An element isolation film is formed by filling an oxide in a trench formed in an element isolation region of a semiconductor substrate to thereby form an insulation film for element isolation. A method of forming the element isolation film includes a first step of depositing a material in a plasma state including oxygen and silicon on an inner surface of the trench while applying no bias voltage (or a relatively low voltage), and a second step of filling the material in a plasma state including oxygen and silicon in the trench while applying a bias voltage (or a relatively high voltage).

This invention relates to a method for forming an element isolation film having an STI (Shallow Trench Isolation) structure, and also relates to a nonvolatile semiconductor memory using the element isolation film.
Due to the increasing speed and density of the semiconductor device, a conventional element isolation film of LOCOS (Local Oxidation of Silicon) oxide film has been replaced by an element isolation film having the STI structure.
The element isolation film having the STI structure is obtained by forming a trench (i.e., a concave portion) on a substrate to a depth required for element isolation by etching, forming an insulation film to fill the trench with the insulation film, and removing the insulation film protruding out of the trench using a planarization process. The insulation film is formed of an HDP (High Density Plasma) oxide film having little defect and having high insulation properties.
The following patent publication No. 1 discloses a flash memory element using an HDP oxide film as a buried insulation film of the STI structure, and manufacturing method thereof. The following patent publication Nos. 2 and 3 disclose techniques for preventing the occurrence of defects on edge portions of the insulation film of the STI structure. The following patent publication Nos. 4 and 5 disclose techniques for preventing the degradation of the characteristics of the element in association with the prevention of the defect on the edge portion of the insulation film of the STI structure.
Patent Document No. 1: Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication 2005-311279.
Patent Document No. 2: Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication 2003-318257.
Patent Document No. 3: Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication 2003-188251.
Patent Document No. 4: Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication 2002-222855.
Patent Document No. 5: Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication 2002-289683.
However, in the manufacturing methods disclosed in either of the above described publications, the HDP oxide film is formed in a single step, and therefore the substrate may be electrically charged by charged particles of plasma or the like. In such a case, a threshold may vary and a leak current may occur, and there is a possibility that the characteristics of the element may become unstable. Particularly, in the case of the nonvolatile memory such as a flash memory or the like having a floating gate structure, there is a possibility that contents of the memory may be lost due to the unstable characteristics of the element.

Method of forming element isolation film and nonvolatile semiconductor memory


A controller and an accessory controllable by the controller can communicate using secure read and write procedures. The procedures can include encrypting identifiers of accessory characteristics targeted by a read or write operation as well as any data being read or written. The procedures can also include the accessory returning a cryptographically signed response verifying receipt and execution of the read or write instruction. In some instances, a write procedure can be implemented as a timed write in which a first instruction containing the write data is sent separately from a second instruction to execute the write operation; the accessory can disregard the write data if the second instruction is not received within a timeout period after receiving the first instruction.

The present disclosure relates generally to remote control systems for controlling accessories and in particular to secure wireless communication between controllers and accessories.
Electronic devices are becoming increasingly popular in a range of applications. Mobile phones, tablet computers, home entertainment systems, and the like are just some of the electronic devices users interact with regularly.
Another category of electronic devices that is becoming more popular includes various electronically controllable "accessory" devices, such as thermostats, lighting devices, household appliances, etc. Users want to control these devices easily and conveniently using mobile devices and the like and to automate their operation.
At the same time, users are understandably concerned about security implications of allowing remote control of accessory devices. For instance, there is a concern that an unauthorized controller device might monitor or intercept communications between an authorized device and an accessory such as a door lock. The unauthorized device might be able to use the monitored or intercepted communications to operate the accessory in an undesirable manner.

Secure wireless communication between controllers and accessories


A loop antenna for a portable, compact radio device, which has a high gain and a high strength according to this invention, is realized such that side surfaces of the loop antenna are inclined or bent along the inclined or curved outer surface portions of a housing.

1. FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a loop antenna used for a portable, compact radio device.
2. DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART
Antennas excellent in portability and free from degradation of antenna gains even upon being carried by users have been used in conventional portable, compact radio devices. Among these antennas, a loop antenna disclosed in, e.g., Japanese Unexamined Utility Model Publication No. 5-2425 is most popular. For example, as shown in FIG. 1, this antenna is obtained by forming a band-like antenna conductor 1 into a loop. The loop antenna is disposed in a plastic housing 2 of a radio device such that the opening of the antenna conductor 1 faces outward. At the same time, the loop antenna is coupled to a parts board 4 of the radio device through a feeder 3. This antenna is excellent in portability because it can be incorporated in the housing 2. When the device is carried by a user, a higher antenna gain than that in a free space can be advantageously obtained due to a human body image effect. The human body image effect implies such phenomenon that an image loop is produced when the radio device is carried by a user, so that current in phase with an actual loop will flow and a peak of electromagnetic intensity will appear in the vicining of a human body by the image antenna in phase with the actual loop.
Since the loop antenna, however, is a magnetic field type antenna, the effective opening surface decreases upon receiving the influence of a metal object located close to the antenna opening. A radiation resistance decreases with respect to the loss resistance of the antenna. As result, in a portable, compact radio device in which an antenna is located very close to a radio unit, the influences of the device board and device parts undesirably lower the antenna gain.
To solve the above problem, the loop antenna must be located at a physically remote position from the radio unit. As the radio unit is, however, basically connected to the loop antenna through only the feeder, the strength of the antenna itself cannot be assured at the physically remote position from the radio unit.
To solve the above problem, it is desirable to arrange the antenna at the inner surface portion of the housing. The physical size of the antenna must be reduced due to the layout of the antenna at the inner surface portion of the housing, higher performance of a recent radio device, and an increase in packing density which result from downsizing. As a result, it becomes difficult to maintain conventional reception characteristics because the reception characteristics can be improved in proportion to an increase in effective size of the antenna. That is, in a conventional loop antenna, downsizing of the antenna is the direct cause for degrading the antenna characteristics.


In the case of connecting a flexible substrate to a counterpart substrate by soldering, the area of a dead space on the counterpart substrate due to being covered with the flexible substrate is reduced to reduce the outside dimension of the counterpart substrate. Solder lands 61 and 62 on the flexible substrate 5 are soldered to solder lands 21 and 22 on the counterpart substrate 1. The flexible substrate 5 is divided into two branching pieces 71 and 72 by an incision 7 or a slit 8 formed in such a manner as to extend from an intermediate part in the arrangement direction R of circuit patterns to the leading end of the flexible substrate. The space between the solder lands 61 and 62 on the respective pieces 71 and 72 is made equal to the space between the two spaced-apart solder lands 21 and 22 on the counterpart substrate 1 by placing the pieces 71 and 72 formed by dividing the flexible substrate 5 on one another.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a connection structure of a flexible substrate, in particular, with measures taken therein to narrow the space between two spaced-apart solder lands formed on a counterpart substrate and thereby to facilitate reducing the size of the counterpart substrate in the case of connecting solder lands formed in both of the lateral edge portions of the flexible substrate to the two respective spaced-apart solder lands on the counterpart substrate by soldering.
2. Description of the Related Art
FIG. 6 is a plan view showing a connection structure of a flexible substrate according to a conventional example, and FIG. 7 is an illustrative enlarged cross-sectional view along the arrows VII-VII in FIG. 6. Further, FIG. 8 is a schematic plan view showing a counterpart substrate 1 according to the conventional example, and FIG. 9 is a schematic plan view showing a flexible substrate 5 according to the conventional example.
The counterpart substrate 1 in FIG. 8 is a circuit board, called PCB, with circuit patterns (not shown in the drawing) being formed on the surface of a rigid base material, the circuit patterns including electrical and electronic elements (not shown in the drawing) such as capacitors, ICs, and resistors mounted on the substrate 1 to form a predetermined control circuit as a whole.
On the other hand, the flexible substrate 5 in FIG. 9 has many parallel circuit patterns (not shown in the drawing) arranged on a base material and has flexibility as a whole, the flexibility allowing the circuit patterns to be turned relatively freely in any direction.
Then, solder lands 61 and 62 are formed in both of the lateral edge portions 51 and 52 of the flexible substrate 5 as shown in FIG. 9, and two spaced-apart solder lands 21 and 22 for soldering the respective solder lands 61 and 62 on the flexible substrate 5 thereon are formed on the counterpart substrate 1 as shown in FIG. 8. In the case of connecting the flexible substrate 5 in FIG. 9 to the counterpart substrate 1 in FIG. 8 by soldering, the space between the solder lands 21 and 22 on the counterpart substrate 1 is conventionally made equal to the space between the solder lands 61 and 62 on the flexible substrate 5 in a flat shape, and then the flexible substrate 5 is placed on the counterpart substrate 1 for soldering of the solder lands 21, 22, 61, and 62 as shown in FIG. 6. This causes the space S1 between the two spaced-apart solder lands 21 and 22 shown in FIG. 8 to be covered with the flexible substrate 5, after the connection, to be a dead space.
Meanwhile, there has been proposed a technique in which only one space for connecting multiple flexible substrates thereto is to be formed on another flexible substrate to thereby facilitate ensuring a connection space by taking measures so that the multiple flexible substrates are placed and pressed on one another when the multiple flexible substrates are connected to the another flexible substrate (refer to Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. Hei 2-201992 for example).
There has also been proposed a technique in which the both sides of a main printed board are overlapped with a folded connection piece of another printed board and the overlapped portions are fastened and fixed using a screw and/or a holding metal (refer to Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. Hei 5-67478 for example).
Meanwhile, it is known that PCBs like the counterpart substrate 1 shown in FIG. 6 and other figures increase in cost with an increase in the outside dimension thereof. It is therefore desired to reduce the size of the counterpart substrate 1 as small as possible and thereby to achieve cost reduction. Similarly, it is known that the flexible substrate 5 shown in FIG. 9 increases in cost with an increase in the outside dimension thereof, and therefore it is desired to reduce the size of the flexible substrate 5 as small as possible.
However, in the present circumstances, the outside dimensions of the counterpart substrate 1 and the flexible substrate 5 are reduced only by increasing the density of many circuit patterns formed thereon and/or increasing the mounting density of electrical and electronic elements as high as possible.

Connection structure of flexible substrate


A wheelchair having an ergonomically designed seat assembly is provided. The seat assembly includes a backrest subassembly connected to a seat frame The backrest subassembly includes a backrest frame, at least one resilient pivotal member connected to the backrest frame, and a backrest connected to the at least one resilient pivotal member such that the backrest is capable of resilient pivotal flexing about a transverse horizontal axis. A seat is pivotally connected to the seat frame such that the seat is capable of pivotal tilting about a transverse horizontal axis relative to the seat frame and independent of the backrest subassembly. At least one resilient member is disposed between the seat frame and the seat so as to allow resilient relative pivotal tilting therebetween. Two leg rests are pivotally connected to the seat frame such that the leg rests are capable of pivoting about a transverse horizontal axis relative to the seat frame. The leg rests have a locking mechanism whereby the leg rests may be held in place at various angles relative to the seat frame.

The present invention is a seating assembly for a wheelchair designed to remedy many of the problems which have been associated with known wheelchair designs. Such problems include lack of provision for flexible movement by the wheelchair user and bulky leg rests which interfere with transferring the user to and from the wheelchair as well as with propelling the wheelchair with the legs.
Motion is one of the most fundamental parts of human life. Movement assists circulation, allowing nutrients to flow throughout the body. Without movement, the body would atrophy. Movement is a biological necessity in the development and maintenance of all human systems. From the standpoint of a wheelchair user, movement is also necessary for comfort. Sitting in the same position for hours or even minutes puts tremendous amounts of pressure on certain parts of the body, most notably the spine, which can be very uncomfortable as well as injurious.
Wheelchair designs which provide for movement of the wheelchair seat relative to the frame are known in the art, as are designs which attempt to provide for the user's comfort by means of an adjustable backrest.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 521,463 to Smith-Fraser, 1,739,260 to Roe, and 3,917,312 to Rodaway all provide for a seat mounted to the frame via springs. These prior art devices do not, however, permit flexible movement by the wheelchair user. Instead, the springs in these prior art designs merely act as shock absorbers, so that a smooth ride may be attained over rough terrain.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,753,919 to Sill discloses a wheelchair design wherein the seat frame is pivotally mounted on the wheeled carriage. A resilient means is provided which pulls a footboard in contact with the ground, providing a braking mechanism. When the user desires to move, he/she leans back, raising the footboard off the ground. Movement of the user is not a goal, and is not attained.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,125,269 to Kiel and 4,641,848 to Ayers disclose wheelchair designs having conventional rocking mechanisms to allow the user to rock back and forth. These designs, however, do not allow the user to flexibly move his/her body and do not reduce pressure on body parts. The rocking action merely allows the seat to move relative to the frame instead of allowing for pivoting of the knee and hip joints and flexing of the spine.
Great Britain Patent No. 2,203,332 discloses a wheelchair design wherein a chair subframe is pivotally mounted on a chair frame assembly. Two springs are provided to provide resilient support, yet allow relative movement therebetween. The pivoting resilient movement is provided as a suspension system to give the user an improved "ride." As such, no provision is made for articulated flexible movement by the user or for the reduction of pressure on body parts. The seat, back, and leg supports are connected so that they all move together, without any relative movement during pivoting.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 521,463 to Smith-Fraser, 1,739,260 to Roe, and 4,125,269 to Kiel and Great Britain Patent No. 2,203,332 disclose wheelchair designs which attempt to enhance the comfort of the user by providing for a reclining backrest. In all of these designs, the backrest is pivotally mounted on the seat frame so that the backrest may be reclined relative thereto. A means is provided so that the backrest may be locked in to place in the reclined position. A disadvantage of such a design, however, is that once the backrest is locked into place, the user cannot flexibly move.
Another problem with conventional wheelchairs involves the design of the leg rests, which often interfere with transferring the wheelchair user to or from the wheelchair. In addition, some wheelchair users, especially the elderly, are encouraged to use their feet to propel themselves in their wheelchairs as a way to exercise. It is also an easier method for some to move around rather than to grab the grips on the wheels. Conventional leg rest designs for wheelchairs often make this difficult to accomplish.
Wheelchair designs with adjustable leg rests are known in the art. Illustrative of such conventional designs are U.S. Pat. No. 4,593,929 to Williams and German Patent No. 57,693. These patents provide for vertical adjustment about a horizontal axis. Such a design allows the user to raise either or both legs and to lock the leg rests in place. These designs, however, do not provide for an adjustment whereby the leg rests may be shifted out of the way of the user when entering or leaving the wheelchair, or when propelling the wheelchair with his/her feet. Williams '929 does disclose that the leg rests may be removed completely so as not to interfere with the user. This is not a desirable solution, however, because if removed the leg rests may be lost, and because the leg rests may not be removed at all or may never be replaced due to the effort involved.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,209,509 to Gay et al. discloses a wheelchair with leg rest assemblies which, in addition to being adjustable about a horizontal axis, may also swing out laterally from the front of the chair towards the sides about a vertical axis. Such a design, however, exacerbates the problems associated with propelling the wheelchair with the feet, as the leg rests would be protruding from the sides of the wheelchair making it difficult, if not impossible, to fit through doors, hallways, or in other enclosed areas.
What is desired, therefore, is an ergonomically designed kinetic seat assembly for a wheelchair which allows for flexibility of the user's body with articulation initiated at the hip and knee joints and along the spine, and which includes adjustable leg rests that may be positioned so as not to interfere with transferring the user to and from the wheelchair, or with the user propelling the wheelchair with his/her feet.

Ergonomically designed seat assembly for a portable wheelchair


The present invention provides a method of preparation of optical compensation films using a polymer stabilization technique so as to enable continuous roll-to-roll production. The films can be applied for reflective liquid crystal displays. They are prepared by photo-polymerizing a mixture comprising a reactive monomer (or mixture of monomers), a small amount of photoinitiator and liquid crystal. The concentration of the reactive monomer (mesogenic or non-mesogenic) in the reactive mixtures can be as low as 5% or as high as 99% by weight. The materials that can function as the optical compensation films in the present invention include, but are not limited to, mixtures of liquid crystal and reactive mesogenic monomers (rod-like, bent-shaped, and disc-like mesogenic monomers) containing polymerizable groups (monofunctionaly or multifunctional) selected from acrylate, methacrylate, vinyls, butadiene, vinyl ethers, or epoxide.

Modern liquid crystal displays (LCDs) require radiant color, fast-response time, high contrast, and wide-viewing angle properties as well as high reflectivity for low-power-consumption devices. Compensation films are a vital component for many high performance liquid crystal displays. Specifically, compensation films are designed to make the optical symmetry of the compensators more closely resemble that of the director distribution in the liquid crystal displays. Wide range of compensation films, with optical axis oriented in-plane, titled, or normal to the plane of the film have been developed as achromatic films for STN-LCD and recently, been applied to improve the viewing angle characteristic of TFT-LCD. The optical properties of the retardation films are getting more and more important with an increase in the application field such as reflective LCDs, in which compensation films are used as a quarter wave film to improve the display contrast. It is further envisioned that these applications will expand even further as such films become more readily available and also in increasing sizes.
Conventional optical compensation films are produced from polymer materials such as, stretched polymer films, cast polymer films, or photopolymerized anisotropic polymer films. Stretched polycarbonate quarter wave films or cast polymer films are well-known to have a problem in wavelength dispersion of optical retardation. In practical applications, for example, a film-compensated, normally-white reflective TN at ON state leads to a bluish appearance and the deterioration of optical contrast. Two methods to improve the dispersion property have been proposed: one is the method of combining one or two half wave films with a quarter wave film and the other one is to use special cellulose derivatives as film materials. However, the former approach results in an increase in thickness of the retardation film and to the complexity of the manufacturing process. The latter method still has not yet totally solved the wavelength dispersion problem of retardation compared with that of former method.
Liquid crystal polymer retardation films have been developed for the viewing angle improvement of LCDs. These films are produced either by solution-casting from liquid crystal polymers dissolved in appropriate solvents or photo-polymerizing thin films of rod-like or disc-like liquid crystal monomers on substrates which provide the alignment for the mesogenic monomers, i.e. monomers which contain a mesogenic moiety and one or more polymerizable groups such as, acrylate(s), methacrylate(s), epoxide(s), thio-ene(s), vinyl ether(s), and oxetne(s). The wavelength dispersion property of these anisotropic retardation films is rarely discussed, especially on those successful low wavelength dispersion compensation films. There is a need for a method of fabricating an optical compensation film without the need for stretching, or applying electric or magnetic field which complicates the processing feasibility. Further, the method needs to be capable of fabricating large-sized films with high yield, such as meter-wide, roll-to-roll continuous process films.
Polymer stabilization is a unique technique to stabilize the molecular conformation by polymer network in which a heterogenous phase separated composite is formed with a matrix of the stabilization polymer and discrete domains of the guest liquid crystal, or vice verse, depending on the relative ratio of the two phases. In general, the polymer network is produced by photo-polymerization of an appropriate amount of reactive molecules in a liquid crystal phase. The amount selected may depend on the processing parameters which are selected, but generally will be from about 3 to about 99%, more preferably about 5 to about 95%, or about 5 to about 80%, or even about 60% by weight of the reactive monomer(s) with the weight percent remainder being the liquid crystal, and the percentages based on weight percent. This technique has been successfully applied to produce LC/polymer composites which are believed to primarily be phase separated, heterogenous composites, with unique structures or optical properties. Further this technique has led to the development of various displays such as, light scattering LCDs, bi-stable reflective cholesteric displays, and threshold-less ferroelectric displays. "Bi-stable" is used here in its generally accepted meaning, i.e. having two different optical states such as a dark and a bright state which are stable without requiring an externally applied field.

Method of making optical compensation film using polymer stablization technique


A voltage measurement apparatus is provided that includes: a potential attenuator configured to be electrically connected between first and second conductors, which are electrically coupled to a source, wherein the potential attenuator includes a first impedance and a reference impedance arrangement in series with each other, wherein the reference impedance arrangement has an electrical characteristic that can be changed in a known fashion; and further including a processing arrangement configured to acquire at least one signal from the reference impedance arrangement, the at least one signal reflecting change of the electrical characteristic in the known fashion; and to determine a voltage between the first and second conductors in dependence on the fashion in which the electrical characteristic is changed being known and the at least one signal.

Electromechanical meters have been long used to measure electricity consumed by residences, businesses and electrically powered systems. The most commonly used type of electromechanical meter is the induction watt-hour meter. The induction watt-hour meter comprises a rotatable metallic disc which rotates at a speed proportional to power consumption and thereby provides a measure of electricity consumption. The rotatable metallic disc is actuated by two coils: a first coil which is disposed in series with the current delivering conductors such that the coil produces a magnetic flux proportional to the current delivered; and a second coil which is disposed in parallel with the conductors over which the current is delivered such that the coil produces a magnetic flux proportional to the line voltage. A lag coil is used to delay the field of the second, line voltage measuring coil by ninety degrees whereby power measurement is based on the product of in phase current and line voltage signals.
More recently electronic meters have been introduced. Such electronic meters make use of advances in electronic technology by displaying electricity consumption on an LCD or LED display and providing for transmission of measurements to remote locations. Such electronic meters also provide for more sophisticated or extensive forms of measurement including the like of maximum demand, power factor, reactive power used and consumption during on-peak and off-peak hours. As the line voltage is often many times larger than the largest signal that can be safely or conveniently measured by the low voltage circuitry in electronic meters, a resistive potential divider is the most commonly employed means of sensing the line voltage. The resistive potential divider is disposed in parallel with the current delivering conductors and is operative to lower the voltage to be measured by the factor of the potential divider ratio. The potential divider ratio can be quite large. For example a potential divider ratio of approximately 2000:1 is required to reduce a 240V+/−20% RMS mains voltage to a signal that is <0.5V peak-peak in the worst case, which is the voltage that can be typically handled by a ground referenced divider without distortion arising from protection structures that may be present on the input of the voltage measurement chain.
Certain applications, such as metering of electricity consumption and generation, require measurement to high accuracy over extended periods of time. For example in North America the ANSI C12.20 standard specifies an accuracy of ±0.5% for Class 0.5 consumption meters and ±0.2% for Class 0.2 consumption meters. Standards applicable in Europe and elsewhere, such as IEC 62053, specify similar accuracy requirements. The potential divider ratio and the accuracy of the subsequent voltage measurement chain therefore needs to be known and of sufficient stability to meet the accuracy requirements of the power measurement application. Accurate line voltage measurement normally depends on the use of components with good temperature coefficients and known values. A lack of accuracy in the potential divider ratio or an error in the transfer function of the voltage measurement chain gain will cause an error in line voltage measurement. It is normal for this reason to perform a one-off factory calibration when the potential divider and the readout electronics are combined so that a factor related to the actual combined transfer function for line voltage to measurement value, which is determined largely by the potential divider and voltage measurement circuitry, can be stored and used in subsequent measurements to achieve the desired accuracy.
The components that make up the potential divider and the voltage measurement chain are required not to change significantly over the operating lifetime and the environmental conditions if there is to be no degradation in use that takes the measurement apparatus outside its targeted accuracy. The components used in the potential divider may be subject to various external stresses due to the like of ESD, surge and overvoltage conditions and may dissipate different wattages in normal operation. External stresses and dissipation of different wattages can lead to a change in potential divider ratio. It is therefore normal to use highly specified components in this application.
Potential dividers are also used in DC applications for voltage measurement where the voltage to be measured is outside the range that can be safely or conveniently handled by the voltage measurement chain voltage range. By way of example DC voltage measurement may be employed in battery monitoring.
High accuracy power calculation also requires accurate and stable relative phase and frequency response of the line voltage and current measurements in order to accurately determine the like of active and reactive power, differences between active and reactive power, power factor and harmonic content.
The present inventors have become appreciative of various shortcomings of known approaches to line voltage measurement and power measurement, such as the approaches described in outline in the preceding paragraphs. It is therefore an object for the present invention to provide improved voltage measurement apparatus which is configured to provide for accurate measurement of voltage, for example of line voltage in a circuit carrying mains current. It is another object for the present invention to provide an improved method of measuring voltage which provides for accurate measurement of voltage, for example of line voltage in a circuit carrying mains current. It is a further object for the present invention to provide power measurement apparatus which comprises improved line voltage measurement apparatus, whereby accurate power measurement may be achieved. It is a yet further object for the present invention to provide an improved method of measuring power which provides for improved measurement of line voltage, whereby accurate power measurement may be achieved.


A slider is provided with air bearing surfaces. Each of the air bearing surfaces are constituted of a protective film and slider base body surfaces. The protective films, which are laminated on part of the slide base body surfaces, cover at least the ends of the electromagnetic transducers.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a magnetic head and more particularly it relates to a magnetic head with which the adhesion phenomenon does not readily occur.
2. Discussion of Background
Magnetic heads in the known art that fly while maintaining a minute distance from the magnetic recording medium by using the dynamic pressure that is generated as the magnetic recording medium travels include, for instance, the magnetic head disclosed in Japanese Examined Patent Publication No. 21329/1983 and the magnetic head in Japanese Examined Patent Publication No. 28650/1983.
Each of the magnetic heads mentioned above that is mounted at the front end of a head support device in a magnetic recording/reproduction apparatus, is driven through the so-called contact start-stop method whereby an operation is started or stopped in a state in which the air bearing surface (hereafter referred to as the ABS) of the slider is placed in spring contact with a front surface of the magnetic disk. While the ABS is pressed against the surface of the magnetic disk due to the spring pressure when the magnetic disk is stationary, a lift dynamic pressure is generated at the ABS of the slider when the magnetic disk rotates so that the magnetic head flies above the surface of the magnetic disk.
In this type of magnetic recording/reproduction apparatus, it is desirable that the flying height of the magnetic head be set at the smallest possible value in order to support high density recording. However, when the flying height of the magnetic head is reduced, the magnetic head tends to collide with the surface of the magnetic head which may result in damage such as a crash.
One means for improving the durability by preventing such a crash is achieved by using a magnetic disk having a high degree of surface smoothness. However, since a lubricant is applied to the surface of the magnetic disk having a high degree of surface smoothness under normal circumstances, the magnetic head becomes adhered to the surface of the magnetic disk with the lubricant acting as the main cause. Furthermore, due to factors such as moisture, water or the like present in the air in addition to the adhering effect of the lubricant, the magnetic head adheres to the surface of the magnetic head with even more force.
Since this type of magnetic recording/reproduction apparatus is driven through the contact start-stop method as described earlier, it cannot be started if such adhesion of the magnetic head occurs.
Various technologies have been proposed in the prior art to constitute means for preventing the adhesion phenomenon. For instance, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 37874/1988, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 287440/1996 and Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2122740/1996 disclose means for reducing the size of the area over which the magnetic disk and the magnetic head come into contact with each other by providing three projections at specific positions at the rail surface. In addition, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 326150/1995 discloses a means for preventing adhesion by providing minute indentations and projections at the rail surface constituting a portion of the slider base body.
Now, when providing a means for adhesion prevention at the ABS of the slider, it is crucial that it cause little or no change in the flying characteristics achieved through the ABS and that the means for adhesion prevention be provided at the ABS with ease and a high degree of accuracy. The prior art technologies mentioned above do not always satisfy these requirements.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a magnetic head with which the force with which it adheres to the magnetic disk can be reduced.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a magnetic head provided with a means for adhesion prevention capable of easily controlling the force of adhesion.
It is a still further object of the present invention to provide a magnetic head provided with a means for adhesion prevention capable of minimizing changes in the flying characteristics achieved through the ABS.
It is a still further object of the present invention to provide a magnetic head with which a means for adhesion prevention can be easily and precisely provided at the ABS.
In order to achieve the objects described above, the magnetic head according to the present invention includes a slider and an electromagnetic transducer. The slider is provided with an ABS. The electromagnetic transducer is provided at the slider and its end for electromagnetic conversion is located at a position close to the ABS. The ABS is constituted of a surface of a protective film and a slider base body surface. The protective film, which is laminated. on part of the slider base body surface covers, at least, the end of the electromagnetic transducer.
In the magnetic head according to the present invention, since the protective film is laminated onto the slider base body surface to constitute the ABS, a magnetic head achieving a high degree of frictional resistance is obtained.
In addition, since the protective film covers at least the end of the electromagnetic transducer where electromagnetic conversion is performed, the electromagnetic transducer is protected by the protective film. In particular, when the electromagnetic transducer includes a magnetoresistive element (hereafter referred to as an MR element) which constitutes a read element, the end of the MR element does not come in direct contact with the surface of the magnetic disk so that any leakage and discharge of the sense current to the magnetic disk, or any defective operation resulting from such leakage or discharge can be prevented with a high degree of reliability.
Furthermore, since the protective film is laminated on part of the slider base body surface, a stage corresponding to the film thickness of the protective film is created around the protective film relative to the slider base body surface. In this structure, the surface of the protective film and the slider base body surface constitute the ABS. Thus, the force with which the magnetic head adheres to the magnetic disk can be reduced. In addition, the force with. which the magnetic head adheres to the magnetic disk can be controlled by adjusting the size of the area of the protective film.
Moreover, the protective film which is laminated on part of the slider base body surface, is formed to have various patterns. When patterning a protective film, the required protective film pattern can be formed easily and with a high degree of accuracy by providing the protective film at the slider base body surface and .partially removing the protective film using a pattern that is set in advance through a means such as ion milling.
The present invention further discloses specific desirable examples of the protective film, the thickness of the protective film that minimizes any changes in the flying characteristics, the relationship between the adhesive force and the area of the protective film and the like.


A receiver is described for recovering digital data from a transmitted balanced signal where the balanced signal includes a first plurality of pulses, each pulse having a first pulse width. The receiver includes an input circuit, a buffer circuit, and a calibration circuit. The input circuit receives the transmitted signal and includes a first differential amplifier for amplifying a first signal, a second differential amplifier for amplifying a second signal, and a converter for receiving the amplified first signal and amplified second signal and then generating a third signal. The first and second signals are included within the transmitted signal. The buffer circuit receives and buffers the third signal, and outputs a fourth signal including a second plurality of pulses which have a second plurality of pulse widths. The calibration circuit receives the fourth signal. In response to the second plurality of pulse widths being unequal to the first pulse width, the calibration circuit generates a calibration signal. The calibration signal is received by the buffer circuit as an input. The buffer circuit utilizes the calibration signal to modify the fourth signal so that each of the second plurality of pulse widths is approximately equal to the first pulse width.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to a method and system for recovering digital data from a transmitted balanced signal; and, more particularly, to a receiver including an input circuit, a buffer circuit, and a calibration circuit.
2. Description of the Related Art
To reduce cost and improve performance, many new industry standards have been proposed in recent years which allow computer systems to communicate with each other at high data rates through serial links. For example, the ANSI (American National Standards Institute) Fibre Channel standard allows serial data communications up to 4 Gb/s. If copper cables are utilized when implementing a communication link, a signal output by a transmitter will be attenuated due to the cable resistance and phase-shifted due to the skin effect when received by a receiver at the opposite end of the cable. At the output of the transmitter, the eye diagram of the waveform will indicate that the amplitude of the signal is swinging from a maximum level to a minimum level with no phase jitter. For example, FIG. 1A depicts an eye diagram at the output of a transmitter. The maximum transmitted voltage level is illustrated at reference number 2. The minimum transmitted voltage level is depicted at reference number 4. FIG. 1B illustrates the eye diagram at a receiver input. Signal V.sub.IN is received. Due to attenuation and phase shifting, or jitter, the eyes have almost closed both vertically and horizontally. FIG. 1C depicts the eye diagram at the output of the receiver. A perfect receiver will restore the amplitude of the received signal to the maximum and minimum levels without adding any phase shift, or jitter. In addition, if the ANSI Fibre Channel standard rates are adhered to, the receiver must be able to operate at a very high speed.
The bandwidth and sensitivity of the receiver is determined primarily by the input stage circuit. When operating at lower speeds, a single differential amplifier is often used as the input stage, such as depicted in FIG. 2. FIG. 2 depicts a differential amplifier 6 connected to a buffer circuit 8. Differential amplifier 6 amplifies signal V.sub.IN. Buffer circuit 8 includes inverters 9 which invert and buffer the output of differential amplifier 6. However, when operating at higher speeds, the output of the differential amplifier does not swing from the maximum to the minimum levels described above.
An additional distortion occurs due to device mismatch. Transistors usually have a slightly different threshold voltage. This mismatch will cause two significant problems. First, in the input stage of the receiver, the offset voltage will be amplified by the differential amplifier and will be output with the signal. Second, in the buffer stage of the receiver, mismatch between the p-channel and n-channel transistors will cause a delay through the buffer which will result in a difference between the rising and falling edges of the signal. This contributes to a higher jitter at the output of the receiver.

Method and system for recovering digital data from a transmitted balanced signal


An artificial impedance surface for rotating a surface wave on the artificial surface about a point along a circumferential path relative to said point in a phase preserving manner along said circumferential path. A method of guiding a transverse electric or transverse magnetic surface wave bound to an artificial impedance surface along a non-linear path comprising: smoothly rotating a principal axis of a surface tensor impedance matrix of the artificial impedance surface as a function of space, so the a propagation wavevector of the transverse electric or transverse magnetic surface wave rotates along with it, remaining aligned with the direction of the principal axis; and tailoring a surface wavenumber in a propagation direction of the non-linear path in such a way as to maintain a constant-phase for a wavefront of the transverse electric or transverse magnetic surface wave.

There is a need to transmit transverse electric (TE) or a transverse magnetic (TM) surface bound waves over surfaces far more efficiently than is possible by uncontrolled surface propagation. By achieving surface waveguide-like propagation, power can remain bound to the surface and localized to a desired path on that surface. This can provide more secure communications since waves remain attached to the surface (if desired), whereas antenna-based wireless communication system are apt to broadcast possibly sensitive information to the surroundings. It is desirable that the transverse electric (TE) or a transverse magnetic (TM) surface bound waves be able to follow an arbitrary path (having a smoothly changing radius of curvature) while maintaining a phase preserving wavefront.

Surface wave guiding apparatus and method for guiding the surface wave along an arbitrary path


The present invention has its object to provide a method for stably preserving a capsule containing reduced coenzyme Q10, which is useful as foods, functional nutritive foods, specific health foods, nutritional supplements, nutrients, animal drugs, drinks, feeds, cosmetics, medicines, remedies, preventive drugs, etc. The present invention relates to a method for preserving reduced coenzyme Q10 which comprises producing or obtaining a capsule containing reduced coenzyme Q10, and controlling environment surrounding the capsule to a relative humidity of not less than 0% but not more than 60%. According to this method, reduced coenzyme Q10 can be preserved stably, without requiring huge cost and labor, or special equipment.

Coenzyme Q is an essential constituent widely distributed in living bodies, from bacteria to mammals and is known as a mitochondrial electron transfer system constituent in cells of living bodies. Through repeated oxidation and reduction in mitochondria, coenzymes Q perform their function as transmitter components in the electron transfer system and, further, reduced coenzymes Q are known to have antioxidant activity. In humans, coenzyme Q10, whose coenzyme Q side chain comprises 10 repeating structures, is the main component and, generally, about 40 to 90% thereof is present in reduced form in living bodies. The physiological activities of coenzyme Q involve the activation of energy production through mitochondrial activation, activation of cardiac function, stabilizing effect of cell membrane, cell protecting effect through antioxidant activity, and the like.
Oxidized coenzyme Q10 is used as a health food in the United States and Europe, and as a medication for congestive heart failure in Japan. In recent years, it has come to be used in Japan as a functional nutritive food. Soft capsules containing oxidized coenzyme Q10 predominate especially in the field of health foods and functional nutritive foods.
On the other hand, since reduced coenzyme Q itself has strong antioxidant action, it is possible to effectively increase the antioxidant activity in blood by supplying sufficient quantities of reduced coenzyme Q to blood. Increasing the antioxidant activity in blood is thought to have a wide range of usefulness for many diseases from being aggravated supposedly by active oxygen species, for example, preventing vascular lesions during ischemia-reperfusion, preventing restenosis in arteriosclerosis, preventing vascular lesions following cerebral infarction, preventing arteriosclerosis, preventing complications of diabetes.
It is known that reduced coenzyme Q10 can be obtained, for example, by well-known conventional processes such as synthesis, fermentation, extraction from natural sources, and the like, and then concentrating the reduced coenzyme Q10 fraction of the effluent resulting from chromatography (Japanese Kokai Publication Hei-10-109933). In this case, as described in the above-cited publication, the chromatographic concentration may be carried out after reduction of oxidized coenzyme Q10 contained in the reduced coenzyme Q10 with a conventional reducing agent such as sodium borohydride or sodium dithionite, or reduced coenzyme Q10 may be prepared by reacting an existing highly pure grade of coenzyme Q10 with the reducing agent mentioned above.
Moreover, as a result of intensive research, the present inventors established processes for producing high-quality reduced coenzyme Q10, which were disclosed in patent applications (WO03/06408; WO03/06409; WO03/06410; WO03/06411; WO03/06412; WO03/08363; and WO03/32967).
However, reduced coenzyme Q10 is readily oxidized to oxidized coenzyme Q10 by molecular oxygen, and, even when a high-quality reduced coenzyme Q10 is manufactured by a method like the above-mentioned patent applications, it is still an important problem to stabilize reduced coenzyme Q10 in processing the same in foods, functional nutritive foods, specific health foods, nutritional supplements, nutrients, animal drugs, drinks, feeds, cosmetics, medicines, remedies, preventive drugs, etc., or raw materials or compositions for the production thereof, and/or to stabilize the same in preserving such products, raw materials or compositions after processing the same. On the occasion of such process and preservation, it is very difficult to completely eliminate or shut out oxygen and, in particular in the step of warming for processing or during long-period preservation of them, the remaining or newcomer oxygen exerts a great adverse influence. This oxidation is directly concerned with such quality problems as the formation of oxidized coenzyme Q10 as a byproduct.
Thus, it is a very important problem to stabilize (protect against oxidation) reduced coenzyme Q10. To this time, however, few studies have been made on the method and composition for stabilizing coenzyme Q10. There are only two examples; one describes a composition comprising a coexisting reducing agent and a method for producing the same (WO01/052822) and, in the other, reduced coenzyme Q10 is stabilized in an oil or fat (WO03/062182).
In WO01/052822, there are disclosed 1) a composition comprising an amount, effective in preventing reduced coenzyme Q10 from being oxidized to oxidized coenzyme Q10, of a reducing agent and an amount, effective in dissolving the reduced coenzyme Q10 and reducing agent, of a surfactant or a vegetable oil or a mixture of these, if necessary together with a solvent, 2) a composition for oral administration in the form of gelatin capsule or tablets as prepared from the above composition and, further, 3) a method for preparing the above composition containing reduced coenzyme Q10 in situ by using oxidized coenzyme Q10 and a reducing agent.
In WO01/052822, however, there is no detailed description of the quality and the stabilizing effect of the reduced coenzyme Q10 contained in the above-mentioned compositions, for example. The above-mentioned compositions and the method for preparing the same are very complicated and troublesome so that the compositions may play a plurality of roles (namely the first role as a reaction field for the reduction of oxidized coenzyme Q10 to reduced coenzyme Q10 and the second role in maintaining reduced coenzyme Q10 in a stable condition).
Furthermore, it is noteworthy that the above compositions and/or the method for preparing the same are hard to be referred to as always safe since the reaction mixture is used as such. More specifically, the use of ascorbic acids as a reducing agent in reducing oxidized coenzyme Q10 to reduced coenzyme Q10 results in the oxidation of the ascorbic acids, leading to the formation of a considerable amount of the corresponding dehydroascorbic acids, which contaminates the above-mentioned compositions. Unlike ascorbic acids, dehydroascorbic acids and the decomposition product oxalic acid are highly harmful. For example, they reportedly cause increases in lipid peroxide level and decreases in antioxidant level in the liver and kidney and increases in oxalic acid level in the kidney, and there is a fear of their producing some adverse effects, for example the effects of decreasing the resistance to oxidative stress and readily causing ureterolithiasis (Nutrition Research, 13, pp 667-676(1993)).
Furthermore, although ascorbic acids are used in W001/052822, when ascorbic acids are enclosed in a gelatin soft capsule, it is generally known that the disintegration of the gelatin capsule will get worse. Therefore, there is also fear that the absorbability to a living body will be adversely affected in this case.
In WO03/062182, on the other hand, a method for stabilizing reduced coenzyme Q10 which is characterized in that reduced coenzyme Q10 is admixed in a composition whose main components are oils and fats (except for olive oil) and/or a polyol and which will not substantially interfere with the stabilization of reduced coenzyme Q10 is disclosed as a method for protecting reduced coenzyme Q10 against oxidation. However, in the above stabilization method, reduced coenzyme Q10 could not be preserved stably, for example in the case of being incorporated with sorbitan fatty acid esters and/or polyoxyethylenesorbitan fatty acid esters, because of limitation of materials which could be used.
A method which can preserve reduced coenzyme Q10 stably has been searched for under the above situations.

Method for preserving reduced coenzyme Q10


In a predictive coding apparatus, an interframe/interfield predictive signal is generated in which low frequency components are depressed. A predictive error signal is generated on the basis of an input video signal and the interframe/interfield predictive signal. The predictive error signal is then interframe/interfield-coded. In a predictive decoding apparatus, a code transmitted from the coding apparatus is interframe/interfield-decoded to obtain a decoded signal. An interframe/interfield predictive signal is generated in which low frequency components are depressed. The video signal is then reproduced by adding the decoded signal and the predictive signal.

This invention relates to an apparatus that encodes video signals efficiently with fewer codes and an apparatus that decodes the coded signals, in their use for recording, transmission and display systems, and more particularly to a coding/decoding apparatus for video signals capable of random access and search.
In particular, efficient coding has been realized by interframe predictive coding which utilizes interframe correlation of video signals to predict, from already coded frames, the frames to be coded, and encodes predictive error signals alone.
Furthermore, recent attention has been directed to the technology of motion-compensating interframe prediction to predict motion by moving pictures.
On the other hand, it has been made for the coding for storage media to respond to random access and high-speed search.
A conventional coding apparatus is exemplified in FIG. 1.
In FIG. 1, a video signal applied to a video signal input terminal 1 is led to a predictive subtracter 3, where a predictive signal given via a switch 15 is subtracted from the video signal, thus generating a predictive error signal.
The predictive error signal is encoded by an intraframe encoder 5 into compressed data. The data is outputted via a data output terminal 7 and applied to an intraframe decoder 9 which generates a reproduced predictive error signal.
In an inverse predictive adder 11, a predictive signal is added to the reproduced predictive error signal, thus reproducing the video signal.
The reproduced video signal is stored in a frame memory (FM) 13, and applied to a terminal P of the switch 15 after being delayed by one frame.
The switch 15 is controlled by a synchronous signal separated from the inputted video signal. And, in an independent frame of every N frames, a terminal S is connected to a terminal I, whereas in other predictive frames the terminal S is connected to terminal P.
The terminal P has been supplied with a reproduced video signal of the preceding frame. An interframe predictive coding circuit is formed when the terminal S is connected to the terminal P.
The terminal I has been supplied with a fixed value (0). When the terminal S is connected to the terminal I, the output signal of the predictive subtracter 3 becomes the same as the input video signal, that is, an intraframe independent coding circuit is formed.
FIG. 2 shows a conventional video signal decoding apparatus. In this apparatus, the data supplied from a data input terminal 17 is decoded by an intraframe decoder 19.
And in a reverse predictive adder 21, a predictive signal applied via a switch 27 is added to the decoded signal, thus reproducing the video signal.
The reproduced video signal is outputted via a video signal output terminal 23, and is concurrently stored in a frame memory 25.
The signal is delayed by one frame in the frame memory 25, and then applied to the reverse predictive adder 21 via the switch 27. The switch 27 is controlled by a frame-synchronizing signal separated from the input data as in the case of the coding apparatus.
In the intraframe coding apparatus 5 of FIG. 1a, discrete cosine transform (DCT) is first carried out. The transformed output is then quantized, and the quantized data is variable-length encoded by such codes as Huffman codes.
In the intraframe decoders 9 and 19 of FIGS. 1 and 2, the data coded to variable lengths is first decoded to a fixed length and then transformed to a quantized representative value, which is reversely discrete cosine transformed into a reproduced signal.
Such conventional coding/decoding apparatuses process periodic independent frames. This decreases the coding efficiency because the independent frames produce a large amount of data as compared with the predictive frames.
Independent frames only are reproduced in the high-speed search in storage media. However, if the quantity of data that can be decoded by the high-speed search is the same as that at the time of ordinary regeneration, not all of the independent frames corresponding to the search speed can be decoded and the decoding apparatus comes to deliver the same frames repeatedly. This is so because the independent frames contain a larger amount of data.
Therefore, it has been devised to divide the frequency components of a video signal into a plurality of bands and decode low frequency components only.
Such a measure can reduce the amount of data to be decoded in each frame and provide smooth search pictures even in low resolution, but leaves high frequency components unused.

Predictive video signal coding and decoding with suppression of low frequencies


A lubricating oil composition including a major amount of a base oil, one or more calcium-containing detergents to provide at least 1000 ppmw of calcium, and one or more silicon-containing compound(s) to provide at least 50 ppmw of silicon to the lubricating oil composition, all based on the total weight of the lubricating oil composition, wherein a ratio of ppmw of silicon provided by the one or more silicon-containing compound(s) to the lubricating oil composition to the ppmw of calcium provided by the one or more calcium-containing detergent(s) to the lubricating oil composition is from 0.02 to 1. Methods of using these compositions and silicon-containing detergents are also described.

Turbocharged or supercharged engines (i.e. boosted internal combustion engines) may exhibit an abnormal combustion phenomenon known as stochastic pre-ignition or low speed pre-ignition (or "LSPI"). LSPI is a pre-ignition event that may include very high-pressure spikes, early combustion during an inappropriate crank angle, and knock. All of these, individually and in combination, have the potential to cause degradation and/or severe damage to the engine. However, because LSPI events occur only sporadically and in an uncontrolled fashion, it is difficult to identify the causes for this phenomenon and to develop solutions to suppress it.
Pre-ignition is a form of combustion that results from ignition of the air-fuel mixture in the combustion chamber prior to the desired ignition of the air-fuel mixture by the igniter. Pre-ignition has typically been a problem during high speed engine operation since heat from operation of the engine may heat a part of the combustion chamber to a sufficient temperature to ignite the air-fuel mixture upon contact. This type of pre-ignition is sometimes referred to as hot-spot pre-ignition.
More recently, intermittent abnormal combustion has been observed in boosted internal combustion engines at low speeds and medium-to-high loads. For example, during operation of the engine at 3,000 rpm or less, under load, with a brake mean effective pressure (BMEP) of at least 10 bar, low speed pre-ignition may occur in a random and stochastic fashion. During low speed engine operation, the compression stroke time is longest.
Several published studies have demonstrated that turbocharger use, engine design, engine coatings, piston shape, fuel choice, and/or engine oil additives may contribute to an increase in LSPI events. One theory suggests that auto-ignition of engine oil droplets that enter the engine combustion chamber from the piston crevice (the space between the piston ring pack and cylinder liner) may be one cause of LSPI events. Accordingly, there is a need for engine oil additive components and/or combinations that are effective to reduce or eliminate LSPI in boosted internal combustion engines.
Some studies are exploring the options of lowering calcium sulfonate detergent concentrations to help suppress LSPI, however this reduction adversely affects the performance of the lubricating oil in other areas, such as corrosion (e.g., rust) protection. Magnesium sulfonates have also been evaluated as an alternative to calcium sulfonate detergents to provide corrosion protection while improving LSPI performance. Unfortunately, this may also lead to debits in performance in other areas such as fuel economy.
US 2018/0237718 relates to lubricating oil compositions for improving low speed pre-ignition in direct injection spark-ignited internal combustion engines. The lubricating oil compositions include a detergent comprising an overbased calcium detergent having a total base number of at least 150. The lubricating oil composition has a calcium content of at least 0.08 wt. % and a silicon content of at least 12 ppmw of by weight, based on the total weight of the lubricating oil composition.
US 2019/0360383 relates to lubricating oil compositions for improving low speed pre-ignition in direct injection spark-ignited internal combustion engines. The lubricating oil compositions may include a detergent in combination with at least one silane-containing compound,
The present disclosure is directed to providing particular lubricating oil compositions and methods of using such lubricating oil compositions which result in a significant benefit in reduction of LSPI events, while still providing other desirable properties that are important for lubrication of direct injection spark-ignited internal composition engines.

Lubricant formulations with silicon-containing compounds


A semiconductor device includes a substrate including a high-voltage transistor area provided with a high-voltage transistor and a low-voltage transistor area provided with a low-voltage transistor; a LOCOS layer provided as a device isolation layer of the high-voltage transistor area; and a shallow-trench isolation layer provided as a device isolation layer of the low-voltage transistor area. Accordingly, a sufficient breakdown voltage level can be provided in a high-voltage transistor area, on-resistance and leakage current can be enhanced, and the chip area in a low-voltage transistor area can be reduced.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a semiconductor device, and more particularly, to a semiconductor device having respective areas for high-voltage and low-voltage transistors.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
Referring to FIG. 1, illustrating a semiconductor device according to a related art, a high-voltage transistor of about 30V or higher is arranged in a high-voltage transistor area and a low-voltage transistor is arranged in a low-voltage transistor area. A local oxidation of silicon (LOCOS) layer 111 is used as a device isolation layer for each of the high- and low-voltage transistors.
The high-voltage transistor includes n+ type source/drain regions 141 provided in predetermined upper parts of a p− type substrate 100 to be spaced apart from each other. In particular, the drain region 141 is arranged within an n− type extended drain area 103 working as a drift area. The substrate 100 between the n+ type source region 141 and the n− type extended drain area 103 corresponds to a channel area 101. A gate insulating layer pattern 121 and a gate conductive layer pattern 122 are sequentially stacked on the channel area 101. The n+ type source/drain regions 141 are electrically connected to source (S) and drain (D) electrodes, respectively.
The low-voltage transistor includes n+ type source/drain regions 151 provided in predetermined upper parts of the p− type substrate 100 to be spaced apart from each other. The substrate 100 between the n+ type source/drain regions 151 corresponds to a channel area 102. A gate insulating layer pattern 131 and a gate conductive layer pattern 132 are sequentially stacked on the channel area 102. The n+ source/drain regions 151 are electrically connected to source and drain electrodes, respectively.
In the above-configured semiconductor device according to the related art, the LOCOS layer 111 is used as a device isolation layer of the high-voltage transistor area to secure a high breakdown voltage for the high-voltage transistor. Since the LOCOS layer 111 is provided to the low-voltage transistor area, however, the chip area of the low-voltage transistor area is increased.
Referring to FIG. 2, illustrating another semiconductor device according to a related art, a high-voltage transistor of about 30V or higher is arranged in a high-voltage transistor area and a low-voltage transistor is arranged in a low-voltage transistor area. A shallow-trench isolation layer 211 is used as a device isolation layer for each of the high- and low-voltage transistors, to enable a smaller chip area. Yet, in the high-voltage transistor area, it is difficult for the shallow-trench isolation layer 211 to enable a required level of breakdown voltage. The on-resistance and leakage current characteristic are degraded due to a linear profile of the shallow-trench isolation layer 211.


A rigid housing has an axially extending opening which receives a length of cylindrical tubing therethrough. A measuring assembly is mounted to the housing and has a circular friction wheel which is rotatable about an axis which is perpendicular to the axis of the tubing. The friction wheel extends into the opening into engagement with the tubing, such that as the tubing is advanced through the housing, the wheel is turned. An encoder wheel is fixed to the friction wheel to allow a photodetector to determine the angular displacement of the wheel. An electric controller receives signals from the photodetector and calculates the linear length of tubing which has passed beneath the wheel and displays this on a liquid crystal display. A cutting assembly is mounted to the housing and spaced axially from the measuring assembly. The cutting assembly has a cutting blade which is rotatable about an axis substantially perpendicular to the friction wheel axis. The cutting assembly is vertically adjustable to be clear of the pipe as it is advanced through the housing, and to be brought into cutting contact when the desired length of tubing is shown on the display. Spring loaded wedges are adjustable to securely position tubing of different diameters.

Thin-walled pipe formed of copper, steel, plastic, or other material, is used extensively in plumbing, heating and ventilating, electrical installations, and other construction trades. Although occasionally flexible, most cylindrical piping is generally rigid and must be cut to size to conform to the geometry of the building structure or installed apparatus with which it is to be employed.
Although fine tolerances are usually not required, pipe must be cut with some accuracy to ensure acceptable joints and performance.
Typically, the desired length of pipe is obtained by measuring with a tape measure or ruled line a predetermined distance from the cut end of a pipe stock, marking the desired length with a grease pencil or blade, positioning a pipe cutter with radially adjustable cutting edge about the pipe, adjusting the cutting edge to bear on the pipe wall and rotating the pipe cutter to traverse the periphery to the tube to cut off a segment of pipe.
Pipe cutters are known which employ rigid fixtures or attached ruling bars to allow pipes to be cut to a preset length. However, these devices are cumbersome and are not suited for portable use.
What is needed is an apparatus which is conveniently portable and which may be conveniently utilized by a tradesman to both measure a length of pipe and cut it to a desired length.


A modular container (2) for a flat display panel (3) has a mounting shelf (55) for the panel and power means (48) for selectively raising and lowering the mounting shelf and vertical channels (108) or geared tracks in the container positioned to receive side edges of the panel and adjustable laterally to accommodate panels of different widths. A modular container for a flat display panel has a mounting shelf for the panel and power means for selectively raising and lowering the mounting shelf and remotely controlled power means (32, 76), for moving said container with respect to a seated or recumbent person.

With the advent of thin screen monitors for televisions and computers, the broad idea of providing means for storing such a screen and raising it by some mechanical device to full view has been the source of a number of patents, one of the earliest of which is U.S. Pat. No. 4,735,467, which issued to Westinghouse Electric Corp. in 1988. The screen of that patent is concealed in a desk, and raised by means of a drive chain, driven by an electric motor. In U.S. Pat. No. 6,733,094, a computer screen is mounted in a desk in one embodiment, and a television screen in a living room cabinet in another, in both cases raised and lowered by means of a pair of "adjusting screws" threaded into internally threaded bosses at the ends of a transverse bar on which a screen is mounted. U.S. Pat. No. 6,612,670 shows two other means for raising and lowering a thin screen: a belt, operated either manually or by an electric motor, and a scissors lift operated by a hydraulic motor. A pantograph or scissors jack type of lifting apparatus can be used or a rack and pinion, all as referred to in U.S. Pat. No. 6,361,131, for example. Although patent '670 shows a self-supporting panel holder, the panel is intended to be a partition, which can carry a monitor screen or the like, but which itself is not such a screen. Recent art includes UK application GB 2 406 506, published Apr. 6, 2005, PCT/US2004/005700, published Sep. 10, 2004, Gebrauchsmuster DE 203 00 344 U1, published Apr. 24, 2003, and Japanese patent JP 2002010174, published Jan. 11, 2002.


A steam turbine 10 according to an embodiment includes: rotor blade cascades each made up at a turbine rotor 22; an inner casing 21 where the turbine rotor 22 is provided to penetrate; an outer casing 20 surrounding the inner casing 21; stationary blade cascades each made up at an inner side of the inner casing 21; and an annular diffuser 60 provided at a downstream side of a final turbine stage, formed by a steam guide 40 and a bearing cone 50, and discharging steam toward outside in a radial direction. An enlarged inclination angle θ1 of an inner surface 70 of a diaphragm outer ring 26a at the final turbine stage relative to a turbine rotor axial direction is an enlarged inclination angle θ2 of an inner surface 80 at an inlet of the steam guide 40 relative to the turbine rotor axial direction or more.

Improvement in thermal efficiency of a steam turbine used in a thermal power station and the like has become an important task leading to efficient use of energy resources and a reduction in carbon dioxide (CO2) emission. Effectively converting given energy to mechanical work makes it possible to achieve the improvement in thermal efficiency of a steam turbine. To achieve this, reducing various internal losses is required.
The internal losses of the steam turbine include a profile loss resulting from a blade shape, turbine cascade losses based on a secondary flow loss of steam, a leakage loss of steam, a moisture loss of steam, and so on, passage part losses in passages other than a cascade represented by a steam valve and a crossover pipe, turbine exhaust losses resulting from a turbine exhaust chamber, and so on.
Among these losses, the turbine exhaust loss is a large loss occupying 10% to 20% of all of the internal losses. The turbine exhaust loss is a loss generated from an outlet of a final stage of turbine stages to an inlet of a condenser. The turbine exhaust losses are further classified into a leaving loss, a hood loss, an annular area restriction loss, a turn-up loss, and so on. Among them, the hood loss is a pressure loss from an exhaust chamber to a condenser. The hood loss depends on a type, a shape, and a size of the exhaust chamber including a diffuser.
Generally, the pressure loss increases in proportion to the square of a flow velocity of the steam. Therefore, it is effective to reduce the flow velocity of the steam by increasing the size of the exhaust chamber in an allowable range. However, the increase in the size of the exhaust chamber is restricted by manufacturing cost, arrangement space of a building, and so on. When the size of the exhaust chamber is increased to reduce the hood loss, there are the above-stated restrictions. Besides, the hood loss depends on an axial velocity being a velocity in a turbine rotor axial direction, in other words, a volume flow rate passing through the exhaust chamber.
The hood loss depends on a design of the exhaust chamber including the diffuser. An exhaust chamber of a low-pressure turbine occupies a large capacity in a whole of the steam turbine. Accordingly, the increase in the size of the exhaust chamber to reduce the hood loss largely affects on a whole size and the manufacturing cost of the steam turbine. Therefore, it is important to enable a shape whose pressure loss is small within the limited size of the exhaust chamber.
In a double-flow exhaust type (double flow type) low-pressure turbine including a conventional exhaust chamber in a downward exhaust type, steam passing through a rotor blade of a final turbine stage is led to an annular diffuser made up of a steam guide and a bearing cone. The steam led to the diffuser flows out radially toward outside in a radial direction. A flow of the steam flowing out radially is turned by a casing and so on, and the steam is led to the condenser provided at downward of the steam turbine.
In the low-pressure turbine as stated above, it is important to decelerate the flow at the annular diffuser and to enough recover a static pressure to reduce the pressure loss (static pressure loss) in the exhaust chamber. However, in the low-pressure turbine as stated above, for example, when an inclination angle of an inner surface at an inlet of the steam guide relative to the turbine rotor axial direction is large, the steam separates at a position near an inlet in the diffuser. The separation as stated above remarkably occurs when the flow of the steam cannot be turned moderately in the diffuser, specifically, when a distance of the bearing cone in the turbine rotor axial direction is short.
Conventionally, an attempt to make a shape of a tip part (shroud) of the rotor blade at the final turbine stage into a shape steeply expanding toward outside in the radial direction to thereby suppress the separation of the flow at the steam guide has been done.
However, the suppression of the separation of the flow at the steam guide in the conventional steam turbine is not sufficient. Accordingly, a technology in which the pressure loss in the exhaust chamber is certainly reduced in the steam turbine has been required.


Methods are presented for facilitating fabrication of a semiconductor device, such as a gate-all-around nanowire field-effect transistor. The methods include, for instance: providing at least one stack structure including at least one layer or bump extending above the substrate structure; selectively oxidizing at least a portion of the at least one stack structure to form at least one nanowire extending within the stack structure(s) surrounded by oxidized material of the stack structure(s); and removing the oxidized material from the stack structure(s), exposing the nanowire(s). This selectively oxidizing may include oxidizing an upper portion of the substrate structure, such as an upper portion of one or more fins supporting the stack structure(s) to facilitate full 360° exposure of the nanowire(s). In one embodiment, the stack structure includes one or more diamond-shaped bumps or ridges.

Complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) technology is the primary technology employed for ultra-large scale integrated (ULSI) circuits. Over the past decades, reduction in the size of CMOS transistors has been a principle focus of the microelectronics industry.
Transistors, such as metal oxide semiconductor field-effect transistors (MOSFETs), are generally either bulk semiconductor-type devices or silicon-on-insulator (SOI)-type devices. Most integrated circuits are fabricated in a CMOS process on a bulk semiconductor substrate.
In bulk semiconductor-type devices, transistors, such as MOSFETs, are built on top of the surface of a bulk substrate. The substrate is doped to form source and drain regions, and the conductive layer is provided between the source and drain regions. The conductive layer operates as a gate for the transistor, and the gate controls current in a channel between the surface and the drain regions. As transistors become smaller, the body thickness of the transistor (or thickness of the depletion layer below the inversion channel) must be scaled down to achieve superior short-channel performance.
In practice, the geometry of the gate and channel can become quite complicated. In one class of the device, a gate may be placed beneath the channel, as well as on top of the channel and its sides, to define a gate-all-around device, such as a gate-all-around MOSFET device. The gate-all-around configuration advantageously significantly increases the extent of the inversion layer.

Facilitating fabricating gate-all-around nanowire field-effect transistors


A semiconductor memory device comprises an array of memory cells arranged in rows and columns, control lines coupled to the rows of memory cells for accessing the memory cells, conductive lines coupled to the rows of memory cells for powering the memory cells, and a control circuit configured to maintain non-selected conductive lines at a first voltage level and boost a selected conductive line to a second voltage level in an access operation, the second voltage level being higher than the first voltage level.

Static random access memory (SRAM) is a type of semiconductor memory device that uses bi-stable latching circuitry to store each bit. An SRAM cell includes storage nodes formed by cross-coupled inverters which are accessed through pass gates coupled to a bit line and a complementary bit line, respectively. An SRAM cell operating at a relatively low voltage may suffer disturbance during an access operation. Specifically, during a read cycle, the storage node storing a logical low value is charged by one of the bit line and the complementary bit line, and if a voltage of the storage node rises above a switching threshold of the inverter driven by the storage node, stored data is destroyed, an issue referred to as read disturbance. Further, during a write cycle, other cells in the same row as the SRAM cell experience read disturbance, and data in the other cells is potentially destroyed, an issue referred to as dummy read disturbance.
Like reference symbols in the various drawings indicate like elements.

Memory device and a method of operating the same

TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY LTD.


Various technologies described herein pertain to automatic prediction of an anticipated audience response for scripting. A sub-document unit can be received, where the sub-document unit can be part of a script. The sub-document unit, for example, can be a sentence, a paragraph, a scene, or substantially any other portion of the script. Content of the sub-document unit and a context of the sub-document unit can be analyzed to extract features of the sub-document unit. A predictive model can be employed to predict an anticipated audience response to the sub-document unit based upon the features of the sub-document unit. Moreover, the anticipated audience response to the sub-document unit predicted by the predictive model can be output.

Authors can write scripts for various types of works. For example, a script can be written for a speech, a screenplay, or a teleplay. A script for a speech can include lines to be spoken by a speaker. Moreover, a script for a screenplay or a teleplay can include dialog (e.g., lines to be spoken by one or more speakers) as well as other directions (e.g., stage directions). Such scripts can elicit a range of audience responses depending on factors such as word choice, narrative device, or the like.
Conventional techniques for testing drafts of an authored script commonly involve presenting the script to a test group (e.g., for panel viewing) or target audience. Accordingly, content of the script can be presented to the test group or the target audience, and a response of the test group or the target audience can be tracked. Moreover, the draft of the script can be modified by the author based on the response of the test group or the target audience. For instance, if the test group or target audience dislikes a scene of a teleplay, the author can rewrite such scene. Thus, iterations of the script can be written based on actual responses of the test group or target audience, where the script is manually edited and then presented to the test group or target audience to gauge reactions of the audience members.

Predicting audience response for scripting


A video terminal device includes a capture module, a detection module, a transmitting module, and a displaying module. The capture module takes images of the eyes of a user when the user is gazing at a display device to obtain three points of focus of the eyes, and confirms a circle bounding the three points of focus. The detection module detects whether an area of the applied circle is less than a first threshold. The transmitting module outputs coordinates of the center of the applied circle as an eyes direction when the area of the circle is less than the first threshold, enabling the participants in a conference to see the eyes direction of the presenter and the presenter to see the eyes directions of each of his audience.

When a long-distance meeting is needed, people are increasingly accustomed to using video conferencing, which can achieve good communication. However, during the video conferencing, participants may not accurately understand the meaning expressed by speakers or misjudge what is being said. For example, when a presentation needs to be shared, although each participant in any place can see content of the presentation, the speaker can only verbally indicate the location of some argument or point in the presentation, even using a laser pen may not be clear enough, so the participants will not really understand the briefing or flow of ideas expressed by the speaker.

Video terminal device and method of detecting direction of gaze


A print editing device is provided wherein a first line of the print data is aligned to a first end in a predetermined print area and, if there are plural lines; a last line of the print data is aligned to a second end and a remaining line is aligned between the first and second end when the print data is determined to include more than three lines.

1. Field of the Invention
The disclosure relates to a print data editing device, a program for making the computer function as the print editing device and a recording medium.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Generally, in print data editing device for obtaining desired print result such as word processor, a user inputs characters and figures and properly aligns the inputted character and figures in desired print area. Such alignment is generally provided by the user's manual inputting on display. To reduce such labor, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. HEI 5-346947 discloses a print data editing device which automatically properly aligns.

Print data editing device, print data editing program and computer readable recording medium


An integrated shielding protector and a wire harness are provided so that the man-hours concerning the wiring operation can be reduced, and the number of components also can be reduced. A conductive integrated shielding protector, including a first high voltage accommodating part, a second high voltage accommodating part and a low voltage accommodating part, is used when first high voltage wires the voltage of which is high, second high voltage wires the voltage of which is high but lower than that of the first high voltage wires, and low voltage wires the voltage of which is low are wired in parallel in the same course. A wire harness, including the integrated shielding protector, the first high voltage wires, the second high voltage wires and the low voltage wires, is wired inside a vehicle compartment.

A plurality of high voltage electric wires are used to electrically connect with a battery and a motor-inverter in an electric vehicle or a hybrid vehicle. For example, in the following patent document 1, while the middle part of a plurality of high voltage electric wires is wired below a vehicle floor, the two ends of the plurality of high voltage electric wires are wired in an engine room of a vehicle front part or at a vehicle rear part by penetrating a vehicle frame. The plurality of high voltage electric wires are respectively inserted in metal protective pipes covering the overall length.

Integrated shielding protector and wire harness


An endoscopic surgical device for retrieving objects, such as for example, severed human tissue, foreign objects or impacted food bolus, from within a subject is disclosed. The device includes a body and handle movable relative to the body, a tubular member fixed to the body, a link having a first end fixed to the handle and a second end remote from the body, and a net including a loop and a net element. The loop is expandable and collapsible by action of the handle relative to the body. The loop retains an expanded configuration when deployed to allow for the capture certain objects that were otherwise difficult to capture because of positioning, location, or object characteristics. The loop may be constructed of flat wire and form a polygon shape when deployed. Structure at the distal end of the loop may propel and retain the loop into an open position when in use in narrow organs such as the esophagus.

Endoscopic retrieval or removal devices are known in the art and are conventionally used to recover objects from inside a human subject. Such objects may include severed human tissue, foreign objects, or food bolus. Some typical devices include forceps or clasps to grab objects. Certain devices of this type are not well-suited for retrieving rounded or blunt foreign objects such as coins, marbles and batteries because they are difficult to hold secure. Further, if a foreign object is dropped near the trachea during the removal process the results can be catastrophic for the patient.
Devices using netting have been developed to capture rounded or blunt objects. U.S. Pat. No. 6,814,739 to Secrest et al., which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety, discloses a device for retrieving an object from within a subject. In the use of devices having netting, and it is believed in the use of other devices, physicians have experienced difficulty in recovering certain objects, such as for example, impacted food bolus from the esophagus. A bolus is a mass of masticated or chewed food. In some cases, the bolus becomes impacted in the esophagus due to disease states, and other disorders and consequently, does not pass into the stomach. An object of this type may be more difficult to position over or be more heavier than the human tissue or foreign object for which these type of devices were designed. This problem is especially apparent when working in relatively tight places within the body. As a result, netting support collapses and does not retain its shape in a deployed position when holding the captured object.
To solve these and other problems, the present invention uses a flat wire to make the loop that supports the retrieval net. The flat wire provides a wider net capacity to entrap the bolus and is firmer, more rigid and less likely to collapse. As such, the loop maintains its shape in use, particularly when used in narrow lumens like the esophagus. The flat wire can be formed into a polygon shape, is more likely to be resistant to collapse and can include distal tip structure designed to further resist collapse and promote expansion.


Provided is: a multicomponent curable thermally conductive silicone gel composition which has a high thermal conductivity, has excellent gap-filling ability and repairability, and has superior storage stability; a thermally conductive member comprising the composition; and a heat dissipating structure using the same. The thermally conductive silicone gel composition comprises: (A) an alkenyl group-containing organopolysiloxane; (B) an organohydrogenpolysiloxane; (C) a catalyst for hydrosilylation reaction; (D) a thermally conductive filler; (E) a silane-coupling agent or a hydrolysis condensation product thereof; and (F) a specific organopolysiloxane having a hydrolyzable silyl group at one end thereof. The thermally conductive silicone gel composition includes (I) a liquid composition that includes components (A), (C), (D), (E), and (F), but does not include component (B) and (II) a liquid composition that includes components (B), (D), (E), and (F), but does not include component (C) which are individually stored.

In recent years, the density and integration of printed circuit boards and hybrid ICs on which electronic components such as transistors, ICs and memory elements are mounted, and the capacity of secondary batteries (cells) have increased significantly. In order to more efficiently dissipate the heat generated by electronic and electrical devices such as these electronic components and batteries, thermally conductive silicone compositions comprising organopolysiloxanes, aluminum oxide powders, and thermally conductive fillers such as zinc oxide powder are increasingly being used. In particular, thermally conductive silicone compositions containing large amounts of thermally conductive fillers have been proposed to address the issue of higher heat dissipation.
For example, thermally conductive silicone compositions with higher thermal conductivity have been realized in Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2. These documents propose that by treating the surface of a thermally conductive filler with a hydrolyzable silane having a long-chain alkyl group, the increase in the viscosity of these thermally conductive silicone compositions can be reduced despite a higher thermal conductive inorganic filler content to improve moldability, and flexibility and heat-resistant mechanical properties can be imparted to molded products. A thermally conductive silicone composition containing a thermal conductive filler surface-treated with two or more treatment agents with different molecular weights has been proposed in Patent Document 3. This document proposes that by adjusting the timing of addition of these treatment agents, the fluidity of the compound is not impaired despite high thermally conductive filler content.
However, the fluidity of these thermally conductive silicone compositions is still insufficient despite these reductions in viscosity and improvements in moldability. As a result, these compositions cannot be applied with precision to the structures of highly refined electric and electronic materials, and gaps occur with electronic components whose heat is to be dissipated, causing insufficient heat dissipation and latent heat buildup.
A certain type of multi-component curable composition is used as an addition-curable silicone material for electronic materials in which a composition containing an organohydrogenpolysiloxane crosslinking agent and a composition not containing this crosslinking agent are stored and distributed in separate packages to be mixed together when used. Patent Documents 1-3 do not disclose any multi-component curable thermally conductive silicone composition, and there is no known stable multi-component curable thermally conductive silicone composition that contains both an organohydrogenpolysiloxane crosslinking agent and a large amount of thermally conductive filler.

Multicomponent-curable thermally-conductive silicone gel composition, thermally-conductive member and heat dissipation structure


A tissue slicing device is comprised of parallel circular blades coaxially connected to a rotary shaft. The blades are separated by gaps. A guide member is supported by a hinge adjacent the blades. An adjustment screw is positioned behind the guide member to control the distance between the guide member and the blades. The device includes a tissue carrier which is comprised of a base member and parallel plates extending from a top side of the base member. The plates are spaced to correspond with the gaps between the blades. Holes in the plates are aligned to define a tissue chamber for receiving a tissue sample. When the tissue carrier is positioned on the guide member and the blades rotated to drive the tissue carrier along the guide member, the tissue chamber is driven into the blades so the tissue sample is simultaneously cut into a plurality of slices.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention broadly relates to biological tissue cutting devices.
2. Prior Art
Biological tissues for surgical pathology must be cut for chemical processing and embedding in paraffin. The cut tissues must be less than the inside dimensions of a standardized processing cassette which receives the tissues. The most commonly used tool is a hand tool such as a scalpel, knife, or razor blade, but it results in pieces with inconsistent dimensions. The thickness of the tissues directly affect the fixation rate in a fixative, the first step in the chemical processing. The quality of the fixation directly affects many of the downstream diagnostic tests. Therefore, tissue pieces with different thicknesses have different qualities of fixation that affect diagnostic testing.
There are tissue slicing instruments for making extremely thin slices measured in micrometers or even nanometers. These instruments cut only one slice at a time. The extreme thinness of their cuts require hardening the tissue by freezing or fixation in a rigid medium, such as paraffin. They are not suitable for cutting thicker slices, or cutting soft tissue.