A labeling machine can rapidly change the size of labels cut from a web of labels to match different diameter containers which are then fed onto containers moving along a conveyor. A labeling drum is positioned adjacent to the conveyor for receiving cut labels and applying them onto containers fed along the conveyor. A cutter assembly is positioned adjacent to the labeling drum for receiving a web of labels, cutting the web, and transferring a cut label onto the labeling drum. The cutter assembly includes a stationary mounting plate and a drive pinion mounted on the plate. A cutter roll frame is received on the mounting plate, and includes a vertically oriented cutter roll with upper and lower ends, a central axis, and a gear at the lower end for meshing with the drive pinion and rotating the cutter roll. The cutter roll gear size is directly proportional to the size of the cutter roll. The central axis of the cutter roll is spaced farther from the drive pinion, and the outer surface of the cutter roll is spaced farther from the label drum for successive larger diameter cutter rolls.

In co-pending patent application Ser. No. 08/308,243, a roll-fed labeling machine is disclosed having quick-change parts for processing containers of different sizes. The application discloses and claims an improved roll-on-pad assembly which includes an improved alignment mechanism for positioning the roll-on-pad assembly accurately with respect to the conveyor in accordance with a predetermined container size, and a latch for releasably mounting the roll-on-pad assembly in the arcuate position with respect to the conveyor. Additionally, an improved starwheel assembly has peripheral cusps formed in the circumference, each one receiving one of the predetermined size containers. A surface supports the starwheel assembly and a driving gear has an axis for driving the starwheel assembly. A plate is movable relative to the surface for supporting and aligning the starwheel assembly with respect to the conveyor, and a pivot is aligned with the driving gear axis for limiting the movement of the plate relative to the driving gear.
The cutter is disclosed as a cutter roll, i.e., a drum, having vacuum draw on its surface for retaining a web of label material thereon. The cutter roll includes a projecting label cutting blade protruding from the cutter roll. A knife edge is mounted adjacent to the cutter roll and the label drum for engaging the label cutting blade as the cutter roll rotates. The cutter roll and knife edge are positioned in close tolerance to the label drum and each other.
The number of labels that can be received on the cutter roll varies. For example, a two station label drum receives two large cut labels, while a four station label drum receives four cut labels for each revolution. It has been found that smaller labels require the use of a smaller cutter roll spaced closer to the label drum, while a larger label requires the use of a large diameter cutter roll spaced farther from the label drum. In many labeling machines, the cutters are complex and require numerous change parts and belt drives and gears. Typically, a change in cutters can take four hours. It would therefore be desirable if a cutter assembly could be designed that allows rapid change of cutter roll diameter to change the size of labels cut from a web of labels to match different diameter containers.

Labeling machine with improved cutter assembly


An instrument panel top cover with a seamless break-away air bag door made as a unitary composite from multiple layers of plastics by extruding a parison with inner and outer layers of different recyclable plastics having different physical characteristics but which are from the same plastics family. The parison is injected and expanded with low pressure gas and forming dies with door scoring tools are closed thereover. The plastics will resultantly conform to the shaping surfaces of the dies to form the composite while the perimeter of the air bag door is scored. A quantity of the plastic material interior of the door score lines is removed after the top cover is removed from the dies so that a seamless or hidden door is provided that can readily break open at the peripheral scores to augment air bag operation when the air bag is triggered.

In the above-identified co-pending application, a new and improved soft touch top cover and process for producing such covers for vehicle instrument panels is disclosed. Such covers are preferably a multi-layer composite formed from a plurality of different plastics from the same family to provide a quality part. The cover of the co-pending application features (1) good interior support for augmenting part handling and installation, and (2) desirable outer surface qualities for soft feel and quality appearance. Importantly, the multi-layer cover can be recycled as a unit (no layer separation required) to provide for improved life cycle management.
While the top cover of our co-pending application provides improved handling, appearance, recycling and other important benefits, there is no specific provision therein for an egress door to accommodate an occupant safety air bag desirable in many vehicles.
To this end, the present invention provides a new and improved instrument panel cover construction with an integral and discrete air bag egress door which, after installation, is visually indistinguishable from the surrounding areas of the panel cover. The cover is semi-stiff or sufficiently rigid for self support and can be readily handled and installed in an air bag equipped vehicle so that the "seamless" egress door is easily aligned with the air bag stored in the vehicle instrument panel. The air bag egress door can readily be torn open at formed perforated parting lines in the cover by the force of an expanding air bag in a safety related incident to provide for occupant protection. Since the door is torn open by air bag deployment and a new air bag and door is needed, part costs are minimized with this invention since a replacement top cover, or a portion thereof, containing the air bag door can be economically produced and installed onto the instrument panel.

Top cover for instrument panel with seamless air bag door and method of manufacture


A an intermodal container comprising: a first post; a second post; a third post; a fourth post; a floor drain hole located in one of the posts; an outlet drain hole located in one of the posts; a floor attached to the first, second, third, and fourth posts, the floor comprising: a front floor beam; a first side floor beam; a second side floor beam; a rear floor beam; a floor grating permanently attached to the top surface of at least two of the floor beams; at least one floor plate permanently attached to the bottom sides of the front, first side, second side, and rear floor beams, the beams and at least one floor plate forming a floor container, and the floor drain hole in fluid communication with the floor container, and generally at the same elevation as the interior of the floor container, and the outlet drain hole located at an elevation below the floor drain hole and the floor container, the floor container in fluid communication with the interior of the post with the floor drain hole and also in fluid communication with the interior of the post with the outlet drain hole.

There are no known intermodal containers currently used in the transportation industry that can contain fluids that leak from objects being stored in the containers. There are known devices that can used for stationary storage that provides spill containment. However, these devices are not suitable for transportation, they are designed and used for stationary storage. There are known spill containment pallets. However, spill containment pallets have many drawbacks, they are not stackable, and they do not have walls or ceilings to protect the items being carried by the pallets. Spill containment pallets cannot be sling loaded, i.e. carried by helicopter with a sling line and a swivel. In addition, known spill containment pallets are made out of plastic, and plastic pallets will degrade in sunlight, and/or extreme temperatures.
Thus there is a need for an intermodal container that overcomes the above listed and other disadvantages.


In an apparatus and method for forming an applied layer of a photosensitive resin on a large glass substrate for an LCD color filter, a substrate (S) is suctioned and held by a movable holder (8) with a main surface thereof to be processed oriented downward. The movable holder (8) is at an angle of inclination (.theta.) to the horizontal and is capable of moving along a guide rail (7). An application head (H) having an upward-pointing linear slit (13) through which an application liquid is supplied is provided below a region through which the substrate (S) moves supported by the holder (8). When the substrate (S) having a constant clearance (I.sub.2) with the application head (H) is moved diagonally upward, an application liquid bead (B) is formed between the slit (13) and the downward-pointing main surface of the substrate (S), by surface tension. The application liquid bead (B) is moved gradually diagonally downward along the main surface of the substrate to form an application layer (Ra). A meniscus (L.sub.2) of the application liquid bead (B) facing the higher side of the substrate (S) has a height dimension (h.sub.2) that is greater than that of a meniscus (L.sub.1) thereof facing the lower side of the substrate, and the height dimension of the meniscus on the higher side of the substrate (S) is made to be sufficiently larger than the thickness of the application liquid layer. This suppresses the generation of shear forces caused by differences in tension force within the application liquid bead (B) created by unevenness in the substrate surface, and thus a uniform applied layer can be formed stably and at a high usage efficiency of application liquid, without being affected by unevenness in the main surface of the substrate.

A spin coating method is often used in the prior art as a method of coating an application liquid over sheet-like separate substrates such as large glass substrates typified by color filters for an LCD. Among spin coating methods, there is a method open to the atmosphere and a sealed cup method, but each of these methods has a low application efficiency of approximately 10% and moreover they have a disadvantage that the applied layer at corner portions of the substrate is too thick, and it has been pointed out that there will be problems concerning factors such as the amount of application liquid used, the layer thickness distribution, and the throughput as substrate sizes are expected to get larger in the future.
A knife coating method, a roll coating method, and a die coating method are available as methods capable of solving the above faults of the spin coating method. Each of these methods provides a clearance (gap) for application above the substrate on which the liquid is to be applied, the value thereof determines the application layer thickness, and smoothness is obtained for the application surface, but if the smoothness (degree of unevenness) of the substrate surface has a value greater than the accuracy of the application, it is difficult to achieve a uniform layer thickness by using any of these methods.
A dip coating method is generally known as an application method that is hardly affected by unevenness of the substrate surface, but it is difficult to avoid coating the non-application portions thereof and electively coat only the main surface of the substrate with this method. A liquid application method is known as a method with application principles that resemble those of the dip coating method and which also selectively coats only the main surface, as stated on page 336 of "Latest Advances in Coating Techniques," edited by Mr. Yuji Harasaki and published by Kabushiki Kaisha Sogo Gijyutu Center, Japan on Apr. 30, 1988. With this method, application liquid is supplied in substantially the horizontal direction through a die head or slide coating die, as will be described below. Liquid adjacent to a lip on the side surface of the die head or sliding die is moved in a direction perpendicular to the substrate that is to be coated. The application liquid supplied from the die head or sliding die forms an application liquid bead between the substrate and the die lip, and an applied layer of the liquid is formed on the main substrate surface in accordance with the upward movement of the substrate.
The above described application method is generally used as an application method for continuous band-shaped substrates. The thickness of the layer to be applied is determined by the relative speed of the substrate and the application head, and the viscosity of the application liquid. In other words, the application liquid pulled up from the bead portion droops down along the substrate under the force of gravity, and the thickness of the layer is determined by a balance between the speed at which the bead portion droops and the speed at which the substrate draws up the application liquid. This application principle is extremely similar to that of the dip coating method. However, if the application liquid has a low viscosity and a weak surface tension, it is difficult with this application method to form a bead in the clearance (gap) provided between the substrate and the application head and thus the application liquid is likely to fall under the force of gravity, without forming a bead, immediately after it is supplied, so that the clearance (gap) between the substrate and application head must be made extremely small in order to prevent these problems. However, with a substrate in which the degree of flatness is low with bumps of up to 100 .mu.m, such as a glass substrate used for an LCD color filter, differences in pull strength caused while the liquid is being pulled from the bead will occur, and thus differing shear forces will act on the liquid bead. If such locally differing shear forces are present, the thickness of the liquid layer drawn out from the liquid bead will not be uniform.
With this liquid application method, continuous liquid application to the main surfaces of substrates is possible. However, the main surfaces of the substrates extend vertically and liquid is supplied from the application head in a perpendicular manner with respect to the substrates, so that in the case of separate substrates, application liquid remaining in the bead portion will droop under the force of gravity as the edge portion of each substrate moves away immediately after the application. Furthermore, the drooping liquid flows around the edge portion of the substrate, reaching the rear surface thereof and the lower portion of the application head with resultant pollution. Therefore, this application method is not suited to application to separate sheet-like substrates.
Even further, the previously described liquid application method using a sliding die has the same defects as the above described liquid application method using an application head. In particular, with this method, the free flow of the application liquid leads to it flowing over the inclined surface of the sliding die and, since the application liquid bead is formed between it and the surface of the substrate, it is difficult to stop the supply at any desired point after the application. For this reason, this application method is not suitable for repeated application in sequence on separate substrates.
This invention is intended to solve the above problems with prior art techniques, and has as its objective the provision of a liquid application method and liquid application apparatus that can highly efficiently form a uniform liquid application layer in a stable state on a surface of a sheet-like separate substrate, irrespective of the properties of the liquid.

Liquid application method and application apparatus


A player places a point bet. A come out number is randomly selected using dice or a random number generator. Depending on the come out number selected, the player wins the point bet, loses the point bet, pushes on the point bet, or the point bet remains in play and the come out number becomes the point number. Outcome numbers are randomly selected until the outcome number is either 7, in which case the player loses the point bet, or the point number, in which case the player is rewarded. Place bet wagers are provided subsequent to the selection of the come out number on the numbers 5, 6, 8, or 9 (excluding 4 and 10). During the selection of the outcome number, if the outcome number 7 is selected, players lose any place bet wagers, and if the outcome number is the place bet number, the player is rewarded.

Craps is a well known casino dice game. There are numerous wagering possibilities in the game of craps including, but not limited to, whether to wager with the house or the shooter-player, i.e. bet the Pass or Don't Pass line, whether to make place bets, hard way bets, Field wagers, one time proposition wagers, to name but a few. With each new roll there are numerous wagering propositions provided to the players.
A drawback to traditional casino craps is that the game tends to be intimidating to novices. The various wagering possibilities tends to frustrate newcomers to the game. The craps game layout, to accommodate the various propositions, can be confusing thus making new players uncomfortable with trying craps. A further drawback of craps is that the table layout for the game demands a large table structure and thus the game is not suitable to be configured on a smaller Blackjack table.
In my prior patent, U. S. Pat. No. 5,931,471 issued Aug. 3, 1999, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference, I set forth a simplified version of a craps game.
There continues to be a need for even a more simplified dice game which provides features and advantages including providing at least several wagering propositions for a player, offering rewards at odds ranging from 1:1 to odds greater than 1:1, such as at least 3:1, which incorporates the excitement of the traditional game of craps, which can be played on a Blackjack table thus consuming less floor space than a traditional craps table, which can be played by one or a group of players and which can be incorporated in to a computer operated game. It is believed that the game method and device of the present invention fulfills one or more of the above needs.


A system and method for acquiring an image of a region of interest (ROI) of subject using a computed tomography (CT) system includes a) performing a scout scan of the subject using the CT system to yield scout data related to the ROI and b) determining an initial contrast volume form at least the scout data. The method also includes c) prescribing a scanning protocol to be implemented using the computed tomography system to image the ROI and d) determining a size of the subject about the ROI. The method further includes e) determining a computed tomography dose related to volume (CTDIvol) based on at least the size determined at step d) and f) adjusting the scanning protocol prescribed in step b) to match at least one of a desired radiation dose and a relative intravenous (IV) contrast dose to a reference CTDIvol. The method includes g) acquiring imaging data from the ROI using the CT system by using the adjusted scanning protocol.

The field of the invention is systems and methods for computed tomography ("CT") imaging. More particularly, the invention relates to systems and methods for controlling both radiation dose and intravenous ("IV") contrast agent dose.
Despite tremendous effort in the CT community to minimize radiation dose, scanning protocols and radiation doses still vary widely among different CT practices, which poses substantial risks to patient safety. The substantial variation in protocols and radiation dose is largely attributable to the lack of an efficient and widely available approach to optimizing CT protocols.
Clinical evaluation by interpreting physicians is the most commonly used approach to determining the lowest possible radiation dose in CT protocols. To do the evaluation, one can gradually decrease the scanning technique until the image quality approaches the minimum acceptable limit. This approach requires exploratory low-dose scans on a number of patients, which is tedious and can potentially result in diagnostically compromised image. A more elegant approach is to use a noise insertion tool to simulate images at reduced dose levels from "standard dose" existing exams. A range of simulated dose levels can be generated and the diagnostic quality comparisons can be done across the same patient, removing patient-specific variables. This approach enables radiologists to determine the lowest acceptable dose level without risk of compromising a patient scan, which has been used for optimizing CT scanning protocols. Due to the proprietary nature of the CT raw data, the noise-insertion tools for clinical use have often been developed by manufacturers and distributed to very few users under research agreement. The technical details of the tools are not publicly available and the accuracy is usually out of the users' control, which makes their applications rather limited.
Even assuming that a reduced dose is appropriately selected by a clinician, the clinical value of the image may be correspondingly reduced by the introduction of additional variables to the imaging process. For example, the use of an intravenous (IV) contrast agent or the introduction of additional noise to the imaging process can drastically change the dose requirements.
Therefore, it would be desirable to have a system and method for managing the variables and interplay between selecting a desired radiation and IV contrast agent dose, while controlling against the risk of providing images that may not meet clinical needs because the dose of radiation or IV contrast agent is too low.

Method for controlling radiation dose and intravenous contrast dose in computed tomography imaging

MAYO FOUNDATION FOR MEDICAL EDUCATION AND RESEARCH


The invention relates to multilayer composites having improved weathering properties without reducing flame retardation properties. The composites have a fluoropolymer layer over a thermoplastic layer. The multilayer composite may be a fluoropolymer layer directly over a relatively flammable substrate or non-flammable substrate (like PVC), or it may be a fluoropolymer layer over a relatively flammable cap layer, over a substrate (that is flammable or non-flammable). The composite is formed using coating, coextrusion and/or lamination techniques. The multilayer composite is especially useful in articles having surfaces that are used in a relatively horizontal position, including decking, railings, roofing and window profiles. The composites provide improved weathering for the substrate without a reduction in flame-resistance, when compared to the substrate without the outer fluoropolymer layer. The multi-layer composite also provides enhanced chemical resistance, hardness, scratch and mar, and water resistance.

Many structural plastics exhibit attractive mechanical properties when extruded, molded, or formed into various articles of manufacture. Such articles include, for example, bathtubs, shower stalls, counters, appliance housings and liners, building materials, doors, windows, siding, decking, railings and shutters, lawn and garden applications, marine applications pool application, and storage facilities. Although these structural plastics are strong, tough and relatively inexpensive, the properties of their exposed surfaces are less than ideal. That is, the surfaces of the structural plastics are degraded by light; they can be easily scratched, and can be eroded by common solvents.
Consequently, it has become a practice in the industry to apply another resinous material over the structural plastic to protect the underlying structural material and provide a surface that can withstand abuse associated with the use environment. Such surfacing materials are called "capstocks".
The capstock generally is much thinner than the structural plastic, typically being about 5 to about 25% of the total thickness of the multilayer structure comprising the capstock and structural plastic plies. For example, the thickness of the capstock can be about 0.05 to about 2.5 mm, whereas the thickness of the structural plastic ply can be about 1.0 to about 50 mm, and preferably 2.5 to 30 mm.
One issue with most of the capstocks currently used, such as acrylics and styrenics, is that they are relatively flammable. For instance, these capstock materials decrease the flame retardancy of substrates based on polyvinyl chloride (PVC). There is a desire to maintain the weather-resistant properties of the capstock, while improving its flame retardancy.
Flame retardant compounds for use in thermoplastics are well known. Most of these involve iodine and/or bromine compounds, such as aliphatic and aromatic bromine compounds, as for styrenic resins as described in US 2012-0184638, or a compound based on phosphorous, or antimony. The problem with these flame retardants is that they tend to have toxicity issues, and with the recommended usage levels of 5-30 weight percent, these flame retardants adversely effect the physical properties (such as tensile strength) of the polymer.
U.S. Pat. No. 8,129,455 describes a flame retardant ASA used at 15-30 wt percent, and made up of 20-80 percent graphite, 20-80 percent of a phosphorous flame retardant, and 0.1 to 2% of a perfluorinated polyolefin.
Fluoropolymers, and in particular polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) polymers, are known to provide excellent resistance to weathering, chemical, and water. PVDF films are used to protect surfaces, such as photovoltaic modules, such as those described in US 2010/0175742 and US 2012/0073632.
Fluoropolymers have been added to acrylic polymer matrices to improve weatherability, adhesion to fluoropolymers and impact resistance (U.S. Pat. No. 6,811,859, US2008-0293837, US 2008-0032101, U.S. Pat. No. 7,947,781).
A blend of 5-60% fluoropolymer blended into thermoplastic capstocks to improve flame retardancy of a composite capstock over a substrate, is described in U.S. application No. 61/786,752.
A coextrudable composite film having a PVDF layer over a layer that is a blend of PVDF, an acrylic and an acrylic elastomer are described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,811,859. This film can be used as a protective layer over a substrate.
Transparent multi-layer films that will not stress-whiten having a layer of PVDF over PMMA layer are disclosed in US '604.
Multi-layer laminates of PVDF, an acrylic, and a thermoplastic formed by coextrusion and having no discrete layers are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,415,519 and 4,317,860.
Surprisingly it has been found that a weatherable, flame-retardant composite can be formed with a fluoropolymer layer as an outer layer. In one embodiment a relatively flammable capstock layer is placed over a substrate to improve weatherablity, and a fluoropolymer layer is placed over the capstock layer to provide a flame resistant composite. In addition to excellent weathering resistance and flame-resistance, the composite of the invention has improvements in water resistance, chemical resistance, and appearance.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


A laser diode alignment package has a substrate with capacitive alignment pads. A charge generator is configured to charge or discharge each of the capacitive alignment pad to a respective voltage in response to an instruction from a processor. A laser diode chip has a conductive die paddle rigidly attached thereto and the laser diode chip is movably positioned on the substrate. The conductive die paddle is positioned with respect to the alignment pads such that when the respective voltages are applied the capacitive alignment pads, Coulomb forces will move the conductive die paddle with respect to the substrate. A feedback mechanism measures the optical power passing through the optical fiber. A processor estimates based on this measured optical power level what voltage should be applied to each of the capacitive coupling pads in order to apply Coulomb forces necessary to align the laser diode chip to the optical fiber. The processor then sends charging instructions to the charge generator. The alignment process can be fully automated thus minimizing the risk of human error. The structure and method require few, if any, moving mechanical parts in order to align the laser and requires little or no heavy equipment.

The fabrication of a laser diode on a substrate is well known in the art. Typically, laser emissions from the laser diode are transported over large distances. Optical fibers are a well known device for channeling lasers over large distances. However, in order to channel the laser, the laser diode must be properly aligned so that as much of the laser emissions as possible enter the optical fiber. Therefore, a device and method for aligning a laser diode to the optical fiber is desired.
There are a variety of prior art devices and methods of aligning one object relative to another. However, these embodiments are typically too cumbersome to effectively align two objects as small as a conventional semiconductor laser diode and an optical fiber.
One device and method is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,537,504 (Cina et al.) filed Oct. 31, 1995 which is incorporated herein by reference. This method requires the use of relatively large pieces of equipment in order to mechanically manipulate the optoelectric converter. This equipment is typically expensive and occupies valuable fab real estate. Furthermore, there are many moving parts in this package which tends to decrease the reliability of the package. Therefore, a device and method for aligning a laser diode without using overly cumbersome equipment and moving parts was desired.

Package including self-aligned laser diode and method of aligning a laser diode


A portable timepiece has a bezel rotatably disposed on a case body, and an elastically deformable gasket interposed between the case body and the bezel in an elastically deformed state to exert a frictional force on the case body and the bezel sufficient to maintain the bezel in a stationary rotational position though permitting the bezel to be manually rotated to any desired position by overcoming the frictional force. One or more lock members are movably disposed on the bezel and contact a slip-preventing part provided on the case body. A manually rotatable holding ring engages with the lock members and is rotatable in one direction to increase the contact pressure between the lock members and the slip-preventing part to thereby prevent unintended rotation of the bezel, and is rotatable in the other direction to decrease the contact pressure to thereby permit manual rotation of the bezel by overcoming the frictional force exerted by the elastically deformed gasket. In this manner, inadvertent rotation of the bezel is prevented by structure other than the gasket thereby preventing undue wear of the gasket.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention concerns a portable timepiece such as wristwatch and pocket watch, and especially relates to a portable timepiece in which a bezel is rotatably attached to a case band.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The bezel rotatably attached to the case band of the portable timepiece can exhibit various functions by rotating it to be set to an optional position, and can contribute to increase 1n additive value of the portable timepiece.
Heretofore, there is known a wristwatch in which, in order to rotatably attach the bezel to the case band, a step part, to whose inner periphery there is attached a cover glass, is formed in an upper part outer periphery of the case band over its whole periphery, an annular protrusion is formed in an outer periphery of the step part, a protrusion which is formed in an inner periphery of the bezel rotatably fitted to the step part of the case band is engaged from below with the protrusion of the step part outer periphery part to thereby prevent the bezel from disengaging, and an O-ring is interposed between the bezel and the step part (refer to JP-A-10-239454 Gazette (paragraphs 0002–0005, FIG. 19–FIG. 23)).
In a constitution of the JP-A-10-239454 Gazette, since the O-ring is interposed between the bezel and the step part in order to smoothly rotate the bezel, it is easy to rotation-operate the bezel to a desired position. However, as to the bezel capable of being simply rotation-operated, since its force holding a stationary state with respect to the case band is weak, it is easy that the bezel is carelessly deviated from a rotated position set by a user with effort to a position not desired by the user by an unexpected external factor and a chance.
In view of this point, in a case where a frictional resistance force is increased by strengthening a gripping force of the O-ring, the careless or unintended rotation of the bezel can be suppressed. However, reversely to this, in a case where the user rotates the bezel, the rotation of the bezel becomes difficult and thus an operability becomes deteriorated.
The problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a portable timepiece capable of suppressing the fact that the bezel is carelessly rotated and deviated, without impairing the rotation operability of the bezel.


A method for fabricating a semiconductor device is disclosed. The semiconductor device includes a capacitor and a support insulator. The capacitor includes a cylindrical electrode. The cylindrical electrode comprises upper and lower sections. The lower section has a roughened inner surface and an outer surface supported by the support insulator. The upper section upwardly projects from the support insulator. An initial cylindrical electrode is formed, wherein the initial cylindrical electrode comprises an initial upper section and an initial lower section which correspond to the upper section and the lower section of the cylindrical electrode, respectively. The initial upper section is supported by the support insulator. Specific impurities are implanted into the initial upper section, wherein the specific impurities serve to prevent the initial upper section from being roughened. Then, the initial cylindrical electrode is exposed to a roughening process so that the initial lower section is roughened to be the lower section.

This invention relates to a semiconductor device with a capacitor and to a method for fabricating the semiconductor device.
A semiconductor device such as a dynamic random access memory (DRAM) comprises a capacitor which is required to be downsized but to have a larger capacitance. One of the techniques meeting the foregoing requirements is disclosed in WO 99/04434, which is incorporated herein by reference. However, the disclosed capacitor has a problem in its structural strength. Therefore, there is a need for a semiconductor device that has a capacitor with high structural strength, and a need for a fabrication method of the semiconductor device.

Method for fabricating a cylindrical capacitor including implanting impurities into the upper sections of the lower electrode to prevent the formation of hemispherical grain silicon on the upper sections


A composition comprising one or more polyaminoaminde epihalohydrin resins and one or more polyamides in a ratio of about 1:99 to about 99:1 based on polymer actives and use of the composition for creping paper webs.

The desired properties of tissue, including softness, bulk, stretch and absorbency, are achieved by the means of a steam-heated Yankee dryer cylinder and a doctor blade. The wet fiber web is largely dewatered at the pressure roll nip where the sheet is transferred to the Yankee surface. At this point the paper web has 35-40% consistency. The sheet is further dried on the hot Yankee cylinder to 90-97% consistency and removed with a doctor blade. The mechanical action of the blade results in a disruption of the fiber-fiber bonds and a formation of a microfold structure within the sheet. This process is referred to as creping.
In order to develop the crepe,.the paper web has to adhere to the surface of the Yankee dryer. The adhesion is provided by spraying an adhesive on the dryer. Most common Yankee adhesives are synthetic polymers such as polyaminoamide-epichlorohydrin resins, polyamine-epichlorohydrin resins, polyvinyl alcohols, polyvinyl acetates, polyacrylamides and polyethers. Various low molecular weight compounds, oils and surfactants, are used to modify the Yankee coating properties.
A creping adhesive comprising a mixture of high molecular weight and low molecular weight polyaminoamide epihalohydrin resins, PAE-I and PAE-II, respectively, is described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,277,242.
The tissue industry is interested in manufacturing very soft tissue (premium grades) that requires creping at very low sheet moisture levels (<3%). The conventional creping adhesives tend to become hard and less rewettable upon the extensive drying that is required for low moisture creping. The hard coating results in blade chatter and loss of adhesion, which can result in blade wear and non-uniform creping. Thus, there is a great demand for a creping adhesive that remains soft and rewettable under low moisture creping conditions.
Traditional thermosetting adhesives, very similar to permanent wet strength resins, form very brittle coatings and work better at high moisture (>6%) creping conditions. Some thermosetting adhesives with lower levels of cross-linking are much more universal and can be used for creping over a wider range of sheet moisture, 3-7%. Non-thermosetting resins are generally easier to manage and provide better sheet control when creping at lower moisture levels. Modifiers, e.g. polyols such as glycerol, can further be used to adjust the level of adhesion and to improve softness and rewettability of the coating. However, even with the addition of modifiers, conventional adhesives become too hard and their use is still limited to moisture levels of >3%. Accordingly, there is an ongoing need for improved creping adhesive compositions.

Creping adhesives comprising blends of polyaminoamide epihalolhydrin resins and polyamides


A semiconductor product includes a portion made of copper, a portion made of a dielectric and a self-aligned barrier between the copper portion and the dielectric portion. The self-aligned barrier includes a first copper silicide layer comprising predominantly first copper silicide molecules, and a second copper silicide layer comprising predominantly second copper silicide molecules. The proportion of the number of silicon atoms is higher in the second silicide molecules than in the first silicide molecules. The second copper silicide layer is positioned between the copper portion and the first copper silicide layer. A nitride layer may overlie at least part of the first copper silicide layer.

1. Technical Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to the production of self-aligned barriers in microelectronics, for example, in integrated circuits.
2. Description of Related Art
Integrated circuits generally comprise barriers at the interface between a conducting region and an insulating region. The barriers prevent, for example, the diffusion of atoms from the conducting region into the insulating region.
FIG. 1 is a diagram of an example of a circuit portion according to the prior art. Conducting regions 1 and vias 2 are separated from a dielectric 5 by metal barriers 4 and by silicon nitride (Si3N4) barriers 3. The conducting regions 1 and the vias 2 are typically made of copper. The dielectric 5 may, for example, comprise fluorine-doped silicon oxide or FSG (fluorosilicate glass).
When a wafer of such a circuit is fabricated, the silicon nitride barriers 3 are deposited over the entire surface of the wafer. It is therefore necessary to carry out etching operations on the silicon nitride barriers 3 in order to create the places intended for the vias 2.
In addition, when a silicon nitride barrier is deposited over the entire surface of the wafer, as in the diagram shown in FIG. 1, the process is preceded by an initial copper deoxidation step. This is because copper oxide is relatively porous and brittle, facilitating the diffusion of copper atoms. Thus, when a relatively high current is applied to the circuit, there will be relatively weak retention of the copper atoms. Such a current may be applied so as to test the ageing resistance of the circuit. As a consequence, if the copper has not been correctly deoxidized before formation of the barrier, one ageing resistance characteristic of such a wafer risks being unsatisfactory.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,181,013 discloses a process for obtaining a layer comprising copper silicide molecules. A wafer comprising dielectric portions and copper portions on its surface is firstly cleaned. A plasma of nitrogen, ammonia and silane is then applied. This operation is carried out at about 400° C. This plasma results in the deposition of silicon nitride over the entire surface of the wafer. The silicon nitride deposited on the copper portions may react with the copper to form a layer comprising copper silicide molecules.
In applications of the imager type, light rays must pass through part of the circuit. Silicon nitride barriers distributed over the entire surface have the drawback that the light rays are partially refracted owing to the difference in optical index between the dielectric and the silicon nitride. This is because silicon nitride has a significantly higher optical index than the other dielectrics used.
FIG. 2 is a diagram of another example of a circuit portion according to the prior art. Conducting regions 1 and vias 2 are separated from a dielectric 5 by metal barriers 4 and by self-aligned barriers 6. The conducting regions 1 and the vias 2 are typically made of copper. The dielectric 5 may for example comprise FSG. The self-aligned barriers 6 are formed only on the copper.
The self-aligned barriers occupy only part of the surface of the wafer and thus prevent partial refraction of the light rays in imager applications.
The self-aligned barriers 6 may for example comprise silicon or cobalt.
When a self-aligned barrier comprising silicon is formed on copper, diffusion between copper atoms and silicon atoms of the self-aligned barrier generates a mixed copper silicide layer on the surface of the copper. This mixed layer allows better retention of the copper atoms when a relatively high current is applied to the circuit. Such a current may be applied so as to test the ageing resistance of the circuit. Consequently, a self-aligned barrier comprising silicon improves one ageing resistance characteristic of the circuit.
This advantage is also obtained with a self-aligned barrier comprising cobalt. This is because cobalt and copper only mix together at relatively high temperatures, above 422° C. A self-aligned barrier comprising cobalt therefore forms a good barrier to the diffusion of copper atoms. This barrier makes it possible to retain the copper atoms when a relatively high current is applied.
Self-aligned barriers comprising cobalt are fabricated by dipping the wafer into a solution. The solution reacts with copper, so that the barrier forms only on the surface of the copper. Such a process therefore requires the surface of the wafer to be prepared and certain parameters, such as the temperature and the pH, have to be controlled.
On the other hand, self-aligned barriers comprising silicon are relatively easy to produce, since their fabrication involves existing equipment.
The article "A novel self-aligned surface-silicide passivation technology for reliability enhancement in copper interconnects", by T. Takewaki, 1995 Symposium on VLSI Technology Digest of Technical Papers, describes a process for forming a self-aligned barrier. A wafer is firstly cleaned by annealing at 500° C., and then silane is introduced with no plasma at a temperature between 150° C. and 200° C. The article specifies that this temperature could be up to 400° C. Copper acts as a catalyst in the reaction of decomposing silane to silicon, so that silicon is formed on the copper surface. The wafer then undergoes an annealing operation at 450° C. for 30 minutes so as to form a self-aligned copper silicide layer.
The article "Passivation of copper by silicide formation in dilute silane" by S. Hyme, Journal of Applied Physics, Vol. 71, pages 4623-4625, (1992), describes that the silicide layer may comprise molecules of formula Cu5Si, Cu15Si4 or even Cu3Si.
There is a need to further improve the ageing resistance characteristic.

Production of a self-aligned CuSiN barrier


A development apparatus and an image forming apparatus capable of minimizing deterioration of a carrier for a long time, even in a case of continuous formation of images of a smaller image area ratio. The charging of toner is assisted by using a developer composed of a mixture of toner and the carrier, to the surface of which is added a reverse polarity particle having a polarity reverse to that of a charged toner. Separation of the toner or reverse polarity particle of the developer prior to a process of development prevents the reverse polarity particle from being consumed in a developing area, whereby an effect thereof is maintained for a long time.

Conventionally, with respect to a developing system for an electrostatic latent image formed on an image supporting member in an image-forming apparatus using an electrophotographic system, a one-component developing system that uses only toner as a developer and a two-component developing system that uses a toner and a carrier have been known.
In the one-component developing system, in general, the toner is allowed to pass through a regulating section that is constituted by a toner-supporting member and a regulating plate pressed onto the toner-supporting member so that the toner is charged and a desired thin toner layer is obtained; therefore, this system is advantageous from the viewpoints of simplifying and miniaturizing the system and of achieving low costs. In contrast, due to a strong stress in the regulating section, the toner is easily deteriorated to cause degradation in a toner charge-receiving property. Moreover, the regulating plate and the surface of the toner-supporting member are contaminated by the toner and externally additive agents, with the result that a charge-applying property to the toner is lowered to cause problems such as fogging and the subsequent short service life of the developing system.
In comparison with the one-component developing system, the two-component developing system, which charges the toner through a friction-charging process upon mixing with the carrier, can reduce the stress, and is advantageous in preventing toner deterioration. Moreover, the carrier serving as a charge-applying material to the toner has a greater surface area so that it is relatively resistant to contamination due to the toner and externally additive agents, and is advantageous in prolonging the system service life. However, even in the case of the two-component developer, the contamination on the carrier surface due to the toner and externally additive agents also occurs to cause reduction in the quantity of charge in toner after a long-term use, resulting in problems such as fogging and toner scattering; therefore, the system service life is not sufficient, and there is a strong demand for a longer service life.
To meet the demand, a few technologies for prolonging the life of the two component developer by preventing the carrier from deteriorating have been proposed (for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. 59-100471 and Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. 2003-215855)
With respect to a method for prolonging the life of the two component developer, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. 59-100471 has disclosed a development apparatus in which a carrier, alone or together with a toner, is supplied little by little, while a deteriorated developer having a reduced electrostatic charge property (simply referred to as "charge property") is discharged in response to a supply so that the carrier is exchanged to prevent increase in the a ratio of a deteriorated carrier. In this device, since the carrier is exchanged, a reduction in the quantity of charge in toner due to the deteriorated carrier can be suppressed in a certain level, making it possible to provide a long service life. However, since a mechanism for collecting the discharged carrier is required, and since the carrier is used as a consumable supply, problems arise in costs, environmental preservation, and the like. Moreover, since a predetermined number of printing processes need to be repeated until a ratio of new and old carriers has been stabilized, there is a failure to maintain and effectively use the initial properties.
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. 2003-215855 has disclosed a two component developer composed of a carrier and a toner to which particles that exert a charge property with a reverse polarity to a toner charge polarity are externally added, and a developing method using such a developer. In the developing method of Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2003-215855, the reverse polarity-chargeable particles are added in an attempt to add functions as a polishing agent and spacer particles, and it describes that by the effect of removing spent matters on the carrier surface, the degradation preventive effect is obtained. Moreover, it also describes that in a cleaning unit in an image supporting member, a cleaning property is improved, and that a polishing effect of the image supporting member is obtained. However, in the disclosed developing method, the amounts of consumption in the toner and the reverse polarity-chargeable particles are different depending on an image area rate, and in particular, in a case of a small image area rate, the consumption of the reverse polarity-chargeable particles becomes excessive, causing degradation in a carrier deterioration preventive effect in a development apparatus.

Development apparatus, image-forming apparatus and developing method using reverse polarity particles

Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.


A controller controls an ink jet printing apparatus that propels ink jet droplets on demand from a printhead having a plurality of drop ejectors. The printhead includes a plurality of heater elements which are responsive to electrical input signals, each input signal having an amplitude and time duration which produce a temporary vapor bubble and cause a quantity of ink to be ejected for creation of a mark on a copy sheet. The controller has power supply means and delay means that vary the amplitude and duration of the input signals in relation to the printhead temperature.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a controller for a thermal ink jet printer. Specifically, the present invention is a controller for controlling the spot size associated with an ink jet printhead which responds to the temperature of the ink in the printhead.
2. Description of Related Art
In thermal ink jet printing, droplets of ink are selectively emitted from a plurality of drop ejectors of a printhead to create a desired image on a image receiving member. The printhead typically comprises an array of ejectors for conveying ink to the image receiving member. The printhead may move back and forth relative to the image receiving member in order to print the image, or the array may extend across the entire width of the image receiving member. In either case, the image receiving member moves perpendicularly relative to the linear array of the printhead. The ejectors typically comprise capillary channels, or other ink passageways, which are connected to one or more common ink supply manifolds. Ink from the manifold is retained within each channel until, in response to an appropriate signal, the ink in the channel is rapidly heated and vaporized by a heating element disposed within the channel. This rapid vaporization of the ink creates a bubble which causes a quantity of ink to be ejected through the nozzle to the image receiving member. One patent using the general configuration of a typical ink jet printhead is, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,774,530 to Hawkins.
When a quantity of ink, in the form of a droplet, is ejected from the ejector to the image receiving member, the resulting spot of ink becomes part of the desired image. Uniformity in the spot size of a large number of droplets is crucial to maintaining image quality in ink jet printing. The human eye is very sensitive to changes in spot size, especially when shaded areas and graphics are being produced. If the volume of droplets ejected from the printhead over the course of producing a single image is permitted to vary widely, this lack of uniformity in droplet volume will have noticeable effects on the ink spot size of the image, and therefore on the quality of the image. Similarly, if volumes of droplets ejected from the printhead differ during subsequent printings of the same image, then printing stability cannot be maintained; this is particularly important in color printing, where the colors produced are highly dependent on the volume ratios of the ejected drops which combine to produce the desired colors.
The most common and important cause of variance in the volume of droplets ejected from the printhead is variations in the temperature in the printhead over the course of use. The temperature of the ink, before vaporization by the heating element, substantially effects the viscosity of the ink. Control of the temperature of the printhead then has long been of primary concern in the art.
In order to maintain a constant spot size from the ink jet printhead, various strategies have been attempted. One example is U.S. Pat. No. 4,899,180 to Elhatem et al., assigned to the assignee of the present application. In this patent, the printhead has integrated into it a number of heater resistors and a temperature sensor which operate to heat the printhead to an optimum operating temperature and maintain that temperature regardless of local temperature variations.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,791,435 to Smith et al. discloses an ink jet system wherein the temperature of the printhead is maintained by using the heating elements of the printhead not only for ejection of ink but for maintaining the temperature as well. The printhead temperature is compared to thermal models of the printhead to provide information for controlling the printhead temperature. At low temperature, low energy pulses are sent to each channel, or nozzle, below the voltage threshold which would cause a drop of ink to be ejected. Alternatively, the printhead is warmed by firing some droplets of ink into an external chamber instead of onto the image receiving member.
PCT Application No. U.S./90/10541 describes a printhead in which the heating cycle for the ink is divided into several partial cycles, only the last of which initiates bubble formation and ejection of a droplet. In this printhead, therefore, the liquid ink is first preheated to its preselected temperature, the ink having known volume and viscosity characteristics, so that the behavior of the ink will be predictable at the time of firing.
PCT Application No. U.S./90/10540 discloses a printhead control system wherein the temperature of the liquid ink is compared with a predetermined threshold value, and if it exceeds this threshold value the pulse energy (proportional to the square of the voltage to the heating element times duration of the pulse) is reduced. According to this patent, the pulse energy may be varied by controlling either the voltage, the pulse duration, or both.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,736,089 to Hair et al. discloses a thermal printhead (as opposed to an ink jet printhead) wherein printhead temperature is sensed by a voltage generating diode on the printhead itself. A detected temperature of the printhead is used to establish a preselected reference level. Bi-stable means are coupled to the thermal printhead to print or not print in a given time. Control means are used to turn the bi-stable means on when the control voltage is less than the reference level related to the temperature, and turns the bi-stable means off when the control voltage exceeds the preselected reference level, thus causing the time duration of a voltage pulse to the thermal printing means to be dependent on temperature.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,980,702 to Kneezel discloses a thermal ink jet printhead wherein outputs from a temperature sensor in the printhead are compared to a high or low level temperature reference. If the sensed printhead temperature is below the reference level, power to the heater in the printhead is turned on. If the temperature sensed is too high, the heater is turned off. The print-head is configured so that the temperature sensor and the heater in the printhead are in close proximity.

Apparatus for stabilizing thermal ink jet printer spot size


Methods and apparatus for correcting defects, such as rounded corners and line end shortening, in patterns formed via lithography are provided. Such defects are compensated for “post-rasterization” by manipulating the grayscale values of pixel maps.

1. Field of the Invention
Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to lithography systems used to print patterns or masks onto semiconductor wafers and, more particularly, to improving the acuity of pattern features printed thereby.
2. Description of the Related Art
In the photolithographic fabrication of integrated circuits, resist sensitive to radiant particle energy is exposed in predetermined patterns to define circuit features. In some cases, the energy is passed through masks which contain the patterns, thereby selectively exposing a photoresist on a semiconductor body. In other cases, the resist is on a mask substrate and the direction of the radiant energy itself is controlled to define patterns in the resist. Several sources of radiant energy have been used, including ultraviolet light, visible light, coherent light, x-rays and electron beams (E-Beams).
One system for photolithographic fabrication of integrated circuits is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,796,038 entitled "Laser Pattern Generation Apparatus" which is assigned to the assignee of the present invention. In the system described therein, circuit patterns are written onto a workpiece by directing laser beams and moving a workpiece relative to the laser beams (e.g., while scanning the laser beams). In such systems, the intensity or dose of the laser beams at each exposed location is controlled by an array of pixels, commonly referred to as a pixel map, where the value of each pixel determines the dose at a corresponding exposed location. The dose or level of exposure is typically expressed as a grayscale value assigned to the corresponding pixel, typically zero to a maximum, where zero corresponds to a zero-dose or white, and the maximum value corresponds to a full-dose or black.
The pixel map is generated by a rasterization process in which a data file representing the pattern, such as a graphic design system (GDS) or MEBES format file, is transformed (using a component referred to as a "rasterizing engine") into the individual pixel values by determining over or on which pixels the pattern lies. The data file typically represents the image in a hierarchical format with data identifying individual vertices of the pattern features. One example of a technique and circuitry for performing such a rasterization process is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,553,170, entitled "Rasterizer for A Pattern Generation Apparatus," which is assigned to the assignee of the present invention and incorporated herein by reference.
When writing a pattern with a lithography system, a number of boundary or edge effects, such as diffraction limited wavelength effects and electro-optical effects, for example, related to the power supplied in a radiated electron or laser beam, may result in defects in the actual written pattern. Factors in the writing process, such as sub-sampling techniques used in the rasterization process and the use of a Gaussian shaped beam for writing, may also contribute to these defects. These defects may include rounded corners and the shortening of lines due to non-sharp edges (commonly referred to as line end shortening).
One approach to compensate for rounded corners involves manipulating the data file to include additional geometries, in effect, to increase the area of exposure in proximity to the corner areas. This approach is illustrated in FIG. 1, which shows both the standard process flow 102 of rasterizing a data file 110S of a pattern 111, as well as a process flow 104 including such "geometry based" optical proximity correction (OPC). As illustrated, in the standard process flow 102, the data file 110S is converted to a bit map 120S by a rasterization process. Due to the aforementioned boundary effects, however, writing this pattern based on the bit map 120S may result in a final written pattern 130S having rounded corners 132S (for contrast, the ideal "sharp" corners 134 are shown as dashed lines). One metric used to quantify the rounding of corners, shown in the enlarged view of the rounded corner 132S in FIG. 1A, is the distance between the tip of the ideal corner and the nearest location on the actual rounded corner, commonly referred to as corner pull back (CPB).
In the geometry-based OPC process flow 104, the data file 110S is manipulated to add serifs 112 to the corners of the pattern 111, resulting in a new data file 110G, which is rasterized to form a new bit map 120G. Because of the serifs 112, this new bit map 120G will have additional pixels with non-zero values located in proximity to the pattern corners. As a result, writing the pattern based on bit map 120G may result in a written pattern 130G with corners 132G that are less rounded, having effectively been stretched outwardly toward the ideal corners 134, "regaining" corner area and, thus, reducing CPB.
Unfortunately, there are a number of disadvantages associated with this geometry-based OPC process. One disadvantage is that, due to the addition of the serifs 112, the number of corners that must be represented increases and the data file 110G may grow proportionally. For example, in the simple example illustrated in FIG. 1, the original shape 111 has only four (convex) corners. However, each serif 112 adds an additional two outer (convex) corners and two inner (concave) corners to each original corner of the pattern 111. As previously described, these corners are typically expressed as vertices in the data file 110G, and hence these additional corners may cause the data file 110G to grow by a factor of five as a result. As the data file 110G grows, the amount of time required to transfer the pattern data to the rasterizer and, hence, overall processing time (time to print), may grow proportionally.
Another disadvantage associated with geometry-based OPC is that, depending on the rasterization engine, certain ideal pixel configurations that may better correct for some defects may be unachievable through the addition of simple geometries, such as serifs 112. A related disadvantage is that even if more complex geometries are added in an effort to achieve a desired pixel configuration, the data file will likely grow accordingly, thus exacerbating the previously described problems with data transfer.
Accordingly, there is a need for improved techniques for correcting defects, such as rounded corners, in patterns written by lithography. Preferably, such techniques will result in little or no impact on data transfer.

Area based optical proximity correction in raster scan printing


A motion vector detection circuit includes a registration determining switch which sets a first registration determination mode wherein at an initial field, correlation values are evaluated by a correlator on the basis of integrated color data of a specific detection block being stored in a representative color memory and integrated color data of twenty-five (25) detection blocks being stored in an integrated color memory. A comparison circuit compares the correlation values with a predetermined threshold value, and if a condition that the threshold value is larger than the correlation value is satisfied in each of eighty (80) percents or more detection blocks, the integrated color data stored in the representative color memory is registered as a representative color of an object, and otherwise, no registration is performed. In a second registration determination mode set by the registration determining switch, the correlator evaluates correlation values on the basis of the integrated color data of the specific detection block and integrated color data of four (4) detection block.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a motion vector detection circuit and an object tracking camera device utilizing the motion vector detection circuit. More specifically, the present invention relates to a motion vector detection circuit which may be utilized in a video camera automatically tracking an object, for example, and an object tracking camera device utilizing the motion vector detection circuit.
2. Description of the Prior Art
As an object tracking technique in taking an object which moves within a screen by a camera, there was a technique which utilizes color information. In such a technique, the color information is detected from an image signal within a designated detection block, and the color information is utilized to determine a target object by registering the color information as a specific color. However, in the prior art, in a case where a color existing in a small area of the object accidentally enters the designated detection block and the color occupies the most of an area of the detection block, the specific color to be registered is largely affected by an influence of the color existing in the small area rather than a color being representative of the object. Therefore, it was difficult to track the object on the basis of the specific color.
Furthermore, another object tracking technique is disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laying-Open No. 4(1995)-354490. In this prior art, a specific color is designated as a target, and by detecting the specific color from the image signal, the object is tracked. However, in the prior art, it is required to satisfy an assumption that two or more bodies having the same color as the target color do not exist within the screen, and therefore, in a scene where a plurality of bodies having the same color exist, there was an occasion that the object can not be tracked effectively.
Furthermore, other object tracking technique is disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laying-Open No. 61(1986)-9084. In this prior art, color information included in an image signal of the designated detection block is stored, and the object is tracked by renewing the stored color in accordance with an environment of the object. However, in the prior art, since the stored color is renewed at every timing that the environment of the object is changed, the stored color becomes a color different from the color of the object if the stored color is changed many times, and therefore, there was an occasion that it becomes difficult to track the object being targeted.

Motion vector detection circuit and object tracking camera device utilizing the same


Disclosed are an apparatus and method for estimating an available time of a battery relatively accurately in consideration of a driving pattern of a user. The apparatus for estimating an available time of a battery includes a current measuring unit for measuring an output current of the battery, a SOC estimating unit for estimating SOC (State Of Charge) of the battery, and a controller for estimating an available time of the battery by using a measured current value obtained by the current measuring unit, an estimated SOC value obtained by the SOC estimating unit and an entire capacity of the battery.

Recently, with the active development of storage batteries, robots, satellites, and the like, along with the dramatically increasing demand for portable electronic products such as laptop computers, video cameras, mobile phones, and the like, research and development for high-performance secondary batteries capable of repeatedly charging and discharging has been actively made.
Currently, nickel-cadmium batteries, nickel-metal hydride batteries, nickel-zinc batteries, lithium secondary batteries, and the like are used as commercial secondary batteries. Among them, lithium secondary batteries have little to no memory effect in comparison with nickel-based secondary batteries, and thus lithium secondary batteries are gaining a lot of attention for their advantages of free charging/discharging, low self-discharging, and high energy density.
Particularly, with the steady exhaustion of carbon energy and increasing interest in the environment, the demand for hybrid vehicles and electric vehicles is recently gradually increasing all over the world including United States, Europe, Japan, and the Republic of Korea. Hybrid vehicles and electric vehicles are supplied with power for driving the vehicles from the charging/discharging energy of battery packs. Therefore, in comparison with vehicles powered by an engine alone, they have higher fuel efficiency and can eliminate or lessen the emission of pollutants, which adds to the appeal of hybrid vehicles and electric vehicles. Accordingly, research and development for vehicle batteries essential to hybrid vehicles and electric vehicles have intensified with gaining interest.
A battery not connected to an external power source such as an AC power are used in mobile devices such like a vehicle, which limits the available time of the battery. However, in the case that the available time of the battery is not properly predicted, a user may encounter great difficulties. For example, by improper prediction of the available time of the battery, a vehicle may stop in the middle of the road due to the battery discharging entirely.
In order to prevent the battery from abruptly discharging entirely due to the user not being able to properly predict the available time of the battery, a technique of estimating a residual capacity of the battery, namely the SOC (State Of Charge), and providing the information to a user is widely known in the art. The SOC of a battery generally represents a residual capacity as a percentage of FCC (Full Charge Capacity) of the battery. In order to estimate the SOC of a battery, various methods may be used; however, the most representative method is estimating the SOC by means of current integration. In the current integration, input/output currents of the battery are accumulated and added or subtracted to/from an initial capacity to obtain the SOC.
However, even if the SOC of a battery is estimated and provided to the user, the user may not accurately predict the available time of the battery. In other words, since the SOC represents a residual capacity to a user in the form of a percentage of the entire capacity of the battery, the user may not concretely determine the available time of the battery from the residual capacity information of the battery.
Particularly, even for batteries with the same SOC, depending on the habits and environments of the users, the available time of a battery may be different. For example, in the case of an electric vehicle, the available time of a battery may greatly vary depending on the driving habit of a user who frequently accelerates and abruptly brakes or the driving environment such as an uphill/downhill mountainous terrain.
However, according to the conventional technique, such situations are not considered at all, and in particular, a user may have difficulty predicting the accurate available time of a battery by just the SOC information.

Apparatus and method for estimating available time of battery


Disclosed is a new method of constructing structures of all types and heights. The invention utilizes a metal "Z" shaped member or plate along with other metal shapes that permit a floor system to bear outside of the plane of the bearing wall. The invention further relates to methods of controlling disadvantageous shrinkage in wood frame building. The invention further teach a more economical and efficient method and structure for tensioning diagonal tension straps after framed walls are erected.

Construction of reduced mass and simplified structures that efficiently perform all of the functions that traditional concrete, masonry, or structural steel buildings perform has long been a goal in building sciences. Mass reduction saves foundation costs, reduces the horizontal loads due to seismic events, and generally decreases the amount of materials required per unit of construction.
Use of spaced load bearing elements for walls can greatly reduce the mass of the structure and has been developed for wood framing to five stories and light steel stud framing to eight stories. Platform framing details for wood frame buildings over two stories can create excessive shrinkage over the height of the building and cause, among other things, high long term repair costs and undesirable cracking. Light steel framed buildings have heretofore been limited by the load capacity of joist end details over the bearing walls and by the complexity and cost of such details.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,918,897 and 5,048,257 describe methods of attaining a continuous diaphragm slab and tensioned diagonal strap horizontal load resisting elements. These patents do not resolve the problems of end bearing complexity that limit building heights nor do they address the use of continuous diaphragms and tensioned straps in wood frame structures.
In pre-cast concrete wall bearing structures, the floor structure must be placed over the pre-cast concrete wall and have a bearing surface thereon that is perfectly smooth, has a steel plate or grouped tie bar connection, and must be placed before the next level of walls is erected. The resultant structure is very heavy and often has connections that are difficult to conceal or has very labor intensive grouped connections.

Bearing wall construction system wherein axial loads of walls do no pass through the floor construction


Agents for blocking T cell-mediated immune reactions are provided. Such agents are peptides, referred to as “CD28 peptide mimetics”, of from 15 to 30 amino acids in length. The CD28 peptide mimetics comprise the hexapeptide motif ‘MYPPPY’, SEQ ID NO: 1, or a retro-inverso isomer thereof. The CD28 peptide mimetics further comprise flanking sequence at the amino and carboxyl terminus of the hexapeptide motif. Methods for treating subjects with T cell mediated autoimmune diseases or disorders are also provided. Such methods comprise administering one or more of the CD28 peptide mimetics to a subject with such a disease or disorder.

The present invention relates to agents and methods for blocking deleterious T cell mediated immune reactions. Such reactions occur in autoimmune diseases, such as for example, multiple sclerosis (MS), rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosis, psoriasis, diabetes, and allergies. Such reactions also occur during rejection of transplants.
Two types of signals are required for T cell activation and proliferation. The first, which gives specificity to the immune response, involves an interaction between the T-cell receptor/CD3 complex and an antigenic peptide presented by major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I or class II proteins on the surface of an antigen-presenting cell (APC). The second type of signal, called a costimulatory signal, involves interaction between receptor-ligand pairs expressed on the surface of APCs and T cells. Antigenic stimulation in the absence of costimulation mechanisms induces a state of unresponsiveness or anergy and eventual cell death by apoptosis in the responding T cells. Thus, antigenic stimulation in the presence of costimulation prevents anergy and cell death, thereby promoting cell survival.
CD 28 is one of the principal T cell costimulatory receptors. CD28 binds APC costimulatory ligands B7.1(CD80) and B7.2(CD86). CD28 is a transmembrane homodimer that is constitutively expressed on 90% of mammalian CD4+ T cells. Upon binding to the B7 family of molecules, CD28 delivers a powerful costimulatory signal for T cell activation and clonal expansion. Engagement of CD28 by its ligands B7-1 or B7-2 on the surface of APCs initiates a signaling cascade culminating in cytokine production and expansion of specific T-cells.
T cells also express cytotoxic-T-lymphocyte antigen 4, CTLA-4 (CD152), a close relative of CD28. In contrast to CD28, CTLA-4 is not expressed by naive T cells but is rapidly induced after T cell activation. Analogous to CD28, CTLA-4 also binds the B-7 family of molecules, albeit with higher avidity than CD28. Engagement of CTL4 with the B7 ligands transmits a negative signal to the T cells, thus terminating the immune response.
The critical role played by the B7/CD28:CTLA-4 costimulatory interaction in determining the fate of immune responses (activation vs anergy/apoptosis) makes it an attractive target for therapeutic immunomodulation in a wide range of autoimmune diseases. Recently, it has been shown that administration of monoclonal antibodies to B7 molecules and CTLA-4 Ig fusion protein ameliorate autoimmune diseases in various animal models, including (EAE) an animal model for MS, diabetes and systemic lupus erythematosis. However, these results depend upon the timing of antibody administration. For example, CTLA-4 Ig was not effective in blocking already established EAE, and anti B7-2 mAB and anti CTLA-4 mAB exacerbate the disease. Moreover, the value of such antibodies as effective therapeutic agents is limited by virtue of their inherent immunogenicity and poor penetration across tissue barriers.
Accordingly, it is desirable to have additional methods and agents which can be used to block deleterious T-cell mediated immune reaction and to ameliorate the symptoms of diseases and disorders associated with such reactions.

CD28 mimetics for blocking T cell mediated immune reactions


The present invention provides an organic light emitting device including a dibenzothiophene-based compound and an organic material layer composed of one more layers including a first electrode, a second electrode and a light emitting layer disposed between the first electrode and the second electrode, in which one or more layers of the organic material layer include the dibenzothiophene-based compound of Formula 1 or a compound in which a heat curable or photo curable functional group is introduced into the dibenzothiophene-based compound.

An organic light emission phenomenon is an example of converting electric current into visible rays through an internal process of a specific organic molecule. The principle of the organic light emission phenomenon is based on the following mechanism. When an organic material layer is disposed between an anode and a cathode, electrons and holes are injected from the cathode and the anode, respectively, into the organic material layer if voltage is applied between the two electrodes. The electrons and the holes which are injected into the organic material layer are recombined to form an exciton, and the exciton is reduced to a bottom state to emit light. The organic light emitting device using the principle may be generally constituted by a cathode, an anode, and an organic material layer that is interposed therebetween, for example, an organic material layer that includes a hole injection layer, a hole transporting layer, a light emitting layer and an electron transporting layer.
The materials used in the organic light emitting device are mostly pure organic materials or complexes of organic materials with metals, and may be classified into a hole injection material, a hole transporting material, a light emitting material, an electron transporting material, an electron injection material and the like, according to the use thereof. Here, an organic material having a p-type property, that is, an organic material which is easily oxidized and electrochemically stable when the material is oxidized, is usually used as the hole injection material or the hole transporting material. Meanwhile, an organic material having an n-type property, that is, an organic material which is easily reduced and electrochemically stable when the material is reduced, is usually used as the hole injection material or the hole transporting material. As the light emitting layer material, an organic material having both p-type and n-type properties is preferred, which is stable when the material is oxidized and when the material is reduced. When an exciton is formed, a material having high light emission efficiency for converting the exciton into light is preferred.
In addition to what is mentioned above, it is preferred that the material used in the organic light emitting device further has the following properties.
First, it is preferred that the material used in the organic light emitting device has excellent thermal stability. The reason is that joule heat is generated by movement of electric charges in the organic light emitting device. NPB, which has currently been used as the hole transporting layer material, has a glass transition temperature of 100° C. or lower, and thus it is difficult to apply to an organic light emitting device requiring a high electric current.
Second, in order to obtain an organic light emitting device that is capable of being driven at low voltage and has high efficiency, holes or electrons which are injected into the organic light emitting device need to be smoothly transported to a light emitting layer, and simultaneously the injected holes and electrons need to be prevented from being released out of the light emitting layer. For this purpose, a material used in the organic light emitting device needs to have an appropriate band gap and appropriate HOMO and LUMO energy levels. A LUMO energy level of PEDOT:PSS, which is currently used as a hole transporting material in an organic light emitting device prepared by a solution coating method, is lower than that of an organic material used as a light emitting layer material, and thus it is difficult to prepare an organic light emitting device having high efficiency and a long service life.
Moreover, the material used in the organic light emitting device needs to have excellent chemical stability, electric charge mobility, interfacial characteristic with an electrode or an adjacent layer, and the like. That is, the material used in the organic light emitting device needs to be minimally deformed by moisture or oxygen.
Furthermore, an appropriate hole or electron mobility needs to be assured so as to balance densities of the holes and of the electrons in the light emitting layer of the organic light emitting device to maximize the formation of excitons. Additionally, it needs to be able to have a good interface with an electrode including metal or metal oxides so as to assure stability of the device.
Accordingly, there is need for developing organic materials having the above-described requirements in the art.

Material for organic light-emitting device, and organic light-emitting device using same


A self-power synchronized switch harvesting on inductor circuit for harvesting energy from a piezoelectric element generating an AC voltage, comprises an envelope detector having first and second capacitors connected in parallel with the piezoelectric element and functioning as negative and positive voltage detectors. An inductor is connected in parallel with the capacitors, and transistors are connected in circuit with the capacitors and inductor and are responsive to a change in voltage across the first capacitor from positive to negative to enable flow of positive voltage to the inductor until terminal voltage reaches a certain amount and current in the inductor reaches zero. A full-wave rectifier is connected to convert the AC output of the piezoelectric element to DC voltage, and a DC-DC converter is connected to adapt the power output of the rectified voltage.

A need for a wireless electrical power supply has spurred an interest in piezoelectric energy harvesting on the extraction of electrical energy using a vibrating piezoelectric device according to G. K. Ottman et al. in an article entitled "Adaptive Piezoelectric Energy Harvesting Circuit for Wireless Remote Power Supply," IEEE Transaction on Power Electronics, Vol. 17, No. 5, September 2002. As stated therein, a vibrating piezoelectric device differs from a typical electric power supply in that its internal impedance is capacitive rather than inductive, and that it may be driven by mechanical vibration of varying amplitude and frequency.
Centimeter-scale piezoelectric elements generate milliwatt-range electric power using ambient vibration below 1 kHz. Such elements have recently been considered as a viable solution for long life micropower generators since they generate sufficient power to drive low-power electronic devices such as smart wireless sensors that consume less than a few milliwatts, as suggested by A. Tabesh et al. in an article entitled "A Low-Power Stand-Alone Adaptive Circuit for Harvesting Energy From a Piezoelectric Micropower Generator," published by the IEEE Transaction on Industrial Electronics, Vol. 57, No. 3, pp. 840-849, March 2010.
The aforementioned A. Tabesh et al. article discloses an adaptive energy-harvesting circuit with low power dissipation that is useful for efficient AC/DC voltage conversion of a piezoelectric micropower generator. The circuit operates stand-alone and extracts the piezoelectric strain energy independent of the load and piezoelectric parameters without using any external sensor. The circuit consists of a voltage-doubler rectifier, a step-down switching converter, and an analog controller operating with single supply voltage in the range of 2.5-15 volts. The controller uses the piezoelectric voltage as a feedback and regulates the rectified voltage to adaptively improve the extracted power. The nonscalable power dissipation of the controller unit is less than 0.05 mW, and the efficiency of the circuit is about 60% for output power levels above 0.5 mW. Experimental verifications of the circuit show the following: 1) the circuit notably increases the extracted power from a piezoelectric element compared to a simple full-bridge diode rectifier without control circuitry, and 2) the efficiency of the circuit is dominantly determined by its switching converter. The simplicity of the circuit facilitates the development of efficient piezoelectric energy harvesters for low-power applications such as wireless sensors and portable devices.
The concept of an autonomous electric device is no longer the subject of imagination according to Liya Ghu and Renwen Chen in an article entitled, "A New Synchronized Switch Harvesting Scheme Employing Current Doubler Rectifier," published by Sensors and Actuators, Vol. 174 (2012) 107-114. As disclosed therein, a piezoelectric energy harvester consists of three parts: a piezoelectric energy harvester structure working under vibration excitation, an electrical interface that converts the generated AC current into DC current compatible with most terminal electric loads and an energy storage device that accumulates and stores energy for intermittent use.
A U.S. patent of Campbell, U.S. Pat. No. 8,269,399 B2, discloses a system and apparatus for harvesting energy. This patent discloses a sensor assembly including a transducer and a control module coupled with the transducer. The control module is configured to selectively switch the sensor assembly between a first mode of operation wherein the sensor assembly measures an amount of energy induced to the sensor assembly, and a second mode of operation wherein the sensor assembly stores an amount of energy induced to the sensor assembly.
A U.S. patent of Lee et al., U.S. Pat. No. 8,373,332 B2 issued on Feb. 12, 2013 discloses an energy harvesting electric device that is capable of increasing output power. The energy harvesting electric device includes an energy harvesting array having a plurality of energy harvesters, a single rectifier connected to the energy harvester array, and an output unit which is connected to the single rectifier and has a load resistance. The energy harvesters include a plurality of first energy harvesters connected to each other in parallel and a single second energy harvester connected in parallel to the first energy harvesters. The first energy harvesters have a first specific resistance higher than the load resistance and the second energy harvester has a second specific resistance higher than the first specific resistance.
Piezoelectric energy harvesters have been used to feed loads in military, non-military and many other applications. Many techniques have been used to extract the maximum power from piezoelectric materials. For example, a considerable amount of power is dissipated in the piezoelectric materials to flip the output voltage through an internal capacitor and resistor of a piezoelectric device. One approach to harvest this power is the synchronized switch harvesting on inductor technique. Other circuits use the accumulated power in a battery to feed the circuit to detect the flipping points of piezoelectric harvesters.
The output power from piezoelectric energy harvesting (PEH) is an AC current with amplitude and frequency depending on the mechanical stress on a piezoelectric material and the electric circuit connected to it. The equivalent circuit for a piezoelectric device PZT is a current source in shunt with a resistor and a capacitor as shown in FIG. 1. The power generated from a piezoelectric energy harvester is very small to be used to feed loads directly and it is not suitable to be used in most of the applications without battery storage or super-capacitor to accumulate the generated power to be used when required. For this reason, a rectifier should be used to convert AC to DC power.
The literature recommended using a diode bridge rectifier [1] rather than half-wave diode rectifier. Also, a voltage multiplier can be used to increase the dc output power extracted from PEH [2]. Voltage multipliers increase the output voltage from a piezoelectric energy harvester and extend the operating range of piezoelectric energy harvester [3]. The DC output power from a rectifier may be used directly to feed a load or to charge a storage device as for example a Standard PEH, SPEH [4] as shown in FIG. 1. This technique is characterized by high output voltage and low current which is not suitable for small battery storage with low voltage. Operating a PEH circuit in low voltage will considerably reduce the efficiency and the extracted power. Therefore, a device that can interface a battery having low voltage with high output voltage from a piezoelectric device is required.
Ottman and et. al. [5] and [6] introduced the first DC-DC buck converter to interface the low voltage battery with high voltage output from a piezoelectric device. Ottman and et. al. claim that the power extracted from a piezoelectric device is increased by 400% in [5] and 325% in [6] and [7] as compared to when the battery was directly charged with a piezoelectric element-rectifier circuit without a DC-DC converter (SPEH of FIG. 1). Due to the step down only characteristics of a buck converter other articles introduce a buck-boost converter to extend the operating range of the converter to work as a step-down or step-up [8], [9].
Fly-hack converters discussed in some articles extend the operating limits of the piezoelectric energy harvester [10]. In most cases the DC-DC converter is a must because it extends the operating range, increases the power extracted from a piezoelectric energy harvesting circuit, and considerably increases piezoelectric energy harvesting efficiency. The transition of the piezoelectric device output voltage between its peaks happens when the load is isolated from the piezoelectric device (all rectifier diodes are in OFF state), as shown in FIG. 2, which dissipates a considerable amount of energy through an internal capacitor and resistor of the piezoelectric device. This considerably reduces the extracted energy and efficiency of the piezoelectric energy harvesting circuit. Flipping the voltage through an inductor at short time can extract most of this dissipated power to the load and increases the output power considerably. This technique is known as Synchronized Switch Harvesting on Inductor (SSHI). This technique was first introduced by [11]. The authors claim that the technique exhibits an output power increase by over 900% compared to the same piezoelectric system with SPEH that shown in FIG. 1 [11].
Some researchers used inductor in parallel with PZT [11] [12], [13], [14], [15], [16] and others used the inductor in series [17], [18]. Depending on the results and comparison of literatures it has been concluded that the parallel SSHI technique is considered one of the best techniques that have been used to flip the output voltage of the piezoelectric device. This is the reason it has been used in this research. Two different techniques can be used for driving the parallel SSHI circuit. One is called self-power SSHI (SP-SST-II) [12], [19], [20], [21] in which the generated power feeds the auxiliary circuits to detect the correct points to flip the terminal voltage of the piezoelectric energy harvesting circuit. Some other researchers used accumulated energy in the battery (BD-SSHI) to feed the driving circuit [22], [23] of parallel SSHI. BD-SSHI used the battery power or any auxiliary circuit to feed the integrated circuits that used to detect the peaks and to drive the SSHI circuit. BD-SSHI technique suffers from low efficiency and it is not self-started when the battery loses its charge. SP-SSHI technique used the peak detector circuit to detect the time to switch ON or OFF the switches to flip the voltage across a piezoelectric device through the inductor L and Cp [24]. This circuit is accomplished by using a differentiating circuitry that senses the slope of the capacitor's voltage (dv/dt), and a comparator to switch two metal oxide-semiconductor field effect transistors (MOSFETs) in series with the SSHI inductor. The differentiating circuit has been accomplished by RC circuit that detects the absolute peaks of the piezoelectric device terminal voltage when it starts to change its direction. The signal should be supplied to the comparator to switch MOSFETs. The main idea here is the biasing voltage can be obtained by charging two capacitors through half-wave rectifiers. This circuit [24] dissipated a considerable amount of power in feeding and biasing the comparator and other elements of the circuit.
The other peak detector circuit is shown FIG. 3. The flipping technique used in this circuit has been first introduced by [25]. This technique has been used widely in many researches such as [20]. This circuit used peak detector circuits having 8 diodes, 4 transistors, three capacitors, and two resistors. In this circuit, two voltage inversions and one charge neutralization are experienced for exerting each switching action. In case of switching on positive peak voltage, R1, D1 and C1 form an envelope detector. T3, D3 and T1 will be switched ON and the current will resonate through SSHI inductor and D5 and D8. In the same way, switching on negative peak voltage, R2, D2 and C2 form an envelope detector. T4, D4 and T2 will switch ON and the current will resonate through SSHI inductor and D6 and D7. The load can be connected across the capacitor C or it can be connected after using diode bridge rectifier and DC-DC converter. The current and voltage waveforms of piezoelectric energy harvesting circuit using parallel SSHI technique is shown in FIG. 4.
Notwithstanding the above, it is presently believed that there is a need and a potential commercial market for a novel piezoelectric energy harvester using a self-power SSHI circuit as disclosed in the present invention. There should be a demand and a commercial market for such devices because such devices use passive elements, i.e. two capacitors, to detect the flipping points of terminal voltage, rather than the many active elements such as resistors, diodes and op-amps that are used in conventional circuits. Further, Applicants' self-powered synchronized switch harvesting on inductor circuit showed a significant reduction in losses, increased output power, increased efficiency, low costs and increased reliability.

Self power SSHI circuit for piezoelectric energy harvester