A positive power supply for generating and supplying a regulated positive potential to control gates of selected memory cells via word lines in an array of flash EEPROM memory cells during programming includes a clock circuit (18b) for generating a pair of non-overlapping clock signals and charge pump means (18c) responsive to an external power supply potential (VCC) and to the non-overlapping clock signals for generating a high positive voltage. A regulator circuit (20) responsive to the high positive voltage and a reference voltage is provided for controlling the regulated positive potential so that it is independent of the external power supply potential (VCC).

1. Field of the invention
This invention relates generally to floating gate memory devices such as an array of flash electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM) cells. More particularly, the present invention relates to an improved positive power supply for generating and supplying a regulated positive potential to control gates of selected memory cells via wordlines in an array of flash EEPROM memory cells during programming.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In U.S. Pat. No. 5,077,691 to Sameer S. Haddad et al. issued on Dec. 31, 1991, there is disclosed a flash EEPROM array which includes a positive voltage charge pump 206. The '691 patent is assigned to the same assignee as in the present invention and is hereby incorporated by reference. During a sector-programming mode of operation, the charge pump 206 in FIG. 2B of the '691 patent generates a relatively high positive potential (i.e., +12 volts) which is applied to the control gates via the wordlines of the selected sectors while zero volts are applied to the control gates of memory cells in the non-selected sectors. Further, the source regions of all transistors in the selected sectors are pulled to a ground potential of zero volts, and the drain regions thereof are raised to a high positive level of approximately +6.5 volts.
In FIG. 5B of the '691 patent, there is shown a schematic circuit diagram of the positive charge pump circuit formed of four single-stages 502 for generating the high positive potential of approximately +12 volts to +15 volts. The positive charge pump circuit of FIG. 5B is used for the charge pump block 206 shown in FIG. 2B of the '691 patent. Further, in FIG. 4C there is depicted a low negative charge pump circuit formed of a single stage 402 for generating a relatively low level negative voltage of approximately -2.0 volts. The negative pump circuit of FIG. 4C is used for the charge pump block 208 shown in FIG. 2B.
In U.S. Pat. No. 5,126,808 to Antonio J. Montalvo et al issued on Jun. 30, 1992, there is disclosed a flash EEPROM array with page erased architecture which also includes a positive voltage charge pump. The '808 patent is also assigned to the same assignee as in the present invention and is hereby incorporated by reference. In FIG. 7E of the '808 patent, there is shown a schematic circuit diagram of the positive voltage charge pump, similar to FIG. 5B of the '691 patent, for generating the high positive potential of approximately +12 V. Further, in FIG. 7B there is illustrated a -13 volt charge pump 565 consisting of five interconnected single stage charge pumps 560. The output of the first stage 560-1 of the charge pump 565 is about -2.0 volts.
The present invention represents a significant improvement over the charge pump circuits shown in their respective '691 and '808 patents discussed above. The positive power supply of the present invention is used for generating and supplying a regulated positive potential to control gates of selected memory cells via wordlines in an array of flash EEPROM memory cells during programming. The positive power supply includes a positive charge pump circuit formed of four charge pump stages for generating a high positive voltage. The positive power supply further includes a regulation circuit which is responsive to the high positive voltage and a reference potential for generating the regulated positive potential to be independent of a power supply potential VCC.

VPP power supply having a regulator circuit for controlling a regulated positive potential


A system and method for characterizing actual availability of a long-haul path in a telecommunications network. The present invention subdivides the long-haul path into distinct modular components and determines availability for each modular component of the long-haul path. A composite end-to-end availability figure is determined by summing the modular component availabilities. The present invention comprises a telecommunications network comprising a plurality of interconnected switches to carry and route telecommunications traffic among customer endpoints, and an entry and exit gateway for performing protocol conversion from one communication network to another. A network management system is connected to the interconnected switches in the telecommunications network via control links, for monitoring availability for the telecommunications network. The system also includes a network monitoring processor for monitoring telecommunication networks owned and operated by other service providers upon an agreement, a trans-oceanic network management system for monitoring availability of undersea telecommunication equipment owned and operated by the service provider, an extrapolation processor used to determine availability for the modular components of a network not capable of being monitored by the service provider, and a performance processor for determining a composite availability from a plurality of modular component availabilities.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to telecommunications, and more particularly to a technique for evaluating and expressing availability of a long haul network.
2. Related Art
Among providers of telecommunication network services, the term "availability" refers to the portion of time that a given customer will be able to use a particular service or connection. Availability is measured in errored seconds, severely errored seconds, and unavailable seconds. According to ITU Recommendation G.826, an errored second (ES) represents one or more errors found in a set of consecutive bits (known as a block) being transmitted over the network within the time frame of a second. A severely errored block would contain 30% or more errored blocks within a one-second period. Unavailable seconds are the amount of seconds that the network is unavailable to the user, such as when the network is undergoing repair. Availability is a bi-directional connectivity. It can be measured electronically or from the time a network connection is undergoing repair by a craftsman.
The standard approaches for evaluating and expressing availability of an end-to-end path in a communications network, namely ITU recommendations M2100 and G.826, are solely based upon reliability estimates of the facilities that make up the path. These approaches do not include the substantial impact on availability caused by actions of network personnel in the course of maintaining the network facilities.
A substantial error is introduced as negotiators extrapolate short-haul availability figures to estimate long-haul values. This is commonly done in estimating end-to-end availability for trans-oceanic international connections. Unfortunately, such a connection usually comprises a series of communications links that vary in type, length, reliability, nationality, and ownership. Many times, the availability figures that are commonly accepted for, say, an undersea cable are arbitrarily decided by committee debates rather than empirically measured. The result is that an estimated availability including this type of communications link is usually many times worse than is actually experienced. For example, a 7500-km end-to-end intercontinental path is projected by M2100 to suffer at least 138 errored seconds every 24 hours. Conciliatory negotiations might place this number even higher for lack of better information. This results in poor expectations of performance and very lax maintenance action limits--especially considering that actual observed performance is on the order of 1 or 2 errored seconds per day. Thus, a simple extrapolation to estimate a long-haul performance is convenient, but inadequate.
What is needed is a means for characterizing actual availability for each portion of a long-haul path and then combining these "modular availabilities" into a composite end-to-end availability figure that is realistic. Further, what is needed is a system and method that can assemble a composite availability projection from a mixture of such empirically-derived availabilities for some segments and M2100-compliant estimates for other segments. For some segments, the latter figure may be decidedly adequate.

Method and system for combing modular availability projections in a telecommunication system


A light display is mounted on the spokes of a rotating bicycle wheel. The display includes a plurality of arrays of lights, each array attached to one of the spokes. A sensor on the wheel, actuated by a magnet mounted on the frame, senses the angular velocity of the rotating wheel with respect to the bicycle frame. A microprocessor, mounted on the wheel and connected to the sensor, and individually connected to each of the plurality of arrays of lights by a cable, includes a memory which stores a plurality of display patterns. The microprocessor modulates the plurality of arrays of light according to a selected one of the plurality of display patterns and the sensed angular velocity of the rotating wheel to form an image using persistence of vision of a viewer.

This invention relates generally to devices for displaying information or images, and more particularly, to a display apparatus for producing an optical illusion of displayed images using time/position multiplexing and persistence of vision of a viewer.
The characteristic persistence of vision of human viewers has been used to advantage in previous display devices. The Bell U.S. Pat. No. 4,470,044 uses a modulated array of lights to create momentary perceptible visual images when scanned asynchronously by the human eye. There, the display device relies on saccadic eye movement between two points of eye fixation, the device itself remains stationary.
The Nobile et al. U.S. Pat. No. 5,057,827 describes a motor actuated rotating member where an array of LEDs are turned on and off using time or position division multiplexing so that to an observer an image is generated over the path of the array.
The McEwen et al. U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,180,912 and 5,192,864 describe a linear array of LEDs that also is stationary. There, a rotating mirrored surface or facet of a polygon is used to create the effect of rotary motion of the LED array. The persistence of vision of a human observer produces a two dimensional image as the LEDs are selectively controlled.
The Belcher et al. U.S. Pat. No. 5,302,965 describes a rotating display device which rotates vertical columns of light emitting diodes. The light emitting diodes arranged in the columns sweep around a cylindrical surface. A control circuit turns the light emitting diodes on and off to provide an image display on the surface. The Belcher et al. display device requires a complex electromechanical device with a motor for rotating the LED columns at a uniform rate of rotation.
The Eason U.S. Pat. No. 5,748,157 describes a hand held wand with an LED column actuated by an inertial switch. The wand can be swung back and forth while the lights are periodically turned on and off.
The Tokimoto U.S. Pat. No. 5,548,300 also describes a manually operated wand with an array of LED lights. The wand can be swung around an operating fulcrum. The fulcrum supplies relative angular position information and rotation speed information for synchronizing the turning of the lights.
A disadvantage of traditional persistence of vision display devices is that complex electromechanical devices are required for producing uniform oscillating or rotating. The prior art devices also cannot readily adjust to different and variable periods or cycle times in different uses. The devices with a singular linear array of light are also not suited for slowly moving display systems, or for use in conditions where there is a significant amount of ambient background light.
A light display is mounted on a bicycle wheel. The display includes a plurality of arrays of lights. The arrays include at least one master array, and a number of additional slave arrays. Each of the arrays is attached to a spoke of the bicycle wheel. A sensor mounted on the wheel is actuated by a magnet mounted on the bicycle frame. The sensor is used to determine the angular velocity of the wheel. The sensor can be attached to a coil of wire where a current is induced when the coil passes through the magnetic field.
A microprocessor, mounted on the wheel and connected to the sensor, and individually connected to each array of lights by a cable, includes a memory which stores a plurality of display patterns. The microprocessor modulates the plurality of arrays of light according to a selected one of the plurality of display patterns and the sensed angular velocity of the rotating wheel to form an image using persistence of vision of a viewer.
As an advantage, the display device with multiple light arrays can be used by rotating objects having a relatively low angular velocity, such as a bicycle wheel. In addition, with multiple reinforcing lights, the device can be used in places where there is a significant level of ambient background light, such as public roads.


A grating-in-etalon wavelength division multiplexing device is disclosed. In one aspect the device includes an etalon structure with a single volume (or Bragg) diffraction grating, multiple superimposed volume diffraction gratings or a binary volume supergrating is interposed between the reflective opposed faces of the etalon. The etalon includes a tilt mechanism for tilting one or both of the reflective faces at a preselected angle with respect to each other from the parallel. A multiple wavelength light beam is directed through the volume grating in different preselected directions so that light of wavelengths satisfying the Bragg condition on each traversal of the grating is diffracted in a direction different from the direction of the incident beam. The diffracted beam exits the etalon and is wavelength interrogated in a detector while the undiffracted wavelengths propagate through the grating to be reflected from the opposed mirror face back through the volume grating. On this traversal the diffracted light exits through the other side of the etalon and is wavelength interrogated in another wavelength sensitive light detector. In another aspect of the invention the WDM device is fabricated from an etalon waveguide with reflective opposed faces and having a Bragg grating (or multiple gratings) written into the waveguide between the reflective faces. Polarization insensitivity is achieved by writing in two sets of gratings, one set to diffract ordinary polarized light and the other to diffract extraordinary polarized light so that when polarization state of light changes, the diffraction efficiencies are relatively the same.

Wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) devices are becoming increasingly important in fiber-optics sensing systems and optical communication systems to enhance transmission capacity and application flexibility. Several WDM devices are known including Mach-Zehnder interferometers (B. H. Berbeck, C. H. Henry, N. A. Olsson, K. J. Orlowsky, R. F. Kazarinow, and B. H. Johnson, "Integrated Four-Channel Mach-Zehnder Multi/demuliplexer Fabricated With Phosphorous Doped SiO.sub.2 Waveguide On Si," J. Lightwave Technol., Vol. 6, pp.1011, 1988), arrayed waveguide gratings (H. Takahashi, S. Suzuki, K. Kato, and I. Nishi, "Arrayed-Waveguide Grating For Wavelength Division Multi/demuliplexer With Nanometer Resolution," Electron. Lett., Vol. 26, pp. 87, 1990), planar spectrometers (J. B. D. Soole et al, "Monolithic InP-based Grating Spectrometer For Wavelength Division Multiplexed Systems At 1.5 .mu.m," Electron. Lett., Vol. 27, pp. 132, 1990), and directional couplers (H. Sakata, S. Takeuchi, "Grating-Assisted Directional Coupler Filters Using AlGaAs/GaAs MQW Waveguides," IEEE Photonics Technol. Lett., Vol. 3, pp.899, 1991). For anticipated devices to be used in for example fiber-to-home applications, large-channel fanout, low loss and compatibility with fiber connections, laser sources and detectors will be advantageous features of WDM devices. Dual-functionality of wavelength selection and beam splitting are also desirable properties. Bragg grating devices which posses the advantage of high diffraction efficiency, high wavelength selectivity and high angular selectivity have received considerable attention in recent years, see for example R. T. Chen, H. Lu, D. Robinson and T. Jannson, "Highly Multiplexed Graded-Index Polymer Waveguide Hologram For Near-infrared Eight-Channel Waveguide Division Multiplexing," Appl. Phys. Lett., Vol. 59, pp. 1145, 1991, and C. H. Henry, R. F. Kazarinov, Y. Shani, R. C. Kistler, C. Plo, K. J. Orlowsky, "Four Channel Wavelength Division Multiplexers And Bandpass Filter Based On Elliptical Bragg Reflector", J. of Lightwave Technol., Vol.8, pp. 748,1990.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,498,693 issued to Fein et al. is directed to an optical filtering device using an etalon having two spaced mirrors that are partially transmitting. By varying the distance or tilt between the mirrors the wavelength selection is achieved for wavelengths satisfying the resonance condition.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,119,454 issued to McMahon teaches an optical wavelength division multiplexer having an etalon-like structure defined by a pair of opposed mirror surfaces with a planar diffraction grating formed on one of the reflective mirror surfaces. Wavelength selection in this device is achieved by tuning of the resonant condition along the length of the etalon-like structure and the diffraction grating is used to change the direction of propagation of the light beam.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,144,498 issued to Vincent is directed to a variable wavelength light filter and sensor. The device uses an etalon structure in which the wavelength filtering function is achieved by utilizing the dependence of the resonance condition along the length of the etalon.
For high density and large fan-out WDM applications, the number of gratings in a superimposed grating structure is constrained by signal-to-noise ratio, see (V. Minier, A. Kevorkian, J. M. Xu, "Diffraction Characteristics Of Superimposed Holographic Gratings In Planar Optical Waveguide", IEEE Photonics Tech. Lett. Vol. 4(10), pp. 1115, 1992), and by the limited refractive index modulation depth of the material; on the other hand, cascaded gratings span a large physical dimension. Polarization sensitivity is also a drawback of known grating based WDM devices.
Therefore, it would be very advantageous to provide a WDM device exhibiting wavelength selectivity, high diffraction sensitivity, high angular selectivity and beam splitting that is polarization insensitive.

Grating-in-etalon polarization insensitive wavelength division multiplexing devices


A process for forming a metal supported solid oxide fuel cell, the process comprising the steps of: a) applying a green anode layer including nickel oxide, copper oxide and a rare earth-doped ceria to a metal substrate; b) firing the green anode layer to form a composite including oxides of nickel, copper, and a rare earth-doped ceria; c) providing an electrolyte; and d) providing a cathode. Metal supported solid oxide fuel cells comprising an anode a cathode and an electrolyte, wherein the anode includes nickel, copper and a rare earth-doped ceria, fuel cell stacks and uses of these fuel cells.

A SOFC is an electrochemical device for the generation of electrical energy through the electrochemical oxidation of a fuel gas (usually hydrogen-based). The device is generally ceramic-based, using an oxygen-ion conducting metal-oxide derived ceramic as its electrolyte. As most ceramic oxygen ion conductors (for instance, doped zirconium oxide or doped cerium oxide) only demonstrate technologically relevant ion conductivities at temperatures in excess of 500° C. (for cerium-oxide based electrolytes) or 600° C. (for zirconium oxide based ceramics), SOFCs operate at elevated temperatures.
In common with other fuel cells, SOFCs include an anode where fuel is oxidised, and a cathode where oxygen is reduced. These electrodes must be capable of catalysing the electrochemical reactions, be stable in their respective atmospheres at the temperature of operation (reducing on the anode side, oxidising on the cathode side), and be able to conduct electrons so the electric current generated by the electrochemical reactions can be drawn away from the electrode-electrolyte interface.
Finding materials with the relevant combination of properties for the anode has, in spite of extensive research, proved difficult. For many years, the state-of-the-art SOFC anode has consisted of a porous ceramic-metal (cermet) composite structure, with nickel as the metallic phase and an electrolyte material (usually yttria or Scandia-stabilised zirconia) as the ceramic phase, although less commonly doped ceria-based electrolyte materials such as gadolinia or samaria-doped ceria have also been used. In this structure, the nickel performs the role of catalyst, and the volume fraction of nickel is high enough that a contiguous metal network is formed, thus providing the required electronic conductivity. The electrolyte material forms a contiguous ceramic backbone to the anode, providing mechanical structure, enhancing the bond between the anode and the electrolyte and also extending the anode-electrolyte interfacial region some distance into the anode.
A well-known limitation of these cermet anodes is that at cell operating temperature the metallic nickel in the anode is only stable in a reducing atmosphere. This is normally provided by the fuel gases, so under normal operation the anode is stable. However, should the supply of fuel gas be interrupted with the SOFC at operating temperature, the atmosphere within the anode will become oxidising. Under these conditions the metallic nickel will oxidise back to nickel oxide. This oxidation is associated with a volume increase of greater than approximately 40%, because the metallic nickel which has been formed by the reduction of sintered nickel oxide does not oxidise back to the same morphology as the original nickel oxide from which it was formed. Instead it generates mesoporosity, occupying a larger volume than the original nickel oxide. This volume change on reoxidation can generate large stresses in the anode structure, which in turn can result in cracking of the anode and potential destruction of the SOFC cell.
The inability of many SOFC cells to undergo multiple reduction-oxidation (REDOX) cycles without suffering damage of this type has been a major factor inhibiting the widespread commercial adoption of SOFC technology for power generation, as SOFC systems generally require the presence of complex and expensive purge gas systems to maintain a reducing atmosphere over the anodes in the event of an unexpected fuel interruption, for example due to a failure elsewhere in the system which requires an emergency shutdown of the system for safety reasons.
The problem of inadequate REDOX stability is particularly acute in anode supported fuel cells, currently the most common form of SOFC cell. Anode support is beneficial as it allows a very thin (<20 μm) layer of electrolyte (such as stabilised zirconia) to be used, as the electrolyte is non-structural. This in turn allows operation at a lower temperature range than is the case for electrolyte supported cells (650 to 800° C. rather than 850 to 1000° C.). Because the resistance of the electrolyte to oxygen ion transport is inversely proportional to the electrolyte thickness, in electrolyte supported fuel cells, the resistance caused by the thickness of the electrolyte layer is overcome by increasing operation temperatures, exploiting the exponential drop off in resistance with temperature. As thinner layers can be used in anode supported cells, operation temperatures can be reduced, which is generally desirable as it facilitates the use of lower-cost materials in the SOFC system, and reduces the rate of various material degradation mechanisms such as the oxidation of metallic components.
In spite of these advantages, as the anode is the structural support of the SOFC cell in an anode-supported cell, the cells are very prone to catastrophic failure on repeated REDOX cycling, as stress-induced cracking can result in the cell completely breaking up.
In spite of considerable efforts by developers, no alternative to nickel has achieved widespread adoption, as no suitable material has yet been developed which combines nickel's relatively low cost, high catalytic activity for both electrochemical oxidation of hydrogen and steam reforming of hydrocarbon fuel feeds, and high electronic conductivity.
Gorte et. al. (US 2005/227133 A1, U.S. Pat. No. 7,014,942 B2) have reported the use of copper in a SOFC anode partially or completely substituted for nickel. Copper has advantages as an electronically conductive phase in the anode, notably that it does not catalyse the formation of carbon from hydrocarbon fuels. However it is a poor catalyst for the electrochemical oxidation of hydrogen and steam reforming of hydrocarbon fuels, so in the copper anodes tested by Gorte et al., an additional catalyst such as ceria was required to achieve adequate electrode performance. The other issue with the use of copper in conventional SOFC applications is that both copper metal and copper oxide have low melting points (1084° C. and 1326° C. respectively). Cermet anodes are typically formed by sintering a mixture of the metal oxide powder and the electrolyte powder at 1200-1500° C. in air, followed by reduction of the metal oxide to the metal using hydrogen on first operation of the SOFC. This range of sintering temperatures is either close to or above the melting point of copper oxide (nickel oxide by contrast melts at 1955° C.), leading to excessive sintering of the copper oxide phase. Also conventional SOFC operating temperatures are in the range 700-900° C., close to the melting point of metallic copper, which tends to result in sintering of the copper phase during SOFC operation, potentially causing performance degradation. To address this issue, Gorte et al. developed a method of adding the copper to the anode in a post-sintering infiltration step using solutions of copper salts which were dried and then calcined to decompose the salt to copper oxide, thereby avoiding the need to sinter copper oxide at high temperatures. However, the infiltration step, whilst allowing the use of copper cermets, may be difficult to scale up to industrial production. Another issue with copper is that although less reactive than nickel, it will still oxidise if exposed to an oxidising atmosphere at temperature, and thus a copper-based anode also lacks REDOX stability.
There are factors relating to the design of the SOFC which can help mitigate the damaging effects of REDOX cycling, these include:                Not using an anode supported cell—the anode can therefore be thinner; reducing the overall volume change through REDOX cycling and the danger of catastrophic cracking.        Operating at a lower temperature—the rate of nickel oxidation increases exponentially with increasing temperature, starting at >300° C. The lower the temperature of operation, the less risk of nickel oxidation and volume expansion. Further, nickel particles tend to oxidise though a core-and-shell mechanism, where the outer surface oxidises rapidly, but then the core of the particle oxidises more slowly as this is diffusion limited. Thus at lower temperatures, it is likely that only the outer surface of the nickel particles in the anode will reoxidise, not the entire particle and any volume change will be reduced.        Provide the anode with a contiguous ceramic 'backbone'—As the electrolyte-based ceramic phase used in SOFC anodes is largely unaffected by changes in oxygen partial pressure, this part of the anode will not change volume during REDOX cycles affecting the nickel phase. Thus the structural integrity of the anode and its bond to the electrolyte will be enhanced if there is a sintered porous ceramic network within the anode.
A design of SOFC cell which has the potential to meet these criteria is the metal-supported SOFC design disclosed by the applicant in GB 2 368 450. This SOFC cell uses a ferritic stainless steel foil as a structural support. The foil being made porous in its central region to allow fuel access to the anode. The active cell layers (anode, electrolyte and cathode) are all deposited on top of the substrate foil as films. This means the anode only needs to be around 15 μm thick as it is not the structural support for the cell. This cell also allows operation at temperatures in the range 450-650° C., much lower than standard operating temperatures. This is achieved through the use of predominantly cerium oxide (ceria)-based ceramic materials such as CGO10 (gadolinium doped-cerium oxide, for CGO 10-Ce0.9Gd0.1O1.95) as the oxygen ion conducting electrolyte, which have an intrinsically higher oxygen ion conductivity than zirconia-based materials. A thin film of stabilised zirconia is deposited in the electrolyte to prevent internal short-circuiting of the cell due to the mixed ionic-electronic conductivity of ceria-based electrolytes, as disclosed in GB 2 456 445, but as the zirconia layer is so thin, its resistance to oxygen ion transport is sufficiently low that low-temperature operation is not prevented. The SOFC cell of GB 2 368 450 uses a porous metal-CGO10 composite cermet anode fabricated as a thick film with a thickness between 5 and 30 μm. The anode is generally deposited by screen-printing an ink containing metal oxide and CGO10 powders and formed into a porous ceramic layer by thermal processing to sinter the deposited powders together to form a contiguous structure bonded to the steel substrate.
A limitation imposed by the deposition of the ceramic layers onto a ferritic stainless steel support by conventional ceramic processing methods is the maximum temperature to which the steel may be exposed in an oxidising atmosphere due to the formation of a chromium oxide scale at high temperatures in an oxidising atmosphere. This upper limit is substantially below the 1200-1500° C. typically used when sintering ceramics and so methods have been developed for sintering rare earth doped ceria electrolytes to >96% of theoretical density at <1100° C., facilitating the formation of the gas-tight layer desired (GB 2 368 450, GB 2 386 126 and GB 2 400 486).
Surprisingly, sintering a nickel oxide-rare earth doped ceria composite anode at these temperatures has proved more difficult than sintering the electrolyte. This is because composites of two different oxide materials have been found to sinter more poorly than a single phase material. Thus nickel oxide or the ceramic alone will sinter adequately at these temperatures, but as a composite sintering in air can be poor, leading to weak necks between particles and a weak ceramic structure. This can result in cell failure as a result of REDOX cycling, as the weak bonds between nickel particles break as a result of the volume changes during the REDOX cycle. This can ultimately result in the catastrophic failure of the cell through delamination of the electrolyte from the anode.
In order to improve the REDOX stability of the cell, it is desirable to find a means of enabling sufficient sintering of the cermet structure at the temperature range at which it is possible to fire the ceramic layers on a steel substrate. It would therefore be advantageous to provide for a method of preparing a metal-supported SOFC in which the anode is stable to redox cycling, robust to a loss of reducing atmosphere at operating temperature, and yet can be made using commercially viable production methods. The invention is intended to overcome or ameliorate at least some aspects of this problem and those described above.

Ceres Intellectual Property Company Limited


A beam sampler comprises a substrate made of highly transparent fused silica or zinc selenide, both capable of sustaining high power laser beams. The substrate defines an outer surface through which the light beam being sampled propagates. A sinusoidal diffracting relief is etched on this outer surface directly into the light-propagating material of the substrate. When a light beam propagates through the outer surface of the substrate, the three-dimensional diffracting relief extracts from this light beam at least one pair of low power beam samples.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a beam sampler made of a highly transparent substrate. A three-dimensional diffracting relief is etched directly onto the substrate to extract from a light beam being sampled at least one pair of low power beam samples.
2. Brief Description of the Prior Art
As the applications of high-power lasers increase, the need for a complete monitoring of laser beam characteristics becomes increasingly crucial. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that beam-sampling devices represent one of the key technologies in such beam monitoring.
Obviously, real-time operation and pulsed-laser compatibility require a real sampler as opposed to a time sampler, since the latter provides only average values.
A prior art light beam sampler comprises a substrate of transparent light-propagating material defining two opposite and substantially parallel planar surfaces through which the laser beam to be sampled propagates in a direction generally perpendicular to these surfaces. A coating of resinous substance is applied to the one of the two planar surfaces through which the laser beam leaves the substrate. A diffracting relief is recorded on the outer face of the resinous coating to extract from the laser beam at least one pair of low power beam samples. The characteristics of the beam samples conform with those of the sampled laser beam whereby these samples can be analyzed to determine the different parameters of the laser beam.
Although the above described prior art sampler is capable of sustaining laser beams at low power levels, the resinous coating substance deteriorates rapidly when submitted to high power laser beams. Also, the performance of the resinous coating is affected by the environmental conditions such as the temperature and humidity. A further drawback is the limited spectral region in which the resinous coating substance operates satisfactorily.


Disclosed herein is a flocculating agent comprising a specified cationic polymer having an amidine structure. The cationic polymer flocculating agents according to the present invention have 20 to 90% by mole of a repeating amidine unit represented by the formula (1) and/or (2): ##STR1## The agents have a reduced viscosity of 0.1 to 10 dl/g as measured in a 1N saline solution of 0.1 g/dl at 25.degree. C.. The agents have a remarkably excellent performance as flocculating agents, in particular for organic sludge.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a flocculating agent. More particularly, it relates to a cationic polymer flocculating agent having an amidine structural unit.
2. Prior Arts
Cationic polymers are used in such applications as flocculating agents, paper-treating agents, and the like. Conventionally known cationic polymers include polymers of metal or ammonium salts of dialkylaminoalkyl(meth)acrylates, and Hofmann degradation or Mannich reaction products of polyacrylamides. Recently, polyvinylamines obtained by partially modifying homo- or copolymers of N-vinylformamide have been proposed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,421,602, 4,774,285 and 4,957,977.
However, the conventional cationic polymers have some disadvantages in certain applications; for example, dehydrating properties, filterability and stability upon storage are still insufficient when used as flocculating agents. Thus, there is a need for further improvement in the performance of cationic polymers.


Milling cutter (1), which can rotate about a cutter longitudinal axis (A), comprises a sleeve-shaped shaft (2) provided with an inner lying chip evacuation channel (11), which is arranged, in essence, symmetric to the cutter longitudinal axis (A), and with a suction opening (12). The milling cutter also comprises a milling head (3, 3a, 3b, 3c), which is held coaxial to the cutter longitudinal axis (A) and to the shaft (2) while being held on said shaft and which comprises, as cutting edges (7, 9), a face cutting edge (7) and a peripheral cutting edge (9). At least one cutting edge (7, 9) forms a positive rake angle (′Ya,′Yr) on the periphery of the milling head (3, 3a, 3b, 3c). The milling cutter (1) is particularly suited for machining light metals, especially for circular milling.

1. Technical Field
The present application relates to a milling cutter, in particular for machining light alloy metals, with a shaft and a milling head. The milling cutter can also have a sleeve-shaped shaft with an internal chip evacuation channel that is located essentially symmetrical to the longitudinal axis of the milling cutter and a suction aperture. The milling head is held so that it is coaxial to the longitudinal axis of the tool and to the shaft, with a face cutting edge and a peripheral cutting edge as cutting edges.
2. Background Information
Workpieces made of light alloy metals, such as magnesium alloys, for example, are frequently machined using metal removing processes. In this case, however, the formation of mixtures of magnesium dust and air is a problem. This problem occurs in particular during the dry cutting of light alloy metals. To address this problem, DE 44 39 114 A1, for example, discloses a very complex method and a device for dry, metal-removing machining, i.e. machining without a coolant feed, of a workpiece that is made of light alloy metal, whereby the cutting tool is located in a closed machining chamber in which a pressure gradient is set so that during the cutting process the machining chips are removed from the machining chamber. This chip removal device takes up a very large amount of space. The high cost and level of complexity of the apparatus results from the risk of explosion which is particularly great because of the formation of dry magnesium chips and dusts.
However, a risk of explosion during the metal-removing machining of light alloy metal cannot be prevented even by the use of coolants and lubricants. Aqueous emulsions cannot be used as cooling lubricants because magnesium would react chemically with the water during the machining operations. Therefore the cooling lubricants used must be oil-based. These cooling lubricants, however, have the disadvantage that the oil mist which is formed can be explosive, alone or in combination with light-alloy metal dust. An additional problem is the health hazard presented by the aerosols that are formed during machining. The cooling lubricant is also difficult and expensive to reprocess or dispose of after it has been used. Another problem, for example, is presented by the light alloy dust that is deposited on the machine tool or in the vicinity of the machine tool, which creates a risk of explosion not only immediately during the machining process but also when the dust is stirred up at some later time. Thus the specific problems related to the cutting of light alloy metals, in particular magnesium and magnesium alloys, cannot be eliminated even by the use of cooling lubricants.


A system for detecting stripper device blockage in a printing system is disclosed. The system includes a fusing member which during operation contacts a sheet of printer media to fuse a marking material to the sheet, a stripping device configured to apply pressurized air from an air supply through at least one orifice to the fuser member in order to separate the sheet from the surface and a flow measurement device in line with the air supply which measures air flow. The air flow device will assist in performing an assessment check which may include taking a baseline measurement of air flow and a diagnostic measurement of air flow. In the case where the difference between the diagnostic measurement and baseline measurement is above a different threshold, corrective action may be taken.

The exemplary embodiment relates to the imaging arts. It finds particular application and connection with air knife stripping systems for fuser assemblies and will be described with specific reference thereto.
In typical electrostatographic printing systems, for example, such as copy machines and laser beam printers, a marking engine includes a photoconductive insulating member, such as a photoreceptor belt or drum, which is charged to a uniform potential and therefore exposed to light image of an original document to be reproduced. The exposure discharges the photoconductive insulating surface in exposed or background areas and creates an electrostatic latent image on the member, which corresponds to the image areas contained within the document which is to be reproduced. Therefore, the electrostatic latent image on the photoreceptive insulating surface is made visible by developing the image with a marking material. Generally, the marking material comprises toner particles adhering triboelectrically to carrier granules, which is often referred to simply as toner. The image signals are stored and are read out successfully to a marking engine for formation of images and transfer of the images to a print medium, such as, sheets of paper.
In order to provide a high quality of service, it is useful to provide an easy releasing surface for treatment of the fuser roll. Untreated, the toner has a tendency to stick to the elastomeric surface of the heated fuser member. This problem is very common in the cases of members which are made of materials with relatively high surface energies as compared to materials such as Teflon. In these instances, release fluids are often employed to effectively reduce the surface energy of the roll and aid in the release of the toner. Even with the addition of release fluids and or low surface energy materials, it is often desirable to physically strip the printing media sheets from the fused surface of the roll. There are a variety of stripping solutions that are known in the art. However, it is desirable to have a method of stripping which is non-contact. Contact methods, such as stripping fingers, often cause premature wear which eventually results in the costly replacements of fusing members. One common method of non-contact stripping is the use of air knives.
In air knife stripping, jets of air are directed towards the print media to separate the print media from the fusing surface. The jets are emitted from small holes, or orifices, in an elongate surface which extends adjacent to the fuser roll. This method places an extrusion, having orifices directed towards the rolls in close proximity to the fuser nip. When the air knife's plenum is pressurized at a pressure higher than ambient air, the air is forced through the orifices and the jets of air impinge on fuse member surface. As the leading edge of the paper to be stripped approaches the impinging jet, lift and drag forces cause the paper to peel from the surface of the fuse member. The air jets have a tendency to lower the surface temperature of the fuse roll adjacent the jet through forced convection. This results in uneven gloss across the print media. For this reason it is found to be useful to apply a short burst of air, just as the leading edge of the print media reaches the air knife. The use of the short burst of air minimizes cooling, therefore, increasing the quality of the printing job.
The mass flow rate emanating from the jets is an important parameter to stripping performance. Air pressure can be a major factor in determining the flow rate, however, a reading of air pressure cannot detect orifice blockage. As a fusing air knife ages, orifices can become clogged by molten toner or other obstructions. As the orifices become clogged, the flow from that orifice reduces, resulting in a poor stripping performance.
If the air knife system develops blockage from molten toner or other objects, a service call is often required to diagnose the problem. There is a need in the industry to correct this problem to allow for a method of diagnosing orifice blockage without requiring a service call.


The novel process forms a first recess, such as a contact hole, within a first dielectric layer upon a semiconductor substrate. At least one diffusion barrier layer, selected from a group consisting of ceramics, metallics, and intermetallics, is formed within the first recess and at least partially conformably formed upon the first dielectric layer. A first electrically conductive layer is then formed within the recess over a said diffusion barrier layer. Preferably, the first electrically conductive layer is substantially composed of tungsten. The first electrically conductive layer is planarized above the recess thereby forming a top surface thereof. A second dielectric layer is formed over the first dielectric layer and said first electrically conductive layer. A second recess is formed in the second dielectric layer. The second recess extends from an upper surface of the second dielectric layer to the top surface of the first electrically conductive layer. The second recess has a bottom formed at least partially by the top surface of the first electrically conductive layer. A wetting layer composed of a titanium-aluminum alloy, is formed within the second recess over the second dielectric layer. A second electrically conductive layer then formed to substantially fill the second recess over the wetting layer. The wetting layer enables the second electrically conductive layer to substantially fill the second recess while being deposited at lower temperatures than conventional deposition processes. A portion of the wetting layer and the electrically conductive layer situated above the upper surface of the second dielectric layer is selectively removed by planarizing to form a planar top surface.

1. The Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a metallized integrated circuit structure, and particularly to a metallized interconnect structure situated on a semiconductor substrate assembly that utilizes a titanium-aluminum wetting layer and methods for making the metallized interconnect structure.
2. The Relevant Technology
Current technology for metallization of an integrated circuit involves the forming of a conductive layer over the integrated circuit. A typical metallization process is one that is performed at the "back end of the line" which is after the formation of integrated circuits that are to be wired by the metallization process. A single conductive layer is often formed so that it is situated above the integrated circuit to be wired. After the conductive layer is formed, it is then patterned and etched into a shape of the desired wiring necessary to metallize the integrated circuit. Since the conductive layer is situated above the integrated circuit, the resultant metallization will also be above the integrated circuit in a "wiring up" scheme.
Another type of metallization involves the formation of a conductive layer for the integrated circuit in a recess composed of an electrically insulative or dielectric material. Such a wiring scheme may be described as a "wiring down" or damascene scheme. The recess can be either a trench, a hole, or a via. Various wetting layers within the recess and underneath a conductive layer in a metallization scheme have been used to aid the filling process of the recess. Conventional wetting layers, however, cause incomplete recess filling such that there are voids in the recess, resulting in incomplete metallization lines.
Depending upon the aspect ratio of the recess, poor step coverage of the conductive layer within the recess may result. Voids in the conductive layer within the recess may also result when the conductive layer does not completely fill up the recess. Voids and poor step coverage can cause the integrated circuit to experience an electrical failure. The electrical failure can be experienced during fabrication of the integrated circuit or after a period of time that the integrated circuit has been in use, such as where electrical contact with the conductive layer in the recess has been lost because the material of the conductive layer migrates, shifts, or otherwise moves.
Current technology requires high deposition temperatures for the conductive layer that is deposited upon the previously deposited wetting layers to achieve a substantially complete filling of the recess. Conventional deposition equipment are unable to deposit recess metallization materials, such as aluminum, at production rates with conventional high deposition temperatures.
It would be an advantage in the art to overcome the problems of poor step coverage and voids. It would further be an advantage in the art to overcome the problems presented by a high deposition temperature requirement.

Titanium aluminum alloy wetting layer for improved aluminum filling of damescene trenches


Even if an existing learning dataset is limited, a new learning dataset with sufficient variation is generated. Therefore, for each of a plurality of learning data subsets, new input signals are generated from input signals of a plurality of pieces of learning data, and a plurality of pieces of new learning data that are respectively combinations of the new input signals and output signals of the corresponding learning data subset are generated. The input signals of the plurality of pieces of the learning data included in the corresponding learning data subset are divided into a first signal group and a second signal group, and the new input signals are generated by a learning device that is generated by performing learning by the first signal group set as an input signal set and the second signal group set as an output signal set.

Applying machine learning to the detection/identification/recognition/analysis/prediction of an image or a voice, language translation, marketing, strategy simulation, and the like is in progress. Since such functions are useful for reducing labor costs and improving profits and also can be incorporated into products to enhance functionality and promote product sales, many companies have great interest. There are two major methods of machine learning that realize these functions.
The first method is unsupervised learning. Unsupervised learning is performed by using only a set of input signals for a certain problem. It is often used to understand characteristics or structures from the input signals, and a representative method is a clustering method called k-means clustering. Accordingly, regularity can be found from a large amount of input signals, and an important causal relationship and the like can be found.
The second method is supervised learning. Supervised learning is performed by using a set of pairs of input signals for a certain problem and output signals expected as results of the input signals. On the contrary to unsupervised learning, a clear problem is set and how to solve the problem is learned. Finally, generalization performance for showing correct output signals even for unknown input signals is required, and generalization performance can be realized by using a neural network or the like.
In the case of unsupervised learning, each input signal is called learning data. In the case of supervised learning, a pair of each input signal and each output signal expected as a result of the corresponding input signal is called learning data, and a set of a plurality of pieces of learning data is called a learning dataset. Preparation of the learning dataset requires high costs, and particularly, in supervised learning, it is necessary to respectively link the input signals to the output signals. In many cases, the input signals and the output signals are manually linked to each other by using a dedicated tool corresponding to a problem to be solved.
Generally, in machine learning, the number and quality of a plurality of pieces of learning data included in a learning dataset determines the performance level of a function to be realized. Therefore, a large amount of various kinds of learning data is required, but as described above, in many cases, time and labor costs are high for preparing the learning dataset.
Non-Patent Document 1 introduces data augmentation as a method for increasing the amount of learning data. For example, in a case where an input signal is a still image, the data augmentation expands the learning dataset by performing inversion, rotation or brightness adjustment of the still image.

Learning dataset generation method, new learning dataset generation device and learning method using generated learning dataset


Snowshoes are provided which include a footwear supporting plate, a front binding device and a rear binding device. The plate has a lattice-like, essentially flat configuration formed by a plurality of hollow prismatic structures partially superimposed on one another. The main axis (x) of each hollow prismatic structure may be inclined by an angle (α) between 200 and 70° relative to a middle plane of the plate, in such a manner that lower edges of the hollow prismatic structures form sharp edges which allow the plate to grip snow and inner surfaces of the hollow prismatic structures offer high resistance to penetration into snow allowing for the distribution of weight of a user over a wide contact surface, thereby ensuring good floatability.

A snowshoe of this type is known from EP 0 613 704.
The snowshoes are devices typically used for hiking activities in snowy environments to enable to move easily by foot on fresh snow. The snowshoes typically comprise a plate, which may be made of plastic material, of metal, of fabric or even of a combination of these materials, and binding means for biding the plate to the shoe of the user, typically a winter hiking boot. The plate has a length and a width larger than those of the sole of the shoe of the user, so as to provide a contact surface with the ground (or, better, with the snow layer) wider than that provided by the shoe sole. The binding means may include from simple belts to more sophisticated automatic binding devices. Moreover, a hinge coupling is usually provided between the binding means and the plate to allow, permanently or only temporarily, free movement of the user heel, i.e. to allow the foot sole to move independently of the plate, which plate remains therefore with its plane approximately parallel to the ground during walking. A modem snowshoe is disclosed for example by WO2014/027893.
Most of the snowshoes currently known are mainly designed to provide floatation in powder snow on the flat and are therefore not very suitable for snowy uneven grounds, in particular snowy slopes with a gradient starting from 20 degrees. Moreover, most of the snowshoes currently known have large sizes and are therefore bulky and not easy to transport when not used, for example during a descent on ski or snowboard.
So-called "compact" snowshoes, such as for example the one disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,185,846, were conceived in the past and are characterized in that they have compact sizes in order to make it easier for the user to walk on mixed ground and to make it easier to transport them when not being used, and in that they have a fixed heelpiece and hence keep the foot permanently fixed to the plate. These snowshoes have, however, plate structures like those of the traditional snowshoes and offer lower characteristics in terms of floatation in powder snow and grip on packed snow or ice, and on steep slopes.
Products like the one disclosed in WO2014/071232 are also available on the market and basically consist in plates which, once suitably coupled to mountain crampons, allow to in-crease floatation in powder snow and thus make ascent and descent on snowy slopes easier. However, these known products have a number of disadvantages: they are heavy, they do not ensure high grip on powder snow and, furthermore, they tend both to form blocks of pressed snow that remain stuck to the bottom face of the plate and to retain on the upper face of the plate the snow that inevitably slides thereon, thus making it even more difficult for the user to walk.
It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved snowshoe with respect to the above-discussed prior art.


Disclosed is a method, system, and program for processing an aggregate function. Rows that contain a reference to intermediate result structures are grouped to form groups. For each group, aggregate element structures are formed from the intermediate result structures and, if the aggregate function specifies ordering, the aggregate element structures are sorted based on a sort key.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is related to optimizing aggregate processing.
2. Description of the Related Art
Relational DataBase Management System (RDBMS) software using a Structured Query Language (SQL) interface is well known in the art. The SQL interface has evolved into a standard language for RDBMS software and has been adopted as such by both the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and the International Standards Organization (ISO).
The SQL standard introduced a set of new Extensible Markup Language (XML) publishing functions, including scalar functions XMLELEMENT, XMLFOREST, and XMLCONCAT, and an aggregate function, XMLAGG. These functions take SQL data as input and generate XML data as output.
An XMLELEMENT function creates an XML element. In particular, the XMLELEMENT function receives an identifier for use in naming the created XML element, an optional set of attribute name/value items, and an optional list of values for the content of this element. An XMLELEMENT function returns an instance of type XMLType.
An XMLFOREST function creates a forest of XML elements, which contains an element for each of the XMLFOREST arguments. The XMLFOREST function converts each of its argument parameters to XML, and then returns an XML fragment that is the concatenation of these converted arguments.
An XMLCONCAT function creates a forest of XML elements. The XMLCONCAT function takes as input a series of XML values, concatenates the series of values, and returns the concatenated series.
An XMLAGG function is an aggregate function that produces a forest of XML elements from a collection of XML elements. In particular, the XMLAGG function concatenates XML values from each row in a group into a single XML value. An optional ORDER BY clause may be specified within the XMLAGG function to request a particular order of the concatenation. An optional GROUP BY clause may be used in the SELECT statement to specify how to group rows.
Additionally, an XMLATTRIBUTES function defines one or more XML attributes for the XML element created by the XMLELEMENT function. Syntactically, XMLELEMENT and XMLATTRIBUTES are also referred to as "specifications."
Due to the XML feature of element nesting for parent-child relationships and sequence concatenation, the XMLELEMENT, XMLFOREST, XMLCONCAT, and XMLAGG functions are commonly used in nesting and concatenation. Nested functions are ones in which one or more functions are included within another function. For example, SELECT statement (1) includes a set of nested functions, with the XMLATTRIBUTES function and the XMLFOREST functions nested in the XMLELEMENT function:
SELECT XMLAGG             (1) (XMLELEMENT (NAME "Emp",  XMLATTRIBUTES (e.fname ∥ ' ' ∥ e.lname AS "name"),  XMLFOREST (e.birthday, e.dept AS "department") )  ORDER BY e.lname)FROM EMPLOYEE e;GROUP BY e.dept;
A traditional function evaluation technique for nested functions is to evaluate the functions inside-out. That is, the inner most functions are evaluated first and their results are used as input to the next outer level function, whose outputs are used as input to the next outer level function, etc.
The SELECT statement (1) has the following arguments: fname, lname, birthday, and dept. The XMLATTRIBUTES function has an argument, which is the concatenation of fname and lname. The XMLFOREST function generates a forest of two elements, one for each argument birthday and dept. The XMLAGG function aggregates rows, which are ordered by last name (e.lname) within groups, with each group corresponding to a department (e.dept).
Assuming that the following are input values for the arguments of SELECT statement (1): fname='Jack', lname='Lee', birthday='10-28-1960', and dept='shipping', the evaluation of SELECT statement (1) proceeds as follows. First, the XMLATRIBUTES function is evaluated and XMLATTRIBUTES(e.fname ∥″∥ e.lname AS "name") evaluates to name="Jack Lee". Second, the XMLFOREST function is evaluated and XMLFOREST(e.birthday, e.dept AS "department") evaluates to two elements: <birthday>1960-10-28</birthday><department>shipping</department>. The bracketed text (e.g., <birthday>) is a start tag of an element in XML, and the bracketed text with a slash (e.g., </birthday>) is an end tag of the element. Third, the XMLELEMENT function is evaluated and XMLELEMENT (NAME "Emp", XMLATTRIBUTES (e.fname ∥″∥ e.lname AS "name"), XMLFOREST (e.birthday, e.dept AS "department")) evaluates to:<Emp name="Jack Lee"><birthday>1960-10-28</birthday><department>shipping </department></Emp>
In this process, the result of each function is usually copied to generate the next level result. For example, the results of the XMLATRIBUTES function and the XMLFOREST function are copied to generate the results of the XMLELEMENT function. The number of times data is copied is proportional to the levels of nesting. For example, since there are two levels of nesting, in SELECT statement (1), data is copied twice. Even with the simple example illustrated in SELECT statement (1), copying of data at each of the levels of nesting leads to inefficiency of the function evaluation due to data movement.
Moreover, since XML does not limit the number of levels of nesting, the number of levels of nesting for XML may be very large. Nesting levels of 7–14 are commonly seen. The large number of levels of nesting would require a great deal of copying of data, which is very inefficient when evaluating a function. In addition, if character large objects (CLOBs) are involved, the size of copied data is even larger.
Once the XMLELEMENT function is evaluated for each one of a set of rows, the XMLAGG function processes the results. The evaluation of the GROUP BY clause sorts data by one or more grouping columns, which in this case is employee department (e.dept) using a SORT operation. Additionally, rows in each group are sorted for the ORDER BY clause within the XMLAGG function.
There are two traditional alternatives to processing GROUP BY and ORDER BY clauses. One alternative is to append the ORDER BY key into GROUP BY columns for sort. One sort can then achieve both grouping and ordering. However, if there are two or more XMLAGG functions with ORDER BY clauses, multiple sorts are needed, and the intermediate results from sorting and grouping are merged.
The other alternative is to sort rows in each group separately for an ORDER BY clause within an XMLAGG function. Each SORT operation uses a workfile to store data for the sort process. Thus, the traditional approaches, which involve multiple SORT operations, also involve multiple workfiles for the multiple sorts. These workfiles use resources (e.g., memory) that are very expensive.
Thus there is a need in the art for improved aggregate processing.

Method, system, and program for optimizing aggregate processing

International Business Machines Corporation


An RF isolation container that includes a counterweight system to assist an operator with opening and closing operations, an electromagnet locking mechanism for easier and consistent locking of the RF isolation container and a motion damping mechanism to relieve fatigue on operating components and on human operators.

Radio frequency (RF) isolation containers are used to test the operation of equipment in an isolated environment where the equipment will not be affected by external radio frequency interference. In a particular case, the RF isolation container may also include internal damping of RF waves so that the equipment will not be affected by reflected RF waves generated by the operation of the equipment itself.
A conventional RF isolation container generally includes a cast or welded rectangular housing that is divided into a top portion and a bottom portion. The top portion and the bottom portion are connected by a hinge at one end thereof. The bottom portion typically has walls with a grooved joint running around the top of the walls. The grooved joint is designed to receive the edge of the walls of the top portion when the top portion is closed. Further, the grooved joint is generally provided with a metallic mesh gasket or the like to ensure electrical contact between the top portion and the bottom portion.
Conventional RF isolation containers also typically have a handle for raising and lowering the top portion. Since the top portion can be heavy, a support system, such as gas cylinders or the like, are typically provided to assist with opening/closing of the RF isolation container or holding it in an open position. The support system may be provided either internal or external to the RF isolation container.
A conventional RF isolation container also generally includes a locking mechanism to allow a user to lock the top portion in place against the bottom portion with sufficient pressure to ensure that an electrical connection between the top portion and bottom portion is complete and remains consistent throughout the test procedure. Typical locking mechanisms may rely on the weight of the top portion to ensure an appropriate closure or may involve a mechanical mechanism in which the handle is pushed with sufficient pressure to engage a mechanical lock.
Conventional RF isolation containers present several problems, particularly in a manufacturing environment.
In the area of ergonomics, there may be issues with the types of motions/pressures that need to be applied in the operation of the RF isolation container. For example, the locking mechanism in conventional RF isolation containers can also be problematic from a health and safety viewpoint. In some cases, the lock requires exertion by the operator of significant additional pressure to lock the lid in place against the gaskets or to activate the locking mechanism. Similarly, pressure may be required to later unlock the lid against the pressure that has had to be exerted to engage the lock. This additional pressure requirement and the additional movements and possible jarring required can lead to health and safety issues, such as repetitive strain injury and the like.
In the area of maintenance, there can be issues related to the number/type of parts in an RF isolation container. For example, from a maintenance standpoint, it can be difficult to determine when gas cylinders used in supporting the lid may need maintenance or be likely to break. As such, there are difficulties in ensuring that the gas cylinder supports for the container lid are functioning correctly. If the gas cylinders fail while a worker has a hand inside the RF isolation container, there is a safety issue. Similar concerns can also arise with regard to RF isolation containers that have a snap-closing mechanism which relies on the weight of the lid to complete the seal of the RF isolation container.
Another maintenance issue relates to cleaning of the conventional RF isolation containers. It can be difficult to remove dust or other material that may enter the base of the RF isolation container and can be difficult to clean the grooved joint provided in the walls of the bottom portion for receiving the walls of the top portion.
As such, there is a need for an improved RF isolation container.


A LCD device includes a backlight unit, a shield front, and a display panel disposed between the backlight unit and the display panel. A flexible seal member is provided on the mounting surface of the backlight unit. After attachment of the shield front onto the mounting surface, the flexible seal member is deformed to press the edge surface of the display panel in the in-plane direction of the display panel.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a liquid crystal display (LCD) device having a flexible seal member and, more particularly, to a LCD device including: a light source unit having a light-emitting surface; a LCD panel mounted on the light-emitting surface and configured to have a light switching function; and a frame-shaped shield front which defines the front screen of the LCD panel.
2. Description of the Related Art
A LCD device typically has a structure in which a panel assembly (LCD panel assembly) is held and fixed between a light source unit (backlight unit) and a shield front. FIG. 13 is a perspective view showing the configuration of a conventional LCD device as viewed from the front screen side. FIG. 14 is an exploded perspective view showing the LCD device of FIG. 13.
A LCD device 100 is provided with a light source unit 11 having a rectangular light-emitting surface 11a on the front side thereof, a panel assembly 12 mounted on the light-emitting surface 11a and configured to have a light switching function, and a frame-shaped shield front 13 which defines the front screen 13a for the panel assembly 12.
The panel assembly 12 is provided with a display panel 21 in which a TFT substrate 25 and a counter substrate 26 overlap with each other, a plurality of TCPs (Tape Carrier Packages) 22 coupled to the display panel 21, and a circuit board 23 mechanically and electrically coupled to the display panel 21 via the TCP 22. The TCPs 22 each mount thereon an IC chip for driving the display panel 21, and the circuit board 23 outputs a control signal for controlling the drive of the display panel 21 by the TCP 22. The TCP 22 and circuit board 23 are arranged along, e.g., two adjacent edges of the display panel 21.
The display panel 21 is provided with a liquid crystal (LC) layer (not shown) sandwiched between the TFT substrate 25 and the counter substrate 26, and polarization films (not shown) disposed on the rear surface of the TFT substrate 25 and the front surface of the counter substrate 26. The display panel 21 has pixels arranged in a two-dimensional matrix. On the TFT substrate 25, switching devices such as TFTs (Thin Film Transistors) are arranged in a matrix for controlling the switching of respective pixels to configure an active matrix substrate. On the counter substrate 26, color filters (CF) of different colors corresponding to the respective pixels are formed to configure a color-filter substrate (CF substrate) 26. Driving of the TFT devices via the circuit board 23 and TCP 22 achieves control of the panel assembly in a pixel-by-pixel basis.
The light source unit 11, which is, e.g., an edge-light-type backlight unit, has a frame-shaped chassis 31 for defining the light-emitting surface 11a on the front side thereof. On the chassis 31, ribs 32 are arranged for defining the position of the display panel relative to the light-emitting surface 11a and formed integrally with the chassis 31. The ribs 32 are arranged near the four corners of the light-emitting surface 11a. Each of the ribs 32 has an elongate rectangular solid shape which is bent at right angles along the corner of the display panel.
FIG. 15 is a sectional view taken along XV-XV line shown in FIG. 13. The light source unit 11, or the edge-light backlight unit, has an optical sheet 33, an optical guide plate 34 and a reflection sheet 35, which are sequentially stacked on the light-emitting surface 11a of the light source unit, as viewed from the front side. Further, an elongate lamp (not shown) is provided on the side edge of the optical guide plate 34. The optical guide plate 34 diffuses the light entering the optical guide plate 34 from the elongate light source in the in-plane direction thereof, to thereby convert the elongate light into a planar light. The reflection sheet 35 reflects the light emitted from the rear surface of the optical guide plate 34 toward the front surface of the light source unit 11. The optical sheet 33 has a function of enhancing brightness or luminance of the light-emitting surface 11a and uniformity of the luminance.
The chassis 31 has, around the light-emitting surface 11a, a flat mounting surface 36 on which the TFT substrate 25 is mounted and a concaved portion 37 which is formed nearer to the light-emitting surface 11a than the mounting surface 36 and receives therein the polarization film 27. The ribs 32 each have a position-restricting wall 32a which is located opposite to the side edge of the display panel so as to restrict the position of the display panel and an inclined surface 32b which extends from the edge of the position-restricting wall 32a in order for the display panel to be easily mounted on the light source unit 11. The chassis 31 is accommodated in a shield rear 38 of which top surface is open; and the optical sheet 33, optical guide plate 34, and reflection sheet 35 are disposed between the chassis 31 and the shield rear 38. Reference numerals 29 and 30 denote a seal member for sealing the LC layer 24 and the boundary of the display area, respectively.
During assembly of the LCD device 100, the position of the panel assembly 12 is first adjusted in the in-plane direction thereof with respect to the light source unit 11 such that the four corners of the display panel of the panel assembly are located within the area defined by the ribs 32 and, then, the panel assembly 12 is mounted on the light source unit 11. More specifically, the TFT substrate 25 of the panel assembly 12 is mounted on the mounting surface 36 of the chassis 31 with the polarization film 27 received in the concaved portion 37 of the chassis 31. Thereafter, the shield front 13 is placed to cover the light source unit 11 and panel assembly 12 to press the panel assembly 12 down to a predetermined position to thereby complete the assembly. Fixation between the light source unit 11 and the shield front 13 is achieved by screwing, caulking, or pawl engagement.
The conventional LCD device 100 has a disadvantage in that adhesion of dust onto the light-emitting surface 11a of the light source unit causes a defective image on the screen. That is, the shadow of the dust is projected on the screen 13a. This defective image is caused by the following factors. In the LCD device 100, a gap of 0.2 to 0.3 mm is intentionally provided between the side edge of the display panel 21 and the ribs 32, in consideration of the range of variation in the outside dimension of the display panel 21 and the range of variation in the distance between the ribs 32. Further, in consideration of the range of variation in the thickness dimension or distortion of the light source unit 11 or shield front 13, a gap of 0.1 to 0.3 mm is provided between the display panel 21 and the shield front 13 so as to prevent the inner surface of the shield front 13 from being brought into contact with the display panel 21. Thus, the display panel 21 or panel assembly 12 is movable within these gaps in the thickness direction and in-plane directions, as denoted by arrows of reference numeral 101.
As described above, in the conventional LCD device 100, the display panel 21 is provided in the movable state between the light source unit 11 and the shield front 13. Therefore, as shown by a reference numeral 102, dust enters the rear side of the display panel 21 through the gap between the display panel 21 and the shield front 13 and the gap between the display panel 21 and the chassis 31 of the light source unit 11. The dust that has entered the rear side of the display panel 21 is then adhered onto the light-emitting surface 11a of the light source unit 11.
As a countermeasure against the above disadvantage, there is known a method that provides a sealing member 103 in the gap between the display panel 21 and the shield front 13, as shown in FIG. 16. A LCD device in which the sealing member 103 is provided in the gap between the display panel and the shield front is described in, for example, Patent Publication JP-2005-91971A (FIG. 1).
In the LCD device 110 shown in FIG. 16, the gap between the display panel 21 and the shield front 13 is sealed by the sealing member 103. The sealing member 103 cuts off the entry route of the dust, thereby blocking the entrance of the dust.
However, in the LCD device 110 of FIG. 16, a significant range of variation occurs in the gap distance between the display panel 21 and the shield front 13 due to the variation in the outside dimension or distortion of the light source unit 11 or shield front 13. Accordingly, in order to surely block the entry route of the dust, it is necessary to form the sealing member 103 using a flexible material and makes the thickness thereof sufficiently large in consideration of the range of variation in the gap distance. However, examinations conducted by the present inventor revealed that a larger thickness of the sealing member 103 changes the gap distance of the LC layer 24 because the sealing member 103 presses the display panel 21 in the thickness direction thereof, thereby causing an uneven image on the screen. In order to achieve a LCD device having an excellent image quality, it is essential to prevent entrance of the dust into the rear side of the display panel while suppressing occurrence of the uneven image.

Liquid crystal display device having a flexible seal member pressed in a vertical direction to expand in an in-plane direction


A self-contained, integrated mobile readpoint unit capable of reading at least one electronic tag that includes a housing, a power source located proximate the housing, at least one reader located proximate the housing that is capable of reading from and writing to the at least one tag and receives power from the power source, and a repositionable antenna structure that includes at least one readpoint antenna capable of communicating a signal to and from the electronic tag.

Efficiently and accurately reading from, and writing to, electronic tags, e.g., radio frequency identification ("RFID") tags, attached to merchandise, packaging or other assets that may be located in a building such as on the floor of a retail store, stored in a retail backroom or warehouse, is an important aspect of supply chain and inventory management.
In traditional inventory management systems, such as warehouse management operations, bar codes are attached to the loads, merchandise, and packaging or to mark specific locations. In a typical example of such a system, the operator uses a hand-held bar code scanner to read the bar code on the loads and, in some cases, on the stock locations. Such a system can be difficult to completely implement, due partly to the need for direct line of sight, close proximity, and proper alignment between the scanner and barcodes. Certain locations, for example high storage shelves and loading docks, often are particularly difficult places for using bar codes because of the need for close proximity between the codes and the reader. As a result, loads in those areas are often visually identified instead.
RFID tag systems have been proposed for use in inventory tracking. RFID tags typically include an integrated circuit ("IC") that is operatively coupled to an antenna of the tag. The tag may also be active and have a battery, or it may be passive and have no battery and obtain operating energy from an external reader. RFID tags without batteries may be preferred for applications in which lower cost is a dominant factor, and RFID tags with batteries may be preferred for applications in which a longer read range is preferred. Either or both may be used in conjunction with the present invention.
In some applications, such as RFID, there is a need to not only read from the tags but also to program them. For example, there are some inventory tracking systems that deploy fixed RFID readers at various locations to detect RFID-tagged items when these RFID-tagged items are positioned near the RFID reader-equipped locations. An RFID reader is a device that is capable of not only reading from the tags, but also capable of programming, e.g., writing data, to the tags. The installation of RFID readers at every inventory location, however, is not cost effective. For example, there are the additional costs for the infrastructure to support the deployment of the fixed RFID readers. These costs can include, the cost of the additional tag readers, antennas, cabling required to connect all the fixed RFID readers and antennas, and the additional power drops for fixed RFID readers and antennas.
Some attempts to resolve the issues of cost and coverage include the use of "ad hoc" carts which are not specifically designed with sufficient flexibility to meet the customer needs of reading and writing to RFID tags/labels from ground level to elevated heights. Many of these "ad hoc" carts are not self-contained, or the carts must be tethered to a power source for operation, which greater limited their mobility.
In other attempts, retailers have also "rigged" a cart, e.g., sometimes even a shopping cart, by placing both merchandise pricing equipment, and RFID reader and antenna hardware on the cart and pushing it around the retail floor or storeroom. These "rigged" carts are typically unwieldy and hard to push due to the uneven weight distribution of the equipment placed in them. In addition, these "rigged" carts are often difficult to maneuver as these carts may be large and many times are too large to fit down aisles without interfering with shopping customers. Because these homegrown systems are not intended for mobile operation, the read range is also limited as such RFID tags at high locations may not be read accurately, if at all.
Others have tried to address just the RFID hardware aspects by dedicating a cart to RFID. The "RFID-dedicated" carts are typically low to the ground, e.g., often less than 3.5 feet tall, and the RFID hardware is mounted on the cart, typically by using various clamps, tie-wraps and tape. The fixed antennas are mounted on the cart and can be up to 7 feet in length, which still causes problems with overall weight and maneuverability. These "RFID-dedicated" carts may also become unbalanced with a tendency to tip over. These "RFID-dedicated" carts are also often distracting to customers. Additionally, retailers still have to return to the same merchandise with another cart to address other activities, e.g., sales displays and pricing activities. Even with such unwieldy antennas, these carts still may have limited read ranges.
A system is therefore needed that allows for the efficient interaction, e.g., reading and writing, with electronic tags on the products and items that better addresses issues of cost, complexity, safety, size, mobility, and ease of use.

Mobile readpoint system and method for reading electronic tags


An antenna unit is provided in a wireless communication apparatus which performs wireless communication. The antenna unit has a radio wave resonance part through which a radio wave is transmitted or received, an antenna ground part electrically connected to the radio wave resonance part, and a connection part which fixes the antenna ground part at such a position that the antenna ground part is closer to the radio wave resonance part than other ground parts of the wireless communication apparatus.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates, in general, to an antenna unit and a wireless communication apparatus. More particularly, the present invention relates to an antenna unit which is provided in a wireless communication apparatus for performing wireless communication, and in which variations in antenna characteristics depending on surrounding parts are limited, and to a wireless communication apparatus using the antenna unit.
2. Description of Related Art
recent years, information processors such as personal computers and PDAs incorporating wireless LAN functions and standards such as IEEE802.11a/b/g and Bluetooth® have come into wide use. In information processors having wireless LAN functions, it is desirable to realize an antenna such that the influence of internal parts or the like of the information processor on the antenna is reduced and the antenna has stable characteristics.
As a method for limiting the influence of noise or the like from an information processor on an antenna, a method of using, for example, a shielding member of a display panel as a ground circuit for an antenna has been proposed (for instance see Published Unexamined Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2000-174527).
In certain of the wireless LAN functions, such as EEEE802.11a/b/g and Bluetooth, different frequency bands in accordance with the standards may be used and, therefore, it is often desirable to realize or utilize all the frequency bands by one antenna. In order to achieve this, it is necessary to determine characteristics of the antenna including impedance with higher accuracy at the time of manufacturing and assembly.
However, in a case where one antenna is used in concert with a system utilizing in a plurality of information processor types, the characteristics of the antenna are often changed for a variety of reasons including the position or location of parts and the arrangement of the display panel, each of which may also be dependent on the particular kind of processor used. For example, in one information processor, the characteristics of the antenna may be affected by variations in the position of certain parts and wiring, whereas if another information processor were used, similar effects would not be realized.

Antenna unit and wireless communication apparatus


An electronic game apparatus includes a wearable unit having a wearable housing configured for releasable attachment with a bodily part of a player. An inertia sensor affixed to the wearable housing detects oscillations imparted to the wearable housing and produces an output signal corresponding to each oscillatory movement. A counter, affixed to the wearable housing, counts each oscillatory movement imparted to the wearable housing.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to electronic games and, more particularly, to an electronic game apparatus having a sensor and a counter attachable to a bodily part of a player for counting the number of times the player shakes the bodily part over a preselected interval of time.
2. Description of the Prior Art
There are known game apparatuses which provide competitive plays according to physical skills of a player. One popular game apparatus, typically found in an amusement park, includes a plurality of slidably mounted objects such as, for example, race horse figures. The game requires players to aim and shoot water into designated holes such that the more accurate is the player's aim, the further the corresponding race horse figure moves. Another popular game apparatus, also having slidably mounted model race cars, requires a player to drop as many ping pong balls as possible through a designated hole in a transparent plastic sheet, which then bounce into one of several openings in a wooden board below. Each of the openings in the wooden board corresponds to a different displacement value for the corresponding model race car. Thus, the player who can drop the greatest number of balls into openings with high displacement values will win the game.

Electronic counting apparatus for a child's game and method therefor


A polymeric fluorescent substance exhibiting visible fluorescence in the solid state, having polystyrene reduced number average molecular weight of 1×103 to 1×108, and comprising one or more repeating units of following formula (1),

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a polymeric fluorescent substance, a polymer light emitting device (hereinafter, referred to as polymer LED) containing the same in an light emitting layer, and a device using the same.
2. Description of the Related Art
Light-emitting materials having higher molecular weight (polymeric fluorescent substance) are variously investigated since they are soluble in a solvent and can form a light-emitting layer in a light-emitting device by an application method, differing from those having lower molecular weight.
For example, a polymeric fluorescent substance containing a repeating unit derived from triarylamine (hereinafter, sometimes referred to as triarylamine type polymeric fluorescent substance) have been studied. JP-A9-255774 discloses those comprising a repeating unit derived from triarylamine and a repeating unit of polyether ketone. WO 99/20675 discloses those comprising a repeating unit derived from triarylamine and a repeating unit of fluorene.
However, the above known triarylamine type polymeric fluorescent substance still has been insufficient in quantum yield of fluorescence, and in light emitting efficiency when made into a device.
An object of the present invention is to provide a triarylamine type polymeric fluorescent substance which is excellent in quantum yield of fluorescence, and in light emitting efficiency when made into a device.

Polymeric fluorescent substrate and polymer light-emitting device using the same

Abstract: wherein Ar1 and Ar2 each independently represent an arylene group or the like; Ar3 represents an aryl group or the like having one or more substituents of formula (2) as nuclear substitution; X represents —CR1═CR2— or —C≡C—; and n is 0 or 1,—Y—Ar4   (2)wherein Ar4 represents an aryl group or the like; and Y represents —CR3═CR4— or —C≡C—. The triarylamine type polymeric fluorescent substance is excellent in quantum yield of fluorescence and in light emitting efficiency when made into a device.


Disclosed is a flash device which includes a mounting portion removably mounting a flash device on a photographic apparatus, a first base having the mounting portion, a second base mounted on the first base such that the second base can turn around a shaft located approximately parallel with an optical axis of the photographic apparatus, and a flashlight-irradiating unit mounted on the second base such that the flashlight-irradiating unit can turn around a shaft at least in a vertical direction which is orthogonal to the optical axis of the photographic apparatus and is approximately horizontal when the photographic apparatus is located with a horizontal position. In the flash device, the first base has an auxiliary light irradiation unit to irradiate a photographic subject with auxiliary light.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a flash device suitable for bounced light photography using a photographic apparatus such as a digital still camera or an ordinary camera.
2. Description of the Related Art
Bounced light photography is usually performed when pictures are taken indoors using the photographic apparatus such as a digital still camera and an ordinary camera. In bounced light photography, a photographic subject is indirectly irradiated with flashlight reflected from a ceiling by irradiating a ceiling with flashlight while directing the flash device at the ceiling. With such a technique, inartificial pictures having a clear outline without a shadow can be obtained.
Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2005-181438 (paragraph No. [0033]) discloses an example of a flash device having a flashlight-irradiating unit 2 on an upper part of a flash device main body 1, such that the flashlight-irradiating unit 2 can turn in a horizontal direction and a vertical direction, as shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B, when the flash device is used in bounced light photography using the photographic apparatus such as a digital still camera or an ordinary camera.
As illustrated in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2005-181438, in performing bounced light photography, a flash device having a flashlight-irradiating unit 2 on the upper part of a flash device main body 1 can be mounted on an accessory shoe provided on an upper part of the photographic apparatus, such as a digital still camera and an ordinary camera, as shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B, such that the flashlight-irradiating unit 2 can turn in a horizontal direction and a vertical direction. In performing bounced light photography, the photographic apparatus 3 is located with the horizontal direction to obtain a horizontally wide screen or in the vertical direction to obtain a vertically long screen, as shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B, and then a ceiling is irradiated with flashlight by directing the flashlight-irradiating unit 2 of the flash device at the ceiling.
However, as illustrated in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2005-181438, in a case where the flashlight-irradiating unit 2 is mounted on the upper part of the flash device main body 1 such that flashlight-irradiating unit 2 can turn in the horizontal direction and the vertical direction, the flashlight-irradiating unit 2 is located with the horizontal direction, as shown in FIG. 1A, when bounced light photography is performed using the photographic apparatus 3 in the horizontal position. Further, the flashlight-irradiating unit 2 is located with the vertical direction, as shown in FIG. 1B, when bounced light photography is performed using the photographic apparatus 3 in the vertical position. Furthermore, when bounced light photography is performed using a photographic apparatus such as a digital still camera or an ordinary camera in the horizontal position and in the vertical position, irradiating conditions of the flashlight may vary with the conditions where photographic subjects are photographed. If the flashlight-irradiating unit 2 is once located with the horizontal position as shown in FIG. 1A and is caused to turn in a horizontal direction thereafter, a photographer may have to carry out a laborious procedure before actually photographing the photographic subjects and may not be able to concentrate on photographing.
According to an embodiment of the present invention, the photographer can concentrate on photographing since the irradiating conditions of the flashlight can remain constant and an irradiation direction can be set easily when the bounced light photography is performed using the photographic apparatus, such as a digital still camera or an ordinary camera, in the horizontal position and the vertical position.