A word converting apparatus displays converted results and cooccurrent examples in a candidate selection menu for allowing the user to easily and definitely select converted results of words in a cooccurrent relationship. A cooccurrence recognizer 15 recognizes a cooccurrent relationship between words using a cooccurrence dictionary 13. A converter 16 refers to a general dictionary 12 and the cooccurrence dictionary 13 to store a converted result corresponding to a word in a result storage unit 17. If a converted result is derived from the general dictionary 12, a candidate storage unit 18 stores the converted result. If a converted result is derived from the cooccurrence dictionary 13, the candidate storage unit 18 searches the cooccurrence dictionary 13 for a cooccurrent example and stores the cooccurrent example. When candidate selection is indicated, a candidate selector 19 displays converted results and cooccurrent examples stored in the candidate storage unit 18, in a candidate selection menu on a display unit 20. When a candidate alternative is selected from the candidate selection menu, the candidate selector 19 instructs the converter 16 to give highest priority to a selected converted result or a converted result corresponding to a selected cooccurrent example, and the converter 16 changes a converted result in the result storage unit 17.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a word converting apparatus for converting a word to another word, and more particularly to a word converting apparatus having a capability to recognize a cooccurrent relationship between words that are entered.
2. Description of the Related Art
Word converting apparatus, e.g., kana-to-kanji converting apparatus for converting kana characters (Japanese phonetic alphabetical characters) into kanji characters (Japanese ideographic alphabetical characters), sometimes use a cooccurrent relationship between words to obtain correct converted results. For example, a Japanese kana word "atsui" has a plurality of kanji candidates including `` (atsui), `` (atsui), etc. to convert to. If a cooccurrent relationship between `` (kami) and `` (atsui) and also between `` (natsu) and `` (atsui) is used, then it is possible to convert "atsui kami" properly to `` (atsui kami) and also "atsui natsu" properly to `` (atsui natsu) all at once.
An Note: The Japanese word `` means "warm", the Japanese word `` means "thick", the Japanese word `` means "paper", and the Japanese word `` means "summer".
It is important to inform the user that the converted results which have been achieved are highly reliable on the basis of information representing the cooccurrent relationship which the word converting apparatus has. If the user is not informed that a converted result is highly reliable when it is a word which the user is not accustomed to or a word of a language other than his own tongue, then the user may not be certain about the converted result and may tend to compare again candidate alternatives including other conversion candidates, resulting in a burdensome process for the user.
One conventional word converting apparatus displays conversion candidates in a cooccurrent relationship with the same attribution to show the user that these conversion candidates are in a cooccurrent relationship (see, for example, Japanese laid-open patent publication No. 5-151199).
FIG. 1 of the accompanying drawings shows an example of a screen image displayed in a conventional word converting apparatus. Specifically, FIG. 1 illustrates a converted result with respect to an entered string of Japanese characters "kotoshi no natsu wa totemo atsui". The word `` (natsu) and the word `` (atsui) are given the same attribution, indicating that these words are in a cooccurrent relationship.
Note: The Japanese word `` means "this year", the Japanese character `` is used as a particle, the Japanese character `` is used as a particle, and the Japanese word `` means "very".
However, the above conventional word converting apparatus has been problematic in that when the word converting apparatus recognizes a plurality of cooccurrent relationships containing one word, it does not show the user that there are combinations other than the first conversion candidate even if there are possibly a plurality of converted results.
FIGS. 2(a) and 2(b) of the accompanying drawings show examples of screen images displayed in a conventional word converting apparatus. In the example shown in FIG. 2(a), a cooccurrent relationship is displayed. In the example shown in FIG. 2(b), no cooccurrent relationship is displayed.
It is assumed that when a string of Japanese characters "kami o suku", for example, is entered, there are two possible converted results `` (kami o suku) and `` (kami o suku), and both are registered as cooccurrent relationships in the word converting apparatus.
Note: The Japanese character `` is used as a particle, the Japanese word `` means "make (paper)", the Japanese word `` means "hair", and the Japanese word `` a means "comb".
It is assumed that first, the word converting apparatus selects `` (kami o suku), displaying a cooccurrent relationship between the word `` (kami) and the word `` (suku) (see FIG. 2(a)). The word `` (kami) and the word `` (suku) are given attribution. However, the user is not aware that there is another cooccurrent relationship with respect to the words `` (kami o suku).
Even when the user reselects the converted result with respect to "kami" and changes it to `` (kami), only the attribution disappears (see FIG. 2(b)), and the user is given no positive way of recognizing any information indicating that `` (suku) should be selected for "suku", though such information is retained in the word converting apparatus.
In order for the user to recognize such information, it is necessary to rely on such coincidence that when the word `` (kami) and the word `` (suku) happen to be selected at the same time, they are given the same attribution as a result.
Another problem, which arises under the same circumstances, is that once a certain word which is in a cooccurrent relationship to another word is replaced with another converted result (which is not in a cooccurrent relationship to the other word), the display of any attribution indicative of the cooccurrent relationship disappears, and cannot be used again.
For example, it is assumed that only a cooccurrent relationship `` (kami/suku) is registered for a combination of Japanese words "kami/suku". When a converted result `` (kami o suku) is displayed based on such a cooccurrent relationship, if the user reselects `` (suku) for `` (suku), then the user has no way of obtaining again information indicating that there is a cooccurrent relationship between the word `` (kami) and the word `` (suku). The user is allowed to use such information only when he reselects `` (suku) for `` (suku) while in atrial-and-error process. However, such an opportunity occurs as a coincidence in the trial-and-error process.
Note: The Japanese word `` means "like".
According to still another problem, even if the user knows a cooccurrent relationship of `` (kami o suku), for the user to reselect words for the words `` (kami osuku) after they have been selected in the word converting apparatus, it is necessary to change the word `` (kami) to the word `` (kami) and then change the word `` (suku) to the word `` (suku). Since the user needs to select converted results repeatedly twice, a large burden is imposed on the user.
When a string of words contains a plurality of cooccurrent relationships of the same intensity, some displayed attribution is not clear as to which combination of words it gives a cooccurrent relationship to.
FIGS. 3(a) and 3(b) show examples of screen images displayed in a conventional word converting apparatus. In the example shown in FIG. 3(a), a correct conversion is displayed. In the example shown in FIG. 3(b), an incorrect conversion is displayed.
When a string of Japanese characters "natsu wa atsui kami da to atsui", for example, is entered, a correct converted result is `` (natsu wa atsui kami da to atsui) (see FIG. 3(a)).
Note: The Japanese character `` is used as a particle, the Japanese character `` is used as an adverb, and the Japanese character `` is used as a particle.
If a combination of the word "natsu" and the following "atsui" and a combination of the word "kami" and the word "atsui" at the end of the string are recognized as being in a cooccurrent relationship, and the string is erroneously converted to `` (natsu wa atsui kami da to atsui) (see FIG. 3(b)), then the pattern of attribution shown in FIG. 3(b) is the same as the pattern of attribution shown in FIG. 3(a) which illustrates the correct converted result.
As described above, when a string of words contains a plurality of cooccurrent relationships, an erroneous recognition of a combination of words in a cooccurrent relationship cannot be distinguished from a correct recognition. Therefore, the display of attribution indicative of a cooccurrent relationship is not highly reliable.

Word converting apparatus utilizing general dictionary and cooccurence dictionary to display prioritized candidate words


An optical waveguide includes a printed circuit board, a waveguide, a light emitter, a light receiver, a transparent driver, and a transparent processor. The driver and the processor are received in and mounted to the printed circuit board through a flip-chip method. The light emitter and the light receiver are mounted to the driver and the processor, respectively, through the flip-chip method. The planar waveguide is attached to a side of the printed circuit board opposite to the light emitter and the light receiver. The driver drives the light emitter to emit light according to input signals. This light is directed onto the light receiver through the driver, the planar waveguide, and the processor. The light receiver converts the light into electrical signals. The processor processes the electrical signals to obtain the input signals.

1. Technical Field
The present disclosure relates to optical connectors, and particularly to an optical connector having a reduced size.
2. Description of Related Art
Optical connectors include a printed circuit board, a light emitter, a light receiver, a driver, a processor, a planar waveguide, and two shells. The light emitter, the light receiver, the driver, and the processor are located on and are electrically connected to one surface of the printed circuit board. The shells are also located on the printed circuit board and cover the light emitter and the light receiver, respectively. The planar waveguide is located on/above the printed circuit board and between the shells to couple the light receiver to the light emitter through the shells. However, such a configuration is not beneficial for miniaturization of the optical connector.
Therefore, it is desirable to provide an optical connector that can overcome the above-mentioned problems.


A particle counter of the condensation nucleus type wherein a primary stream of fluent material containing particles enlarged by vapor condensate of a working fluid flow through a viewing volume. A secondary stream of fluent material, termed purge gas, surrounds the primary stream of fluent material as the primary stream traverses the view volume, thereby providing a boundary layer of fluent material, reducing turbulence of the primary stream. The two streams are merged after passing through the view volume and the merged stream is drawn into one or more coalescent filters for conversion of vapor to working fluid which is then recycled for reuse, thereby extending the life of the working fluid and preventing escape of vapor which might contaminate the ambient environment.

Condensation nucleus counters (CNCs) provide the optical resolution necessary to detect and count sub-micron size particles by magnifying the size of the particles using condensate. CNCs operate on the principle of a cloud chamber. Vapor obtained by super-saturation of a gas derived from a working fluid, such as glycol, condenses upon sub-micron particles entrained in a sample gas, producing droplets on the order of a micron. In this fashion, the particles to be counted function as condensation nuclei for the vapor. The droplets, still entrained as sample gas, pass into a view volume of a particle counter operating according to light extinction or scattering principles. The droplets attenuate or scatter light in a beam of the particle counter, resulting in an appropriate output signal relative to particle condensation. The accuracy is dependent on the thermal and signal processing thresholds. The stream of fluent material, which includes droplets, passes through the optical beam, initiating the signal pulse. This flow region or view volume is defined by the optical and flow parameters of the detection system. Thus, some view volume characteristics can be controlled through nozzle and port design.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,118,959 to Caldow et al. discloses a CNC with a porous saturation below a condenser. An optical block containing a viewing volume is located above the condenser.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,239,356 to Hollander et al. discloses a condensation nucleus counter including a humidifier zone, a condensation zone extending orthogonally thereto and an optical detection system. The humidifying zone includes a duct and a hollow space extending parallel to the duct, but separated therefrom by a permeable material. A vaporizable liquid is received within the hollow space. The condensation zone includes a duct and a hollow space extending parallel thereto. Separating the duct from the hollow space is a permeable material. Particulate matter, entrained in sample air, is guided into the duct of the humidifying zone, where it is saturated. Upon passing through the condensation zone, the saturated air is supersaturated and condenses around the particulates.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,026,155 to Ockovic et al. discloses a process for sizing particles using condensation nucleus counting. The process employs a standard condensation nucleus counter in which the condensing temperature of a saturated working fluid is incrementally adjusted. In this manner, the sensitivity of the counter may be adjusted to afford discrimination of particles entrained in a gas, according to size.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,950,073 to Sommer discloses a sub-micron particle counter for counting particles entrained in air which includes a saturator, a condenser and an optical detector. Conduits extend through a bath of liquid contained in the saturator so that sample streams passing therethrough are heated by the bath. A flow divider separates the sample stream into a plurality of laminar flow streams, corresponding to the number of conduits in the bath. The condenser is a heat exchanger having a plurality of tubes with funnel-shaped inlet ends. The inlet ends are positioned over the bath of the saturator, with the tubes being inclined toward their inlet ends so that condensed vapor flows back into the bath.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,790,650 to Keady discloses a condensation nucleus counter including an inlet orifice leading to a flow path within a saturator. A condenser is in fluid communication with the saturator. Particulates entrained in a gas flow passing through the saturator have condensation accumulated thereon, forming a plurality of droplets. The plurality of droplets pass through an optical counter.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,449,816 to Kohsaka et al. discloses a system and a method of measuring hyperfine particles including a mixing chamber in fluid communication with both a saturated vapor chamber and a high temperature vapor chamber. An aerosol inlet is in constant fluid communication with the high temperature vapor chamber. The inlet is also in selective fluid communication with the saturated vapor chamber via a valve. An air aerosol containing fine particles is led into both the saturated vapor chamber and the high temperature vapor chamber, respectively, to produce saturated vapor aerosols. The two saturated vapor aerosols are led into the mixing chamber so that the aforementioned vapor is condensed on the aerosol particles. A particle detection station is included to measure the aerosol particles.
A problem encountered in prior art CNC devices is that vapor flow is carefully regulated until the flow enters the viewing volume. At this point, flow characteristics are largely neglected. However, view volume dynamics can play a key role in velocity profiling, false count elimination and contamination isolation. Yet turbulence expands the flow stream, removing some particles from view of the optics, and causing recirculation of other particles so that they are counted two or more times.
Another problem encountered in the prior art is that although CNC devices attempt to count small particles with great precision, they introduce vapor and particulate matter in the production environment where they are used. This occurs when vapor from the flow stream is exhausted and now, not only the particles entrapped in the vapor return to the ambient environment, but also the vapor. Where the working fluid in a vapor phase is not water, a new foreign substance is introduced into the ambient environment in small but measurable amounts.
An object of the invention was to devise a condensation nucleus counter having improved vapor flow, especially in the viewing volume, exhaust filtration and working fluid recovery.

Condensation nucleus counter having vapor stabilization and working fluid recovery


A display device includes; an insulating substrate, a display element which defines a display region and includes an organic light emitting layer which is formed on the insulating substrate, a first circuit board disposed parallel with a first side of the insulating substrate, a reference voltage pad formed on a circumference of the display region and which is electrically connected to the display element, and a first flexible member which includes a first part which adheres to the first circuit board and a second part connected to the reference voltage pad along a second side of the face of the insulating substrate.

1.) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a display device.
2.) Description of the Related Art
Recently, organic light emitting diode ("OLED") devices have attracted attention and interest in the industry of flat panel display devices because of their low-power requirements, light weight, slim shape, wide viewing angle, high-speed response, and other positive characteristics.
A display element of an OLED is supplied with a reference voltage such as a common voltage, a driving voltage or other voltages used to operate the OLED. The common voltage is supplied to a common electrode and the driving voltage is supplied to a power supply line.
As the size of the OLED increases, it becomes increasingly difficult to supply the common voltage and the driving voltage uniformly to a display region, resulting in undesirable bright and dark spots on the display.
One method of overcoming this trouble is to provide, a circuit board and a film to supply the common voltage and the driving voltage.
However, the foregoing method involves a complicated configuration of the OLED due to the additional circuit board and film which increases manufacturing costs.

Display device with flexible members distributing reference voltage to attached circuit board


A surface acoustic wave sensor is applied to an object by an adhesive. There are reflectors on the sensor body used to determine expansion and contraction. Additional reflectors on a smoothed edge zone of the body remain at the same distance apart and the sensor temperature is determined from the difference signal between these reflectors. The edge zone is without the adhesive.

Surface acoustic wave sensors (SAW sensors) which can be checked without the use of wires are nowadays used in many fields, since these sensors can transmit measurement data without the use of wires, and without their own power supply. Sensors such as these have thus already been used for a long time for pressure measurement, acceleration measurement, surface tension measurement and for the measurement of chemical characteristics. Since the measurement results from this surface acoustic wave sensor are temperature-dependent, temperature compensation must be carried out when transmitting the measurement result, in order to make it possible to deduce the actual measured values. One such surface acoustic wave sensor is described in EP-0619 906 B1. This document likewise discloses a method describing how the current temperature of the sensor can be determined from the radio signals that are sent back. The measurement result can be corrected for the temperature influence with the aid of this temperature information. The problem in this document is that two or more SAW sensors are required for the method described there.


A nonmagentic one-component toner for an electrophotographic image forming apparatus includes a toner with toner particles, a binder resin having a coloring agent, a charging control agent, and a release agent, and an external additive added to the toner particles. The external additive includes approximately 0.1 to 3.0 wt % of silica having a charge opposite to the toner particles, approximately 0.1 to 3.0 wt % of silica having a same charge as the toner particles, and approximately 0.1 to 4.0 wt % of titanium dioxide.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a toner for an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, and more particularly, to a nonmagnetic one-component toner used to develop an electrostatic latent image formed on the surface of a photosensitive medium for an electrophotographic image forming apparatus.
2. Description of the Related Art
In general, an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, such as a copier, a laser printer or a facsimile, forms an electrostatic latent image on a photosensitive medium, such as a photosensitive drum or a photosensitive belt, develops the electrostatic latent image with a developing agent having a predetermined color, and transfers the developed electrostatic latent image onto a sheet of paper, thus obtaining a desired image.
There are two types of electrophotographic image forming apparatuses, such as a dry-type electrophotographic image forming apparatus and a wet-type electrophotographic image forming apparatus, depending on a developing agent. In the dry-type electrophotographic image forming apparatus, a powder state of toner is used as the developing agent, and in the wet-type electrophotographic image forming apparatus, a liquid developing agent in which a toner that is mixed with a liquid carrier is used as the developing agent.
Dry-type developing methods using the powder state of toner include a two-component developing method using a two-component toner in which carrier particles used to transport toner particles are contained, and a one-component developing method using only toner without a carrier. The one-component developing method includes a magnetic one-component developing method and a nonmagnetic one-component developing method. In the magnetic one-component developing method, a developing operation is performed using a toner for the magnetic one-component development. In the nonmagnetic one-component developing method, a toner layer is formed on a developing roller using a toner for the nonmagnetic one-component development and is developed either in contact with not in contact with a photosensitive medium.
In the contact-type nonmagnetic one-component developing method, the price is very competitive. However, since it is difficult to attain dot reproducibility, line reproducibility, and high-resolution implementation, it is not easy to obtain a high quality image. Meanwhile, in the noncontact-type nonmagnetic one-component developing method, the structure of a developing unit is simple, and thus may be minimized. In addition, since attaining color reproducibility, edge reproducibility, high tone gradation, and high-resolution implementation is facilitated, a high quality image may be obtained.
FIG. 1 schematically illustrates a noncontact-type developing unit for a conventional electrophotographic image forming apparatus. Referring to FIG. 1, the conventional electrophotographic image forming apparatus includes a photosensitive medium 10, a charging roller 12, a laser scanning unit (LSU) 14, a developing roller 16, a toner supplying roller 18, and a toner layer regulation unit 20.
The photosensitive medium 10 has a structure in which a photosensitive film formed of a photosensitive material is formed on the circumference of a metallic drum. The surface of the photosensitive medium 10 is charged by the charging roller 12 to a predetermined potential, and an electrostatic latent image is formed on the surface of the charged photosensitive medium 10 by light irradiated from the LSU 14.
Toner 30 stored in a toner storage space 32 is supplied by the toner supplying roller 18 to the surface of the developing roller 16. The toner 30 supplied to the surface of the developing roller 16 becomes a thin film having a uniform thickness using the toner layer regulation unit 20. Simultaneously, the toner 30 is rubbed by the developing roller 16 and the toner layer regulation unit 20 and is charged with a predetermined charge. In this case, M/A (mg/cm2) and Q/M (μC/g) of the toner 30 are regulated by the toner layer regulation unit 20. Here, M/A (mg/cm2) is the weight of the toner 30 per unit area measured on the developing roller 16 after going through the toner layer regulation unit 20, and Q/M (μC/g) is an amount of charge of the toner 30 per unit weight measured on the developing roller 16 after going through the toner layer regulation unit 20.
As described above, the toner 30, which is charged with a predetermined charge and in which M/A (mg/cm2) and Q/M (μC/g) are regulated, moves to the surface of the photosensitive medium 10 using the developing roller 16 that is spaced a predetermined gap apart from the photosensitive medium 10 and rotated. In this case, the movement of the toner 30 is performed by a potential difference between the developing roller 16 and the electrostatic latent image formed on the surface of the photosensitive medium 10. The toner 30 that moves to the surface of the photosensitive medium 10 is attached to the electrostatic latent image. As such, the electrostatic latent image is developed as a desired image.
The image developed on the surface of the photosensitive medium 10 is transferred onto a sheet of paper by a transfer roller (not shown), and then is fused on the sheet of paper by a fusing unit (not shown). Toner remaining on the surface of the photosensitive medium 10 after the image is transferred onto the sheet of paper is removed by a cleaning blade 22 and is stored in a waste toner storage space 34.
Nonmagnetic one-component polymerization and pulverization-type toner used in the above-described conventional noncontact-type developing method includes toner particles in which a coloring agent, a charging control agent (CCA), and a release agent are added uniformly into a binder resin to improve chromaticity, charging characteristics, and fusing properties, and a variety of types of external additives added to toner particles to provide the fluidity, the charging stability, and the cleaning properties of toner.
In the noncontact-type nonmagnetic one-component developing method, to maintain stable developing properties, prevent contamination (fog or background) on a nonimage portion, and prevent the scattering of toner, the charging amount of toner should be maintained uniformly, and the distribution of the charging amount of the toner should be maintained uniformly both at an initial developing stage and after a long-term image printing operation. In this way, to provide uniform charging properties to toner, toner should be formed to a small thickness on a developing roller. However, when a toner layer is formed to a thin film on the developing roller, the toner may easily deteriorate due to a large amount of stress, or may be easily fused on a toner regulation unit. In addition, when the toner layer is formed to a small thickness on the developing roller, a developing efficiency may be rapidly lowered due to an increase in a toner charging amount, and the concentration of an image may be thereby lowered. When the toner charging amount is reduced to improve the developing efficiency, an increase in contamination (fog) on the nonimage portion and contamination caused by the scattering of toner occur.
Accordingly, in the noncontact-type nonmagnetic one-component developing method, the charging amount of the toner should be maintained uniformly, and the distribution of the charging amount of the toner should be maintained uniformly so that the occurrence of contamination (fog) on the nonimage portion is prevented, and excellent developing properties are maintained even after the long-term image printing operation. This has a close relation to the type and composition of an external additive added to toner particles.
For example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 2000-122336 discloses a two-component negative charge type toner in which two or more external additives which are at least positive charge type inorganic particles of 80-800 nm number average diameter and negative charge type inorganic particles of 5-50 nm number average diameter, where the weight ratio of the positive charge type inorganic particles to the negative charge type inorganic particles is in a range of 2.5:7.5 to 7.5:2.5, are mixed with a carrier. In addition, Korean Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 2002-061682 discloses a nonmagnetic one-component toner composition in which an external additive including hydrophobic silica having a specific surface area of 20-80 m2/g, hydrophobic silica having a specific surface area of 130-230 m2/g, and titanium oxide having an average diameter of 100-500 nm is added to the surface of toner particles.
In the related art, to grant fluidity to the toner, prevent an increase in a toner charging amount, and remove a low electrical resistance material, such as remaining toner, fat or ozone adducts attached to a photosensitive medium and a toner layer regulation unit, as described above, silica particles and two or three types of inorganic fine particles are used as external additives. The inorganic fine particles are effective as an abrasive to provide a cleaning effect, an initial toner charging property, and fluidity. However, after long-term use, the improvement in charging stability and in the transfer property of the toner are not sufficient. In addition, even though the size of the inorganic particles is very small, the inorganic particles easily cohere to one another. Thus, it is easy to form a cohesive substance having the size of the coarse particles of several tens of μm, and it is difficult to attach the cohesive substance onto the surface of the toner particles electrostatically. Thus, a larger energy is needed to attach the inorganic particles that are joined together onto the surface of the toner particles. In this case, the inorganic particles are easily buried under the surface of the toner particles. Meanwhile, when the inorganic particles do not stick sufficiently to the surface of the toner particles, the inorganic particles separate from the toner particles and are accumulated in the toner stored in a developing unit, and due to white coarse particles formed of inorganic fine particles that are joined together, a white point appears on a printed image after a developing or fusing operation. In particular, when only hydrophobic titanium dioxide TiO2 ultrafine particles are added as an external additive together with silica, image defects, such as offset and line burst, occur, and the characteristic of prevention of contamination (fog) on the nonimage portion is lowered after a long-term operation.
Meanwhile, positive charge type polymer beads may be added so that the charging stability of the toner and the uniform distribution of a toner charging amount are maintained for a long time. However, since the polymer beads have the size of coarse particles, unlike silica particles having a size equal to or less than 50 nm, the polymer beads easily separate from the toner particles. In particular, the polymer beads attached to the photosensitive medium are not easily cleaned due to a spherical shape. As such, the polymer beads remaining on the photosensitive medium are attached and accumulated to a charging roller, causing contamination of the charging roller and image contamination.

Nonmagnetic one-component toner for electrophotographic image forming apparatus


An opto-electronic board including a printed wiring board with an optical waveguide, a metallic area, and a hole, wherein an abutting face of the optical waveguide and an abutting face of the metallic area form a part of the side face of the hole. The opto-electronic board further comprises an opto-electronic circuit with a bonding pad, wherein the opto-electronic circuit is arranged in the hole and soldered with its bonding pad to the abutting face of the metallic area.

The present invention relates to an opto-electronic board and to a method of mounting an opto-electronic circuit on a hybrid printed circuit board. The hybrid printed circuit board comprises an optical waveguide and electrical tracks.
The transmission of high frequency signals over distances of 1 to 3 meters on printed wiring boards (PWB) and through several connectors, with low loss and distortion is desired in several applications such as high-speed servers and routers. As the signal frequencies are now in the 10 GHz range this is becoming increasingly difficult to accomplish electrically, mainly because of the dielectric losses of the insulating materials in the circuit board. Even if lower loss dielectric materials can be employed, as frequencies increase further, the resistance of the copper wiring of the PWB will eventually become a limiting factor.
One solution to this problem could be to transmit the higher frequency signals over the longer distances optically rather than electrically. This can be done by integrating optical waveguides in the printed wiring board. The waveguides carry optical signals in the plane of the PWB. The high frequency electrical signals are converted by means of opto-electronic converters into optical signals, coupled into a waveguide, integrated into the wiring board, transmitted to their destination (possibly also through several optical connectors) with low loss and distortion, coupled out of the waveguide and then converted back into electrical signals by means of further opto-electronic converters. The required mechanical tolerances of the placement of the emitters and detectors of the opto-electronic converters relative to the waveguide are of the order of a few micrometers, preferably <5 μm. This leads to the problem of mounting the opto-electronic converters relative to the waveguide so that the light can be efficiently coupled in and out of the waveguide.
In the patent application WO 2005/031417A1 a printed circuit board with electrical tracks and an integrated optical waveguide is described. An opto-electronic circuit is mounted on the surface of the printed circuit board and is optically coupled to the optical waveguide via an opening in the printed circuit board. Light is coupled out of the optical waveguide and directed to the opto-electronic circuit by turning round the light with 90° at the end face of the optical waveguide. Therefore, the end face of the optical waveguide is sloped.
In the publication R. T. Chen, L. Lin, C. Choi, Y. J. Liu, B. Bihari, L. Wu, S. Tang, R. Wickman, B. Picor, M. K. Hibbs-Brenner, J. Bristow, Y. S. Liu, "Fully Embedded Board-Level Guided-Wave Optoelectronic Interconnects," Proc. IEEE, Vol. 88, No. 6, pp. 780-793, June 2000, a printed circuit board is described with embedded optical waveguides and embedded optoelectronic elements. The optoelectronic elements are mounted on the surface of the optical waveguide layer. Mirrors embedded in the waveguide redirect the light to obtain efficient optical coupling between the optoelectronic elements and the optical waveguides. The realization of mirrors in the waveguide layer is a specialized process that increases the cost of the optical board.
In the publication G. K. Chang, D. Guidotti, Z. Huang, L. Wan, J. Yu, S. Hegde, H. F. Kuo, Y. J. Chang, F. Liu, F. Wang R. Tummala, "High-density, end-to-end optoelectronic integration and packaging for digital-optical interconnect systems," Proc. SPIE Conf. on Enabling Photonics Technologies for Defense, Security and Aerospace Applications, 28 Mar.-1 Apr., 2005, Kissimmee, Fla., USA, Vol. 5814, (Paper 24), it is described how edge emitting lasers and edge receiving detectors are embedded in cavities in the waveguide layer to obtain a butt coupled optical interface to the waveguide facet. This approach avoids the use of mirrors but requires edge emitting lasers, which are generally more expensive than surface emitting lasers. Furthermore, edge receiving detectors are not available as standard components.
In the patent application WO 2005/096682 A2 the optoelectronic elements are embedded in the printed circuit board, where the surface emitting lasers and the detectors are oriented vertically. This arrangement also overcomes the requirement for waveguide embedded mirrors and enables a butt coupled optical interface to the waveguide end-facet. The electrical contacts to the optoelectronic element are obtained through microvias in the printed circuit board. Alternative options to establish the electrical connections between the printed circuit board and the optoelectronic element are by means of a flexible electrical sheet or by wire bonding. The precise positioning of the optoelectronic element with respect to the waveguides is obtained through mechanical alignment features in the board and on the optoelectronic element.

International Business Machines Corporation


The invention relates to a device for assisting in the navigation of an aircraft in an airport zone comprising a surface navigation system and means of acquiring in real time, while navigating on the ground or in flight, new information or temporary information relating to the navigation in the airport zone. The surface navigation system uses information relating to the navigation in the airport zone. The information is previously stored in a database on board the aircraft. The device includes means for decoding and analysing the new or temporary information relating to the navigation in the airport zone, means of filtering the information according to the airport concerned and the validity date of the information, means of correlating the information with the information previously stored, and means of displaying the information.

NOTAMs (notices to airmen) are continuous publications of aeronautical information, warning of particular conditions that can affect air operation, including in particular the taxiing phase at the airports. The NOTAMs deal with a large quantity of new or temporary information that can impact on the surface navigation at an airport. A non-exhaustive list could include: temporary closure of taxiways and runways, failure of runway and taxiway light beaconage, modification of ground signaling, presence of obstacles in the vicinity of a taxiway, taxiway restrictions for certain types of airplanes, bird-related risk, presence of animals, presence of helicopters, presence of works.
NOTAMs are structured according to a standard defined by the international civil aviation organization (ICAO). The following NOTAM is given as an example.
A) LFBO TOULOUSE BLAGNAC
B) 200511281350 C) 200601282359
E) TWY T70 CLOSED
The field A relates to the airport concerned. LFBO denotes the ICAO code of the airport. In the example, this is Toulouse Blagnac. The fields B and C refer to the start and end of validity dates and times. The field E contains the description. In this example, the Taxiway T70 is closed.
Currently, the NOTAMs are printed then consulted manually by the pilots when preparing for the flight. This solution is not entirely satisfactory because consulting the NOTAMs increases the workload of the pilots in flight preparation. Also, once on board the aircraft, the pilots have only printed NOTAMs and are not in a position to take note of the latest NOTAMs that are published. Furthermore, the aircraft's navigation aid systems, based on previously stored information, do not exploit this last-minute information and therefore do not faithfully reflect the reality at a given instant. Among these systems, there are the surface navigation system (called On Board Airport Navigation System—OANS) or the relief and obstacle detection system (Terrain Awareness and Warning System—TAWS).

Device for assisting in the navigation of an aircraft in an airport zone


A data clock signal for data in an incoming signal is generated by means of a clock recovery module. The incoming signal consists of a data burst having a periodic preamble followed by a data sequence. The clock recovery module comprises a first clock generator, a sampling device, a correlator, a control unit and a time registration device. The clock generator generates a clock signal having a first clock frequency which is a factor N higher than the frequency of the preamble. The sampling device samples the incoming signal at the first clock frequency. The correlator correlates the sampled signal with a predefined correlation word, the correlation between the incoming signal and the correlation word being represented as a correlation signal in the form of a series of discrete correlation signal values. The control unit detects local extreme values for the correlation signal. The time registration unit forms a status value upon detection of local extreme values in the correlation signal and in response to the associated clock pulses in the clock signal. The control unit generates the data clock signal in response to the clock signal from the first clock generator and the status value of the time registration unit.

The invention concerns a method of recovering the data clock signal for data in an incoming signal which comprises a data burst having a periodic preamble followed by a data sequence. Finally, the invention concerns a clock recovery module for performing the method, and a cordless telephone having such a module for recovering the signal clock for the incoming signal.
Transmission of data between a fixed part and a cordless telephone (portable part) takes place in the form of data sequences which are transmitted in time slots (TDMA--time division multiplex access). In DECT systems, a single data burst comprises a preamble, a sync word and a data sequence. The preamble, which is in the form of an alternating data flow and has a length corresponding to sixteen data bit periods, enables the receiver (the cordless telephone) to adjust the clock frequency and phase of the receiver to the transmitter. The sync word is used for clearly fixing the time of the arrival of the actual data sequence. Like the sync word, the data sequence is in the form of bits, which are GFSK-modulated in DECT systems.
When data in the data sequence transmitted by a fixed part upon a call are received by a cordless telephone, the preamble is used by the clock recovery module for finding the centre of the data pulses so that sampling can subsequently take place in an optimum manner. One bit quantization of the data pulses is usually less affected by noise in the centre. Therefore, it is frequently desired to place the sampling times centrally in a pulse.


A storage module which can be inserted into a data processing apparatus, such as a dictating apparatus, includes an at least partly random accessible storage device (5) for the storage of digital data signals and an access device for serially accessing storage locations in the storage device. The storage device requires refreshing and cooperates with a refresh device (6) for refreshing data signals stored in the storage device (5). The refresh device (6) includes additional storage devices (11) which store, upon writing in the storage locations of the storage device (5), start addresses and stop addresses from the access device (9), under the control of a control circuit (12). Only storage locations which are situated between a pair of start and stop addresses are timely refreshed via a refresh control device (20). Such a storage module is preferably used in conjunction with the dictating apparatus for the storage of speech signals.

The invention relates to a storage module for interfacing with a data processing apparatus and which includes an at least partly random accessible storage device for storing digital data signals, an access device for serially accessing a series of storage locations in the storage device in order to write and read in these storage locations between a start address and a stop address, and a battery for powering the storage module when it is disconnected from the data processing apparatus. Various versions of such storage modules are known. For example, such a storage module may use an audio tape cassette. An alternative realization of such a storage module is in the form of a card, for example as a so-called chip card as described in EP-231 090. Storage modules of this kind store data signals for which it must be ensured that the storage contents are not lost when the storage module is not connected to the data processing apparatus. To achieve this, EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory) components are often used as a storage device for chip cards which must have a particularly flat construction. In fact, these components also retain their contents when the storage module does not receive a supply voltage; consequently, it is not necessary to include a battery in the storage module. Such EEPROM components, however, are comparatively expensive so that for many of such applications use is also made of static RAM (Random Access Memory) components which require a supply voltage in order to retain their contents but which have only a low current consumption so that the battery required in the storage module has a comparatively long service life. Even though such static RAM components are less expensive than EEPROM components, they are still comparatively expensive.

Storage module including a refresh device for storing start and stop refresh addresses


A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device which allows reliability of connection to be improved and manufacturing time to be reduced includes sandwiching a sheet-shaped unhardended hardenable material between a semiconductor chip and an interposer or substrate. The hardenable material is then melted, thereby bonding the semiconductor chip and the interposer, the surface of the semiconductor chip opposite the interposer being covered with the hardening resin. The hardenable material is then hardened in an appropriate manner.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device having a semiconductor chip loaded thereon and, more particularly, to a method of manufacturing, for example, a semiconductor device having a CSP (Chip Size (Scale) Package) structure.
2. Description of the Related Art
The trend toward smaller packages of semiconductor devices and the increase in the number of connection terminals have resulted in smaller intervals between connection terminals of semiconductor devices, and it becomes difficult to manufacture such semiconductor devices using conventional technique utilizing soldering. Under such circumstances, a method has been contemplated in which a bare semiconductor device is directly mounted on a circuit substrate in an attempt to achieve a smaller packaging area and to utilize such an area more efficiently. For example, such a device is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 7-106357.
In a conventional semiconductor device of this type, a semiconductor chip is connected on to an interposer (substrate) and, in order to protect the semiconductor chip from the external environment, resin sealing is achieved by thermally hardening (curing) liquid resin filled in the gap between the semiconductor chip and the interposer.
However, such a conventional method of manufacturing a CSP structure has had a problem in that large voids and unfilled regions are formed inside when the gap between the semiconductor chip and the interposer is filled with liquid resin because such a gap is small (100 .mu.m).
Further, since resin sealing is performed by filling the gap with liquid resin and then curing it, liquid resin must be slowly charged in order to prevent the occurrence of voids and the like as described above. There is, therefore, the disadvantage that the curing of liquid resin takes a very long time.
As described above, problems have arisen in that the occurrence of voids and unfilled regions reduces reliability of connection and manufacturing time is prolonged because of the need for charging and curing liquid resin.

Method of manufacturing semiconductor device


A terrestrial terminal enables communications, over a network connection through a satellite, between a local host of one or more connected local hosts and a remote host. The terrestrial terminal is configured to perform operations comprising: receiving, from the remote host, a network packet for the local host; obtaining, from the network packet, an included TCP segment; determining, from the TCP segment, a receive window size advertised by the remote host; computing, using one or more characteristics of the network connection, a target receive window size; comparing the target receive window size with the advertised receive window size; and in response to determining that the target receive window size is different from the advertised receive window size: modifying the TCP segment by replacing the advertised receive window size with the target receive window size, and forwarding the network packet with the modified TCP segment to the local host.

TCP provides reliable endpoint-to-endpoint transport of data over Internet Protocol (IP) flows between Internet hosts. TCP operation is usually optimized for reliable wired networks having low transit latency, but can be problematic for networks that have high transit latency or that are subject to packet loss due to propagation errors, such as wireless or satellite networks.

Managing transmission control protocol (TCP) traffic


Disclosed herein are nonwoven webs comprising a nonwoven substrate and a binder comprising a polysaccharide. In one embodiment, the polysaccharide can comprise poly alpha-1,3-glucan, a poly alpha-1,3-glucan ether compound as disclosed herein, a poly alpha-1,3-glucan ester compound as disclosed herein, a graft copolymer comprising a backbone comprising dextran and poly alpha-1,3-glucan side chains, a crosslinked graft copolymer comprising a backbone comprising dextran and poly alpha-1,3-glucan chains, or a mixture thereof. Also disclosed are articles comprising the nonwoven webs, and methods of making the nonwoven webs.

Nonwoven or tissue structures can be used for water absorption, for example in personal care products. When enhanced water absorption is desired in nonwoven or tissue structures a superabsorbent polymer, typically acrylate based, is used. The polymer is usually sandwiched between the layers of nonwoven or tissue and the structure is bound using a chemical binder, typically latex, to form a laminate or sheet structure. A disadvantage of using acrylate superabsorbent polymers is that they are not renewable or biodegradable. For some applications such as food packaging, fully biodegradable absorbent packaging can be made by stitching multiple plies of tissue together and laminating to a barrier film material. However, these materials typically can have limited absorption capacity, poor fluid retention, and can delaminate when wet.
Nonwoven structures can be used as a water wicking layer, for example in the acquisition distribution layer of diapers and feminine hygiene products. When enhanced wicking is required for these products, the nonwoven is typically coated with a surfactant, however, this can wash off over time and the performance can be reduced.
There is a continuing need for nonwoven or tissue structures which can provide enhanced water absorption and which contain materials that are made from renewable resources. There is a need for nonwoven or tissue structures with increased water absorption and improved strength, and which are fully renewable and biodegradable under appropriate conditions. There is a continuing need for nonwovens with enhanced water transport and wicking properties that have a sustained performance.

Nonwoven webs comprising polysaccharides


A railway vehicle wheel always improve damping characteristics when a thin visco-elastic layer is placed between the tire and the connecting disc or ring. The visco-elastic layer improves damping through shearing action and has a thickness that is lower than that of the tire by an order of magnitude.

1. Field of Invention
The invention is related to a railway vehicle wheel comprising a hub and a tire provided with a flange, which hub and tire are mutually connected by means of a disc or a number of spokes.
2. Description of Related Art
In operation, the contacts between rails and railway constitute sources of vibrations which are transmitted to the wheel shaft. Consequently, these vibrations are also imposed on the bearings and finally the superstructure of a train wagon or locomotive. They are experienced by the passengers and train personnel as unpleasant; moreover, fatigue of the steel material of the wheels and shafts may be aggravated thereby.
From U.S. Pat. No. 5,183,306, a railway vehicle wheel is known comprising a rubber ring situated between the hub and the tire of the wheel. In a radial cross-section, said ring has an U-shape, leading to radial shear of the rubber material. The ring has a large thickness, of the same order of magnitude as the tire.
A disadvantage of this known railway vehicle wheel is its rather great radial resilience, and the complicated structure with separate connecting rings and bolts.
The object of the invention is to provide a railway vehicle wheel having improved damping properties, while maintaining its stiffness. This object is achieved in that the tire comprises a thin visco-elastic layer for dissipating vibrations originating from the contact with a railway track.
In the rail wheel according to the invention, visco-elastic material layer is applied that dissipates energy under shear. In particular, vibration energy is thereby damped out quickly despite the small thickness of the layer. Said thickness is of a smaller order of magnitude than the thickness of the tire.
According to the invention, the visco-elastic layer is loaded under shear in the circumferential (or tangential) direction, which provides the required relative displacements in the rubber layer for obtaining the desired damping properties.
Preferably, the visco-elastic layer is circular and concentric to the tire. Thus, the layer is of a simple and straightforward design, which enables a relatively cheap and easy manufacturing process of the wheel in question.
To optimize the damping, the visco-elastic layer is situated at a distance from the depth at which maximum shear occurs in the tire, said shear resulting from the contact between the tire and the railway track under rolling motion of the wheel on the track. The position to be selected depends on the load on the wheel, which defines the shear stress at each depth, and the fatigue strength of the visco-elastic material.
Said depth is selected as a compromise between the useful life of the layer, and the amount of energy dissipation required. Said dissipation and fatigue are governed by the shear stresses experienced by the visco-elastic layer. Thus, the damping can be adjusted in dependence of the field of application, as a compromise between life and vibration reduction.
In particular, the distance of the visco-elastic layer to the rolling surface of the tire may be smaller than the depth at which maximum shear occurs in the tire.
A reliable construction is obtained in case the tire comprises a main ring body carrying the flange, as well as a concentric ring body, the visco-elastic layer being interposed between the main ring body and the concentric ring body.
Said concentric ring body at the side facing away from the flange is held against coming off from the main ring body by a fixing means. In case the visco-elastic layer would be damaged, the integrity of the railway vehicle wheel in question is still guaranteed so as to provide the required safety in service.
The fixing means may be a fixing ring mounted on the main ring body. Said fixing ring may be mounted onto the main ring body by means of an interference fit.
Other mounting means could be applied as well, such as bolts or adhesives.
Moreover, at least two layers of visco-elastic material are applied, said layers being each surrounded by a concentric ring body.
The thickness of the visco-elastic layer is of a smaller order of magnitude than the thickness of the tire.
Moreover, at least two layers of visco-elastic material can be applied.

Railway vehicle wheel with improved damping characteristics

SKF Engineering and Research Centre B.V.


A fluid dispenser includes a housing, a sleeve reservoir and a container. The housing has a nozzle for dispensing the fluid and contains a power source, an infrared sensor, an integrated circuit chip and a pump assembly. The pump assembly includes a motor, at least one gear, a pipe and a helical shaft positioned coaxially within the pipe. The helical shaft is driven rotatingly relative to the pipe. The sleeve reservoir has open upper and lower ends, overflow openings near the upper end and a ball valve at the lower end. The sleeve reservoir is first inserted into the container before fluid is poured into the container. The helical shaft and pipe are then inserted co-axially into the sleeve reservoir, submerging them in the fluid and flooding the space between the helical shaft and the pipe to minimize the time delay for dispensing the fluid.

Dispensers of fluid or liquid are commonly used in industrial, business, residential and hospital settings. The most common type of fluid dispensers have plunger pumps with the soap container at the bottom wherein a user pushes a lever or handle downward to draw fluid upward for ejection at a nozzle near the top. Disadvantageously, this type of dispenser requires the user to push the lever or pump handle numerous time upon initial use to draw sufficient fluid upward for dispensing at the nozzle. When this type of dispenser has not been used for a period of time, fluid in the pump sometimes flows back to the soap container due to gravity and again requires numerous pumping before fluid is dispensed.
Since fluid dispensers are often used to dispense cleansing or disinfecting fluids such as soap and anti-microbial gel, it is preferable that the fluid dispensers dispense the fluid without the user contacting the dispensers. Some prior art dispensers have incorporated infrared sensors such that upon detection of a user's hand near the sensors, a predetermined amount of fluid is dispensed. Prior art automatic dispensers are usually wall-mounted or sink-mounted and are powered via electrical outlets. Disadvantageously, these type of mounted automatic dispensers are expensive and not portable. Further, a malfunctioned mounted automatic dispenser requires either a technician for on-site servicing or a technician for often complicated disassembling of the dispensers for off-site servicing.
U.S. patent application Publication No. 2004/0050875 discloses a liquid dispenser that is battery powered and portable. This dispenser also provides a sensor for automatic dispensing of liquid. This dispenser utilizes a rotating helical screw pump to draw fluids from a liquid container at the bottom upward for ejection at a nozzle near the top. Similar to the plunger pump dispensers, disadvantageously, liquid is dispensed with a time delay since it requires numerous rotation of the helical pump to draw sufficient fluid upwards for dispensing at the nozzle. Further, liquid in the helical screw pump is more prone to flow back to the liquid container than the plunger pump, thereby resulting in time delay in dispensing liquid each time the dispenser is used. Another disadvantage is that this prior art liquid dispenser cannot be used to dispense fluid with high viscosity, such as gel, because the rotation of the helical screw pump against the gel along the helical pump causes the viscosity characteristic to break down and liquefies the gel.
Therefore, there is a need for a fluid dispenser that automatically and promptly dispenses fluid of various viscosity, be self-contained and portable.

Self-contained, portable and automatic fluid dispenser


A method, system, and computer program product for integrated circuit recovery testing using simulation checkpoints is provided. The method includes executing an error injection test on an integrated circuit that includes a plurality of domains and latches. The error injection test includes injecting an error into one of the domains, clock stopping the domain with the error, performing fencing between the domain with the error and the other domains, and quiescing the other domains. A checkpoint is created of a state of the integrated circuit after the clock stopping, fencing and quiescing have been completed. A mainlines test of the integrated circuit is executed. The mainline test includes applying the checkpoint to the integrated circuit, and performing a recovery reset of the stopped domain. It is determined if the mainline test executed correctly and the results of the determining are output.

The present disclosure relates generally to integrated circuit test tools, and, in particular, to integrated circuit recovery testing using simulation checkpoints.
The testing of integrated circuits, such as application specific integrated circuits (ASICs), programmable logic devices (PLDs), microprocessors, microcontrollers, memory devices, and the like, includes the testing of resets such as power on reset and recovery reset. As used herein, the term power on reset refers to a full chip reset to establish the initial state of the integrated circuit. As used herein, the term recovery reset refers to a resetting of a subset of an integrated circuit to an initial state. Typically a recovery reset is applied to an area of logic that encountered an error condition. Recovery testing is often performed using a simulator interfacing with the integrated circuit being tested. As used herein, the term recovery testing refers to the testing of how well the integrated circuit is able to recover to a functional state from an error condition. The execution of a recovery test scenario can impact multiple portions of the simulation code because software queues and/or simulation expectations that have been set up during the simulation run need to be reset, and thus an in depth knowledge of the simulation code is required to implement a recovery test scenario. This can be challenging especially if the simulation code has been developed over many years with various code owners. It would be desirable to be able to reduce the coding effort required to implement a recovery test scenario.

Method, system, and computer program product for integrated circuit recovery testing using simulation checkpoints


[Problem to be Solved]

An antenna 100 illustrated in FIG. 15 is disclosed, the antenna 100 including an unbalanced power supply member having an outer conductor and an inner conductor as with a coaxial cable, and a plate like non-power supply element whose planar shape is molded in an H shape (see Patent Literature 1). As illustrated in FIG. 15, the antenna 100 of Patent Literature 1 includes the unbalanced power supply member 111, a resonance conductor 112, a grounding conductor 113 and a power supply element 114. The resonance conductor 112 is formed with first and second resonance conductors 120a and 120b extending forward in an axial direction of the unbalanced power supply member 111 in parallel to a power supply unit 118. The grounding conductor 113 is formed with a fixing portion 125 electrically connected to the unbalanced power supply member 111, and first and second grounding conductors 126a and 126b extending backward in the axial direction from the first and second resonance conductors 120a and 120b in parallel to a non-power supply unit 119. The power supply element 114 has a predetermined area, extends forward in the axial direction, and is electrically connected to a central conductor 115 of the unbalanced power supply member 111 which constitutes the power supply unit 118.

Abstract: [Problem to be Solved]

Abstract: To provide an antenna which can be used in a wide band.

Abstract: [Solution]

Abstract: An antenna 10A includes a dielectric substrate 11, an unbalanced power supply member 12 having a non-power supply unit 23 and a power supply unit 24, a resonance conductor 13 having a connection area 26, a first resonance area 27 and a second resonance area 28, a grounding conductor 14 having a first ground area 32 and a second ground area 33, and a radiation conductor 15 having a first radiation area 37 and a second radiation area 38. At the antenna 10A, first to third radiation stepped portions 42a to 42c are formed at a first rear end portion 41 of the second radiation area 38, and first to third radiation stepped portions 44a to 44c are formed at a second rear end portion 43 of the second radiation area 38.


An end station for an ion implanter has a vacuum chamber which receives an ion beam. A wafer holder is mounted at the distal end of a scanning arm which has its proximal end attached to the chamber wall. The scanning arm has at least two rotary joints providing articulation of the arm to permit movement of the wafer holder in two orthogonal scan directions in a scan plane transverse to the beam path through the vacuum chamber. A scanning arm driver moves the substrate holder in the scan plane in a desired two-dimensional scan pattern relative to the beam path.

In a typical ion implanter, a relatively small cross-section beam of dopant ions is scanned relative to a silicon wafer or other substrate. This can be done in one of three ways: scanning of the beam in two directions relative to a stationary wafer, scanning of the wafer in two directions relative to a stationary beam, or a hybrid technique in which the beam is scanned in one direction while the wafer is mechanically scanned in a second, typically orthogonal direction.
Batch implanters, designed for the simultaneous implantation of a batch of wafers in the end station of an implanter, typically have a rotating wheel carrying a number of wafers around its periphery. The wheel is rotated so that each wafer passes through the ion beam in turn and then the axis of rotation of the wheel is reciprocated to translate the circumferential path of the wafers on the wheel substantially radially across the beam to ensure all parts of the wafer are evenly implanted. An example of such a scanning wheel type batch implanter is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,389,793.
A system for scanning the ion beam in two directions relative to a stationary wafer is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,736,107 and hybrid techniques with the beam scanned in one direction and the wafer mechanically scanned in an orthogonal direction are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,898,179, U.S. Pat. No. 5,003,183, U.S. Pat. No. 5,229,615 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,406,088.
Two dimensional beam scanning systems and hybrid scanning systems are normally favoured for implanting single wafers one at a time. However, arrangements involving scanning the ion beam present certain challenges to the design of successful implanters. Scanning the ion beam with varying magnetic fields is favoured over electrostatic beam scanning, because the presence of electric fields removes neutralising electrons from the beam plasma, causing space charge resulting in beam control problems. This is especially severe at low energies and high beam currents. However, beam scanning systems, especially magnetic scanning systems, are bulky and relatively expensive, and require an extended beam line, which can substantially increase the overall footprint of the ion implanter in the semiconductor fabrication facility.

Multi directional mechanical scanning in an ion implanter


A plasma display apparatus comprises a scan electrode and a sustain electrode; a data electrode for intersecting the scan electrode and the sustain electrode; and a pulse controller for controlling to apply a pulse having an opposite phase to the scan electrode and the sustain electrode during a reset period and apply a negative sustain pulse to the scan electrode and the sustain electrode during a sustain period, wherein a distance between the scan electrode and the sustain electrode is longer than that between the sustain electrode and the data electrode. Therefore, a surface discharge mode can be used even when applying negative pulses to the sustain electrode in a reset period, and a size and cost of a plasma display apparatus can be reduced by applying a negative pulse of the same magnitude as a sustain voltage without a separate negative voltage source.

1. Field
This document relates to a plasma display apparatus and a driving method thereof.
2. Related Art
In general, a plasma display panel (PDP) applies a reset pulse for initializing a discharge cell, an address pulse for selecting a cell to be discharged, and a sustain pulse for sustaining a discharge of a discharge cell to each electrode by a predetermined number of times according to a gray level value of each subfield and allows a phosphor to emit light by a gas discharge generating through applying of the pulses. The PDP repeats resetting, addressing, and sustaining in each subfield constituting a frame, and it is required to apply an erase pulse for removing wall charges remaining in each electrode side before the each subfield starts in order to improve PDP driving characteristics.
FIG. 1 is a view illustrating a structure of a general PDP.
As shown in FIG. 1, the PDP comprises a front panel 100 and a rear panel 110 that are disposed apart a predetermined distance and coupled in parallel to each other. The front panel 100 is arranged with a plurality of sustain electrode pairs in which a scan electrode 102 and a sustain electrode 103 are formed in pairs on a front glass 101, which is a display surface for displaying an image. The rear panel 110 has a plurality of address electrodes 113 arranged to intersect the plurality of sustain electrode pairs on a rear glass 111 constituting a rear surface.
The front panel 100 comprises pairs of the scan electrode 102 and the sustain electrode 103, which have a transparent electrode (a) made of transparent indium-tin-oxide (ITO) and a bus electrode (b) made of metal, for performing a mutual discharge in one discharge cell and sustaining emission of the cell. The scan electrode 102 and the sustain electrode 103 are covered with at least one upper dielectric layer 104 that limits a discharge current and that insulates each electrode pair. A protective layer 105 deposited with magnesium oxide (MgO) is formed on the upper dielectric layer 104 to facilitate a discharge condition.
The rear panel 110 comprises stripe-type (or well-type) barrier ribs 112, which are arranged in parallel, for forming a plurality of discharge spaces i.e., discharge cells. A plurality of address electrodes 113 for generating vacuum ultraviolet rays by performing an address discharge is arranged in parallel to the barrier ribs 112. Red (R), green (G) and blue (B) phosphors 114 that emit visible rays for displaying an image at an address discharge are coated over an upper surface of the rear panel 110. A lower dielectric layer 115 for protecting the address electrode 113 is formed between the address electrode 113 and the phosphor 114.
A method of representing an image gray level in the PDP is shown in FIG. 2.
FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a method of representing an image gray level of a general PDP.
As shown in FIG. 2, in the method of representing an image gray level of a conventional PDP, a frame is divided into several subfields having different number of times of light emitting and each subfield is again divided into a reset period (RPD) for initializing all cells, an address period (APD) for selecting a cell to be discharged, and a sustain period (SPD) for representing a gray level depending on the number of times of discharges. For example, when an image is represented with 256 gray levels, a frame period (16.67 ms) corresponding to 1/60 second is divided into eight subfields (SF1 to SF8), as shown in FIG. 2 and each of the eight subfields (SF1 to SF8) is again divided into the reset period, the address period, and the sustain period.
The duration of the reset period in a subfield is equal to the duration of the reset periods in the remaining subfields. The duration of the address period in a subfield is equal to the duration of the address periods in the remaining subfields. An address discharge for selecting a cell to be discharged is generated by a voltage difference between an address electrode and a transparent electrode, which is a scan electrode. The sustain period increases in a ratio of 2n (n=0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7) in each subfield. Since the sustain period becomes different in each subfield, a gray level of an image is expressed by adjusting a sustain period of each subfield, i.e., the number of times of a sustain discharge. A driving waveform according to a driving method of the PDP is shown in FIG. 3.
FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a driving waveform according to a driving method of a conventional PDP.
As shown in FIG. 3, the PDP is divided into a reset period for initializing all cells, an address period for selecting a cell to be discharged, and a sustain period for sustaining a discharge of the selected cell for driving.
In a setup period (SU) of the reset period, ramp-up waveforms (ramp-up) are simultaneously applied to all scan electrodes (Y). A discharge is generated within discharge cells of an entire screen by the ramp-up waveform. The setup discharge causes positive wall charges to be accumulated on address electrodes (X) and sustain electrodes (Z) and negative wall charges to be accumulated on scan electrodes (Y). In a setdown period (SD) of the reset period, after the ramp-up waveform is applied, a ramp-down waveform (ramp-down) that falls from a positive voltage lower than a peak voltage of the ramp-up waveform up to a ground (GND) voltage or a negative voltage level is applied, whereby a weak erase discharge is generated within the discharge cells and thus some of excessively formed wall charges is erased. Wall charges sufficient for a stable address discharge due to the setdown discharge are uniformly remained within the discharge cells.
In the address period, negative scan pulses (Scan) are sequentially applied to the scan electrodes (Y) and positive data pulses (data) are applied to the address electrodes (X) in synchronization with the scan pulse. As a voltage difference between the scan pulses and the data pulses is added to a wall voltage by wall charges generated in the initialization period, an address discharge is generated within the discharge cells to which the data pulse is applied. Wall charges sufficient for a discharge when a sustain voltage is applied are generated within discharge cells selected by an address discharge. The sustain electrodes (Z) are supplied with a positive DC voltage (Zdc) so that an erroneous discharge is not generated between the sustain electrode (Z) and the scan electrode (Y) by reducing the voltage difference between the sustain electrode (Z) and the scan electrode (Y) during the setdown period and the address period.
In the sustain period, sustain pulses (Sus) are alternately applied to the scan electrodes (Y) and the sustain electrodes (Z). In a discharge cell selected by an address discharge, a sustain discharge, i.e., a display discharge is generated between the scan electrodes (Y) and the sustain electrodes (Z) whenever each sustain pulse is applied as the sustain pulse and the wall voltage within the discharge cell are added.
After the sustain discharge is completed, an erase ramp waveform (Ramp-ers) having a narrow pulse width and a low voltage level is applied to the sustain electrodes (Z) to erase wall charges remaining within the discharge cells of the entire screen.
As described above, as the plasma display apparatus alternately applies positive sustain pulses (sus) to the scan electrode (Y) side and the sustain electrode (Z) side during a sustain period, positive ions are stacked to the address electrode (X) side having a relatively low potential difference. As positive ions relatively heavier than electrons apply ion bombardment to a phosphor layer (114 of FIG. 1) of a rear panel in which address electrodes (X) are formed, a lifetime of the plasma display apparatus is shortened.
Accordingly, as shown in FIG. 4, recently, by allowing the sustain pulses (sus) to have a negative voltage level, a negative sustain type driving in which electrons are stacked in a rear panel in which the scan electrode (Y) and the sustain electrode (Z) are formed, is performed.
FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a driving waveform according to a negative sustain driving method of a conventional PDP.
As shown in FIG. 4, a negative sustain pulse (−sus) is alternately applied to the scan electrode (Y) and the sustain electrode (Z) during a sustain period.
Accordingly, as described above, electrons are relatively stacked by the negative sustain pulses (−sus) in the rear panel 110 in which the phosphor layer 114 is formed, whereby ion bombardment applied to the phosphor layer 114 is decreased. However, as the ion bombardment increases in the magnesium oxide (MgO) layer 105 formed in the front panel 100 in a process in which positive ions are stacked, a secondary electron generating rate improves.
That is, by increasing a secondary electron generating amount while preventing damage of the phosphor layer 114, a lifetime of a plasma display apparatus can be extended and a discharge firing voltage can be lowered.
The negative sustain pulse (−sus) can be applied to a long gap structure, which is a new electrode structure.
A conventional interval between electrodes was about 60 to 80 um, but a structure of increasing a light amount passing through an interval between electrodes by widening an interval between electrodes to more than 150 um is referred to as a long gap structure. According to the long gap structure, as a light amount emitted from a phosphor increases, light emitting efficiency can be improved.
In order to represent a long gap structure, the long gap structure is generally formed by reducing a conventional electrode area, i.e., an ITO area. According to the long gap structure, when a discharge is generated between the scan electrode and the sustain electrode, an opposed discharge is generated if a sustain voltage is set to a ground voltage.
The opposed discharge is a discharge between the scan electrode and the data electrode. That is, in the long gap structure, a discharge is generated due to a voltage difference between the scan electrode and the data electrode earlier than a discharge between the scan electrode and the sustain electrode when a voltage difference is generated between the sustain electrode set to a ground voltage and the scan electrode. As describe above, the long gap structure is driven on the assumption of generating of an opposed discharge. Accordingly, a driving method different from a driving method in a conventional surface discharge mode is required.

Plasma display apparatus and driving method thereof


Systems and methods are disclosed for calculating a delivery date. The disclosed systems and methods may include receiving, at a delivery processor, origin data corresponding to an origin delivery office that receives an item to be sent, the origin data comprising origin location information, a scan date reflecting a date the item is scanned at the origin delivery office, and a scan time reflecting a time the item is scanned at the origin delivery office. The delivery processor determines whether the scan time is before a cut-off acceptance time for scanning items at the origin delivery office and sets a start date and time based on the scan time determination. The delivery processor also determines a first estimated date and time that the item will be scanned at an outbound delivery office, and determines a second estimated date and time that the item will be scanned at an inbound delivery office. Thereafter, the delivery processor calculates the estimated delivery date based on the start date and time, the first estimated date and time, and the second estimated date and time, and provides the estimated delivery date to a source data processor.

The United States Postal Service (USPS) is an independent government agency that provides mail delivery and other services to the public. The USPS is widely recognized as a safe and reliable means for sending and receiving mail and other items. With the advent and steady growth of electronic mail and electronic commerce, the physical mail stream will increasingly be utilized for sending and receiving packages and other items. In the context of item delivery, a delivery system operator or an item sender may desire, for example, to calculate a delivery date for an item.
Therefore, the need to efficiently calculate a delivery date for an item has become a common need for the United States Postal Service and other organizations. More specifically, efficiently calculating a delivery date using a postcode database has become a critical service for many delivery system operators. This is because in an increasingly competitive environment, meeting and exceeding the expectations of those who receive a service is essential for a service provider.

Methods and systems for postcode-to-postcode delivery interval and routing calculation


An ordered array of magnetized nanorods includes a plurality of metallic nanorods generally cylindrical in shape and including a nickel portion coated with a positively charged polyelectrolyte and a gold portion coated with an alkanethiolate; and a layer of a hardened polymer wherein each individual nanorod of the plurality is held by having said gold portion embedded therein so that the nickel portion extends approximately perpendicularly away from the layer of hardened polymer, and wherein said plurality of metallic nanorods is ordered in the array by having substantially all individual nanorods of the plurality of nanorods oriented generally parallel to each other.

Thin films of magnetic materials are important in mass data storage technology. Today's best "hard drives" are able to store approximately 100 Gbytes of information on a 3.5 inch (double-side) disk. Such a density corresponds to 4.2×1010 bits per in2 or a bit size of about 120 nm. Each bit is a magnetic domain, often a particle, capable of being magnetized in a certain direction for future readout. Magnetic disk technology (and other areas, including VLSI fabrication with ever decreasing line widths) faces some "physics-dictated" (rather than technique-dictated) limits. Specifically, when magnetic domains become too small, any alignment of spins by an external magnetic field is lost when the field is removed. At this superparamagnetic/ferromagnetic limit (which corresponds to a characteristic size of about 10 nm for Ni at room temperature) because the domains/particles are no longer able to sustain a permanent magnetic dipole (ferromagnetism), the material is not useful for magnetic storage.
One method to push the superparamagnetic limit beyond the 10×1010 bits per in2 barrier is to prepare "perpendicular" media, where anisotropic bits are magnetized perpendicular to the surface. Such highly anisotropic high aspect ratio particles exhibit perpendicular ferromagnetic behavior at diameters less than a spherical particle of the same diameter. This property permits a denser packing of ferromagnetic particles in the plane of the recording medium (i.e. a greater storage density). Other storage density advantages accrue from the fact that the particles will be also uniform in size and distribution. Uniformity in size means that no particle will be below the ferromagnetic limit.
Noteworthy advantages will be realized from the readout perspective. Small currents are induced in the readout head as it passes over magnetized bits. Relatively uniform spacing helps to ensure uniformity in readout current. The read head will encounter one identical particle, with predictable response, at a time, instead of various-size clumps of particles. A final significance of the disclosed magnetic material is also related to read-out: in order to be able to read individual bits, the read head must approach the disk surface as closely as possible, a requirement which is, itself, a challenge in lubrication (to prevent crashes). Anisotropy in the read head response and in the magnetic field of the particles are refinements which permit detection of closely-spaced bits. Rodlike particles, oriented and magnetized as described below, provide enhanced magnetization in the direction perpendicular to the disk surface, which facilitates readout. It is estimated that the advantages above, when taken in totality, will lead to an improvement in storage density of at least a factor of ten.
An array of uniform, high aspect-ratio rods has many potential applications other than magnetic storage. It is extremely difficult to produce uniform "columns" by photolithography. Tall features are subject to undercutting during the etching phase. While hairlike nanostructures, such as carbon nanotubes, may be grown from surfaces, they are not arranged in an array pattern. In addition, the nanorod arrays herein disclosed may be used as "masters" for preparing arrays of holes in softer materials, either by microcontact stamping or by molding (e.g. with rubbery polymers such as polydimethylsiloxane). Such applications illustrate further uses of the invention.

Ordered array of magnetized nanorods and associated methods

The Florida State University Research Foundation, Inc.


A crack propagation test specimen has a base metal and a clad metal. The base metal has an upper surface and a bottom surface with a hole extending from the bottom surface toward the upper surface. The cladding metal is supported on the upper surface of the base metal and has a first slot cut therethrough which is in fluid flow communication with the hole in the base metal. A second slot is cut in the cladding metal adjacent to the first slot for receiving a wedge. The first slot and the second slot define a wall which closes over the first slot when a wedge is forced into the second slot to simulate a hairline crack. A mechanically deformed metal sample is disposed in the hole in the base metal to simulate a stressed base metal supporting a cladding metal subject to hairline cracking.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to the field of test specimens for evaluating crack propagation due to corrosion. More specifically, the invention relates to a unique apparatus for testing the effects of a corrodant upon a stressed base metal underlying a cladding metal.
2. DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART
The problem of excessive personnel exposures caused by high background radiation levels in a nuclear reactor primary system, such as in pressurized water reactor (PWR) systems, and the resultant economic cost of requiring personnel rotation to minimize individual exposure is significant at many nuclear plants. These background levels are principally due to the buildup of corrosion products in certain areas of the plant. The buildup of corrosion products exposes workers to high radiation levels during routine maintenance and refueling outages. The long term prognosis is that personnel exposure levels will continue to increase.
As a nuclear power plant operates, the surfaces in the core and primary system corrode. Corrosion products, referred to as crud, are activated by transport of the corroded material to the core region by the reactor coolant system (RCS). Subsequent release of the activated crud and redeposition elsewhere in the system produces radiation fields in piping and components throughout the primary system, thus increasing radiation levels throughout the plant. The activity of the corrosion product deposits is predominately due to Cobalt 58 and Cobalt 60. It is estimated that 80-90% of personnel radiation exposure can be attributed to these elements.
One way of controlling worker exposure, and of dealing with this problematic situation, is to periodically decontaminate the nuclear steam supply system using chemicals, thereby removing a significant fraction of the corrosion product oxide films. Prior techniques had done very little to decontaminate the primary system as a whole, typically focusing only on the heat exchanger (steam generator) channel heads.
Two different chemical processes, referred to as LOMI (developed in England under a joint program by EPRI and the Central Electricity Generating Board) and CAN-DEREM (developed by Atomic Energy of Canada, Ltd.), have been used for small scale decontamination in the past. These processes are multi-step operations, in which various chemicals are injected, recirculated, and then removed by ion-exchange. Although the chemicals are designed to dissolve the corrosion products, some particulates are also generated. While these chemical processes had typically been used on only a localized basis, use of these chemical processes has now been considered for possible application on a large scale, full system chemical decontamination.
One phase in the development of satisfactory dilute chemical decontamination (DCD) systems, such as CAN-DEREM and LOMI processes, is the study of the corrosive effects of DCD solutions on the materials and components in the RCS. There are components in the RCS that consist of carbon steel cladded with stainless steel on the exposed side. Thermal and mechanical stresses may cause small cracks to develop in the stainless steel cladding of these components.
Since it is known that these cracks exist, it is necessary to determine the corrosive effects of the DCD solutions which might penetrate through the cracks during the decontamination process. If the DCD solutions are corrosive in nature, they may impair the integrity of the underlying carbon steel.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,147,802, which issued Sep. 5, 1992 to the assignee of the present invention, generally discloses a very useful test specimen for evaluating crack propagation in a metal .underlying a cladding metal subject to hairline cracking. However, this test specimen does not provide a means for evaluating the effect of penetrating corrodant upon a stressed base metal.