A structure for flash memory cells is disclosed, Isolation regions are formed in a semiconductor region separating cells and also separating programming bit line channel regions of a cell from reading bit line charmel regions of a cell. A conductive floating gates has a first portion in the programming bit line channel region of a cell and a second portion in the reading bit line channel region of the cell and a third connecting portion passing over an isolation region. A conductive control gate is separated from the floating gate by an intergate insulator layer and has a first portion entirely disposed over the first floating gate portion, where the first floating gate portion completely covers the space between a source region and a drain region, a second portion disposed over the second floating gate portion, where the second floating gate portion does not extend all the way from a source region to a drain region, the second control gate portion completing the covering of the space between a source region and a drain region and a third connecting portion disposed over the third floating gate portion. A programming bit line channel contact line and a reading bit line channel contact line are disposed over a covering insulator layer and connect to drain regions through the covering insulator layer.

(1) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to semiconductor integrated circuit technology and more particularly to nonvolatile memory devices such as flash EEPROMs (Electrically Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory).
(2) Description of Prior Art
Changes in time of the operating characteristics of a memory device are referred to as its endurance characteristics. Problem-free operation of a device for as long a period as possible should always be a basic requirement in its design and manufacture. Thus providing designs and manufacturing procedures leading to improved endurance characteristics are of fundamental importance.
The underlying concepts of the present invention can be succinctly stated. As a general rule, appropriate for flash memory cells, changes in operating characteristics occur with greater frequency at earlier times when larger potential differences exist or when potential differences exist over larger areas. Consequently, reducing potential differences, or reducing the area over which potential differences are applied can achieve improvements in endurance characteristics. These reductions should be implemented in such a way that other performance requirements are not impacted and so that there are minimal process and mask layout changes that are needed. The present invention provides a unique structure for a flash memory cell that allows for operation of the flash memory cell in a specified manner, which results in significantly improved endurance characteristics. The present invention also provides a method to fabricate such memory cells.
A traditional flash memory cell containing programming and reading channels and a method to fabricate such a traditional memory cell is shown in FIGS. 1a–4c. FIGS. 1a, 2a, 3a and 4a show top views depicting the progression of the process. FIGS. 1b, 2b, 3b and 4b show cross-sectional views depicting stages in forming a programming bit line channel and FIGS. 1c, 2c, 3c and 4c show cross-sectional views depicting stages in forming a reading bit line channel. Shown in FIGS. 1a, 1b and 1c are isolation regions, regions 4 and 52, such as shallow trench isolation (STI) regions, formed in a substrate, 6, which is usually a silicon substrate. Isolation regions 52 are unique to split programming and reading channel memory cells in which they serve to separate programming bit line channel regions, 54 and reading bit line regions, 56, of the memory cell. The area, 2, surrounding the isolation regions is the active area that will contain the memory cell devices. A gate insulator layer covering the active region, which for the sake of clarity is not explicitly shown in the figure, is usually a gate oxide layer. As shown in FIGS. 2a, 2b and 2c conductive floating gates, 8, are now formed, which are usually polysilicon floating gates. It is seen that a floating gate has a portion situated in the programming bit line channel region, 54 and a portion situated in the reading bit line channel region, 56 and a connecting portion that passes over the isolation region 52. An insulating layer that is required over the conductive gate is not explicitly shown and is usually formed by thermal oxidation. The positions for source regions, 10, are delineated at this stage and the source regions are now formed. Referring now to FIGS. 3a, 3b and 3c, conductive control gates, 12, are shown, which usually are polysilicon control gates. The conductive control gates being parallel conductive lines are appropriate for and are utilized as word lines. At this stage the positions of drain regions, 14, between adjacent control gates, are delineated and the drain regions are now readily formed. The next stage of the process is shown in FIGS. 4a, 4b and 4c. An overall insulator layer, 16, is then formed and conductive contact lines, 18 and 32, are disposed over the overall insulator layer, covering the programming bit line channels and the reading bit line channels, respectively and contacting drain regions, 14, through the overall insulator layer, 16. It is noted that the structures of the floating gates and control gates are the same in the programming bit line channels, FIGS. 3b and 4b and in the reading bit line channels, FIGS. 3c and 4c.
As is well known, the array operation of flash memory devices is accomplished through three basic operations. In programming operations electrons are introduced into floating gates where they are stored. Erasing operations remove the stored charge from floating gates. Thus, there are two states, charged and uncharged, that floating gates could be in. Read operations are used to determine in which of the two states particular floating gates are in. This is accomplished utilizing the affect that a negatively charged floating gate causes an increase in the threshold voltage, which is the applied voltage required to obtain a conducting channel. Since the threshold voltage is larger for charged floating gates than for uncharged floating gates, applying a voltage intermediate between the threshold voltages will result in a conducting channel only for the uncharged floating gates. Therefore, the state of a floating gate is determined by the conduction state of the channel upon application of such an intermediate voltage.
For flash memory cells having distinct programming bit line channels and reading bit line channels, such as described above and in FIGS. 1a–4c, the programming operation mode is source side injection. In the source side programming operation mode electrons accelerated from a drain toward a source, in an electron channel induced under both the floating gate and control gate of a cell, are injected from the electron channel into the floating gate. Referring to FIG. 5a, source side injection is achieved for selected cells by the biasing scheme where the source potential, VSS, 22 of FIG. 5a, is about 10.5 volts, the control gate potential, VP2, 24 of FIG. 5a, is about 1.8 volts and the drain potential, VD, 20 of FIG. 5a, is set at VDP, which is defined as the drain potential to achieve 5 microamperes for VSS=10.5 volts and VP2=1.8 volts. This bias scheme is maintained for about 20 microseconds. For unselected cells, for which the floating gates are not to be charged, the bias scheme during programming differs only in that for unselected cells VD=VCC instead of VDP. In the erase operation, for which the erase mode is electron tunneling from the floating gates to the control gates, VD and VSS, 20 and 22 of FIG. 5a, are set to zero volts and the control gate potential, 24, VP2=12.5 volts. This erase operation bias scheme is maintained for about 2 milliseconds. In the reading operation the control gate potential VP2, 30 of FIG. 5b, is set at 2.5 volts, the source potential, VSS, 26 of FIG. 5b is set at zero volts and the drain potential, VD, 28 of FIG. 5b, is set at 1 volt. With this reading operation bias scheme channels under charged floating gates do not turn on and very little current is observed, while channels under uncharged floating gates readily turn on and consequently large currents are observed.
With these bias schemes the operation of traditional flash memory cells having distinct programming bit line channels and reading bit line channels, with structures such as described above and in FIGS. 1a–4c, would seem to be quite satisfactory. However, there are aspects of the structure and the bias scheme, as described above, which are detrimental to the endurance characteristics of the memory cells. The floating gate is a single conductive region that is contained within a cell, while the control gate, which acts as the word line, is a single conductive region that extends over all cells of a column. In addition, the shapes of the parts of the floating gate and control gate that are situated in the programming bit line channel, regions 8 and 12 of FIGS. 3b and 4b, are the same as the shapes of the parts of the floating gate and control gate that are situated in the reading bit line channel, regions 8 and 12 of FIGS. 3c and 4c. Therefore, potentials applied to the control gate during programming will stress regions in both the programming bit line portions and reading bit line portions of the cell. In the source side programming operation mode used, electrons are accelerated from a drain toward a source and an electron channel is required to be induced under both the floating gate and control gate of a cell. It is therefore necessary that the potentials VP2 and VD be applied on the control gate and drain to induce the channel and provide the acceleration. The application of these potentials cause the exertion of stress primarily over insulating layers separating the control and floating gates and the drain from conductive regions at different potentials. This is the case for all regions of the floating and control gates, even those that are situated in the reading bit line channel. Over long term operation of the cell this could lead to degradation in the properties of the stressed insulating layers, which could, for instance, become leaky or could even suffer catastrophic breakdown. Another disadvantage of the traditional structure and bias scheme is the high source potential VSS=10.5 volts that is required to be applied. Such a high potential could more readily induce such detrimental effects as reverse tunneling, punch-through and excessive leakage current. Thus, there are significant disadvantages inherent in the traditional structure and bias scheme stemming from their reduced endurance characteristics.
Li et al. U.S. Pat. No. 6,255,169 B1 discloses a process for fabricating a high-endurance non-volatile memory device. The process includes the step of forming a nitrogen region in a semiconductor substrate prior to carrying out a thermal oxidation process. U.S. Pat. No. 5,648,669 to Sethi et al. shows a high speed flash memory cell.

Flash memory cell with a unique split programming channel and reading channel

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.


A low-power driving apparatus and method are provided. The low-power driving apparatus includes an illuminance-sensing module to sense illuminance, a minimum-perceivable-brightness-determination module to determine a minimum perceivable brightness having non-linear characteristics corresponding to the sensed illuminance, a driving-power-level-determination module to determine a power level based on the determined minimum perceivable brightness, and a driving module to display an image input according to the determined driving power level.

1. Field of the Invention
Aspects of the invention relate to a low-power driving apparatus and method, and more particularly to a low-power driving apparatus and method that can reduce driving power by dynamically controlling brightness of a display monitor based on ambient conditions.
2. Description of the Related Art
Personal portable terminals such as mobile phones or PDAs offer unprecedented user convenience due to advantageous features, including portability, mobility, and the like. In this regard, however, it is necessary to minimize power consumed by the personal portable terminals due to such features.
For example, among various components forming a personal portable terminal, a component for supplying a light source to display an image, e.g., backlight unit, consumes the majority of power consumed in the personal portable terminal. In such a case, by reducing the power consumed by the backlight unit and a luminance reduction rate due to the reduced power consumption is compensated for by digitally processing image information, thereby achieving a low-driving power effect of the personal portable terminal while maintaining the overall luminance of the image perceived by the user.
Meanwhile, personal portable terminals are exposed to various conditions due to such characteristics, by which a user may differently perceive brightness of an image appearing on a display monitor depending on ambient illuminance even if light having a constant magnitude is continuously supplied from a backlight unit, that is, the luminance of the display monitor is uniform. Consequently, visual perception of the image may deteriorate and power consumption may be caused due to unnecessarily high luminance.
Accordingly, there is a need for a personal portable terminal capable of achieving a low-power driving effect while maintaining the brightness of an image at a minimum level even when the ambient illuminance is changed.


An elevator car control system and method of operation determines occupancy weight based upon motor load. Information on motor load is collected during ascent and descent with loaded and unloaded elevator cars and used to create estimates of occupancy weight based for the full range of motor loads throughout travel within the hoistway. Once the estimates are available the approximate occupancy weight can be determined after each floor stop and appropriate action can be taken. One action is Load Bypass which prevents the elevator car from stopping to load more passengers until occupancy weight decreases. Another action is Nuisance Detection which clears all internal floor calls when occupancy weight indicates no passengers are present. Another action is Load Dispatch which prioritizes a floor for pickup based on demand.

In the field of elevators, it is useful to know the occupancy weight of an elevator car during operation in order to optimize control of the elevator car. Some current load weighing or detection methods use sensors that require recurring manual calibration to maintain accuracy throughout the course of use. While a variety of elevator load weighing or detection systems have been made and used, it is believed that no one prior to the inventors has made or used an invention as described herein.
The drawings are not intended to be limiting in any way, and it is contemplated that different versions may be carried out in other ways, including those not necessarily depicted in the drawings. The accompanying drawings illustrate several aspects of the present invention, and with the description serve to explain the principles of the invention. The present invention is not limited to the precise arrangements shown.

Elevator load detection system and method


An electric circuit breaker for interrupting an electric circuit of a vehicle includes a circuit break section having an explosive used for exploding a part of an electric circuit by explosion, a detonating device for exploding the explosive by application of electric power to the explosive, a collision detection device for detecting a collision of the vehicle and, a controller which explodes the explosive by supply of an electric current for detonating purposes to the detonating device in response to a detection signal from the collision detection device. The circuit breaker further includes a housing having a cylindrical member, such as an inner cylindrical portion, and a cover for covering the opening of the inner cylindrical portion. Connector terminals are formed on both ends of the conductor and a horizontal target section to be broken is formed in the middle of the conductor. The horizontal target area is disposed in front of the opening of the cylindrical member and the connector terminals are led to the outside of the housing. The explosive and a filament serving as means for heating the explosive are provided in the cylindrical member. The blasting force of the explosive that causes explosion by heating acts on the horizontal target area in a concentrated manner.

The present invention relates to an electric circuit breaker which automatically interrupts an electric circuit in the event of an abnormality such as an overload current or a short-circuit current. More particularly, the electric circuit breaker also automatically interrupts an electric circuit in the event of collision of a vehicle.
A general electric circuit for automobile purposes employs a fuse or a fusible link as means for immediately interrupting a circuit in case of an overload current or short-circuit current. The fuse or fusible link principally comprises a fusible conductor housed in a container and connector terminals extended to the outside of the container. Many of the fuses or fusible links are used while being connected to electric connector boxes.
Since the fuse or fusible link is originally intended to interrupt a circuit only after occurrence of an excess current, it is impossible for the fuse or fusible link to forcefully interrupt a circuit at desired timing. In the event of an emergency, such as a car accident, if forceful interruption of a circuit is desired even when there is not a flow of an excess current, it is necessary to provide the electric circuit with a circuit breaker capable of forcefully interrupting a circuit by external operation, in place of or in addition to the fuse or fusible link.
For such purposes, as described in e.g., Unexamined Japanese Utility Model Publication 56-357, an existing electric circuit breaker is configured in the following manner. Namely, a fuse ground switch is positioned between loads connected to a main fuse and a ground terminal within a circuit which supplies power to the loads from a battery via a sealed main fuse. A switch controller which turns off the fuse ground switch is positioned between the loads connected to the main fuse and the ground terminal. A collision detection sensor which activates the switch controller in the event of a collision of the vehicle is connected to the switch controller. In the event of collision of a vehicle, the fuse ground switch is turned off, thereby permitting flow of a large electric current to a sealed main fuse. The main fuse is fused, thereby interrupting supply of an electric current to vehicle loads.
Alternatively, Unexamined Japanese Patent Publication 58-47809 describes a circuit breaker of the type which forcefully breaks a conductor by utilization of blasting force of an explosive. The circuit breaker has single encapsulation glass in which an output fuse, an explosive, and a filament for heating the explosive are filled. An input terminal connected to the filament is led to the outside of the encapsulation glass so as to penetrate through the encapsulation glass. The surface of the encapsulation glass is covered with an explosion-proof film.
In such a circuit breaker, an electric current or voltage greater than a given value is applied to the input terminal in order to heat the filament, thereby blasting the explosive. The conductor can be forcefully ruptured by utilization of the blasting force of the explosive. As a result, in the event of an abnormal condition such as a short circuit in an electric circuit or an emergency condition such as a car accident, the circuit can be interrupted at desired timing by control of the electric current or voltage applied to the input terminal.
In the former electric circuit breaker described in the a foregoing publication (JP(UM) 56-357), a collision-reaction switch constituting the collision detection sensor is turned off at the time of collision of a vehicle, whereby the switch controller turns off the fuse ground switch. As a result, a large electric current commences flowing to the main fuse. Since it takes given time to fuse the main fuse since the electric current is supplied to the main fuse, the electric circuit cannot be immediately interrupted. Particularly, in order to interrupt an electric circuit by fusing a fusible link made of the main fuse, it takes long time to fuse the fusible link.
A self-hold relay constituting the switch controller prevents the circuit breaker from being erroneously operated under the influence of vehicle vibrations or prevents a contact point of the relay from being broken before the main fuse is fused. In order to cause the self-hold relay to withstand a large current supplied from the vehicle power source in the event of a short circuit in the electric circuit, a self-hold relay having a large contact capacity must be used. For this reason, the self-hold relay becomes inevitably bulky. When such a self-hold relay is mounted on a vehicle, it becomes difficult to ensure space for the relay.
In the latter circuit breaker described in the foregoing patent publication (JP 58-47809), the blasting force of the explosive is diffused in all directions within the encapsulation glass, and only a small fraction of the blasting force acts on the output fuse. For this reason, in order to ensure the rupture of a fuse, a considerable amount of blasting force as a whole is required to thoroughly break the fuse. If the blasting force is increased by an increase in the amount of explosive, there will also arise an increase in the blasting force acting on the inner surface of the encapsulation glass other than the output fuse. In order to render the encapsulation glass impervious to the increased blasting force, expensive material needs to be used for the encapsulation glass, or the glass must be subjected to special treatment, thereby entailing an increase in cost.
Furthermore, a filament constituting detonating means for exploding an explosive by heating is connected to a power source via lead wires. Upon receipt of a signal representing an abnormality; i.e., application of an electric current or voltage greater than a certain value, the filament is heated, thereby exploding the explosive. In such a configuration, if there is a flow of an electric current to the filament owing to faulty operation during the assembly of the electric circuit breaker or owing to noise due to a disturbance, there arises a risk of erroneous explosion of the explosive.

Harness System Technologies Research, Ltd.


The invention related to a device for examining filled containers for foreign bodies. In an embodiment, the device for examining filled containers for foreign bodies has a transport apparatus for transporting the containers individually in succession in a row on a plane of transport, at least one X-ray source which emits X-rays in a predetermined direction, and an apparatus for recording the X-rays after they have passed through the containers. In an embodiment, the direction in which the X-rays are emitted from the X-ray source is inclined by between 10° and 60° to the plane of transport. In an embodiment, two X-ray sources are provided, namely one arranged above and one below the plane of transport. In an embodiment, the X-ray source is positioned such that the ray course is approximately tangential to the maximum slope of the bulge of the container bottom.

The examination of goods which are packed in containers, for example, fruit juices in drink bottles, by means of X-rays is a process known in the food industry. Problems arise when checking for foreign bodies that have a higher density than the packed goods and, therefore, fall to the bottom of the containers. In the case of containers with a dished bottom, as is the case with many drink bottles, the foreign bodies slide on the bulge of the container bottom to the inner container edge. There, they are hard to recognize by means of X-rays, as the X-rays must penetrate not only the vertical container wall but also the bottom of the container. During this process the bottles are oriented, because of the bulge of the container bottom, at an angle of, for example, 10° to the dished surface of the container bottom and therefore travel a very long distance inside the container material. An additional attenuation of the X-rays by any foreign bodies present therefore has only relatively little effect and is frequently no longer detectable. Also, unevennesses in the surface of the container bottom can easily be mistaken for a foreign body.
EP-A-0 795 746 discloses examining the containers using two X-rays, one of which points 45° in the direction of transport and the other of which points 45° against the direction of transport, with the result that they are at right angles to each other.
EP-A-0 961 114 discloses turning the containers upside down for this examination so that any foreign bodies present drop down to the top of the container near the closure where they can be recognized with certainty by means of X-rays.
WO 01/44791 discloses tilting the containers sideways by roughly 80° and then examining them for foreign bodies using a vertically directed X-ray.

Device for examining filled containers by means of X-rays and use of this device


A fuel tank supporting structure is described which is effective to reliably fix a fuel tank without interfering with the layout of auxiliaries, such as a pump unit, a meter unit, and the like mounted on the fuel tank, and to ensure a sufficient volume of the fuel tank. The disclosed structure includes a subframe for supporting the fuel tank in an internal space having a pair of front and rear cross members, a pair of left and right side members, a pair of fuel tank supporting members disposed inside and below both the side members, and suspension arm supporting brackets located at a level higher than the fuel tank supporting members. The fuel tank placed on the fuel tank supporting members is fixed at its left and right opposite sides by a pair of left and right tank supporting bands which are connected at their front ends to the suspension arm supporting brackets and at its rear ends to the rear cross member.

The present invention relates to a fuel tank supporting structure in which a fuel tank is supported on a subframe which is mounted on a vehicle body frame.
Such a fuel tank supporting structure is known, being described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No.8-48163. In the known fuel tank supporting structure, to support the fuel tank a pair of left and right tank-supporting bands are disposed in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle body. Front ends of the tank-supporting bands are passed through band bores defined in the fuel tank and fixed to a front cross member of the subframe, and rear ends of the tank-supporting bands fitted in a band groove, which is defined in an upper surface of the fuel tank so as to become connected to the band bore, are fixed to a rear cross member of the subframe.
The known fuel tank supporting structure suffers from a problem that the band bore and the band groove are defined near the central portion of the fuel tank where a pump unit and a meter unit are disposed and, for this reason, the pump unit and the meter unit interfere with the tank supporting band to impede the freedom of the layout. Also, the volume of the fuel tank is reduced by the presence of the band bore and the band groove.
The present invention has been accomplished with the above circumstance in view, and it is an object of the present invention to reliably fix the fuel tank without interfering with the layout of auxiliaries such as the pump unit, the meter unit, and the like, mounted on the fuel tank, and to ensure a sufficient volume of the fuel tank.


A normally engaged parking brake system for a mower that automatically disengages a parking brake when a steering arm is moved from a park position. Accordingly, the operator does not need to act to set or release the parking brake during normal operation. The system utilizes a hydraulic actuator that releases the parking brake when pressurized fluid is supplied thereto from a hydraulic pump of the mower. A manual pump, which can be configured to be operated by moving a steering arm of the mower, is provided for supplying pressurized fluid to the hydraulic actuator to release to brake in the event the hydraulic pump is not operating.

Hydrostatic transmissions have many uses, including the propelling of vehicles, such as mowing machines, and offer a stepless control of the machine's speed. A typical hydrostatic transmission system includes a variable displacement main hydraulic pump connected in a closed hydraulic circuit with a fixed displacement hydraulic motor. The closed hydraulic circuit includes a first conduit connecting the main pump outlet with the motor inlet and a second conduit connecting the motor outlet with a pump inlet. Either of these conduits may be the high pressure line depending upon the direction of pump displacement from neutral. For most applications, the pump is driven by a prime mover, such as an internal combustion engine or an electrical motor, at a certain speed in a certain direction. Changing the displacement of the main pump will change its output flow rate, which controls the speed of the motor. Pump outflow can be reversed, thus reversing the direction of the motor. In a vehicle, the motor is typically connected through suitable gearing to the vehicle's wheels or tracks.
In some vehicles, such as zero-turn-radius mowers, separate hydraulic pumps and motors are used to independently drive separate wheels of an axle. By independently driving the wheels in opposite directions, for example, the vehicle can be made to turn with zero radius. Zero-turn-radius mowers are increasingly popular as the size and costs of such mowers decrease.
Movement of some zero-turn-radius mowers is controlled by a pair of steering arms connected to each hydraulic pump. By moving the steering arms, an operator can control the pump flow displacement and direction of each pump and, thus, the speed and direction of rotation of each rear wheel. Accordingly, the operator can both steer the mower and control the speed of the mower by manipulating the steering control arms.
Mowers often are equipped with parking brakes that can be activated by an operator to secure the wheels against rotation when the vehicle is parked. Such parking brakes are typically normally disengaged, and are engaged upon activation by the operator. Thus, if the operator forgets to activate the parking brake, the mower could potentially roll if on uneven ground.


Proposed is an aqueous alkaline developer solution used in the development treatment of a photoresist layer, especially, formed on an aluminum surface of a substrate. Different from conventional aqueous alkaline developer solutions which attack the aluminum surface in the development treatment to cause discoloration or corrosion, the inventive developer solution is free from such troubles by virtue of the specific formulation including, besides 2 to 10% by weight of tetramethylammonium hydroxide as the effective developing ingredient, 20 to 50% by weight of a polyhydric alcohol which is preferably glycerin.

The present invention relates to a developer solution for a photoresist layer used in photolithographic patterning. More particularly, the invention relates to a novel aqueous alkaline developer solution for a photoresist layer on a metallic substrate surface capable of exhibiting an excellent anti-corrosive effect to the metallic surface and causing no troubles of exfoliation of the upper metallic layer from the substrate surface which is laminated with an overlayer of a metal of different kind from the metal of the substrate so as to be useful in the manufacturing process of various kinds of semiconductor devices and liquid crystal display panels.
The method of photolithographic patterning is a well established technology in the manufacturing process of various kinds of semiconductor devices and liquid crystal display panels in which the etching treatment or diffusion treatment is preceded, with an object to selectively protect the substrate surface against the treatment, by coating of the substrate surface with a photosensitive resist composition to form a photoresist layer which is pattern-wise exposed to actinic rays such as ultraviolet light, deep ultraviolet light, excimer laser beams, X-rays and electron beams followed by a development treatment of the resist layer to pattern-wise dissolve away the resist layer.
The developer solution used in the above mentioned development treatment of the photoresist layer is usually an aqueous alkaline solution containing a water-soluble organic base free from metallic constituents which are detrimental against performance of the semiconductor devices or liquid crystal display panels. Examples of such a metal-free organic base include tetramethylammonium hydroxide disclosed in IBM Technical Disclosure Bulletin, volume 3, No. 7, page 2009 (1970) and trimethyl(2-hydroxyethyl)ammonium hydroxide disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,238,661.
Proposals and attempts have been made heretofore to admix the above mentioned organic base-containing aqueous developer solution with various kinds of additives with an object to improve the developability of the developer solution. For example, Japanese Patent Kokai 58-9143 teaches admixture of a specific quaternary ammonium compound which serves as a surface active agent. Japanese Patent Kokai 64-19344 discloses an aqueous developer solution containing from 0.2 to 3.5% by weight of tetramethylammonium hydroxide and from 0.2 to 10% by weight of a polyhydric alcohol, the balance being water. Such an aqueous developer solution is widely employed as a general-purpose developer solution by virtue of easiness in storage and waste disposal along with safety from fire hazards.
It is sometimes the case that the substrate used in the manufacture of semiconductor devices and liquid crystal display panels is a silicon wafer or a glass plate provided on the surface with a layer of a metal such as aluminum to serve as the electric circuit pattern. When such a substrate having a metallic layer is subjected to the photolithographic patterning process to form a patterned metallic layer, a trouble is sometimes encountered that the aqueous alkaline developer solution attacks the metallic layer to cause corrosion of the metallic layer. A recently highlighted substrate as a display for a thin-film transistor (TFT) is a glass plate which is provided with a transparent electroconductive film of indium oxide or mixed oxide of indium and tin called ITO and, further thereon, with a vapor-deposited aluminum film as an electroconductive layer which is patterned photolithographically. When the development treatment is undertaken for a substrate having a layered structure of different kinds of metals by using a conventional aqueous alkaline developer solution, troubles are sometimes unavoidable that exfoliation of the aluminum film takes place or the aluminum film is partly lifted off the underlying transparent electroconductive film by the gas evolved at the interface of the layers eventually to cause bursting of the aluminum film. It is eagerly desired accordingly to develop a novel aqueous developer solution free from these problems and disadvantages.

Developer solution for photolithographic patterning


An opto-electronic apparatus with a metallic structure is provided, and includes a light-permissible medium and a metallic structure. The metallic structure is disposed inside or over the light-permissible medium, and is formed from arrangement of at least one metallic unit. Each metallic unit includes at least three metallic blocks of which centers of mass define a polygon. After passing through the metallic structure, an electromagnetic wave has a distribution curve of transmittance versus wavelength, wherein the distribution curve has at least one transmittance peak value corresponding to at least one wavelength in a one-to-one manner. The area of the polygon is smaller than or equal to λ2, the minimum side length (dmin) is smaller than or equal to λ, and an averaged width (W) satisfies the following relationship: 0.01λ<W<dmin, in which λ represents one of the aforementioned at least one wavelength.

1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates to an opto-electronic apparatus with a metallic structure. More particularly, the present invention relates to an opto-electronic apparatus with a metallic structure for filtering and/or polarizing an electromagnetic wave.
2. Description of Related Art
Filtering of specific frequency spectrum or polarization is a basic operation on electromagnetic waves. The materials and devices capable of color filtering or polarization provide important functionality in electro-optical systems, and are often critical parts of electro-optical systems for scientific, engineering, industrial, consumer, defense and many other applications. The peak transmission efficiency and the effective narrowing of the transmission spectrum are important factors for these applications.
The materials used by conventional skills are mostly dielectrics capable of interacting with electromagnetic waves such as dye, organic, plastic, etc., and are often in a form of film. Since decades ago, a net of metal wires were found to be capable of filtering waves within microwave frequency range, and recently has been improved up to far infrared.
Recently, it is found by scientists that the transmittance of electromagnetic waves can be enhanced through subwavelength holes in the metal film. Although the intensity of electromagnetic waves transmitted through the holes can be higher than that impinging on the area of the holes, yet the overall transmitted intensity is only a small fraction (e.g., less than 10%) of the incoming electromagnetic waves partially because the total area of the holes is much smaller than the overall area irradiated by the incoming waves.

Opto-electronic apparatus with metallic structure


The disclosed systems and methods for hedging risk of differential loss related to separate pools of loan investments use criteria established by the parties for hedging risk of differential loss rates. The system monitors indirect performance indicators for a Reference Pool and a Subject Pool of loans, compares the indicators, and calculates a payment due between the parties (if any) based on performance differences for the two pools and a payment formula. Any payment due is paid according to a pre-established payment cycle. The loan pools may be formed and adjusted based on various factors, such as to compensate for changes in one of the pools. The payment formula may also be adjusted to compensate for changes or differences in the loan pools. The system may hedge either party's credit loss related to the Subject Pool if its loans perform differently than the loans in the Reference Pool.

A. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to financial instruments, and systems and methods for issuing and administering the same. More particularly, the invention relates to systems and methods for separating certain payment rights associated with a pool of assets (which may or may not be securitized) from the remaining payment rights associated with the pool, such that the separated payment obligations form separately transferable financial instruments. Guarantee Certificates evidence an obligation of a mortgage insurer or a securities guarantor to make payments triggered by certain events, typically, default-related events involving a corresponding (in the case of a mortgage insurer) or an underlying (in the case of a securities guarantor) mortgage loan or loans.
The present invention also relates to systems and methods for hedging risk of loss on financial investments. The financial investments may include a pool of assets (which may or may not be securitized).
B. Description of the Related Art
Mortgage insurers regularly write contracts that cover the actual or estimated losses associated with the delinquency and default of mortgage loans. In the absence of mortgage insurance, when a mortgage loan becomes delinquent, the holder of the note typically loses interest payments it would otherwise have received and also may incur expenses associated with foreclosure and liquidation of the mortgaged property. The proceeds from liquidation also may fall short of the amount of principal due to the note holder. If, in lieu of a foreclosure, the mortgage loan is renegotiated in connection with the default, the note holder also may experience losses associated with the workout of the loan. In any case, mortgage insurance would reimburse the note holder for all or part of the foregone interest, expenses and liquidation shortfall.
In the case of loans that have been securitized, i.e., turned into a security, mortgage-backed security investors may turn to bond insurers or government-sponsored enterprises to mitigate losses arising from default of the underlying mortgage loans. These parties typically guarantee the timely payment of loan principal, interest or both. In exchange for a fee, these guarantors absorb all or a portion of the losses that would otherwise be associated with the guaranteed securities. When a securitized mortgage loan experiences a payment default, the guarantor typically compensates the security holder for the difference between scheduled principal and interest payments and the aggregate net amount which is actually realized from a workout or liquidation. As is the case with payments from mortgage insurers, this "make-whole" payment is passed along to a security holder undistinguished from the payment of interest and return of loan principal through normal means, such as amortization or prepayment.
In addition, the guarantor generally ensures that these payments are made to the securities investor at the originally scheduled time, so that the investor does not bear the risk or expense of delays inherent in the loan workout or foreclosure/liquidation process. The existence of insurance for a mortgage loan, or of a guarantee for a mortgage-backed security, is generally established at the beginning of the life of the loan or security in question. A contract between the insurer/guarantor and the investor or trustee sets the terms of the arrangement. A feature of this contract is that the payment obligation of the insurer or guarantor always runs to the owner of the insured or guaranteed asset so that the asset and the insurance cannot be decoupled, even if the value of the arrangement to the owner changes. This feature makes the arrangement illiquid and potentially less valuable.
Investors who purchase pools of mortgage loans typically collect a great deal of information about the loans in order to assess the risk associated with the investment. For example, an investor might want to know the borrower's income, credit score and other financial obligations, as well as the assessed value of the property and the loan to value ratio. Based on this information, the investor can statistically evaluate the probability that the loans in the pool will default and thereby determine the price he or she is willing to pay for the pool of loans. However, if some or all of the desired information is unavailable, the pool is an undesirable investment. In particular, an investor may be reluctant to purchase such a pool or may be willing only to pay a low price for it. And although an investor may attempt to hedge the risk of loss on such a pool, available hedging techniques do not accurately reflect the probability that the loans in the pool will default.

Freddie Mac, The Federal Home Loan Mortgage Co.


According to a torque detecting method, gravitational torque applied to a rotary shaft of an arm is detected in a condition where position control of the arm is stopped, when the arm is located at a first position at which the arm is oriented in a direction different from a direction of gravitational force. Then, a gravity coefficient used for calculating gravitational torque corresponding to a position of the arm is calculated, based on the gravitational torque and the first position. Then, gravitational torque during position control is calculated, based on the position of the arm detected during the position control, and the gravity coefficient. Further, an actual output torque during the position control is calculated, based on operating torque applied to the rotary shaft and detected during the position control, and the gravitational torque calculated during the position control.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a torque detecting method and an arm device.
2. Description of Related Art
When servo control is performed on a single-axis arm, using force (torque) detected with a torque sensor, compensation needs to be made in view of the effect of self-weight torque, mechanical deviation arising upon mounting of the torque sensor, frictional force produced during rotation of the arm, and so forth.
A gravity compensation method of a control system that performs force control is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 62-60010 (JP 62-60010 A). According to the gravity compensation method of JP 62-60010A, a gravity coefficient for an arm angle is calculated in advance, based on the mass of the arm and the position of the center of gravity of the arm. Then, during operation of the arm, gravity compensation torque is obtained, using the gravity coefficient corresponding to the arm angle, and gravity compensation is made using the gravity compensation torque.
However, in the gravity compensation method described in JP 62-60010 A, there is a need to accurately grasp the mass of the arm and the position of the center of gravity of the arm, so as to correctly compensate for the self-weight torque (gravitational torque) of the arm which changes according to the angle of the arm. This process may be cumbersome.


A closed-loop voice-over-Internet-Protocol (VoIP) system has a local and a remote VOIP application. Each VOIP application monitors incoming packet arrival times and durations of audio data in the incoming packets to estimate bandwidth. The bandwidth estimates are forwarded to the other VOIP application. The forwarded bandwidth estimates are compared to a sending bandwidth. When the bandwidth estimate is above the sending bandwidth, compression and audio-frame decimation are reduced to improve voice quality. When the bandwidth estimate falls below the sending bandwidth, audio compression and decimation are increased to improve efficiency. Packet size can also be increased. Congestion estimates can also be sent with the audio data, causing packet transmission to pause until congestion ends. Incoming packet latencies are compared to a moving average to determine the congestion estimate, while bandwidth estimates are made by comparing packet audio duration to time between packet arrivals.

This invention relates to voice-over-Internet-Protocol (VoIP) systems, and more particularly to adjustments of current bandwidth usage of VoIP channels on an unregulated network such as the Internet.
Traditional applications such as telephone calling can now use the Internet rather than traditional telephone networks. Voice-over-Internet-Protocol (VoIP) applications capture a user's voice, digitize and compress the voice, and transmit the coded voice as data inside Internet-protocol (IP) packets that can be sent over the Internet.
VoIP applications can be installed on personal computers (PC's), other devices connected to the Internet, or on translation servers such as Internet-to-Telephone gateways or Protocol Converters. Each party to a call runs a local copy or client of the VoIP application.
FIG. 1 is a diagram of a prior-art VoIP system experiencing packet loss. VOIP application 10 is operated by user A while VOIP application 12 is operated by user B at different nodes on the Internet. User A's speech is digitized, coded, compressed, and fitted into IP packets 20 by VOIP application 10. These IP packets 20 containing user A's voice are routed over the Internet to VOIP application 12.
VOIP application 12 receives these IP packets 20, extracts and de-compresses the voice data, and plays the voice as audio to user B. User B's voice is then captured, coded, compressed, and fitted into IP packets 22 by VOIP application 12. IP packets 22 containing user B's voice are also routed over the Internet back to VOIP application 10 for playback to user A, achieving a full-duplex voice call.
IP packets can be routed over a wide variety of paths using the Internet. Indeed, the de-centralized nature of the Internet allows routing decisions to be made at a number of points along the paths between applications 10, 12. The paths taken by packets 20 in the A-to-B direction can differ from the path taken by packets 22 in the reverse (B-to-A) direction. For example, packets 20 may pass through intermediate routers 14, 16, while packets 22 pass through router 18. Such non-symmetric routing can produce non-symmetric routing delays and challenges for the VOIP system.
Various network problems may occur. A router may temporarily fail, causing some packets to be delayed or lost entirely. The number of arriving packets may suddenly jump, producing congestion such as at router 18. Router 18 may delay packets 24 while the increased packet load occurs. Packets may continue to be delayed after the initial failure is fixed as the packet backlog is worked off. If the input buffers for router 18 overflow, packets 24 may be dropped or lost rather than simply delayed.
Bandwidth limitations may also occur. Packets may need to reach a user through a low-bandwidth dial-up modem line. Some types of modems such as satellite Internet Access or Asymmetric Digital-Subscriber Lines (ADSL) may have much more bandwidth in one direction (download) than in the other (upload). Occasional interference may further delay packets. The modem user may send email or browse a web site, reducing further the limited bandwidth available to the VOIP application's packets. Thus bandwidth limitations may be both permanent and temporary.
VOIP applications 10, 12 may have limited network status communicated between them. Sending VOIP application 12 may be unaware of packet routing problems on the packets it sends. The problems may not exist in packets received by VOIP application 12 from VOIP application 10, as the routing paths may not be symmetrical. Even on a symmetric network congestion or limitations on bandwidth may exist only in one direction, such as upload and download directions on a cable modem or ADSL.
VoIP application 10 cannot determine its outbound bandwidth simply by looking for delays of incoming packets received from VoIP application 12, since different routes may be taken by packets 20 sent and packets 22 received by application 10.
During initialization of a call between applications 10, 12, some provisioning may be performed to determine the initial bandwidths available between applications 10, 12. Such provisioning may be similar to fax machines that negotiate compression standards used and bandwidth or baud rate for each call. However, this initial provisioning is often not continuous. Changes to the Internet that later occur during the call are not detected once provisioning is over and the call is started.
FIG. 2A shows voice data that is packetized and transmitted. The user's voice can be captured as analog waves of varying frequencies that are digitized and coded. The coded voice data is divided into packets and transmitted. Sequence numbers are added to the packets to allow the packets to be re-ordered when some are delayed more than others. The sequence numbers thus allow for out-of-order reception and detection of missing packets. In this example the coded voice is divided into four packets, each packet containing coded voice data for an equal, fixed time period of 20 milli-seconds.
FIG. 2B shows packetized voice data received after varying network delays. The sequence numbers are used to re-order the packets when they arrive with varying network delays.
In this example, packet 2 is delayed slightly, causing a gap to occur between the end of playing the voice for packet 1, and the start of voice play for packet 2. A larger gap occurs between packets 2 and 3, between times S2 and S2′. These gaps may be filled in by interpolating voice data, or by adding silence. However, the pace of the user's voice may seem uneven or jerky due to such gaps.
Of course, all voice could be delayed by a large amount, such as 5 seconds, to allow for late packets. However, this requires a larger packet-input buffer and would greatly increase the delay or latency that the user hears. This delay may be noticeable to the user and annoying. Full-duplex conversation becomes impractical as the delay grows to several seconds. Thus the input buffer has a practical size limit, and packets cannot be delayed for too long. The quality of a full-duplex conversation is better when buffering and delays are kept as small as possible.
Such gaps caused by delayed packets can reduce the quality of the voice played. When a temporary interruption occurs along the path taken by the VoIP packets, packets may pile up in buffers near the point of interruption. Should service be quickly restored, the stored packets in the buffers may be sent after some delay. However, longer-duration interruptions can cause router buffers to overflow. Packets may then be dropped or discarded before reaching their destinations.
Once the interruption ends, the older packets are likely to be sent first by the router. Newer packets may be delayed even after the interruption ends as the backlog of packets is transmitted. Thus stale packets of older voice data may be delivered before more current voice data. These older packets may already be too old to be played, resulting in a lengthening of what was a brief moment of congestion.
Some VOIP systems may detect packet loss or a drop in voice quality. However, packet loss is not sufficiently sensitive to early stages of congestion, since congestion usually begins before packet loss occurs. Waiting to detect packet loss allows the congestion to become much worse before action is taken.
Congestion and Bandwidth Detection
Rather than simply wait for packet losses to mount up, the parent application detects such congestion beginning to occur. In addition to congestion estimates, bandwidth may also be estimated to detect when bandwidth is limited but packet loss is not yet occurring.
Congestion and bandwidth restrictions are detected by one VOIP application and sent to the other VOIP application. Each VOIP application monitors and estimates congestion and bandwidth on its inbound direction for use by the other VOIP application. Congestion and bandwidth estimates can be embedded in the VOIP packets for sending to the other VOIP application.
VOIP applications can respond to the congestion and bandwidth estimates in a variety of ways. The present application describes a closed-loop system wherein one VOIP application estimates congestion and bandwidth while the other VOIP application receives the bandwidth and congestion estimates and adjusts its packet flow to compensate.
What is desired is a VOIP application that can continuously receive estimates of network problems such as congestion, limited bandwidth, and delays. A VOIP system that can continuously respond to such estimates by adjusting audio-compression and bandwidth usage is desirable. A pair of VOIP applications that continuously monitor network conditions and adjust packet flow is desired. A closed-loop feedback VOIP system for network monitoring and audio-packet-flow adjustment is desired.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Closed-loop voice-over-internet-protocol (VOIP) with sender-controlled bandwidth adjustments prior to onset of packet losses


The present invention relates to a method for power balancing a power grid (10) having multiple phases (12:1,2 3) and a common ground (0). The power grid (10) is connected to at least one load (13, 17) causing a non-uniform power consumption between the multiple phases (12: 1, 2, 3) of the power grid (10). The method comprises: monitoring power provided to the power grid (10) in controller (18), storing available energy in the power grid (10) in an energy storage (16) using multiple inverters (I1, I2, I3), each inverter (I1, I2, I3) is connected between the energy storage (16) and each phase (12: 1, 2, 3) of the power grid (10), and redistributing power between phases (12: 1, 2, 3) based on power available in the energy storage (16) by controlling power flow through the inverters (I1, I2, I3) by the controller (18) based on the non-uniform power consumption.

Local power grid, such as households, often experience power balancing issues causing the main fuse situated between the local power net and the main power grid to break. This is mainly due to loads having a non-uniform impact on the phases in the local power grid. A typical example of such a load is a single phase car charger to an electric car. Furthermore, if the local power grid is provided with an energy producing unit, such as solar panels, wind mill, etc., the energy units may introduce a power balancing problem. Controllable loads, such as electric cars, also affects the power distribution in local power grids and adds to balancing issues in local power grids.
US2014/0070617A1 discloses method and apparatus for stabilizing power on an electric grid using networked distributed energy storage systems.
WO2014165938A1 discloses an inverter energy system supplying power to a site with energy generation and load compensation.


A networked speaker system automatically adjusts certain audio speaker system settings based on whether the system is inside a building or has been moved outside as may be sensed by one or capacitors on a speaker. Also, techniques are described for adjusting speaker driver direction based on walls or other barriers in a room or based on the location of a listener.

U.S. Pat. Nos. 9,288,597, 9,560,449, 9,866,986, 9,402,145, 9,369,801, 9,426,551, 9,826,332, 9,924,291, 9,693,169, 9,854,362, 9,924,286, and USPP 2018/115,825, owned by the present assignee and all incorporated herein by reference, teach techniques related to audio speaker systems and more particularly to wirelessly networked audio speaker systems. By wirelessly networking speakers in a system, flexibility is enhanced, because users can easily move speakers to locations in buildings as they desire and otherwise configure the audio system setup without the nuisance of wiring.

Capacitive environmental sensing for a unique portable speaker listening experience


A method of providing visualization of market offers includes receiving offer data for multiple offers, the offer data reflecting values specified in the offers for multiple offer variables. The method further includes generating a display of the offer data. The display includes multiple patterns, each pattern representing a particular offer and including multiple bars. Each bar within the pattern represents a particular offer variable and includes a set of one or more geometric display elements that by virtue of their appearance collectively encode, according to a predefined encoding scheme, a value for the offer variable corresponding to the bar.

Business transactions are increasingly taking place over the Internet and other electronic communication networks. Electronic markets may provide a forum for such transactions, allowing buyers to locate sellers, and vice versa. This process may involve a buyer (or seller) identifying one or more suitable offers to sell (or buy) from one or more sellers (or buyers). However, it may be difficult for a buyer (or seller) to identify suitable offers to sell (or buy) from among the offers available to the buyer (or seller) for a number of reasons. For example, there may be a relatively large amount of information for a buyer (or seller) to consider when trying to identify suitable offers to sell. The market may include a relatively large number of offers.
Offers may include a number of variables, and there may be a relatively large number of possible values for each variable. Additionally, there may be no available offers providing a substantial match with a particular order from the buyer (or seller). The buyer (or seller) may therefore have to determine which of the available offers provide a relatively close match with that order, taking into account a number of offer variables and possibly the relative priorities of such variables.

Providing visualization of market offers using patterns of geometric display elements


Multicast transmission for DS-CDMA cellular communication wherein a mobile station requests a multicast service by use of a service option and a base station transmits to the mobile station a long code mask and code channel needed to receive the multicast service. No reverse channel is used so that an unlimited number of terminals may receive the multicast service.

1. Field of the invention
This invention relates to cellular telephones, specifically to a method of multicast transmission for a direct sequence code division multiple access cellular telephone system.
2. Prior Art
Cellular telephone networks are commonly used for wireless two-way communication between a mobile station and a base station. Many base stations are interconnected to form a network. The base stations are connected to the land-line telephone network so the mobile stations may communicate with land-line telephones or other cellular telephones.
In a direct sequence code division multiple access (DS-CDMA) cellular system the communication between a mobile station (MS) and a base station (BS) is digital information. An example of a DS-CDMA cellular system is described in the TIA/EIA/IS-95A standard. In an IS-95A type system, the digital information may be data or compressed digitized voice. A BS normally will communicate over the forward link with more than one MS at a time by spreading the digital information with a unique spreading code assigned to each MS communicating on a common frequency. The digital information is also scrambled with a unique long code prior to spreading. A particular MS will only receive the information spread with its assigned spreading code and ignore the information transmitted to another MS. The information spread with other spreading codes appears as background noise and reduces the signal to noise ratio. Although a MS can receive information spread on any code channel it will be unable to descramble the information without knowing the long code used to scramble the data.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram of the signal processing in the forward link of a DS-CDMA receiver according to IS-95A. Long code generator 100 generates a pseudo random code used by adder 110 to scramble data. The long code is a serial bit pattern that is sequenced at a rate equal to the data rate being scrambled so there is no spectrum spreading. The long code is the modulo-2 inner product of a long code mask and the state vector of a sequence generator. A 64 bit Walsh code sequence is generated at the transmitted chip rate by Walsh code generator 120 and applied to adder 130 which achieves spectrum spreading.
Several frequency channels are used in each cell. Each forward link frequency channel uses a maximum of 64 spreading codes selected from a set of 64 orthogonal Walsh codes. The spreading code, scrambling code, and frequency channel are assigned to each MS as part of the service negotiation that occurs when a call is originated by the MS or is received by the MS.
Transmission of the same data or voice information to multiple MS is not directly supported by the IS-95A specification. It can be done by spreading the information with a different spreading code assigned to each MS intended to receive the transmission. Accordingly, the transmission to each MS requires one of the available 64 spreading codes. With each additional signal that is transmitted available system capacity is used as the signal to noise ratio is reduced.
It is impractical to transmit data or voice information to a large number of users because of the impact on system capacity. System capacity is limited by a number of factors including signal to noise ratio and the number of available spreading codes. Multicast transmission according to the prior art has the disadvantage of consuming an excessive amount of system capacity and being limited by the number of available spreading codes.
IS-95A type DS-CDMA uses frequency duplexing to separate the forward and reverse link. Communication from the BS to MS occurs on a forward link at one frequency, and communication from MS to BS occurs on a reverse link at another frequency. Simultaneous transmission occurs on both links. Additional signal traffic on either link increases the noise of that link, thus requiring higher transmission power to achieve an acceptable signal-to-noise ratio. When no information is transmitted on the reverse link, a low rate signal is still transmitted by the MS to maintain the synchronization of the BS receiver. This adds traffic and therefore reduces available system capacity. Capacity of the reverse link is generally the limiting factor in overall system capacity, so it is important to avoid unnecessary signal transmission on the reverse link.
If information is to be multicast to several mobile stations, a forward link is needed for the information. A reverse link is not normally needed because a multicast is a receive-only signal. According to the prior art a reverse link is still used, even though not needed. This causes the MS receiving the multicast to transmit a signal that is unnecessary and wasteful of battery power. The added signals on the reverse link also adds noise and requires other MS which are in two-way communication on that frequency channel to transmit at a higher power level. Multicast according to the prior art thus has the disadvantage of causing unnecessary signal transmission, wasting system capacity, and consuming excess battery power in the mobile stations receiving the multicast as well as mobile stations not receiving the multicast.
Conventional implementation of CDMA cellular communication as specified in IS-95A does not allow for efficient multicast transmission. An improved method of multicast transmitting is needed to efficiently transmit the same information to many mobile stations without limiting available system capacity and wasting battery power.

Multicast transmission for DS-CDMA cellular telephones


An ion mobility filter is disclosed. The present invention relates to but not exclusively a field asymmetric ion spectrometry filter. For example, we describe an ion filter for filtering ions in a gas sample. The ion filter is comprised of a plurality of electrodes, a first ion channel, and a second ion channel. The first ion channel filters ions from a target chemical in the gas sample, defines a gap between a first pair of electrodes in the plurality of electrodes, and has a first ion channel gap width. The second ion channel filters ions from the target chemical in the gas sample, defines a gap between a second pair of electrodes in the plurality of electrodes, and has a second ion channel gap width. The first ion channel gap width is greater than the second ion channel gap width.

Ion mobility spectrometers are used to detect particular chemicals within gases such as air. Differential mobility spectrometry (DMS) which is also known as field-asymmetric waveform ion mobility spectrometry (FAIMS) is recognised as a powerful tool for separation and characterization of gas-phase ions. Stability and repeatability of DMS spectra are important issues in the use of DMS in analytical applications, as explained for example in "Temperature effects in differential mobility spectrometry" by Krylov et al in International Journal of Mass Spectrometry 279 (2009) 119-125. Drift gas pressure and temperature are known to influence the field dependence of ion mobility, changing peak positions in the DMS spectra and the paper by Krylov provides a model which can be used for temperature correction of DMS Spectra.
As explained in US2005/0167587A1, an elevation in temperature leads to peaks in a CV spectrum widening due to increased ion separation. Under such conditions, two ions that are separated at room temperature may fail to be separated at 100° C. Similarly, two ions that fail to be separated at room temperature may be separated at 10° C.
The ion channel gap width is a factor that affects the performance of a FAIMS system, as explained for example in 'Characterization of a miniature, ultra-high-field, ion mobility spectrometer' by Wilks et al in International Journal of Mass Spectrometry 15 (2012) 199-222.
The applicant has also recognised the need for an alternative solution for selectively distinguishing particular chemicals.


A low-noise axial fan is provided with whirring sound minimized. The axial fan includes a plurality of blades arranged around a rotation axis at predetermined layout pitches. The blades are arranged at varied layout pitches. For instance, the layout pitch between the two adjacent blades may be different from the layout pitch between the remaining blades. This arrangement controls the whirring sound of the fan, which would be high in level if the blades were arranged at an equal layout pitch. A low-noise axial fan thus results.

1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates to an axial fan which includes a plurality of blades arranged at a predetermined pitch about a rotation axis, and which takes in air in the direction of the rotation axis and discharges the air by rotating the plurality of the blades about the rotation axis. Further, the present invention relates to a centrifugal fan which includes a plurality of blades arranged at a predetermined pitch about a rotation axis, and which takes in air in the direction of the rotation axis and discharges air in a direction tangential to the rotation of the plurality of the blades by rotating the plurality of the blades about the rotation axis. The axial fan or the centrifugal fan may be used as an intake fan or an exhaust fan for electronic equipment such as a computer or projector.
2. Description of Related Art
Electronic equipment, such as a personal computer or a projector, conventionally employs an intake fan that cools the electronic equipment by taking in air from outside the electronic equipment and by having air impinge on the heat generating component, or an exhaust fan that outwardly discharges hot air from within the electronic equipment. As the intake fan or the exhaust fan, an axial fan and a centrifugal fan are available.
The axial fan has a plurality of fans arranged at a predetermined pitch around the rotation axis. By rotating the plurality of the blades about the rotation axis, air is taken in and discharged in the direction of the rotation axis.
The centrifugal fan has a plurality of fans arranged at a predetermined pitch around the rotation axis. By rotating the plurality of the blades on the rotation axis, air is taken in the direction of the rotation axis and discharged in a direction tangential to the rotation of the plurality of the blades.
Such an axial fan or centrifugal fan is arranged over a microprocessor unit forming a computer, or in the vicinity of a liquid-crystal display panel as an electro-optical device forming a projector or a lamp as a light source system in the projector. By having cooling air impinge on these heat generating components or discharging hot air out, efficient cooling is attained.
The axial fan installed in the electronic equipment conventionally employs five to eleven blades having the same shape and arranged about a rotation axis at a predetermined equal pitch.
The axial and centrifugal fans, provided with the blades having the same shape and arranged at the predetermined equal pitch, suffer from wind noise caused by the flow of air and a whirring sound unique to the fan. For instance, when an axial fan having nine blades arranged around a rotation axis at an equal pitch is rotated at a rotational speed of 4000 rpm, a whirring sound of 4000/60xc3x979 (Hz) is generated. Since nine is not a prime number, a whirring sound of 4000/60xc3x973 (Hz), attributed to a divisor of 3 for 9, is also generated.
The whirring sound becomes noise when the electronic equipment is in use, and a user may be uncomfortable with such noise. There is a need for a fan having low whirring sound level.
It is an object of the present invention to provide an axial fan and a centrifugal fan, featuring at least low-noise characteristics with low whirring sound level, and electronic equipment employing these fans.
An axial fan according to various exemplary embodiments of the present invention introduces the layout diversity of the blades, thereby lowering the level of whirring sound. The whirring sound would be high if a plurality of equally spaced blades were rotated. Specifically, the following methods are implemented.
An axial fan of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes a plurality of blades arranged around a rotation axis at a predetermined layout pitch. The plurality of the blades are rotated about the rotation axis to take in air in the direction of the rotation axis and to discharge the air. Some of the plurality of the blades are different from the remaining blades in shape thereof projected onto a plane perpendicular to the rotation axis.
Here, the clause xe2x80x9csome of the plurality of the blades are different from the remaining blades in the shape thereof projected onto a plane perpendicular to the rotation axisxe2x80x9d means that the width dimension of some blades is different from the width dimension of the remaining blades if viewed in the direction of the rotation axis. The shape of some blades is made different from the shape of the remaining blades by expanding an opening angle of the blades with respect to the rotation axis or by reducing a bending angle of the blade.
Since some of the plurality of the blades are different from the remaining blades in the shape thereof projected onto a plane perpendicular to the rotation axis in this exemplary embodiment, the layout diversity around the rotation axis is introduced. The whirring sound may be lower in level, compared with that which is caused by the blades having the same shape and arranged at an equal pitch. A low-noise axial fan may thus result.
An axial fan according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes a plurality of blades arranged around a rotation axis at a predetermined layout pitch. The plurality of the blades are rotated about the rotation axis to take in air in the direction of the rotation axis and to discharge the air. Some of the plurality of the blades are different from the remaining blades in the cross-sectional shape taken in a plane in which the rotation axis lies.
The clause xe2x80x9csome of the plurality of the blades are different from the remaining blades in the cross-sectional shape taken in a plane in which the rotation axis liesxe2x80x9d means that the cross-sectional shape of some blades is made different from that of the remaining blades by setting some blades to be greater or smaller than the remaining blades in the angle of each blade made between a plane perpendicular to the rotation axis and a cross-sectional shape of the blade.
Since some of the plurality of the blades are different from the remaining blades in the cross-sectional shape, the layout diversity around the rotation axis is introduced in the same manner as in the previous embodiment. The whirring sound may thus be lower in level, compared with that which is caused by the blades having the same shape and arranged at an equal pitch. A low-noise axial fan may thus result.
An axial fan according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes a plurality of blades arranged around a rotation axis at a predetermined layout pitch. The plurality of the blades are rotated about the rotation axis to take in air in the direction of the rotation axis and to discharge the air. Some of the plurality of the blades are different from the remaining blades in the layout pitch thereof.
The clause xe2x80x9csome of the plurality of the blades are different from the remaining blades in the layout pitch thereofxe2x80x9d means that, for instance, some of the nine blades are arranged around the rotation axis at a pitch of 30xc2x0 or 50xc2x0, while the remaining blades are arranged on the rotation axis at a pitch of 40xc2x0 degrees.
Since some of the plurality of the blades are different from the remaining blades in the layout pitch in this exemplary embodiment, the whirring sound may thus be lower in level, compared with that which is caused by the blades having the same shape and arranged at an equal pitch. A low-noise axial fan may thus result.
In this exemplary embodiment, from among the plurality of the blades, a pair of blades arranged to be generally diametrically symmetrical with respect to the rotation axis preferably have substantially the same layout pitch.
Specifically, if a first blade is changed in the layout pitch thereof in a nine-blade axial fan, a fifth blade, which is diametrically oppositely arranged across the rotation axis, is also equally changed in the layout pitch thereof.
Without greatly impairing the weight balance around the rotation axis of the axial fan, this arrangement may prevent clattering noise from being generated by the eccentricity of the axial fan during the rotation of a drive motor, thereby relieving a large load on the drive motor.
In the above-described exemplary embodiments, the number of the plurality of the blades is preferably a prime number.
Specifically, if the number of blades of an axial fan is 8 or 9, which is divisible by divisors 2 and 3 or 4, the whirring sound attributed to the divisors 2 and 3 or 4 is generated in addition to the whirring sound of the number of the blades. With the number of the blades of the fan set to a prime number, the whirring sound attributed to the divisors may be prevented. The low-noise characteristic of the axial fan may be even more enhanced.
In the above-described exemplary embodiments, the axial fan preferably includes an eccentricity adjusting device for adjusting weight balance around the rotation axis.
The eccentricity adjusting device can be formed by symmetrically arranging weights diametrically opposite with respect to the rotation axis where blades varied in planar shape, cross-sectional shape, or layout pitch are mounted. Specifically, the axial fan, formed of a plastic mold, includes a plurality of blades and a blade support member rotatably supported about the rotation axis. A projection or a notch is formed on the blade support member at the symmetrical positions diametrically opposite with respect to the rotation axis where the blades having different planar shapes are mounted. The weight balance is thus assured to compensate for the varied blades.
The axial fan thus has the eccentricity adjusting device. Even if some blades are varied in planar shape, cross-sectional shape, or layout pitch, the eccentricity adjusting device may assure the weight balance of the plurality of the blades and the blade support member around the rotation axis, thereby preventing a load from acting on the drive motor.
The above-referenced inventions are implemented not only in the axial fan but also in the centrifugal fan. The same operation and advantages will be enjoyed even if the above-referenced inventions are implemented in the centrifugal fan. The centrifugal fan refers to the one which includes a plurality of blades, arranged around a rotation axis at a predetermined layout pitch, wherein air is taken in the direction of the rotation axis and discharged in a direction tangential to the rotation of the plurality of the blades, by rotating the plurality of the blades around the rotation axis. For instance, a Sirocco fan is a centrifugal fan.
Since the centrifugal fan discharges air in the direction tangential to the rotation, discharged air pressure is large for a low rotational speed, compared with the axial fan. With the above inventions implemented, the whirring sound level may be lowered, and the low-noise characteristic of the centrifugal fan may be enhanced.
With one of the axial fan and the centrifugal fan discussed above incorporated in a personal computer or a projector, sound noise involved in the rotation of the fan during use is lowered in level, and low-noise electronic equipment thus results.

Axial fan, centrifugal fan, and electronic equipment employing one of these fans


The present invention relates to a sampler which is capable of rapidly and easily separating blood corpuscles from blood, being operated conveniently, and directly using extracted plasma. According to one embodiment of the present invention, a sampler includes a chamber and a membrane guide. Here, the chamber includes an insertion unit having an insertion hole on one side, wherein the other side is opened, and an inner side includes a receiving space for receiving a sample. Additionally, one side of the membrane guide is combined to the membrane, and the membrane guide includes a channel wherein filtered materials, which are filtered through the membrane among the samples received in the receiving space, are moved in a gravitational direction.

In general, a fluid sample analysis has been widely applied not only in the fields of chemistry and biotechnology but also the field of diagnosis using blood or body fluids collected from patients.
Recently, various small-sized analysis and diagnosis equipments and technologies thereof have been developed to more conveniently and efficiently conduct the fluid sample analysis.
One of important factors of the fluid sample analysis is preprocessing of a fluid sample.
Here, the processing of the fluid sample means, before the fluid sample analysis, extracting a desired amount of a sample, and then precisely processing the extracted sample, for example, in a dilution buffer at an appropriate rate or separating and refining the extracted sample by mixing the extracted sample with a reaction reagent that is in a solid or liquid state, filling the extracted sample with the reaction reagent, or using a support.
In general, to this end, the fluid sample is preprocessed using a pipette or a fountain pen filter. However, an amount of a sample to be preprocessed is very small and the sample should be very precisely preprocessed when a sample analysis is performed in a unit of a lab-on-a-chip or a lab-on-a-tip. Thus, it is not easy to precisely preprocess the very small amount of the sample using the pipette or the fountain pen filter.
Furthermore, in the case of a field inspection technique, a collected sample is preprocessed and injected again into a measurement device. However, an error occurs in the amount of the sample injected again.
Thus, there is a growing need to develop a sampler that is capable of minimizing errors in processing a tiny amount of blood or other samples and that is easy to manipulate so that even persons who are not specially educated or trained can handle it after listening to a brief explanation thereof.


A portable lamp for demonstration of a sports theme comprises: a) a base; b) a supporting member projecting from the base having an upper end portion; and, c) a generally spherical light source carrying lamp head, carried by the upper end portion of the upright shaft, having an outer segment and a diametrically smaller inner segment, said segments generally semi-spherical and having opposite end portions pivotally attached. Then the segments can be rotated closed to generally form a sphere, or alternatively rotated so that the sphere then has an open segment and the light source therein can radiate light therethrough. Light emitted through the open segment can be controlled by varying a width of said open segment. Most preferably the supporting member comprises an upright shaft capable of manipulation so that its upper end portion can be positioned at a selected angular orientation with respect to the base.

Today's consumers are more demanding and discriminating than they have been in the past. Generally speaking personally designed and custom built and installed mood lighting equipment is prohibitively expensive. However, there is a large market for portable lamps which facilitate custom personalized lighting options. A mood can be readily instigated with a colored lamp filter or lens on what otherwise would be a common lamp. This market is largely unsatisfied. Individuals who are avid enthusiasts of a sport in which they participate, or even only regularly spectate, frequently maintain a room decorated with that sports theme. There is a demand for a lamp which demonstrates an individual's participation and passion for a particular activity or sport. There is also need for a lamp which, by projecting colored light can readily change the mood in a room.
Another aspect of the invention comprises differently focusing light projected from a lamp. The most apparent need for this would be to more intensely focus emitted light on reading material less than a few feet away. Other aspects of this same idea include passing the light through a distorted lens to thereby project intense areas or dark ribbons on surrounding room walls and ceiling. Such a lamp would dramatically affect the decor and mood in a relatively dimly lit room. But presently there is no such portable lamp available. There is a need for an inexpensive portable light distorting and focusing lamp.


Methods and systems are provided for determining inter-region and intra-region traffic in one or more networks. To determine the network traffic flowing between a first region and a second region, one or more routers in the first and second regions are identified along with their respective links connecting the routers in the first region to those in second region. A processor located remotely from the routers in the first and second regions then determines discrete used bandwidth samples of the identified links over a period of time. Based on the used bandwidth samples, the processor determines the network traffic flowing between the first and second regions. To determine the network traffic within a region, a sample of hosts each including one or more web servers in the region are selected. The processor identifies the last pairs of identifiable routers on respective routes from the processor to the sample hosts and the respective links connecting the identified last pairs of routers. The processor then determines discrete used bandwidth samples of the identified respective links. Based on the used bandwidth samples, the processor determines the network traffic within the region.

The present invention relates generally to communication networks, and more particularly, methods and systems for remote measurement of traffic in a network, such as the Internet.
Existing methods and systems for measuring traffic through the Internet are quite intrusive. For example, some systems require at the very least installation of additional software at each and every router and web server in the Internet. Others require the installation of traffic monitoring hardware and software at segments of the Internet. As the Internet continues to expand worldwide, however, these existing methods and systems have become prohibitively expensive and impractical. It would be expensive and impractical, if not impossible, to install traffic monitoring devices in each and every router and web server worldwide to measure the total Internet traffic between or within countries.

Method and system for remote measurement of network traffic


A protective helmet comprising a protective shell and a member for releasably attaching the protective helmet to a user. The protective shell includes a front region, a rear region, a first and a second side region and an outer surface. The releasable attachment member includes a first front strap, a second front strap, an attachment member and a rear strap. The first front strap extends from the first side region of the protective shell. The second front strap extends from the second side region of the protective shell. The attachment member is associated with each of the first and second front straps. The rear strap includes an outer region and two lower extension regions. The outer region extends along the outer surface of the protective shell and the two lower extension regions extend through at least two openings in the protective shell. The lower extension regions are associated with at least one of the first and second front straps.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to helmets, and more particularly, to protective helmets for hockey and other impact sports. It will be understood that the protective helmet is not, however, limited to use in association with sports.
2. Background Art
Protective helmets have long been used for protecting, among other users, athletes participating in contact sports. In particular, helmets have long been used for the sport of hockey. Generally, these helmets comprise a protective shell that is attached to a user through straps. These straps extend from around the ear on either side of the helmet, and attach under the user's chin.
One deficiency of such an attachment is that the helmet is not secured well to the user. While such a helmet does lend some stability in movement upon impact, such conventional helmets nevertheless tend to move more than is desirable. Specifically, such a helmet tends to rotate about an axis extending through the user's ears or about an axis extending longitudinally through the user's body. For example, in certain impact situations, the rotation of the helmet can be such that the helmet can fly off the user's head, or can end up in an awkward position on the user's head--quite often resulting in injury.
Certain solutions have been developed to minimize the ability of the helmet to rotate about the user's head. For instance, certain structural members have been added to the fastening configuration of the helmet in an attempt to provide additional securement. Specifically, Garneau, U.S. Pat. No. 5,581,819 discloses the use of a rear strap which is attached to the helmet and to a lower rear plate. While such a structure is designed to purportedly minimize rotational movement of the helmet (through abutment of the rear plate with the occipital region of the user), such a structure has several drawbacks. The rear strap does not adequately cradle the user's head so as to maintain the helmet in the proper orientation. Secondly, the rear strap does not promote a strong retention structure to retain the rear plate in the proper orientation.


A circuit including a subcircuit having differential signals, and a feedback circuit coupled to the subcircuit. The feedback circuit is configured to measure an offset between the differential signals, to generate a calibration signal in response to the measurement, and to reduce the offset in response to the calibration signal.

1. Technical Field
This disclosure relates generally to electronic circuits and, in particular, to circuits for frequency mixing.
2. Description of the Related Art
Wireless devices are becoming more and more popular as mobile communications and computing devices become ubiquitous. Some wireless devices use radio frequency communications to operate. In such wireless devices, radio frequency upconverters or mixers are important components.
Conventional upconverter or mixer circuits are used to convert a baseband signal to a transmission band signal by mixing the baseband signal with a carrier signal. In a conventional upconverter/mixer circuit, DC offsets of circuitry driving the mixer, as well as a DC offset in an input stage of the mixer, contribute to generation of carrier leakage. This leakage can corrupt the modulation or otherwise lead to non-compliance with specifications for standardized systems such as wireless networks and cell phones.
In order to reduce such offsets, the devices in the circuit are made large to improve matching. This large size leads to large die area, increased costs, and increased power consumption. Furthermore, in many RF mixers, it is not practical to sense the DC offset at the output, as such circuitry would unduly load the circuit.
As a result, there remains a need for an improved mixer circuit.

Apparatus and method for calibrating mixer offset


A new and distinct Medinilla hybrid plant named ‘AROSA’, characterized by an erect shrub plant, measuring about 30 cm in total height (when first flowering) and about 40 cm in diameter; green colored leaves, measuring about 13-18 cm in length and bout 7 cm in width; pendulous panicle, measuring about 20 cm in length and about 10 cm in diameter, with red-purple (RHS 65D) flowers.

The present invention relates to a new and distinct hybrid cultivar of Medinilla plant, botanically known as Medinilla hybrid, hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name 'AROSA'. The genus of Medinilla belongs to the Melastomataceae family.
The new Medinilla 'AROSA' is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the inventors, Elly Bak and Nico D. M. Steur, in Assendelft, The Netherlands. The objective of the breeding program is to develop a new Medinilla variety with a good growing habit and attractive inflorescence.
The new Medinilla 'AROSA' is the result of some generations of selection in a Medinilla hybrid. The female or seed parent of the hybrid is proprietary, unpatented Medinilla selection identified by code 82984514. The male or pollen parent of the hybrid is proprietary, unpatented Medinilla selection identified by code 82981030. The crossing resulting in Medinilla 'AROSA' was made during 2009 and with the plant flowered for the first time in 2011 in Assendelft, the Netherlands.
Asexual reproduction of the new Medinilla hybrid 'AROSA' performed by vegetative means by cuttings was first performed in 2011, in Assendelft, the Netherlands. The first 'AROSA' plants propagated through the use of cuttings flowered in 2012 in Assendelft, the Netherlands, and have demonstrated that the combination of characteristics herein disclosed for the new cultivar are firmly fixed and retained through successive generations of asexual reproduction. The new cultivar reproduces true-to-type.


A spacer for maintaining a pressure tube in spaced relation with a caland tube of a nuclear reactor. The spacer comprising a split ring adapted to be disposed about the outer surface of said pressure tube. The ring has a central annular body portion with a raised bearing surface thereon adapted to contact the inner surface of said calandria tube and prevent contact between said outer surface and said inner surface. An annular land projecting from each side of said central body portion is adapted to receive a collar thereon effective create an interference fit between said ring and said pressure tube and thereby constrain axial movement of said spacer on said pressure tube. The spacer of the present invention maintains its location on the pressure tube and does not suffer the axial movement which characterizes some conventional spacers. The bearing surface can have a coating to reduce wear and heat transfer.

In a nuclear reactor, the pressure tubes which contain the fuel bundles are each positioned within a calandria tube. It is necessary to have an annular space maintained between the pressure tube and the calandria tube to allow for the circulation of gases which thermally insulate the hot pressure tube from the relatively colder calandria tube and the heavy water moderator which flows in the space outside the calandria tube.
Conventionally, a garter spring spacer has been used to maintain the space between the pressure tube and the calandria tube. A garter spring spacer is an endless helical spring disposed around the pressure tube. Its convolutions contact the walls of both the pressure tube and the calandria tube. The spring is unattached to either tube. A garter spring spacer was disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,106,520 issued to Wolfe et al. Oct. 8, 1963.
While the garter spring is effective to support the pressure tube within the calandria tube, there are a number of drawbacks inherent in its use. Because garter spring spacers are not attached to either the pressure tube or the calandria tube, they must be installed on the pressure tube after the pressure tube has been placed inside the calandria tube. As a result, installation of the garter spring spacers is a difficult procedure which requires tedious operations to be carried out at the reactor face. The problem is exacerbated over the operating time of the fuel channel as increased sag develops in the calandria tubes.
The difficulty installing the spacers is of particular significance to the fuel channel replacement procedures because each time the fuel channels are replaced, the spacers must be re-installed. Consequently, the procedure is slow and expensive. An improved fuel channel replacement procedure is desirable not only to reduce the time and expense of the operation but also to reduce the radiation dose level to which those who replace the fuel channels may be exposed.
Another problem with garter spring spacers is that they have a tendency to move axially along the pressure tube during operation of the reactor. This movement is due to vibration and thermal cycling. When axial movement occurs, the spacers must be repositioned. Repositioning the spacers is difficult and costly and may also result in radiation exposure to those who conduct the procedure.
Furthermore, the geometry of the garter spring spacer has limited the materials which can be used in its manufacture. Garter spring spacers have conventionally contained Inconel. It would be desirable to use only zirconium alloy to reduce fuel burn-up and increase neutron efficiency, however the brittleness of that material renders it difficult to form into a spring. Further, there would be considerable concern that a garter spring formed only of zirconium alloy would break during the life cycle of the reactor.
Garter spring spacers are also known to cause wear on the inner wall of the calandria tube which may reduce the burst strength of the tube.
Thus there is a need for a pressure tube spacer which is effective to maintain a space between the pressure tube and the calandria tube and which overcomes some of the difficulties inherent in the use of prior art spacers such as the garter spring spacer.

Atomic Energy of Canada Limited/Energie Atomique du Canada Limitee