A device and method for determining internal fluid pressure in a body cavity during irrigation procedures is presented. The invention relies on noninvasive measurements on a calibrated surgical apparatus to determine the dynamic internal fluid pressure. Once the dynamic internal fluid pressure is known, a control signal can be generated to indicate needed changes to pressure-regulating equipment, such as a pump.

Physicians and surgeons employ procedures involving infusion of a fluid into a body cavity ("irrigation procedures"). Irrigation procedures are often used in conjunction with removal of fluid, unwanted material, diseased tissue, or waste products via aspiration. As used herein, "irrigation procedures" refers to procedures or methods involving delivery of irrigation fluid into a body cavity, regardless of whether aspiration is also performed.
When using irrigation procedures, it is desirable to be able to measure and control the fluid pressure within the body cavity. Lack of control over the internal pressure may impair the effectiveness or ease of the procedure, and in certain cases may result in damage to tissue. The ability to adjust the fluid pressure within the cavity may also be used to control bleeding.
Some examples of irrigation procedures are intraocular surgery, peritoneal dialysis, and removal of diseased spinal disc material. In intraocular surgery, failure to maintain sufficient fluid pressure during an operation may result in collapse of the eyeball with concomitant tissue damage. Conversely, over-pressuring the intraocular region may also result in damage to the sensitive retinal, optic nerve, or corneal tissue. However, it is occasionally desirable to apply controlled high pressure for a brief time period, for example, to staunch bleeding in the intraocular region. If it is necessary or desirable to alter the pressure within the body cavity, the surgeon needs the ability to rapidly alter the pressure to a desired value without significant deviations from that value.
Peritoneal dialysis is used with patients suffering from kidney failure. In peritoneal dialysis, clean fluid is irrigated into the peritoneal (abdominal) cavity and fluid containing waste substances is aspirated out. If abnormally high pressure develops in the peritoneal cavity, mass transfer of waste substances into the dialysis fluid and normal blood flow will likely be disrupted.
Similarly, patients suffering from degenerative lumbar disc disease may have diseased disc tissue removed by irrigation procedures. Surgeons removing this tissue make a small incision through the skin, allowing insertion of a needle-like instrument into the appropriate disc space. The instrument is used to cut away diseased tissue. Irrigation fluid aids in flushing the cut material into an aspiration line. Accurate pressure control is likely to enhance the ease and effectiveness of this procedure.
Attempts to measure and control pressure in irrigation procedures have met with limited success. These attempts have usually related to intraocular surgery. Such surgery involves operations on or within the vitreous cavity or the anterior segment cavity of an eye. As used herein, "anterior segment cavity" means that portion of an eye comprising the anterior chamber and the posterior chamber. Most types of intraocular surgery utilize irrigation procedures. Dedicated surgical machines and highly specialized tools have been developed for such surgery. Cataract surgery (the removal of opacified lens tissue) employs an invasive tool which is used in the anterior segment cavity of an eye. This tool usually contains an irrigation outlet, a mechanical or ultrasonic cutter, and an inlet to an aspiration line, all in close proximity. Alternatively, a separate tool may be used to provide aspiration. Vitrectomy (the excision and removal of tissue from the vitreous) usually involves two invasive tools: an irrigation cannula, which is inserted into the globe and temporarily attached to the sclera, and a cutting/aspiration tool that is manipulated by the surgeon.
One method of controlling pressure within the eye during surgery is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,041,947 to Weiss, et al. That patent discloses the use of limiting valves external to the eye on the infusion and aspiration lines. These limiting valves are designed to provide pressure relief if either the pressure in the infusion line exceeds a high limit, or if the pressure in the aspiration line exceeds a low limit. This device does provide some ability to maintain pressure within a predetermined range of values, but does not allow the surgeon to accurately know or set the intraocular pressure ("IOP"), nor does it necessary allow rapid correction of over- or under-pressure conditions.
It is possible to directly measure the intraocular pressure ("IOP") in this type of surgery by insertion of a pressure transducer into the eye. U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,548,205, 4,722,350, and 4,841,984 to Armeniades, et al., disclose direct measurement and control of the IOP. A pressure transducer is inserted into the eye as an independent tool or integrated into the cutting tool. Alternatively, a pressure transducer can be integrated into a separate tool that provides infusion or aspiration.
However, there are several problems with tools which provide direct measurement of the IOP. If the pressure transducer is incorporated into the invasive portion of a tool, the tool must be made larger in diameter than is necessary to perform the actual surgery. This approach requires a correspondingly larger incision in the eyeball for tool insertion. Further, integration of a pressure transducer into another tool creates inaccuracies in the pressure readings caused by the proximity of the transducer to the operating infusion line, aspiration line, or surgical tool.
One solution to the size problem is to design a tool with a channel which is inserted into the eye and which provides fluid communication with a pressure transducer outside of the eye. However, this design suffers from the same accuracy problems detailed above, as well as problems caused by debris from the operation clogging the channel. This accuracy problem can be overcome by providing a separate tool that only contains a pressure transducer for insertion into the eye away from the operating tools. However, this approach is disfavored because it requires another incision into the eye.
Similarly, irrigation procedures on other body cavities in which internal fluid pressure must be controlled have characteristic constraints regarding tool size and a need to limit the number of incisions.
It is an object of the invention to provide a device and method for noninvasively measuring internal fluid pressure in a body cavity during irrigation procedures.
It is another object of the invention to provide a control signal for a pressure-generating device, such as a pump, to allow for automatic control of the dynamic internal fluid pressure in a body cavity.

Device and method for noninvasive measurement of internal pressure within body cavities


A shallow file is adapted for intensive read-only access to data of a primary file. The primary file resides in another file system or file server. The shallow file includes the data block mapping metadata of the primary file and a link to the primary file. To open the shallow file, the file system manager of the shallow file obtains a read lock on the primary file from the file system manager of the primary file. Then the file system manager of the shallow file may use the data block mapping in the shallow file to access the file data from the primary file in storage without participation of the file system manager of the primary file. This permits offloading of data protection services for secure and efficient storage of a backup copy of the file data.

In recent years, the data storage industry has been immensely successful in providing ever increasing amounts of computer data storage at decreased cost. This has permitted customers to keep vast numbers of electronic business and technical documents in computer data storage for convenient access. More recently paper documents are being replaced by electronic documents.
Electronic document retention techniques have been developed so that documents that must be retained for regulatory compliance need never be kept in paper form. Typically such a document retention technique includes making a "frozen image" of the document in a file, and keeping at least one backup copy of the file. Such a "frozen image" is guaranteed to be read-only for a retention protection interval. Keeping at least one backup copy of the file may involve data protection services for secure and efficient storage and retrieval of the backup copy. The data protection services may include virus checking, indexing, classification, de-duplication, compression, encryption, and remote replication, prior to storage of the backup copy.

Data protection services offload using shallow files


To provide a method for manufacturing an SOI substrate having a single crystal semiconductor layer having a small and uniform thickness over an insulating film. Further, time of adding hydrogen ions is reduced and time of manufacture per SOI substrate is reduced. A bond layer is formed over a surface of a first semiconductor wafer and a separation layer is formed below the bond layer by irradiating the first semiconductor wafer with H3+ ions by an ion doping apparatus. H3+ ions accelerated by high voltage are separated to be three H+ ions at a semiconductor wafer surface, and the H+ ions cannot enter deeply. Therefore, H+ ions are added into a shallower region in the semiconductor wafer at a higher concentration than the case of using a conventional ion implantation method.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing a semiconductor wafer, particularly relates to a method for manufacturing a semiconductor wafer having a single crystal semiconductor layer over an insulating film, a semiconductor device using a semiconductor wafer having a single crystal semiconductor layer over an insulating film, and a method for manufacturing such a semiconductor device.
Note that in the present specification, "semiconductor devices" refers to devices in general, which can operate by utilizing semiconductor properties, and electro-optic devices, semiconductor circuits; electronic devices are all included in the category of semiconductor devices.
2. Description of the Related Art
Formation of a single crystal semiconductor layer over an insulating film is widely known as an SOI (silicon on insulator) technology. An SOI structure is a structure in which a silicon oxide film is embedded in a single crystal silicon substrate and a single crystal silicon thin film is provided thereover. A substrate having such an SOI structure is also referred to as an SOI substrate.
When an SOI structure used, since there is an insulating film below an element, a device isolation process can be simplified as compared with the case where an element is formed over a bulk silicon wafer; therefore, the number of process steps can be reduced. Further, semiconductor integrated circuits using an SOI substrate have been attracting attention because parasitic capacitance between a drain and a substrate in a transistor is reduced and the performance of the semiconductor integrated circuits is improved.
As a method for manufacturing an SOT substrate, for example, a hydrogen ion implantation separation method disclosed in Reference 1 (U.S. Pat. No. 6,372,609) is known. In a hydrogen ion implantation separation method, hydrogen ions are implanted in a silicon wafer by an ion implantation method, and thereby a microbubble layer is formed at a predetermined depth from the surface, and a thin silicon layer (SOI layer) is bonded to another silicon wafer using the microbubble layer as a cleavage plane. In addition to the heat treatment for separating an SOI layer, an oxide film is formed on the SOI layer by heat treatment in an oxidizing atmosphere and then, the oxide film is removed, and after that heat treatment is performed at 1000° C. to 1300° C. in a reducing atmosphere to increase bonding strength and reduce surface roughness.
An ion implantation method is also referred to as an ion introduction method, in which particles to be introduced into a sample in vacuum are ionized and accelerated by direct current or high frequency. An ion implanter using an ion implantation method includes an ion source, a mass separation unit, an acceleration unit, a beam scanner (electrostatic scan) unit, an introduction chamber (end-station), and an evacuation unit. Further, since an ion beam is not uniform, scanning with an ion beam is performed electrically in order to obtain uniformity of a surface of the sample. The introduced particles have a Gaussian distribution in the depth direction.
Further, Reference 2 (Japanese Published Patent Application No. 2000-12864) is known as an example of a semiconductor device using an SOI substrate. Reference 2 also discloses a technique in which hydrogen is introduced by an ion implantation method.
Further, Reference 3 (Japanese Published Patent Application No. H10-162770) discloses a linear doping apparatus by which a substrate is transferred without rotation.

Method for manufacturing semiconductor wafer

Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.


In the case of a vehicle seat (1), in particular a motor vehicle seat, having a seat cushion (3) and a backrest (4) which are connected movably and/or releasably to the vehicle structure (S), it being possible for the vehicle seat (1) to be transferred from a design position into at least one other position, the backrest (4) is coupled to the vehicle structure (S) by way of at least one link (12, 14), a pivoting movement of the provided links (12, 14) at least in phases predetermining a displacement of the backrest (4) forward, as a result of which the vehicle seat (1) takes up a front use position.

The present invention relates to a vehicle seat, in particular a motor vehicle seat, having a seat cushion and a backrest which are connected movably and/or releasably to the vehicle structure, with it being possible for the vehicle seat to be transferred from a design position to at least one other position.
In the case of a known vehicle seat of the type described immediately above, the backrest is locked to the C-pillar of the vehicle structure. After the catch is released, the backrest can be folded forward, so that the trunk space is enlarged.

Vehicle seat, particularly a motor vehicle seat


A communication device having automated filtering based on mental state decisions of the present invention includes a brainwave sensing device that has sensors positioned on a user which can wirelessly communicate the mental state(s) of the user through a signal conditioner to portable electronic device. Subsequently, when the portable electronic device receives signals from a communication system, such as a call or a message, the calls or messages can be either be allowed or interrupted and stored depending on the mental state of the user. Thus, by using the mental state of the user, the portable electronic device can control the communication between the device and a telephone or message system to prevent interruptions during periods of intense focus, for example. In addition, this application provides methods for operating the communication device having automated filtering based on mental state decisions of the present invention.

The popularity of personal electronic devices has grown exponentially over the past decades. While these mobile devices are bringing great changes to our life, not all of these changes are positive. For instance, on the positive side, personal electronics are portable, low power, and provide days of continuous without recharge use such that people are always connected. Indeed, these portable electronic devices provide constant text and telephonic communication with others, provides instant access to the internet, and interfaces with other global electronic networks such as Global Positioning Satellites (GPS) to ensure nobody loses their way. If a user needs to find information about locations, companies, restaurants, news, or radio, the user can get instant access through search systems and the Internet.
One of the negative aspects of the popularity of personal electronic devices is that those devices are constantly present. No longer is there a period of silence or calm as phone calls, text messages, electronic mail (email) messages bombard the user constantly.
The result of this constant bombardment from electronic devices is the growing problem of device-induced attention deficit disorder (DIADD). While this disorder may not be clinically defined quite yet, it nevertheless is understood to refer to the commonplace occurrence of a person's inability to focus for any period of time due to the constant interruption of electronic devices. Indeed, even the most focused individuals find it difficult to concentrate closely when his or her cell phone is constantly beeping, ringing, or buzzing.
The tendency to be drawn to the various electronic devices to make a call, send a text message, review a message, or to service the many requests that constantly appear results in the user becoming increasingly distracted, irritable, impulsive, restless and, over the long term, underachieving. Simply put, the ever-present stimulus from personal electronic devices reduces a person's concentration, and ultimately their efficiency.
Symptoms of DIADD include a person failing to reach their full potential. When a person realizes that they could be producing more but in fact they're producing less, or when they know they're smarter than their work product reflects, and when a person answers questions in obtuse ways that are superficial, then it is likely that they are suffering from DIADD.
Another manifestation of DIADD is the inability to carry a thought from start through to conclusion. Often when a thought process is interrupted, even for the briefest moment, it may require many minutes to regain that focus, and in some cases, those thoughts are lost forever.
Another downside to the ever-available portable electronic device is the lack of a period of reflection when making or responding to calls or messages. For instance, when a person is upset, frustrated, or angry, it is often very tempting to grab the portable electronic device and send an ill-reasoned message. Historically, a person would have a period of time to consider on the message or call while going to the telephone. However, these days the personal electronic device is no further than the user's pocket, which can result in a poorly thought-out message or call being made while the user remains upset, frustrated, or angry.
It is also problematic for users of electronic devices to remember to turn off the device prior to engaging in activities requiring heightened levels of attention and thought. It is too tempting to check email, update social networking sites, such as Facebook, and search the Internet for the latest thought on the user's mind.
In light of the above, it would be advantageous to provide a device which senses the current mental state of the user and provides feedback to the user regarding that mental state. It would be further advantageous to provide a device which senses the user's mental state and interrupts the creation and transmission of calls or messages while in an undesirable, or predetermined, mental state. It would be further advantageous to provide a device for implementation in high-stress environments which monitors a user's mental state, and then alert the telecommunication system and others of the mental state, and automatically reassign or redirect tasks until the user returns to a more desirable mental state. This would be particularly advantageous when soldiers, firefighters, airplane pilots, police officers, and medical doctors are under high stress as failure to concentrate can result in deadly mistakes.

Communication system having automated filtering based on mental state decisions


Digital signal processed touchscreen system. The invention employs amplitude ramped signals across a touchscreen. The pattern to which the amplitude ramped electric signals are provided may be located on the surface of the touchscreen, or alternatively on the backside of the touchscreen. The signal processing employed by the invention, using digital signal processing techniques, is operable to discern a user's touch and to determine its location. A dielectric, protective surface is used to enable implementation into a wide variety of applications, including those applications that are environmentally rugged and have, until now, been too rugged for prior art touchscreen systems. The invention employs a user generated unbalanced capacitive load generated on the touchscreen to identify the location of the user's touch.

1. Technical Field of the Invention
The invention relates generally to man to machine interfaces (MMIs) implemented using touchscreens; and, more particularly, it relates to a capacitively coupled system.
2. Description of Related Art
The use of MMI systems has been ongoing for some time now. A variety of everyday activities employ some form of MMI. For example, banking may now be performed without the assistance of bank personnel by using an automatic teller machine (ATM); a driver may purchase gasoline without interacting with a sales agent using the interfaces commonly located at the gas pumps. However, these two examples illustrate how the development of rugged MMIs has often taken the route of employing rugged, plastic-type keys located near a display. This has been the industries solution to try to provide a rugged, durable, MMI that is capable of withstanding a variety of environmental and use-induced stresses. Some MMIs do in fact employ a system where a user may make selections by actually touching and interacting with the display itself (in a true touchscreen system), but such applications are not very widespread, and they are nearly never placed in environments where the may the touchscreen is exposed to a rugged environment. These prior art touchscreen systems often find themselves within very environmentally protected installations.
These prior art touchscreen systems typically employ a pattern on a coating that is placed on the surface of the touchscreen that a user does in fact touch. This approach often includes the use of some type of clear coatings over the surface-laid pattern. These patterns are typically very delicate in nature and the engineering required to ensure proper protection of the pattern can be quite extensive, and sometimes very expensive, in some instances. Clearly, the fact that the pattern is placed on the touchscreen surface and is exposed to the environment significantly limits the applications in which many prior art touchscreens may be used. For example, the environmental considerations of humidity, extreme heat and cold (including large and/or rapid temperature changes), and other environmental considerations limit the implementation of such prior art touchscreen technologies.
Many such prior art technologies employ a continuous pattern on the surface of a touchscreen. Oftentimes, the corners of the touchscreen are simultaneously energized with a common signal, and the entire touchscreen surface is energized. When a user touches the surface material, the user's touch interacts with the signals that are provided by the pattern on the surface of a touchscreen. This prior art approach suffers from the fact that the coating is again resident on the surface of the touchscreen where it is exposed to a variety of potentially harmful effects. The degradation of this coating material will degrade the overall performance of the touchscreen system, if not result in the cessation of functionality entirely.
Another prior art employs a matrix type of pattern on the backside of a touchscreen having rows and columns located on the backside of the touchscreen surface that is commonly made up of some protective material. This may be viewed as being a digitally arranged pattern, having discrete rows and columns that may be used as possible touch locations. The system's ability to discern the location of a user's touch is governed by the pre-arranged layout of the matrix type pattern. Employing a row and column design allows the capitalization of information retrieved from the row and column associated with a user's touch. The row and column pattern (on the backside of the surface of the touchscreen) are energized and the associated fields communicatively couple through the protective surface material. The row and column approach typically includes at least one additional layer that separates the rows and columns of the row and column matrix. This additional layer can complicate the touchscreen system, in that, there is yet another layer of material through which signals' communicatively coupling must occur for proper operation and the ability to detect a user's touch.
However, one of the several deficiencies of this approach is inherent to the row and column implementation in terms of resolution and the system's ability to discern the true location of the user's touch. The processing and manufacturing of the system, based on the proximity of the rows and columns, largely governs the resolution of the touchscreen surface. In addition, there is often a limit to the closeness of the proximity of the rows and columns that may be used while still allowing for the signal processing to extract precisely which row and which column is associated with a user's touch. This density into which the rows and columns may be placed also prohibits its implementation into applications of relatively small real estate. Applications that require a relatively small implementation or are extremely real estate/space conscious may not be candidates for this technology. Particularly when these applications require a relatively large number of selectable options on the touchscreen, this particular technology simply cannot meet these needs. The ability of this row and column implementation may, on one hand, enable application in more rugged environments (given that the rows and columns are located on backside layers of the touchscreen); however, on the other hand, this prior art approach fails to meet the needs of other applications (including those requiring higher resolution of selectable options on the touchscreen and/or real estate/space conscious designs).
Moreover, as the closeness of the rows and columns increases, there is ever more cross coupling between them. This may require additional insulating material between them. This may compete with the communicative coupling of the desired signal through the surface's protective material. In addition, the cross coupling between extremely close rows and columns may be so great that the signal processing, absent more advanced and sometimes very complex methods, may simply be unable to discern the true location of a user's touch and to determine its location.
Other prior art technologies are operable to use a pen-like pointer that is used to select portions of a touchscreen. In such implementations, the pen actually interacts with the touchscreen system, in that, the current that travels from the surface of the touchscreen through the pen-like pointer is measured in the calculations that are performed to determine the user's touch location, when the pen-like pointer touches the touchscreen.
Further limitations and disadvantages of conventional and traditional systems will become apparent to one of skill in the art through comparison of such systems with the invention as set forth in the remainder of the present application with reference to the drawings.


The object of the present invention is a vehicle door latch with a locking mechanism (1, 2) comprising mainly a catch (1) and pawl (2). In addition, the vehicle door latch contains at least one sensor (4) for detecting the position of the catch (1). The invention provides an intermediate element (5) that transfers the movements of the catch (1) onto the sensor (4).

1. Field of the Invention
The invention refers to a vehicle door latch containing a locking mechanism comprising mainly a catch and a pawl and with at least one sensor for detecting the catch.
2. Description of Related Art
The catch detection mainly serves to safely detect the first or primary position of the catch, in order to carry out, for instance, locking measures and/or to initiate an electrical opening after locking. For this purpose, switches or micro switches of prior art described in DE 297 14 953 U1 are in most cases suggested, which directly detect a profile on the catch. This method has, in general, been successfully used. We also refer to EP 1 069 266 A1.
As part of DE Patent Application 102 40 003, which only has to be considered according to §3 (2) PatG, a vehicle door latch is suggested that contains a blocking lever controlled via the catch. The blocking lever is arranged on the same axis as the catch and follows its motions of rotation. For this purpose, the blocking lever and the catch are connected to each other. The blocking lever is a two-armed lever, comprising a blocking arm and a detection arm, with the latter containing a sensor cooperating with a detection device, in order to be able to detect the position of the catch.
In the first described solutions, problems can occur when the catch is soiled, iced over, etc., allowing the micro switch to be potentially damaged. For this reason, non-contact sensors, such as Hall sensors, were used in the past, as described in DE Patent Application 102 40 003. Such sensors are, however, relatively expensive to produce and install. It also suffices in most cases to correctly detect a single position of the catch, the primary position. This can be reliably done with little effort by a mechanical switch.
Apart from these problems, the sensor must be located in the catch's immediate vicinity to detect it. Consequently, individual sensors can only be combined with difficulty in a vehicle door latch. The installation position for the sensor has, in any case, been determined. The invention aims to resolve these problems.


There are provides the steps of forming sequentially a first conductive film, a dielectric film, and a second conductive film on an insulating film, forming a first film on the second conductive film, forming a second film made of insulating material on the first film, forming hard masks by patterning the second film and the first film into a capacitor planar shape, etching the second conductive film and the dielectric film in a region not covered with the hard masks, etching the first conductive film in the region not covered with the hard masks up to a depth that does not expose the insulating film, removing the second film constituting the hard masks by etching, etching a remaining portion of the first conductive film in the region not covered with the hard masks to the end, and removing the first film.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a semiconductor device and a method of manufacturing the same and, more particularly, a semiconductor device having capacitors over a semiconductor substrate and a method of manufacturing the same.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In recent years, the semiconductor memory using the ferroelectric capacitor and the high-dielectric capacitor is regarded as the promising one. For example, the ferroelectric capacitor is formed by the steps described in the following.
First, as shown in FIG. 1A, the first metal layer 106, the PZT layer 107, and the second metal layer 108 are formed sequentially on the interlayer insulating film 104 for covering the semiconductor substrate 101. In this case, the impurity diffusion region 103 surrounded by the element isolation insulating film 102 is formed on the semiconductor substrate 101, and the conductive plug 105 is formed in the interlayer insulating film 104 on the impurity diffusion region 103.
Then, the titanium nitride layer 110 and the silicon oxide layer 111 are formed sequentially on the second metal layer 108. Then, the silicon oxide layer 111 and the titanium nitride layer 110 are patterned by the photolithography method to be left over the conductive plug 105 as the hard mask 112 having the capacitor planar shape.
Then, as shown in FIG. 1B, the second metal layer 108, the PZT layer 107, and the first metal layer 106 in the region, which is not covered with the hard mask 112, are etched sequentially. Thus, the stacked ferroelectric capacitor 113 is formed on the interlayer insulating film 104.
Then, as shown in FIG. 1C, the silicon oxide layer 111 constituting the hard mask 112 is removed, and then the titanium nitride layer 110 is removed by changing the etchant.
As described above, the reason why not the resist mask but the hard mask 112 is employed to pattern the first metal layer 106, the PZT layer 107, and the second metal layer 108 is given as follows.
That is, in order to form the stacked ferroelectric capacitor 113, if the first metal layer 106, the PZT layer 107, and the second metal layer 108 are etched successively by using the resist mask, such resist mask disappears during the etching since the resist mask has the poor etching selectivity against these layers 106, 107, 108.
Meanwhile, it is set forth in U.S. Pat. No. 6,169,009 (Patent Application Publication (KOKAI) Hei 11-354510) that the hard mask having the above double-layered structure is used to pattern the metal film and the mixed gas consisting of chlorine, oxygen, and argon is used as the etching gas. Also, it is set forth in Patent Application Publication (KOKAI) Hei 11-354510 that the SiO2 film in the hard mask disappears in the middle of the etching of the metal film.
It is preferable that the silicon oxide layer should be employed as the hard mask in patterning the PZT layer that is put between the first and second metal layers. Thus, the disappearance of the silicon oxide layer serving as the hard mask during the etching of the PZT layer causes the remarkable reduction in the etching rate of the PZT layer. Therefore, it is important to leave the silicon oxide layer 111 as the hard mask until the etching of the PZT layer is ended.
Accordingly, as shown in FIG. 1B, not only the titanium nitride layer 110 constituting the hard mask 112 but also the silicon oxide layer 111 is left on the second metal layer 108 in the state after the etching of the second metal layer 108, the PZT layer 107, and the first metal layer 106 are ended.
The silicon oxide layer 111 and the titanium nitride layer 110 are removed by the etching after the formation of the capacitor 113 is completed.
However, when the SiO2 layer 111 constituting the hard mask 112 is removed, the interlayer insulating film 104 formed of the silicon oxide is also etched around the capacitor 113. Thus, the level difference between the capacitor 113 and the periphery area is increased. If such level difference is increased, such a disadvantage is caused that the filling property of the second-layer interlayer insulating film between plural capacitors 112 becomes worse.

Semiconductor device and method of manufacturing the same


A circuit having a plurality of driver IC's 101-1 to 101-n provided corresponding to divided areas of a display panel 102, each driver having an output circuit for outputting a supplied reference current IREF as a drive current to corresponding divided areas DRVA1 to DRVAn of the display panel 102 and reference current source circuits 200-1 to 200-n for sampling and holding the reference current input from the reference current input terminal, then supplying the same to the output circuit, the reference current input terminal being connected to the reference current input terminal of another driver by a common current interconnect CML1, and the reference current being distributed to the reference current source circuits of drivers by time division. According to the present invention, luminance steps among drivers driving the display (driven object) by division can be made sufficiently small, and a large size, high dynamic range display organic EL display, which cannot be realized by the conventional method of supply of the reference current, can be realized.

In recent years, organic EL display panels, which offer sharp contrasts and wide angles of vision and emit light on their own, so do not need backlights and are therefore suitable for reduction of thickness, are attracting attention.
Organic EL display panels are now entering the commercial stage in inch sizes. Advances in materials, production technology, and drive circuits have led to a succession of releases of prototype panels of the 13 to 17 inch sizes in recent years.
Organic EL elements have curved current-voltage characteristics, like diodes. The luminance-current characteristics have linear proportional relationships.
In this way, organic EL elements and thin film transistors (TFT) have threshold voltages and have large variations. For this reason, in organic EL display panels, it is proposed to use current controlled drive circuits, having proportional relationships with the luminance, to reduce uneven luminance of the display panels.
In liquid crystal panels for personal computers, televisions, and other applications, multi-bit high gradation display is required.
With just low temperature polysilicon TFT circuits formed on the panel, fabrication of multi-bit digital/analog converters (DAC) and other complex circuits is difficult, so the practice has been to bond voltage output type driver IC's, for driving vertical direction data lines, to the peripheral portions of the panel to form a module.
In the drive circuit of a large size display panel, the practice has been to use a plurality of drivers to drive the screen divided. In such a case, if the characteristics vary among drivers, there is the problem that steps of the luminance are generated at the border lines of the screen driven by division.
In the case of a liquid crystal display, the data line driver is a voltage output type. For this reason, it is possible to make the luminance step very small by the simple method of commonly connecting an interconnect line of the reference voltage between driver integrated circuits (driver IC's).
FIG. 1 is a circuit diagram of a reference voltage generation circuit used in a data line driver etc. of a liquid crystal display.
This reference voltage generation circuit generates nine reference voltages of V0, V8, . . . , and V64 by the resistance division of resistor elements R0 to R7 connected in series between a supply line of a power supply voltage VDD and a ground line GND. Then, by further fine interpolation among these reference voltages by DAC etc., for example, by equally dividing it by 8, voltage outputs of 64 scales can be obtained.
When providing this reference voltage generation circuit in the driver IC, even if the absolute value of the resistance varies for every driver IC, the reference voltage output is determined by the resistance ratio, so there is almost no variation among driver IC's.
FIG. 2 is a view for explaining an inter-driver IC's connection system of the reference voltage in a voltage output type data line driver.
In this case, a display panel PNL is driven by dividing it by n number of anode drivers IC's 1 to n.
Even if there is variation in the reference voltage outputs among driver IC's, as shown in FIG. 2, when the terminals of the reference voltages of all driver IC's are connected for each of the reference voltages V0, V8, . . . , and V64, the voltage averaged for each reference voltage will be supplied to all driver IC's 1 to n.
For this reason, a luminance step of a level causing a problem will not be generated at border lines of a screen driven by division.
In the case of an organic EL display, a current output type is suitable as a data line driver.
In a current output type driver IC, suitable for an organic EL display, if supplying a common reference voltage to the driver IC's and then having each driver IC perform voltage-current conversion to generate the reference current as described above, the reference current will vary among the driver IC's due to the variation of the offset voltage of the operational amplifiers and resistor elements configuring the voltage-current conversion circuits. Further, even if performing the voltage-current conversion before the final output, the output current will vary among output terminals.
In order to reduce the factors behind this current variation, an organic EL full color module drive system, employing the current connection system in a current output type anode driver IC, has been proposed (refer to for example Non-patent Document 1: "Development of Organic EL Full Color Module Drive System", Pioneer R&D, vol. 11, no. 1, page 29-36, 2001, Ochi, Sakamoto, Ishizuka, Tsuchida).
FIG. 3A is a view of this organic EL full color module drive system. In this drive system as well, a display panel OPNL is driven by division by n number of anode driver IC's 11 to 1n.
In the present drive system, when providing a reference current source at each of the driver IC's to set the current, the reference currents will subtly differ due to the individual differences in the performances of the IC's or the current setup parts, so sometimes luminance steps will be generated in units of IC's. Further, using a variable resistor for each IC to adjust for each IC is unsuitable for mass production; therefore, by using the closest current output of the adjacent IC as the reference current, the variation of the set currents can be absorbed and the luminance steps can be eliminated.
According to this current connection system, a step of adjusting luminance among drivers becomes unnecessary. Also, the number of interconnects of the reference current on the panel can be made relatively small.
As explained above, in the current connection system shown in FIG. 3A, luminance steps corresponding to the border lines of horizontally adjacent drivers can be eliminated.
As shown in FIG. 3B, however, a reference current IREF of the driver on the left end and a reference current IREF(n−1) on the right end become different by addition of the n number of current variations in the driver IC's.
In a large size display device, not only is the display panel driven by dividing it in the lateral direction, but also the data lines on the panel are vertically divided at the ½ positions in the vertical direction to halve the interconnect capacitances of the data lines. Together with this, the drive frequency is reduced by vertically arranging drivers and driving them in parallel and by halving the number of scanning lines which must be driven by each driver.
In such case, with the current connection system, luminance steps are sometimes generated at the vertical borders of the display panel.
As described above, with the conventional method of supply of the reference current, it is difficult to realize a large size, high gradation display type organic EL display.
For this reason, in organic EL display panels, the appearance of current output type data line drivers (source drivers) suitable for driving organic EL elements has been awaited.

Current output drive circuit and display device


A positioner includes a capacitative element with which an ohmic resistance is connected in parallel. The value of the ohmic resistance is sensed at specific points in time. To enhance operating reliability during operation of the positioner, correct functioning of the ohmic resistance is monitored, and a fault signal is outputted upon detection of a malfunction.

A method is referred to in Published Patent Application No. DE 199 58 406 A1, which describes a piezoactuator that is used, for example, in a fuel injector. The piezoactuator behaves similarly to a capacitative element in electrical terms, and is therefore itself often referred to as a capacitative element. The capacitative element is longer or shorter depending on its charge state. The change in length of the capacitative element is transferred to a valve element of the fuel injector.
In the event of an interruption in activation of the capacitative element, or a malfunction of one of the components, it may happen that the capacitative positioner remains continuously in one specific position because it can no longer be discharged. In a context of use in a fuel injector, the result of this may be, for example, that the latter remains in the open position for a long period of time, and fuel is continuously injected into the combustion chamber of the internal combustion engine. This may result in severe damage to the internal combustion engine.
The ohmic resistance is provided to prevent such a situation. It enables discharging of the capacitative element even when the actual control line is interrupted, e.g. due to a cable break or a contact fault. The value of the ohmic resistance is dimensioned such that the time constant resulting from the capacitative element and the ohmic resistance is so great that no significant discharge of the capacitative element occurs within the usual activation time period that is usual for fault-free injection. On the other hand, the time constant is set so that the capacitative element is sufficiently discharged within the maximum time available before the valve must definitely be closed in order not to damage the internal combustion engine.
German Published Patent Application No. 199 58 406 proposes to sense the value of the ohmic resistance at specific points in time, and to draw conclusions therefrom as to the nature and/or the temperature of the capacitative element. The temperature dependence of the capacitative element may thereby be corrected.

Method and device for operating an actuator with a capacitive element


An electroexpulsive deicing system 18 in accordance with the present invention includes a plurality of expulsive elements 18, 22 comprised of printed circuit boards 12 having a plurality of parallel metal lines 14 formed thereon in a predetermined pattern. Adjacent expulsive elements have current flowing in opposite directions for creating expulsive electromagnetic forces between elements.

Under certain operating conditions aircraft are vulnerable to the accumulation of ice on component surfaces. It is well known that such accumulation of ice can lead to disastrous results. A wide variety of systems have been developed for removing ice from aircraft during flight and can be placed into three general categories: thermal, chemical and mechanical.
The mechanical category of deicing systems operate by distorting the airfoil surface of the aircraft to be deiced. Distortion of the airfoil surface causes cracking in the ice accumulated thereon and subsequent dispersal of that ice into the air stream passing over the aircraft component.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,690,353 to Haslim et al. and commonly owned U.S. Pat. No. 4,875,644 to Adams et al. describe a subcategory of mechanical deicing systems wherein one or more overlapped flexible ribbon conductors are embedded in an elastomeric material affixed to the outer surface of an airfoil structure. The conductors are fed large current pulses from a power storage unit. The conductors are configured such that overlapping conductors carry opposing currents. The resulting interacting magnetic fields of these overlapping conductors produces an electro-expulsive force which distends the elastomeric member and separates the elastomeric member from a solid body, such as ice accumulated thereon. The preferred method in Haslim et al. to provide overlapping conductors having opposing currents traveling therethrough is to form the conductor in a serpentine like configuration. Adams et al. discloses an improvement upon the disclosure of Haslim et al., wherein rather than having a serpentine type configuration, Adams et al. contemplates having electrically conductive members interconnected such that electrical current flows in the same direction in adjacent electrically conductive members in a first sheet-like array and also flows in adjacent electrically conductive members of a second sheet-like array in a direction opposite to the current flowing in the first sheet-like array. The first and second sheet like arrays are therefore coextensive and superposed proximate to each other such that the electrically conductive members of the first and second sheet like arrays are substantially parallel. It was found in Adams et al. that the configuration of the conductive members into sheet like arrays provided a much greater expulsive force than that provided by the serpentine type conductive configuration of the Haslim et al. disclosure.
It has been discovered however, that it is both difficult and expensive to manufacture conductors in the arrangements disclosed in Haslim et al. and Adams et al. The continuous conductive members in both of these patents must be formed or machined from a solid piece of conductor, or ribbon cable into a twisting, turning, folding shape. Forming these types of conductive members is labor intensive and therefore quite expensive to manufacture. Another disadvantage to the conductive members disclosed in Haslim et al. and Adams et al. is the weak point created when the conductive members are folded. Extensive use of the conductive members described therein causes fatigue and eventual breaking of the conductive member at the fold.
An electro-expulsive separation deicing system which overcomes the above identified disadvantages of prior electro-expulsive deicing systems is, therefore, highly desirable.

Electro-expulsive deicing system having circuit board expulsive members


A vehicle door comprises a door panel member having an outer panel, the outer panel having a concave portion which receives a user's hand, a handle member which is provided outside the outer panel and extends to cross the concave portion, a base member which is fixed on an internal surface of the outer panel and supports end portions of the handle member on both sides of the concave portion, the base member being formed to have a shape of detouring around the concave portion and reaching from one end to the other end of the concave portion, within a range of a depth of the concave portion in a thickness direction of the door panel member.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a vehicle door which is opened and closed with a handle device.
2. Description of the Related Art
Jpn. Pat. Appln. KOKAI Pub. No. 2001-354035 discloses an example of a handle device provided on a vehicle, for example, an automobile. This prior art comprises a grip handle being a handle member that releases the lock of a door lock mechanism, and a case being a base member that rotatably supports the grip handle.
Generally, vehicle doors comprise a door panel member, a door lock mechanism, and a handle device as described above and the like. The door panel member includes an outer panel facing the outside of the vehicle, and an inner panel facing the inside of the vehicle. The base member of the handle device is fixed on the internal surface of the outer panel, and contained inside the door panel member. In most vehicle doors having such a structure, a concave portion for easy insertion of the hand into the handle device is formed in a portion of the outer panel to which the handle portion is attached. Such a structure of the vehicle door is adopted in many types of vehicles.
However, in the above structure of the vehicle door, there is the problem that it is required to increase the distance between the inner panel and the outer panel enough to contain the base member inside he door panel member, and consequently the thickness of the door panel member is increased. Further, although only containing the base member does not much increase the thickness of the door panel member, it is necessary to also provide the concave portion in the portion to which the base member is attached. Therefore, increase in thickness of the door panel member is inevitable. The base member is required to retain a predetermined strength to support the handle member, and cannot be easily reduced in thickness. Due to the above circumstances, there is the problem that the door panel member is increased in thickness, and the space inside the vehicle is decreased.
The object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle door having a structure in which the base member is fixed on the internal surface of the outer panel, and the door panel member can be formed with a small thickness.

Mitsubishi Jidosha Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha


The disclosure discloses an adhesive tape cartridge comprising an adhesive tape roll around which is wound an adhesive tape, a peeling part, a separation material roll, and a support member. The adhesive tape comprises an adhesive layer and a separation material layer. The peeling part is configured to peel the separation material layer from the adhesive tape fed out from the adhesive tape roll and subsequently fed to one side in a predetermined direction. The separation material roll is configured to wind the separation material layer. The support member respectively rotatably supports the adhesive tape roll and the separation material roll. A position of the peeling part in the predetermined direction is disposed further on the one side than at least a position of a take-up position of the separation material roll when the separation material roll is in a minimum outer diameter state.

1. Field
The present disclosure relates to an adhesive tape cartridge capable of supplying an adhesive tape comprising an adhesive layer and a separation material layer.
2. Description of the Related Art
Tape printing devices that feed an adhesive tape (two-sided adhesive) comprising an adhesive layer and a separation material layer are already known. According to the tape printing device (tape printer) of this prior art, an adhesive tape cartridge (tape cassette) is mounted to and used in a cassette storage part. An adhesive tape roll, around which the adhesive tape is wound about an axis line in the substantially vertical direction, is rotatably provided to the adhesive tape cartridge. Then, when the adhesive tape cartridge is mounted to the cassette storage part, the adhesive tape is fed out and fed by the rotation of the adhesive tape roll. Print-receiving tape (film tape) on which preferred print is formed by a print head is bonded to the fed adhesive tape by a pair of rollers (feeding rollers and sub-rollers) for bonding, thereby generating an adhesive tape with print. After the adhesive tape with print is generated by bonding, the separation material layer is peeled by a peeling part (contact pin) positioned on the downstream side in the feeding direction of the pair of rollers. With this arrangement, the adhesive tape with print from which the separation material layer was peeled is discharged to the cartridge exterior. The user can then affix the discharged adhesive tape with print to a preferred object to be affixed by utilizing the adhesive force of the adhesive layer exposed by the peeling of the separation material layer.
Nevertheless, according to the adhesive tape cartridge of the prior art, when the separation material layer is peeled by the peeling part (contact pin), the separation material layer is simply bent and peeled directly horizontally at 90° with respect to the feeding path of the other tape layers. As a result, the peeling of the separation material layer may be inadequate, resulting in the inability to perform reliable separation material peeling.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


A velocity-pressure control apparatus of a hydraulic machine includes a pressure command generator, a pressure sensor, a pressure controller, a velocity command generator, a velocity limiter, a switch, a comparator, a velocity sensor, and a motor driver. The pressure controller receives a pressure compensation signal composed by the pressure command generator and the pressure sensor. The velocity limiter receives a compensation velocity signal from the pressure controller and a predetermined velocity signal from the velocity command generator and outputs a corresponding limiting velocity command signal to the switch. The comparator controls the velocity-pressure control apparatus to work at a velocity control mode when the pressure compensation signal is a positive signal or a null signal, and controls the velocity-pressure control apparatus to work at a master pressure control and slave velocity control mode when the pressure compensation signal is a negative signal.

1. Technical Field
The present disclosure relates to control apparatuses, and particularly to a control apparatus for controlling motor velocity and hydraulic pump pressure of a hydraulic machine.
2. Description of Related Art
Hydraulic machines, such as hydraulic injection molding machines, are operated by hydraulic pumps controlled by motors. Motor velocity and hydraulic pump pressure are controlled by a control apparatus to make moveable elements of the injection molding machine work. Generally, product engineers manually adjust velocity and pressure according to experience, which may not be accurate and is inconvenient.
What is needed is to provide a velocity-pressure control apparatus of a hydraulic machine to overcome the above-described shortcomings.

Velocity-pressure control apparatus of hydraulic machine


According to one embodiment, a nonaqueous electrolyte battery is provided. The battery includes a positive electrode, a negative electrode, and a nonaqueous electrolyte. The positive electrode includes lithium iron phosphate having an olivine structure as positive electrode active material. The negative electrode includes lithium titanate having a spinel structure and a monoclinic β-type titanium complex oxide as a negative electrode active material.

A nonaqueous electrolyte battery such as lithium ion secondary battery has been expected to have a high-energy density. Recently, the positive electrode active materials such as lithium manganate having a spinel structure, lithium iron phosphate having an olivine structure and the like have been developed. These positive electrode active materials are inexpensive and provide a high level of safety. Particularly, lithium iron phosphate having an olivine structure has a stable crystal structure and has a lithium ion-insertion/extraction potential as relatively low as about 3.4 V (vs. Li/Li+). Therefore, it can provide improved life performance.
On the other hand, the negative electrode active materials which have a higher Li− insertion/extraction potential than carbonaceous materials have been developed. Among these materials, lithium titanate having a spinel structure has such an advantage that it has excellent cycle performances and high safety because it is free from variation in volume during charge/discharge reactions.
Then battery which uses lithium iron phosphate having an olivine structure as the positive electrode active material and lithium titanate having a spinel structure as the negative electrode active material has been proposed. Such a battery has been expected to have excellent cycle performances. However, the battery having the above structure has the problem that it is difficult to detect the state of discharge based on battery voltage because a variation in battery voltage during discharging is small.

Nonaqueous electrolyte battery and battery pack


A method is provided for forming a highly planarized interlevel dielectric layer over interconnects formed upon a frontside surface of an upper topography of a silicon wafer. An anisotropic silicon dioxide (oxide) layer is first deposited over the interconnects. Unlike conformal dielectric layers, anisotropic dielectric layers are able to fill narrow spaces between closely-spaced interconnects without creating voids in the process. The anisotropic oxide layer may be formed using a PECVD technique with the introduction of TEOS, O.sub.2, and He or NH.sub.3, or using an electron-cyclotron-resonance (ECR) plasma CVD method. A spin-on glass (SOG) layer is then formed over the anisotropic oxide layer. The liquid SOG material flows over the upper surface, filling narrow spaces without creating voids and producing a surface smoothing effect at isolated vertical edges. After curing of the SOG layer, a chemical-mechanical polishing (CMP) process is applied to the frontside surface. The CMP process increases the planarity of the frontside surface by reducing surface heights of elevated features more so than surface heights in recessed areas. After the silicon wafer is cleaned to remove CMP residue, an isotropic oxide layer may be deposited over the frontside surface to encapsulate the SOG layer.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to integrated circuit manufacture and more particularly to a method of forming an interlevel dielectric structure having a high degree of surface planarity.
2. Description of the Relevant Art
An integrated circuit consists of electronic devices electrically coupled by conductive trace elements, often called interconnects. Interconnects are patterned from conductive layers formed on or above the surface of a silicon substrate. One or more layers can be patterned to form one or more levels of interconnects spaced from each other by one or more interlevel dielectric structures. Dielectric-spaced interconnect levels allow formation of densely patterned devices on relatively small substrate area.
An increase in the number of interconnect levels causes a corresponding increase in the elevational disparity of the resulting topological surface (i.e., an increase in the difference between the peaks and valleys of the resulting upper surface). Elevational disparity causes step coverage problems of interconnects placed over an interlevel dielectric peak and valley area. Elevational disparity also causes depth of focus problems of patterned interconnects formed on the interlevel dielectric. To reproduce fine line geometries, modern day optical steppers require small optical deviation of the interlevel dielectric surface to which the patterned interconnects are formed. In order to obtain maximum resolutions, imaging surfaces must be planar within .+-.0.5 microns. Sophisticated planarization techniques are therefore necessary to planarize the imaged surface. Planarization techniques are generally well known and exist in modern day fabrication processes.
Chemical vapor deposition (CVD) techniques typically yield conformal layers (i.e., layers which have the same thickness over horizontal and vertical surfaces). CVD is often used to deposit a dielectric layer over a substrate and/or over an interconnect level. When the thickness of the dielectric layer becomes appreciable relative to the distance between closely-spaced interconnects, undesirable air pockets (i.e., voids) may form between the closely-spaced interconnects. Either the CVD layer thickness must be minimized, or the interconnect spacing increased. Unfortunately, the former is more plausible than the latter due to the desire to increase the packing density and minimize the required surface area. If, however, the CVD layer thickness is decreased, other dielectric layers may be needed to complete an overall interlevel dielectric structure (i.e., a dielectric structure formed between interconnect levels).
Anisotropic CVD techniques present numerous advantages over conventional, isotropic CVD techniques employing standard LPCVD, PECVD and APCVD chambers. Anisotropic CVD has the ability to deposit material on horizontal surfaces at a faster rate than on vertical surfaces. Consequently, narrow spaces between closely-spaced interconnects can be filled with a dielectric material without creating substantial voids. Anisotropic CVD thereby produces a dielectric layer which is relatively thick on horizontal surfaces and relatively thin on vertical surfaces. Anisotropic CVD is particularly useful in forming a layer of dielectric upon a densely patterned underlayer of interconnects.
Another advanced CVD technique involves electron-cyclotron-resonance (ECR) CVD deposition. ECR is a relatively new plasma CVD technique in which deposition occurs simultaneously with sputter etching of the evolving layer. The high directionality of ECR plasma particles and simultaneous sputter etching produce a locally planar interlevel dielectric layer.
In addition to the CVD techniques, an interlevel dielectric layer can also be formed using a spin-on glass (SOG) material. Not only does SOG avoid creation of voids, but more importantly fills recesses or valleys as it flows across the upper surface prior to curing. Common SOG materials are siloxanes or silicates mixed in alcohol-based solvents. Applied to a wafer surface in liquid form, SOG materials typically flow over and fill narrow spaces between interconnects. Consequently, SOG materials produce a surface smoothing effect at isolated vertical edges. SOG materials are typically cured by baking to produce a hardened layer.
While anisotropic CVD, ECR plasma CVD, and SOG help planarize an upper surface during deposition, other techniques can be used to selectively remove surface material to planarize the surface after deposition. Namely, etch back steps can be employed either globally or locally to remove hills consistent with lower elevation valleys. More recent removal techniques utilize chemical-mechanical polishing (CMP). CMP applies both mechanical and chemical abrasion to an upper surface of a silicon wafer. During a CMP operation, a polishing pad saturated with an abrasive slurry solution is pressed against an upper surface of a silicon wafer. Movement of the pad relative to the wafer surface preferentially polishes elevated features on the upper surface. CMP thus increases surface planarity by reducing the heights of elevated features more so than the heights of structures in recessed areas. CMP can therefore be used to remove a dielectric surface at locally different rates which depend on the underlying pattern density. CMP is proven superior at quickly removing isolated or sparsely spaced upper elevational areas, while more slowly removing densely spaced upper elevational areas.
All of the above techniques have characteristics which limit their usefulness as a planarization method. Anisotropic CVD does not by itself increase the planarization of a surface since the upper elevational areas (hills) are increased similar to the lower elevational areas (valleys). ECR is able to increase the planarization of a surface, but throughput is limited as a result of simultaneous sputtering and further since few wafers can be processed simultaneously. SOG materials do not adhere well to metal interconnect lines, causing long-term reliability problems. SOG materials also tend to absorb water vapor which increases the resistance of electrical contacts formed in vias (i.e., holes etched through interlevel dielectric layers in order to electrically couple interconnect lines on different levels). A CMP process may have to be stopped before a high degree of planarity is reached in order to prevent the removal of too much surface material in certain critical areas. Further, CMP is useful to planarize isolated or sparsely spaced upper elevational areas. However, CMP leaves densely spaced upper elevational areas relatively intact. Despite their limitations, several of the above techniques may be advantageously combined into a highly effective interlevel dielectric planarization method, provided they are combined in a unique and advantageous fashion set forth hereinbelow.

Method for forming a highly planarized interlevel dielectric structure


Apparatus and methods for transporter shaft coupling and decoupling to assure alignment of a user interface with a control shaft through matching asymmetric cylindrical surfaces and alignment of an upper shaft segment and a lower shaft segment with ribs meshing with grooves on rings attached to the upper shaft. A tone confirms proper connection. Alignment apparatus is protected from damage associated with torques applied to the control shaft by tab features designed to first give way before other damage is incurred and from moisture by apparatus that seals the connection between upper and lower shaft segments. The user is protected from sudden loss of control by requiring the user interface to execute a sequence of linear and rotational manipulations during assembly of the shaft.

There are situations where equipment assembled from a number of parts in a particular configuration must be disassembled for storage or transport or readjusted for the benefit of different users or as the result of use. For equipment used for transportation such as bicycles and wheelchairs, in addition to concern for the comfort and convenience of the user, there is additional concern for the user's safety. Thus, there is incentive to have assembly be directed towards the correct orientation and to alert the user if the situation is otherwise.
It is known in the prior art to adjust the position of a bicycle rider relative to the bicycle by adjustment of the height of the seat and the height of the handlebars above the bicycle frame. The seat is attached to a seat post that fits into a first vertical bicycle frame tube. Rotation of a seat bolt attached to the frame tightens around the seat post and holds the seat in a desired orientation relative to the front of the bicycle and at a desired height above the frame. The handlebar is attached to a bifurcated handlebar post that fits into a second vertical bicycle frame tube. A handlebar bolt passing through the center of the handlebar engages the bifurcated handlebar post. As the handlebar bolt is rotated, the sections of the bifurcated seat post separate and engage the inner surface of the second vertical bicycle frame tube, holding the handlebar at the desired height and in the desired orientation.
Readjustment, made necessary either deliberately or through use may be problematic. When another user wishes to use the bicycle, the heights of the seat and handlebar above the frame must often be adjusted. Height adjustment must be done in such a way as not to affect the orientation of the seat and of the handlebar. However, height cannot be adjusted without affecting orientation. Consequently, a bicycle user must employ an iterative process to first adjust the height, then the orientation, then the height again, etc.
Continued safe operation is of essential concern in a transporter that, unlike a bicycle, lacks fore/aft stability. However, firm attachment of a seat or handlebar to a frame by a single frangible coupling component, as by means of a pin, is undesirable since the coupling component is prone to damage, thereby also endangering components of the transporter.

Transporter shaft coupling and uncoupling


A method and apparatus for determining the position of one or more locomotives in a train consist is disclosed. A receiver is mounted to each locomotive in a train consist. The receiver receives a signal such as a reference signal from a global positioning system determines a coordinate position for that locomotive. A processor determines a relative position for the locomotive in the train consist based on its determined coordinate position. This process is periodically repeated for each locomotive in the train consist so that the configuration of locomotives in the train consist may be tracked or verified as cars are added or removed from the train.

The present invention generally relates to train monitoring and control systems, and more particularly to a methods and apparatus for determining relative locomotive position in a train consist.
Distributed power systems allow locomotives to be distributed throughout a train by utilizing radio communication to remotely control the operation each locomotive from a lead locomotive. Typically, distributed power systems allow the crew of a train riding in the lead locomotive to monitor and control tractive effort and braking power of multiple train consists comprising one or more locomotives and an associated group of cars. Preferably, each locomotive of the train may be operated in either a lead or a remote role thereby allowing train consists to be joined together along high traffic corridors and separated for intermodal or general freight service. In this manner, distributed power systems allow safer, more efficient hauling of all types of freight over all types of terrain.
Knowledge of the order and position of locomotives in each train consist is required to ensure safe operation and handling of the train. However, the order and position of locomotives and cars may periodically change as train consists are joined and separated or cars are added to or removed from a particular consist. Presently, the position of locomotives in the train consists is tracked via a manually created consist list entered into the distributed power system's computer. This list is revised periodically as train consists are joined together or as cars and locomotives are added to or removed from a consist. However, this method of creating a consist list is subject to human error and may prove to be impossible to manage for long trains.
It is therefore desirable to improve the safety and efficiency of railroad operations by utilizing a global positioning system to determine relative locomotive position in a train consist wherein the locomotive position information may be utilized to track and verify the configuration of the consist.

Method and apparatus for determining relative locomotive position in a train consist


A method for interrupt priority encoding and vectoring begins with reading pending interrupt bits from an interrupt status register. An entry in a table is located using the pending interrupt bits. The table has a plurality of vector entries for at least one high priority interrupt bit, and a single entry for at least one low priority interrupt bit. A vector address is fetched from the table and a branch is performed to the vector address. An alternate embodiment has high and low priority interrupt vector tables, where the high low priority interrupt vector table is used if no high priority interrupt is present.

A priority-interrupt system is found in most modern computer systems. These may be implemented in hardware, software, or in a combination of hardware and software. These priority-interrupt systems can respond to externally or internally generated events, operating system calls, or other trigger events in a system.
Typically, a priority-interrupt system has multiple input signals. These signals may come from a variety of internal and external sources. When a trigger event occurs, a processor of the system executes a code segment associated with an active signal of the input signals. The time required from activation of an interrupt input signal to execution of a code segment associated with that input is known as interrupt latency.
There are generally multiple code segments available for execution, each may be located through a pointer known as an interrupt vector. Each code segment is associated with a particular signal of the input signals. The process of branching to code at interrupt vectors is known as vectoring.
Since input signals generally relate to system functions that can occur at different rates, it is generally desirable to prioritize the input signals. Priority interrupt systems prioritize the input signals such that, when multiple input signals occur, the code segment first executed is associated with the highest priority active input, while code segments associated with lower priority inputs may execute later. This is typically done by passing the input signals through a priority encoder to generate an interrupt vector associated with the highest priority active signal present at the time.
Priority encoders of hardware and software construction are known. Computer hardware often has special instructions provided for use in software priority encoders; for example there may be an instruction that generates a binary number corresponding with the most significant active bit of a word. Many microcontrollers, including those of the Intel 8096 family, provide hardware priority encoders for mapping signals to interrupt vectors.
Hardware priority encoders typically embody a fixed priority scheme. With these encoders, prioritization of interrupts is performed according to an integrated circuit designer's best guess, at the time a processor integrated circuit is designed, of appropriate priority for each interrupt input. Modern microcontroller integrated circuits are, however, often used in applications very different from those contemplated at the time the integrated circuit is designed. For example, the Intel 8061, parent of the Intel 8096/80196/80296 and Ford EEC-4 processor families, was developed to control a gasoline engine. Members of this processor family have been used in hundreds of products ranging from automatic transmissions, active suspensions, missile autopilots, printers, and disk drives to microwave ovens; the original integrated circuit designer's priority assignments are not optimum for all systems.
Other computer systems and microcontrollers are known where multiple input signals are brought to an interrupt status register, but where hardware encoding is not provided, or is provided over fewer input signals than required in a particular system. This may occur, for example, where interrupt sources not contemplated by the original integrated circuit designers are present in a system.
In either event, it is desirable to prioritize interrupts and generate vectors in software or firmware. Since large numbers of interrupts occur in typical microcontroller and computer systems, it is important that the overhead steps of encoding multiple inputs into interrupt vectors be performed quickly.

Method for priority-encoding interrupts and vectoring to interrupt code

Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.


A method ensures the standstill of a motor vehicle. Before reaching the standstill, an electronic control unit checks whether a predefined inclination threshold is exceeded, whether the velocity has fallen below a predefined travel velocity threshold, and whether there is a negative vehicle acceleration. If all three conditions exist simultaneously, an increased setpoint braking torque is predefined until the motor vehicle reaches the standstill.

This application claims the priority of German Application No. 10 2006 056 627.0, filed Nov. 30, 2006, the disclosure of which is expressly incorporated by reference herein.
The present invention relates to a method and a device for ensuring the standstill of a motor vehicle using at least one electronic control unit, by which the motor vehicle is braked down to a standstill while maintaining a specific distance to a target object.
Vehicles which have a speed (velocity) regulator utilizing distance sensors are already on the market. Such a vehicle attempts to maintain a predefinable driving speed, in particular during travel on a freeway or an expressway, but reduces this speed when this vehicle approaches a leading vehicle (target object). Extremely comfortable driving in column traffic is thus made possible for the vehicle driver, because the speed regulator having distance sensors (e.g., a so-called ACC "Adaptive/Active Cruise Control") always maintains a sufficient safety distance to the "man in front." If the lead vehicle accelerates, the speed regulator having distance sensors (also referred to as "ACC system" in the following) thus also accelerates the vehicle equipped therewith, until reaching the set desired speed or the speed of the lead vehicle, if the lead vehicle travels more slower than the desired velocity.
Reference is made to German patent document DE 101 52 632 A1 on the technical background, for example.
As a supplement to ACC systems, which are predominantly operated in a high speed range on well-structured roads, so-called stop & go systems, which allow for comparable driver support, in particular in the low velocity range down to standstill of the vehicle, are also known. In addition to high-performance close range sensors, these systems require an electronically activatable braking system, which is capable of reliably holding the vehicle in a stoppage phase and preventing further rolling until the driver of the vehicle or the stop & go system itself has given a corresponding command to start (start command).
An important function of an ACC stop & go system is the automatic stopping and secure retention of the vehicle at a standstill. Above all, if the vehicle is located on an incline, it is very important that (undesired) rolling backward of the vehicle is prevented.
A distance-related speed regulation system having a stop & go function, which particularly ensures the stoppage of the vehicle even with a predominantly level roadway, is described, for example, in German patent application 10 2005 036 217 (no prior publication).
An improved distance-related speed regulation system of the above type having a stop and go function is needed, in particular, for maintaining a standstill when stopping on hills.
The present invention provides a method for ensuring the standstill of a motor vehicle using at least one electronic control unit, by which the motor vehicle is braked down to a standstill while maintaining a specific distance to a target object. Before reaching the standstill, it is checked by the control unit, whether a predefined inclination threshold (N>S1) is exceeded, whether the velocity has fallen below a predefined travel velocity threshold (v<S2), and whether a negative vehicle acceleration (a<0) exists. If these conditions exist simultaneously, an increased setpoint braking torque is predefined by the control unit until the standstill of the vehicle is reached. Advantageous refinements of the invention are described and claimed herein.
From a specific incline, the stopping is prepared if the following two conditions are additionally fulfilled: (a) the vehicle velocity falls below a (preferably incline-dependent) threshold, and (b) the vehicle acceleration is negative (deceleration).
The present invention is based on the following findings.
To prepare for stopping, the brake is activated in such a way that secure retention of the vehicle is achieved. The background is as follows: regulated stopping uphill would normally be achieved by activating the drive, as also according to German patent application 10 2005 036 217, for example. This means that the vehicle would come to a standstill having a braking torque of zero [Nm]. According to German patent application 10 2005 036 217, the brake would then be activated to build up an (incline-dependent) safety reserve, which is necessary to retain the vehicle at a standstill uphill. Because the brake control unit requires a certain time until pressure is built up and the braking torque requested by ACC stop & go is available, the vehicle may roll backward unintentionally shortly after stopping. The stopping on the hill is "predicted" and correspondingly prepared for by the present invention. The ACC stop & go requests a braking torque already shortly before the stopping and the brakes may react more rapidly to the increased demand at a stop.
The instantaneous inclination at which the vehicle is located is calculated, for example, from the difference between the current value of the signal, which the longitudinal acceleration sensor provides, and the current value of the vehicle longitudinal acceleration, which is produced from the wheel speed sensors. Because this signal oscillates strongly during the transition from travel to standstill, this signal is preferably filtered by a low-pass filter.
Other objects, advantages and novel features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the invention when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

Method and device for ensuring the standstill of a motor vehicle

Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft


A dehumidification cooling apparatus for an indoor sports facility is provided which is capable of realizing dehumidification and cooling at a low operating cost in the indoor sports facility. This apparatus includes: an ice chamber for turning water into ice and storing it; an air supply-and-exhaust pipe which is disposed from the ice chamber to the indoor sports facility, leads to the ice chamber and leads to the upper space of the indoor sports facility; a fan which is disposed in a supply pipe of the air supply-and-exhaust pipe; and a heater which is disposed in the supply pipe of the air supply-and-exhaust pipe. The fan supplies air cooled with the melting heat of ice made in the ice chamber, from the ice chamber through the supply pipe to the upper space of the indoor sports facility; the heater heats the air inside of the supply pipe, to reduce its humidity to a predetermined level; and through an exhaust pipe of the air supply-and-exhaust pipe, the air of the upper space of the indoor sports facility is returned for circulation to the ice chamber, so that dehumidification and cooling are conducted in the space of the indoor sports facility.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a dehumidification cooling apparatus for an indoor sports facility which is capable of realizing dehumidification and cooling at a low operating cost in a warm season in the indoor sports facility.
2. Description of the Background Art
In order to keep an indoor sports facility open in a constant condition through the four seasons or all year round, dehumidification, cooling and ventilation in a warm season (i.e., April to September) and humidification, heating and ventilation in a cold season (i.e., November to March) are indispensable.
For example, in an indoor curling rink or an indoor skating rink as the indoor sports facility, humidification, heating and ventilation in the cold season (i.e., November to March) can be easily conducted. However, dehumidification, cooling and ventilation in the warm season (i.e., April to September) require a high operating cost, thus making it difficult to keep such a facility open during this season. In practice, such facilities are mostly open only in winter.
In addition, in an indoor curling rink or the like, if there is a large crowd including players and spectators in the warm season, fog may form because of the difference between the ice temperature and the room temperature. Or, the difference between the indoor and outdoor temperatures may cause dew or frost to form. This raises a disadvantage in that an official curling competition which requires a homogeneous and delicate ice surface cannot be held.
In general, as methods of dehumidification, a cooling type, a compression type, a suction-adhesion type or an absorption type are known, but dehumidification costs become high in any such method. Hence, it is difficult to realize those methods in the indoor sports facility.
As an apparatus for realizing cooling and ventilation in a low-cost method in the warm season (i.e., April to September), for example, Patent Document 1 presents a method of storing fruit and vegetables for a long time using the latent heat of natural ice. Besides, Patent Document 2 offers a method of cooling and heating a building using the latent heat of natural ice.
Herein, Patent Document 1 is Japanese Patent Publication No. 4-55647 specification, and Patent Document 2 is Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-193967 specification.
As described earlier, dehumidification, cooling and ventilation in the warm season and humidification, heating and ventilation in the cold season are essential for keeping the indoor sports facility open in the same condition throughout the year.
Particularly, in an indoor curling rink or another such facility, dehumidification is imperative to prevent fog, dew or frost from forming.
However, in such an indoor sports facility, a disadvantage arises in that a high operating cost is necessary for dehumidification, cooling and ventilation in the warm season.

Dehumidification cooling apparatus for an indoor sports facility

Tsuchiya Dairy Equipment Manufacturing Co.


A signalling device for roads or work sites. The device has a locked position and an unlocked position. In its locked position, when the device is prepared for use, its legs (15) project downwards while its notches (9) surround sections (8) of torsion bars (7, 8). These torsion bars are then raised up along with an indicator panel (1) which temporarily bends when the wind exceeds a certain strength. The device and the panel requires, no ballast and the panel is wind-resistant even on uniform road paving.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to both a portable and wind-resistant signalling device, comprising an indiator panel. Such a device is provided to be placed on the ground and it may be used for bearing an indicator panel of any type. In particular, it may be a question of a panel for road signalling, industrial or commercial advertising, signalling on a worksite, etc...
2. Description of the Prior Art
To that end, it is already known to use an underframe bearing the indicator panel, as described for example in Patent FR-A-2 609 199. However, it is ascertained that such a known apparatus presents various drawbacks in use. In particular, the underframe being constituted by a foldable trestle, it lacks rigidity and is no longer suitable for indicator panels of large dimensions, of the type now used in particular on motorways. Under the effect of a strong wind, or even upon simple passage of fast-moving vehicles close by, it is ascertained that the whole of the apparatus tends to advance in small successive jumps. In fact, it remains necessary to ballast the apparatus as soon as the dimensions of the indicator panel become large.

Portable and wind-resistant signalling device


A system for adjusting and monitoring the pressures of the printing rollers of a flexographic printing machine, which comprises at least one reader which is adapted to be placed at the printing rollers of the printing machine. The reader is adapted to detect the contrast of the print on the printing material wrapped around the central drum of the printing machine and is connected to a processing unit which is adapted to determine and control, as a function of the contrast detected by the reader, the position of the printing rollers with respect to the central drum in order to achieve the desired print.

As is known, flexographic printing machines with central drums have a plurality of printing plate rollers and anilox rollers arranged around a central drum; the printing plate rollers and anilox rollers transfer the ink onto the material to be printed depending on the printing pressures, i.e., depending on the pressure applied by each printing plate roller against the central drum and by each anilox roller against the respective printing plate. The pressure depends on the relative position of the printing plate with respect to the central drum and on the relative position of the anilox with respect to the printing plate.
Job changing, which occurs whenever the elements that cooperate to perform the printing process change, which elements in flexographic printing are the printing plate, the printing plate double adhesive, the printing plate sleeve, the anilox, the material to be printed and the inks, as well as the variation in the environmental conditions, such as temperature and humidity, always requires, for obtaining the desired print, the identification of the correct printing pressures, i.e., of the correct relative positions between the printing plate and the drum and between the anilox and the printing plate with respect to those calculated by the machine on the basis of the theoretical dimensions of the printing elements.
Identification of the correct pressures entails the production of product rejects and a waste of time and depends greatly on the skill and experience of the printer.
Today there are already automatic systems that aid or replace the printer in identifying and applying the correct printing pressures at the beginning of the printing process after job changing.
These systems can be divided substantially into two types: systems with print feedback; and offline systems without print feedback.
The former substantially measure printed markings (the markings are representative marks of the print) or the entire print with a video camera and then correct the printing pressures (see for example EP 1249346 and EP 1666252).
The latter, substantially before printing, measure the surface dimensions of the printing plate roller with systems which are external to the machine, store the measurement, then mount the printing plate roller on the machine and position it in contact with the central drum according to the stored data (see for example US 2008/0141886 A1).
However, these systems have some problems.
First of all, all systems with print feedback use a video camera that is capable of measuring and processing the entire printed image or more frequently specific markings that are representative of the printed image; the presence of these markings requires new printing plates and does not allow the use of old ones; moreover, each system uses different markings. The markings are located on the sides of the material and for an equal size of the printed image they require wider material and therefore a waste of material.
Furthermore, all "online" systems with print feedback control the movement of the printing plate rollers and of the anilox rollers so as to vary the printing pressures, wait for the print to be read by the video camera, measure the effect of the motion of the printing plate rollers and anilox rollers on the print and resume this process until the pressures are found to be correct; this operation takes a long time and produces considerable waste, which increases as the distance of the video cameras from the printing of the colors increases, as generally occurs due to space occupation problems.
All "online" systems with print feedback operate by comparing the print or the printed markings with a reference image that is representative of the print that one wishes to obtain in order to determine the correct printing pressures; the printer must therefore load this reference image into the system for example by means of a file.
All offline systems without print feedback measure only the dimensions of the printing plate rollers and anilox rollers when they are not mounted on the machine; they do not measure the other elements that are responsible inside the machine for the printing pressures, i.e., the printing material, the inks, the tolerances and the mechanical plays; these and the relationships among them change after a change of job and can change over time with an effect on printing pressures.
A further problem is that all offline systems without print feedback do not measure the print, are systems without feedback and therefore less precise and often require the intervention of the printer, who must retouch the printing pressures in order to obtain the desired print.
Last but not least, all these systems are complicated and expensive, produce a considerable waste of product, require time for setting up the new job for printing and almost always require the intervention of the printer, who has to retouch the printing pressures in order to obtain the desired print.

System and method for adjusting and monitoring the pressures of printing rollers in a flexographic printing machine with central drum