Controlling the thickness of borophosphorous tetraethyl orthosilicate (BPTEOS) used as all or part of the first inter-layer dielectric (ILD0) in manufacturing a semiconductor device containing an array of transistors to control the field leakage between transistors. Reducing field leakage enables the thickness of field oxide, typically used to reduce field leakage, to be reduced to increase device density in the transistor array.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to materials used in the manufacture of a semiconductor device which includes an array of transistors to achieve isolation between transistors. More particularly, the present invention relates to materials used in the manufacture of a semiconductor device containing a non-volatile memory array to achieve isolation between transistors.
2. Description of the Related Art
FIG. 1 shows a cross section of two NMOS transistors illustrating the typical configuration of materials used in the manufacture of a semiconductor device containing an array of transistors. The transistors are shown formed in a p-type silicon substrate 2. A first transistor 4 includes n-type source and drain implant regions 6 and 8 provided in the substrate 2. A polysilicon gate region 10 of the first transistor 4 is provided bridging the source 6 and drain 8 regions. The polysilicon gate region 10 is separated from the substrate 2 by a first inter-layer dielectric (ILD0) 22. A second transistor 14 includes n-type source and drain implant regions 16 and 18 provided in the substrate 2. A polysilicon gate region 20 of the second transistor 14 bridges the source and drain regions 16 and 18.
A field oxide region 24 is provided in the substrate 2 separating region 8 of the first transistor 4 and region 16 of the second transistor 14. A polysilicon layer 26 overlies the field oxide region 24 as well as a portion of the n-type regions 8 and 16. The polysilicon region 26 extends to serve as the gate region for other transistors (not shown) in the array, as do polysilicon regions 10 and 20.
The field oxide region 24 is provided to prevent field leakage between region 8 of the first transistor 4 and region 16 of the second transistor 14. A thickness "t" shown with field oxide layer 24 is set to control leakage current between transistors.
Thickness of the field oxide regions separating transistors typically dictates the distance separating each transistor. In explanation, as shown with respect to field oxide region 24, birds beak regions are formed during application of the field oxide regions. With greater thicknesses required for the field oxide regions to more limit field leakage, the birds beak regions extend further in a direction parallel to the surface of the substrate. With greater birds beak extensions, source and drain regions, such as regions 8 and 16 of adjacent transistors, must be separated by a greater distance. For greater device density, or more transistors provided per unit area of substrate, it is desirable to reduce the birds beak size.
Field leakage current can require the thickness of the field oxide to be significant in a large array of transistors. For memory cell transistors, voltage is typically pumped above a chip pin power supply voltage Vcc by charge pump circuitry on a chip. With significant current leakage, charge pump circuitry provided on the chip must be increased in size to supply necessary program voltages. Even with non-programmable transistors in a large array of transistors, significant additional current must be provided from a power supply, a condition which is undesirable.
With the field oxide layer thickness "t" controlled to set the degree of field leakage current, for a large array of transistors where it is typically desirable to increase array density, the thickness "t" of the field oxide layer may be undesirably large.
The ILD0 layer is typically composed of silicon dioxide, phosphorous silicate glass (PSG), tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS), borophosphorous tetraethyl orthosilicate (BPTEOS), or a combination of these materials. Although not shown, other layers of materials are applied above the ILD0 layer to fabricate an array of transistors. The ILD0 layer is provided between the substrate and a first metal layer. A subsequent dielectric layer ILD1 is provided between the first metal layer and a second metal layer, and a further dielectric layer ILD2 is provided between the second metal layer and a third metal layer.

Use of borophosphorous tetraethyl orthosilicate (BPTEOS) to improve isolation in a transistor array


A method and system is provided for automatically adjusting a radio frequency communication system to define the spatial dimensions of a read zone and no-read zone using programmable checktags. The system comprises a controller adapted to send and receive data from two subsets of a plurality of transponders. The first subset of transponders is located in a spatial read zone, and the second subset of transponders is located in a spatial no-read zone. The system automatically adjusts transmission parameters to ensure that only the first subset of transponders is able to be read.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to radio frequency identification (RFID) systems, and more particularly, to a method and system for automatic adjustment and diagnosis of RFID systems using programmable checktags.
2. Description of Related Art
In the automatic data identification industry, the use of radio frequency (RF) transponders (also known as RF tags) has grown in prominence as a way to track data regarding an object on which an RF transponder is affixed. An RF transponder generally includes a semiconductor memory in which information may be stored. An RF interrogator containing a transmitter-receiver unit is used to query an RF transponder that may be at a distance from the interrogator. The RF transponder detects the interrogating signal and transmits a response signal containing encoded data back to the interrogator. RFID systems are used in applications such as inventory management, security access, personnel identification, factory automation, automotive toll debiting, and vehicle identification, to name just a few.
Such RFID systems provide certain advantages over conventional optical indicia recognition systems (e.g., bar code symbols). For example, the RF transponders may have a memory capacity of several kilobytes or more, which is substantially greater than the maximum amount of data that may be contained in a bar code symbol. The RF transponder memory may be re-written with new or additional data, which would not be possible with a printed bar code symbol. Moreover, RF transponders may be readable at a distance without requiring a direct line-of-sight view by the interrogator, unlike bar code symbols that must be within a direct line-of-sight and which may be entirely unreadable if the symbol is obscured or damaged. An additional advantage of RFID systems is that several RF transponders may be read by the interrogator at one time.
RF tags may either be xe2x80x9cactive,xe2x80x9d containing their own RF transmitter, or xe2x80x9cpassive,xe2x80x9d having no transmitter. Passive tags, i.e., tags that rely upon modulated back-scattering to provide a return link to an interrogating base station, may include their own power sources, such as batteries, or they may be xe2x80x9cfield-powered,xe2x80x9d whereby they obtain their operating power by rectifying an interrogating RF signal. Although both battery-powered and field powered tags have minimum RF field strength read requirements, or read thresholds, in general, a field-powered passive system requires at least an order of magnitude more power in the interrogating signal than a system that employs tags having their own power sources. Because the interrogating signal must provide power to a field-powered passive tag, the read threshold for a field-powered passive tag is typically substantially higher than for an active tag. However, because field-powered tags do not include their own power source, they may be substantially less expensive than active tags; and because they have no battery to xe2x80x9crun down,xe2x80x9d field-powered passive tags may be more reliable in the long term than active tags. And, because they do not include a battery, field-powered passive tags are typically much more xe2x80x9cenvironmentally-friendly.xe2x80x9d
One of the primary disadvantages of prior art RFID systems is that their initial installation and ongoing maintenance has been a highly manual operation. For example, a typical installation of a RFID system requires a field engineer to travel to the installation location and identify the read zone for the particular installation. Once the read zone has been identified, a checktag is placed in the read zone and the interrogator is manually adjusted (e.g., using a screwdriver) to provide the desired RF power and noise injection settings. In many applications, the checktag is physically wired to the interrogator. Once the initial installation of the RFID system is complete, ongoing maintenance may be required as various operational and environmental conditions affect the performance of the system. This ongoing maintenance has similarly been a highly manual operation, requiring the field engineer to return to the system location and make the necessary required adjustments. In some applications, the checktags have included some capability for remote diagnostics; however, the capability has been limited to a simple go/no-go analysis without the ability to remotely adjust the operating parameters of the interrogator. As a result, it has not yet been possible to automate the ongoing maintenance of these RFID systems.
Accordingly, it would be very desirable to provide a method and system for automatically and remotely adjusting and diagnosing RFID systems using programmable checktags.
The present invention provides a method and system for automatically and remotely adjusting and diagnosing RFID systems using programmable checktags. More particularly, the present method and system automatically adjusts RFID transmission parameters in order to read RFID tags within a spatially defined read zone while excluding RFID tags in a no-read zone.
In an embodiment of an automatic RFID adjustment system of the present invention comprises a controller adapted to send and receive data from a plurality of transponders, organized into a first and second subset of transponders. The controller may further comprise computer software adapted to run a power adjustment program, a radio including a transmitter and receiver, and a digital signal processor adapted to adjust the transmission parameters of the system. The first subset of the plurality of transponders is located in a spatially defined read zone, and the second subset of transponders is located in a spatially defined no-read zone. When the automatic adjustment program is selected, the RFID adjustment system automatically queries the first and second subsets of transponders, and adjusts transmission parameters to read all transponders in the read zone but to exclude the transponders in the no-read zone.
The present invention further comprises a method of automatically adjusting the radio frequency transmission parameters between the controller and the selected plurality of transponders. Initially, the controller transmits a signal to the first subset of transponders located within the read zone, and analyzes any responsive signals from the first subset of transponders. The controller adjusts transmission parameters to ensure that all transponders within the read zone receive signals from and return signals to the controller. The controller next transmits a signal to the second subset of transponder located in the no-read zone, and analyzes any responsive signals from the second subset of transponders. The controller then adjusts transmission parameters to ensure that all transponders located in the no-read zone do not respond to query transmissions by the controller. These steps are re-performed in a loop type operation until all transponders in the read zone are queried, and all transponders in the no-read zone are not queried.

Method and system for automatic adjustment and diagnosis of radio frequency identification systems using programmable checktags


A once card transaction system comprises a once card embedded with a once card number generator. The embedded once card number generator is able to communicate a once card number with a swipe card reader through the magnetic stripe emulator interface on the back of the card for in-store transaction or display it at the front of the card for online transaction. The embedded once card number generator is capable of generating an unpredictable once card number inside the once card without communicating with a central server. This distributedly generated once card number can be approved by an authentication entity by a valid OCN hashing list, and once the number is transacted, it is put on a rejection list.

Credit card fraud has become worse in recent years. The source of the fraud is primarily due to the leaks of credit card number and other personal information. Although smartcard technology has been introduced for years, it is still not solving the problem due to that the credit card number is still acceptable without requiring digitally signed challenge in an in-store swipe card reader transaction, or an online shopping transaction. The current invention relates to a distributed unpredictable once card number (OCN) generation and validation method and apparatus. The once card number (OCN) can only be used once and will be rejected afterward if the same OCN is used again. This will eliminate majority of credit card number theft fraud due to the leakage of any used once card number (OCN). Furthermore, the validation server used for authenticating the OCN relies on checking if the hashing value of OCN is in a valid OCN hashing list or not. Even the valid OCN hashing list in the server is stolen, that may still take a long computation time for a hacker to recover a valid OCN, thus may dramatically reduce the risk of a centralized secure database attack fraud.
Certain related prior arts exist. For example, Citibank (New York) offered an online service called "Virtual Account Number" which required user to download a virtual number from a central server that can be used only once. The virtual number generator is either downloaded to the user's computer or accessed online. The user needs to return to the PC or website for a new virtual number for a subsequent transaction. Neither the merchant nor a credit card number theft can use the same number after a transaction is conducted. So copying a virtual account number once a transaction is done is like copying a receipt (or a history) that has no purchasing power any more. Therefore the card holder is protected from future fraudulent transaction due to the used virtual number has been recorded as a rejection number. The limitation of Virtual Account Number is that it requires Internet to generate a new number and only protect online transaction. For regular Point-of-Sales, it still uses the magnetic stripe card reader to read out a real account number that continue to be subject to the current credit card number skimming fraud.
Another related prior art disclosed by Kerry D. Brown in U.S. Pat. No. 7,472,829. It described a payment card with internally generated virtual account number (VAN) for its magnetic stripe encoder and user display. The embedded virtual account number generator is capable of generating the VAN autonomously without requiring feedback or other data return from the rest of the system. The payment card can display the VAN for online transaction and can program the magnetic stripe for POS transaction. The VAN will be moved to an exclusion list once it is used. Thus enjoy the security benefits for both online and POS transactions. It is an improvement off Citibank's Virtual Account Number which only covers online transaction security. However, the limitation of Brown's invention is that it relies on a "predictable" pseudo random generator with a provided user secret seed for authentication. Thus it cannot handle offline batch transactions if the card numbers submit are out of orders. Although in the disclosure, it relaxed the out of order sequence to be within 5 sequences. There still might be a chance of a valid batch transaction if 6 or more sequence away. Thus this renders Brown's approach not practical for offline transaction. Furthermore, once the secure central database of users' secret seeds been stolen, then the hacker can automatically generate sequence of all valid VANs without alerting the system. That is, Brown's invention is still vulnerable to a centralized secure database attack fraud.

Once card number generation and validation method and apparatus


A method is provided to facilitate a transaction between a seller and a buyer. Buyer information regarding a desired product is received. A controller then searches through a plurality of seller database records associated with products offered for sale by sellers, for a seller database record that corresponds to the buyer information. Based on the searching a determination is made that no seller database record corresponds to the buyer information. Upon determination that no seller database record corresponds to the buyer information the buyer submits additional information defining a commitment to purchase the product. This information indicating a quality associated with the desired product and a maximum price that the buyer commits to pay. After receiving this information a new seller database record is created with a specific product offered for sale by a specific seller that corresponds with the additional buyer information, and the buyer is automatically charged for the specific product. According to other embodiments, an appropriate item price is determined based on the seller offer information. According to another embodiment, a subsidy is determined, the subsidy being associated with a benefit from a subsidy provider to be applied to the transaction. In this case, it is arranged for the seller to provide the item to the buyer in accordance with the benefit. A seller offer and or a buyer offer may be binding, and a penalty may be applied if a seller and or a buyer does not complete a transaction.

Many consumers are interested in selling items. A consumer may, for example, be interested in selling a used or second-hand item (i.e., a "secondary market" item) that he or she owns but no longer uses. Consumer electronics, exercise equipment, automobiles and collectibles (e.g., coins or stamps) are some examples of such secondary market items. Similarly, a consumer may be interested in selling, for example, a theater or concert ticket that he or she will not be able to use.
One way for a consumer to sell an item is through a merchant who in turn re-sells the item to another consumer. Such a merchant, however, will want to profit from the transaction, or at least pay for overhead associated with the transaction (e.g., employee salaries, rent, insurance). As a result, an item price the consumer may receive from the merchant in exchange for selling the item is generally less than an item price another consumer will be willing to provide to the merchant in exchange for the item.
Moreover, a merchant who deals with a large number of consumers may not be flexible with respect to one or more transaction terms. For example, the merchant may insist that every consumer bring his or her items directly to the merchant. A consumer may, however, prefer that a buyer pick-up an item from his or her home. For example, a consumer may prefer that a buyer pick-up a heavy and bulky piece of exercise equipment. Another consumer may prefer to meet a buyer at a mutually convenient location to complete a transaction (e.g., to maintain his or her anonymity). It will typically not be practical for a merchant to individually negotiate delivery terms, or other transaction terms, with each consumer.
Another problem with selling an item to a merchant is that a consumer may not be able to determine a reasonable price for the item. That is, a merchant will typically set the item price, and the consumer may have no way of knowing if the merchant's item price is reasonable. Although the consumer could bring the item to a number of different merchants to determine a reasonable price (e.g., by comparing item prices set by different merchants), such a solution would be inconvenient and time consuming.
In addition to selling items, many consumers are interested in purchasing items, such as secondary market items. Purchasing such items from merchants, however, may involve the same disadvantages as described above with respect to the sale of such items. Namely, a merchant may increase an item price and may not be flexible with respect to transaction terms. Moreover, a merchant typically determines an item price, and a consumer interested in purchasing the item may not be able to determine if the item price is reasonable.
As a result of these disadvantages, many consumers are interested in completing transactions directly with other consumers. Because no third party needs to make a profit, or pay for overhead, both the seller and the buyer can often benefit from such a direct "consumer-to-consumer" transaction. Moreover, both consumers can work together to decide on agreeable terms for the transaction, such as a mutually convenient delivery location.
To help facilitate consumer-to-consumer transactions, "on-line" services that communicate with a large number of sellers and buyers, such as a World Wide Web site provided via the Internet, have become increasingly popular.
In a classified advertisement, or "classifieds," type of on-line service, a seller can advertise an item to be sold at a particular price. When a buyer agrees to purchase the item at that price, the item is sold to the buyer. The advertisement may include, for example, a description of the item and an item price. A buyer can similarly advertise that he or she is interested in purchasing a particular type of item.
In an "auction" type of on-line service, a seller posts an item to be sold by auction. A post for an auction may include, for example, an item description but not an item price. A number of buyers may submit bids for that item, and the item is sold to the bidder that submits the highest bid. Such an auction type of on-line service can also let a seller set a "floor price" for the item. That is, the item will not be sold below the floor price even if no higher bids are submitted.
In addition to the classifieds and auction types of services, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/964,967, entitled "Conditional Purchase Offer (CPO) Management System for Collectibles," discloses a system wherein a CPO management system receives a Conditional Purchase Offer (CPO) from a buyer. The buyer's CPO is a binding offer containing one or more conditions submitted by a buyer for the purchase of an item at a buyer-defined price. The CPO management system then determines whether one or more sellers are willing to accept the buyer's CPO. If a seller accepts the buyer's CPO, and ultimately delivers an item complying with the conditions, the buyer is bound to provide payment of the buyer-defined price. The buyer's CPO may be guaranteed, for example, by a credit card account. In this way, a "race" between sellers results (i.e., the sellers compete to accept a buyer's CPO with a reasonable buyer-defined price).
With the consumer-to-consumer services described above, however, it may be difficult for a buyer and a seller to complete a transaction. For example, although a buyer may be able to determine that a seller is interested in selling a kitchen table, the buyer may not be able to determine if the seller is willing to deliver the table to a particular town. Similarly, a seller interested in selling a camera with a tripod and a particular zoom ratio may need to review information submitted by hundreds of buyers to determine which buyers are interested in purchasing a camera with these qualifications. It may be especially difficult for sellers and buyers to complete a transaction with respect to secondary market items, where the condition of an item can vary widely.
Moreover, problems exist with the ability of known consumer-to-consumer services to match buyers and sellers. For example, a seller may establish an unreasonable item price (e.g., an item price that is too high). Similarly, a buyer may submit an item price that is too low. In other cases, a buyer may be unable to pay, or a seller may be unable to accept, what he or she realizes is a reasonable item price. Such gaps between an item price a seller is willing to accept and an item price a buyer is willing to pay reduces the number of transactions completed by such services.
Another problem with known consumer-to-consumer services is that a seller may initiate, but not complete, a transaction. For example, a buyer may contact a seller who advertised that he or she was interested in selling four tickets to a particular concert only to find out that the seller had already sold the tickets to someone else. Similarly, a seller may back-out of a transaction for any number of other reasons (e.g., if the seller and the buyer are unable to agree on a transaction term, such as a delivery term). In addition, buyers may also decide to not complete a transaction in many consumer-to-consumer services.
Moreover, consumer-to-consumer services typically have only a limited ability and/or flexibility to profit from a completed transaction. For example, an consumer-to-consumer service may charge a seller 5% of a sale price in exchange for facilitating a transaction. The service, however, typically does not select a particular buyer, or a particular seller, based on a resulting profit to the service. Similarly, the service typically does not select a buyer and/or seller based on other information associated with the effectiveness of the service (e.g., a total number of transactions that are completed by the service or demographic characteristics associated with the seller and/or buyer).
Note that, businesses face many of the same problems discussed above with respect to consumers. For example, a business interested in selling items to, or purchasing items from, consumers—or even a business interested in selling items to, or purchasing items from, other businesses—may find it difficult to complete a transaction.
Thus, a need exists for improved systems that facilitate transactions between buyers and sellers.

Systems and methods for facilitating a transaction by matching seller information and buyer information


A resin sealing type semiconductor device has first and second heat radiating portions located on opposite sides of a semiconductor element. The first heat radiating portion has an element placing surface. A plurality of leads are disposed at a given distance from the semiconductor element, and connected to the electrode pads through wires. The second heat radiating portion is located in non-contact with the semiconductor element, leads and wires. A first insulating portion is located between the first heat radiating portion and the leads. A second insulating portion is located between the second heat radiating portion and the leads. Preferably, the first insulating portion is formed continuously on one side of the first heat radiating portion, and the second insulating portion on one side of the second heat radiating portion. A space enclosed by these insulating and heat radiating portions houses the semiconductor element, the wires and the tips of the leads.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a resin sealing type semiconductor device having a heat radiator and a method of making such a semiconductor device.
2. Description of the Related Art
In recent years, Integrated Circuit chips are produced in larger scales, and the output is increased. With this trend the heat radiation in the resin sealing needs to be improved for inherently protecting semiconductor chips. To meet such an end, attempts have been made to increase the thermal conductivity of lead frame and sealing resin in the light of material, and in light of the structure to improve the heat radiating characteristic by changing the design of lead frame and/or adding a heat radiator. Particularly, the improvement of the heat radiating characteristic by adding a heat radiator is the most orthodox measure for LSIs in which the power consumption is no more than about 2 watts per chip.
A semiconductor element requiring an increased heat radiating characteristic is normally larger in size. In the conventional resin sealing type semiconductor devices, thus, it may result in cracking the element or damaging the electrical connection from a difference in thermal expansion coefficient between the element and the sealing resin. Therefore, that the reliability of the element is insufficient.
Further, in the conventional resin sealing type semiconductor devices, the process of injection molding the resin tends to deform the lead or bonding wire from the pressure of injected resin, and causes a failure in electrical connection.

Method of making a multiple heat sink resin sealing type semiconductor device


Each mobile ad hoc node has an assigned hierarchy position within an identified tree-based aggregation group. Each ad hoc node is configured for selectively attaching to one of a plurality of available ad hoc nodes based on identifying a best match, for the assigned hierarchy position within the identified aggregation group, from among identifiable hierarchy positions of identifiable aggregation groups. Each ad hoc node also is configured for selectively attaching to any available ad hoc node based on a determined absence of any available ad hoc node advertising the identified aggregation group of the ad hoc node, or an aggregation group containing the identified aggregation group. Hence, a root node of an aggregation group can filter group-specific routing information from packets destined toward a network clusterhead, resulting in a scalable routing protocol that is not adversely affected by added nodes.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to protocols for creation of an ad hoc mobile network by multiple ad hoc mobile routers. The present invention also relates to management of the ad hoc mobile network by the multiple ad hoc mobile routers by distributing routing information and network traffic in an efficient manner.
2. Description of the Related Art
Mobile computing has evolved to an extent that it is no longer limited to a mobile computing model (e.g., "Mobile IP") that relies a fixed wide area network infrastructure such as the Internet to provide connectivity between a mobile node and a correspondent node; rather, an ad hoc networking model has been pursued that enables an isolated group of mobile nodes to independently establish communications among each other (e.g., a "mesh") and establish optimized routing paths among each other.
In particular, the aforementioned Mobile IP model has been developed based on numerous proposals by Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) groups: these IETF proposals (e.g., Requests for Comments (RFCs), Internet Drafts, etc.) have addressed improved mobility support of Internet Protocol (IP) based mobile devices (e.g., laptops, IP phones, personal digital assistants, etc.) in an effort to provide continuous Internet Protocol (IP) based connectivity for IP devices to a fixed wide area network such as the Internet. These IETF proposals have described the Mobile IP model as relying on an IP node (IPv4 or IPv6) having a home address that is registered with a home agent at its home network: the home agent and home network are assumed to be fixed within the Internet architecture, enabling the home address to be globally reachable by any Internet node via the fixed home network and home agent.
If the IP node in the Mobile IP model is roaming away from its home network and establishes communications in a visited IP network, the visited IP network assigns a care-of address to the IP node: the care-of address is globally reachable in the Internet via a fixed gateway at the edge of the visited IP network (also referred to herein as a "visited gateway"). Since the visited gateway provides a fixed presence on the Internet for the visited IP network, registration by an IP node with its home agent (by specifying that the roaming IP node is reachable via the care-of address assigned by the visited IP network) enables the home agent to use the care-of address to forward packets destined for the home address to the IP node, for example via a tunnel between the home agent and the visited gateway. Alternately, the tunnel can be extended to the router nearest the roaming IP node based on the roaming IP node employing a reverse routing header as described in U.S. Patent Publication No. US 2004/0117339, published Jun. 17, 2004, the disclosure of which is incorporated in its entirety herein by reference.
Hence, an IPv4 or IPv6 node (host or router) in the Mobile IP model can seamlessly "roam" among different mobile IP networks, based on relying upon the home agent and visited gateway having a fixed presence on the Internet. Since the Internet utilizes a hierarchy of aggregate network addresses that enables scalability, the reliance of a fixed presence for the home agent and the visited gateway in the Internet enables similar optimization techniques to be applied in mobile IP networks relying on a fixed gateway, for example aggregation of network addresses and network prefixes based on a hierarchal network model. See, for example, U.S. Patent Publication No. US 2005/0099971, published May 12, 2005, the disclosure of which is incorporated in its entirety herein by reference.
In contrast, the ad hoc networking model assumes no previous existing network topology: Internet connectivity is neither assumed nor precluded, and every network node is assumed to be mobile. Consequently, the ad hoc networking model assumes no more that a group of mobile nodes (hosts and routers) may arbitrarily connect to each other via available link layer ("Layer 2") connections, resulting in a mesh network. Hence, the ad hoc networking model addresses routing protocols that enable the ad hoc network nodes to create optimized network layer paths to each other, using for example a directed acyclic graph-based path or a tree topology-based path.
The IETF has a Mobile Ad-hoc Networks (MANET) Working Group that is working to implement this ad hoc networking model by developing standardized MANET routing specification(s) for adoption by the IETF. According to the MANET Working Group, the "mobile ad hoc network" (MANET) is an autonomous system of mobile routers (and associated hosts) connected by wireless links—the union of which form an arbitrary graph. The routers and hosts are free to move randomly and organize themselves arbitrarily; thus, the network's wireless topology may change rapidly and unpredictably. Such a network may operate in a standalone fashion, or may be connected to the larger Internet.
The MANET system is particularly suited to low-power radio networks that may exhibit an unstable topology, where wireless propagation characteristics and signal quality between a wireless transmission source and a receiver can be difficult to model and quantify. Since there is no fixed network infrastructure in a MANET, the device address is tied to the device, not a topological location. As described in an Internet Draft by Baker, entitled "An Outsider's View of MANET" (Mar. 17, 2002), the fundamental behavior of a MANET is that a mobile router in a MANET retains a unique address prefix that may be distinct from the address prefixes of neighboring mobile routers; in other words, neighboring mobile routers in a MANET may have distinct address prefixes. Consequently, if a mobile router in a MANET moves, the movement causes a change in the routing infrastructure that requires recalculation of routes in accordance with the new topology. Hence, efficient routing algorithms are needed to ensure rapid convergence of the new topology based on the recalculated routes. One exemplary routing protocol is Open Shortest Path First (OSPF) (as specified by the IETF Request for Comments (RFC) 2178).
Communications between mobile routers of an ad hoc network can be optimized based on the mobile routes organizing into a tree-based topology. For example, U.S. Patent Publication No. US 2004/0032852, published Feb. 19, 2004, entitled "Arrangement for Router Attachments Between Roaming Mobile Routers in a Mobile Network", the disclosure of which is incorporated in its entirety herein by reference, describes a technique for each mobile router of an mobile ad hoc network to independently select whether to attach to a candidate attachment router, based on tree information options advertised by the candidate attachment router and selection criteria employed by the mobile router. The independent selection by each router of whether to attach to another router enables the routers to dynamically establish a tree-based network topology model, where each router may continually determine whether an alternate attachment point within the tree is preferred.
Once a tree-based topology has been established within the ad hoc network, routing information can be distributed in an efficient manner. For example, U.S. Patent Publication No. US 2005/0265259, published Dec. 1, 2005 entitled "Arrangement for Providing Network Prefix Information from Attached Mobile Routers to a Clusterhead in a Tree-Based Ad Hoc Mobile Network", the disclosure of which is incorporated in its entirety herein by reference, describes optimized transfer of routing information between mobile routers in an ad hoc mobile network having a tree topology, wherein the ad hoc network includes a single clusterhead and attached mobile routers. Each attached mobile router has a default egress interface configured for sending messages toward the clusterhead, and ingress interfaces configured for receiving messages from attached network nodes that are away from the clusterhead. A neighbor advertisement message received from an ingress interface away from a clusterhead is used by the attached mobile router to identify specified network prefixes that are reachable via the source of the neighbor advertisement message. The attached mobile router outputs on its default upstream interface a second neighbor advertisement message that specifies the network prefix used by the attached mobile router, and the specified network prefixes from the neighbor advertisement message received on the ingress interface. Hence, the propagation of neighbor advertisement messages toward the clusterhead establishes connectivity with minimal routing overhead.
The nature of ad hoc networking also enables individual tree-based ad hoc networks to form a larger ad hoc network based on neighboring border routers from the respective ad hoc networks communicating amongst each other, forming a bridge between the tree-based ad hoc networks. An example of individual tree-based ad hoc networks forming a larger ad hoc network using a bridge between respective border routers is described in U.S. Patent Publication No. US 2004/0081152, entitled "Arrangement for Router Attachments between Roaming Mobile Routers in a Clustered Network", published Apr. 29, 2004, the disclosure of which is incorporated in its entirety herein by reference. Hence, ad hoc networks can join together to form even larger ad hoc networks.
As described above, a fundamental problem with the ad hoc networking model is that movement of a mobile router in the ad hoc network requires recalculation of routes for the new topology. However, the formation of a larger ad hoc network creates a greater probability that an individual mobile router will move, requiring route recalculation for each movement by a mobile router. Further, the formation of the larger ad hoc network requires recalculation of routes among a larger number of mobile routers, resulting in a longer convergence time. Consequently, the size of the ad hoc network is limited by the frequency of route recalculation relative to the convergence time, because if the frequency of route recalculation exceeds the convergence time, the ad hoc network will lose connectivity between the ad hoc mobile nodes due to their failure to converge before another ad hoc mobile node moves.
Even if a large ad hoc network manages to converge before another ad hoc mobile node moves, communications efficiency within the ad hoc network suffers dramatically due to substantially increased overhead in packets utilizing routing headers, since a separate routing header is required for each hop in the path from a source node to a destination node.
Consequently, a fundamental problem with a large ad hoc network is the associated increase in routing information that must be distributed to maintain network integrity (i.e., convergence of network routes) and to permit routing of packets.

Ad hoc network formation and management based on aggregation of ad hoc nodes according to an aggregation hierarchy


A food mixer (10) includes a rotatable shaft (18) which is connected to the shaft (21) of an agitator (20). The agitator (20) includes an upper disk (23) attached to the shaft (21) and a lower disk (28). Slat walls (27, 29) extend from the upper disk (23) to the lower disk (22) and slat walls (27, 29) are curved so as to together forming a parabolic ring. A central blade (33) extends from the upper disk (23) to the lower disk (28) between the slat walls (27, 29). Both the upper and lower disks (23, 28) are circular and are curved upwardly in one direction and curved downwardly in a direction transverse to the one direction.

Machines which are adapted to mix foods in a cup are well known in the art. Typically, these machines are used in fast food establishments, ice cream parlors, or the like, and utilize some type of agitating device carried at the end of a rotatable shaft. One prior art agitator includes a ring having a central disk extending from one side of the ring to the other side of the ring. The user fills a cup with the food, such as ice cream, and condiments such as candies or the like, and then positions the cup so that the agitator is in the food. When the machine is turned on, the agitator is rotated with the intention of mixing the candies into the ice cream. The user can often assist this process by moving the cup circumferentially or vertically.
However, the prior art mixing machine and agitator operated as described above are not without their problems. First, this agitator is not capable of thoroughly and efficiently mixing the majority of the volume of the cup, including the breaking up of large particles. In addition, this agitator does not mix the materials well at the sides or bottom of the cup, and if the user attempts to manipulate the cup to do so, the configuration of the prior art agitators can potentially cause damage to the sides or bottom of the cup.
In an effort to solve these problems, another agitator has been designed which is provided with a cloverleaf-shaped plate at the bottom thereof. This plate assists in the protection of the bottom of the cup and improves the mixing of some types of products, but the efficient mixing of relatively thin mixtures such as milkshakes remains a problem.
Thus, the need exists for a mixing machine with an improved agitator which is free of the problems plaguing the prior art.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Food mixing machine and agitator therefor


A composition for removing a photoresist layer and a method for using it are disclosed. The composition comprises a chemical portion which includes water and chemical constituents dissolving or softening the photoresist layer and a mechanical portion which is abrasive particles. Using the composition and the method according to the present invention can decrease the conventional two steps of removing a photoresist layer process to one step, thereby simplifying the procedure, shortening the removing time and reducing the cost. The chemical constituents in the composition according to the present invention are of low toxicity and flammability and the amount used is small, which makes it more friendly with the environment and decreases the expense of disposing the waste.

In the manufacturing process of semiconductor devices, the coating, light exposing and imaging of photoresist layer are necessary technological steps for the formation of patterns on devices as shown in FIG. 1. The photoresist layer to be ion implanted on the substrate of ground layer must be removed after imaging while the photoresist layer not to be ion implanted on the substrate must be preserved. After ion implantation, the photoresist layer must be removed, and then annealing is performed. Until now a two-step method has been used to remove the photoresist layer. In the first step, plasma etching is employed to remove the most part of the photoresist layer and then a wet etching/washing technique is employed to remove and wash off the remaining photoresist layer. In the plasma etching step, a very strong ashrizing machine must be used. In the second step, a washing solution of strong chemical activity is necessary, which is generally toxic and flammable. In the plasma etching step, a fluorine containing compound is used. In the subsequent wet etching/washing technique, the generally used chemical constituents are an organic solvent and a fluoride in high concentration. The wet etching/washing must take place in a heated environment and the time is long because during doping step after ion bombardment the polymer in photoresist layer becomes stiff and, therefore, its solubility is lowered, thus the wet etching/washing time must be sufficiently long. U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,777,380, 6,274,537, 6,692,903 etc all use a two-step method said above. Moreover, the existing method sometimes cannot guarantee complete removal of photoresist layer.
In a word, this technology is of high cost and low yield and is complicated by problems of environment and remaining photoresist layer. It is, therefore, urgently necessary to propose a new technology for cleaning the photoresist layer.

Composition for removing photoresist layer and method for using it

Anji Microelectronics (Shanghai) Co., Ltd.


According to an aspect of the present invention, in a case where a part of the plurality of head modules to each of which an initial amount of correction is set is replaced, a mounting position of the replaced head module in the first direction varies in a range within the mounting tolerance. However, the initial amount of correction in the first direction of each of the head modules is set by adding the amount of the offset more than the mounting tolerance, a mounting position of the replaced head module is always upstream from the offset reference line in the feeding direction of a recording medium. Thus, it is required to correct only an amount of correction of the replaced head module with reference to the offset reference line, so that the amount of correction of a non-replaced head module can be used without being corrected.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a head adjustment method of adjusting a recording position of a line head (line bar) composed of a plurality of head modules, and a head-driving device and an image-forming device to which the method is applied.
2. Description of the Related Art
In a line head that is formed in an elongated strip shape by joining a plurality of head modules with each other, there is known a correction method of adjusting ejecting timing for each of head modules to correct displacement of a recording position caused by a variation (misregistration) of a mounting position of a head module in a direction parallel to a feeding direction of a paper sheet (referred to as a sub-scanning direction, or a Y-direction) (refer to PTLs 1 to 3).
In PTLs 1 (Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2006-116845) and 2 (Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2005-053167), with reference to a specific head module among a plurality of head modules, increase and decrease in ejecting timing of modules other than the specific module is controlled by adjusting a recording position in the Y-direction.
In PTL 3 (Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2006-305763), correction in the Y-direction is adjusted by controlling timing of each of the head modules with reference to a median line in the Y-direction in a print pattern. That is, according to the paragraph [0045] of PTL 3, an unit pattern recorded by each of the head modules is adjusted so that the center thereof is aligned with a main scanning direction (such as the center of a head unit) (refer to FIG. 9 of PTL 3).

Head adjustment method, head-driving device and image-forming device


The use of the IRAP protein for implementing methods of diagnosis and of prognosis.

The IRAP protein (Insulin-Regulated AminoPeptidase; EC 220.127.116.11) also known as Placental Leucine AminoPeptidase (P-LAP) and Leucine-cystinyl aminopeptidase (L-CAP) is a transmembrane zinc metalloproteinase protein which exists in three isoforms (Swiss-Prot: Q9UIQ6:1, 2 and 3; represented respectively by SEQ ID No: 1 to 3).
When it is inserted into the plasma membrane its extracellular domain can be cleaved and secreted.
The secreted part of an unspecified isoform of the protein assumed to be IRAP was assayed in the blood by an enzymatic method using a non-specific synthetic substrate, L-leucine-nitroanilide in the presence of methionine (Mizutani, S., Yoshino, M., and Oya, M. (1976) Clin Biochem 9(1), 16-18).
Using this method Mizutani, Oya and Tomoda detected a cystinyl-leucine aminopeptidase in the serum of pregnant women, the concentration of which increases during pregnancy (Yamahara, N., Nomura, S., Suzuki, T., Itakura, A., Ito, M., Okamoto, T., Tsujimoto, M., Nakazato, H., and Mizutani, S. (2000) Life Sci 66(15), 1401-1410). This aminopeptidase is essentially of placental origin, and therefore called P-LAP (Tsujimoto, M., Mizutani, S., Adachi, H., Kimura, M., Nakazato, H., and Tomoda, Y. (1992) Arch Biochem Biophys 292(2), 388-392) and corresponds to the secreted domain of the protein.
This enzyme degrades oxytocin (Naruki, M., Mizutani, S., Goto, K., Tsujimoto, M., Nakazato, H., Itakura, A., Mizuno, K., Kurauchi, O., Kikkawa, F., and Tomoda, Y. (1996) Peptides 17(2), 257-261), vasopressin (Wallis, M. G., Lankford, M. F., and Keller, S. R. (2007) Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab 293(4), E1092-1102), angiotensin II and III (Matsumoto, H., Rogi, T., Yamashiro, K., Kodama, S., Tsuruoka, N., Hattori, A., Takio, K., Mizutani, S., and Tsujimoto, M. (2000) Eur J Biochem 267(1), 46-52) as well as a series of other peptides (Albiston, A. L., Peck, G. R., Yeatman, H. R., Fernando, R., Ye, S., and Chai, S. Y. (2007) Pharmacol Ther 116(3), 417-427). The serous concentrations of this aminopeptidase have never been reported in men or non-pregnant women.
At the time of its cloning, it appeared that P-LAP corresponds to the IRAP protein as well as to the angiotensin IV receptor (Keller, S. R., Scott, H. M., Mastick, C. C., Aebersold, R., and Lienhard, G. E. (1995) J Biol Chem 270(40), 23612-23618; Rogi, T., Tsujimoto, M., Nakazato, H., Mizutani, S., and Tomoda, Y. (1996) J Biol Chem 271(1), 56-61; Albiston, A. L., McDowall, S. G., Matsacos, D., Sim, P., Clune, E., Mustafa, T., Lee, J., Mendelsohn, F. A., Simpson, R. J., Connolly, L. M., and Chai, S. Y. (2001) J Biol Chem 276(52), 48623-48626).
Patent Application WO 2005/038462 describes a reagent for diagnosis and/or prognostic evaluation of carcinoma, comprising an anti-P-LAP polyclonal antibody, obtained by immunization with the whole P-LAP protein. Given the strong homology between the different aminopeptidases, the antibody is probably not specific to IRAP and should also recognize other aminopeptidases. It should not therefore make it possible to diagnose a pathology linked in a precise manner to a modification of the expression or plasmatic concentration of IRAP.
GLUT4 is the glucose transporter which allows the uptake of circulating glucose by the muscles and the adipose tissue in response to insulin. Under unstimulated conditions (basal conditions), GLUT4 is effectively retained inside the cell in intracellular compartments (vesicules), by a still-unknown retention mechanism. In response to insulin stimulation, GLUT4 is transported then inserted into the plasma membrane by increased translocation, thus the allowing the cellular uptake of glucose.
IRAP co-localizes with the glucose transporter GLUT4 and is co-translocated with the latter stoichiometrically (Keller, S. R. (2004) Biol Pharm Bull 27(6), 761-764). This translocation towards the plasma membrane is stimulated by insulin in the same manner as that of GLUT4 (Karylowski, O., Zeigerer, A., Cohen, A., and McGraw, T. E. (2004) Mol Biol Cell 15(2), 870-882; Subtil, A., Lampson, M. A., Keller, S. R., and McGraw, T. E. (2000) J Biol Chem 275(7), 4787-4795).
Moreover, the expression of IRAP conditions the expression of GLUT4 as, in IRAP−/− transgenic animals, the GLUT4 levels are reduced by 50 to 80% (Keller, S. R., Davis, A. C., and Clairmont, K. B. (2002) J Biol Chem 277(20), 17677-17686).
In type 2 diabetics both a reduction of the expression and the translocation of GLUT4 towards the plasma membrane in the muscle and the adipose tissue is found (Kahn, B. B. (1992) J Clin Invest 89(5), 1367-1374).
Similarly and although the cellular levels of IRAP are not modified, its translocation is also reduced in the muscle and the adipose tissue of type 2 diabetics (Garvey, W. T., Maianu, L., Zhu, J. H., Brechtel-Hook, G., Wallace, P., and Baron, A. D. (1998) J Clin Invest 101(11), 2377-2386; Maianu, L., Keller, S. R., and Garvey, W. T. (2001) J Clin Endocrinol Metab 86(11), 5450-5456).
Moreover, a relationship has been demonstrated between the IRAP protein and the development of chemoresistance to anticancer drugs (Kondo C. et al., Int J. Cancer, 118, 1390-1394, 2006). According to this article, IRAP in fact reduces sensitivity to anticancer drugs by inhibiting the expression of the apoptosis-induction factor and increases expression of the apoptosis-inhibition factor.
The extracellular domain of IRAP is cleaved by metalloproteases probably belonging to the ADAM family including ADAM9 (SwissProt Q13443) and ADAM12 (SwissProt O43184) (Ito, N., Nomura, S., Iwase, A., Ito, T., Kikkawa, F., Tsujimoto, M., Ishiura, S., and Mizutani, S. (2004) Biochem Biophys Res Commun 314(4), 1008-1013) and released into the blood circulation. ADAM9 (MDC9) is expressed in different tissues including the skeletal muscle and adipose tissue (Hotoda, N., Koike, H., Sasagawa, N., and Ishiura, S. (2002) Biochem Biophys Res Commun 293(2), 800-805) and ADAM12 is essentially expressed in the muscle. Several other members of this family are also expressed in the muscle and adipose tissue.
At present, the only relationships described between the concentration of the extracellular domain of IRAP in a biological medium and a pathology concern severe preeclampsia as well as the risk of premature labour. In these two pathologies the circulating P-LAP concentrations are less than those observed in the control women of equivalent gestational age. However, the methods described in the prior art are based on the enzymatic assay, using a non-specific substrate, of the extracellular domain of IRAP.
There is therefore a real need to provide a reliable and specific method making it possible to assay the extracellular domain of circulating IRAP.

Use of the IRAP protein for implementing methods of diagnosis and of prognosis


A swiveling work machine includes a traveling apparatus, a swivel base mounted on the traveling apparatus to be pivotable about a vertical axis, a hood disposed at a rear portion of the swivel base, the hood accommodating therein an engine, a support frame being disposed across over the engine, and a ROPS having a front end thereof fixed to the swivel base and a rear end thereof fixed to an upper portion of the support frame. The support frame includes a front leg member disposed on one lateral side of the ROPS, the front leg member extending to vicinity of a position forwardly of the swivel base.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a swiveling work machine having a swivel base pivotally mounted on a traveling apparatus to be pivotable about a pivot axis.
2. Description of Related Art
There is known a swiveling work machine, such as a construction machine, having a swivel base pivotally mounted on a traveling apparatus to be pivotable about a vertical pivot axis, a hood accommodating an engine and disposed at a rear portion of the swivel base, a support frame disposed inside the hood so as to extend over across the engine, a ROPS (rollover protection structure) provided at a front side of the hood and exemplified by a cabin, a canopy, a safety frame, etc., the front side of the cabin being fixedly mounted on the swivel base and an upper portion of the rear end of the cabin being fixedly mounted on an upper portion of the support frame.
With this type of conventional swiveling work machine, the support frame includes a plurality of support legs and a support plate connected between upper ends of the support legs, the plurality of support legs including a front leg member which is inclined downward on its front side. However, this front leg member (support leg) does not project largely so as to be located laterally of the ROPS such as the cabin—it terminates at a position slightly forwardly of the engine. (see JP-A-10-331195, JP-A-2003-074085 and JP-A-2003-064724, for example).
Therefore, the above conventional construction has room for improvement in the respect of the load resistance of the front leg member (support leg) when the upper portion of the ROPS is subjected to a significant load from behind toward the front side.


A number of cDNA clones whose products may interact with D1 receptors in vivo were identified. One of the clones, P24, was characterized further. P24 is localized in dendrites and spines of pyramidal cells in PFC. The extent of overlap between P24 expressing and D1 receptor expressing pyramidal cells appeared to be 100%. In contrast, only a limited number D1 receptor antibody labeled neurons in caudate expressed P24. P24 lowers the threshold of D1 receptor response to dopamine (DA) by an order of magnitude. Sequence similarity suggests P24 is a diverged member of the RAMP family. The P24 protein is therefore referred to as a D1 DA RAMP, calcyon. The isolated protein and nucleotide molecule encoding the protein, as well as primers for the nucleotide, are described. The protein and compounds modifying DA binding to the receptor or calcium release which is mediated by the Calcyon, are useful in research studies, drug screening, and therapeutically.

This is in the general area of protein receptors, and more specifically relates to isolation and cloning of a D1-like receptor activity modifying protein (RAMP) which is a single transmembrane protein, designated P24, or calcyon, that interacts with a C-terminal intracellular segment of the hD1 DA receptor, and use thereof in screening for therapeutics and diagnostics.
The human D1 dopamine (DA) receptor displays micromolar affinity for the neuromodulator DA. Currently, the management of many psychiatric and movement disorders relies heavily on the inhibition or facilitation of DA at its receptors. Via DA receptors, DA and DA mimetic ligands, such as antipsychotic drugs, exert both short and long term changes in ion channel activity, protein kinase/phosphatase activities, and gene expression (Artalejo et al., Nature 348:239–42 (1990); Steiner and Gerfen, J. Comp. Neurol. 353:200–12 (1995); Surmeirer et al., Neuron 14:385–97(1995)). The design of most of these drugs has been based on a "D1" and "D2" DA receptor subtype paradigm. However, molecular cloning has led to the identification of five mammalian DA receptor subtypes (D1–D5) (reviewed in Gingrich and Caron, Annu. Rev. Neurosci. 16:299–321 (1993)). Individual subtypes have been further characterized as D1-like (D1 and D5) or D2-like (D2, D3 and D4) based on their selectivity for either classical "D1" or "D2" dopaminergic ligands. Thus, conceptualizations of how DA modulates the mesolimbic, mesocortical and nigrastriatal pathways through "D1" and "D2" receptors are inadequate given the added molecular complexity of the DA receptor system. The functional implications of these "new" "D1" and "D2" DA receptor subtypes for DA in regulating cognitive, motor and associative functions is currently unknown. However, their discovery presents new opportunities for obtaining a more precise understanding of the role of dopaminergic neurotransmission in these processes. In addition, a complete understanding of the cellular and molecular processes regulating the specific subtype functions is crucial for dealing with disorders like schizophrenia, Parkinson's disease, Tourette's syndrome, and drug addiction that appear to involve dysfunction in the DA system.
In brain, D1 receptors are most abundant in the caudate nucleus, where they are involved in the control of movement. D1 receptors are also found in prefrontal cortex (PFC) where they are required for working memory, a form of memory impaired in schizophrenia. In PFC, D1 receptors are present in pyramidal cell dendritic spines typically located several micrometers away from DA terminals.
Immunohistochemical analyses of the D1-like dopamine (DA) receptor subtypes, D1 and D5, shows that each receptor protein has a unique cellular and subcellular distribution within the mesocortical, mesolimbic, and nigrastriatal pathways. These results support the notion that each D1-like subtype serves a distinct function. However, the molecules that may mediate subtype-specific signal transduction differences in vivo have not yet been identified. In addition, details regarding the processes specifying the subcellular distribution of each receptor subtype are unclear. Without this molecular information, it is difficult to understand the physiologic requirements for multiple D1-like subtypes. Examination of well-characterized systems indicates that most processes in cells are mediated by protein complexes created by specific protein-protein interactions (Formosa et al., In: Methods in Enzymology: Academic Press, Inc. pp 24–45 (1991)).
As a group, the five mammalian DA receptor subtypes comprise a subfamily of the G-protein coupled receptor (GPCR) superfamily with predicted seven transmembrane topology. Similarities in genomic organization, sequence, and G-protein coupling suggest that the two DA receptor families evolved from prototypical D1 and D2 receptor genes via duplication and divergence (O'Dowd et al., In Handbook of Receptors and Channels: CRC Press, Inc., pp 95–123 (1994)). Although each of the D1-like and D2-like subtypes are presumed to serve distinct functions, subtype-specific signal transduction differences have not been identified in vivo. Without this functional information, it is difficult to understand the physiologic requirements for multiple D1-like and D2-like receptor subtypes. Using the D1 and D5 D1-like subtypes as a model, one can elucidate the physiologic basis for multiple DA receptor subtypes by defining molecular determinants of their functions. Information obtained from this research should lead to a more sophisticated understanding of the principles guiding the functional organization of dopaminergic pathways. Several classes of proteins that regulate GPCR's are known, yet none have been found to alter the sensitivity of D1 receptors in vivo.
There is ample pharmacological, electrophysiological and behavioral evidence to testify to the importance of D1-like receptors in cognitive and motor processes under normal or pathological conditions, including tardive dyskinesia (Ellison and See, Pyschopharmacology 98:564 (1989); Spooren et al., Euro. J. Pharmacol. 204:217 (1991)), Parkinson's Disease (Gilmore et al., Neuropharmacology 34:481–8 (1995)), working memory (Sawaguchi and Goldman-Rakic, Science 251:947–50 (1991)), and long term potentiation (Huang and Kandel, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 92:2446–50 (1995)). However, whether the primary D1-like receptor involved is D1, or D5, or both, in each of these processes/behaviors is completely unclear because both subtypes have similar affinities for "D1" receptor agonists and antagonists. mRNA and protein localization studies in rodent and primate have provided the most revealing insights into the different functions of the D1 and D5 subtypes in vivo (Huntley et al., Mol. Brain Res. 15:181–8 (1992); Levey et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 90:8861–5 (1993); Smiley et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 91:5720–4 (1994); Laurier et al., Mol. Brain Res. 25:344–350 (1994); Bergson et al., J. Neurosci. 15:7821–36 (1995)). Although the D1 subtype is the most abundant DA receptor subtype, many aspects of the D5 subtype's localization in cerebral cortex and limbic nuclei suggest that it may support DA's actions in the higher cognitive, associative and affective processes uniquely associated with humans. In contrast, the most abundant expression of D1 receptors is detected in the basal ganglia nuclei which are primarily associated with movement.
Previous studies carried out with subtype-specific antibodies indicate that D1 and D5 receptor proteins are typically coexpressed in pyramidal neurons of monkey prefrontal cortex. However, initial electron microscopic studies suggest that D1 receptors are preferentially localized in spines of pyramidal neurons, and D5 receptors are mainly associated with their apical dendrites (Bergson et al., J. Neurosci. 15:7821–36 (1995)). As the synaptic input to spines is excitatory, and synaptic input to shafts is generally inhibitory (Jones, Cerebral Cortex 3:361–72 (1993); Harris and Kater, Annu. Rev. Neurosci. 17:341–71 (1994); Smith et al., J. Comp. Neurol. 344:1–19 (1994)), it seems reasonable to speculate that the two D1-like receptors may, in fact, be carrying out different functions. Their differential localization in pyramidal cell dendritic spines and shafts is consistent with the idea that D1 and D5 receptors initiate biochemical events that modulate excitatory or inhibitory synaptic transmission, respectively. This possibility has been supported by numerous electrophysiological studies (Cepeda et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 90:9576–80 (1993); Cameron and Williams, Nature 366:344–7 (1993); Taber and Fibiger, J. Neurosci. 15:3896–904 (1995)). Indeed, a recent electrophysiological study demonstrated that DA's normal ability to potentiate responses to NMDA is blunted in D1 knockout mice (Levine et al., J. Neurosci. 16:5870–82 (1996)).
D1 and D5 receptors, like a number of other GPCRs expressed in brain, stimulate adenyl cyclase in the presence of agonist presumably via coupling to a Gs-like G-protein. However, knowledge of whether D1 or D5 subtypes elicit specific physiological responses in vivo is lacking. It is also unclear whether receptor-specific regulatory steps exist to modify D1 versus D5 receptor activation. This molecular information is critical for developing therapies that might inhibit or activate a D1 or D5 specific function.
It is an object of the present invention to provide reagents which can be used to identify determinants which may permit the D1 and D5 subtypes to elicit unique cellular responses.

Nucleic acid encoding calcyon, a D-1 like dopamine receptor activity modifying protein

Medical College of Georgia Research Institute, Inc.


Furniture that is convertible between a seat position and a bed position is described. The furniture includes a first bed section with a first platform supporting a first cushion, and a second bed section with a second platform, a second cushion, and a partition disposed between the second platform and the second cushion. The first platform is configured to pivot relative to the second platform. The first cushion is thicker than the second cushion. When the furniture is in the bed position, a top surface of the first cushion is substantially coplanar with a top surface of the second cushion and the partition is spaced from the second platform by a first distance. In the seat position of the furniture, the distance between the partition and the second platform is less than the first distance.

Customers have long appreciated the functionality of furniture that converts between a seat configuration and a bed configuration. Individuals often purchase convertible furniture to provide additional sleeping arrangements for overnight guests, while the furniture is also able to provide suitable seating during the day. In some instances, where space is at a premium, convertible furniture, such as a sofa bed, may provide the primary sleeping arrangement for residents of loft or efficiency apartments. Similarly, the hospitality industry uses sofa beds in select hotel rooms to provide sleeping arrangements for additional persons, when needed, while being capable of providing seating when the permanent beds are otherwise sufficient to sleep the required number of guests in the room.
Traditionally, convertible furniture has suffered from two longstanding concerns, namely, limited bed comfort and limited seat comfort. First, when in a bed configuration, typical convertible furniture is often much less comfortable than a traditional mattress and box spring combination. The reduced comfort provided by traditional sofa beds can be caused by using spring mattresses that are much thinner than typical permanent mattresses. These thin mattresses are often required to provide the necessary pliability of the mattress to fold the mattress into the seat configuration of the furniture. The use of thin spring mattresses and underlying support structure exacerbates the discomfort problem by transmitting more of the pressure points caused by the traditional wire grid or tensioned trampoline support bars upon which these mattresses typically rest.
The inventors of the embodiments of the present disclosure have previously made significant strides in providing a more comfortable sofa bed. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 9,468,303, which is incorporated herein in its entirety, describes a sofa bed with a bed created from two or more bed sections that are able to fold relative to one another. The bed sections use memory foam or similar cushioning material, provided in 4 or 5″ thick blocks, to provide an enhanced level of comfort compared to 3″ foam mattresses or compressible spring mattresses. Further, each section of cushioning material is supported by a rigid panel, minimizing any transmission of pressure points from bars, wires, or springs through the cushion.
While the applicant's existing convertible furniture has made significant strides in bed comfort compared to traditional sofa beds, the space occupied by the bed sections 112, 114 in the seat position impact the ability to reach a desired seat height of 18″ or 19″ above the floor for seat comfort. Therefore, there continues to be further opportunity to improve the mechanisms used in convertible furniture to provide further packaging efficiencies while maintaining the new level of comfort expected from sofa beds such as those described in U.S. Pat. No. 9,468,303.


A cutting assembly for aluminum foil dispensers. The cutting assembly comprises a member corresponding to the length of the dispenser carton. The member has a U-shaped cross-section adapted to slip over the free edge of the front panel of the dispenser carton having a base web with one leg on the inside of the carton and a second leg exposed on the outside of the carton. The inside leg has an extension which is bent back over the leg and extends the full height of the inside leg to project above the base web of the U-shaped member. The upward extension is serrated with a continuous row of teeth projecting above the base, preferably a depth of 0.020". The outside leg of the member has a flap which is bent back internally of the U-shaped member to provide a retainer strip which projects angularly upward and inward of the U-shaped member to provide a resilient flap which resists upward displacement of the member from the panel. The base web of the panel is flat, extending perpendicularly to the legs with a width of at least seven times the depth of the teeth. The height of the legs is about 1-1/2 times the width of the web.

Metal foil is widely used throughout the food industry to wrap or cover various food products. The foil is typically dispensed from a roll contained in a box. Whenever a piece of foil is required, the length of the foil is withdrawn from the box and cut to length by a cutting blade that is attached to the front panel of the carton. The cutting blade commonly used for many years has been a thin metallic saw-toothed blade having cutting points extending along the exposed edge of the blade. Although the points of the cutting blade can nick or cut the user, the real risk to the user is due to the fact that the cutting blade is made of a thin strip of metal. Just as a piece of paper can cause a cut, a thin strip of metal, with or without saw-toothed points, can cut.

Cutting blade for cutting sheet materials


A funeral deodorant comprising an active deodorant component obtained from pyroligneous liquid is applied to a dead body for preventing and masking odors therefrom.

For the past decades, a coffin is filled with dry ice to prevent a corpse from giving off odors before the body is cremated or buried. Full deodorization is difficult with dry ice.
An object of the present invention is to provide a funeral deodorant for destroying or masking odors from a dead body until the body is cremated or buried.


A device is provided, which includes at least one optical area sensor having an optical semiaxis and an entrance pupil. The device also includes an optical element including at least one pair of parallel surfaces. The device is characterized in that the optical element has a refractive index which decreases as the distance from the center increases at least along a direction in parallel to the surfaces at least between one edge of the optical element and a center of the optical element. The optical element is situated with respect to the area sensor in such a way that the surfaces are situated perpendicularly to the optical semiaxis. The increase of the refractive index perpendicular to the optical semiaxis makes it possible to situate the optical element having the parallel surfaces perpendicular to the optical semiaxis, so that the block requires minimal installation space.

Devices including an optical area sensor (imager) and an entrance pupil are used, for example, as front cameras in vehicles. In this case, the device is situated in an area with respect to a longitudinal axis of the vehicle behind a windshield of the vehicle in such a way that the optical semiaxis crosses the windshield and the device thus visually records a wider area with respect to the longitudinal axis in front of the windshield of the vehicle and in particular ahead of the vehicle.
An aperture angle is defined by an extension of the surface sensor and a distance between the area sensor and the entrance pupil. The device may in addition include one or multiple imaging optical system(s).
The recorded images and/or videos may be used in diverse ways. They may be displayed, for example, on a screen for supporting the driver, and/or they may be evaluated automatically, for example, by a driver assistance system, which determines the distance to a preceding vehicle.
Vehicles are described in an axis system, a longitudinal axis extending horizontally and in parallel to a direction of travel of the vehicle, and a vertical axis extending vertically. A transverse axis extends perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis and perpendicularly to the vertical axis. The transverse and longitudinal axes define a horizontal plane, to which the windshield is inclined at an angle differing from 0° and 90°, 360° corresponding to the complete circle. The inclination may vary along the vertical axis and/or along the transverse axis.
A distance of the device from the windshield and the aperture angle determine a field of vision of the windshield, through which the device "sees," and which must therefore be transparent if the full aperture angle is to be utilized.
The device may be accommodated, for example, in the foot of a center rear view mirror, it being possible for the foot to be attached to the windshield. The windshield area in which the foot is attached may partially include so-called black print. However, the field of vision must be kept free from black print if the full aperture angle is to be utilized.
It is desirable to design the field of vision to be as small as possible to minimize the visibility of the device from the outside, to reduce the effect of the windshield as an enlarging ancillary lens and/or to maximize the black print.
If the full aperture angle is to be utilized, this may occur, for example, by reducing the distance of the device from the windshield. However, a structural dimension of the device requires a minimum distance. Furthermore, it is possible to minimize the angle between the optical semiaxis and a normal of the windshield. However, it is desirable to keep the optical axis parallel to the horizontal plane of the vehicle. However, the optical semiaxis of the area sensor then crosses the windshield in such a way that it is inclined in relation to a normal of the windshield corresponding to the inclination.
If the device having a horizontal optical semiaxis is situated at the minimum distance to the windshield, this also causes the field of vision to be further reduced in that an optical element is situated between the device and the windshield. Thus DE 10 2008 0270 307 A1 describes an optical element in the form of a prism system, which has at least two prisms made from transparent materials situated one behind the other, the prisms being oriented in such a way that they have opposite refraction directions and their surfaces facing one another do not extend in parallel to one another. US 2003/0010890 A1 concerns a glass block which is introduced in front of a camera at an angle.

Device for a motor vehicle including an optical area sensor having an optical semiaxis and an optical system having an aperture angle and use of the device in a vehicle


A multipurpose air tool (1) having a handle (2) to which a head (3) can be removably attached is disclosed. The head (3) has attached thereto various such tools as a face plate (4) and replaceable nozzles (5). The head (3) is interlocked to the handle (2) by a spigot (19) and bayonet connection (21, 23, 34). A safety interlock (16) prevents operation of the trigger (15) and valve (12) unless the head (3) is correctly positioned on the handle.

Contamination of hoses, tubes, pipes and conduits represents a major problem to industry as it directly causes major plant and machinery breakdowns requiring extensive repairs at a cost which is impossible to measure. The smaller the internal diameter of the hose, tube or pipe, the greater is the potential for damage caused by the presence of contaminants due to the inability to effectively clean these small diameter tubes.
Thus a system which effectively removes contamination from tubes, pipes, conduits and hoses, arising from use, or from manufacture, cutting and fitting of new assemblies is required. It is evident that a method is required to overcome the problems caused by the extensive component and system malfunctions due to particles of contamination. The traditional methods such as using pull-throughs, bowing out the lines with air or flushing with oil, solvents or chemicals are inefficient. Frequently these methods involved substantial labour and material costs. Solvents and chemicals utilised in the process represented a hazard to the user and often created disposal problems, having regard to the toxicity of the chemicals with environmental concerns.
It is known that the complex task can be achieved by propelling a foam pellet through a hose, pipe, conduit or tube to be cleaned. The pellet is slightly larger in external diameter than the internal diameter of the hose, pipe, conduit or tube and consequently the pellet expands against the internal surface thereby eliminating the contaminants as it passes through. irrespective of whether they are liquid or solid.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,974,277 of which David Wayne Caseila is the inventor, describes a hand held pneumatic gun which has a breech pivoted to the gun, that is a hinged face plate, that can be opened to allow the nozzle size to be changed and the projectile inserted therein. That gun has no adequate safety mechanism, and is limited in its use to a small range of diameter hoses and pipes, and comprises of one assembly and does not have the interlocking multi-purpose assembly. Application Ser. No. AU663294 (83338/91) Is an Improvement on U.S. Pat. No. 4,974,277 and has the exact same limitations.
It is the object of this invention to provide a multi-purpose pneumatic tool having a multi function hand piece with interchangeable attachments or heads. One such attachment is the pressure purging which is easily adapted to a wide range of internal diameters of pipes, tubes or hoses, and another is the spool head.
Also it is an object of the invention to provide a wide range of heads which will be adapted to separate and different tasks but each will be interchangeable with the interlocking assembly.
The multi function hand piece, by using an unique interlocking assembly, can be used for a variety of different purposes by the attachment of devices for cleaning for pipes, tubes and hoses, a spooling attachment, and other attachments such as a venturi system for sand blasting or the extraction of the addition of liquids to the air stream, an air drill, and pressure testing of pressure systems.
An additional object of the invention is to provide a safety device, both automatic and manual to prevent the operation of the hand piece unless the attachment or head is correctly positioned and affixed by the interlocking assembly between the multi function hand piece and attachment or head.

Penumatic Systems International Pty Ltd.


In an electrostatic actuator, a stator element having electrodes formed on an insulation layer and a movable element having electrodes formed on an insulation layer. The movable element is arranged opposite to the stator element so as to be movable with respect to the stator element. The electrodes of the movable element and the stator element are connected together at every other electrode to provide two phases for the movable element and the stator element, respectively. An interval of the electrodes of the stator element is made unequal. The electrodes of the movable element are applied with a voltage of fixed polarity, while the electrodes of the stator element are applied with a voltage of switched-over polarity. A ground section is provided between adjacent ones of the electrodes of one of the movable element and the stator element and is continuously grounded.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to electrostatic actuators suitably used as driving sources of shading devices such as vehicular sunvisors, moon-roofs, and rear-windows, or those for trains, aircraft, ships or others, or paper-feeders for copying machines. More particularly, it relates to simplification in structure and prevention of electrification of a stator element and a movable element of an electrostatic actuator which has electrodes provided on respective insulation layers of the stator element and the movable element so that the movable element is driven by attractive force and repulsive force resulting from static electricity created between the electrodes of the stator element and the electrodes of the movable element.
2. Description of Related Art
Conventionally, as an electrostatic actuator of this kind, there has been an electrostatic actuator, shown in FIG. 40, previously proposed in Unexamined Utility Model Publication (Kokai) No. H7-16599 by the present applicant.
In this electrostatic actuator, the movable element 1 has electrodes 3a, 3b, 3c . . . 3a, 3b, 3c . . . provided in an insulation layer 2 thereof so that electrodes 3a, 3b, 3c positioned every third one of these electrodes 3a, 3b, 3c . . . 3a, 3b, 3c . . . are connected so as to provide three phases, or a-phase, b-phase, and c-phase. With the a-phase electrode 3a and the b-phase electrode 3b are further connected together to form two phases. On the other hand, the stator element 4 has electrodes 6a, 6b, 6c provided in an insulation layer 5 thereof so that electrodes 6a, 6b, 6c positioned in every third one of these electrodes 6a, 6b, 6c are connected together to provide three phases, or U-phase, V-phase, and W-phase. In this manner, where the electrodes 6a-6c of the stator element 4 are structured in three phases, electrodes of two phases, or the U-phase and V-phase electrodes 6a, 6b in FIG. 41, of the U-phase, V-phase, and W-phase electrodes 6a-6c are connected to electricity-feed portions 7A, 7B provided in a plane same as the insulation layer 5 in which electrodes 6a-6c are arranged, while the remaining one phase of electrodes, or the W-phase electrodes 6c in FIG. 41, are connected to an electricity-feed portion 7C located in a surface of the insulation layer 5 opposite to the surface provided with electrodes 6a to 6c through a conductive member 8 inserted in a through-hole 5a formed in the insulation layer 5.
In this structure, however, there is a necessity of providing an electricity-feed portion 7C on a side opposite to the electrodes 6a-6c and the electricity-feed portions 7A, 7B, as well as providing the through-hole 5a and the conductive member 8, resulting in structural complexity for the stator element 4.
On the contrary, Unexamined Patent Publication (Kokai) No. H2-311186 provides an electrostatic actuator, as shown in FIG. 42, which possesses three phases of electrodes 11a, 11b, 11c provided in the stator element 10 so that one phase of electrodes 11b are arranged in a zigzag form with respect to other two phases of electrodes 11a, 11c, thereby providing three phases of electrodes 11a-11c in one surface of the stator element 10.
However, in the electrostatic actuator of Unexamined Patent Publication No. H2-311186, shown in FIG. 42, the stator element 10 is complex in structure because there is a necessity of providing three phases of electrodes 11a, 11b, 11c with one phase of electrodes 11b arranged in the zigzag form, as stated hereinbefore. Also, in this electrostatic actuator, there is a problem that the driving force for the movable element is small because voltage is adapted to be applied solely to the electrodes 11a, 11b, 11c of the stator element 10 without applying voltage to the electrodes of the movable element.
Also, Unexamined Patent Publication No. H4-281371 discloses an electrostatic actuator having, as shown in FIG. 43, electrodes of three phases of R-phase, S-phase, and T-phase in the stator element, wherein an S-phase electrode is arranged zigzag relative to other two phases of electrodes, to provide three-phase electrodes in one surface of the stator element with the spacing unequally made between electrodes of three phases.
The electrostatic actuator of Unexamined Patent Publication No. H4-281371, shown in FIG. 43, also has the electrodes of three phases provided in the stator element so that the stator element is complex in structure. Further, the driving force is small because of absence of electrodes in the movable element.
Further, Unexamined Patent Publication No. H5-176558 proposes an electrostatic actuator, which as shown in FIG. 44 has electrodes of four phases a, b, c, and d provided zigzag in the stator element with the spacing made unequally between electrodes of four phases.
In the electrostatic actuator of Unexamined Patent Publication No. H5-176558, shown in FIG. 44, the stator element is particularly complex in its structure because four phases of electrodes are provided in one surface of the stator element. And no electrodes are provided in the movable element, not shown, resulting in small driving force.
Furthermore, Unexamined Patent Publication No. H4-236179 proposes an electrostatic actuator, which as shown in FIG. 45 has a structure of two phases provided for both of electrodes 13a, 13b of the movable element 12 and electrodes 15a, 15b of the stator element 14.
In the electrostatic actuator of Unexamined Patent Publication No. H4-236179, the electrode pitch is constant for the electrodes 15a, 15b of the movable element 14 as well as the electrodes 13a, 13b of the stator element 12, to provide such a structure that the movable element is driven solely by the attractive force acting on between the electrodes 15a, 15b of the movable element 14 and the electrodes 13a, 13b of the stator element 12, reducing the driving force small. Also, in this electrostatic actuator, there is a necessity of switching over of the polarity of voltages applied to both of electrodes 13a, 13b of the stator element 12 and the electrodes 15a, 15b of the movable element 14, imposing complexity in its control manner.
Further, in the above conventional electrostatic actuators, there may be a case where voltages with a waveform in the same polarity be applied to a plurality of phases of electrodes present in the movable element or stator element. In the electrostatic actuator shown in FIG. 40, for instance, there is a state in which voltages in the same polarity "+" are applied to the U-phase electrodes 6a and the W-phase electrodes 6c as shown in the figure, though switching over is made for the polarities of the voltages applied to the electrodes 6a, 6b, 6c of the stator element 4. In such state, there is a possibility of electrification of "-" on the insulation layer 5 of the stator element 4.
Also, if there occurs deviation in the polarity of voltage applied to electrodes of one phase among plural phase electrodes within one period, there may occur electrification on either the movable element or the stator element which is provided with the electrodes. For instance, if the polarity of voltage applied within one period involves deviation toward the "-" side in one-phase electrodes, there is a possibility that electrification occurs on either the movable element or the stator element which includes electrodes. This electrification on the movable element or the stator element may possibly lower the driving force for the movable element.

Electrostatic actuator with different electrode spacing


A multi-wavelength light source includes a substrate, a fabry-perot laser laminated on the substrate that is operated by driving current below a predetermined threshold current to generate multi-wavelength light including a plurality of peaks whose wavelengths and spacing are identical to these of WDM channels. A semiconductor optical amplifier (SOA) is laminated on the substrate in an arrangement such that a slant surface of the SOA is opposed to a side surface of the fabry-perot laser, which serves to thereby amplify the multi-wavelength light output from the fabry-perot laser. The semiconductor optical amplifier is driven in a gain saturation state to reduce the relative intensity of noise in the channels of the multi-wavelength light that are simultaneously amplified.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to light sources that are used for optical communications. More particularly, the present invention relates to a multi-wavelength light source which can output multi-wavelength light in a multiplex system that includes a plurality of channels having differing wavelengths.
2. Description of the Related Art
In wavelength division multiplexed optical communication systems, a plurality of channels having different wavelengths are multiplexed into as a composite optical signal that is transmitted across a transmission medium. The multiplexed optical signal is received and demultiplexed into a plurality of signals having different wavelengths, and each of these demultiplexed signals are detected and grouped as separate channels according to their wavelengths. Accordingly, wavelength division multiplexing methods permit the efficient expansion of optical communication capacity, and allows for data to be transmitted regardless of the transmission data type.
A typical wavelength division multiplexed optical communication system includes a central office and at least one remote node. In order to transmit data to subscribers, the central office multiplexes a plurality of downstream channels having different wavelengths into a downstream optical signal so as to output the multiplexed optical signal. Further, the central office detects upstream channels output from the subscribers. The remote node is located between the subscribers and the central office to relay the central office to each subscriber.
In the wavelength division multiplexing, some of the types of light sources that can be used are a plurality of single-wavelength light sources or an incoherent multi-wavelength light source. Distributed feedback lasers or fabry-perot lasers can be used as the single-wavelength light sources, and an erbium doped fiber amplifier or a light emitting diode (LED) can be used as the incoherent multi-wavelength light source.
Each of the single-wavelength light sources generates only one mode-locked channel so as to have a single wavelength by a laser resonance. Therefore, the single-wavelength light sources are advantageous in long-distance transmissions because they are coherent sources. Also, the channel power loss and occurrences of noise are minimized in the single-wavelength light sources.
However, one drawback of using single-wavelength light sources is that a plurality of single-wavelength light sources must be provided to the system in order to correspond respectively to the number of transmitted channels. This one to one correspondence increases not only the size of the wavelength division multiplexed optical communication system increases, but also the manufacturing costs.
Meanwhile, the multi-wavelength light sources, such as the LED, have been proposed as an alternative for solving the above-mentioned problems of the single-wavelength light sources. However, the multi-wavelength light sources have the problem that they output incoherent light. Therefore, in comparison with the single-wavelength light source, the multi-wavelength light sources are disadvantageous in a long-distance transmission.
In order to overcome the disadvantages of both the multi-wavelength light source and the single-wavelength light source, a fabry-perot laser with EDFA (Erbium Doped Fiber Amplifier) has been proposed for use in a method of generating and amplifying multi-wavelength light including channels having different wavelengths.
However, the fabry-perot laser does not solve all the above-mentioned problems, particularly when used in multi-wavelength light source. The multiple channels output from the laser are subject to power fluctuation that commonly occurs, thereby increasing relative intensity noise.

Low noise multi-wavelength light source and wavelength division multiplexing system using same