A protective guard to be used in conjunction with a structural corner or corner edge having metal beading or metal backing is provided and consists of an injection molded, elongated resilient one-piece body divided longitudinally into two equal halves connected by integrated living hinges. The protective guard is secured in place by a plurality of integrated oriented multiple pole ceramic magnets. The protective guard includes a continuous edge border which abuts the surface of the structural corner or corner edge such that the plurality of magnets are in close proximity but not contact with the structural corner or corner edge.

1. Field or the Invention
The present invention relates to protective guards for structural corners and corner edges and particularly to removable protective guards for use as a shield on a wall, piece of furniture or the like having metal beading or metal backing.
2. Prior art
In recent years, use of metal for framing and backing has escalated in construction, and particularly in building interior construction. For example, metal studs are frequently used for interior framing and metal beading or metal backing has long been used for maintaining the shape and integrity of structural corners over sheetrock and the like. Typically, the metal beading or metal backing on structural corners is covered in finished fashion prior to the laying of carpet. Unfortunately, carpet layers and the like are faced with a finished structural corner when measuring, cutting and laying the carpet. For such work, the need has long been felt for appropriate corner protection which is inexpensive, removable, reusable and which does not mar the finished surface when in use, being attached or removed.
Prior art discloses corner protectors which function mainly to protect objects striking a corner with mainly incidental provision for avoiding marring the appearance of the corner when the corner protector is attached or removed. Prior art generally teaches away from removable corner protectors which avoid marring the protected corner upon attachment or removal. Typical of corner protector attachment are Velcro strips, suction means, magnetic means, adhesive and tethering tapes or ties, all of which immediately attach or abut directly against the finished surface of the corner. Removal of such corner protectors typically mars the surface, requiring refinishing for appearance.
Prior art generally discloses corner protectors having body structure extending outward from the corner which functions to absorb impact. Such body structure can result in inaccurate corner measurement when working around the corner, such as carpet laying.
With the increased use of abrasive jute backed carpets, carpet layers face a unique situation when laying carpet in the vicinity of structural corners and corner edges. Typically, a structural corner will have metal beading to maintain the shape and integrity of the corner and particularly the corner edge. The corner will be finished over the metal beading prior to carpet being laid. When the carpet is laid to accommodate the corners, the backing of the carpet typically abuts the finished corner and the carpet backing mars the finished exterior of the corner and to some degree the adjacent walls. In addition, in protecting the corner, typical corner protectors mar the finish of the corner being protected when being attached or removed.
The available protectors do not provide the novel improvements of the invention herein disclosed.


A method of forming a transistor device includes providing a drift layer having a first conductivity type, forming a first region in the drift layer, the first region having a second conductivity type that is opposite the first conductivity type, forming a body layer on the drift layer including the first region, forming a source layer on the body layer, forming a trench in the source layer and the body layer above the first region and extending into the first region, forming a gate insulator on the inner sidewall of the trench, and forming a gate contact on the gate insulator.

Power semiconductor devices are widely used to regulate large current, high voltage, and/or high frequency signals. Modern power electronic devices are generally fabricated from monocrystalline silicon semiconductor material. One widely used power device is the power Metal-Oxide Semiconductor (MOS) Field Effect Transistor (MOSFET). In a power MOSFET, a control signal is supplied to a gate electrode that is separated from the semiconductor surface by an intervening silicon dioxide insulator. Current conduction occurs via transport of majority carriers, without the presence of minority carrier injection that is used in bipolar transistor operation.
MOSFETs can be formed on a silicon carbide (SiC) layer. Silicon carbide (SiC) has a combination of electrical and physical properties that make it attractive as a semiconductor material for high temperature, high voltage, high frequency and/or high power electronic circuits. These properties include a 3.2 eV energy gap, about a 2.4 MV/cm electric breakdownfield, a 4.9 W/cm-K thermal conductivity, and a 2.0×107 cm/s electron drift velocity.
Consequently, these properties may allow silicon carbide-based power electronic devices to operate at higher junction temperatures, higher power density levels, higher frequencies (e.g., radio, S band, X band), and/or with lower specific on-resistance and/or higher blocking voltages than silicon-based power electronic ndevices. A power MOSFET fabricated in silicon carbide is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,506,421 to Palmour entitled "Power MOSFET in Silicon Carbide" and assigned to the assignee of the present invention.
Although silicon carbide itself is theoretically capable of sustaining high reverse voltages, it may be desirable to shield certain portions or features of a silicon carbide device, such as the gate insulator, the device edge, etc., from high electric fields, as breakdown may be more likely to occur at these locations.

Field effect transistor devices with buried well protection regions


There is provided flakes of an ester mixture comprising bis-(hydroxyethyl)-terephthalate, dimers, tamers, tetramers, pentamers and higher oligomers of ethane-1,2-diol and terephthalate acid.

In this specification, where a document, act or item of knowledge is referred to or discussed, this reference or discussion is not an admission that the document, act or item of knowledge or any combination thereof was at the priority date, publicly available, known to the public, part of common general knowledge; or known to be relevant to an attempt to solve any problem with which this specification is concerned.
Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) is a thermoplastic polyester formed by the reaction of ethane-1,2-diol (also known as ethanediol, 1,2-dihydroxyethane, monoethylene glycol or MEG) and purified terephthalic acid (PTA) by direct esterification to form bis-(hydroxyethyl) terephthalate ester ("BHET") which is then polymerised by catalysed ester exchange to useful polymers.
Traditionally, PET has been used extensively because it can be formed into an oriented film or fibre, has high tenacity, good electrical resistance, low moisture absorption, and a melting point greater than 245° C. PET has been found to be particularly valuable for the manufacture of bottles for containing carbonated drinks where bottles must have good tensile strength, exhibit superior mechanical properties, contain pressure, and have a low mass convenient for transport and use. Such PET bottles are also extensively used for non-carbonated drinks.
The extensive use of PET bottles has given rise to the need to recycle PET bottles after their contents are consumed. Similarly, there is a need to recycle post-use PET film, PET textiles and apparel products, and the in-process PET waste arising from the manufacture of all PET products. Today, PET is mainly recycled using either of two distinct methods, namely mechanical and chemical.
In the mechanical process, PET waste (which includes post-consumer PET) is cut and washed to obtain PET flakes. These flakes are then converted to various end products using conventional polyester processes. However, such flakes are frequently contaminated leading to products having a quality which is not comparable with product made from the high purity virgin petrochemical feedstocks typically used for making polyester.
Conventionally, chemical recycling of PET relies on depolymerising the PET waste by treating it with a significant concentration of glycol at high temperature. This glycolysis yields a product consisting primarily of esters of varying molecular weights. The mixture of esters generally includes BHET, dimers, trimers, tetramers and higher oligomers. Such esters from conventional chemical recycling processes cannot be stored as a liquid for prolonged periods because elevated temperatures (above 200° C.) result in degradation of the mixtures of the esters and formation of unfavourable by-products which are detrimental to the desired quality and consistency of the end products. As a result, the chemical recycler of waste PET at a given plant generally processes the recovered esters immediately for a narrow single application or final product form.
For example, GB 610,136 discloses a process for obtaining BHET and higher oligomers through the de-polymerisation of polyester scraps by using ethylene glycol and then obtaining reconstituted polyester by polymerising the BHET and higher oligomers immediately. This is done because the BHET and higher oligomers, thus obtained, is unstable when stored at high temperature and degrades.
In another example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,609,680 discloses a process for depolymerisation of polyester scrap wherein PET scrap is depolymerised to bis-hydroxyethyl terephthalate (BHET) and/or its oligomers by supplying the scrap, together with ethylene glycol, to a reactor containing molten BHET from which a part of the product in the reactor is removed to a polymerising reactor.
Current chemical PET recycling processes thus preclude the recovered ester from a single recycling plant from being used across a wider range of downstream product applications. This increases the commercial risk and burden on capital investment for a recycler using such chemical recycling processes to install such downstream conversion facilities within the same complex, tailored narrowly to a particular end product and market.
Hence, there is need for a process wherein the esters produced by the glycolysis of PET waste can be stored for use as and when desired.

Flakes of ester mixtures and methods for their production


A multicolor 2D-photo-marker including a rectangular matrix of data pixels, framed by a contrasting matrix locator, wherein the rectangular matrix of data pixels includes at least one orientation data pixel that carry photo-marker orientation information and is located at a pre-selected location, and wherein a unique color and location combination of the multiple data pixels encodes identification information of the object with which the multicolor 2D-photo-marker is coupled with. Preferably, the rectangular matrix of data pixels further includes color reference pixels, each located at a pre-selected location, designated to serve as dictionary hue pixels. Preferably, the pre-selected location of each color reference pixels is at a corner of the rectangular matrix of data pixels. An orientation data pixel may also serve as a color reference pixel.

Large events such as sports events, business or fun gatherings, amusement parks and the like, are often filmed in order to be documented and replayed. As technology develops, users or participants such as runners are searching for an easy and automatic way to receive their photos and videos. Existing systems often demand a great deal of effort from the photographers capturing/filming the event, the user who wishes to receive his photos/video clips often depends on expensive and cumbersome equipment such as personal timing chips and heavy cumbersome chip detectors.
In another application, supermarket shops stock millions of items that needs to be tracked in order to identify stock quantities, warehouse material movements, product expiration, etc. This is done today with older type barcodes and RF equipment. It would be advantageous to be able to image a bulk of objects in a single or more photographs and extract the information off the respective photo ID marker by analysing one or more acquired image frames. Current existing art can be found, for example, in https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vorkmWa7He8, products carry a label containing information related to the coupled product item, such as shelf location, price, expiration date, and so forth.
An event can be a sports event such as a running race, triathlon, bicycle race etc., or a social event such as a wedding, a festival, a conference, etc. The organizers of such events typically have many photographs taken of the event, and wish to provide the photographs within a limited period of time.
One way known in the art to identify a participant in a digital photo is by assigning each participant a uniquely visible event identification (EID), also referred to as "bib", that is worn or carried by the participant, wherein the EID includes a machine readable, square photo marker that is associated with that participant. An image processing module analyzes a digital photograph of an event where one more participant appear and identifies one or more photo markers worn by the participants. Each photo marker includes a square binary matrix with a unique value associated with an EID. A matrix analysis module reads the identified matrix, calculates its value and matches the participant with the digital photograph in which the participant appears in.
WIPO Patent Application WO/2017/089968 discloses A method of analyzing and presenting at least one video of a user in a comprehensive personal clip of the user's participation in an event, the method includes providing users of the event with an identification sign, the identification sign includes at least one unique two-dimensional (2D) photo marker pattern and at least one predesigned common pattern; creating a lookup table of users' IDs, each user's ID being associated with the user's unique 2D photo marker pattern; receiving at least one video of the event; extracting sample frames from the at least one video of the event in an initial predetermined rate; detecting and identifying at least one unique 2D photo marker pattern in the sample frames and creating a time appearance index representing at least one user's at least one video segment, according to the at least one identified unique 2D photo marker pattern; editing at least one of the at least one video segment that features at least one of the users based on the time appearance index; and integrating the at least one video segment into a comprehensive personal clip.
One problem associated with this system is the limited space of the bib, whereas the square matrix occupies a large space of the bib. It should be noted that the images of a participant are taken from a distance that is typically over one meter and may reach 25 meters or more, the pixels of the unique matrix must be large enough to be identified in the image. This forces a minimal size of each pixel of the matrix of pixels. It should be noted that the printed pixel size also depends on the resolution of the image acquisition device, which may enable to acquire images of a participant from a distance that may reach 100 meters or more.
Another issue with decoding the photo markers on photos acquired from a distance is that often there exists a side angle, which causes deformation of the otherwise square or rectangular photo marker. Having more sideways stretching of the otherwise square or rectangular pixels of the photo marker, makes the side taken, deformed photo marker decodable from greater angles.
Another issue is the number of unique codes that a traditional black and white 2D barcode can provide unique codes may be sufficient for some applications but limited for others. Another issue associated with the limited space of the bib is the occlusion problem. For example, the hands of a runner are moving opaque objects that often occlude at least a portion of the barcode matrix and interfere with the detection process of the participant's ID. This also applies to bag straps, long hair, shirts, shorts, sloppy cloths, external objects, etc. One method to overcome the occlusion problem is to use two identical barcodes that are spaced apart.
Reference is now made to the drawings, FIG. 1a illustrates a prior art EID bib or plate 20 that includes a unique participant EID number 40, and two identical photo markers 30 that are spaced apart, one at each side of the participant EID number 40. Optionally, the bib 20 may further include the participant's name 42 and promotional data.
Each photo marker 30 includes the same 6×6 unique matrix 50 of pixels 52 that is associated with the unique participant EID number 40, wherein the pixels 52 unique layout represents the participant's EID number 40. Reference is also made to FIG. 1b, illustrating a prior art 6×6 matrix 50 of pixels 52 that is framed by a matrix locator having an inner frame 60, followed outwardly by a contrasting outer frame 62. The frames (60, 62) help detect the location of matrix 50, when decoding it in the decoding process.
Another issue that is indirectly associated with the limited space of the bib 20 is the fact that a number associated with the participant include multiple digits and it is often desirable for this number to be visible from a distance. The use of one or two barcodes further limits the available space of bib 20.
There is therefore a need and it would be advantageous to provide a solution to the limited space problem of the bib 20, which solution enables the use of one or two barcodes, wherein the digits of the participant EID number 40 can be enlarged, without compromising the number decoding capabilities.

Multicolour rectangular photo markers and methods of using thereof


An ignition timing control system for an internal combustion engine having a catalytic converter in its exhaust system and using a gasoline-alcohol blend fuel. Since the combustion temperature of the alcohols is lower than that of gasoline, the temperature of the exhaust gas decreases with increasing alcohol concentration of the fuel, which slows the heating of the catalyst and thus delays its activation, thereby degrading exhaust emission. In order to avoid this, ignition timing is retarded at cold engine starting with increasing alcohol concentration in the fuel so as to raise the exhaust gas temperature and promote the reactions in the catalytic converter. The retard amount is further adjusted by the manifold pressure and the intake air temperature.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to an ignition timing control system for an internal combustion engine which uses a hybrid fuel containing alcohol.
2. Description of the Prior Art
For controlling the exhaust gases emitted by an automobile engine, it is a common practice to install a catalytic converter such as a three-way catalyst in the engine exhaust system. For coping with the fact that the catalysts including of this type of converter are inactive below a certain temperature, it is also a common practice to employ a system for quickly activating the catalyst after a cold engine start by retarding the ignition timing and thus quickly raising the exhaust gas temperature when the engine coolant temperature is low.
However, in such systems, a problem arises when the engine uses a fuel containing an alcohol such as methyl alcohol. Since the combustion temperature of alcohols is lower than that of gasoline, the temperature of the exhaust gas decreases with increasing alcohol concentration of the fuel. This slows the heating of the catalyst and thus delays its activation, with the result that the quality of the exhaust emissions is degraded.

Ignition timing control system for internal combustion engine


An electronic unit includes a case, a printed circuit board, a connector block, and a connector introducing portion. The case is selected from a waterproof case and a non-waterproof case. The connector block is mounted upon the printed circuit board. The connector block has a retaining projection that engages a mating connector. The connector introducing portion is integrally formed with the cases and yet separately from the connector block. The connector introducing portion of the waterproof case has a retaining projection that engages the mating connector. The electronic unit is assembled with the case selected from the waterproof case and the non-waterproof case, and with the printed circuit board and the connector blocks received in the case that has been chosen.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an electronic unit for automobiles and other vehicles and an assembling method thereof.
2. Description of the Related Art
A variety of the electronic units including an electronic control unit are widely used in motor vehicles and other movable bodies. These electronic units have a case, a printed circuit board received in the case, and a connector block provided on the printed circuit board and formed integrally with the case. See Patent Document 1 (Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. 2005-117741).
The connector block has terminals that are connected to a conductive pattern of the printed circuit board in accordance with a predetermined pattern. The connector block engages a mating connector, i.e., a connector to be connected to the connector block. Various electronic components are mounted on the printed circuit board on a surface of which the conductive pattern made of copper foil, for example, is formed. The electronic components are electrically connected to the conductive pattern in accordance with the predetermined pattern. Also, the mating connector is connected to the connector block of the electronic unit, and a terminal of the mating connector is connected to the terminal of the electronic unit.
It is via the above terminal that the terminal of the mating connector is electrically connected to the conductive pattern, and therefore to the electronic components of the electronic unit. Also, it is via the mating connector connected to the connector block of the electronic unit that numerous wiring harnesses of the motor vehicle are electrically connected to the electronic unit.
The electronic unit disclosed in Patent Document 1 has either a waterproof case that prevents liquid and vapor from entering the case, or a non-waterproof case that allows entry of the liquid and vapor into the case. Since the electronic unit described in Patent Document 1 has the connector block formed integrally with the case, it follows that two types of the connector blocks are necessary in order to assemble the conventional electronic unit, i.e., the connector block for the waterproof case and the connector block for the non-waterproof case.
Notably, the conventional electronic unit described in Patent Document 1 includes the connector block mounted on the printed circuit board. This implies that making the conventional electronic unit presupposes two types of the printed circuit boards that respectively support the above-mentioned two types of the connector blocks. Thus, two different suites of the case, the connector block, and the printed circuit board are required for assembling the conventional electronic units depending upon whether or not the case has to have a waterproof property. The more types of the components, the more costly it will be to make the electronic unit.

Electronic unit and assembling method thereof


A new and distinct cultivar of Fuchsia plant named ‘VOLFUC 6054’, characterized by its relatively compact, mounding to trailing plant habit; freely branching habit, dense and bushy plant form; moderately vigorous growth habit; freely flowering habit; and light red purple and violet blue-colored flowers.

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Fuchsia plant botanically known as Fuchsia×hybrida and hereinafter referred to by the name 'VOLFUC 6054'.
The new Fuchsia plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Muenster, Germany. The objective of the breeding program is to create new compact and freely branching Fuchsia plants with numerous attractive flowers.
The new Fuchsia plant originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor in 2009 in Muenster, Germany of two unidentified proprietary selections of Fuchsia×hybrida, not patented. The new Fuchsia plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in Muenster, Germany in 2010.
Asexual reproduction of the new Fuchsia plant by terminal vegetative cuttings in a controlled environment in Muenster, Germany since 2010 has shown that the unique features of this new Fuchsia plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.


In an image forming apparatus having a registration roller that aligns the leading edge of the sheet and feeds it to the image forming section, a plurality of loop forming rollers that convey the sheet, and a loop forming space for forming a loop in the sheet are placed on the upstream side of the registration roller, and a plurality of loop amount detecting sensors that detect the amount of loop are provided, and the image forming apparatus has the feature that it is provided with a mechanism and a control device for varying the rotational speeds of said plurality of loop forming rollers individually and separately, wherein the loop amounts in a cross-section of the sheet along the sub-scanning direction are adjusted to be at a prescribed value.

The present invention relates to image forming apparatuses such as copying machines, printer, fax machines and the like of the electro-photographic method, and in particular, to image forming apparatuses having a control device that can control the sheet conveying speed in the loop forming space on the upstream side of the registration device.
The registration roller of an image forming apparatus conventionally has a function of matching the timing of the sheet with the image and, at the same time, has a function of skew correction that absorbs the sheet skew generated during sheet feeding or in the conveying path. After the leading edge of the sheet is aligned by making the sheet strike against the registration roller whose drive is stopped, a bend (a loop) in the sheet in the up-down direction is generated by the sheet being conveyed for a specific time period by a loop forming roller positioned on the upstream side of the registration roller while the drive of the registration roller is stopped, and the correction of sheet skew is done by absorbing the difference between the conveyance direction towards the downstream side of the registration roller and the conveyance direction including the skew on the upstream side of the registration roller.
However, since elastic materials such as rubber are used for the registration roller and the loop forming rollers, there was the problem that, while the skew of a sheet which is long in the conveying direction is being corrected, the loop is consumed due to the distortion of the elastic material, and the ability to correct skew of the sheet is lost.
In order to solve this problem, a proposal has been made to provide a mechanism that detects the amount of loop and adjusts the speed of the feeding section that has the loop forming roller (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
However, in the above proposed mechanism, a sheet (hereinafter, also called a transfer material) that has been fed in a skewed manner gets its orientation changed in the loop forming space, the amount of loop in a direction perpendicular to the conveying direction, that is in the main scanning direction, cannot maintain uniformity. Because of this, even if the amount of loop is detected to be appropriate at a certain location in the main scanning direction, there is the possibility that the loop may not be present at one of the ends. If the amount of feed is increased uniformly so that a larger loop amount is formed considering the above, there will be problems such as buckling of the sheet or sheet folding due to excessive sheet feeding at an end where there is a larger amount of loop.    Patent Document 1: Unexamined Japanese Patent Application Publication No. Hei 6-72585.

Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.


The present invention discloses a tyrosinase inhibitor extract from lemon peels. The tyrosinase inhibitor extract contains a tyrosinase inhibitor content and provides advantageous skin whitening effects.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a tyrosinase inhibitor extract from lemon peels.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Melanin plays an important role in protecting human body from the harmful effects of ultraviolet rays. Melanin is also an important factor in medical science and cosmetology. It is known that melanin is formed or synthesized in skin tissues. Excessive amounts of melanin darken the skin, and the nonuniform distribution of melanin causes chloasma and ephelis, both of which are skin disorders. The biosynthesis pathway of melanin involves the catalytic hydroxylation of tyrosine to L-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (L-DOPA) and the conversion of L-DOPA to dopachrome. The more effective way to inhibit the synthesis of melanin is to block the hydroxylation of tyrosine.
Conventionally, tyrosinase inhibitors have been used to decrease the level of melanin in the skin and thereby produce a lightly pigmented skin. A variety of whitening cosmetics have been proposed or investigated and developed in order to remove spots, such as stains, and freckles, appearing on the skin and to provide a whitening effect on the skin. For example, peroxides, ascorbic acid, kojic acid, hydroquinone, glutathione, arbutin and cysteine have been developed to whiten skin. However, the conventional whitening agents have various disadvantages. For example, peroxides are unstable and have little effects on reducing the pigmentation in practical applications. Ascorbic acid is not an effective whitening agent because of its low activity in inhibiting tyrosinase and low stability. U.S. Pat. No. 6,365,137 indicates that kojic acid can be used as an inhibitor of tyrosinase. Kojic acid inhibits the activity of the enzyme by chelating the active site of tyrosinase with a copper ion. However, is it not appropriate to use kojic acid in cosmetics because it is unstable in the process of cosmetics. U.S. Pat. No. 5,523,077 mentions that hydroquinone can be used as a whitening agent. Hydroquinone is a competitive inhibitor, which causes adverse effects in skin such as irritation.
There has been a high demand of medicines or cosmetic which have advantageous skin whitening effects without adverse effects.


In a snowmobile, an upper front half of a vehicle body of the snowmobile is covered to be openable by an engine hood in which an engine room is defined, an engine is disposed in the engine room, and a turbo-charger is mounted on the engine. In an engine structure of such snowmobile, a headlight is disposed above a rear portion of the engine hood, and the engine is arranged in a state inclined rearward downward so that a cylinder head of the engine is disposed below the headlight in a side view and the turbo-charger is arranged below the cylinder head.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an engine structure of a snowmobile.
2. Related Art
Snowmobiles have been mainly equipped with two-stroke-cycle engines because of requirements of their light weight and high power. However, in view of environmental matters, there is a recent tendency or requirement for a snowmobile to be mounted with a four-stroke-cycle engine.
The four-stroke-cycle engine, such as shown in Japanese Patent Laid-open Publication No. 2001-214750, has an overall height higher than that of the two-stroke-cycle engine and is equipped with a turbo-charger and an inter-cooler so as to have the same power even with the same size as the two-stroke-cycle engine.
However, an engine room of the snowmobile is located at a position in front of a steering bar covered with an engine hood, and the engine hood has a shape inclined forward downward with the highest position being disposed at the lowermost position of a headlight so as not to intercept an optical axis of the headlight. Thus, according to such arrangement, it is difficult to lay out the four-stroke-cycle engine and auxiliary machinery such as turbo-charger in the snowmobile.
Furthermore, inside the engine hood, ambient air temperature is increased by heat generated through the engine operation and the intake air temperature is also increased, which will result in the lowering of an output efficiency of the engine, as well as generating an adverse affect on the equipment or elements disposed inside the engine.


A corner fitting and a method of forming a corner fitting including steps of providing a flat woven fabric including a first woven portion having first and second direction woven fibers, a second woven portion adjacent the first woven portion having first direction fibers and sacrificial second direction fibers and a third semi-woven portion having first direction fibers selectively engaged by the sacrificial second direction yarns. The method further comprising steps of folding the flat woven fabric in at least one direction, and removing the sacrificial second direction fibers, wherein during removal, the sacrificial second direction fibers are replaced in the second woven portion by the first direction fibers of the third semi-woven portion and form a corner fitting having continuous fibers connecting all sides.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a perform and a fabrication method for a fiber-reinforced corner fitting that has continuous fibers connecting all sides.
2. Background of the Invention
The use of reinforced composite materials to produce structural components is now widespread, particularly in applications where their desirable characteristics for being lightweight, strong, tough, thermally resistant, self-supporting and adaptability to being formed and shaped are sought. Such components are used, for example, in the aeronautical, aerospace, satellite, and battery industries, as well as for recreational uses such as in racing boats and autos, as well as countless other applications. A three-dimensional fabric may generally comprise fibers with each kind of fiber extending along a direction perpendicular to the other fibers, that is along the X, Y and Z axial directions.
Typically components formed from such fabrics consist of reinforcement materials embedded in matrix materials. The reinforcement component may be made from materials such as glass, carbon, ceramic, aramid (e.g., KEVLAR®), polyethylene, and/or other materials which exhibit desired physical, thermal, chemical and/or other properties, chief among which is great strength against stress failure. Through the use of such reinforcement materials, which ultimately become a constituent element of the completed component, the desired characteristics of the reinforcement materials such as very high strength, are imparted to the completed composite component. The constituent reinforcement materials may typically be woven, knitted or otherwise oriented into desired configurations and shapes for reinforcement preforms. Usually, particular attention is paid to ensure the optimum utilization of the properties for which these constituent reinforcing materials have been selected. Generally, such reinforcement preforms are combined with matrix material to form desired finished components or produce working stock for the ultimate production of finished components.
After a desired reinforcement preform has been constructed, matrix material may be introduced and combined with the preform, so that the reinforcement preform becomes encased in the matrix material such that the matrix material fills the interstitial areas between the constituent elements of the reinforcement preform. The matrix material may be any of a wide variety of materials, such as epoxy, polyester, vinyl-ester, ceramic, carbon and/or other materials, which also exhibit desired physical, thermal, chemical and/or other properties. The materials chosen for use as the matrix may or may not be the same as that of the reinforcement preform and may or may not have comparable physical, thermal, chemical or other properties. Typically, however, they will not be of the same materials or have comparable physical, thermal, chemical or other properties as the reinforcement preform, since a usual objective sought in using composites in the first place is to achieve a combination of characteristics in the finished product that is not attainable through the use of one constituent material alone. When combined, the reinforcement preform and the matrix material may then be cured and stabilized in the same operation by thermosetting or other known methods, and then subjected to other operations toward producing the desired component. It is significant to note that after being so cured, the then solidified masses of the matrix material are normally very strongly adhered to the reinforcing material (e.g., the reinforcement preform). As a result, stress on the finished component, particularly via its matrix material acting as an adhesive between fibers, may be effectively transferred to and borne by the constituent material of the reinforcement preform.
Frequently, it is desirable to produce components in configurations other than simple geometric shapes such as plates, sheets, rectangular or square solids, etc. For instance, complex three-dimensional components require complex three dimensional preforms. One way to achieve a complex component is to combine basic geometric shapes into the desired more complex forms. One such typical combination is made by joining components made as described above at an angle (typically a right-angle) relative to each other to form lateral and transverse stiffeners. Usual purposes for such angular arrangements of joined components are to create desired shapes to form reinforced structures that include one or more end walls or "T" intersections for example. Another purpose for joining components is to strengthen the resulting combination of reinforcement preforms and the composite structure which it produces against deflection or failure when exposed to exterior forces such as pressure or tension. Therefore, it is important to make each juncture between the constituent components, i.e. the stiffener and the base platform or panel portion, as strong as possible. Given the desired very high strength of the reinforcement preform constituents per se, weakness of the juncture becomes, effectively, a "weak link" in a structural "chain" if not joined appropriately.
Various methods have been used in the past for joining composite components or reinforcement preforms to produce a reinforced complex structure. It has been proposed to form and cure a panel element and an angled stiffening element separate from each other, with the latter having a single panel contact surface or being bifurcated at one end to form two divergent, co-planar panel contact surfaces. The two components are then joined by adhesively bonding the panel contact surface(s) of the stiffening element to a contact surface of the other component by thermosetting or by an adhesive material. However, when tension is applied to the cured panel or the skin of the composite structure, loads at unacceptably low values often result in "peel" forces which separate the stiffening element from the panel at their interface.
The use of metal bolts or rivets at the interface of such components has also been used but is unacceptable because such additions at least partially destroy and weaken the integrity of composite structures themselves, add weight, increase cost and introduce differences in the coefficient of thermal expansion as between such elements and the surrounding material.
Other approaches to solving this problem have been based on the concept of introducing high strength fibers across the joint area through the use of such methods as stitching one of the components to the other and relying upon the stitching thread to introduce such strengthening fibers into and across the juncture site. One such approach is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,331,495 and its method divisional counterpart, U.S. Pat. No. 4,256,790. These patents disclose junctures having been made between a first and second composite panels made from adhesively bonded fiber plies. The first panel is bifurcated at one end to form two divergent, co-planar panel contact surfaces in the prior art manner, that have been joined to the second panel by stitches of uncured flexible composite thread through both panels. The panels and thread are then "co-cured": i.e., cured simultaneously.
However, this process requires the preform to be constructed in multiple steps as well as requires the introduction of a third yarn or fiber into the preform.
Another example of an intersecting configuration is set forth in U.S. Pat. No. 6,103,337, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. This reference discloses a means for joining a reinforcement preform with a preform panel to form a three-dimensional reinforcement preform. The two individual preforms are joined to each other at the junction by means of reinforcing fibers in the form of threads or yarns. Once the two preforms are joined or stitched together, matrix material is introduced to the preforms. However, while this process has many advantages, it does require that the preforms be individually woven or constructed and subsequently stitched together in a separate step. Furthermore, an additional yarn or fiber is needed to connect the preforms.
Another method to improve upon junction strength is set forth in U.S. Pat. No. 5,429,853. However, this method is similar to previously described methods because separately constructed distinct elements are joined together by the stitching of a third yarn or fiber between the two.
While the prior art has sought to improve upon the structural integrity of the reinforced composite and has achieved some success, there exists a desire to improve thereon and to address the problem through an approach different from the use of adhesives or mechanical coupling of the separate panel and stiffener elements. In this regard, one approach might be by creating a woven three-dimensional structure on specialized machines. However, the expense involved is considerable and rarely is it desirable to have a weaving machine directed to creating a simple structure.
Another approach is to weave a two-dimensional structure and fold it into shape so that the panel is integrally stiffened, i.e. yarns are continuously interwoven between the planar base or panel portion and the stiffener. However, this typically results in distortion of the preform when the preform is folded. The distortion occurs because the lengths of fiber as-woven are different than what they should be when the preform is folded. This causes dimples and ripples in areas where the as-woven fiber lengths are too short, and buckles in the areas where fiber lengths are too long. These distortions cause undesirable surface anomalies and reduce the strength and stiffness of the component. While this may be relieved by cutting and darting, such procedures are undesirable since they are labor intensive or otherwise may compromise the integrity of the preform.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,446,675, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference, solves the problem with distortion that occurs upon folding a two-dimensional woven preform by adjusting the lengths of the fibers during weaving such that some fibers are too short in some areas and others too long in other areas. Upon folding the preform, the lengths of the fibers are equalized, providing for a smooth transition at the fold. However, this woven preform is only capable of providing reinforcement or stiffening in one direction, which is parallel to the warp fiber direction.
Another approach for constructing stiffened panels is set forth in U.S. Pat. No. 6,019,138 which discloses a method for making stiffened panels with reinforcing stiffeners in both the warp and fill directions. As disclosed, this method achieves reinforcement in two directions through over weaving, or simply weaving high spots into the panel portion of the preform. Using this method will limit the height of the stiffener that can be achieved. Further, this method requires that the preform be woven using three yarns. The third yarn, which binds the stiffener to the panel portion of the preform, is only periodically woven between the two. Therefore, the stiffener is not completely integrally woven with the panel portion which results in a joint that is weaker than a fully integrally woven joint.
A further approach can be found in U.S. Pat. No. 6,733,862, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by references. The '862 patent describes a fabric suitable as the reinforcement for a three dimensional composite structure. The fiber reinforcement is one that may be woven on conventional weaving machinery. It starts off as a woven two dimensional structure that is then formed into a three dimensional structure, particularly one having deep draws. To provide for this, the reinforcing fabric is woven in a manner that, in portions of the weave, the warp and weft or fill fibers are laid on each other and do not interlock. In this portion the fibers can move independently and slide past one another when the fabric is drawn or folded into shape. If the portion is a rectangular or square shape, it can be collapsed in such a manner that both the warp and weft fibers fold upon themselves and each other to align in an unidirectional manner which creates a corner which acts as a compression column in the final structure.
Thus, three-dimensional preforms which can be processed into fiber reinforced composite components are desirable because they provide increased strength relative to two-dimensional laminated composites. These preforms are particularly useful in applications that require the composite to carry out-of-plane loads. However, even the most advanced heretofore known structures, such as those described in the '862 patent, only have continuous reinforcing fibers in two of the three planes of any corner feature.
Accordingly, a need exists for a woven corner preform or fitting that provides reinforcement in three directions that can be woven using a conventional loom and provides for reinforcing fibers in all three planes of the corner fitting. Further there exists a need for integration of such a corner fitting into a larger preform or structure.


A method for planarizing interlayer dielectric is disclosed. The present invention includes firstly forming a barrier layer over a semiconductor substrate. Next, a buffer layer is formed on the barrier layer by a spin-on-glass technique. A dielectric layer is formed on the buffer layer, wherein etch rate of the dielectric layer is larger than etch rate of the buffer layer, and the barrier layer serves as a block of autodoping coming from the dielectric layer. Finally, the dielectric layer is etched back using the buffer layer as buffer, thereby planarizing the dielectric layer.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a planarization method, and particularly to a method of planarization using interlayer dielectric and a buffer layer.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The starting material for a very large scale integration (VLSI) circuit is ideally flat. After a great number of processes required to fabricate the VLSI circuits are performed, an increasing nonplanar surface occurs as the process proceeds to the metallization stage. This nonplanarity generally results in the difficulty in transferring fine-line patterns over the wafer. FIG. 1 shows a cross-sectional view illustrative of a conventional planarization method using a borophosilicate glass (BPSG) layer 10 as interlayer dielectric (ILD), which serves as an interlayer between metal layers and the underlying transistors. In this conventional fabrication, a barrier layer 8 is firstly deposited over the transistors. This barrier layer 8 is used to block autodoping of Bs or Ps from the BPSG layer 10 above. Dashed line 12 denotes the surface after the initially deposited BPSG layer 10 is reflowed. A chemical-mechanical polishing (CMP) method is then utilized to achieve a global planarization over the substrate 6. Unfortunately, the polishing rate using the CMP over the BPSG layer 10 varies greatly according to nonuniform concentration distribution of Bs or Ps. More specifically, the polishing rate over the region having low concentration becomes large, and vice versa. Therefore, a nonplanar surface 14 is thus produced, thereby degrading the following metallization process.

Method of planarization using interlayer dielectric


Corresponding ends of long, narrow legs are joined together for resilient spring like movement toward and away from each other. The swinging ends of the legs have inward extending flanges with flat bottom portions and teeth projecting downward beyond the botttoms. The legs can be inserted into a tissue box and pressed gently against the top tissue of the box, whereupon the legs are brought together so that the flanges and their teeth pinch or grasp the top tissue of a stack, for withdrawing the top tissue when the legs are removed from the box.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,155,273, issued May 31, 1963, to R. A. Cote, and U.S. Pat. No. 4,200,200, issued Apr. 29, 1980, to Carl C. Hein, III, and Joseph J. Spitz, disclose cartons for stacks of interfolded tissues. In each instance, the top of the carton has an opening for access to the interior, but the opening is closed by a film having a longitudinal slit. The slit forms a "valve" having abutting or nearly abutting, somewhat flexible lips. A single tissue projecting through the lips may be pulled for removal from the box. Ideally, the next lower tissue is drawn through the valve and retained in a position partially projected from the box. However, in this type of construction, the next lower tissue is not always reliably drawn through the valve or held projecting from it. In that case, the user must insert his or her fingers downward through the valve for access to the next tissue. This procedure is inconvenient, particularly for those with limited dexterity or painful ailments of the fingers or their joints.
Patents on containers seeking to address this problem include the following: U.S. Pat. No. 3,012,692, issued Dec. 12, 1961, to B. B. Petersen; U.S. Pat. No. 4,623,074, issued Nov. 18, 1986, to Donald D. Dearwester; U.S. Pat. No. 4,944,405, issued Jul. 31, 1990, to John C. Buford and Leslie H. Porter; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,540,354, issued Jul. 30, 1996, to Charles A. Annand. In each instance, a container is provided with a side opening for access to stacked tissues. Nevertheless, the valved box having only a top opening continues to be a commonly used container, with the problem noted above.


Technologies are generally described for multi-resolution based power spectral density estimation. According to some examples, a first power spectral density (PSD) of a signal may be computed to determine a first frequency resolution and a first error variance (EV) value associated with the PSD. The first PSD may be computed using fewer segments of the signal to achieve a higher resolution. The higher resolution is associated with a higher EV because of the fewer segments used for the computation of the first PSD. Next, a second PSD may be computed using the signal while sampling more segments to determine second resolution and EV. The second PSD may be associated with a lower EV because of the additional segments used for the computing of the second PSD. Missing frequency variables of the second PSD may be determined using the first resolution and the second EV through an expectation maximization technique.

Unless otherwise indicated herein, the materials described in this section are not prior art to the claims in this application and are not admitted to be prior art by inclusion in this section.
Power spectral density (PSD) estimation has wide applications in industry. Spectrum sensing in cognitive radio (CR) demands an accurate determination of PSD of a signal. CR improves spectrum utilization by allowing secondary users to access unused licensed spectrum. The unused sub-bands are found using spectrum sensing. Accurate PSD estimation is also in demand with femto-cell base stations in self-organizing networks for next generation cellular wireless technology.
A first step in spectrum sensing is the power spectral density (PSD) estimation. Conventional Welch's method was proposed for spectrum sensing for CR. Welch's method is an example of Discrete Fourier Transform (DFT) based PSD estimation. In Welch's method, the received signal samples are segmented into a few segments. The estimated PSD is achieved by linearly averaging the periodograms of all segments. Additional averaging (i.e. additional segments) leads to lower estimation variance of the PSD. Alternatively, longer segments lead to a better frequency resolution. Therefore, for the same number of received signal samples, there is a trade-off between estimation accuracy and frequency resolution.

Multiresolution based power spectral density estimation


A wobble plate type refrigerant compressor is disclosed which includes a compressor housing having a crank chamber and a cylinder block which is provided with an axial central bore and a plurality of cylinders. A plurality of pistons are slidably fitted within each of the cylinders. A wedge-shaped cam rotor is disposed within the crank chamber to rotate together with a drive shaft. A wobble plate is coupled to the pistons through each corresponding connecting rod. The wobble plate is disposed on the inclined surface of the cam rotor to convert rotating motion of the cam rotor into reciprocating motion to be imparted to the pistons while preventing the rotating motion of the wobble plate. A first bevel gear is fixed on the wobble plate and a second bevel gear connected thereto is supported by the cylinder block. The second bevel gear includes a shank portion which is non-rotatably disposed within the central bore of the cylinder block by means of at least one engaging mechanism, such as a key/groove mechanism, provided between the second bevel gear and the cylinder block. The first and second bevel gears intermesh through spherical member to prevent rotation of the wobble plate. The engaging mechanism includes an axial hollow space or groove formed between the shank portion of the second bevel gear and the cylinder block, and a rod member or key fittingly disposed within the axial hollow space. The engaging mechanism further includes a dampening member or vibroisolating member for dampening torque which acts on the shank portion of the second bevel gear to thereby reduce vibration and noise.

1. Field Of The Invention
The present invention generally relates to a refrigerant compressor, and more particularly, to a wobble plate type refrigerant compressor used in an automotive air conditioning system.
2. Description Of The Prior Art
A wobble plate type compressor suitable for use as in an automobile cooling system is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,444,549 to Takahashi. In such a compressor, rotation of the drive shaft is converted into reciprocating motion of a plurality of pistons through a cam rotor having a sloping end surface fixedly mounted on an inner end of the drive shaft and a wobble plate disposed on the sloping end surface through a needle bearing. The wobble plate is supported on a fixed member such as a cylinder block so that the wobble plate is prevented from rotating but is nutatable or able to wobble. Thus, the wobble plate wobbles by rotation of the cam rotor, and the plurality of piston rods connected to the wobble plate are reciprocated to compress fluid within a like plurality of cylinders.
In a known supporting mechanism for the wobble plate of the above described compressor, a first bevel gear is fixed to the wobble plate at the central portion thereof. A second bevel gear, which engages the first bevel gear, is supported on the cylinder block in such a manner that the rotation of the second bevel gear is prevented. The second bevel gear is formed on the end of a cylindrical rod, which supports the wobble plate and enables it to nutate. The cylindrical rod is supported in the center bore formed in the cylinder block. Both bevel gears are provided with ball seats. Thus, the wobble plate is prevented from rotating by the engagement between both bevel gears, and is able to nutate along the ball surface.
A supporting mechanism for a wobble plate in a wobble plate compressor is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,221,545 to Terauchi. This supporting mechanism includes a cylindrical support portion mounted in a center bore formed in the cylinder block. The cylindrical support portion supports one of the bevel gears supporting the wobble plate. In such a supporting mechanism, a pair of grooves is axially formed on the outer surface of the cylindrical portion and on the inner surface of the central bore. These grooves oppose each other and form a chamber in a square pillar configuration. A metal key is fittingly inserted in the chamber. When the compressor operates and the wobble plate nutates, the key-groove mechanism prevents the rotational motion of the cylindrical portion.
In the above construction, during operation of the compressor, the cylindrical support portion continuously undergoes torque which tends to rotate the cylindrical support portion in the rotational direction of the drive shaft due to the gas pressure reaction force received by the wobble plate through the pistons and piston rods. The magnitude of this torque periodically fluctuates because the pistons reciprocate out of phase in their respective cylinders. The periodical torque fluctuation on the cylindrical support portion causes an undesirable vibration of the compressor housing. This undesirable vibration is propagated to an automobile passenger compartment as an offensive noise.

Wobble plate type refrigerant compressor


A device having a screen, like that of a strainer, used to provide protection to beverage cans internally. The safety screen is located inside the can, attached to the underside of a beverage can opening about its periphery. It is meant to protect the entry of foreign objects, such as bees or insects.

Insects that bite or sting are a cause of great health concern. In fact, the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology notes that stinging insects send 500,000 people to hospitals each year. According to Orkin Pest Control, wasps, hornets, yellow jackets and fire ants are a particular problem; hot weather encourages the growth of their colonies. Just one acre can support up to forty mature fire ant colonies, each capable of containing 500,000 or more ants.
While insect bites or stings are usually not life threatening, they can be painful, easily infected and can aggravate skin disorders or allergies. Insects are particularly attracted to sugar such as that found in soda and beer cans. It is not unusual for stinging insects to crawl into a can and to lurk there ready to sting the unsuspecting beverage drinker.
A number of patents have issued directed to can and bottle covers. U.S. Pat. No. 6,321,927 is directed towards a seal for use on a container such as a beverage or food storage container and more specifically such as a soft drink, beer, or soup can where the seal prevents contamination of the rim or lip, through and area adjacent to and surrounding the drinking aperture as well as between the drinking aperture and the nearest rim. The seal covers the inner surface of the rim but does not restrict use of 6-pack rings or the like, nor does the seal interfere with stacking of the cans. The seal further includes a peel tab.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,722,561 is directed towards a pressurized can for beverage having a small opening in its lid which is sealed with a patch on the inside of the lid and which is adapted to receive a drink straw removably attached to the outside of the can.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,984,135 is directed to a beverage container cover for preventing the introduction of any contaminants into a beverage container. The beverage container cover includes a sealing layer including a top side and a bottom side, a straw extending on either side of the sealing layer and able to prevent a contaminant from passing therethrough and an adhesive substance extending about a periphery of the bottom side of the sealing layer for forming a seal with a rim of the container. A lip extends about a periphery of the top side for engaging the rim of the container and strengthening the seal therebetween. The cover further includes a first protective layer removably connected to the top side and covering a top portion of the straw and a second protective layer removably connected to the bottom side and covering the bottom side, a bottom portion of the straw and the adhesive substance. The straw may be extended whereby it extends to a base of the container.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,779,086 is directed towards a twist-off can end assembly that has a cylindrical can body and a lid assembly. The lid assembly includes a joined lid and collar. When an open end of the can body is closed by the lid assembly, a sealing lip on the collar engages a flange on the can body to form a hermetic seal. An annular chamber adjacent the sealing lip is formed by the collar and flange. When pressure of the contents within the can body increase to a predetermined amount, gas escapes from the can interior to the annular chamber. When pressure within this annular chamber increases, the lip deforms to increase the seal between the lid assembly and can body. Therefore, a self-sealing can arrangement is obtained. The lid assembly can be readily unscrewed from the can body.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,705,186 is directed to a can end assembly formed from interconnected elements of a cover portion, a tear-shaped seal member and a pull member. This assembly encloses an end of a container, such as a beverage can. The cover portion has a dispensing opening and vent and a pivotable connection to one end of the seal member. The other end of the seal member is pivotably connected to the pull member. In a first position, the seal member will close the opening and will be beneath the pull member. Upon a slight lifting of the pull member, a seal between the seal member and opening will be broken. Continued movement of the pull member causes the seal member to rotate 180 degrees about its connection to the cover portion. During this movement, the pull member also rotates 180 degrees about its longitudinal axis and is displaced about 90 degrees relative to its initial orientation. This movement results in the seal member being positioned above the pull member and in these two elements being in an open, out of the way location to permit a consumer to empty the container. This movement may be reversed to temporarily reseal the container. In the open position, the seal and pull members may be temporarily locked beneath a flange partially surrounding the cover portion. A score line is provided beneath the cover portion to accommodate compression forces. A groove extends around the periphery of the cover portion to permit the can end assembly to snap onto the can body.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,285,924, to Morris, has an issue date of Feb. 15, 1994. The patent is directed to a plastic slidable removable cover for a beverage container, such as a soda can, that can cover or expose the can opening using the same hand that grasps the container. The cover comprises a tab portion that fits under the rivet of a conventional soda can pull ring and covers the opening created, a periphery engaging portion that grips the lip of the can, and a plurality of serrations facilitating easy sliding of the cover around the lip periphery. The cover can be easily removed for use with other containers.
Each of the above inventions deal, in varying ways, with the problem associated with protecting or covering beverages. All are expensive or require complicated extra parts. None of the patents are specifically directed to the preventing stinging insects from entering a pull-tab can.
It would be desirable to provide a simple built-in mechanism associated with a beverage can which could prevent a stinging insect from crawling into a beverage can.
It would be desirable to provide a beverage can in which a concave or expandable screen would cover over the opening and which prevents insects and impurities from entering the can.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a built-in screen mechanism which would prevent insects and other foreign objects from climbing into a beverage can such as for beer or soda.


An antenna assembly includes at least two active or main radiating omni-directional antenna elements arranged with at least one beam control or passive antenna element used as a reflector. The beam control antenna element(s) may have multiple reactance elements that can electrically terminate it to adjust the input or output beam pattern(s) produced by the combination of the active antenna elements and the beam control antenna element(s). More specifically, the beam control antenna element(s) may be coupled to different terminating reactances to change beam characteristics, such as the directivity and angular beamwidth. Processing may be employed to select which terminating reactance to use. Consequently, the radiator pattern of the antenna can be more easily directed towards a specific target receiver/transmitter, reduce signal-to-noise interference levels, and/or increase gain. A Multiple-Input, Multiple-Output (MIMO) processing technique may be employed to operate the antenna assembly with simultaneous beam patterns.

It is becoming increasingly important to reduce the size of radio equipment to enhance its portability. For example, the smallest available cellular telephone handset today can conveniently fit into a shirt pocket or small purse. In fact, so much emphasis has been placed on obtaining small size for radio equipment that corresponding antenna gains are extremely poor. For example, antenna gains of the smallest handheld phones are only −3 dBi or even lower. Consequently, the receivers in such phones generally do not have the ability to mitigate interference or reduce fading.
Some prior art systems provide multiple element beam formers for these purposes. These antenna systems are characterized by having at least two radiating elements and at least two receivers that use complex magnitude and phase weighting filters. These functions can be implemented either by discrete analog components or by digital signal processors. The problem with this type of antenna system is that performance is heavily influenced by the spatial separation between the antenna elements. If the antennas are too close together or if they are arranged in a sub-optimum geometry with respect to one another, then the performance of the beam forming operation is severely limited. This is indeed the case in many compact wireless electronic devices, such as cellular handsets, wireless access points, and the like, where it is very difficult to obtain sufficient spacing or proper geometry between antenna elements to achieve improvement.
Indoor multipaths, mostly outside the main beam, interfere with the main beam signal and create fading. The indoor multi paths also create standing wave nulls that prevent reception if the directive antenna is situated at these nulls. For a traditional array, if one element of the array is at the null, the received signal is still significantly reduced. Reciprocity makes this effect hold true for the transmit direction, too.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Low cost multiple pattern antenna for use with multiple receiver systems


Etch rate distribution non-uniformities are predicted for a succession of hardware tilt angles of the RF source applicator relative to the workpiece, and the behavior is modeled as a non-uniformity function for each one of at least two plasma reactors. An offset Δα in tilt angle α between the non-uniformity functions of the two plasma reactors is detected. The two reactors are then matched by performing a hardware tilt in one of them through a tilt angle equal to the offset Δα.

1. Technical Field
The disclosure concerns plasma etch processing of a workpiece such as a semiconductor wafer, in which plasma ion density distribution is controlled.
2. Background Discussion
Generally, plasma reactors or chambers of identical or similar design may produce similar process results, although there may be differences in process results among the plasma reactors. The process results are affected by plasma ion density distribution over the workpiece or wafer being processed. In cases in which a plasma etch process is performed, plasma ion density distribution is reflected by depth or etch rate distribution on wafer surface. In cases in which a plasma deposition process is performed, plasma ion density distribution is reflected by thickness or deposition rate distribution on the wafer surface. In large manufacturing facilities, a set of two or more plasma reactors of identical design may be used to perform an etch process on many workpieces. In such cases, differences in etch rate distribution among the set of plasma reactors can be problematical. Such differences may be attributable to mechanical tolerances or other factors in the assembly of the set of plasma reactors.

Predictive method of matching two plasma reactors


There is provided a sheet system for securing a child in a preferred position on a sleep surface and covering the child, the sheet system including: a base sheet; a band for securing a child in a preferred position; a first attachment means for attaching the band to the base sheet; a top sheet for covering the secured child, and a second attachment means for attaching the top sheet to the base sheet and a stabilizing means for stabilizing the base sheet on a sleep surface.

There are a number of means presently used to cover a child on a sleeping surface such as standard blankets and sleep sacks which can be opened on one side to allow easy access to place a child in the sleep sack and cover at least the legs and lower abdomen of the child.
While sleep sacks keep a child warm by preventing a child's covers from being kicked off they do not prevent a child assuming a prone position which can cause potential suffocation or increase the likelihood of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). To address this problem sleep bands can be secured to a sleeping surface and around a child and retain it in a preferred sleeping position. Such a sleep band is disclosed in Patent No. WO9317606.
A disadvantage with such sleep bands is that the child is uncovered if not combined with some form of cover (such as a blanket) which can result in the child waking up during normal sleep time.
Pat. Nos. US20040019970 and US20030154549 describe a sleep system for a child utilizing a combined safety sheet and blanket fixed to a fitted base sheet. A disadvantage with such a system is its lack of flexibility in situations where a child must be secured in a preferred sleeping position but without the need for a top blanket or where an older child requires a top blanket but does not need to be secured.
It is an object of the present invention to address the foregoing problems or at least to provide the public with a useful choice.
Further aspects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the ensuing description which is given by way of example only.
All references, including any patents or patent applications cited in this specification are hereby incorporated by reference. No admission is made that any reference constitutes prior art. The discussion of the references states what their authors assert, and the applicants reserve the right to challenge the accuracy and pertinence of the cited documents. It will be clearly understood that, although a number of prior art publications are referred to herein, this reference does not constitute an admission that any of these documents form part of the common general knowledge in the art, in New Zealand or in any other country.


A microfluidic controller and detector system and method for performing screening assays are disclosed. The microfluidic controller and detector system comprises a fluidic chip that includes at least two intersecting channels and a detection zone, a fluid direction system comprising an electrical interface configured for electrical contact with the at least two intersecting channels, an optics block having an objective lens disposed adjacent the detection zone, and a control system coupled to the optics block and adapted to receive and analyze data from the optics block. The electrical interface generally includes electrodes configured for electrical contact with the intersecting channels and coupled to electrode channels for supplying electrical input to the electrodes. A reference channel is optionally provided to calibrate the electrode channels.

The present invention relates to a controller and detector system for microfluidic systems, and more particularly, to a microfluidic controller and detector system for use with assay systems for performing chemical and biochemical analyses.
Analysis of chemical and biochemical samples often requires detection and identification of the constituent elements of the sample. Microfluidic devices are often used to separate and control movement of the elements of the sample to detect a property of the elements with a detection system. Microfluidics technology moves small volumes of fluids through channels on a chip to perform a multitude of laboratory tests to obtain biochemical and chemical information. This laboratory-on-a-chip technology enables microfluidics systems to support a range of applications in drug discovery, bioanalytical research and medical diagnostics, including DNA, RNA, and cell analyses.
The microfluidic devices typically include multiple wells that are interconnected with microchannels for transport of the sample. Application of a voltage across the channels permits the electrophoretic migration of macromolecular species in the sample. The samples often include an intercalating dye that becomes more fluorescent upon binding to the species of the sample. The fluorescent dyes are used to identify and locate a variety of cell structures such as specific chromosomes within a DNA sequence.
A variety of devices have been designed to read fluorescent labeled samples. In general the devices include at least one light source emitting light at one or more excitation wavelengths and a detector for detecting one or more fluorescent wavelengths. The light source is often a laser that emits light at one narrow center wavelength (single mode laser).
Despite the improvements achieved using parallel screening methods and other technological advances, such as robotics and high throughput detection systems, current screening methods still have a number of associated problems. For example, screening large numbers of samples using existing parallel screening methods have high space requirements to accommodate the samples and equipment, e.g., robotics etc., high costs associated with that equipment, and high reagent requirements necessary for performing the assays. Additionally, in many cases, reaction volumes must be very small to account for the small amounts of the test compounds that are available. Such small volumes compound errors associated with fluid handling and measurement, e.g., due to evaporation, small dispensing errors, or the like. Additionally, fluid handling equipment and methods have typically been unable to handle these volume ranges within any acceptable level of accuracy due in part to surface tension effects in such small volumes.
What is desirable is an integrated system to increase productivity, increase time- and cost-efficiency, rendering conventional laboratory procedures less cumbersome, less labor-intensive and less expensive and requiring fewer highly trained personnel.
The present invention provides a microfluidic controller and detector system. The controller and detector system is typically configured to receive a fluidic chip including at least two intersecting channels. The system preferably includes a detection zone and a material direction system comprising an interface configured for contact with the at least two intersecting channels on a different side of an intersection formed by the at least two intersecting channels. The microfluidic controller and detector optionally further includes an optics block comprising an objective lens and is located within the housing adjacent the detection zone. Finally, the microfluidic controller and detector typically includes a control system coupled to the microfluidic controller and detector with a communication channel for controlling operation of the microfluidic controller and detector. The control system is configured for receiving and analyzing data from the optics block.
The microfluidic controller and detector system generally comprises a fluidic chip that includes at least two intersecting channels and a detection zone, a material direction system comprising an interface configured for contact with the at least two intersecting channels, an optics block having an objective lens disposed adjacent the detection zone, and a control system coupled to the optics block and adapted to receive and analyze data from the optics block. The interface may be an electrical interface and/or a vacuum port adapted for interface with a vacuum pump.
In one embodiment, the electrical interface optionally comprises at least three electrodes, each configured for electrical contact with one of the intersecting channels on a different side of an intersection formed by the intersecting channels. In another embodiment, the material direction system includes a lid connected to the electrodes such that when the lid is in a closed position, the electrodes are in electrical contact with the intersecting channels. In yet another embodiment, the electrical interface also includes a reference voltage source for calibrating the channel electrodes. In yet another embodiment, the interface to the fluidic chip includes a vacuum port for moving a material, such as fluids and/or charged chemical species, using vacuum or pressure.
Preferably, the optics block includes a light detector to detect light emitting from the detection zone via the objective lens. The light detector is typically selected from photodiode, avalanche photodiode, photomultiplier tube, diode array, imaging systems, and charged coupled devices. In one embodiment, the light detector is in communication with the control system. The optics block optionally further includes a detector lens assembly positioned adjacent the light detector through which light from the detection zone travels. In addition, the optics block optionally includes a light source operable to direct light toward the detection zone via the objective lens and a mirror that reflects light produced by the light source and transmits light emitted from the detection zone via the objective lens. The light source is typically a laser, a laser diode, or a light emitting diode.
In another embodiment, the microfluidic controller and detector system includes a mounting apparatus for focusing light from the light source onto the detection zone via the objective lens. The mounting apparatus preferably comprises a first and a second adjacent plate, a pivot, and an actuator for displacing the first plate relative to the second plate about the pivot. The mounting apparatus typically includes two actuators each for displacing the first plate relative to the second plate in a different direction about the pivot. The actuator preferably is a stepper motor coupled to a coupler, the coupler being coupled to the first plate and in movable contact with the second plate. In one embodiment, the coupler defines threads therearound and the first plate defines an orifice therethrough, the orifice having internal threads configured to engage the threads of the coupler. Preferably, the second plate includes a hard seat adapted to be in contact with the coupler.
According to another embodiment, a method of calibrating a plurality of electrical source channels generally comprises generating a first electrical reference input at a reference channel and a first electrical source input at each of the electrical source channels, measuring a first electrical value at each of the reference and electrical source channels, generating a second electrical reference input at the reference channel and a second electrical source input at each of the electrical source channels, the second electrical reference input and the second electrical source input being different from the first electrical reference input and the first electrical source input, respectively, measuring a second electrical value at each of the reference and electrical source channels, and determining a readout calibration factor as a function of a ratio of differences between the first measured reference value and the first measured source value and between the second measured reference value and the second measured source value.
The above is a brief description of some features and advantages of the present invention. Other features, advantages, and embodiments of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the following description, drawings, and claims.

Microfluidic controller and detector system with self-calibration


A universal portable vehicle canopy unit is provided for a front engine riding lawn mower style vehicle and includes suction cup affixing to the rear fender for easy assembly and disassembly of unit to vehicle. The portable vehicle canopy is supported by two vertical upright tube assemblies that are pivotally connected to the vehicle. Front and back of the canopy framework is held upright by adjustable length straps. A flexible canopy sheet assembly constructed of light weight nylon or similar materials is supported by the top canopy framework cross beams. Main usage for the portable vehicle canopy would be protection from sun light. Secondary usage for the portable vehicle canopy would be to ward off light rain. Material of the canopy frame work structure is light guage aluminum bent tubing or plastic molded tubing.

The operator of a riding lawn mower has little to none protection from the sun's ray and the heat. With any outdoor vehicle, protection from the sun's ultraviolet rays has always been a challenge.
Vehicle shade canopies have been designed and produced but most are overcomplicated resulting in poor functionality. Other canopy designs are hard to assemble, require tools, modification for the mower itself, and do not provide for easy access for the operator to get in the seat, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 6,059,351. Some mower canopy designs use the implement hitch on the mower so it cannot be used while the canopy is installed on the mower; see U.S. Pat. No. 5,232,005.
Model specific mower canopies are available but, will only work on the specified mower model. Mower canopies are available but require tools to attach and modification to your riding lawn mower. Most people are not willing to drill holes in the fenders and hood of their riding lawn mower to mount a canopy. Also, current canopies are not easily or quickly removable for storage or while mowing under low hanging limbs.
It is therefore an object of the invention to allow the average person to assemble and disassemble the canopy unit without the use of tools.
It is another object of the invention to quickly and easily removed from the riding lawn mower for mowing under low hanging tree limbs.
It is an object of the invention to easily removed and disassembled for storage.
It is a further object of the invention to adapt to virtually any riding lawn mower produced since the year 1980.
It is another object of the invention to be assembled to most lawn mower vehicles in minutes without any modification or drilling of holes in vehicle for mounting.
It is still another object of the invention to be attached using suction cups and plastic hooks so that no scratches or marking will occur to the riding lawn mower while attached to vehicle.


The present invention provides a thin wiring pattern such as wiring formed by discharging a droplet. In the present invention, a porous (including microporous) substance is formed as a base film in forming pattern by using a droplet discharge method (also referred to as an ink-jetting method). One feature of a wiring substrate according to the present invention provides a porous film and a conductive layer thereon. One feature of a semiconductor device of the present invention provides a thin film transistor in which a gate electrode is formed by the conductive layer having the above-described structure.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a wiring substrate, a manufacturing method thereof using a droplet discharge method, a semiconductor device, and a manufacturing method thereof. Note that the semiconductor device of the present specification indicates devices in general that may perform by utilizing semiconductor properties. For example, a display device, an electro-optical device, a semiconductor circuit, and an electronic appliance are all semiconductor devices.
2. Description of the Related Art
In recent years, a droplet discharge method is applied to the field of a flat-panel display, and the development proceeds actively. The droplet discharge method has many advantages: for example, a mask is not required since a droplet can be directly applied, the method is easy to be applied to a large-scale substrate, and the material has high usability. Therefore, the droplet discharge method is applied to manufacturing a color filter, and an electrode of a plasma display, and the like.
In order to form a wiring to be thin, discharge amount is controlled and a base surface is treated in plasma, for example, during forming a pattern such as a wiring of an electric appliance by a droplet discharge method. (For example, refer to Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2003-133691.) Accordingly, forming the wiring of approximately 50 μm is possible.
In the field of electric appliances, it is expected to form a wiring having thinner width. For example, a technique to form a wiring having a width of about from 5 to 10 μm is required for a display panel.
However, a wiring cannot be sufficiently thinned by only the surface treatment of base surface that is performed in the conventional art. Moreover, by using the plasma treatment, the condition of the surface is modified temporarily, but the condition changes as time goes by. Therefore, there is a problem of repeatability in process.

Wiring substrate, semiconductor device, and method for manufacturing thereof

SEMICONDUCTOR ENERGY LABORATORY CO. LTD.


A system and method modifying wavefront shape is provided. Generally, the system contains a wavefront shape modifying device for modifying the shape of the wavefront. The system also contains a series of optical devices for returning the modified wavefront to the wavefront modifying device with an orientation that enables further modification of the modified wavefront by the wavefront modifying device. The method contains the steps of: reflecting a wavefront from a surface of a wavefront shape modifying device, resulting in the wavefront having a modified shape; and reflecting the wavefront having a modified shape from the surface of the wavefront shape modifying device a second time resulting in a final wavefront having a shape that has been modified twice.

Adaptive optics is utilized to modify optical wavefronts. As an example, adaptive optics may be used to correct for existing aberrations recognized by optical systems. Specifically, adaptive optics may be used to correct aberrant wavefronts by modifying shape of the wavefront. Such correction appeals to many fields, including, but not limited to, astronomy, ophthalmology, and microscopy. As an example, in the field of astronomy adaptive optics may compensate for aberrations due to atmospheric turbulence and/or telescopic errors (i.e., lens errors). As a further example, in the field of ophthalmology, adaptive optics provide a means of measuring and compensating for aberrations in human vision. In addition, adaptive optics may be utilized to modify optical wavefronts without consideration of aberrations. It should be noted herein that a wavefront can be defined as a plurality of locations in space having a constant phase.
It should be noted that the term "optical phase" refers to the difference between the place or time where the sinusoidal amplitude of the electromagnetic field that is a light wave is at peak, and the place or time at which it is reduced, simply because it is a sine wave. E=A sin(2πft+phase). Since light extends in three dimensions, we call a surface of constant phase a wavefront. It is the shape of this surface that the deformable mirror will change, and we describe that as a change in the local phase, but the term should be understood to mean a change in the local shape of this surface of constant phase.
Adaptive optics attempt to correct for existing aberrations via use of wavefront sensors, controllers, and/or wavefront corrective devices. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a basic adaptive-optical wavefront modification system 10 that contains a wavefront sensor 20, a controller 30, a wavefront corrective device 40, such as a deformable mirror 40, and a beam splitter 50. As is known by those having ordinary skill in the art, the wavefront sensor 20 assesses, or measures, aberrations in an aberrant wavefront received by the adaptive-optical wavefront modification system 10. An example of a wavefront sensor 20 is a Shack-Hartmann sensor, such as a WaveScope wavefront measurement system manufactured by Adaptive Optics Associates of Massachusetts, USA.
Typically, a wavefront sensor 20 uses software to assess changes in wavefront shape caused by the deformable mirror 40, after energizing by the controller 30, as explained below. As an example, information regarding wavefront shape changing may be used by the wavefront sensor 20 to create a conjugate shape on the deformable mirror 40 to correct wavefront aberrations. The wavefront sensor 20 may use a least-squares estimation of the wavefront to determine the changes in the deformable mirror 40 caused by energizing.
The beam splitter 50 is used by the basic adaptive-optical wavefront modification system 10 to separate a part of the corrected wavefront. Since one having ordinary skill in the art would understand how such separation is performed, a detailed description of separation performed by the beam splitter 50 is not provided herein.
After assessing aberrations, the wavefront sensor 20 transmits information to the controller 30 regarding requirements to create the conjugate shape on the deformable mirror 40, as signified by the dotted line located between the wavefront sensor 20 and the controller 30. In accordance with requirements to provide the conjugate shape, the controller 30 transmits control signals, such as, but not limited to, a voltage, to the deformable mirror 40. The received voltage causes actuators (not shown) located within the deformable mirror 40 to move in a surface normal direction in accordance with stroke of each actuator and the control signals, thereby providing a small local step within the deformable mirror 40, or deforming the deformable mirror 40. For simplicity, in the remainder of this document the deformation of the deformable mirror or wavefront correcting device will be described as a step, though in practice this deformation may not be step-like: it might be smooth, ramped, or arbitrarily shaped. The step of the deformable mirror 40 modifies the wavefront so as to impress on the wavefront a change of shape in the areas of the wavefront that have been reflected by the step of the deformable mirror 40.
The step, through the change of phase in the wavefront, corrects aberrations in the received aberrant wavefront by canceling aberrations with the conjugate shape provided. Specifically, the conjugate shape provided to the aberrant wavefront is intended to cancel the aberrations. Since one having ordinary skill in the art would understand how the actuators are caused to move, a detailed description of actuator movement is not provided herein. It should be noted that in the present disclosure, the term actuator is utilized to identify elements of a deformable mirror that have a stroke.
More commonly known deformable mirrors have actuators that are either piezoelectric or electrostatic devices. Unfortunately, known deformable mirrors are characterized as being difficult to achieve more than a few microns of actuator stroke without greatly increasing expense and/or complexity of the deformable mirror. In addition, it is a general rule that the larger the actuator stroke of a deformable mirror, the more that aberrations in an aberrant wavefront may be removed. Therefore, aberrant wavefront correction by current adaptive-optical wavefront modification systems is restricted. In addition, the amount of altering of the shape of a wavefront is restricted.
Thus, a heretofore unaddressed need exists in the industry to address the aforementioned deficiencies and inadequacies.

Systems and methods for modifying wavefronts by amplifying stroke


A method for forming shallow trench isolation that can avoid dishing effect produced by a conventional manufacturing process. The method utilizes photolithographic and etching techniques to define a dummy pattern inside a shallow trenches having a deposited dielectric layer, and then through the deposition of a second dielectric layer, followed by a planarization using a chemical-mechanical polishing method, a shallow trench isolation having a good planar surface is obtained.

1. Field of Invention
This invention relates in general to a semiconductor isolation method, and more particularly to a method for forming a shallow trench isolation.
2. Description of Related Art
To prevent short circuiting and unnecessary operational interference between transistors in the manufacturing of semiconductors, it is often necessary to isolate every single transistor. As the level of integration in integrated circuits has become higher and higher, for example, a hundred thousand of more transistors can easily be packed inside 1.about.2 cm.sup.2 of silicon surface area in more advanced VLSI manufacturing processes, a conventional isolation method such as local oxidation method (LOCOS) has become inadequate. LOCOS is now gradually being replaced by shallow trench isolation methods, which require less space for the isolation regions and hence are capable of increasing the level of component integration. The shallow trench method includes literally "digging" a trench in areas between two transistors by an anisotropic dry etching method and then refilling the trench with insulating material such as silicon dioxide to achieve an effective isolation.
A conventional method for forming a shallow trench isolation is to form sequentially a pad oxide layer and a silicon nitride layer above a semiconductor substrate, then using photolithographic and etching techniques to define a window in the location designed for the formation of a shallow trench isolation region. Next, using the silicon nitride layer as a mask, the substrate surface exposed through the window is etched to form a shallow trench for the necessary isolation. Details of the manufacturing steps are shown in FIGS. 1A through ID.
First, referring to FIG. 1A, a pad oxide layer 102 with a thickness of about 20 nm and a polishing barrier stop layer 104, such as silicon nitride, with a thickness of about 200 nm are formed sequentially above a semiconductor substrate 100. Next, photolithographic processes are used to define a photoresist layer 106. With the photoresist layer 106 in place, the polishing barrier stop layer 104, the pad oxide layer 102 and the semiconductor substrate 100 are etched sequentially to form at least one narrow trench 101 and at least one wide trench 103 having a width, for example, slightly bigger than about 3 .mu.m. The depth of the trenches below the surface of the semiconductor substrate 100 is about 400 nm.
Referring next to FIG. 1B, after the removal of photoresist layer 106, a liner oxide layer (not shown in the Figure) is formed on the exposed substrate surface of trenches 101 and 103 by a thermal oxidation method. Then, a dielectric layer 108 is deposited to refill the narrow trenches 101 and the wide trench 103 as in FIG. 1A, for example, by a semi-atmospheric chemical vapor deposition (SACVD) method using tetra-ethyl-ortho-silicate (TEOS)/Ozone (O.sub.3) as the main reactive gases to deposit a silicon dioxide layer. However, a slightly caved-in region 105 is created on the upper surface of the dielectric layer 108 above the wide trench 103. The step height of the caved-in region 105 can be comparable to the depth of the trenches itself Referring next to FIG. 1C, planarization is subsequently performed using a chemical-mechanical polishing (CMP) method to remove part of the dielectric layer 108 and part of the polishing barrier stop layer 104. However, due to the effects of a pattern density variation in the wafer as well as the aforementioned caved-in region 105 on the upper surface above the wide trenches, the polishing rate for each region is going to be different. Generally, for regions having less polishing barrier stop such as 108b, overpolishing will result, forming a slightly concave surface 107 known as dishing.
Lastly, referring to Figure ID, the residual polishing barrier stop layer 104 and the pad oxide layer 102 are removed, thus finishing the formation of the shallow trench isolation regions. Yet, problems generated by the dishing effect still remain. Since the upper surface of the wide trenches slightly sags in the middle, out of focus problems will arise in subsequent photolithographic operations, and as a result, subsequent etching for the manufacturing of the gate terminals will be affected.

Method for forming shallow trench isolation