A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor element, a penetrating electrode which penetrates the semiconductor element, and a resin layer which selectively covers side walls and corners of the semiconductor element.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to a semiconductor device manufacturing method, a semiconductor device, a laminated semiconductor device, a circuit substrate, and an electronic apparatus.
2. Related Art
Recently, along with demands to reduce the size and weight of portable electronic apparatuses such as mobile telephones, note-type personal computers, and personal data assistants (PDAs), attempts are also being made to reduce the size of various electronic components, such as semiconductor devices, which are installed inside these electronic apparatuses. Accordingly, a three-dimensional mounting technique for semiconductor devices is proposed. Three-dimensional mounting is a technique of laminating semiconductor devices which have similar or different functions.
A semiconductor device for three-dimensional mounting should preferably by small and thin. A thin semiconductor device may for example be manufactured by the following method. A semiconductor wafer having a plurality of semiconductor devices disposed thereon is diced to a midway point, and the faces of the diced semiconductor wafer are covered with resin. The wafer is thinned by backgrinding and the thin semiconductor wafer is transferred to a dicing tape. After transferal to the dicing tape, it is separated into individual semiconductor devices (e.g., see Japanese Unexamined Patent Application, First Publication No. 2001-127206).
In this method, the thinness of the semiconductor wafer makes it liable to break, consequently making it difficult to handle when separating it into individual semiconductor devices e.g., when transferring the semiconductor wafer to the dicing tape.
There is another three-dimensional mounting technique of laminating a plurality of semiconductor devices, each having a semiconductor element whose two faces are covered with an insulating film and a penetrating electrode which penetrates through the semiconductor element, on top of each other (e.g., see Japanese Unexamined Patent Application, First Publication No. 2001-277689).
A semiconductor device with a penetrating electrode structure has lower strength (e.g., transverse rupture strength) than one which does not have such a structure, since a through-hole for forming the penetrating electrode can cause the semiconductor device to break. In particular, chips, cracks, and the like, in the semiconductor element are caused by dicing when a plurality of semiconductor devices on a semiconductor wafer are separated into individual devices. The chips reduce the strength of the semiconductor element, and the cracks spread toward the through-hole, making the semiconductor element liable to break. In other words, a semiconductor device which includes a penetrating electrode has a problem of low strength.
One technique for increasing the strength of the semiconductor device is to cover all the faces of the semiconductor element with a layer of resin (e.g., see Japanese Unexamined Patent Application, First Publication No. 2001-244281).
However, when all the faces of the semiconductor element are covered with an insulating film, it is difficult to strictly control the thickness of the insulating film. If the thickness of the insulating film is uneven, differences in the film stress may cause the semiconductor element to warp. This reduces the reliability of the semiconductor device.

Semiconductor device manufacturing method, semiconductor device, laminated semiconductor device, circuit substrate, and electronic apparatus


The instant invention provides a curable formulation suitable for laminating adhesive applications, and laminating adhesives made therefrom. The curable formulation suitable for laminating adhesive applications according to the present invention comprises a) a blend comprising i) an epoxy terminated polyester and at least one of ii) a maleate (poly) ester or iii) a diacrylate terminated oligomer or polymer and b) an aliphatic amine curing agent.

Isocyanates and bisphenol-A-based epoxy resins are used in laminating adhesives for food packaging applications. However, bisphenol-A epoxy resins are a potential food contaminant and are being phased out in the industry. Isocyanate-based materials can pose safety, sensitization and exposure issues. Monomers and oligomers having an atomic mass of less than 1000 Daltons, if not completely reacted into the polymer network, can migrate into food. In addition, the use of isocyanate-based resins can generate primary aromatic amines which can also potentially migrate into food. Therefore, laminating adhesives with or without solvent which are free of both bisphenol-A- and isocyanate-based materials are desirable.

Curable formulations for laminating adhesives


The present invention relates generally to an apparatus for bi-directional communications of voice, data, and alarms, and simultaneous transmission of video signals over a single cable such as coax. In more particular, it applies to a communications system that utilizes coax-type cabling to offer computer related in-room guest services such as on-television screen display of their bills, etc. The instant invention utilizes a digital communications protocol, preferably PCM, to fit a plurality of general purpose communications channels within conventional broadcast television frequencies. These communication channels might variously be used to carry telephone voice data, thereby obviating the need for a separate phone network, or, more generally, they might be used to transport any sort of digital data (e.g., room billing information, outgoing faxes, etc.) The instant invention also provides a means for directing broadcast video information to specific rooms within the structure. Finally, the instant invention also accommodates the remote generation of signals/alarms and their detection and processing in a central facility.

Modern consumers are becoming increasingly sophisticated and demanding concerning the communications options that they expect to find in their homes, and in their hotel, motel, or hospital rooms. In more particular, newer structures may include as part of their basic infrastructure dedicated wiring connections that are designed accommodate modern phone systems and computer links. These connections make it possible, in the case of a motel or hospital, to offer a resident in-room features such as the ability to view his or her bill on the television. More generally, these links provide services such as pay-per-view movies, and advanced phone systems that offer voice mail, faxes, Internet connections, etc. Typically, the wiring that makes these in-room features possible is installed within the walls of the structure at the time the building is constructed.
Owners of structures that do not have dedicated computer wiring—as much as they might want to offer these same sorts of features to their customers—often find themselves unable to justify the cost of retrofitting their buildings to accommodate these new technologies. Rewiring a structure in which dedicated computer/communications lines have not been installed at the time of construction is usually not cost effective and raises several concerns beyond the obvious financial burden of the upgrade itself. For example, in the case of a hotel or hospital, an upgrade will likely result in a loss of revenue because blocks of rooms will need to made available to the workman during the installation; an upgrade may disrupt existing communications links; and, an in-wall installation will inevitably generate dust and dirt which tend to spread throughout the facility.
Additionally, the modern trend is toward central monitoring and control of appliances, utilities, and alarms. In more particular, "smart" buildings are becoming increasingly common, due in large part to a broadened realization of the enormous cost advantages in terms of lower staff requirements and energy savings that these sorts of improvements can bring. Smart buildings, though, require communications links between a central monitor and various remote thermostats, HVAC units, etc. Once again, many buildings that might otherwise profit by central monitoring and control of room conditions are for the most part cost-prohibited from adding this functionality, the cost of installing the necessary wiring infrastructure being for the most part not economically justifiable.
Finally, there are any number of room conditions that the hotel front desk (or hospital nurses' station, etc.) might want to monitor. For example, fire and smoke alarms should notify the front desk—in addition to sounding an alarm—so that the staff would know where the problem is. Additionally, an in-room "panic" button would allow a resident to summon help in an emergency. More mundane uses might include monitoring whether or not the in-room refrigerator has been opened (so that the staff will know whether or not to take an inventory for billing purposes); monitoring the status of the heating unit, air conditioner, lights etc. However, all of these monitors require an interconnection between the room and the front desk and might be prohibitively expensive to install after construction on the building is completed.
In the case of residential monitoring, cable companies are always looking for ways to control access to their cable systems. This might be for purposes such as offering movies-on-demand or pay-per-view in a viewer's home. Additionally, these companies seek to limit access to premium channels by those who have not paid for them. Further, most cable systems have additional signal bandwidth available within their systems that could be used for other communications purposes such as Internet access.
Even though many structures might not have the special wiring often used today, they almost invariably have at least a coaxial (coax) cable running to each room for the transmission of a television signal thereto. This is often referred to as a "closed" cable television system. The fact that each room in a hotel, hospital, etc., already has a coax line running to it suggests that this conduit might be used to upgrade the communications systems. Additionally, in residential cable systems there is a vast network of coax lines run from a central distribution center to individual homes and then a further distribution within the home to individual rooms. Given the increasing pressure to offer advanced communications options to the end user, these coax networks would, at least on their face, appear to be an attractive upgrade pathway. And, indeed, that is the approach taken by the instant invention. However, this approach is not without its problems.
First, those skilled in the art will understand that it is possible to send a wide variety of signals through a coax cable. However, a cable television network cannot usually be entirely preempted for general communications use because consumers demand television, perhaps even more stridently than they demand communications services. Thus, any communications upgrade that seeks to utilize a coax network that carries video signals must manage do so without disrupting those signals.
Additionally, coax television wiring is not well suited for communication to a single recipient: it is more suited to mass receipt of the same signal. This is because coax wiring is different from telephone wiring in that a signal that is placed into the coax backbone will potentially be available to be received in every room in the complex, whereas separate phone wires are run to each individual room. This configuration difference becomes a problem when the goal is the secure transmission over coax of confidential information to only one receiver. For example, consider the case of a lodger who wants to view the current status of his or her bill on the in-room television. That information is typically maintained within a centralized computer facility and, in order to transmit that information through coax to the room, it must be, in effect, "broadcast" from the head-end throughout the entire network. Of course, this broadcast can potentially be "received" in every room connected to the coax and it goes without saying that most residents would not want this confidential information seen by others. Thus, some provision must be made for the targeting of individual rooms so that confidential information can be selectively transmitted from a centralized location to a single remote recipient.
Finally, a similar problem exists where the direction of information transmission is from a room back to a central receiver. Once again, a transmission from a room over the coax backbone to the central receiver can potentially also be heard in every other room. Additionally, the central receiver cannot determine the source of a remote broadcast unless something about that broadcast identifies the sender.
Thus, what is needed is an invention that can provide simultaneous two-way voice and data communications over a coax cable, thereby allowing owners of buildings that do not contain dedicated computer wiring to avail themselves of advances in computer and telephone technology without rewiring. Additionally, this system should not disturb existing television broadcast signals. The system must also be able to selectively communicate with a particular remote receiver, even though every receiver hooked onto the cable network might potentially receive the message. Finally, the system should provide some means of generating alarm-type signals that originate remotely and are received and processed at a central monitoring station.
After the present invention was conceived and constructed, a patent search was conducted in the United States Patent and Trademark Office for the purpose of determining whether any similar or related solutions had been previously developed to the foregoing problems. That patent search produced the following references relating to advertising within elevators and methods of distributing short messages such as ads:
U.S. Pat.Date ofNo.InventorTitlePatent4,008,369TheurerTelephone Interfaced Subscrip-Feb. 15, 1977et al.tion Cable Television SystemEspecially Useful in Hotels andMotels4,928,168IwashitaBilling Data Display System andMay 22, 1990Terminal Used Therein for aClosed Circuit TelevisionSystem4,947,244FenwickVideo Selection and DistributionAug. 7, 1990et. alSystem4,994,908KubanInteractive Room Status/TimeFeb. 19, 1991et al.Information System5,455,619Trucken-Video Distribution System Ad-Oct. 3, 1995millerdressing Device for Identifyinget al.Remote Locations5,488,411LewisInteractive System for a ClosedJan. 30, 1996Cable Network5,565,908AhmadBi-Directional System for Pro-Oct. 15, 1996viding Information, Manage-ment, and EntertainmentServices5,581,270SmithHotel-Based Video Game andDec. 3, 1996et al.Communication System5,612,730LewisInteractive System for a ClosedMar. 18, 1997Cable Network5,638,426LewisInteractive System for a ClosedJun. 10, 1997Cable Network5,640,193WellnerMultimedia Service Access byJun. 17, 1997Reading Marks on an Object
The Lewis patents (U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,488,411, 5,612,730, and 5,638,426) teach an interactive system for a CCTV network. However, all of these patents rely on a separate PBX (private branch exchange) telephone system to supplement the data transmitted to the room over the coax line.
Theurer et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,008,369, also requires separate telephone communications lines in addition to a video/coax connection, and does not offer video and voice over a single coax line.
Fenwick et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,947,244, requires "grouped" sets of video monitors and does not provide two-way voice and data communications over a coax cable.
Kuban et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,994,908, teaches a two-way (interactive) room status and time information over a coax or fiber optic communications link. However, Kuban does not teach how to use this same system for two-way voice communications.
Iwashita, U.S. Pat. No. 4,928,168, discloses a CCTV system that allows the user to request billing information from a central computer. However, Iwashita does not provide two-way voice and data transmission over a single cable. Similarly, Truckenmiller et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,455,619, is concerned exclusively with distribution of video signals to a plurality of remote television receivers and uses a separable "tag" system, wherein a hardware key/microprocessor combination is placed in each room containing a television.
Smith, et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,581,270, teaches a video game/communications system with provides for two-way data transmission using RF modems. This system does not additionally offer two-way voice and data communications over the same cable.
Wellner, U.S. Pat. No. 5,640,193, discloses how a hand-held scanner pen might be used to select options over a telephone. It does not discuss how video and two-way data and voice might be sent over a single cable.
Finally, Ahmad, U.S. Pat. No. 5,565,908, teaches a system for selecting entertainment services, such as movies, from a motel room. It is not concerned with two-way voice communications.
Thus, the above-listed patents are clearly distinguishable from the present invention, a description of which is set forth below. Before proceeding to a description of the instant invention, however, it should be noted and remembered that the description of the invention which follows, together with the accompanying drawings, should not be construed as limiting the invention to the examples (or preferred embodiments) shown and described. This is so because those skilled in the art to which the invention pertains will be able to devise other forms of this invention within the ambit of the appended claims.

System for bi-directional voice and data communications over a video distribution network


A thrust vectoring variable geometry exhaust nozzle for gas turbines, which includes a convergent section (2) followed, in the direction of the flow, by a divergent section (3), both formed by master (4 and 5) and slave petals (41 and 42), whose convergent section (2) defines a throat (15) having a variable area. The divergent section (3) has variable geometry in order to orientate the thrust, and includes a governing and external radial support system for regulating the throat area (15), and a governing system for regulating the vectoring of the thrust. Both system are formed by a single governing system consisting of three annular pieces (6,7 and 8), concentric among themselves and with the axis of the turbine, and by a plurality of linear actuators (9). The master petals (5) of the divergent section (3) are transversely subdivided into at least two segments (5a, 5b).

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a thrust vectoring variable geometry exhaust nozzle for gas turbines, especially intended for gas turbines used as the means of propulsion in aviation.
More particularly, the exhaust nozzle of the present invention is of the axisymmetric type consisting of a convergent section followed, in the direction of the flow, by a divergent section, both formed from master petals arranged circumferentially about the centerline of the turbine to define a thrust exhaust duet and connected to each other by cylindrical linkage having axes perpendicular to the centerline of the turbine and slave petals also connected to each other by cylindrical linkages. The convergent section defines a throat of variable area and the divergent section has a variable geometry in order to orientate the thrust in any direction on a theoretical cone located around the centerline of the turbine.
2. Description of the Related Art
The maneuverability of aircraft is an essential and important factor. This maneuverability, which to date has been achieved by aerodynamic forces, can be substantially improved by modifying the vectoring of the thrust of the nozzle starting from its normal axial direction of action.
The vectoring of the thrust of exhaust nozzles has for many years been used in rocket engines. There the systems are much simpler since the exhaust nozzles have constant geometry.
Variable geometry convergent-divergent exhaust nozzles have only been recently introduced in supersonic aircraft powered by turboreactor or turbofan engines. In this class of exhaust nozzles, the vectoring systems for the thrust are still not in an operational state, but are only at the research and development phase. Those that are at a more advanced phase are the bidimensional type, in which the thrust is orientated solely in one plane.
Carrying out the vectoring of the thrust in exhaust nozzles with axial symmetry has a special advantage, since the direction of the thrust can be varied in any axial plane, the pitch and yaw planes being particularly important.
Several patents exist on mechanisms for vectoring of the thrust in this class of exhaust nozzles, since it theoretically possible to carry this out in various ways, although it is very difficult to ensure that there are no major complications. U.S. Pat. No. 4,994,660 and European Patent No. 281,264 describe vectoring mechanisms for the thrust in exhaust nozzles of this class and their systems of action, and furthermore, describe the special advantages shown by these mechanisms in comparison with the other known systems.
The most commonly applied mechanism for creating a variable geometry axisymmetric convergent-divergent exhaust nozzle, as can be seen in different turbines currently in operation or being developed, consists of a convergent section comprising a plurality of convergent master petals, interleaved among which are convergent slave petals for sealing the free spaces or interstices between neighboring master petals. Beyond this convergent section is a divergent section consisting of the same plurality of divergent master petals interleaved among which are a plurality of divergent slave petals for the sealing. The upstream end, according to the direction of the gas flow, of each divergent master petal is joined by means of a linkage to the convergent master petal, with which it forms a pair. The divergent master petal in turn is joined at a point intermediate its downstream end to the downstream end of a strut, by means of a spherical linkage. The upstream end of each convergent master petal and that of each strut are joined by means of cylindrical linkages to a rigid structure which normally forms part of the post-combustion housing of the turbine. The variation in the area of the throat A8 is achieved by means of a roller which is pulled by a ring that is moved axially and is governed by a plurality of actuators connected to it via spherical linkages and which act on a cam which in turn forms an integral part of the convergent master petal.
It has been well known in the prior art, in fields such as mining, to use a water cannon to deviate the hydraulic jet omindirectionally. The water cannon consists of a fixed tube upstream and another tube with a conical extension located downstream. The tubes are interconnected by means of a spherical bearing or a universal-type bearing that allows the conical tube to be orientated with respect to the fixed tube. When dealing with powerful hydraulic cannons, the vectoring of the conical tube is done by a system of at least three bars which, arranged around the tube, interlink the downstream projecting end of the tube to the external ring of the universal bearing, so that when this is inclined, the corresponding orientating transverse force is transmitted to that projecting end.
Moreover, in recent decades in the field of turbopropulsion turbines, certain vectoring systems for the thrust have been proposed and developed. All these systems can be classified into three major groups, i.e.:
1) Those which orientate the whole exhaust nozzle upstream of the throat. PA1 2) Those which orientate the divergent part of the exhaust nozzle, i.e., the whole part located immediately downstream of the throat. PA1 3) Those which orientate the flow at the outlet or somewhat more downstream of the outlet of the exhaust nozzle.
Orientating the whole exhaust nozzle upstream of the inlet section has the drawback that the perturbations induced by the vectoring are transmitted upstream of the turbine and require a highly complicated sealing device for the interstices between the different mobile components.
The sealing of these interstices is simplified in the case of exhaust nozzles orientable from their throat section. Even so, a seal needs to be provided for the slot formed between one flat convergent petal and its pair, the divergent petal, also being flat with which it is linked via a spherical bearing.
Moreover, during vectoring, the geometry of the longitudinal interstices between adjacent divergent petals alters, which corresponding approximately to that of a rectangle, becomes that of a ruled surface whose sides cease to be parallel. In order to prevent such a distorted geometry in the slot, a solution is shown by U.S. Pat. No. 4,994,660, consisting of a dorsal bar on which is mounted a plurality of segments that can rotate around that bar. Although this solution solves the problem of sealing the slot, the set of segments constitutes a very rough wall with a multitude of ridges transverse to the direction of the flow.
In the case of exhaust nozzles fitted with flow orientators at the outlet, the resulting system is very heavy and voluminous.
A characteristic of all the known vectoring systems is the presence of the two independently acting systems, one to vary the geometry of the throat and that of the outlet axisymmetrically, and another to orientate the supporting struts at the downstream end of the divergent petals, as explained in U.S. Pat. No. 4,994,660. Although such an exhaust nozzle has the flexibility for optimizing the law of ratios between the throat area and the outlet area and can accommodate itself to changes for different requirements, the system suffers from complexity, mass and cost.

Thrust vectoring variable geometry exhaust nozzle for gas turbines


A system includes an encoder that manipulates postcoded data and produces parity bits, and a parity bit encoder that produces encoded parity bits by inserting into the parity bits one or more flags with polarities, or states, that are selected to produce, after precoding, precoded parity bits that meet predetermined modulation constraints.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates generally to data encoding systems and, in particular, to systems that utilize running digital-sum encoding.
2. Background Information
Before recording or transmission, data are typically encoded for error protection and also for modulation, to preserve signal content against corruption by noise, fading and other interference associated with a communications channel in the recording or transmission system. The modulation encoding is also performed to preserve signal content that might otherwise be filtered out by circuitry in the communications channel. For example, a preamplifier in the circuitry acts essentially as a high pass filter, and filters out much of the low frequency content of the information signal. In certain recording systems, such as, for example, perpendicular recording systems, there is significant energy in the low frequency portion of the information signal. Accordingly, the filtering out of the low frequency content would result in performance degradation. The data are thus encoded to preserve the low frequency content. One example of encoding to preserve the low frequency content is running-digital-sum ("RDS") encoding, which constrains the direct-current ("DC") content of the signal.
Typically, the user data are encoded to produce RDS encoded data and the RDS encoded data are further encoded using an error correction code to produce error correction code words. The error correction code words are then RDS encoded and the result is further encoded using an outer block code, such as an iterative parity check code, to protect against errors in reproducing the error correction code words at the receive end of the channel. The parity check encoding is not typically followed by RDS encoding because the RDS encoding complicates the iterative block decoding, requiring mapping to take place during the iterative steps in which updated soft information is passed between a channel detector and the decoder.
Before entering the communications channel, the encoded data and the parity check bits are provided to a precoder, which translates them into bit sequences that are optimized for transmission and detection. The preceding, however, does not preserve the RDS constraints, and there is thus a trade-off between the optimization for transmission/detection and the encoding to preserve signal content through the channel circuitry.

System for precoding parity bits to meet predetermined modulation constraints


In measuring a dimension of an object to be measured W made of a single material, a plurality of transmission images of the object to be measured W are obtained by using an X-ray CT apparatus, and then respective projection images are generated. The projection images are registered with CAD data used in designing the object to be measured W. The dimension of the object to be measured W is calculated by using a relationship between the registered CAD data and projection images. In such a manner, high-precision dimension measurement is achieved by using several tens of projection images and design information without performing CT reconstruction.

Medical X-ray CT apparatuses were put to practical use in the 1970s. Based on such techniques, X-ray CT apparatuses intended for industrial products emerged in the early 1980s. Since then, industrial X-ray CT apparatuses have been used to observe and inspect castings for voids, welded parts for poor welding, and circuit patterns of electronic circuit parts for defects that are difficult to check for by appearances. As 3D printers are becoming prevalent in recent years, demands not only for observation and inspection inside articles produced by 3D printers but also for 3D dimension measurement of internal structures and higher precisions are on the increase.
With the foregoing technical trends, measurement X-ray CT apparatuses are becoming prevalent mainly in Germany (see Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Nos. 2002-071345 and 2004-012407). Such a measurement X-ray CT apparatus performs X-ray irradiation while rotating an object to be measured placed on the center of a rotating table.
FIG. 1 shows a configuration of a typical X-ray CT apparatus 1 used for measurement. An enclosure 10 shielding X-rays accommodates an X-ray source 12, an X-ray detector 14, a rotating table 16, and an XYZ movement mechanism unit 18. The X-ray source 12 emits a cone beam of X-rays 13. The X-ray detector 14 detects the X-rays 13. An object to be measured (for example, work) W is placed on the rotating table 16, and the rotating table 16 rotates the work W for CT imaging. The XYZ movement mechanism unit 18 is intended to adjust the position and magnification of the work W projected on the X-ray detector 14. The X-ray CT apparatus 1 further includes a controller 20 that controls such devices, and a control PC 22 that gives instructions to the controller 20 on the basis of user operations.
Aside from the control of the devices, the control PC 22 has a function of displaying a projection image of the work W projected on the X-ray detector 14 and a function of reconstructing a tomographic image from a plurality of projection images of the work W.
As shown in FIG. 2, the X-rays 13 emitted from the X-ray source 12 are transmitted through the work W on the rotating table 16 and reach the X-ray detector 14. The work W is rotated to obtain transmission images (projection images) of the work W in all directions by the X-ray detector 14. Reconstruction using a CT reconstruction algorithm such as a back projection algorithm and an iterative reconstruction algorithm is performed to generate a tomographic image of the work W.
The position of the work W can be moved by controlling X-, Y-, and Z-axes of the XYZ movement mechanism 18 and a θ-axis of the rotating table 16. The imaging range (position and magnification) and the imaging angle of the work W can thereby be adjusted.
To obtain a tomographic image or volume data (stereoscopic image or a set of tomographic images in the Z-axis direction) of the work W, which is the ultimate goal of the X-ray CT apparatus 1, a CT scan is performed on the work W.
The CT scan includes two processes, namely, acquisition of projection images of the work W and CT reconstruction. In the projection image acquisition process, the rotating table 16 on which the work W is placed is rotated either continuously at a constant speed or intermittently with a constant step width during X-ray irradiation, whereby projection images of the work W are obtained in all circumferential directions (at regular intervals). The obtained projection images in all circumferential directions (at regular intervals) are subjected to CT reconstruction using a CT reconstruction algorithm such as a back projection algorithm and an iterative reconstruction algorithm. As illustrated in FIG. 3, a tomographic image or volume data of the work (in FIG. 3, master balls) is thereby obtained.
The obtained volume data can be used to perform various measurements such as dimension measurement and defect analysis.

Dimension measurement method using projection image obtained by X-ray CT apparatus


This disclosure relates to amplification and detection of a rare variant or variants of a DNA sequence in an abundant variant of the sequence, such as detection of a low-level somatic mutations and minority alleles in an excess of normal nucleic acid target sequences.

It is sometimes desired to detect a rare variant or multiple rare variants of a DNA sequence in an abundant variant of that sequence. Rare variants are often mutations of a normal gene sequence, which is sometimes referred to as a "wild-type" sequence. Mutations, including particularly rare mutations, are commonly found in cancer-related genes, mitochondrial genes at a low heteroplasmic frequency, and genes from a small subpopulation of bacteria or viruses. Mutant alleles may have only a single change in the DNA sequence (e.g., a point mutation), and frequently they exist in very low abundance in samples containing a corresponding very abundant sequence. Detection of those rare mutations associated with diseases plays an increasingly important role for disease diagnosis and prognosis in clinical practice. For example, point mutations in tuberculosis (TB) can generate drug resistance, making it difficult to select the right drug to use and prolonging treatment. Somatic mutations are useful biomarkers for the early detection of cancer or a prediction of the response or resistance to certain oncology drugs. Mutation in codons 12 and 13 of the KRAS gene occurs in 80-90% of pancreatic cancer and 35-50% of colorectal cancer. And mutations in the EGFR gene or the KRAS gene have been associated with the response or resistance to certain oncology drugs. Recently, the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) and National Comprehensive Cancer Network has updated its guidelines with a recommendation that therapies including panitumumab or cetuximab be limited to patients with wild-type KRAS for patients with advanced or metastatic colon or rectal cancer. Furthermore, due to the difficulty in accessing to the tumor region, there is an increased requirement to get the tumor cells from blood. Sensitive assays to detect rare mutations in the huge background of wild type allele are critically needed.
Numerous approaches have been developed in the attempt to detect somatic DNA mutations and minority alleles by real-time PCR (polymerase chain reaction) methods. These approaches, many of which are reviewed in Milbury, C. A. et al., PCR-Based Methods for Enrichment of Minority Alleles and mutations (2009) Clin. Chem. 55, pages 632-640, include allele-specific competitive blocker PCR, blocker-PCR, real-time genotyping with locked nucleic acids (LNA) or peptide nucleic acid (PNA), clamp PCR, and restriction enzymes in conjunction with real-time PCR, and allele-specific kinetic PCR in conjunction with modified polymerases. Additional methods include ARMS-PCR, TaqMAMA, and FLAG-PCR. Methods utilizing many of these approaches require either the use of modified bases, special enzymes, or additional proprietary reagents or procedures. In addition, most use a primer that is matched (that is, fully complementary) to a certain mutant sequence and mismatched to the corresponding wild-type sequence, the intent being to amplify only the mutant sequence such that the final amplification product would all be essentially only the mutant-type sequence. In methods that hybridize a primer to a mutation point, mismatches are erased during amplification. PNA or LNA clamp PCR do not rely on a mutant-specific primer, but the manufacture of PNA or LNA oligonucleotides is expensive compared to the manufacture of DNA oligonucleotides. Also, to determine whether a negative result means that a sample contains no mutant or whether there was a failure of amplification, a parallel sample without the PNA or LNA must be run. Existing approaches have proven to be less than satisfactory due to expense, high lower limit of detection, or both. A significant problem with existing selective-amplification assays is the occurrence of false positives caused by errors committed by Taq DNA polymerase. One way to decrease the error rate is to use a high fidelity polymerase such as Pfu or High Fidelity Taq. However, PCR amplification with such enzymes is less efficient, and the optimization of PCR conditions for those high-fidelity polymerases is quite difficult.
A PCR amplification method that preferentially amplifies mutant alleles but does not require an enzyme other than Taq DNA polymerase and provides an amplification product that can be sequenced is COLD-PCR (see Milbury et al., supra). COLD-PCR utilizes a precisely controlled PCR denaturation temperature, for example, 86.5° C., to preferentially denature duplexes, which may be heteroduplexes, containing mutant extension products and thereby preferentially amplify mutant sequences. Disadvantages of this method include a need for very precise temperature control, experimental fine tuning of the denaturation temperature, and variability from mutation to mutation (id). COLD-PCR also does not address the problem of false positives caused by errors committed by Taq DNA polymerase.

Detecting nucleic acid variations within populations of genomes


A shaft sealing arrangement for sealing bores around a pair of stirrer shafts that emerge through a wall of an associated mixing vessel includes a pair of generally cylindrical shaft sealing assemblies designed to be carried on adjacent stirrer shafts, each gland assembly including the gland member and a gland housing. A plurality of raised spaced radially distributed wiper strips are attached to outside surface of each gland which are directionally deployed at an angle with the direction of the axis of the gland such that the wiper strips act to return escaping material back into an associated mixing vessel. The gland assemblies are designed to be mounted on to rotate with a corresponding one of the pair of stirrer shafts and are enabled to move axially relative therealong. A drive system operates the gland assemblies along the shafts between a deployed (mixing) position with each gland positioned in a wall bore through which a corresponding stirrer shaft emerges and in a retracted (cleaning) position wherein said gland assemblies are withdrawn outside the wall.

I. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a sealing device for use in industrial mixing or blending equipment of a class which includes one or more rotary mixing blades having long shafts extending into a large mixing bowl in which viscous liquids, particularly explosive propellant materials, are mixed. More particularly, the present invention provides such a mixer with a retractable mixing blade shaft sealing gland system that can be withdrawn and cleaned and reset between mix cycles and which, in addition, minimizes the clearance between the gland and the mixer bowl thereby reducing the material lost during the mix cycle and improving batch-to-batch solvent content consistency, particularly in high-solvent mixes
II. Related Art
Mixers and blenders for homogenizing hazardous materials such as propellant materials presently use outboard bearings spaced from the mixing bowl as supports for rotating shafts of mixing blades to segregate areas where mechanical friction is present from areas where the propellant is present inside the mixer bowl during normal operation. Sealing the interface between the stirring shafts and the base openings where the rotating shafts emerge from the bowl has always been difficult. The mixers are generally modified versions of equipment that has been used in the baking industry where sealing has also been a problem. This has led to the development of sealing systems of various kinds. One such system as applied to a dough kneading device is illustrated and described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,412,747. Another type of shaft sealing device is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,858,936.
Owing to the hazardous mixture of the material, propellant mixers have had to be adapted to function safely in an environment involving different unique concerns. The standard practice for sealing stirring shafts in the propellant/explosives industry had been to tightly seal the gland area using a flax/felt packing material. However, these gland areas tended to become contaminated by propellant fines and subsequent solvent loss and viscous heating caused drying of the propellant fines and this, in turn, increased the danger of ignition and subsequent propellant fires in the mixing operation.
More recently, the practice has been to fully open the gland area by removing the packing material and allowing migrating product to flow freely through a fixed gap in the gland area into a catch pan beneath the stirring shaft attempting to keep losses to a minimum. A gland assembly drawing illustrating this prior art concept appears in FIG. 1.
FIG. 1 is a fragmentary view of a mixing system showing a prior art gland assembly partially in section. It includes a schematic representation of a mixing bowl-fragment 10. Spaced parallel, oppositely rotated mixing blades 12 and 14 are fixed to and driven respectively by stirrer shafts 15 and 16, which are supported by a bearing plate 18 spaced at a distance from the mixing bowl end plate 20. Stationary sealing glands 22 and 24, respectively, surround the shafts 15 and 16 and are bolted to the mixer end plate 20 as at 26 and 28, respectively. Gaps indicated by 30 are provided and maintained surrounding the mixer shafts between the shafts and the glands. The gaps are left fully open allowing migrating product propelled by the mixing action toward end wall 20 to seep or flow freely through the gaps in the gland area. Product flow force is indicated by arrows 32 and mixing blade rotation is indicated by arrows 34 and 36. A catch pan (not shown) is provided beneath the stirring shafts to catch product that migrates past the glands.
While this has solved some prior problems, it has been found, however, that with mixes of high solvent content, excessive amounts of product can be lost oozing through the glands or, in the worst case, the glands may become packed with material. The resulting friction, of course, can be hazardous. This situation necessitates that the glands (which are assembled from two semicircular halves) be disassembled and cleaned after each mix cycle to minimize the risk of buildup.
In view of the present situation, there exists a definite need for innovative technology with regard to improving shaft sealing gland systems in such mixing devices, both from the standpoint of safety and minimizing down time while preserving the integrity of each mix.


Apparatus including a rigid fluid-permeable body, having a first non-planar fluid-permeable body surface, and having a second fluid-permeable body surface; a plurality of fluid-permeable cells in the fluid-permeable body; and a plurality of raised micro-scale features on the first fluid-permeable body surface. Apparatus including a fluid-permeable body having first and second fluid-permeable body surfaces; a plurality of fluid-permeable cells in the fluid-permeable body; a plurality of raised micro-scale features on the first fluid-permeable body surface; and a fluid containment body forming, together with the second fluid-permeable body surface, a second fluid containment structure. Methods, utilizing an apparatus, of treating a liquid with a fluid, and of maintaining a superhydrophobic surface.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to structures having superhydrophobic surfaces, and processes for their fabrication.
2. Related Art
Hydrophobic structures are known for their ability to repel high surface tension liquids such as water. Some hydrophobic structures have been made that include a plurality of raised features that are spaced apart by interstices and held in positions relative to each other on a substrate. These raised features may take the form of various shapes, including posts, blades, spikes, and ridges. When a liquid having a sufficiently high surface tension makes contact with the surface of such a hydrophobic structure, the liquid may form an interface with the surface of the hydrophobic structure at a local contact angle sufficiently high so that the liquid does not immediately penetrate into the interstices. Such a surface is then described as being "superhydrophobic".
Despite these developments, superhydrophobic surfaces formed on raised features often require careful attention to maintaining a low pressure applied to the raised features by the liquid, to delay breakdown of the superhydrophobic repelling force and resultant penetration of the liquid through the surface and into the interstices between the raised features. The requirement of such a low pressure may prevent utilization of such superhydrophobic surfaces in environments where a fluid needs to flow over the surfaces, because such a flow may generate significant pressure on the surfaces. Moreover, superhydrophobic surface behavior has been explored for a limited scope of end use applications. Expansion of such end uses may facilitate new ways of handling liquids.
There accordingly is a continuing need for new types of superhydrophobic surface structures that make feasible the exploitation of superhydrophobic surface behavior.

Fluid-permeable body having a superhydrophobic surface


Disclosed is a thread combining multiple polymers. The thread consists of fibers of a first synthetic polymer of the Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) family and fibers of a second synthetic polymer of the Polyimide family, wherein the first fibers and the second fibers are combined together such that the resulting material, forming the thread, blocks photons with wavelengths falling within a first range of wavelengths and allows passage of photons with wavelengths falling within a second range of wavelengths. Photons whose wavelengths are within the second range of wavelengths, allowed to pass by the resulting material, may contribute to tanning of human skin.

A tan line is a visually clear division on the human skin between an area of pronounced comparative paleness relative to other areas that have been suntanned by exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation. The source of the radiation may be the sun, or artificial UV sources such as tanning lamps. Tan lines are usually an inadvertent result of a work environment or of recreational activities, but are sometimes intentional. Many people regard visible tan lines as un-aesthetic and embarrassing, and seek to avoid tan lines that will be visible.
Garments made of material that can visually conceal or block visibility of portions of a wearer's skin while allowing tanning of those portions is desirable. No naturally known material have this optical characteristic. Synthetic fibers are the result of extensive research by scientists to improve on naturally occurring animal and plant fibers. In general, synthetic fibers are created by extruding fiber forming materials through spinnerets into air and water, forming a thread. Artificially manufactured fibers may be made from polymers obtained from petro chemicals. These fibers are called synthetic or artificial fibers. Some fibers are manufactured from plant-derived cellulose.
There is a need in the fields of material for garments for improved methods and technologies for producing fibers, threads and materials having specific photonic transmissivity.

Synthetic threads and materials and garments produced therewith


Herein described are a motion estimation method and a motion estimation apparatus for calculating a motion vector to estimate a current picture based on a reference picture. The current picture is partially formed by a current block represented by pel values. The reference picture is partially formed by a search window represented by pel values and having a plurality of candidate blocks. There are provided processor elements and side register units arranged in the form of a matrix array. The pel values of the search window are fed to the processor elements and the side register units. The pel values of the current block are fed to the processor elements. Between the processor elements and the side register units, are shifted pel values of the search window. The processor elements are designed to calculate distortion values each indicative of a difference between the current block and each of the candidate blocks on the basis of the received pel values of the search window and the received pel values of the current block. The method and apparatus are characterized in that, at one of the adjoining two columns of the matrix array, the pel values of the search window are shifted only in an upward direction, while, at the other of the adjoining two columns of the matrix array, the pel values of the search window are shifted only in a downward direction.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a motion estimation method and an apparatus for calculating a motion vector.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In the recent years, information transmitting media such as news paper, TV and radio have been flooded with information relative to "multimedia" to which ardent attentions are paid by not only those skilled in the art but ordinary people in the world. Although variously interpreted, the term "multimedia" as used herein is considered to be information presented in the combination of text, graphics, video, sound and the like. Since such information is generally handled by a computer, data representative of the video and sound as well as the text and graphics are required to be digitized. When the data representative of video sequences such as moving pictures are digitized, the amount of digitized data is extremely large in comparison with that of the data indicative of sound, text or graphics. For this reason, the data of moving pictures to be handled by the computer are required to be compressed when the data are stored in a storage device or transmitted over a communication line.
Up until now, there have been proposed a wide variety of data compression processes for compressing the data of moving pictures. The data compression process is applied to a basic inter-frame predicting coding method, a motion compensation inter-frame predicting coding method, a bi-directional predicting coding method, a dual-prime predicting coding method, and other predicting coding methods. The following description will be made about the basic inter-frame predicting coding method, the motion compensation inter-frame predicting coding method, and the bi-directional predicting coding method with reference to FIGS. 97 to 103.
FIGS. 97(a) and 97(b) respectively show two types of moving pictures different in predicting coding process to each other and each constructed by a series of pictures. Here, the term "picture" is intended to mean a frame or a field each forming part of the moving picture. The frame comprises a first field of odd scanning lines forming part of the frame and a second field of even scanning lines forming part of the frame. The symbols "I", "P" and "B" shown in FIGS. 97(a) and 97(b) represent "Intra-picture" (hereinlater referred to as "I-picture" for simplicity), "Predictive-picture" (also hereinlater referred to as "P-picture" for simplicity) and "Bidirectionally predictive-picture" (similarly, hereinlater referred to as "B-picture"), respectively. The I-picture is encoded from its original picture. The P-picture is encoded either from the I-picture or the P-picture in the same order as that of the original picture. The B-picture is encoded after the I-picture and P-picture are processed, and is then placed between the I-picture and P-picture. The symbol "M" represents a cycle which is updated every time an I-picture or a P-picture appears, and the symbol "Fd" represents a distance between the reference picture and the picture to be encoded.
First, the basic inter-frame predicting coding method will be described with reference to FIG. 98. This method comprises a step of calculating a difference between pel values of each picture element (hereinlater referred to merely as "pel") of a current picture 12 and pel value of each pel of a reference picture 11 corresponding in position to each pel of the current picture 12, the current picture 12 and the reference picture 11 partially forming a moving picture. The method further comprises steps of comparing the difference with a predetermined threshold value, and dividing the pel value of the reference picture 11 into two data groups consisting of a significant pel value group having differences each larger than the threshold value and an insignificant pel value group having differences each equal to or less than the threshold value. The significant pel value are considered to be useful data that are not allowed to be omitted when the current picture 12 is estimated on the basis of the reference picture 11. On the contrary, the insignificant pel value are considered to be unnecessary data that are allowed to be omitted when the current picture 12 is estimated on the basis of the reference picture 11. The reference picture 11 may be either of future or past pictures with respect to the current picture 12.
If a person image 10 in the reference picture 11 has been moved right in the current picture 12 as shown in FIG. 98, there are produced two significant pel values regions indicated by the reference numerals of 13 and 14, respectively and an insignificant pel value region indicated by a blank surrounding the significant pel value regions 13 and 14. By adding, to pel value of a pel of the reference picture 11 within the significant pel value regions 13 and 14, a difference between pel value of a pel of current picture 12 and the pel value of the pel of the reference picture 11 corresponding in position to each other, pel value of the pel of the current block picture 12 can be estimated. Pel value of each pel of the current picture 12 within the insignificant pel value region are represented by pel value of a pel of the reference picture 11 corresponding in position to the pel of the current picture 12.
In the case that the basic inter-frame predicting coding method is utilized, the difference data between two pels rapidly decrease as the significant pel value is decreased. This means that compression efficiency can be enhanced. The number of the significant pel is decreased by setting the threshold value large and as a consequence the compression efficiency can be further enhanced. It however, the threshold value becomes extremely large, motion of the image looks to be jerky, or moving portion of the image looks to be at a standstill in part, thereby resulting in an drawback of the fact that image quality becomes poor.
In view of the property of the basic inter-frame predicting coding method, the compression efficiency is enhanced under the condition that variation between the current picture and the reference picture is small because of the fact that the difference data are decreased in proportion to the size of standstill image region of the current picture with respect to the reference picture. The following motion compensation inter-frame predicting coding method, however, realizes higher compression efficiency in comparison with the basic inter-frame predicting coding method.
Likewise, on the assumption that the person image 10 in the reference picture 11 is moved right in the current picture 12, the motion compensation inter-frame predicting coding method is explained hereinafter with reference to FIG. 99. The motion compensation inter-frame predicting coding method comprises a step of calculating a motion vector "MV" indicating the movement distance and movement direction of the person image 10 between the reference picture 11 and the current picture 12. The motion compensation inter-frame predicting coding method further comprises a step of estimating the person image 10 in the current picture 12 with the aid of the motion vector MV and pel value defining the person image 10 in the reference picture 11. In this case, there is produced only one significant pel value region 13 as shown in FIG. 99. Accordingly, the motion compensation inter-frame predicting coding method is superior to the basic inter-frame predicting coding method in the fact that the number of the significant pels can be sharply decreased and accordingly that the compression efficiency can be extremely enhanced.
The motion compensation inter-frame predicting coding method will be described hereinafter in detail with reference to FIGS. 100 to 102. According to ITU-T (International telecommunication Union--Telecommunication Standardization Sector) H.261, the motion compensation inter-frame predicting coding method comprises steps of dividing a current picture 20 shown in FIG. 100 into a plurality of blocks including a block (hereinlater referred to as a "current block") 21, specifying a search window 31 including blocks (referred to hereinlater as "candidate blocks") in a reference picture 30, and calculating distortion values each indicative a difference between the current block 21 and each of the candidate blocks. The distortion value is calculated by converting, into positive numbers, local distortion values each indicative of a difference between pel value of each pel of the current block 21 and pel value of each pel of the candidate block corresponding in position to each pel of the current block 21, and summing up the converted local distortion values.
The motion compensation inter-frame predicting coding method further comprises steps of specifying a candidate block 32 which provides a minimum distortion value, i.e., the smallest in the distortion values calculated in the above mentioned manner, and calculating a motion vector representative of a distance between and a direction defined by the current block 21 and the candidate block 32. The motion vector MV thus calculated and the distortion value between the candidate block 32 included in the reference picture 30 and the current block 21 are encoded by an encoder (not shown).
FIGS. 101(a) and 101(b) represent relations among the current block 21, search window 31 and candidate blocks 32. If the current block 21 and the search window 31 contain N columns of M pels and H columns of L pels as shown in FIGS. 101(b) and 101(a), respectively, the search window 31 includes (H-N+1).times.(L-M+1) candidate blocks 32 each similar to the current blocks 21. In the case that pel value of a pel at the top left-hand corner of current block 21 in FIG. 101(b) is indicated by a(0,0), pel value of each of the candidate blocks 32 corresponding in position to the pel value a(0,0) of the current block 21 are included in an area defined by oblique lines in FIG. 101(a).
FIGS. 102(a) and 102(b) represent a positional relation between pel values of each pel of the current block 21 and pel value of each pel of the candidate block 32 corresponding in position to each pel of the current block 21. The pel value b(l+m,h+n) in FIG. 102(a) indicates pel value of each of the candidate blocks corresponding in position to the pel value a(m,n) of the current block 21 shown in FIG. 102(b). Pel value b(l,h) in the search window 31 shown in FIG. 102(a) is representative of a block position arranged at the upper left-hand corner of the candidate block 32 and accordingly corresponds in position to the pel value a(0,0) of the current block 21.
Under the state that the current block 21, the search window 31 and the candidate block 32 are shown in FIGS. 101(a), 101(b), 102(a) and 102(b), a distortion value D(l,h) between the current block 21 and the candidate block 32 is indicated as follows: ##EQU1## Note that ".parallel. .parallel." is indicative of a norm, and "d(m,n)" represents a local distortion value indicative of a difference between pel values of two pels corresponding in position to each other. The norm arithmetic is absolute-value arithmetic, square arithmetic or the like. The local distortion value is defined by the following equation. EQU d(m,n)=b(l+m,h+n)-a(m,n) (2)
The above-mentioned process of comparing a block of the current picture with each of blocks of the reference picture in motion compensation inter-frame predicting coding method is called a block matching method. The above-mentioned process is particularly called a full search block matching method if the current block is compared with all the candidate blocks included in the search window.
Such the full search block matching method has been known by Japanese Patent Laid-open Publication No. 2-213291. In this method, the search window itself is moved upward, downward, and leftward with respect to the search block to scan the whole pel values in the search window, thereby saving calculation time required for calculating the local distortion values of the difference between the pel values of two pels corresponding in position to each other in the search window. During a cycle 1 shown in FIG. 103(a), after each of the processor elements receives pel value in the search window, .vertline.b(l,h)-a(0,0).vertline. is calculated (where l=0, 1, 2, and h=0, 1, 2) at each of the processor elements. During the next cycle 2, the whole pel values in the search window is moved upward to calculate .vertline.b(1,h+1)-a(1,0).vertline. as shown in FIG. 103(b). During the next cycle 3 shown in FIG. 103(c), the whole pel values in the search window is moved leftward to calculate .vertline.b(1+1,h+1)-a(1,1).vertline. at each of the processor elements. During the next cycle 4, the whole pel values in the search window is moved downward to calculate .vertline.b(1+1,h)-a(0,1).vertline. as shown in FIG. 103(d).
The block matching method described above is, however, required to be carried out through two different cycles consisting of a first cycle for transmitting the whole pel values in the search window upward and a second cycle for transmitting the whole pel values in the search window downward, and thus requires upward and downward busses each of which needs to be connected at each of the processor elements, therefore making it more complex and difficult to design various circuits to calculate the distortion values. Moreover, the size of the search window cannot be changed when the moving distance of a moving picture is extremely large, or when the time-lag is excessively long between the play-back pictures of the reference picture and the current picture whose motion vector is calculated, by the reason that the size of the search window is determined by the number of processor elements.

Motion estimation method and apparatus for calculating a motion vector


In an aspect, a method is provided for using memory. The method includes the steps of (1) employing memory stacking, memory mirroring and memory interleaving in a total memory to reduce a number of memory entries that are written to an input/output (I/O) device while a portion of the total memory is replaced; and (2) storing data in the total memory. Numerous other aspects are provided.

A computer system including or coupled to a plurality of memories may employ a conventional memory configuration for storing data in such memories. During operation, the computer system may determine one or more of the plurality of memories are faulty, and consequently, need to be replaced. However, a conventional memory configuration typically requires data from a large amount of memory entries to be written elsewhere (e.g., to a hard disk) before faulty memory may be replaced (e.g., while a computer system is operating). Methods and apparatus for using memory that increase the efficiency of replacing faulty memory in a computer system (during operation of the computer system) are desired.

International Business Machines Corporation


Pivotal platform apparatus (10) includes a frame member (12), a platform member (14) being pivotally attached to the frame member and having a first rotational inertia, and a reaction member (20) being pivotally attached to the frame member and having a second rotational inertia. A pair of crossed taut elements (40a and 40b) provide means for transmitting reverse rotation pivotal movement between the platform member and the reaction member so that the inertia of the reaction member balances the reaction of the platform member to provide a reactionless scan mechanism. A pair of motors (26a and 26b), each having pole pieces (30a and 30b) attached to the reaction member, and each having motor coils (28a and 28b) attached to the frame member, provide means for rotationally positioning the reaction member.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to scan mechanisms for rotationally positioning a mirror or a light source. More particularly, the present invention relates to a scan mechanism in which a reaction mass balances the rotational mass of the rotationally positionable platform to provide a reactionless scan mechanism.
2. Description of the Related Art
Scan mechanisms are used for various purposes, such as reading bar codes. In such devices, a pivotally mounted platform is rotationally positioned by an electric motor. As the platform is rotationally positioned, a mirror or a light source attached to the platform is scanned across a field with encoded information, thereby cooperating with either the light source or the mirror to read the encoded information.
The prior art includes Weber, U.S. Pat. No. 3,612,643, issued Oct. 12, 1971. Weber provided a scan mechanism in which a mirror, rotatably positioned on bearings, is driven by a rotary motor and a belt.
Dostal, U.S. Pat. No. 3,532,408, issued Oct. 6, 1970, teaches a scan device in which the mirror is mounted on a torsionally deflectable member, pole pieces are attached to opposite sides of the mirror, and field coils are attached to a frame of the device.
Chandler, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,782,475, issued Nov. 1, 1988, teaches a scan mechanism in which the optical element of a read head is supported by a four-member flexure structure, one portion of the motor is attached to the read head, and another portion of the motor is attached to the frame of the mechanism. The four-member flexure structure includes first and second supporting elements that are attached at opposite ends thereof and that cross proximal to the middle of each of the flexure elements.


A molding material consisting of a fluorine-containing copolymer, which has a metal elution index η of at most 10 as the total amount in ng of metals of Na, Mg, Cu, Cr, Ni, K, Ca and Fe per 1 g of the molding material, as obtained by elution analysis of the molding material with nitric acid.

For coating materials for heat resistant insulated wires, medical parts, parts for chemicals storage tank of a semiconductor production device, and parts for carrier and piping, fluorine-containing copolymers such as a tetrafluoroethylene (hereinafter referred to as TFE)/perfluoro(alkyl vinyl ether)copolymer (hereinafter referred to as PFA), a TFE/hexafluoropropylene (hereinafter referred to as HFP) copolymer (hereinafter referred to as FEP) and a TFE/ethylene copolymer (hereinafter referred to as ETFE), and polytetrafluoroethylene (hereinafter referred to as PTFE), are used as molding materials, in view of excellent electrical insulating properties, low-dielectric constant, heat resistance and chemical resistance. It is possible to carry out melt-molding of molding materials consisting of a fluorine-containing copolymer such as PFA, FEP or ETFE, and such molding materials can be molded by means of various molding methods such as injection molding, extrusion and rotational molding.
However, with respect to molding materials consisting of such a fluorine-containing copolymer, molded products may slightly be yellowed during melt-molding in some cases, and the colored molded products may cause decrease in yield of manufactured articles, since strict product quality is required particularly for parts for medical application and semiconductor device application.

Fluorine-containing copolymer molding material


The present invention provides a brake actuator assembly including a housing having a generally radial annular flange portion and a cover having a generally radial annular flange portion generally co-axially aligned with the generally radial annular flange portion of the housing. A cup-shaped flexible diaphragm having an outer radial annular rim portion is disposed between the generally radial annular flange portions of the housing and the cover. A retaining element generally surrounds and compresses the generally radial annular flange portions of the housing and the cover against the rim portion of the flexible diaphragm. The rim portion of the diaphragm includes a wedge-shaped edge portion and co-axially aligned flats on opposite sides of the rim portion adjacent to the wedge-shaped edge portion aligning the flange portions of the housing and the cover. In another embodiment, a flexible brake diaphragm includes a cup-shaped flexible diaphragm having an outer radial annular rim portion. The rim portion of the diaphragm includes a wedge-shaped edge portion and co-axially aligned flats on opposite sides of the rim portion adjacent to the wedge-shaped edge portion.

Fluid-operated braking systems such as air brake systems have long been used to control the movement of motor vehicles in a safe and effective manner. In particular, air brakes are commonly used on commercial vehicles, such as trucks which typically have large gross vehicle weights. The considerable inertial mass of these heavy-duty vehicles in combination with the high speeds at which they travel require a braking system which responds rapidly with substantial braking power. One system component which is instrumental in the operation of air brake systems is the brake actuator. The brake actuator provides the force necessary when braking a vehicle. Commercial air brake actuators can actuate the normal surface brakes as well as parking/emergency brakes. The brake actuators, also known as spring brakes, typically have a network of air chambers defined by one or more diaphragms and/or pistons and a plurality of springs which operate to provide the appropriate braking action in response to inputs by the vehicle driver. In the event an air braking system loses pressure, the brake actuator automatically engages the vehicle brakes.
In brake actuators of this type, the diaphragms are typically flexible, cup-shaped and have an outer radial rim which is received and compressed between flange portions of a housing and cover. Such diaphragms are generally formed of a rubber material with a fibrous reinforcement disposed therein. Diaphragms are often molded in an ovoid shape making it somewhat difficult to align and assemble the diaphragm in the brake actuator housing. The difficulties in assembly can often lead to leakage of the seal established between the diaphragm and the flange portions of the housing and cover. Great care is taken in the manufacture of the brake actuators in order to test for leaking actuator assemblies, identify leaking brake actuators assemblies, and to eliminate leaking brake actuator assemblies. If the brake actuator assembly leaks, the brake actuator may fail.
In this type of brake actuator assembly, it is important during assembly that the rim portion of the flexible diaphragm be properly seated and aligned prior to being compressed between the opposed radial flanges of the housing and the cover. During assembly the flexible diaphragm must be coaxially aligned with the radial flanges of the opposed housing members. However, due to the ovoid shape of typical diaphragms as received from the manufacturer and curvature of the surfaces of the opposed radial flanges, alignment of the diaphragm and housing is difficult, thereby increasing the potential for leakage.
Additionally, the thickness of radial rim portion of the diaphragm causes difficulty in the assembly of the brake actuator. The thickness of the rim portion of the diaphragm requires that the housing and cover be placed in compression against the diaphragm during assembly in order to facilitate the application of a band clamp which holds the housing and cover in sealing engagement with the diaphragm.
Accordingly, it would be both advantageous and desirable to have a diaphragm which can more easily be positioned and seated during assembly of the brake actuator to reduce the amount of leaking brake actuator assemblies and which also aids in the assembly process by eliminating the step of compressing together the housing and the cover in order to attach and fasten the band clamp.


In a cordless telephone system having a mobile telephone set and a charging stand, the mobile telephone set includes at least one charging terminal and a charging control terminal, and control circuitry for monitoring the at least one charging terminal and the charging control terminal, and controlling whether or not the mobile telephone set is permitted to operate in a quick communication mode. The quick communication mode is a communication mode of the mobile telephone set in which the mobile telephone set automatically begins to transmit an outgoing call of the telephone system or to receive an incoming call, when the mobile telephone set is picked up from the charging stand.

This invention relates to telephone systems including an analog cordless telephone system, a digital cordless telephone system and a portable radio telephone system, and more particularly to a cordless telephone system in which means are provided for controlling the process of charging a secondary battery built into a mobile telephone set or a portable radio telephone set and for establishing a quick communication mode ready for starting to originate an outgoing call or answering an incoming call as soon as the mobile telephone set or the portable radio telephone set is taken up from a charging stand.
In a cordless telephone system of this kind, its mobile telephone set is charged by loading it on a charging stand or a charging part of its stationary telephone set, so that it can operate with a quick communication mode when unloaded, as disclosed in, for example, JP-A-1-177748. The disclosure of the cited publication is such that, when the mobile telephone set is unloaded from the charging stand or from the charging part of the stationary telephone set, the voltage appearing at the charging terminal of the mobile telephone set when the mobile telephone set is unloaded from the charging stand or charging part changes from that appearing at the charging terminal when the mobile telephone set is kept loaded on the charging stand or charging part, and this voltage change is detected by a control part to permit starting to originate an outgoing call or answering an incoming call without pushing down the hook button of the mobile telephone set.
However, in the case of the prior art cordless telephone system, the voltage appearing at the charging terminal of the mobile telephone set when the mobile telephone set is kept loaded on the charging stand or on the charging part of the stationary telephone set and that appearing at the charging terminal when the mobile telephone set is unloaded from the charging stand or charging part are detected to determine the voltage change, and this voltage change is used to permit starting to originate an outgoing call or answering an incoming call without pushing down the hook button of the mobile telephone set. Therefore, when the supply of the charging voltage from the charging stand or from the charging part of the stationary telephone set is stopped due to an interruption of supply of commercial power from an AC power source or operational failure of a DC power supply supplying the DC voltage, for example, the internal control of the mobile telephone set is unable to accurately distinguish between the situation where power supply failure has occurred and the situation where the mobile telephone set is unloaded from the charging stand to permit starting to originate an outgoing call. Thus, the prior art cordless telephone system has had the problem of setting up a quick communication mode ready for starting to originate an outgoing call or answering an incoming call even in the event of an interruption of commercial power from the AC power source.

Cordless telephone system having power interruption detection

Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.


A filter insert having a block-shaped configuration comprises a planar material that is permeable to a medium and is arranged as a plurality of pleats having pleat walls. Each pleat wall has opposing first and second edges. The pleat walls are arranged in a zigzag pattern presenting first and second edge sections wherein a medium to be filtered passes through the filter insert in a direction from the first edge section toward the second edge section. The pleat walls have embossed projections which are parallel to one another and project with a height in a direction toward an adjacent pleat wall. The projections have length in a direction from one edge to an opposite edge of a respective pleat wall and a width perpendicular to the length. The width is essentially constant over the length and the length exceeds the width. Adjacent projections of adjacent pleat walls contact one another for securing, spacing and stiffening the pleats and the filter insert. The first edges of every other pair of adjacent pleat walls and the second edges of a different every other pair of adjacent pleat walls are connected to one another by respective planar intermediate regions of the filter material at least in areas of the pleat walls exterior of the projections. The heights of the adjacent projections of the pairs of adjacent pleat walls connected at the first edge section increase in a direction toward the second edge section and the heights of the adjacent projections of the pairs of adjacent pleat walls connected at the second edge section increase in a direction toward the first edge section.

The invention relates to a filter insert having a blocked shape configuration.
A filter insert disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,531,920 has a block shape and is composed of a filter element that is pleated in a zigzag pattern. Mutually parallel dimples project from the pleat walls, with the dimples projecting from the plane of the pleat walls on both sides of the pleat walls and the dimples of adjacent pleat walls lying against one another at their contacting faces. Each one of the dimples extending perpendicularly to the edges of the zigzag pleats forming the crease has a height that gradually increases and decreases in the direction of movement of the medium and a width that increases in the direction of increasing height. Each pair of dimples that are adjacent within the pleat wall extend in mutually opposite directions with respect to the plane of the pleat wall; they are thus embossed to be raised and recessed, respectively.
The dimples are here arranged in such a way that each raised dimple in the pleat wall has an associated likewise raised, embossed dimple in the adjacent pleat wall in such a way that the zigzag pleat causes the associated dimples to lie on top of one another and to support one another in the region of their contacting faces.
In this way a space is ensured between the adjacent pleat walls which uniformly decreases in the direction of movement of the medium and uniformly increases after passage of the medium through the wall.
The drawback is here that the width of the dimples increases and decreases in the direction of movement of the medium so that the direction of flow of the medium to be filtered is deflected laterally. This increases flow resistance and requires greater conveying power for the medium to be filtered. With the increasing width of the dimples, the surface area available in the region of the wall for passage of the medium to be filtered is also reduced.
Moreover, the width of a channel for the medium formed between two adjacent dimples increases in the direction of movement of the medium. The change in cross section caused thereby additionally increases flow resistance in an undesirable manner. In order, to make the filtering of large quantities of a medium economically feasible, the energy to be made available for the filtering process should be as low as possible, particularly since the corresponding drive means generate more noise with increasing power.


A method and apparatus for maintaining coherence information in multi-cache systems is described herein. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes an Ingrained Sharing Directory Cache (ISDC) to store state information about recent copies of local memory blocks. The ISDC is adapted to receive Ingrained Sharing Directory Storage (ISDS) requests and create ISDC entries from information presented by the ISDS. The apparatus also includes an ISDC pending queue to store pending ISDC operations.

In shared memory multiprocessor systems several copies of the same memory line can be cached in the system, hence a coherence mechanism is required to maintain consistency among the copies. The two most common coherence schemes are directory-based protocols and snooping protocols. Directory based cache coherence solves the bandwidth problem of snoopy schemes, but introduces directory storage overhead that can grow faster than linearly with the number of shared caches. For example, traditional full map bit-vector directories do not scale well with Moore's Law due to memory overhead concerns.
Traditional dynamically tagged directories use special-purpose pointer caches, which are subject of two types of overflow: 1) pointer overflow—pointer overflow limits the number of sharers; and/or 2) set overflow—set overflow forces premature invalidation of cache lines.
Traditional full map bit-vector directory requires an entry for each cache line sized memory line. Given that, the number of entries in the traditional full map bit-vector directory for moderately large-scale multiprocessors can be very large. This prevents full map bit-vector directories from being embedded either into hub or processor chips.

Method and apparatus for maintaining coherence information in multi-cache systems


A method of producing a silicon single crystal thin film having a smooth surface in a stable manner in vapor-phase growth. A silicon single crystal thin film is grown by mixing silicon chloride raw material with hydrogen gas to form a process gas and supplying the process gas to a semiconductor single crystal substrate at a growth temperature, wherein the thin film is grown at a growth rate equal to or higher than 80% of the maximum growth rate at the growth temperature.

1. Field of the Invention
Present invention relates to a method of producing a silicon single crystal thin film on a semiconductor single crystal substrate in vapor-phase growth.
2. Related Art
An apparatus shown in FIG. 2, for example, is generally used for performing a method of producing a silicon single crystal thin film (hereinafter simply referred to as a thin film) on a semiconductor single crystal substrate (hereinafter simply referred to as a substrate) in vapor-phase growth.
In the figure, a vapor-phase growth apparatus 10 has a transparent quartz glass vessel 16 with a gas supply port 14 and a gas exhaust port 15 both opening in the vessel 16. The substrate 11 is placed on a susceptor 12 inside the quartz glass vessel 16.
The substrate 11 rotates on a rotary shaft 13, while it is heated by radiation heating means 18 mounted above and below the quartz glass vessel 16. After the substrate 11 is heated up to a temperature, at which a thin film is grown on the substrate in a satisfactory manner, for example of 800.degree. C. to 1200.degree. C., a process gas 20 comprising a carrier gas and a reactant raw material gas is fed to a main surface of the substrate 11 and thereby the thin film is grown on the main surface of the substrate 11 by a chemical reaction of the process gas 20.
It has been known that fine peaks and valleys are sometimes presence to on a surface of a silicon single crystal thin film in vapor-phase growth of the thin film and that the peaks and valleys are more amplified in size as the thickness of the thin film increases. No clear cause for the phenomena of amplification, however, has been known. An estimation has been accepted that a surface of a thin film would be oxidized by water molecules and the oxidized surface would be then reduced by hydrogen gas to create fine pits on the surface of the thin film, in the presence of water inside the vapor-phase growth apparatus for producing the thin film. Because of the inevitable presence of water, investigation through experiments on any imaginable causes other than the presence of water has not been able to be performed. It has been also known from experiences that the surface condition of the thin film varies between very smooth and very poor even in an ambient of a constant water concentration. As described above, because of no clear knowledge about causes and a creation mechanism of the peaks and valleys, a smooth surface of a silicon single crystal thin film has not been produced in vapor-phase growth in a stable manner.
The inventor has made extensive research on a chemical reaction for growing a silicon single crystal thin film. The following are findings, insights from and knowledge related to the findings. Silicon chloride raw material mixed with hydrogen gas is very often used when silicon single crystal thin films are industrially produced.
When any one of silicon chlorides for industrial usage is used, usually silicon tetrachloride (SiCl.sub.4), trichlorosilane (SiHCl.sub.3) or dichlorosilane (SiH.sub.2 Cl.sub.2), hydrogen chloride is generated as a by-product. Hydrogen chloride has a corrosive character as is well known, and a surface of a thin film grown is subject to corrosion by the hydrogen chloride gas.
The inventor of the present invention has studied about a way to use silicon chloride raw materials, since the materials are safer in handling compared with silane (SiH.sub.4) in light of the safety in handling, it is more advantageous to use silicon chlorides as the raw material if the corrosive character of the materials can be suppressed sufficiently.
According to the law of mass action, which is one of the fundamental rules in chemistry, it should be effective to suppress the corrosive action of hydrogen gas by making decomposition products of silicon chloride raw material generated together with hydrogen chloride to absorb onto the surface of the thin film. Based on these insights and knowledge, the inventor has reached to an idea as set forth below.
When trichlorosilane as an example of silicon chloride is used in a growth reaction of a silicon single crystal thin film, SiCl and/or SiCl.sub.2 is generated and adsorbed on the surface of the thin film, while hydrogen chloride is liberated, wherein trichlorosilane (SiHCl.sub.3) is decomposed in the vicinity of the surface, as illustratively shown in FIG. 3.
It would be reasonably accepted that the corrosive reaction of hydrogen chloride with a thin film is suppressed if SiCl and/or SiCl.sub.2 is adsorbed on the surface of the thin film, since hydrogen chloride reacts with SiCl and SiCl.sub.2 so as to give a priority on a reverse reaction of decomposition. In order to make SiCl and/or SiCl.sub.2 adsorbed on the surface of the thin film sufficiently, a growth rate has to be large enough by supplying silicon chloride raw material abundantly.

Method of producing silicon single crystal thin film