negative switching pulses corresponding to the time displacement between the zero crossings of the integrator output signal, and thus transmits a pulse-modulated output signal to the earphone with a frequency spectrum in the low-frequency range and which represents an amplified image of the output signal of the microphone.
Such D amplifiers operating with pulse duration modulation have a very high efficiency and operate with hardly any crossmodulation.
A disadvantage of D amplifiers with pulse duration modulation is that the pulse duration should be changed either continuously or in quite small steps if it is wished to achieve a high signal-to-noise ratio.
The known Class D output amplifiers use continuous modulation, i.e. continuous variation of the pulse duration, and therefore need a continuous output signal of the microphone as an input signal. If signal processing preceding the output amplifier takes place discretely with respect to time or amplitude, then this digital signal must first be converted, e.g. in a holding network or a digital-to-analog converter. This represents a hardly justifiable additional measure.
A sigma-delta converter is known from EP-A 0495328, for example, which is particularly suitable as an A/D converter with discrete components. Such circuits are, however, less suitable for use in hearing aids with highly integrated digital circuits.
In addition, EP-A0597523 discloses a fast D/A converter consisting of a sigma-delta converter and of a downstream asynchronous sigma-delta modulator which generates an ambivalent, asynchronously modulated signal from the output signal of the sigma-delta converter, said modulated signal being forwarded to a low-pass filter.
Here also, the level of complexity for the output amplifier of a fully digitized hearing aid is far too high. In addition, it is not possible to achieve a high signal-to-noise ratio.
A hearing aid is known from WO 89/04583 that consists of a part to be worn on the ear and a signal processing part connected via a cable to be worn on the body, in which digital signal processing is performed by means of an AID converter and fitting of the transmission function of the hearing aid to the hearing impairment of the wearer is realized by means of a downstream D/A converter.
The level of complexity here, particularly due to the use of an AID converter, a signal processor and a downstream D/A converter, is far too high and is unsuitable for a fully digitized hearing aid. In addition, an extremely high signal-to-noise ratio cannot be achieved with such a circuit.
Finally, EP-A 0578021 discloses a hearing aid that does not contain a sigma-delta converter but a normal AID converter, a signal processing circuit and a D/A converter.
These circuit parts are followed by a modulator which generates a PDM signal that has to be then forwarded to a low-pass filter. Here too, the level of complexity is too high, in addition to the fact that the use of normal analog-to-digital converters and a digital-to-analog converter following the signal processing circuit makes all the possible positive results of digital signal processing become quite illusory.


The present invention relates to cerium-based particles and their use as a component of a composition for polishing. The present invention also relates to the method of preparation of the cerium-based particles.

WO 2015/091495 discloses liquid suspension of cerium oxide particles. There is no mention of cubic particles made of a mixed oxide of cerium and lanthanum.
WO 2015/197656 discloses metal doped cerium oxide particles. The doping element M is selected in a long list of elements, including lanthanum. The specific surface area after calcination at 300° C. is comprised between 20 and 100 m2/g, which means that the specific surface area of the fresh product is likely to be higher than 20 m2/g. There is no mention of cubic particles with a specific surface area (BET) between 3 and 14 m2/g. The method of preparation is different than the method of the invention as the CeIV/Ce total ratio is higher. Moreover, the conditions of the aging step are not given.
WO 08043703 discloses a suspension of cerium oxide particles in a liquid phase, said particles being secondary particles having an average size of at most 200 nm, and said secondary particles comprising primary particles whose average size is at most 100 nm with a standard deviation of at most 30% of the value of said average size of said primary particles. The particles are based on cerium oxide only.
WO 2013/067696 discloses a polishing composition comprising cerium-based particles, a polyacrylate salt, an acid ester, a defoamer agent and an optional liquid medium. The cerium-based particles are based on cerium oxide, lanthanum-cerium oxide, lanthanum-cerium-praseodymium oxide, lanthanum-cerium-praseodymium-neodymium oxide or other doped cerium oxides. There is no mention of the size of the particles.
WO 2015/091495 discloses a suspension of cerium oxide particles in a liquid phase, in which said particles comprise secondary particles comprising primary particles, wherein said secondary particles have an average size D50 comprised between 105 and 1000 nm, with a standard deviation comprised between 10 and 50% of the value of said average size of said secondary particles; and said primary particles have an average size D50 comprised between 100 and 300 nm, with a standard deviation comprised between 10 and 30% of the value of said average size of said primary particles. The particles are based on cerium oxide only. The process of preparation of the cerium oxide particles is based on a precipitation step using a solution comprising CeIII and CeIV with a ratio CeIII/CeIV between 1/10 000 and 1/500 000 and a base, and a heat treatment step.


Toluene diisocyanate is recovered from a crude distillation feed containing less than 2% by weight of phosgene by

The present invention relates to an improvement of a toluene diisocyanate (TDI) recovery and purification process which uses a dividing wall column for the final purification of the TDI product. The process of the present invention benefits from the ability to achieve a higher TDI purity.
The field of art to which this invention pertains is a process for the purification of toluene diisocyanate (TDI) mixtures. TDI mixtures are generally produced by reacting toluene with nitric acid to yield dinitrotoluene (DNT), hydrogenating the resultant dinitrotoluene (DNT) to yield toluene diamine (TDA) and reacting the toluene diamine (TDA) with phosgene to give toluene diisocyanate (TDI). Toluene diisocyanate (TDI) is a commercial by available material which is particularly useful in the preparation of polyurethanes, polyureas and polyisocyanurate polymers, especially foamed polymers.
DE-A1-3736988 teaches that organic mono- or polyisocyanates are continuously prepared by reacting the corresponding mono- or poly-amine dissolved in an inert organic solvent with phosgene also dissolved in an inert organic solvent at a temperature under 150° C. The amine and phosgene solutions are combined and allowed to pass through one or more reaction columns connected in series and having at least 10 chambers in total separated from each other by perforated plates, the holes of which preferably have a maximum diameter of 20 mm.
EP-A1-570799 teaches that production of aromatic diisocyanates is effected by reaction of diamines and phosgene. The phosgene and diamine are at or above the boiling temperature of the diamine and the reaction has an average contact time of 0.5–5 seconds. The mixture is continuously passed through a cylindrical reaction space at 200–600° C. to complete the reaction with avoidance of back mixing. The gas mixture is then cooled to condense the diisocyanates, with the temperature being maintained above the decomposition temperature of carbamic acid chlorides corresponding to the diamines used. Uncondensed diisocyanate is washed out of the gas mixture with an inert solvent, and the inert solvent is recovered by distillation.
The Polyurethane Handbook (Oertel, G. (Editor), Polyurethane Handbook, Munich, Germany: Hanser Publishers, 1985, pp 62–73) gives a description of a state of the art phosgenation and distillation process for the production of toluene diisocyanate. In the distillation process, the solvent is completely removed from the crude TDI mixture as the top product from a solvent column, with this solvent being returned to the phosgenation or to the excess phosgene recovery. The remaining crude isocyanate bottoms stream from the solvent column is sent to a pre-flasher where two products are achieved: an isocyanate-rich overhead product and a residue-enriched bottoms stream which is fed to the residue removal. In the residue removal, the volatiles are then removed from this residue-enriched stream and condensed. The condensed volatiles from residue removal together with the condensed overhead stream from the pre-evaporation are then combined and fed to an isocyanate column. In the isocyanate column, the product isocyanate is recovered as a top stream while a high-boiler enriched bottoms stream is returned to the pre-evaporation step. This process is limited by the fact that the complete solvent removal is performed in one solvent column. While it is known that TDI yields are negatively affected by higher temperatures, complete solvent removal necessitates operating under relatively low pressures to achieve sump temperatures low enough to prevent a loss of yield, thus necessitating a large column. Moreover, the long residence-time of isocyanate together with residue in heating zones can lead to a higher rate of residue formation. Finally, condensation of the overhead stream from the pre-evaporation before feeding to the isocyanate column is energy inefficient.
In Industrielle Aromatenchemie (Franck H.-G. and Stadelhofer J., Industrielle Aromatenchemie. Berlin, Germany: Springer Verlag, 1987, p 253), a second state-of-the-art process is described. In the described process, the crude TDI-solvent mixture is fed to a two-step pre-evaporation step resulting in a low-boiling overhead vapor product and solvent-free residue-enriched bottoms product which is fed to the residue removal. In the residue removal process, the volatiles are then removed from this residue-enriched stream and condensed. The overhead product from the pre-evaporation is fed to a solvent column. In the solvent column, the solvent is completely removed as the top product, with the solvent being returned to the phosgenation or to the excess phosgene recovery. The remaining crude isocyanate bottoms stream from the solvent column is fed along with the condensed volatiles from residue removal to an isocyanate column. In the isocyanate column, the product isocyanate is recovered as a top stream while a high-boiler (polymeric isocyanate and hydrolyzable chloride compounds (HCC), and other non-volatiles ) enriched bottoms stream is returned to the pre-evaporation step. This process is also limited by the fact that the complete solvent removal must be performed in one solvent column. As in the process described in the Polyurethane Handbook, complete solvent removal necessitates operating under relatively low pressures to achieve sump temperatures low enough to prevent a loss of yield, resulting in a large solvent column. However, this process, in comparison with the former process achieves a reduced residence-time of isocyanate together with residue in heating zones possibly leading to a lower rate of residue formation. Moreover, because there is no needless condensation of a vapor feed to the isocyanate column, this process will be more energy efficient.
From Chem System's PERP Reportfor TDI/MDI (Chem Systems, Process Evaluation Research Planning TDI/MDI 98/99S8. Tarrytown, N.Y., USA: Chem Systems, 1999, pp 27–32) for TDI/MDI it can be learned, that the fractionation of a crude TDI distillation feed product can be completed in the following manner. Normally, the liquid product from the de-phosgenation stage is sent to a pre-evaporator which produces a residue-rich liquid-phase as a bottom product and a vapor-phase product containing mainly solvent and isocyanate as an overhead product. The bottom product from the pre-evaporation is sent to a process for the removal of volatile compounds from the reaction residues (residue removal). The volatile components removed in the residue removal stage as well as the vapor-phase product from the pre-evaporator are sent to a solvent column, where an initial separation of the isocyanate from solvent is completed as well as the removal of any remaining phosgene. The resulting products are a phosgene-enriched top product, a relatively pure solvent stream as an intermediate product and an isocyanate-enriched bottoms product. The phosgene stream is then returned to the de-phosgenation process or to the excess phosgene recovery process. The solvent product is then used in the phosgenation section as well as in the excess phosgene recovery. The bottoms isocyanate-rich product is then sent to a second solvent removal column where the remainder of the solvent is removed. The top solvent product from this step, when relatively pure, can be used in phosgenation or excess phosgene recovery or can be returned to the primary solvent removal step. The final solvent-free bottoms isocyanate product is sent to an isocyanate column, resulting in an isocyanate top product and a residue and hydrolyzable chloride compound (HCC) enriched-bottom stream which is returned to the pre-evaporation or to the residue-removal stages. This process like the process described in Industrielle Aromatenchemie, in comparison with the process described in the Polyurethane Handbook achieves a reduced residence-time of isocyanate together with residue in heating zones possibly leading to a lower rate of residue formation. Additionally, like the process described in Industrielle Aromatenchemie, because there is no needless condensation of a vapor feed to the isocyanate column, this process will be more energy efficient than the process disclosed in the Polyurethane Handbook. It holds the additional advantage, that the solvent removal is completed in two-steps. By taking advantage of the fact that the solvent has a lower boiling point than the isocyanate, the majority of the solvent can be removed under higher pressure, thereby reducing the necessary investment cost for the solvent removal. Additionally, the use of two solvent removal steps adds to the flexibility of operation. However, the presence of a third column adds more complexity to the process.
In fractionation, it is sometimes desirable to separate a multi-component feed stream into a number of streams containing various fractions of desirable components in the product streams. For the case of one feed stream and two product streams, the separation can be accomplished by distillate and bottoms product draw. Further separation can be accomplished by repeating the two-product stream process to either the distillate or the bottoms streams. However, the introduction of additional columns will require a corresponding number of reboilers and condensers. That requirement, in turn, requires additional operating costs as the condensing and the reboiling process is being repeated. Numerous references can be found in prior art documenting efforts to lower both capital and operating costs in the separation of several fractions from a multi-component feed stream The benchmark of the lowest energy consumption has been set by the old and well-known PETLYUK system (Agrawal, R and Fidkowski, Z, "Are Thermally Coupled Distillation Columns Always Thermodynamically More Efficient for Ternary Distillations?", Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research, 1998, 37, pp 3444–3454). In this configuration, a pre-fractionation column separates the feed into two streams using a split vapor stream from the main column's stripping section and a split liquid stream from the main column's rectifying section. The resulting vapor and liquid streams exiting from the pre-fractionation column are richer in light and heavy components respectively. These two semi-processed streams are then fed back to the main column. This configuration provides an advantage allowing the main fractionation column to enhance the purity of the side stream draw. In turn, the main fractionation column also provides the stripping section and the rectifying section with better quality feeds. The combined effect is a very efficient use of vapor/liquid traffic to yield three product streams. U.S. Pat. No. 2,471,134 teaches an improvement of the Petyluk process with a proposal to combine the pre-fractionation and main columns into one fractionation unit by erecting a partition along the center part of a column. The column is equipped with one overhead condenser and one bottom reboiler.
The dividing-wall distillation column described in U.S. Pat. No. 2,471,134 is a vertical column fractionating tower, equipped with reboiler and condenser, which is divided into four distinct column sections by the use of a center partition in the intermediate part of the column. These sections are a common bottom (stripping) and top (rectifying) sections, and the pre-fractionation and main fractionation sections in the intermediate part of the column are separated by a dividing-wall. The multi-component mixture is fed to the pre-fractionation section, the overhead product is taken from the common rectifying section, a bottoms product is taken from the common stripping section, and the intermediate product stream is taken as a side-product from the main fractionation section. One significant advantage of the use of a dividing-wall distillation column is the fact that the sidedraw product can be obtained from the dividing wall distillation column with lower-concentration of low-boiling impurities than that of a side product which is obtained from a simple sidedraw product column.
This dividing-wall distillation column is effective in overcoming the hydraulic limitations in the PETLYUK system. At the same time, it reduces capital costs by having only one common shell. The dividing-wall distillation column disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 2,471,134 has found applications in several processes.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Process for the purification of toluene diisocyanate incorporating a dividing-wall distillation column for the final purification

Abstract: (a) fractionating the crude distillation feed containing less than 2% by weight of phosgene to remove the solvent and optionally the reaction residues to produce a crude toluene diisocyanate feed containing less than 20% by weight of solvent and

Abstract: (b) separating the crude toluene diisocyanate feed containing less than 20% by weight of solvent in a divided-wall distillation column into four product fractions P1–P4. P1 is a vapor phase low-boiler and solvent-enriched gas stream, P2 is a low-boiler and solvent-enriched product, P3 is a high boiler-enriched bottoms product containing toluene diisocyanate and P4 is a toluene diisocyanate product stream lean in low-boilers, high-boilers and reaction residues.


A control method of an electronic device system for diving is provided. The control method includes steps of sending a positioning request signal to the slave device; receiving a feedback signal sent by the slave device, the feedback signal is generated by the slave device responding to the positioning request signal, the feedback signal includes water pressure data; according to the time difference between the sending time of the positioning request signal and the receiving time of the feedback signal, and the signal transmission speed, the relative distance with the slave device is calculated; obtaining the relative direction between the slave device and the master device according to the incoming direction of the feedback signal received by the ultrasonic receiver; calculating the relative depth with the slave device according to the water pressure data in the feedback signal. Furthermore, an electronic device and system for diving are also provided.

Generally, two or more people are needed to dive together for safety. Because of the barrier of sea water, the diver can't use the reference object to obtain his position and a relative distance between the diver and his partners. In case of any accident (such as no partner can be seen due to too far distance or poor visibility of sea water, washed away by sea current, up floating in the middle due to failure of breathing device, passive up floating or sinking due to poor buoyancy control, encounter with dangerous organisms such as sharks, etc.), the partners cannot determine their relative position, give warning or assist each other.
The general method to keep the distance between the partners is to connect "diving rope" between the partners. This method can only be used in the flat environment. Moreover, it can only be used by two divers. When multiple divers are diving at the same time or carrying out highly difficult diving projects (such as cave diving, shipwreck diving, underwater boulder diving, underwater city archaeology, etc.), the diving rope is prone to kink, pull, scratch, drag and other problems, even entangled on the diver's body or the diving breathing device such as the second stage of the gas cylinder, causing diving accident that may result in casualties. The general methods to enable the divers to communicate with each other underwater are using sign language, knocking gas cylinder, using signal rope, etc. Sign language is limited by the visibility of sea water, and the communication distance is usually less than 1 meter. When the environment is bad, the diver can't even see his own gestures; the gas cylinder can only be knocked at a very short distance, and the above methods can't reliably attract the attention of the other partners; the signal rope also has the above-mentioned problems, such as kink and drag and so on.

Electronic device and system and method for diving


A decorative, electrically lighted wreath has a plurality of color changing, concentric, LED bands of light that compliment interchangeable decorative graphic inserts. The bands and inserts can be circular, elliptical, square, rectangular or any desired geometric shape. The illumination and color of the bands is modified by the user via a controller device, either manually or remotely, to coordinate with the graphic inserts. The decorative wreath device also has means to store the graphic inserts.

The use of special occasion decorations, especially in outdoor settings, is very common. Utilizing various configurations of lights as decorative displays during holidays and holiday seasons is especially popular. A single decorative lighting device which has the versatility to be modified and, as a result, be displayed differently on many different occasions would be even more valuable and useful.


Techniques for extracting content from a rendered page are provided. In one approach, a tool allows a user to specify executable code (e.g., JavaScript) to be inserted into a file (e.g., HTML file). The code-injected file is interpreted and the executable code is executed, including, optionally, any executable code already in the file. Content is subsequently generated and provided to another application for further processing.

The approaches described in this section are approaches that could be pursued, but not necessarily approaches that have been previously conceived or pursued. Therefore, unless otherwise indicated, it should not be assumed that any of the approaches described in this section qualify as prior art merely by virtue of their inclusion in this section.
Various applications, including Web crawlers and document processors, analyze web-accessible files (e.g., HTML files) to extract and index information therefrom. Other applications may extract information from files for other purposes. For example, an application may extract information from files to categorize the files, to rate the files, or to test to see if the files satisfy certain criteria. An application that analyzes files is referred to herein as a page analyzer. A Web crawler is merely one example of a page analyzer. While Web crawlers may be used in examples given hereafter, the techniques described herein are not limited to any particular type of page analyzer.
Web-accessible files typically contain mark-up language code (e.g., HTML, XML, etc.) that dictates how the information is to be displayed when the files are interpreted by a browser. The visual output that is produced when such files are interpreted by a browser is referred to herein as a "rendered page" or "web page". Sometimes, interpreting a file to render a page involves executing code contained in the file.
The rendered page produced when a browser interprets a file often displays information contained in the file. In addition, the rendered page may include information referenced by the file, but not actually included in the file. While the file used to render a page typically contains basic textual characters, the page produced by interpreting the file may include structure, formatting, images, video, etc., instead of or in addition to simple text.
Unfortunately for the developers of page analyzers, many files contain executable code, such as JavaScript, that enables Web authors to create files that produce interactive web pages. A major use of web-based JavaScript is to write functions that are embedded in HTML files to perform tasks not possible in HTML alone. An example of this usage is opening or "popping up" a new window with programmatic control over the size, position and "look" of the new window (e.g., whether or not the menus, toolbars, etc. are visible). Another example of this usage is validating web form input values to make sure that the values will be accepted before they are submitted to the server. Another example is changing images or text as the mouse cursor moves over the images or text. This effect is often used to draw the user's attention to important links displayed as graphical elements.
Generally, the presence of executable code in files makes document analysis difficult, because most page analyzers are more interested in the content of the rendered page than in the content of the file that produces the rendered page. To effectively analyze pages that are produced by interpreting files, page analyzers must be able to gather text, follow links, capture popup windows, follow Asynchronous JavaScript and XML (AJAX) instructions, and otherwise analyze such files. Frequently, executable code within a file may cause content that is not reflected in the HTML of the file to be displayed when the file is interpreted by a browser. Page analyzers should take that content into account when analyzing the file.
The following is an example of a simple block of JavaScript code that may exist in a file:
<script> var a = yahoo.com; ... document.write("http://www." + a);</script>
Before the above block of JavaScript code is executed, there is no browsable link to http://www.yahoo.com. When the above JavaScript block is executed, the link "http://www.yahoo.com" is generated, and content located at that link may be retrieved and displayed in a browser. The result of interpreting a file and executing any executable code in the file is referred to hereinafter as the "rendered page."
Without evaluating the content produced by execution of code on these files, the true intent of the web page authors is unknown. Numerous page analyzers may require a more accurate view of content on the Web than what is available strictly from the original file. For example, a page analyzer may index video content. Thus, the page analyzer aims to acquire links to video content on the Web. Frequently, however, video links are completely embedded in JavaScript, and therefore the video content is not indexed.
As another example, a page analyzer may extract product information, such as type of product and price, from files. Many product web pages are generated using templates. A few automated web publishing software packages generate highly dynamic content, such as product price, on web pages in JavaScript. Without complete JavaScript support, the page analyzer would not be able to make full sense of such files because the page analyzer would not be able to render the web page and, thus, would only "see" a portion of the actual content of the rendered page.
As another example, a page analyzer may be a web crawler that indexes information from files. Some spam websites use JavaScript code to conceal inappropriate content from web crawlers. Therefore, the page analyzer may interpret a file as providing legitimate information whereas a web browser may execute the JavaScript code and display only inappropriate content. This form of spam is known as "cloaking."
Based on the foregoing, there is a need to better process files (e.g., HTML files) with embedded executable code (e.g., written in JavaScript) to better extract application-specific information for page analyzers, such as web crawlers.

Injecting content into third party documents for document processing


A fluid filter (10) includes a housing (14), a mounting head (16), a filter element (34), and a pressure sensor (54) mounted to the housing (14) and having a high pressure port (58) communicating with the high pressure side (36) of the filter element (34) and having a low pressure port (60) communicating with the low pressure side (38) of the filter element (34) to sense the pressure drop across the filter element.

The invention relates to fluid filters for filtering fluid from a machine, including spin-on type oil filters for internal combustion engines and hydraulic equipment, and more particularly to a filter with an indicator indicating when it is time to clean or replace the filter.
Filters are used on equipment and engines to reduce operating costs by slowing down component wear. As filters remove particles from lubricating fluid, the pressure drop across the filter element or media increases, and, if left unattended, the filter plugs. The increased pressure drop reduces the flow of fluid to the equipment or engine. Depending on the type of filter, this can result in increased wear rates, decreased fuel efficiency, and catastrophic failure. Further, particle removal efficiency typically declines as the pressure drop rises. Thus, filters need to be cleaned or changed before plugging becomes significant. Typically, filters are serviced, i.e. cleaned or replaced, at regular intervals of time or distance.
Commonly owned U.S. Pat. No. 5,462,679, incorporated herein by reference, discloses an in-situ cleanable oil filter that can be reused over and over again. Nonetheless, cleaning becomes less efficient over time, and the filter may gradually become too restrictive for use. Due to variability in operating conditions, it is impossible to predict in advance when plugging will occur. As a result, users must replace filter elements earlier than necessary, or alternatively after they have plugged. In the former case, users pay the cost of unnecessary filter replacement. In the latter case, accelerated equipment wear occurs, and maintenance costs can be higher. Therefore, it is desirable to have a device that indicates the optimal time to replace the filter media element. For cleanable filters, such as in the '679 patent, the optimal time for media element replacement is when the pressure drop across the media element exceeds a certain critical level. Typically, this occurs at a lower pressure than the terminal pressure drop of disposable elements, and lower than the pressure drop required to activate the filter bypass valve in engine oil and hydraulic oil systems. Unlike disposable filters, the cleanable filter is still removing particles, and its restriction is not excessive when this level is reached, but subsequent cleaning may not allow the filter to be used for an entire filter service interval.
For conventional disposable filters, the media element must be replaced when the pressure drop becomes excessive. At this point, particle removal efficiency is reduced and continued usage will only result in further reductions in removal efficiency and equipment protection. Furthermore, the restriction is such that either the equipment's filter bypass valve will open (and particle removal will be drastically reduced), or the flow through the filter and to oil lubricated components will decrease. Thus, the filter must be replaced at this time. Although filter media elements are typically changed at regular intervals, it is desirable to have an indicator to tell operators to replace the filter under unusual conditions.
The present invention was developed for use, in the preferred embodiment, with in-situ cleanable filters, though the invention can be used with either cleanable or disposable filters to determine when the filter media element needs to be replaced. Devices using pressure change, i.e. .DELTA.P, sensors of various types are known in the prior art and indicate the need for disposable filter element replacement. Typically, such sensors are incorporated into the filter mounting head for spin-on type filters and become a permanent part of the equipment. For some freestanding cartridge type filters, such .DELTA.P sensors are mounted onto the housing with oil lines connecting sampling points upstream and downstream of the element to a gauge or sensor. Some cartridge type filters with canister or bowl style housings have centrally mounted devices utilizing multiple components, fittings and connectors to indicate pressure drop.
In the present invention, in the preferred embodiment, the sampling line and sampling points are integral parts of the bottom of the filter housing, which also has a mounting port for the sensor fitting. For in-situ cleanable filters, in one embodiment, the port and fitting are radially offset from the center of the housing in order to avoid interference with the function of the air inlet cleansing port of the filter used for backflushing. For disposable filters, such port and fitting can be either radially offset or centered with respect to the bottom of the housing. The internal end of such port allows the sensor access to the high pressure side of the filter media element for in-situ cleanable filters. For disposable filters, it can provide access to either the low or high pressure side. A channel drilled into the housing connects the mounting port to the low pressure side of the media element for in-situ cleanable filters. For disposable filters, it can provide access to either the high or low pressure side as needed to measure .DELTA.P.
In the preferred embodiment, the .DELTA.P sensor is mounted in a single hydraulic type fitting that threads directly into the bottom end of the housing. The .DELTA.P sensor is preferably a movable piston, though other types may be used, such as piezoresistive type. The high pressure end of the fitting is equipped with a porous media, such as sintered metal, to dampen the effects of pressure surges on the sensor. This reduces the incidence of false indications of element plugging that may result from cold starts or changing flow rates. The porous media is also a filter, protecting the .DELTA.P sensor and preventing dirty fluid from reaching the clean side of the main filter, and preventing hydraulic lock of the .DELTA.P sensor when a piston type is used, because there is no film formation between the piston and a plate or the like with a hole therethrough. A connector located at the other end of the fitting allows the electrical output from the sensor to be connected to a DC power supply, such as a battery, and an appropriate display or monitor device, such as a dashboard mounted light, or to the equipment's electronic control module. The electrical connector provides for easy removal of the attached wires during filter element changes and installation. Either the sensor itself or the display/monitor device are set such that excessive pressure drop alerts the user that the filter element needs to be changed.
An advantage of the invention is that it can be used with either in-situ cleanable filters or conventional disposable filters. For cleanable filters, the invention has an advantage over alternatives in that in the preferred embodiment it is located radially offcenter and does not interfere with the operation of the air inlet cleansing port. Further for cleanable filters, the invention provides early warning of the need to replace the media element. Users may respond by cleaning the element more frequently until the element is replaced without fear of damaging their equipment. The invention reduces the number of components required for installation relative to other designs because it is located at the bottom of the permanent filter housing, instead of the filter mounting head, and allows easy installation onto existing filter heads, for example when used in conjunction with filters and filter housings such as shown in commonly owned U.S. application Ser. Nos. 08/755,479, filed Nov. 22, 1996, and 08/755,497, filed Nov. 22, 1996, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,779,900, incorporated herein by reference. Since most components are contained within either the housing or the fitting, they are better protected than alternative systems. Further, problems associated with wiring and fittings damaged by use are minimized, whether the filter is cleanable or disposable. This also facilitates installation by either the end user or the factory. To the end user, the invention has an advantage in that filter life can be determined directly and accurately for both cleanable and disposable filters.

Filter with pressure sensor mounted in housing end


A method for performing drop placement by an imaging apparatus utilizing diluted color inks and full strength color inks includes defining a matrix that identifies all possible drop locations at an output resolution; defining primary drop locations in the matrix for at least one color based on predefined criteria, the at least one color including a diluted color; defining secondary drop locations in the matrix for the at least one color; and establishing rules to assign input data received at an input resolution to particular locations of the primary drop locations and the secondary drop locations in the matrix.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to imaging, and, more particularly, to dot management for an imaging apparatus, such as an ink jet printer.
2. Description of the Related Art
An imaging apparatus in the form of an ink jet printer typically forms an image on a print medium by ejecting ink from at least one ink jet printhead to form a pattern of ink dots on the print medium. Such an ink jet printer includes a reciprocating printhead carrier that transports one or more ink jet printheads across the print medium along a bi-directional scanning path defining a print zone of the printer. The bi-directional scanning path is oriented parallel to a main scan direction, also commonly referred to as the horizontal direction. During each scan of the printhead carrier, the print medium is held stationary. An indexing mechanism is used to incrementally advance the print medium in a sheet feed direction, also commonly referred to as a sub-scan direction, through the print zone between scans in the main scan direction, or after all data intended to be printed with the print medium at a particular stationary position has been completed.
For a given stationary position of the print medium, printing may take place during unidirectional or bi-directional scans of the printhead carrier. The height of the printhead generally defines a printing swath as ink is deposited on the print medium during a particular scan of the printhead carrier. A printing swath is made of a plurality of printing lines traced along imaginary rasters, the imaginary rasters being spaced apart in the sheet feed direction, e.g., vertically. In order to form the pattern of ink drops on the print medium, a rectilinear array, also known as a matrix, of possible pixel, i.e., drop, locations is defined within the printable boundaries of the print medium. The closest possible spacing of ink drops in the main scan direction is typically referred to as the horizontal resolution, and the closest possible spacing of ink drops in the sub-scan direction, i.e., between adjacent rasters, is typically referred to as the vertical resolution.
The quality of printed images produced by an ink jet printer depends in part on the resolution of the printer. Typically, higher or finer resolutions, where the printed dots are more closely spaced, results in higher quality images. Increasing the resolution of an ink jet printer increases the number of dots to be printed in a unit area by the product of the increase factor in each dimension in the grid. For example, doubling the print resolution from 300 dpi (dots, or drops, per inch) to 600 dpi in a matrix results in four times as many dots per unit area.
Printing quality using an ink jet printer of the type described above can be further improved by using a technique commonly referred to as shingling, or interlaced printing, wherein consecutive printing swaths are made to overlap and only a portion of the ink drops for a given print line, i.e., raster, are applied to the print medium on a given pass of the printhead. For example, in one known shingling mode using 50% shingling, approximately 50% of the dots for a particular color are placed on any given pass of the printhead, thereby requiring two passes of the printhead to completely print a particular raster. The candidate dots of the first pass of the printhead may be selected according to a checkerboard pattern. The remaining 50% of the dots are placed on a subsequent pass of the printhead.
In typical shingling methods, however, as resolution increases, so does the number of passes of the printhead required to print the image data. Accordingly, while increasing resolution and using shingling patterns to mask printing defects increases the printing quality, such an approach that significantly increases the number of printing passes may not be optimum from an efficiency standpoint in terms of throughput of the printer.
What is needed in the art is a printing method that distributes dots among a plurality of passes without increasing the number of passes that are required to print an image at a predetermined resolution.