A rugged hard disk drive storage assembly is disclosed. The rugged hard disk drive storage assembly includes an enclosure capable of containing multiple hard disk drives. The enclosure also contains multiple shock and vibration absorbers that are configured to elastically support all the hard disk drives contained within the enclosure. The multiple shock absorbers protect the delicate electronic hard disk drives and their sensitive information from shock and vibration damage, even when the enclosure has been removed from the drive container, and is being carried away by personal in a harsh combat environment. In addition, the enclosure is hermetically sealed such that the hard disk drives are isolated from external environment.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to disk storage assemblies in general, and in particular to portable disk storage assemblies. Still more particularly, the present invention relates to a portable hard disk drive storage assembly that is rugged, shockproof and contained within a hermetically sealed enclosure.
2. Description of Related Art
Hard disk drives are one of the more prevailing direct access storage devices for data processing systems. A hard disk drive typically has a rotatable disk medium and a magnetic head. The magnetic head includes a read head for reading data from and writing data to the rotatable disk medium. The magnetic head is coupled to an actuator mechanism to be moved and positioned by a voice coil motor. The actuator mechanism moves and positions the magnetic head to a predetermined track to perform reading and writing operations.
Because of the mechanical construction of the rotatable disk medium and the actuator mechanism, hard disk drives tend to be very vulnerable to shocks, vibration, altitude, and foreign contaminants that can damage the internal components of the hard disk drives. As such, hard disk drives are generally not intended to be carried around. In order to have a portable hard disk drive that is also reliable, additional measures must be taken to protect the hard disk drive from environments that would potentially damage the device.
The present disclosure provides a portable hard disk drive storage assembly that is rugged and shockproof.


The improved color image recording apparatus comprises a raster image processor to create scan image data; a color management system to correct the color/density of the scan image data; an exposing device with which a photosensitive material is scan exposed by multi-channel exposure to record a latent image in accordance with the corrected scan image data; a developing device with which the photosensitive material having the latent image formed thereon is subjected to a development process so as to create a hard copy having the image reproduced thereon; an instrument to measure the color/density of the image in the hard copy; and a system for revising the conditions of exposure in the exposing device and/or the conditions of correction in the color management system in accordance with the result of measurement with the instrument. This color image recording apparatus ensures that hard copies having print-quality images and a high degree of similarity to the actual print can be output consistently with satisfactory color stabilization and reproduction. Further, the apparatus is capable of outputting hard copies of large sizes up to A1 at high speed with high efficiency.

This invention relates to the technical field of color image recording apparatus, more particularly, those which are used with advantage in the creation of (color) proofs in the printing field.
With the recent advances in digital technology, it is expected in the printing industry that the technology is utilized to verify the quality of copy at an early stage of the process starting with its input and ending with the printing (outputting) of the final copy so that the number of required corrections is reduced to achieve higher productivity. The quality verification employs a hard copy called "proof" or "color proof" which has the same image recorded as in the actual print. Hence, the proof is required to have a high degree of similarity to the actual print (of final copy) in terms of not only graphics pattern but also color and/or density.
The proofs are typically created by color image recording apparatus (color proofing apparatus) employing various techniques such as electrophotography, thermal transfer by sublimation, thermal transfer by fusion and ink jet printing. However, the conventional color proofing apparatus employing these methods are not completely satisfactory in performance for the following reasons and need substantial improvements.
Most of the color proofs for printing are of A4 or A3 size but larger sizes A2 and A1 are also available. With the conventional color proofing apparatus, the speed of creating larger proofs is quite slow, i.e. about 20 minutes with the A2 size and as long as about 40 minutes with the A1 size, which means very low efficiency.
As already mentioned, the color proof is required to have a degree of high similarity to the actual print and the color proofing apparatus must be capable of outputting a print-quality color proof with satisfactory color reproduction in a consistent manner.
Therefore, the image quality of the color proof is required to be comparable to that of the final print in various aspects including color/density resolution, image gradation and granularity. However, it is difficult for the conventional color proofing apparatus to meet all of these requirements and yet ensure high productivity. It goes without saying that neither color proofing apparatus which satisfy more rigorous requirements such as similarity in color to the actual print and consistent color reproduction nor a technology that can put the apparatus into commercial use have yet been realized.


There is provided a honeycomb structure 1 produced by bonding a plurality of honeycomb segments 12 into one piece via a bonding layer 8, each segment 12 having a number of through-holes 3 divided from each other by porous partition walls 2 and extending in the axial direction of the honeycomb segment. The bonding layer 8 comprises at least one cement layer 10 and at least one undercoat layer 9 present between the honeycomb segment 12 and the cement layer 10. There is provided a process for producing a honeycomb structure 1, wherein bonding the honeycomb segments 12 comprises applying at least one layer of an undercoat on each honeycomb segment 12, applying at least one layer of a cement, and bonding the honeycomb segments into one piece. The honeycomb structure has a high bonding strength and hardly gives defects such as cracks in bonded portion.

Honeycomb structures are used, for example, as a catalyst carrier for an internal combustion engine, a boiler, a chemical reactor, a reformer of fuel cell or the like, or as a filter for particulate matter present in an exhaust gas, particularly diesel particulate matter.
In the honeycomb structure used for such a purpose, the sharp temperature change of exhaust gas and the local heating make non-uniform the temperature distribution inside the honeycomb structure, which has caused problems such as crack generation in honeycomb structure and the like.
When the honeycomb structure is used particularly as a filter for trapping a particulate matter in an exhaust gas emitted from a diesel engine (the filter is hereinafter referred to as DPF), it is necessary to burn the carbon particles trapped on the filter to remove the particles and regenerate the filter and, in that case, high temperatures are inevitably generated locally in the filter; as a result, a big thermal stress and cracks have tended to generate.
Hence, it was proposed to bond a plurality of honeycomb segments with a cement to produce a honeycomb structure.
For example, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,335,783 is disclosed a process for producing a honeycomb structure, which comprises bonding a number of honeycomb parts using a discontinuous cement.
Also in JP-B-61-51240 is proposed a heat shock-resistant rotary regenerating heat exchanging method which comprises forming, by extrusion, matrix segments of honeycomb structure made of a ceramic material; firing them; making smooth, by processing, the outer peripheral portions of the fired segments; coating the to-be-bonded areas of the resulting segments with a ceramic cement having, when fired, substantially the same mineral composition as the matrix segments and showing a difference in thermal expansion coefficient, of 0.1% or less at 800 degree C.; and firing the coated segments.
Also in a SAE article 860008 of 1986 is disclosed a ceramic honeycomb structure obtained by bonding cordierite honeycomb segments with a cordierite cement.
These honeycomb structures, however, are not sufficient in bonding strength between a honeycomb segment and a bonding layer. Further the honeycomb structures have bonding defects such as a separation or a crack at the interface between a bonding layer and a honeycomb segment caused by differences in thermal expansion coefficient, drying shrinkage, and the like between the bonding layer and the honeycomb structure.
In order to solve these problems, in JP-A-8-28246 is disclosed a ceramic honeycomb structure obtained by bonding honeycomb ceramic members with an elastic sealant made of at least a three-dimensionally intertwined inorganic fiber, an inorganic binder, an organic binder and inorganic particles. However, use of the organic binder (which is difficult to handle) makes long the drying time of sealant, makes difficult the homogenization of sealant composition and makes more the number of materials used in sealant; as a result, a lower productivity is invited.
Hence, there is desired a honeycomb structure which is small in bonding defects and has a high bonding strength, even though it contains no organic binder.

Honeycomb structure body and method for manufacturing the same


A cervical support system for restricting head and neck movement of a patient recovering from an injury to or surgery on the spine. The support system includes a supporting member for mounting onto and around the head and neck of the patient. The supporting member includes an injection molded base portion integral with an occipital lobe supporting portion. The base portion is arranged to rest on the shoulder of the patient while the occipital lobe supporting portion is arranged to extend along the neck from the shoulder to the head of the patient. An arcuate member such as a C-collar is disposed on an outer surface of the supporting member. A plurality of adjustment devices such as a turn-tab adjustment mechanism on an outer surface of the arcuate member rotatably connect the arcuate member to the supporting member to position the arcuate member onto, and with respect to, the supporting member.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a cervical support system and complementary features of the cervical support system. More specifically, the present invention relates to a cervical support system that can have a crescent shape so that it is quick and easy to install on a patient, and provides a comfortable fit, so that the patient can wear the support system in compliance with the physician's orders.
2. Description of the Related Art
A cervical collar is a medical device for temporarily restricting movement of the head and neck. The cervical collar is placed on a patient after an injury to or surgery on a cervical portion of the spine. The success of patient recovery from an injury to or surgery on the cervical portion of the spine depends on a number of factors including patient compliance with wearing the collar. However, the most reported concern raised by physicians of patients with spinal column injuries is lack of patient compliance with the physician's orders to wear the collar for the required recuperative duration. Existing cervical collars, in general, form a 360-degree enclosure of the neck. As a result, existing cervical collars retain body heat due to the 360-degree enclosure and give patients the feeling of being choked, causing overall patient discomfort. Further, existing cervical collars unnecessarily restrict movement of the mandible, thus, limiting or preventing the patient from being able to talk and/or eat. Thus, patients complain of skin irritation or chafing as a result of a natural attempt to talk and/or eat while wearing the 360-degree enclosure.
While existing cervical collars provide some restrictive range of motion of the head and neck, they significantly compromise or fail to deliver sufficient support and/or immobilization requisite for patient recovery and/or re-injury.
The cervical support system of present invention addresses patient complaints, such as insufficient recuperative support and immobilization, and also reduces patient discomfort in at least the above-noted areas of concern. For example, the system of the present invention at least reduces patient heat discomfort and the choking feeling inherent in the existing cervical collars. The system is an orthotic for the cervical spine that increases patient compliance by eliminating problems inherent in existing cervical collars. The effect of the cervical support system of the present invention is patient compliance through improved support and comfort. As a result, the patient can wear the cervical support system for the required recuperative duration with increased comfort, control and support, thereby promoting faster healing of the injury.


A sled having an aerosol container containing a coloring fluid so as to allow the user to leave behind one or two colored trails showing where the sled has gone. The aerosol container is in a jacket attached to a movable mounting plate. The tilt actuator of the container is activated by a trigger wire which is attached to a trigger on the sled handle.

1) Field of the Invention
This invention lies in the field of snow sleds. More particularly, this invention concerns sleds which have the capability to dispense colored fluids so as to color the snow and leave a decorative trail showing where the sled has been.
2) Description of the Related Art
The prior art is aware of sleds having two runners, a flat platform on the runners, and a steering handle. Such sleds have for years been a source of enjoyment to children who use them for sliding down snow-covered hills or carrying loads or other children over the snow. There has been lacking any additional feature to add to this enjoyment. It is the purpose of this invention to add a feature to such sleds which will enable sleds to leave behind colored trails showing where they have been.


A method and apparatus for detecting where useful image data about a document exists within a stream of successive scans of image data coming from an imaging camera positioned at a scanning line in an imaging system. A reference member having first, second, and third marks thereon is positioned at the scanning line. Several scans of the reference member provide a reference scan which is retained in the system. When a document reaches the scanning line and is imaged by the imaging camera, a change in the pattern of pixels associated with the reference scan is used to signal the leading edge of a document. After the leading edge is detected, the first mark on the reference member is used to detect from the image data whether or not the document has a folded over portion near the leading and bottom edges of the document. The third mark is used to detect from the image data the location of the top of the document. When the pattern of pixels reverts to the reference scan, it is an indication of the trailing edge of the document. A rapid "roll-off" in a white image from the reference scan is used to detect the bottom edge of the document near a dark side of the document track. The useful image data from the mass of pixel data coming from the imaging camera is detected without using external sensors to detect the leading and trailing edges of the documents, for example.

(1) Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a method and apparatus for detecting where useful image data about a document exists within a stream of successive scans of image data coming from an imaging camera positioned at a scanning line.
(2) Background Information
There is a trend in the processing of documents to move the documents past a scanning line where an imaging camera is located to obtain image data about the document. The camera produces successive scans of image data or pixels as each document is moved past the scanning line. The image data is processed to obtain information or data about the documents.
One of the problems with working with image data is that it is sometimes difficult to extract the useful image data from that image data which does not contain pertinent data about the document. One of the ways of selecting useful image data from a stream of successive scan lines of pixels is to use an external leading edge detector, for example, which is positioned upstream from the scanning line and imaging camera. By knowing the velocity at which a document is being moved towards the scanning line and by knowing how far the leading edge detector is located from the scanning line, a reasonable approximation of the start of the useful image data of the document may be obtained.
Another trend in the processing of documents is to make the machines or terminals which process the documents smaller or to provide the machines with a smaller "footprint". Having external sensors to detect the leading and trailing edges of documents and having external sensors to detect the height of documents passing the imaging camera tend to make the task of making the machines smaller more difficult. Having to process image data which is unnecessary or not pertinent also tends to increase the machine time for processing the image data.

Method and apparatus for detecting the leading and trailing edges of a document in an image based system


An immunoassay method using magnetic particles comprising a core and a coating layer on the surface thereof, The core comprises an organic polymer and the coating layer comprises an iron oxide type ferrite coating layer. An antigen or an antibody is bound onto the surface of the coating layer and the particle has a particle size of 0.2 to 3 .mu.m.

In an immunoassay, particularly in an enzyme immunoassay, it is advantageous to effect immuno reaction with high sensitivity since it employs in a solid phase latex particles with smaller particle sizes in place of beads having larger particle sizes. However, when particles having smaller particle sizes are employed, for effecting B/F separation, a centrifugal separator should be used or filtration by using a filter should be done. Thus, it cannot help saying that the method is simple. As a method for effecting B/F (Bound free) separation effectively and simply, there has been proposed a method in which magnetic particles having smaller particle size are employed. As such methods, there have been known that an immunoassay using particles having 1.0 to 10.0 .mu.m wherein a silane is coated on magnetite as a core (see Japanese Provisional Patent Publications No. 141670/1980 and No. 122997/1975) and an immunoassay using particles having 0.1 to 1.5 .mu.m wherein a silane is coated on a magnetic metal oxide as a core (see Japanese Provisional Patent Publication No. 1564/1985). In either of magnetic particles, the core comprises a magnetic metal and a silane is used for coating thereon.
Particles comprising these magnetic metals as a core have problems that they are insufficient in uniformity of particle size, and also poor in preservation stability for a long period of time since iron was dissolved out. Thus, in immunoassay methods using these particles, reproducibility of the measurement results is poor and preservation of a reagent used for the measurement could not be done for a long period of time.


Various configurations of elongate scattering elements in an optical waveguide grating coupler for coupling light between a planar waveguide and an optical element such as an optical fiber, where the light may have a Gaussian intensity distribution. The elongate scattering elements are preferably curved, and in some embodiments, the scattering elements have elliptically curved shape. One or more of the elongate scattering elements may be segmented into various geometrical shapes, such as rectangular, square, circular and elliptical. The elongate scattering elements have at least one characteristic selected from the group consisting of grating width, height, spacing, depth and index of refraction forming the elongate scattering elements, where the magnitude of the at least one characteristic varies irregularly with position along the guiding portion of the optical waveguide grating coupler.

Light offers many advantages when used as a medium for propagating information, the foremost of which are increased speed and bandwidth. In comparison with electrical signals, signals transmitted optically can be switched and modulated faster and can include an even greater number of separate channels multiplexed together. For these, as well as other reasons, light wave transmission along optical fibers is widespread.
Light can be propagated through planar waveguide structures as well as optical fibers. Planar waveguide structures having a wide variety of functionalities are currently available and many new such devices and components will likely result from future research and development. These planar structures are advantageous because they can be compactly incorporated together in or on a planar platform, i.e. substrate, to form planar packages analogous to integrated circuits (ICs). These structures in general are referred to as integrated optics. Integrated optical "chips" comprise a substrate on which or in which various integrated optical components or devices are formed. Planar waveguides analogous to conductor traces in semiconductor electronic ICs that are mounted in or on the substrate are employed to guide light to various optical, electro-optical, and optoelectronic devices or components on the chip.
In many applications, it is desirable that the optical signal being transmitted through the planar waveguide structure be optically coupled into or out of the integrated optical chip. These signals may, for example, be coupled to an optical fiber that is oriented out of the plane, i.e., above or below, the planar waveguide structure via a grating coupler. The grating coupler, forming a part of the planar waveguide structure, may have a plurality of scattering elements designed to scatter light (or, equivalently couple light) along a predetermined optical path, where the scattered light has preferably a Gaussian intensity distribution.
The scattering elements have at least one characteristic, such as width, height and local index of refraction, which varies in magnitude among at least some of the scattering elements. The magnitude of the characteristic controls at least in part the scatter cross-sections of the scattering elements. The scatter cross-section is a quantity that determines how much of the incident light is scattered by a scattering element into a specific angle. Generally, in grating couplers where the scattering elements induce relatively weak scattering of light, the scatter cross-section increases as the size of the scattering element increases. However, when the grating coupler induces stronger scattering of light, the scatter cross-section often times oscillates as a function of the size of the scattering element. One possible reason for such oscillation is due to the interference of reflected light from the various interfaces associated with the grating coupler.
In addition to the oscillatory behavior, the scatter cross-section of an elongate scattering element may approach its lower limit as the size of the elongate scattering element decreases. The lower limit stems from the lithographic limit of the elongate scattering element, i.e., it is impractical to fabricate elongate scattering elements smaller than what lithographic processes can provide. Thus, there is a need for a systematic approach to configure the scattering elements considering the oscillatory behavior and lithographic limit such that the scatter cross-sections of the scattering elements can be arranged to couple light having an intended beam shape, preferably a Gaussian intensity distribution.

Optical waveguide grating coupler with varying scatter cross sections


A screen saver (10) capable of attachment to a screen door screen (14) of a screen door. The screen saver (10) has an inner member (12A) and an outer member (12B) attached to each other through mesh of a screen door utilizing hook and loop. The inner member (12A) having an inner member front (12AA) and an inner member back (12AB). The inner member back (12AB) further comprises inner member back fastening means (12ABA) securely affixed thereon. The outer member (12B) having an outer member front (12BA) and an outer member back (12BB). The outer member back (12BB) further comprises an outer member back fastening means (12BBA) securely affixed thereon. The inner member front (12AA) and outer member front (12BA) each comprise a reflective surface thereon. The inner member front (12AA) and outer member front (12BA) are shaped at a convex angle with respect to the screen door screen (14) to create a refractive index.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to screen saving device. More particularly, the present invention relates to screen saving device which is placed at eye level on opposite sides of a screen door to alert a user approaching the door from either the front or either side of the door, that the screen door is in a closed position.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Screens of screen doors are constantly being walked into by adults, children and pets. This causes millions of dollars of household damage per annum. The present invention which may be placed at any eye level height to accommodate adults, children, or pets and assists in preventing the prevents inadvertent walking into a screen of a screen door.
Numerous innovations for decals have been provided in the prior art that are described as follows. Even though these innovations may be suitable for the specific individual purposes to which they address, they differ from the present invention as hereinafter contrasted.
In U.S. Pat. No. Des. 286,554, titled, Decal or the Like, invented by Antoine Giraco comprises an ornamental design or decal or the like. This patented invention differs from the present invention because the patented invention is simply a design for decals or the like.
In U.S. Pat. No. Des. 274,944, titled, Decorative screen door invented by Ciro C. Copa comprises an ornamental design for a decorative screen door. substantially as shown and described. This patented invention differs from the present invention because it depicts an ornamental wood screen door design and not a screen door screen saver device as described in the present invention.
In U.S. Pat. No. 4,678,690, titled Premasked Decal, Invented by Emery A Palmer et al., a premasked decal comprises a decal transfer and a strippable tinted transparent premask adhering to the front surface of the decal transfer and where the decal transfer is visible through the premask. The premask has either a reflective metallic appearance, a neutral optical density, or preferably both, which imparts to the premask a readily visible contrasting appearance against any adjacent background color. This serves to visually indicate the need for removal of the premask from the installed decal transfer. The use of a metal layer to provide a reflective metallic appearance advantageously dissipates static electricity during assembly of the decal so that dust and grit are not attracted.
This patented invention differs from the present invention because it is a decal which must be applied to a hard smooth surface aimed specifically at the automotive field. In addition, the patented invention has an adhering means whereby the screen door screen saver is attachable through the mesh of a screen.
In U.S. Pat. No. 4,857,401, titled decorative Foils And Decals, Invented by David L. Sieverding, a heat shaped and deformable composite comprising (i) a thermoplastic layer of plastic which softens to a flowable condition at temperatures in the range of above approximately 20 degrees Celsius to approximately 110 degrees Celsius is adhesively bonded to (ii) a foil layer having a thickness less than that of (i); a process of making the heat shapeable and deformable composite which comprises heat compressing (i) to (i); and handcraffing the composite by subjecting a composite of (i) adhesively bonded to (ii) to a temperature above the softening temperature of the thermoplastic layer and softening the thermoplastic layer, removing the heated composite from the application of heat such that its temperature is caused to decreases, shaping the composite while the thermoplastic layer is still soft, and cooling the composite to a temperature below the thermoplastic's softening temperature.
The above described patented invention differs from the present invention because the patented invention is a process for combining a decorative surface to various plastic background layers.
In U.S. Pat. No. 4,962,602, titled Sticker for Alarm System, invented by Ralph S. Meyrowitsch, consisting of a label for an alarm system having a light emitting diode and an integrated electronic circuit. The circuit causes and the diode is sandwiched between at least two sheets of material. The flashing diode makes the alarm warning highly conspicuous, particularly in dim day light or darkness.
This patented invention differs from the present invention because it is a self adhesive sticker which must be applied to hard smooth surface. It requires an electrical connection and it is specific to alarm systems--Home, auto, etc.
In U.S. Pat. No. 4,222,162, titled Screen Repair, invented by Levy disclosed is a device specifically designed as a patching system and method for repairing a screen having a defect in it, which employs two patches interconnectable through the screen in overlying relationship with the defect.
This patented invention differs from the present invention because whereas the device of the Levy patent is also elliptical, both its front and back embers are flat in relation to the screen upon which it is affixed. The present invention, in contrast, describes the use of an inner member and outer member which each form a convex angle with respect to the screen, allowing persons approaching the screen from the side to easily see the device as a result of the refractive index inherent therein. In addition, unlike the invention by Levy, the present invention provides for inner and outer members constructed of a clear material so as to create a refractive index which functions to reflect the reflective sub surface in an omnidirectional array.
Numerous innovations for decals have been provided in the prior art that are adapted to be used. Even though these innovations may be suitable for the specific individual purposes to which they address, they would not be suitable for the purposes of the present invention as heretofore described.


A strut assembly having first and second mounting members extending from opposite ends of the housing for mounting the strut assembly to a hood assembly. A locking member is connected to the housing and slides into locking engagement with the rod member. Restraining members are secured to the mounting members to prevent unwanted travel of the hood assembly beyond a fully opened position.

The present invention relates to strut assemblies, and more particularly, to a compression strut rod assembly used to lift a vehicle hood and to secure the hood into place in a fully opened position.
One aspect of the invention relates to a spring mechanism typically used for biasing hoods, tops, doors, hinged covers, and other elements from a closed to an opened position. The invention involves the use of springs in conjunction with a rod member to exert a driving force on the elements to be displaced. The following patents are incorporated herein by reference as background information with regard to spring mechanisms: U.S. Pat. No. 6,199,843 to DeGrace; U.S. Pat. No. 5,810,339 to Küspert, et al.; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,962,916 to Palinkas.
Compression spring rods are used in various applications; for example, to assist in lifting, opening, and damping. Typical applications include lifting a lid hinged to a stationary base. Other applications include lifting and/or balancing elements for a trunk or hood of an automobile. The present invention uses the compression spring rod assembly to assist a hood of a vehicle during opening of the hood and securing the hood in place in a fully opened position.
Gas can also be used with the strut assembly. Either gas alone or gas in combination with a spring or springs can be used to lift a vehicle hood.
Existing mechanical lifts for hoods can require greater than 100 pounds of force to open or close a hood. A strut is used to assist in over-center body locking of the hood only. Variations in handle loads occur due to variations in torsion bar forces. Since the handle loads vary, this can result in the hood falling, possibly causing an under the hood injury to a user.
Existing hood lift systems include nylon tie straps secured by brackets to the hood and radiator. Torsion bars are mounted via hood brackets and frame mounts. This can result in lateral loads on the radiator which causes related radiator stress.
Prior systems also utilize a unidirectional counter-balance which assists in opening only the hood. A variation in handle loads occurs due to a variation in torsion bar forces, resulting in increased handle loads. No device to secure the hood in an open position is present, resulting in a potential for unintended closing of the hood.
Furthermore, since there is no contact handle load, the hood can potentially free fall, resulting in possible injury to the user.
Failure of extension springs and oil dampeners in existing systems can cause greater handle loads, hard closing of the hood, and/or additional parts replacement.
In some existing systems, foiled back insulation can wear due to contact with large extension springs. A pinch point can also occur between the handle and a dampener mount, causing potential injury to the user.
Thus, there is need for a hood lift system which overcomes the above-mentioned defects and others while providing more advantageous overall results.


A method for generating layout data of a semiconductor integrated circuit includes applying optical proximity correction conditions to cells so as to generate cell patterns, selecting cell patterns to correspond cells, based on layout information of cells along a specified signal propagating path; calculating delay times for the signal propagating path for combinations of cell patterns; selecting a combination of cell patterns, based on lengths of the calculated delay times and the allowable delay time; and generating layout data of the signal propagating path using the selected combination.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a layout method of a semiconductor integrated circuit, particularly for an automatic layouting method and a program for generating layout data of a semiconductor integrated circuit, and a method for manufacturing a semiconductor integrated circuit with optical proximity correction.
2. Description of the Related Art
Along with the miniaturization of elements such as transistors or interconnects used in semiconductor integrated circuits, the size of element has become smaller than light source wavelengths used for an aligner. In such cases, during a photolithography process or an etching process, the planar shape of an element pattern in the periphery of an element to be formed adversely affects the planar shape of the element pattern to be formed. As a result, it is difficult to form the element pattern on a wafer according to a design pattern. Therefore, optical proximity correction (OPC) has been performed so as to add a correction pattern to the design pattern in advance so that the planar shape of the formed element pattern can assume a desired shape.
When carrying out OPC to generate a cell mask pattern, lithography simulation and the like is performed based on the generated mask pattern so as to calculate the planar shape of an element pattern to be formed on the wafer. Conditions for OPC are then set so that differences in dimension between the planar shapes of the generated mask patterns and the planar shapes of the calculated element patterns can fall within a desired range of differences in dimension (hereafter referred to as 'dimensional tolerance'). OPC is then carried out for cells under the set conditions for OPC, thereby generating a cell pattern. Required conditions for the dimensional tolerance are hereafter referred to as 'dimensional tolerance conditions'.
In the case of recent highly integrated elements and interconnects, the stricter the dimensional tolerance conditions, namely, the smaller the dimensional tolerances are set, the more the planar shape of the element pattern formed on the wafer resembles the planar shape of the design element pattern. However, the mask pattern generally has more places that need to be corrected through OPC as the dimensional tolerance conditions become stricter. Accordingly, the time required for OPC increases. The greater the dimensional tolerances are set by relaxing dimensional tolerance conditions, the more the time required for OPC decreases. However, in the case of carrying out OPC by relaxing dimensional tolerance conditions, the difference between the planar shape of an element pattern formed on the wafer and the planar shape of the design pattern increases. Therefore, the difference between characteristics of the actually manufactured element and characteristics of the desired element increases. As a result, characteristics of semiconductor integrated circuits are impaired and desired characteristics are unsatisfied, thereby reducing the yield ratio.

Method and program for generating layout data of a semiconductor integrated circuit and method for manufacturing a semiconductor integrated circuit with optical proximity correction


A ground cable between an engine and a body frame has an advantage against vibrations and for increasing the universality in use and further improve the flexibility in coupling to a vehicle body. An engine case and a vehicle body frame are connected to each other by a cable to ground the engine. The cable has a diameter set substantially equal to one of the other cables that has the greatest wire diameter wiring lines, that is, a wiring line cable between a battery and the engine and wiring line cables and between the battery and a starter motor.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a ground structure for a vehicle. More particularly, to a ground structure for grounding an engine to a vehicle body.
2. Description of Background Art
A vehicle is known wherein a ground for an engine is connected to a vehicle body while a ground for a battery is also connected to the vehicle body, for example, as disclosed in the Official Gazette of Japanese Patent Laid-open No. Hei 8-268176.
A comparatively thin cable is used as the ground cable between the engine and the vehicle body described above. When the engine is carried on the vehicle body, a floating structure is sometimes used wherein a rubber buffer material is interposed between the engine and the vehicle body in order to reduce vibrations of the engine to be transmitted to the vehicle body. The vehicle body ground cable of the engine mounted in such a floating structure as just described preferably has strength against the vibrations of the engine. Further, it is also demanded for the ground cable to have some thickness because the ground cable is stored in a state wherein the ground cable remains attached at an end thereof to the engine or from the operability when the engine is mounted onto the vehicle body. Also it is sometimes demanded to use a plurality of ground cables of a common size to increase the flexibility.


An advantageously fast and asynchronous interface is disclosed for the tuning of an RF frontend. The interface transmits a tuning word to the RF frontend that controls a tuning of the RF frontend responsive to a channel index.

In a cellular telephone, an RF frontend refers to the analog filters, low-noise amplifiers, and other components between the antennas and the mixers. Alternatively, the RF frontend may also include the mixers such that it includes all components between the antennas and a digital baseband section. Regardless of how the RF frontend is defined, the emergence of new high-bandwidth communication protocols such as the fifth-generation cellular network technology (5G) demands more and more flexibility from the RF frontend to cover multiple frequency bands.
To service a plurality of frequency bands, it is conventional for a multi-band system to include multiple frontend modules (FEMs) such that each FEM supports a corresponding one of the frequency bands. However, the bandwidth of each of the frequency bands is increasing to meet the gigabit data rates requirements for the 5G protocol. It is challenging for a single FEM to cover the entire corresponding frequency band as the bandwidth of the corresponding frequency band increases. In addition, the frequency response of the FEM becomes more sensitive to process variation at the higher 5G frequencies such as in the millimeter wave spectrum. A tunable FEM optimizes performance across its frequency band and also accounts for process variations. But the form factor for FEMs is typically small, which limits the number of terminal or pins for tuning control.
Accordingly, there is a need in the art for improved tunable RF frontends.


According to aspects illustrated herein, methods and systems for retaining duplex scanning information in a scanned output file, is disclosed. The method includes receiving a document for scanning, having multiple pages, wherein each page has a first side such as a front side and a second side such as a back side. Then, a check for selection of a duplex scanning feature by a user, is performed. Upon scanning, an image data representing an image of the document is generated. The image data and the duplex scanning feature selected by the user is processed to generate a scanned output file. The duplex scanning information is generated, while generating the scanned output file. The duplex scanning information is retained in the scanned output file, for later retrieval and use. The duplex scanning information helps identify the first side and the second side in the scanned output file.

Scanning is important for digital age and is a day-to-day activity, where a user requires scanning a document such as a government identity proof, a passport, a form or other documents. The scanned document is sent to organizations such as banks, companies, government offices, etc., for records and various purpose. The document input for scanning may have multi-pages or may have a single page where content is present on both sides (back to back) of the page. When the user scans such document, two different scanned pages are output as a scanned output. And there is no information about both sides scanning in the scanned output or the information is lost while scanning. In future, when the same scanned output is printed again, then the original source format is not known. For example, there are no mechanisms to know that the scanned output file is scanned back to back and it needs to be printed back to back subsequently. The existing scanning technologies do not retain sides information in any form. Therefore, there is a need for methods and systems to overcome the above mentioned challenges.

Systems and methods for retaining duplex scanning information in a scanned output file


A check valve having a thermostat function is provided between an engine and a thermal storage tank that stores a portion of the coolant circulating in the engine. The check valve restricts the flow of the coolant from the engine to the thermal storage tank, and loosens the restriction when the temperature of the coolant increases. Through such operation of the check valve, the warm coolant is collected in the thermal storage tank and engine preheating may be performed before engine start. Thus, by providing between the engine and the thermal storage tank the check valve that operates in response to the temperature of the coolant, engine preheating can be accomplished with a simple structure and at a low cost, without using a three-way valve and performing an electrical valve switching control.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to an internal combustion engine cooling system of.
2. Description of the Related Art
In an internal combustion engine (hereinafter, also referred to as an engine) installed in a vehicle or the like, it is important to warm up the engine as quickly as possible after the engine is started to improve fuel economy and reduce exhaust emissions.
Conventionally, to quickly warm-up a water-cooled engine, a cooling system stores part of the coolant that has been warmed during the operation of an internal combustion engine and keeps the stored coolant warm. The warm coolant may be stored in a thermal storage tank and used to preheat (pre-warm) the engine before the next engine start (see Japanese Patent Application Publication No. JP-A-2003-184553 and Japanese Patent Application Publication No. JP-A-2005-146950, for example).
FIG. 8 shows one example of a conventional cooling system that preheats an engine.
The cooling system shown in FIG. 8 includes a cooling circuit 301 for cooling a cylinder block 201a and a cylinder head 201b of an engine 201 using coolant; a heater circuit 302 for heating the passenger compartment and some components and devices using coolant that has absorbed heat from the engine (hereinafter "warm coolant"); and a thermal storage circuit 303 for storing the warm coolant until the next engine start.
The cooling circuit 301 includes a mechanical water pump (W/P) 202 driven by the engine 201; a radiator 203 that cools the coolant; and a thermostat 204 that adjusts the flow rate of the coolant flowing into the engine 201 after flowing through the radiator 203. The thermostat 204 adjusts, by changing the opening amount of the valve, the flow rate of the coolant that flows in the cooling circuit 301 while passing through the radiator 203 and the flow rate of the coolant that flows in the cooling circuit 301 without flowing through the radiator 203. The heater circuit 302 is provided with a heater core 205.
The thermal storage circuit 303 is provided with a thermal storage tank 207 that stores warm coolant that has flown into the thermal storage circuit 303, and an electrically driven water pump (W/P) 208. The discharge port of the electrically driven water pump 208 is connected to the thermal storage tank 207.
The cooling system is provided with a three-way valve 206 that selectively connects and disconnects the three circuits, i.e., the cooling circuit 301, the heater circuit 302, and the thermal storage circuit 303. The three-way valve 206 has three ports. A first port P1 is connected to the inlet port of the mechanical water pump 202, a second port P2 to the heater core 205, and a third port P3 to the inlet port of the electrically driven water pump 208.
In the above-described cooling system, when preheating the engine before starting it, the electrically driven water pump 208 is driven with the first port P1 and the third port P3 of the three-way valve 206 open and the second port P2 closed, to supply the warm coolant from the thermal storage tank 207 to the cylinder block 201a and the cylinder head 201b of the engine 1.
Next, while the engine 201 is being warmed up (i.e., while the engine is operating at a low temperature), the ports P1 to P3 of the three-way valve 206 are all closed, so that coolant is circulated to the cylinder block 201a and the cylinder head 201b of the engine 201 through the cooling circuit 301 by the mechanical water pump 202. Further, it is possible to supply the warm coolant to the heater core 205 by opening the first port P1 and the second port P2 of the three-way valve 206 during the operation of the engine 1.
Then, by opening the first port P1 and the third port P3 of the three-way valve 206 while the engine 201 is operating after it has been warmed-up, a part of the warm coolant in the cylinder block 201a of the engine 201 is collected and stored in the thermal storage tank 207. The stored warm coolant is utilized to preheat the engine before the next engine start.
Further, in the case of a system as shown in FIG. 8 in which a three-way valve is used, a positioning sensor such as a potentiometer needs to be provided along with the three-way valve, therefore the production cost is high. Also, in a cooling system including a three-way valve, it is necessary to control the switching of the three-way valve based on particular conditions of the engine operation such as the engine being not operating (before engine start), the engine being presently warmed up, and the warming-up of the engine having been completed, which requires a complicated control system.

Internal combustion engine cooling system


An actuator includes: an output unit 30 having an output shaft 33; and a first worm 40 and a second worm 50 extending along a face perpendicular to the output shaft 33, wherein: the output unit 30 includes a rotating mechanism 34a configured to be meshed with the first worm 40 to rotate the output shaft 33 about a predetermined rotation axis 33a, and a moving mechanism 39 configured to be meshed with the second worm 50 to move the output shaft 33 in a direction orthogonal to the rotation axis 33a; the first worm 40 and the second worm 50 are placed to sandwich the output shaft 33; and a distance between the second worm 50 and the output shaft 33 is shorter than a distance between the first worm 40 and the output shaft 33.

Some of vehicle headlights have a function that can appropriately change the direction of a light beam to be emitted. The direction of the light beam to be emitted from the vehicle headlight is preferably vertically changed corresponding to a change in the weight of a driver and passengers or loads, or corresponding to a change in the vehicle attitude due to acceleration or deceleration, for example. When a vehicle turns from side to side, vehicle headlights preferably light the traveling direction of the vehicle in such a manner that the direction of the light beam to be emitted from the vehicle headlight follows the turns from side to side. An example of a method of implementing the function of changing the direction of light beam emission includes a method using an actuator that freely moves a lamp unit equipped with a light source. The actuator is configured to laterally and vertically move the direction of a light beam to be emitted from the lamp unit by moving the lamp unit.
An example of the actuator includes one disclosed in Patent Literature 1 below. Patent Literature 1 below discloses an actuator including an output shaft connected to a lamp unit, a worm gear that rotates the output shaft about a predetermined rotation axis, and a worm gear that moves the output shaft in the direction orthogonal to the rotation axis. The actuator is reduced in size in which a mechanism that rotates the output shaft is integrated with a mechanism that moves the output shaft in the direction orthogonal to the rotation axis of the rotation.    [Patent Literature 1] JP 5779479 B2

Fixing member, self-aligning bearing mechanism, actuator, and lamp


A display device including a touch sensitive EL display having a flexible substrate; one or more power busses and one or more EL elements disposed over the flexible substrate; and a plurality of distributed chiplets arranged so that at least two chiplets are associated with each of a plurality of touch sensitive areas on the EL display and for sensing stress or strain associated with bending of the flexible substrate or the chiplet substrate to provide respective displacement signals corresponding to the touch sensitive areas; each chiplet connected to one or more of the power busses and one or more of the EL elements for modulating power from the power busses to the EL elements in response to a control signal; and a controller for providing control signals to the chiplets in response to an input image signal and for receiving displacement signals from the chiplets and producing touch signals.

Traditional touch screen displays are formed by combining a display that is typically formed on a first substrate containing an array of thin film transistors with a touch screen that is formed on or in contact with a second substrate. Typically this second substrate is then positioned between the display substrate and the user.
This construction creates a number of problems that should be overcome. First, because the display and the touchscreen are created from separate materials and assembled together, displays with integrated touch screens can be relatively expensive. To decrease this cost, the touch screen is often formed using low cost electronics, which decreases the sensitivity, response time, or selectivity of the touch screen. One of the most common approaches is to apply a passive matrix addressing approach in which rows of sensors within the touch screen are addressed at any one time or an approach in which signals are read only from rows and columns of electrodes, without exact two-dimensional isolation. For example, Wong et al. in US Publication No. 2008/0158171, entitled "Digitizer for flexible display" discusses a flexible display layer using passive addressing as depicted in FIG. 6 of that publication. The use of active addressing techniques, using, for example, arrays of thin film transistors (TFTs) and capacitors to permit a signal to be accumulated and read out upon demand is more desirable as it can provide better user responsiveness and sensitivity but can be very expensive.
Another issue is that the touch screen is often not fully transparent, often including reflective metal traces or other non-transparent elements to permit electrical signals to be captured and conveyed to a processor external to the touch screen. Because this touch screen is often placed over top of the display and is not transparent, it typically reduces the contrast and therefore, the perceived quality of images presented on the underlying display. Further, the touch screen is often not in optical contact with the display and therefore, light emitted by the display can be reflected between the two substrates, further reducing the effective contrast of the display. As an example, Cheng in US Publication No. 2008/0180399, entitled "Flexible multi-touch screen" discusses a flexible display having a "transparent panel that is positioned in front of the flexible display device". However, in discussing the "transparent panel" in detail this embodiment indicates that the gap between sensors is preferably made small to increase the sensing area and to reduce optical differences between the space and the transparent sensors. Therefore, even in this touch screen, which is called "transparent," Cheng acknowledges that the sensors have optical properties that vary from the optical properties from other regions within the overlay and are thus not fully transparent.
Another issue is that because the touch screens do not always have the ability to discretely sample data from two-dimensional locations, it is often difficult to determine where the display is being touched when the user touches the display in more than one location. For example, Roberts in U.S. Pat. No. 7,196,694, entitled "Force sensors and touch panels using the same" and Laitinen et al. in US Publication No. 2007/0103449, entitled "Cost efficient element for combined piezo sensor and actuator in robust and small touch screen realization and method for operation thereof" discuss touch sensitive screens in which piezo actuators for measuring stress or strain are placed at the corners or edges of a substrate. However, because there are only four sensors and a relatively rigid surface is constrained only at the location of the sensors, it is practically impossible to distinguish a force applied by two fingers at two distinct locations from a single force applied midway between the two distinct locations using a touch panel of this type.
An additional problem with these touch screens is the parallax that is induced due to the fact that the touch sensor has a finite thickness and is arranged in front of the image plane. For this reason, the user's perceived touch location can be affected by his or her head position with respect to the center of the display. This further complicates usage of the display.
It is also known to use other user input or interaction besides touch to improve the interaction between the user and a display. In one example, it is known to incorporate bend sensors, for example, sensors for measuring strain in a substrate, to determine the degree to which a flexible display is bent and to enable the display to be updated as the display is bent. For example, Narayanaswami et al in US Publication No. 2006/0238494, entitled "Flexible displays as an input device" discuss incorporating bend sensors into a flexible substrate to permit the display to determine the degree to which a user bends the display. This publication teaches that the output from the bend sensors can be combined with other sensor values, such as those obtained from a touch sensor, to provide a rich user interaction. Such an interaction paradigm is interesting but does not provide for the direct manipulation of objects that is provided by a touch screen.
There is a need for a flexible display with a touch screen that does not overlay the image that is created to avoid degrading the perceived quality of the image, is useful with a flexible display, does not exhibit parallax, has improved sensitivity and enables multi-touch interfaces. There is also a continuing need for a flexible display which provides information in addition to touch location, such as the force or the rate at which the user presses the display.

Flexible multitouch electroluminescent display


A coating apparatus 10 includes a base 11, a substrate support stage unit 2 mounted on the base 11 and capable of fixedly supporting a substrate 1, a coating unit 3 mounted on the base 11 and capable of discharging a coating material onto a substrate 1 fixedly supported on the substrate support stage unit 2, and a motor unit 4 for driving at least either the substrate support stage unit 2 or the coating unit 3 for sliding on the base 11. The motor unit 3 has a stator assembly 22 on the base 11. The stator assembly 22 includes a plurality of magnets 31 linearly arranged such that opposite magnetic polarities of the magnets alternately change, and a pair of magnet holding members 37 and 38 for linearly pressing the magnets 31 together from both the ends of the magnets.

Flat panel displays (FPDs) have been developed and commercialized and large, heavy displays employing a CRT (cathode-ray tube) have been replaced with FPDs in recent years. Among the widely used FPDs are liquid crystal displays (LCDs) applied to various portable electronic devices, notebook-size personal computers and miniature television sets. Plasma display panels (PDPs), as well as LCDs, have been developed and commercialized.
An EL display is one type of FPD. Efforts for developing EL displays began a relatively long time ago. However, EL displays have problems in displaying full-color pictures, luminance and short product life and hence have not been widely used.
A thin film of an inorganic compound (referred to as "inorganic compound film") has been used as a luminescent layer, namely, an EL layer, for an organic EL device such as an EL display. An EL device employing a thin film of an inorganic compound needs a high driving voltage, has a low luminous efficiency and can display pictures in low luminance. Organic compound thin films capable of being driven by a low driving voltage and having a high luminous efficiency have become used as luminescent layers for EL devices in recent years. The organic EL device employing an organic compound thin film (the organic electroluminescent device) has a short product life. R&D activities have been made to develop materials for forming long-life organic luminescent layers. Organic EL devices practically competitive with LCDs have been developed.
Generally, a vacuum evaporation process has been used for forming an EL layer consisting of an organic luminescent layer, a carrier transport layer, which is used when necessary, and a carrier injection layer. However, organic compounds that can be used for vacuum evaporation are limited to those of a low molecular weight. In the organic EL device having an organic layer of an organic compound having a low molecular weight, crystallization or cohesion proceeds in the organic layer with time. Consequently, the device deteriorates and the life of the device is shortened greatly. An organic EL device provided with a luminescent layer formed of an organic compound having a high molecular weight, namely, an organic EL material, has been proposed. An organic EL material prepared by dispersing a carrier transport organic compound having a low molecular weight and a luminescent compound in an inactive polymer binder, and a polymerizing method of incorporating vinyl radicals into a carrier transport organic compound having a low molecular weight for polymerization have been proposed.
The EL layer of an organic EL material is formed by a wet coating process. A spin-coating process is a commonly used wet coating process. The spin-coating process is inefficient in solution usage and is not suitable for coating a surface of a large area with a film. Generally, the thickness of dry organic films serving as EL layers is in the range of 10 to about 200 nm. Therefore, the wet coating process for forming an organic film needs to use a coating solution having a very low concentration and a low viscosity. Therefore, a wet organic film formed by the wet coating process is highly fluidic and an organic film having an irregular thickness is liable to be formed. Since the organic film is very thin, even a small thickness deviation can be a large thickness error and it is highly possible that the small thickness deviation causes irregular luminescence. Therefore, when an organic film is formed by the spin-coating process, even a trace of a drop of the coating solution can cause irregular luminescence. It is very difficult for the spin-coating process to form a uniform film on a substrate of a size not smaller than 150 mm×150 mm without assistance.
Known wet coating processes other than the spin coating process include a die coating process, a bar coating process, a blade coating process, a roll coating process and bead coating process. Use of the die coating process for forming a film is mentioned, for example, in Patent documents 1 and 2.
A coating apparatus capable of carrying out the die coating process forms an organic film on a substrate by jetting a coating solution through the exit of a die placed on the substrate while the die is sliding along a surface of the substrate in a predetermined direction.
This known coating apparatus can form an organic film having a uniform thickness by jetting the coating solution through the exit of the die at a constant jetting rate.
Another coating apparatus capable of carrying out the die coating process disclosed in, for example, Patent document 3, moves a substrate during a coating operation.
This known coating apparatus shown in FIG. 7 includes a glass plate feed unit 101, namely, a feed means for feeding glass plates 100, a precision table 102 provided with air jetting holes, namely, a substrate lifting means for lifting up the glass plate 100 by air pressure, a glass substrate pushing block 104 provided with a precision linear motor 103, namely, a substrate moving means for moving the glass plate 100 at a predetermined coating speed, a die head 106 operated by a head lifting cylinder actuator 105, namely, a coating means for coating the glass plate 100 with a coating solution, a coating solution supply pump 107 and a coating tank 108, namely, coating solution supply means for supplying the coating solution to the die head 106, and a glass plate delivery unit 109, namely, a substrate delivery means for delivering the coated glass plate 100.
Patent document 1: JP 2003-10755 A (FIG. 1)
Patent document 2: JP 2002-153795 A (FIG. 1)
Patent document 3: JP 2002-346463 A ([0013], FIG. 1)
The foregoing known coating apparatus is able to form an organic film having a uniform thickness if the die or the substrate is slid at a fixed sliding speed during the coating operation. In some cases, the die cannot be slid at a fixed sliding speed by the motor, a principal component of a sliding means. If the die or the substrate is not moved at a satisfactorily constant speed, i.e., if the die or the substrate is moved at an irregular speed, the surface of the substrate is coated irregularly with the coating solution and, consequently, an organic film having an irregular thickness is formed. Since the EL layer, in particular, is very thin, small thickness irregularities can be large thickness errors, and large thickness errors are capable of causing irregular luminescence. The die needs to slide at a high sliding speed to increase the throughput of the coating process. It is expected that increase in the sliding speed intensifies the adverse effect of irregular speed. It is expected that the wider the surface to be coated, the greater is the adverse effect of irregular speed.

Coating apparatus and organic electronic device fabricating method


A power steering device includes a first gear provided on the first shaft, the first gear having a centerline axis, and a second gear operatively connected to the first gear. The second gear includes a rotational axis that is maintained substantially coplanar with the centerline axis. The power steering device further includes a compliant member operatively connected with the second gear. The compliant member allows rotational compliance of the second gear while avoiding axial and radial compliance.

1. Field of the Invention
Exemplary embodiments of the invention relate to the art of power steering devices and, more particularly, to a power steering device having a compliant gear.
2. Description of Background
Electric Power Steering ("EPS") has been the subject of development by auto manufacturers and suppliers for well over a decade due in part to potential advantages of fuel economy and ease-of-control when compared with traditional hydraulic power steering ("HPS"). However, commercialization of EPS systems has been slow and is presently limited due to cost and performance challenges. Among the most challenging technical issues are a pulsating feel at the steering wheel and an audible noise associated with the type of high performance electric drives needed to meet steering requirements.
Current EPS systems experience rattle issues associated with motor inertia. Increased motor inertia causes high torque reversals along an intermediate shaft portion of the EPS when driving over bumps and the like. The high torque reversals give rise to rattles at various locations within the EPS system. Rattles develop in such locations as, worm-to-worm gear, EPS motor bearings, EPS motor-to-worm coupling, intermediate shaft cardan joints, rack-to-pinion teeth, rack-to-bushing, rack-yoke-to-housing and the like.
In order to reduce rattles, manufactures have added compliance to various components of the EPS. However, while compliant components can reduce unwanted noise, the compliant components often detract from steering "feel". Adding compliance to a steering shaft, for example, will certainly reduce unwanted noise, but will also provide a very soft steering "feel". In order to provide good steering "feel" and minimize unwanted noise, manufactures have added torsional and radial compliance to EPS worm and worm gear set. Unfortunately, when adding compliance to one or more worm gears, worm-worm alignment is affected. That is, the compliance creates a shifting of an axial alignment between the worm and the worm gear. In many cases, the shifting has no effect on steering. In other cases, axial alignment between components is important. For example, when using an enveloping worm gear, axial misalignment is not acceptable. Misalignment between enveloping worm gears can create binding and excessive component wear.

Power steering device including a compliant gear


A display apparatus includes a pixel unit in which pixels are arranged in a matrix pattern and a driving circuit for driving the pixel unit. Each of the pixels includes a signal level holding capacitor, a first transistor that is turned on/off in response to a writing signal and via which one end of the signal level holding capacitor is connected to a signal line, a second transistor having one end of the signal level holding capacitor connected to a gate thereof and the other end of the signal level holding capacitor connected to a source thereof, a current-driven self-light-emitting element whose cathode is held at a cathode potential and whose anode is connected to the source of the second transistor, a third transistor that is turned on/off in response to a driving pulse signal, and a fourth transistor that is turned on/off in response to a control signal.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a display apparatus, and can be applied to, for example, a current-driven self-light-emitting display apparatus, such as an organic EL (Electro Luminescence) element. The present invention is configured in such a way that the gate voltage of a transistor for driving a light-emitting element is set to a fixed potential, variations in the light-emission luminance due to variations in the threshold voltage of the transistor are corrected, and the fixed potential is supplied from signal lines, thereby making it possible to reduce the number of scanning lines and the number of wiring patterns of fixed potentials used in comparison with a known case.
2. Description of the Related Art
Hitherto, regarding a display apparatus using an organic EL element, various contrivances have been proposed, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,684,365 and Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 8-234683.
FIG. 15 is a block diagram showing a so-called known active-matrix display apparatus using an organic EL element. In a display apparatus 1, a pixel unit 2 is formed in such a manner that pixels (PX) 3 are arranged in a matrix pattern. In the pixel unit 2, scanning lines SCN are provided in units of lines in a horizontal direction with respect to the pixels 3 arranged in a matrix pattern, and signal lines SIG are provided for each column in such a manner as to intersect the scanning lines SCN at right angles.
As shown in FIG. 16, each pixel 3 is formed of an organic EL element 8, which is a current-driven self-light-emitting element, and a driving circuit (hereinafter referred to as a "pixel circuit") of the pixel 3, the driving circuit being used to drive the organic EL element 8.
In the pixel circuit, one end of a signal level holding capacitor C1 is held at a fixed potential, and the other end of the signal level holding capacitor C1 is connected to the signal line SIG via a transistor TR1 that is turned on/off in accordance with a writing signal WS. As a result, in the pixel circuit, the transistor TR1 is turned on in response to the rise of the writing signal WS. The other end potential of the signal level holding capacitor C1 is set to the signal level of the signal line SIG. The signal level of the signal line SIG is sampled at the other end of the signal level holding capacitor C1 and held by the signal level holding capacitor C1 at the timing at which the transistor TR1 is changed from an on state to an off state.
In the pixel circuit, the other end of the signal level holding capacitor C1 is connected to the gate of a P-channel transistor TR2, whose source is connected to a power supply Vcc, and the drain of the transistor TR2 is connected to the anode of the organic EL element 8. Here, in the pixel circuit, the transistor TR2 is set to always operate in a saturated area, with the result that the transistor TR2 constitutes a constant current circuit using a drain-source current Ids represented by the following equation:Ids=(½)×μ×(W/L)×Cox×(Vgs−Vth)2  (1)where Vgs is the gate-source voltage of the transistor TR2, μ is the mobility, W is the channel width, L is the channel length, Cox is gate capacitance, and Vth is the threshold voltage of the transistor TR2. As a result, each pixel circuit drives the organic EL element 8 on the basis of the driving current Ids corresponding to the signal level of the signal line SIG that is sampled and held by the signal level holding capacitor C1.
The display apparatus 1 causes a write scanning circuit (WSCN) 4A of a vertical driving circuit 4 to sequentially transfer a predetermined sampling pulse and to generate a writing signal WS that is a timing signal for instructing writing into each pixel 3. A horizontal selector (HSEL) 5A of a horizontal driving circuit 5 causes a predetermined sampling pulse to be sequentially transferred to generate a timing signal, and each signal line SIG is set to the signal level of the input signal S1 by using the timing signal as a reference. As a result, the display apparatus 1 sets the terminal voltage of the signal level holding capacitor C1 provided in each pixel unit 3 in accordance with an input signal S1 in point sequence or in line sequence, and an image represented by the input signal S1 is displayed.
Here, as shown in FIG. 17, in the organic EL element 8, current/voltage characteristics change over time through use such that it becomes difficult for electric current to flow. In FIG. 17, reference character L1 denotes the initial characteristics, and reference character L2 denotes the characteristics caused by changes over time. However, when the organic EL element 8 is to be driven by the P-channel transistor TR2 in the circuit configuration shown in FIG. 16, the transistor TR2 drives the organic EL element 8 in accordance with the gate-source voltage Vgs set in accordance with the signal level of the signal line SIG, making it possible to prevent luminance changes in each pixel due to changes over time of the current/voltage characteristics.
If all the transistors constituting the pixel circuit, the horizontal driving circuit, and the vertical driving circuit are formed by N-channel transistors, these circuits can be collectively fabricated on an insulating substrate, such as a glass substrate with an amorphous silicon process. Thus, the display apparatus can be made simply and easily.
However, as shown in FIG. 18, in contrast with FIG. 16, when each pixel 13 is formed by using an N-channel type for the transistor TR2 and a display apparatus 11 is formed by a pixel unit 12 using a pixel 13, as a result of the source of the transistor TR2 being connected to the organic EL element 8, changes in the current/voltage characteristics shown in FIG. 17 cause the gate-source voltage Vgs of the transistor TR2 to be changed. As a result, in this case, electric current flowing through the organic EL element 8 gradually decreases through use, and the luminance of each pixel gradually decreases. In the configuration shown in FIG. 18, the light-emission luminance varies among the pixels due to variations in the characteristics of the transistors TR2. Variations in the light-emission luminance disturb uniformity on the display screen and are perceived as variations and roughness on the display screen.
For this reason, as a contrivance for preventing such a decrease in the light-emission luminance due to changes over time of the organic EL element and such variations in the light-emission luminance due to variations in the characteristics, a configuration shown in FIG. 19 has been proposed.
Here, in a display apparatus 21 shown in FIG. 19, a pixel unit 22 is formed in such a manner that pixels 23 are arranged in a matrix pattern. In the pixel 23, one end of a signal level holding capacitor C1 is connected to the anode of the organic EL element 8, and the other end of the signal level holding capacitor C1 is connected to the signal line SIG via the transistor TR1 that is turned on/off in accordance with the writing signal WS. As a result, in the pixel 23, the voltage at the other end of the signal level holding capacitor C1 is set to the signal level of the signal line SIG in accordance with the writing signal WS.
In the pixel 23, one end of the signal level holding capacitor C1 is connected to the source and the other end thereof is connected to the gate of the transistor TR2, and the drain of the transistor TR2 is connected to a power supply Vcc via a transistor TR3 that is turned on/off in accordance with a driving pulse signal DS. As a result, in pixel 23, the organic EL element 8 is driven by the transistor TR2 of a source follower circuit, in which the gate potential is set to the signal level of the signal line SIG. Here, Vcat is the cathode potential of the organic EL element 8. The driving pulse signal DS is a timing signal for controlling the light-emission period of each pixel 3, and is generated by a drive scanning circuit (DSCN) 24B by sequentially transferring a predetermined sampling pulse.
Furthermore, in the pixel 23, ends of the signal level holding capacitor C1 are connected to predetermined fixed potentials Vofs and Vss via transistors TR4 and TR5 that are turned on/off in accordance with control signals AZ1 and AZ2, respectively. The control signals AZ1 and AZ2 are timing signals that are generated by control signal generation circuits (AZ1 and AZ2) 24C and 24D, each being provided in the vertical driving circuit 24, by sequentially transferring a predetermined sampling pulse.
FIG. 20 is a timing chart of one pixel 23 in the display apparatus 21. In FIG. 20, a reference character of a transistor that is turned on/off in accordance with a corresponding signal is shown for each signal. As shown in FIG. 21, in a light-emission period T1 in which the organic EL element 8 emits light, in the pixel 23, signal levels of the writing signal WS and the control signals AZ1 and AZ2 (parts (A) and (B) of FIG. 20) are made to fall to set transistors TR1, TR4, and TR5 to an off state, and the signal level of the driving pulse signal DS (part (D) of FIG. 20) is made to rise to set the transistor TR3 to an on state.
As a result, in the pixel 23, a constant current circuit that varies with a gate-source voltage Vgs resulting from the potential difference across the ends of the signal level holding capacitor C1 is formed by the transistor TR2 and the signal level holding capacitor C1, and the organic EL element 8 is made to emit light in accordance with the drain-source current Ids determined by the gate-source voltage Vgs. Thus, a luminance decrease due to changes over time of the organic EL element 8 is prevented. The drain-source current Ids is represented by equation (1) described with reference to FIG. 16. In the following, transistors are shown using symbols of switches.
When the light-emission period T1 ends, the transistors TR4 and TR5 are set to an on state in pixel 23, during the subsequent period T2, as shown in FIG. 22. As a result, in the pixel circuit 23, the potential across the ends of the signal level holding capacitor C1 is set to predetermined fixed potentials Vofs and Vss (parts (E) and (F) of FIG. 20), and the drain-source current Ids flows from the transistor TR2 to the transistor TR5 in response to the gate-source voltage Vgs resulting from the potential difference Vofs−Vss of the fixed potentials Vofs and Vss. During the period T2, the fixed potentials Vofs and Vss are set so that the potential difference across the ends of the organic EL element 8 does not become greater than a threshold voltage Vthel of the organic EL element 8, the organic EL element 8 does not emit light, and the transistor TR2 operates in a saturated area.
Next, in the pixel 23, during the predetermined period T3, as shown in FIG. 23, the transistor TR5 is set to an off state. As a result, in the pixel 23, as indicated using the broken line in FIG. 23, the voltage at the side end of the transistor TR5 of the signal level holding capacitor C1 increases in accordance with the drain-source current Ids of the transistor TR2.
As shown in FIG. 24, for the organic EL element 8, an equivalent circuit is represented by a parallel circuit of a diode and a capacitor of capacitance Cel. As a result, as shown in FIG. 25, the source voltage Vs of the transistor TR2 increases gradually in the period T3 in accordance with the drain-source current Ids of the transistor TR2. As a result, in the pixel 23, the potential difference across the ends of the signal level holding capacitor C1 is set at the threshold voltage Vth of the transistor TR2, and the terminal voltage of the signal level holding capacitor C1 on the transistor TR5 side is set to a voltage Vofs−Vth such that the threshold voltage Vth of the transistor TR2 is subtracted from the fixed potential Vofs. In this state, the anode potential Vel of the organic EL element 8 is represented by Vel=Vofs−Vth. In the display apparatus 21, the fixed potential Vofs is set so that Vel≦Vcat+Vthel is reached, with the result that the organic EL element 8 does not emit light in the period T3.
Next, in the pixel 23, as shown in FIG. 26, the transistors TR3 and TR4 are sequentially set to an off state in the subsequent period T4. By setting the transistor TR3 to an off state earlier than the transistor TR4, it is possible to suppress variations in the gate voltage Vg of the transistor TR2. Furthermore, next, in the pixel 23, in a state in which the transistor TR1 is set to an on state and the terminal voltage of the signal level holding capacitor C1 on the transistor TR5 side is thereby set to a voltage Vofs−Vth, the terminal voltage of the signal level holding capacitor C1 on the transistor TR5 side is set to the signal level Vsig of the signal line SIG.
In this case, to be accurate, the gate-source voltage Vgs of the transistor TR2 is represented by the following equation:Vgs=(Cel/Cel+C1+C2)×(Vsig−Vofs)+Vth  (2)where C2 is the capacitance between the gate and the source of the transistor TR2. If the parasitic capacitance Cel of the organic EL element 8 is greater than the capacitance of the signal level holding capacitor C1 and the gate-source capacitance C2 of the transistor TR2, the gate-source voltage Vgs of the transistor TR2 is set to a voltage Vsig+Vth with sufficient accuracy for practical use.
As a result, in the pixel 23, the gate-source voltage Vgs of the transistor TR2 is set to a voltage Vsig+Vth such that a threshold voltage Vth is added to the signal level Vsig of the signal line SIG. As a result, in the display apparatus 21, it is possible to prevent variations in the light-emission luminance due to variations in the threshold voltage Vth, which is one of the characteristics of the transistor TR2.
Next, in the pixel 23, as shown in FIG. 27, during the fixed period T5, the transistor TR3 is set to an on state in a state in which the transistor TR1 is kept set to an on state. As a result, in the pixel 23, the transistor TR2 causes the drain-source current Ids to flow in accordance with the gate-source voltage Vgs resulting from by the potential difference across the ends of the signal level holding capacitor C1. At this time, when the source voltage Vs of the transistor TR2 is smaller than the sum of the threshold voltage Vthel of the organic EL element 8 and the cathode voltage Vcat, and the electric current that flows to the organic EL element 8 is small, as shown in FIG. 28, the source voltage Vs of the transistor TR2 increases gradually from a voltage Vs0 in accordance with the drain-source current Ids of the transistor TR2. The voltage Vs0 is represented by the following equation:Vs0=Vofs−Vth+((C1+C2)/(Cel+C1+C2))×(Vsig−Vofs)  (3)
The rate of increase of the source voltage Vs depends on the mobility μ of the transistor TR2. Cases in which the mobility is large and the mobility is small are indicated by reference characters Vs1 and the Vs2, respectively, and it can be seen that the larger the mobility, the greater the rate of increase of the source voltage Vs.
As a result, in the pixel 23, only during the fixed period T5, in a state in which the transistor TR1 is kept set to an on state, the transistor TR3 is set to an on state, and variations in the light-emission luminance due to variations in the mobility, which is one of the characteristics of the transistor TR2, are prevented.
Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 21, in the pixel 23, the transistor TR1 is set to an off state, and the organic EL element 8 is driven in accordance with the threshold voltage Vth and the gate-source voltage Vgs that is set by correcting the mobility μ. As a result, the source voltage Vs of the transistor TR2 increases as a result of the transistor TR1 being turned off up to a voltage at which the drain-source current Ids of the transistor TR2 flows to the organic EL element 8, and the organic EL element 8 starts to emit light. In consequence, the gate voltage Vg of the transistor TR2 also increases.
According to the configuration shown in FIG. 19, it is possible to prevent a decrease in the light-emission luminance due to changes over time of the organic EL element 8, and it is possible to prevent variations in the light-emission luminance due to variations in the characteristics of the transistor TR2.
However, in the case of the configuration shown in FIG. 19, regarding one pixel 23, it is necessary to provide one signal line SIG, four scanning lines responsive to control signals AZ2 and AZ1, a driving pulse signal DS, and a writing signal WS, and four wiring patterns of fixed potentials Vcc, Vofs, Vss, and Vcat. Here, the electrode of the fixed potential Vcat is formed on the entire panel by vapor deposition. Therefore, even if scanning lines are used in common at red, blue, and green pixels, wiring patterns of four scanning lines and 3×3 wiring patterns of fixed potentials become necessary with respect to one set of red, blue, and green pixels.
As a result, in a display apparatus of the related art using N-channel transistors, there is a problem in that the number of scanning lines and the number of wiring patterns of fixed potentials become large. When the number of wiring patterns becomes large, it is difficult to efficiently arrange pixels at a high density, and it is difficult to manufacture a high-definition display apparatus with a high yield.

Display apparatus and electronic apparatus


The semiconductor laser device includes a cavity structure having a first clad layer, an active layer and a second clad layer formed on a substrate. The second clad layer has a stripe portion extending between the front end face from which laser light is extracted and the rear end face opposite to the front end face. The stripe portion has a first region located closer to the front end face, a second region located closer to the rear end face and a change region whose width changes located between the first and second regions. The effective refractive index difference between the inside and outside of the stripe portion in the change region is greater than that in the first region.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to a semiconductor laser device and a fabrication method for the same, and more particularly to red and infrared semiconductor laser devices and fabrication methods for the same
2. Background Art
In these days, demands for a light source for a high-speed writable optical disk system, such as a recording 16x DVD having not only playback function but also recording function, have increasingly grown. For such a light source, required is a semiconductor laser device having at least 300 mW high-output operation capability.
In general, in high-output operation of a semiconductor laser device, the cavity end face from which laser light is extracted (front end face) is coated with a dielectric film having a low reflectance of 10% or less, and the cavity end face opposite to the front end face (rear end face) is coated with a dielectric film having a high reflectance of 85% or more. With such antireflection (AR) coating and high reflection (HR) coating, the external differential quantum efficiency (slope efficiency) in the current-light output characteristic can be improved. This permits high light output with a small current amount injected. Also, the power density of laser light at the front end face is reduced, and this can prevent occurrence of a catastrophic optical damage (COD) in which the laser end face is melted down with the light output of the laser light itself.
Having a low front-face reflectance and a high rear-face reflectance is effective in improvement of the COD level and the light extraction efficiency. However, if the reflectance of the front end face is too low, the laser light fed back inside the cavity is reduced, causing increase in oscillation threshold current. Also, with the reflectance of the front end face being low, when the semiconductor laser device is applied to an optical disk, noise is likely to occur due to return light reflected from the optical disk (return light-induced noise). In view of the above, in a high-output laser, the front end face is coated so as to have a reflectance of about 5 to 10% to ensure attainment of high light extraction efficiency and also reduction in return light-induced noise. The rear end face is generally coated so as to have a reflectance of about 95 to 100% to ensure as high reflectance as possible.
In a high-output semiconductor laser device, in which the reflectance is largely different between the front and rear end faces, light propagating in the active layer in the cavity direction exhibits asymmetric light distribution intensity: the light distribution intensity is higher on the front end face side than on the rear end face side. In this situation, more intense stimulated emission occurs on the front end face side high in light distribution intensity than on the rear end face side. Accordingly, on the front end face side, a larger number of electron-hole pairs must be injected in the active layer than on the rear end face side. This is likely to cause shortage of electron-hole pairs in the active layer on the front end face side especially during high-output operation. Such shortage of electron-hole pairs may become a cause of saturation of the luminous efficiency. In attainment of a high-output laser having an output of 200 mW to 300 mW or more, this may degrade the temperature characteristic resulting in serious obstruction.
A normal AlGaInP semiconductor laser widely adopts a GaAs substrate using a plane tilted from (100) plane by 7° to 15° in [011] direction as the principal plane, to obtain a good temperature characteristic. In formation of a cavity on such a substrate, if only chemical wet etching is employed to form a ridge stripe portion, the acute angles formed between the crystal plane and the sidewalls of the stripe portion will be θ1=54.7°−θ°, θ2=54.7°+θ°. If the ridge stripe portion is formed by a physical method such as ion beam etching, the cross-sectional shape of the stripe portion can be axis-symmetric with respect to the axis in the layered direction in the crystal cross section. In this case, however, physical damage may be left behind on the ridge sidewalls, causing a leak at the interface between the ridge sidewalls and a current narrowing layer and thus deteriorating the current narrowing effect. For this reason, when a physical method is employed to form the stripe portion, also, it is desired to wet-etch the sidewalls of the ridge a little before growth of the current narrowing layer. Therefore, in this case, also, the shape of the stripe portion is axis-asymmetric.
In an axis-asymmetric stripe portion, the distribution of light propagating in a waveguide is asymmetric with respect to the stripe. In a high light density portion, radiation recombination of carriers often occurs under stimulated emission. Hence, the shape of spatial hole burning of carriers also exhibits asymmetric distribution. This indicates that the effective refractive index distribution in the horizontal direction parallel to the active layer is laterally asymmetric. As a result, the light distribution is likely to move in a direction in which the gain becomes relatively higher, and this is likely to cause a kink that is a bend formed in the light output-current characteristic.
To suppress occurrence of a kink, the stripe may be narrowed to allow the current flow to be concentrated in the narrow stripe region. This makes it possible to reduce the size of a depression in the carrier distribution generated due to spatial hole burning of operating carriers in the active layer, and thus suppress occurrence of a kink in the light output-current characteristic until reaching a higher output. However, a narrowed stripe causes increase in operating voltage along with increase in element serial resistance, as well as degradation in temperature characteristic along with increase in power consumption.
To solve the above problem, proposed is a semiconductor laser device that is formed on a compound semiconductor substrate tilted from (001) plane in [110] direction and has a stripe portion as shown in FIG. 13 (see Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2004-200507, for example).
As shown in FIG. 13, a stripe portion 200 includes a first region 200a having a fixed width located in the center of the cavity and second regions 200b having a gradually widened width located on both sides of the first region. A current block layer (not shown) is provided on the sidewalls of the stripe portion 200, and the refractive index of the current block layer is smaller than that of the stripe portion 200.
With the above configuration, the effective refractive index inside the stripe portion 200 is higher than that outside the stripe portion 200. The light distribution is therefore confined inside the stripe portion 200 to permit fundamental transverse mode oscillation. Also, since the current block layer is transparent to laser light, the waveguide loss can be reduced, permitting reduction in operating current value. Moreover, in the first region 200a in which the width of the stripe portion 200 is fixed, the relative luminous position of the light distribution with respect to the shape of the stripe portion is fixed, and this stabilizes the optical axis of a far-field pattern (FFP) of the laser. In the second regions 200b in which the width of the stripe portion changes, the series resistance (Rs) can be reduced because the top of the stripe portion is widened. As a result, in the semiconductor laser device, while fundamental transverse mode oscillation stable in the light axis of FFP is attained, the operating current value and also Rs can be reduced.
However, the conventional semiconductor laser device described above has the following problem. For future implementation of a high-output laser permitting an output of 300 mW or more during high-temperature operation, the temperature characteristic must be improved, and for this purpose, the cavity length must be as large as about 1500 μm or more. The external differential quantum efficiency in the light output-current characteristic is proportional to mirror loss/(mirror loss+waveguide loss). The magnitude of the mirror loss is inversely proportional to the cavity length. Accordingly, as the cavity is longer, the mirror loss is smaller, and thus the external differential quantum efficiency is more susceptible to the waveguide loss. In a semiconductor laser device having 7%-reflectance coating on the front end face and 95%-reflectance coating on the rear end face, the mirror loss will be 15.1 cm−1 if the cavity length is 900 μm and 9 cm−1 if the cavity length is 1500 μm. The waveguide loss of a normal high-output laser is 10 cm−1 or less. It has been clarified that the waveguide loss is more influential on the external differential quantum efficiency as the cavity length is larger. Light lost in the waveguide loss is converted to heat. Accordingly, the element heating is accelerated during high-temperature, high-output operation, causing degradation in heat saturation level.
In consideration of the above, in a semiconductor laser having a long cavity exceeding 1500 μm, reduction in waveguide loss is very important in improving the light output level at which heat saturation occurs at high temperature. For this reason, in a long cavity laser, the waveguide loss must be made as small as possible for improvement of the light output causing heat saturation.
The conventional semiconductor laser device described above has the first region small in stripe width and the second regions gradually changing in stripe width, for improvement of the kink level. Propagating light scatters from the ridge sidewalls of the second regions changing in stripe width, causing radiation loss. With such radiation loss, the waveguide loss increases by about several cm−1, causing a problem of reduction in external differential quantum efficiency by about 10%.

Semiconductor laser device and fabrication method for the same