An improved demodulation system assigns a reception timing for demodulation of a multi-path component of a transmission signal in accordance with an estimated rate of change of a correlation level of the multi-path component. An averaging circuit is provided for determining an average correlation level of a multi-path component in accordance with an averaging interval, wherein the averaging interval is determined in accordance with an estimated rate of change in the correlation level of a multi-path component. A moving speed display unit is provided for determining and displaying a relative moving speed between the transmitter and a receiver in accordance with an estimated rate of change of the correlation level of a multi-path component. A correlation level prediction circuit is provided for predicting the correlation level of a multi-path component in accordance with past measurements of the correlation level. A phase assignment circuit determines a reception timing assignment in accordance with the predicted correlation level for demodulating a multi-path component of a transmission signal by a demodulation circuit.

In recent years, the demand for terrestrial mobile communications including cellular phones and portable phones has increased markedly. As a consequence, the need has increased for improved technology which more effectively utilizes the limited frequency bands to secure larger subscriber capacities. One type of system which has been offered for more effective frequency utilization is the code division multiple access system (CDMA). The CDMA system relies on spread spectrum transmission and provides improved reception over earlier transmission methods through the modulation of information signals by spread codes which have extremely low cross correlation while also having very sharp auto-correlation characteristics. An example of a terrestrial mobile communication system which utilizes the CDMA system for transmission is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,901,307.
In the United States, existing CDMA transmission systems utilize a modulation method known as a direct spread system which permits a receiver known as a RAKE type receiver to separately demodulate and combine a plurality of detected multi-path components of a signal. An example of a prior art RAKE type receiver is described on pages 328 to 353 of IEEE. Proceeding Vol. 68, No. 3 (March 1980).
By way of background to the description of the invention to follow, a prior art spread spectrum communication system which uses the direct spread system will now be described. FIG. 1a shows the basic construction of a prior art spread spectrum transmitter. As shown in FIG. 1a, transmission data 49 is input to an information modulation means 50 which is used to modulate the transmission data. Spread code generating means 51 generates a spread code for use in spreading the modulated transmission data. Spread spectrum modulation means 52 uses the generated spread code to output a modulated spread spectrum signal. A transmission antenna 53 connected thereto is then used to transmit the modulated signal.
FIG. 1b shows the basic construction of a spread spectrum receiver including a reception antenna 54, a spread spectrum demodulation means 56 connected thereto, a spread code acquisition means 55, and an information demodulation means 57. The spread code acquisition means 55 is used to generate the spread code at the same phase as the spread code that was used in the transmitter to modulate the detected signal. The spread spectrum demodulation means 56 is used to demodulate the detected signal in a process which is complementary to that used by the spread spectrum modulation means 52 in the transmitter (FIG. 1a). The information demodulation means 57 is used to further demodulate the output of spread spectrum demodulation means 56 to yield reception data 58.
Information modulation means 50 of transmitter (FIG. 1a) produces a narrowband information signal having sufficient bandwidth only to carry the transmission data 49. After modulation with the spread code, however, the resulting signal is enlarged many times in bandwidth compared to the original narrowband information signal. In the receiver (FIG. 1b) the spread spectrum demodulation means 56 converts the wideband signal back into a narrowband information signal by multiplying it with the same spread code generated at the same phase by spread code acquisition means 55 and then integrating the result.
The transmissions detected at receiver antenna 54 (FIG. 1b) contain interfering frequency components due to spurious frequency signals and ambient thermal noise (shown as spikes and raised flat spectrum interference components in FIG. 1b). Reception of the spread spectrum signal reduces these interference components by despreading the detected signals with a spread code having very small cross-correlation with respect to the interfering signals.
In a mobile communication environment, transmission on a channel frequently occurs along several different transmission paths, due to reflection, refraction, diffraction, and scattering of the transmitted signal, as illustrated in FIG. 2a. Such effects are commonly referred to as multi-path transmission. For example, in FIG. 2a, a base station 59 and a mobile station 60 are situated in proximity to a reflecting object 61 such as a building. Path 62 shows a direct path for a transmission arriving directly from base station 59. Path 63 shows an indirect path for the same transmission which arrives delayed after being reflected by building 61. FIG. 2b shows the respective correlation levels for each multi-path component which are detected at different reception timings with respect to the direct transmission path 62 and the delayed transmission path 63, respectively.
In order to correctly demodulate a spread spectrum signal having different reception timings according to different multi-path components, a spread spectrum demodulation means 56 of a receiver must be assigned to demodulate the multi-path component at the correct reception timing.
Signals which are subject to multi-path transmission due to reflections caused by buildings and other objects are subject to location dependent destructive interference between the different multi-path components. RAKE type receivers, which have a plurality of spread spectrum demodulation means 56 can be used to compensate for such multi-path transmission by having separate demodulation means 56 for demodulating different multi-path components.
The operations of a conventional RAKE type spread spectrum receiver will now be described. A block and schematic diagram of a conventional RAKE type demodulator is shown in FIG. 3. As illustrated in FIG. 3, a received input signal 1 from an antenna is applied to the several spread spectrum demodulation means 2, 3, 4, and 5. Spread spectrum demodulation means 2 through 5 are each assigned a different reception timing to separately demodulate the multi-path components of a transmission signal which has been received along different transmission paths. The outputs 6 through 9 of spread spectrum demodulation means 2 through 5 are applied to a received signal combining means 10 which combines them as a weighted sum to yield a maximal-ratio combined signal.
The spread spectrum demodulator incorporates a correlation level search means 12 for determining a correlation level 13 for each reception timing of a signal according to its different multi-path components. The correlation level 13 for each reception timing is input to a phase assignment means 14 which sets the reception timings of the spread spectrum demodulation means 2 through 5 for use in demodulating the detected multiple multi-path components.
FIG. 4 illustrates an example of the correlation levels for multi-path components of a transmission signal. Specifically, FIG. 4 illustrates the correlation levels 16 through 20 of multi-path components which are detected at the respective reception timings to through t4. As indicated by FIG. 4, the correlation levels 16 through 20 are at a maximum for the reception timings t0 to t4 for each of the respective multi-path components.
Assignment of the reception timings for demodulation by the spread spectrum demodulation means 56 is performed so as to select the subset of reception timings at which the highest correlation levels are observed. Thus, in this example, the spread spectrum demodulation means will be assigned to demodulate at reception timings t0, t1, t2 and t4 at which correlation levels 16, 17, 18 and 20 are detected, respectively. Reception timing t3 at which the lowest correlation level 19 is observed, will not be selected for assignment to the spread spectrum demodulation means because such would result in decreased demodulation performance.
In a mobile communication environment, Rayleigh fading, and other phenomena cause large time-dependent variations in the correlation levels of the signals received along particular transmission paths. Rayleigh fading is a periodic phenomenon which varies with time at a particular location in proportional relation with the speed at which a mobile station moves. The correlation level for each multi-path component subject to such fading can vary independently by more than 20 dB. As a result, the correlation level search means 12 must continually track the correlation levels detected for each multi-path component of a signal.
Notwithstanding such fading, a system and method is need which will permit a phase assignment means of a spread spectrum RAKE type receiver to assign reception timings for demodulating different multi-path components signals by the spread spectrum demodulation means 2 through 5 which will always correspond to the group of detected multiple multi-path components having the highest correlation level.
However, the conventional RAKE type spread spectrum demodulator is not capable of always assigning reception timings for demodulation which correspond to the highest overall correlation level because the correlation level for each multi-path component is constantly changing as a consequence of the mobile station's movement. In addition, the phase assignment means 14 of the conventional RAKE type receiver is subject to control delays occasioned by the detecting operations performed by correlation level search means 12 and additional delays in the phase assignment means in changing the reception timing settings of the spread spectrum demodulation means 2 through 5. As a result, the prior art RAKE type receiver frequently does not operate at the maximum correlation level during movement of a mobile station and consequently does not provide optimum reception quality.
With reference to FIG. 5a, a phase assignment operation by the prior art RAKE type receiver will be described in which the time change in correlation level of a multi-path component is slow in comparison with the control response speed of the phase assignment means 14. With reference to FIG. 5b, a phase assignment operation by the prior art RAKE type receiver will be described in which the time change in the correlation level for a multi-path component is fast in comparison with the control response speed of the phase assignment means 14. For the sake of simplicity, the case will be considered in which the number of detected multi-path components is two and the receiver contains only one spread spectrum demodulation means.
FIG. 5a illustrates an example in which the time change in correlation level for a multi-path component of a communication is slower than the speed of control effected by the phase assignment means 14. Curve 30 shows a time change in the correlation level for a multi-path component A of a multi-path signal. Curve 31 shows a time change in correlation level of a multi-path component B of a multi-path signal. Time point 33 indicates the time at which the correlation levels for multi-path components A and B cross, such that path B has higher correlation level thereafter. Time point 34 indicates the time at which the spread spectrum demodulation means is switched from demodulating at the reception timing of multi-path component A to that of multi-path component B. Thus, the control delay for effecting a change in reception timing assignment is shown by interval 32. Interval 35 indicates when the phase of the spread spectrum demodulation means is set to that of multi-path component A, and interval 36 indicates when the phase of the spread spectrum demodulation means is set to that of multi-path component B. Thus, the phase assignment means 14 is capable of switching the reception timing assignment of the demodulation means to a reception timing for a different multi-path component at which the higher correlation level is detected, after a control delay 32.
FIG. 5b illustrates an example in which the time change in correlation level for a multi-path component is faster than the speed of control effected by phase assignment means 14. Curve 37 shows a time change in the correlation level for a multi-path component C of a multi-path signal. Curve 38 shows a time change in the correlation level for a multi-path component D of the multi-path signal. Intervals 39 indicate when the reception timing of the spread spectrum demodulation means is set to that of multi-path component C, and intervals 40 indicate when the reception timing of the spread spectrum demodulation means is set to that of multi-path component D. In this example, due to the slowness of the control response effected by the phase assignment means 14, in comparison with the time change in correlation levels, the prior art RAKE type receiver is incapable of performing a reception timing assignment which results in demodulation of the higher correlation level signal.
According to the existing system operation as shown in FIG. 5a, despite the time change in correlation levels for the multi-path components being slow compared to the control response speed of the phase assignment means 14, the reception quality deteriorates during the interval of the control delay 32 in which demodulation is performed at the reception timing for the lower signal correlation level. However, according to the existing system operation as shown in FIG. 5b, when the time change in correlation level of a multi-path component is faster than the control response speed of the phase assignment means 14, the reception timing assignment results in demodulation of a multi-path component which is lower in correlation level at a given point in time than the multi-path component C, which also has the higher average signal correlation level. In such case, as illustrated in FIG. 5b, it would be desirable to avoid frequently switching the reception timing assignment of the spread spectrum demodulation means and to assign a reception timing which reflects the higher average signal correlation level.
Although the above examples have illustrated, for simplicity, cases in which the number of multi-path components is two, and the receiver includes only one spread spectrum demodulation means, the skilled person in the art will understand its applicability to cases where a number of spread spectrum demodulation means, as in the prior art RAKE type receiver, are used to separately demodulate a number of multi-path components to be combined as a maximal-ratio demodulated signal.
The present invention seeks to solve problems occasioned by the conventional phase assignment techniques of the prior art receiving systems such as the RAKE type receiver. Specifically, the present invention seeks to provide a system and method by which phase assignment control is performed which would permit a RAKE type receiver to assign reception timings for demodulation which more closely correspond to the multi-path components which have the higher correlation level at a given point in time. Through employment of such phase assignment control, the reception quality for multi-path transmissions will be improved.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a system and method which permits a RAKE type receiver to assign reception timings for demodulation which correspond more closely to the multi-path components which have higher correlation levels at a given point in time.
Another object of the invention is to provide a system and method which permits a mobile communication user to be informed of an estimated moving speed of the mobile communication receiver in relation to a transmitter.
Another object of the present invention is to estimate the rate of change of a detected correlation level and to perform the assignment of a reception timing based on that estimated rate of change.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a predicted value of a correlation level of a multi-path component signal, and to perform the assignment of a reception timing based on that predicted value.
A still further object of the present invention is to provide a averaging means having a selected averaging interval for determining an average correlation level of a multi-path component of a transmission signal in accordance with that averaging interval, and to perform the assignment of a reception timing based thereon.


The present invention provides a halogen-containing resin composition comprising 100 parts by weight of a halogen-containing resin; 0.01 to 2.5 parts by weight of a polyvinyl alcohol having a saponification degree of from 60 to 99.9 mol % and a viscosity-average polymerization degree of from 100 to 1,000; 0.01 to 2.5 parts by weight of a polyol having a molecular weight of 2,000 or less and a hydroxyl content of 10% by weight or more; and 0.01 to 5 parts by weight of a zinc compound.

A halogen-containing resin as represented by a polyvinyl chloride resin is blended with a Ca—Zn based or Ba—Zn based stabilizer before being molded, and such molded articles are extensively used for a general purpose as well as foods, medical applications and the like.
However, since these stabilizers can insufficiently inhibit thermal deterioration of a halogen-containing resin, they have drawbacks such as coloration of a molded article immediately after molding and insufficient thermal stability during molding. Therefore, as a means for eliminating the drawbacks, there have been proposed halogen-containing resin compositions containing an antioxidant and/or a hydroxyl-containing compound.
Patent Reference No. 1 (JP 50-92947A) has disclosed a method of adding calcium soap, zinc soap, polyol or a derivative thereof, and a neutral inorganic calcium salt to a chlorine-containing resin.
Patent Reference No. 2 (JP 54-81359A) has disclosed a method of adding a water-soluble polymer to a chlorine-containing polymer.
Patent Reference No. 3 (JP 57-147552A) has disclosed a method of adding a condensation product of dipentaerythritol with a dicarboxylic acid, a zinc compound and hydrotalcite to a chlorine-containing resin.
Patent Reference No. 4 (JP 60-238345A) has disclosed a method of adding a saponified product of an ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer having an ethylene unit content of from 20 to 50% and a saponification degree of a vinyl acetate unit of 96% or more, and a hydrotalcite-based compound to a thermoplastic resin such as a polyvinyl chloride.
Patent Reference No. 5 (JP 1-178543A) has disclosed a method of adding metal soap and a saponified product of an ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer having a copolymer composition with an ethylene content of from 20 to 75 mol % and a saponification degree of vinyl acetate unit of 50 mol % or more to a halogen-containing thermoplastic resin.
Patent Reference No. 6 (JP 6-287387A) has disclosed a method of adding a metal salt of an organic acid and acetalized polyvinyl alcohol to a vinyl chloride-based resin.
Patent Reference No. 7 (JP 9-3286A) has disclosed a method of adding partially saponified polyvinyl alcohol having a saponification degree of from 70 to 95 mol %, having an average polymerization degree of from 300 to 2,000 and having a terminal mercapto group to a vinyl chloride-based resin.
Patent Reference No. 8 (JP 9-31281A) has disclosed a method of adding a zinc compound, hydrotalcites, polyvinyl alcohol, and polymethyl methacrylate to a vinyl chloride-based resin.
Non-Patent Reference No. 1 (Japanese Journal of Polymer Science and Technology Vol. 47, No. 3, p. 197 (1990)) has disclosed a method of adding zinc stearate-calcium stearate complex soap and completely saponified polyvinyl alcohol having a polymerization degree of 600 or more to polyvinyl chloride.
Non-Patent Reference No. 2 (Japanese Journal of Polymer Science and Technology Vol. 47, No. 6, p. 509 (1990)) has disclosed a method of adding zinc stearate-calcium stearate complex soap and partially saponified polyvinyl alcohol having a polymerization degree of 500 and having a saponification degree of 73.6 mol % to polyvinyl chloride.
Non-Patent Reference No. 3 (Japanese Journal of Polymer Science and Technology Vol. 50, No. 2, p. 65 (1993)) has disclosed a method of adding zinc stearate-calcium stearate complex soap and an ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer having an ethylene content of 29 mol % or more to polyvinyl chloride.
Non-Patent Reference No. 4 (Polymers & Polymer Composites, Vol. 11, p. 649 (2003)) has disclosed a method of adding zinc stearate-calcium stearate complex soap, and polyvinyl alcohol having a polymerization degree of 500 and having a saponification degree of 98.5 mol % or an ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer having an ethylene content of 29 mol % or more to polyvinyl chloride.
Non-Patent Reference No. 5 (Journal of the Adhesion Society of Japan Vol. 43, No. 2, p. 43 (2007)) has disclosed a method of adding polyvinyl alcohol having a polymerization degree of 500 and having a saponification degree of 88 mol % or polyvinyl alcohol having a polymerization degree of 1700 and having a saponification degree of 78 mol % or more, and polymethyl methacrylate to polyvinyl chloride.
The halogen-containing resin compositions described in Patent Reference Nos. 1 to 8 and Non-patent Reference Nos. 1 to 5 have the following problems.
Specifically, when a low-molecular-weight polyol is added, the low-molecular-weight polyol bleeds out in the surface during molding, which tends to cause troubles such as adhesion of a kneaded material to a screw surface inside of an extruder or the like during kneading. Furthermore, a molded article obtained tends to have troubles such as volatilization of a polyol, occurrence of blocking, reduction in transparency and reduction in adhesiveness and adherence.
When a high-molecular-weight polyol is added, dispersity of the high-molecular-weight polyol in a halogen-containing resin composition is insufficient, leading to insufficient thermal stability, particularly in molding at a relatively lower temperature.

Halogen-containing resin composition, production process therefor and molded article therefrom


A method and apparatus for measuring time intervals between electrical signals. A coincidence detection circuit is adapted to detect coincidence or near coincidence of two signals and to provide for selection from a plurality of predetermined delays to remove the coincidence. If the two input signals are periodic and have the same frequency, the apparatus also provides a signal from which both the time delay between the signals and the period of the signals may be determined at substantially the same point in time.

This invention relates to electrical measuring and counting devices, particularly to such devices known in the art as universal counter timers adapted for measuring frequency and time intervals between electrical signals.
Universal counter timers ("UCTs") are typically employed to measure frequency and time intervals between two electrical signals. For time interval measurements, a first electrical signal is provided to a first channel of the UCT and a second electrical signal is provided to a second channel of the UCT. The UCT is typically employed to measure the elapsed time between the time the first signal rises to a predetermined amplitude and the time the second signal rises to the same, predetermined amplitude. If the first electrical signal and second electrical signal are periodic and have the same frequency, the measured time delay may be compared to the period of the signals and a phase delay may be derived from the time delay and period. If the signals are a periodic, it is often desirable simply to determine the time delay between a selected portion of the first signal and a selected portion of the second signal.
It has been a problem in UCTs generally to measure time delays that are small, e.g., on the order of the set-up and hold time of the UCT. Such time delays are manifest in, inter alia, the phase delay between periodic signals that are coincident or nearly coincident in time (hereinafter "coincident"). The UCT typically determines the time delay between two signals by forming a pulse having a width representative thereof, and measuring the pulse width. But as the pulse width narrows, the frequency spectrum of the pulse is increased. Therefore, the bandwidth of the downstream measuring circuitry generally needs to be increased commensurately. Thence, there is generally a hardware cost penalty to accommodating the measurement of very small time delays using this approach. Moreover, there is generally an absolute lower limit on the time delay between two signals which can be measured. As the speed of electronic hardware has increased, the problem has been minimized; however, at the same time it often becomes more desirable to measure smaller delays. Thence, the problem still remains to an often unacceptable degree.
Often, the manufacturer of the UCT refers to this "dead zone" and warns the user that measurements there within are not reliable. However, some manufacturers fail to acknowledge the dead zone and claim instead that measuring phase delay anywhere within the full 360 degree range is permissible when, in fact, it is not. In any case, a practical result of attempting to measure, with prior art UCTs, small time delays, is to obtain erroneous measurements. Moreover, the UCT generally gives no indication that the delay between input signals meets a condition that causes the UCT to produce erroneous measurements. Rather, the user is left to infer this condition from the reported measurement and its perceived unlikeliness in the context of the user's understanding and expectation.
One attempt at solution of the aforementioned problem known in the art is to delay one or the other signal by a predetermined amount and account for the predetermined delay in subsequent computation. Thence, if the time delay between the two signals is less than the minimum pulse width that can be measured in the UCT, an appropriate predetermined delay may be employed to widen the pulse so that the dead zone is avoided and, theoretically, a time delay may be reported that is equal to zero.
However, a predetermined delay that is effective to move one pair of signals out of the dead zone may move another pair of signals into the dead zone. For example, a predetermined delay that moves a first pair of signals having a first phase relationship out of the dead zone will cause another pair of signals having a phase relationship that is reversed from the first phase relationship to move into the dead zone. In the same way, a predetermined delay imposed between a pair of signals will move the signals out of the dead zone if the signals have the same phase; however, the signals will be moved into the dead zone if the signals differ in phase by an amount corresponding to the predetermined delay. Further, if the predetermined delay happens to be equal to the period of periodic signals, the delay will have no effect on the signals. It can be appreciated that a predetermined delay imposed between a pair of signals cannot be relied upon with certainty to remove coincidence where the signals are permitted to have arbitrary phase relationships and periods.
Where it is desired to measure the phase delay of two periodic signals having the same frequency, the UCT must determine both the time delay between the two signals and the period of the signals in order to express a result in, typically, degrees of phase. Accordingly, the time delay and the period are inherently temporally related in a measurement of phase delay. This is particularly important when it is desired to know the phase delay at a particular time, such as in gating while making simultaneous measurements. Notwithstanding this temporal relationship, time delay and period are generally determined sequentially in UCTs or, if measured coincidently, are determined with different hardware. In the former case, inaccuracy may be introduced by employing two different periods of a signal for determining the two parameters. In the latter case, the expense of additional hardware must generally be incurred.
Accordingly, there is a need for a method and apparatus for measuring time intervals between electrical signals that provides for accurate measurement of the time intervals over an entire range of possible time or phase delays, including small time or phase delays, and that provides for accurate measurement of the phase delay between two periodic signals.

Method and apparatus for measuring time intervals between electrical signals


A method of actuating a starting process, in a selected driving direction, of a vehicle having a hybrid drive system and a hydraulically controlled transmission. When starting, the method checks whether the vehicle is moving in the selected direction, and if the vehicle is moving in the opposite direction, at least the shifting element (A, B, D, E, F) of the transmission that is involved in the engaged gear is actuated in such a manner that a continuous torque increase is produced by the electric machine (EM).

From automotive technology, vehicles with a hybrid drive and with hydraulic transmission control are known. In such drive-trains a primary transmission pump is usually provided for supplying pressure medium. However, when the internal combustion engine is switched off and the drive is purely electric, the primary pump cannot build up the necessary pressure to start because from rest the electric machine requires maximum torque for starting. Accordingly it is known to use an auxiliary electric pump, which provides the shifting elements with the pressure needed for torque transmission.
During starting processes for example on an uphill gradient, the vehicle can roll backward. However, when rolling backward the primary pump, which is connected to the transmission input shaft, rotates in the wrong direction and so draws pressure medium out of the transmission control system and delivers it back into the pressure medium sump. In this situation even the auxiliary electric pump can no longer supply enough oil since the quantity returned by the primary pump is too large. Consequently, the system pressure in the transmission control system collapses and the shifting elements can no longer transmit torque, so they operate in a slipping mode. This uncontrolled slipping operation increases the stress on the shifting elements and results in oscillations in the drive-train and in undesired bucking of the vehicle.
In the case of hybrid vehicles, rolling of the vehicle backwards can be counteracted with the help of the electric machine. However, it should be noted that at rest, in the case of synchronous machines, the rotating field is static and the power electronics system is therefore exposed to high current loads. With synchronous machines, it is true that this effect is somewhat less pronounced since even at rest a rotating field is produced by virtue of the slipping. However, this electrical prevention of rolling back by maximum torque is subject to severe time limitation. Furthermore, the use of the short-circuit torque at very low rotational speeds is critical since this can fall abruptly and the vehicle then moves backward without any braking.


A weather-resistant crosslinked polyolefin composition is a novel formula containing a comprehensive mixture constituted by crosslinking agent, antistatic agent, TiO2 sized in nanometer and TiO2 sized in micrometer and essential components including polyolefin composition resin, lubricant auxiliary crosslinking agent, antioxidant, UV absorber and filler etc; this novel formula is particularly suited to produce a weather-resistant crosslinked polyolefin sheet with a calender machine instead of an extruder conventionally used, and the polyolefin sheets produced thereof are excellent in both heat-resistant and weather-resistant as well as in a high-quality sheet surface and capably made at a high yield rate through the calender machine.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a weather-resistant crosslinked polyolefin composition. More particularly, the present invention relates to a weather-resistant crosslinked polyolefin sheet produced through a calendering process carried out by a calender machine, and to a method for making the sheet.
2. Description of Related Art
Polyolefin films commercially available in the prior art, such as polyethylene (PE) sheets or ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA) copolymer sheets, all have defects in low heat resistance and low weatherability. On the other hand, weather-resistant plastic sheets for outdoor use are mostly made from polyvinyl chloride (PVC), when burned, which generates pollutants such as dioxins largely impacted on the environment and ecology.
To improve the performance of the polyolefin, either chemical or physical crosslinking is typically used to form covalent bonds between linear or branched polyolefin molecular chains. Once the polyolefin's structure is turned from an original linear polyolefin structure into a mesh or web-like structure, the crosslinked polyolefin is highly improved in heat resistance, wear resistance, viscous deformation, weather resistance and impact resistance.
Methods for crosslinking polyolefin in prior arts have three ways, i.e., radiation crosslinking method, peroxide crosslinking method and silane crosslinking method. The radiation crosslinking method involves the use of radiation equipment. The peroxide crosslinking method requires a peroxide crosslinking agent and must be performed at a specific temperature in order for the crosslinking reaction to take place. Compared with the radiation crosslinking method, the peroxide crosslinking method is advantageously more adaptive and produces higher-performance crosslinked products.
Nevertheless, a polyolefin if completely undergone a peroxide crosslinking reaction (hereinafter referred to as a crosslinked polyolefin) may present a problem in that it is not suitable for use of extrusion mechanism to produce a crosslinked polyolefin film or sheet (hereinafter collectively referred to as a crosslinked polyolefin sheet) having an uniform or even surface.
For example, both U.S. Pat. No. 6,187,847 and No. 6,656,986 disclose how a crosslinked polyolefin sheet can be made by an extrusion machine. During the mixing stage before extrusion, the process temperature must stay lower than the decomposition temperature of the peroxide used. Otherwise, some of the polyolefin will be crosslinked prematurely, causing scorching of the resultant crosslinked polyolefin film or aggregations of insoluble matter (known as fisheyes) which will compromise the surface quality of the crosslinked polyolefin film. However, if the process temperature in the mixing stage is too low, the crosslinked polyolefin resin may gel so poorly that a crosslinked polyolefin sheet cannot be evenly extruded.

Weather-resistant crosslinked polyolefin composition, polyolefin sheet made from the same and method for making the sheet


Nucleic and amino acid sequences for a novel cell surface transmembrane glycoprotein designated ClqR.sub.P are taught. A method by which the nucleic acid sequence encoding ClqR.sub.P may be used to modulate the role of the immune system is also described. Transgenic animals created with heterologous DNA sequence encoding ClqR.sub.P are described as well as antibodies directed against the ClqR.sub.P protein. A method of hybridization for ClqR.sub.P nucleic acid using oligonucleotide probes based on the ClqR.sub.P nucleic acid sequence and methods for detecting a hybrid probe:target ClqR.sub.P duplex are also taught including a kit for such detection.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to compositions, and methods of employing these compositions for the enhancement of host defense. More specifically, it relates to the use of various forms of the human ClqR.sub.P receptor, their use in enhancing host defense, methods of detection, methods of hybridization and methods of determining novel homologous ClqR.sub.P receptors and ligands and transgenic animals thereof.
2. Description of Related Art
The following is a general description of art relevant to the present invention. None is admitted to be prior art to the invention. Generally, this art relates to observations of the complement receptors of the immune system.

The Regents of the University of California


A method and apparatus able to quickly and accurately automatically produce machining programs for complicated shapes of products without being affected by the level of knowledge or experience of the operator. A cutting-condition determination processing unit (20) of an automatic programming apparatus (10) specifies required standard cutting condition data from the type of material and the types of processes designated by an input unit (12) in a cutting condition data table (24) stored in a storage unit (18), specifies the tool data corresponding to the types of tools designated by the input unit in the tool data table (26) stored in the storage unit, and determines the cutting conditions relating to the type of material and the tools from the standard cutting condition data and the tool data. A program-generation processing unit (22) specifies a program-generation algorithm corresponding to the designated process in an algorithm table (28) stored in the storage unit and generates machining programs based on the determined cutting conditions in accordance with the program-generation algorithm.

In recent years, in the field of NC machine tools, progress has been made in multiple function machining enabling complicated and diverse shapes of products to be automatically machined by providing turning tools, drills, mills, and other various types of tools exchangeably on tool rests and enabling execution of turning, drilling, milling, and other various machining processes using them.
Further, in NC lathes and other automatic lathes (that is, lathes able to automatically perform machining), multi-function type NC lathes designed to shorten the machining time by centrally placing at least one spindle and at least one tool rest, both operable under the control of a plurality of lines, on a single lathe bed to enable simultaneous different types of machining (for example, outer diametrical cutting and boring) on the same workpiece (for example, bar) or simultaneous machining of different workpieces.
Note that the term "line" means a combination of a group of control axes controlled by a single machining program (including case of only one control axis). When it is possible to set a plurality of types of combinations of groups of control axes on a single NC machine tool, the control system in that NC machine tool is generally called "multi-line control (or multi-path control)".
When trying to perform various types of machining processes simultaneously or in a desired order on a single workpiece in such a multiple function machining NC machine tool, the work of producing the series of machining programs and registering them in the NC device requires advanced programming skills, so tends to place a considerable burden on the operator.
On the other hand, in the field of NC machine tools, various configurations of automatic programming apparatuses provided in relation to NC devices have been proposed to reduce the labor demanded from the operator at the time of preparing the machining programs. This type of automatic programming apparatus usually is provided with a CPU, memory, keyboard, display, etc. and is designed to acquire the data required for executing machining processes from dialog type instructions and input data from the operator for various selection items or required items displayed in order on the display and, if necessary, geometric data of the machined product input by a drawing format through a graphic input device such as a CAD system and to use this to automatically produce the required machining programs. According to this automatic programming apparatus, the work of the operator inputting the machining programs by phrases is eliminated, so even an operator with inferior programming skills can prepare complicated machining programs in a relatively short time.
In the above conventional automatic programming apparatus, while the time of production of machining programs by the operator is effectively shortened, the various data required for the programming is judged and set by the operator with reference to the design drawings of the machined product, so sufficient knowledge about the machining processes or tool attributes is required from the operator.
For example, when producing a series of machining programs for executing the various automatic cutting processes for a single machined product using a multi-spindle, multi-line control type NC lathe provided with a plurality of types of tools on a plurality of tool rests, the operator has to read the types of processes required for the machining from the design drawings of the machined product and, while considering the material of the workpiece, suitably judge, set, and input the data required for each machining range in the individual processes (such as types of tools, movement positions of noses, relative cutting speeds of noses and/or relative feed rate of tool rests). In particular, data relating to the cutting conditions such as the cutting speed and the feed rate vary in most suitable values in accordance with the tool nose and the material of the workpiece. The accuracy of judgement and the resultant machining accuracy tend to be governed by the level knowledge or experience of the operator.
Further, when producing a multi-line control program for executing various automatic cutting processes on a single machined product by such a multi-spindle, multi-line control type NC lathe in parallel by a plurality of lines, the operator is required to read the types of processes required for the machining from the design drawings and then suitably judge and design what line and at what time to execute the individual processes would be most advantageous in terms of work efficiency. In particular, when attaching designated tools to be used in the cutting processes on the tool mounts of the tool rests, it is sometimes necessary to use special tool holders depending on the types of the designated tools or the configurations of the tool rests. In that case, however, the operator must decide how to allocate and attach the plurality of designated tools to the plurality of tool mounts provided on a single tool rest with reference to the numbers of the plurality of types of tool holders in stock for the different types and their attributes (such as types of mountable tool rests, types of processes used for and/or attributes of tools for use).
In this way, to produce a highly efficient multi-line control program by the conventional automatic programming apparatus, the operator was required to be fully knowledgeable about the machine configuration of the NC machine tool covered and maintain an accurate grasp of the attributes of the plurality of types of tool holders able to be used in that NC machine tool and the numbers in stock and then suitably allocate and designate attachment locations of the plurality of designated tools to the plurality of tool mounts of one or more tool rests. As a result, a tremendous amount of time and effort is spent on producing the multi-line control program. Further, the quality of the automatically produced multi-line control program (such as length of cycle time, appropriateness of tool management and/or machining accuracy) tends to be remarkably affected by the level of knowledge or experience of the operator.
Further, in the conventional automatic programming apparatus, when the operator checks the content of the produced machining programs, the troublesome work is required of displaying and reading the series of blocks describing the machining programs on a display. With check work of such a program display method, it was hard to obtain a grasp of the time spent for the individual processes and difficult to optimize the programming for shortening the machining time. Further, judging whether the order of execution of the plurality of processes for producing a single machined product can be changed for streamlining the machining work or predicting the impact of a change in the order of processing on the series of machining programs as a whole was extremely difficult with the conventional program display method.

Method and apparatus for automatically producing a machining program


An exposure apparatus for exposing a mask pattern onto an object by using a light with wavelength of approximately 11 nm, said exposure apparatus including a projection optical system that includes a reflection-type optical element that has a multilayer film including a Be layer, and a reflection-type mask including a multilayer film that includes a first layer that has a first refractive index, and a second layer that has a second refractive index that has a real part that is larger than a real part of the first refractive index, said reflection-type mask includes the mask pattern, wherein said the first layer includes a beryllium, chrome, cobalt, niobium, molybdenum, technetium, ruthenium, rhodium, palladium, or tungsten, wherein said the second layer includes a lithium, boron, carbon, nitrogen, oxygen, fluorine, silicon, aluminum, titanium, scandium, iron, germanium, lanthanum, magnesium, tungsten, strontium, yttrium, or zirconium.

The present invention relates generally to an exposure apparatus, and more particularly to multilayer film structure used for an optical element of an exposure apparatus. The present invention is suitable for an exposure apparatus that exposes an object, such as a single crystal substrate and a glass plate for a liquid crystal display ("LCD") by using extreme ultraviolet ("EUV") light with a wavelength of approximately 11 nm.
In a projection exposure apparatus that manufactures a semiconductor device as a semiconductor memory and a logic circuit, not only fine fabrication but also improvement of productivity and safety of operation are demanded. The method of shortening an exposure wavelength is used generally as a means to fabricate the fine pattern and to improve the resolution of the exposure apparatus. Recently, an EUV exposure apparatus using EUV light with a wavelength of 10 to 15 nm has been proposed to efficiently transfer a very fine circuit pattern. Especially, a light with a wavelength of approximately 13.5 nm is generally widely used.
As the light absorption in a material greatly increases in a wavelength range of the EUV light, making impractical a refraction-type optical system for visible light and ultraviolet light, a reflection-type or catoptric optical system is used for the EUV exposure apparatus.
EUV exposure apparatus uses a multilayer mirror that can obtain high reflectivity as a reflection-type optical element. The multilayer mirror, that alternately forms or layers two kinds of materials on a plane substrate, and a number of lamination layer is about 40 layers. The multilayer mirror is used for not only the reflection-type optical element but also a reflection-type mask. In this case, the mask as an original edition uses a reflection-type mask that formed a pattern to be transferred with an absorber on a mirror, and a reflection-type mask that fabricated a pattern to be transferred to a mirror.
The combination of the laminated films is selected according to the wavelength of the EUV light. For instance, if the wavelength is approximately 13.5 nm, the multilayer mirror that combines the molybdenum (Mo) layer and the silicon (Si) layer has the highest reflectivity. Therefore, when the wavelength is approximately 13.5 nm, Mo/Si is generally used for the multilayer (for instance, referring to Japanese Patent Application, Publication No. 1-175736).
However, it is necessary to improve throughput greatly because of the recent demand for the improvement of the productivity. There is a demand for light with a light intensity greater than a light intensity of approximately 13.5 nm wavelength light. Therefore, the use of the wavelength of approximately 11 nm that has a light intensity 2.2 times larger than the light intensity of 13.5 nm is examined (for instance, referring to U.S. Pat. No. 6,228,512). In this case, when the multilayer film that consists of the beryllium (Be) and the molybdenum (Mo) are used for the multilayer mirror, the reflectivity is the highest, and use of the reflection-type optical element and the reflection-type mask is proposed.
However, Be has limitations based on the safety concerns in it's safety (for instance, referring to Chemical safety (hazard) evaluation sheet (Official gazette notification reference No. 1-284, Pollutant Release and Transfer Register), CAS No. 7440-41-7). Therefore, mask containing Be needs to handle a large exhaust amount. In this case, the reflection-type mask that uses Be is especially a problem. A reflection-type optical element that is part of the projection optical system is arranged inside of a vacuum chamber of the exposure apparatus and sealed, so that it is not especially a problem because the exchange frequency is small when the reflection-type optical element is arranged in the vacuum chamber. On the other hand, because the reflection-type mask is exchanged for a different mask in each process, there are many used masks. Therefore, safety is a problem because a frequency that the reflection-type mask is removed to outside of the vacuum chamber increases.


A hinge apparatus employs a base, a second base, link arms, urging means and the characteristics of a parallelogram formed by the shape of said base, second base and paired link members to enable a body such as a platen cover to rotate up open and lower substantially parallel to an original platen and to enable the parallel opening of the body thereby ensuring the complete covering of a thick original or a book original placed upon the clear glass platen enabling good quality copies of the original regardless of its thickness.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a pivotably opening and closing hinge apparatus that connects two devices and particularly to a hinge apparatus that supports an opening and closing automatic document feeder equipped over the original platen or the cover placed on the original platen established on the upper surface of a photographic copying machine; a facsimile apparatus or an image scanner (called image forming apparatus below).
2. Description of the Related Arts
Image forming apparatuses have a clear glass platen plate (called platen below) that comprises the original platen through which light is radiated from below to reflect off of an original document so that the reflected image can be obtained to form an image of the original placed on that platen. It is not unusual for an operator to place one sheet of an original or to place a thick book on the platen for photocopied reproduction. In either case, it is essential to the clarity and the quality of the reproduction of the original to prevent the excessive diffusion of light outside of the image forming apparatus by using a covering body or a cover to push and press the original securely against the platen.
Ordinarily, platen covers are attached to the upper part of the image forming apparatus using a hinge. Ordinary hinge mechanisms have a first attachment plate that is firmly attached to the image forming apparatus and a second attachment plate that is firmly attached to the platen cover that pivot around a common rotating axis. In this construction, the platen cover pivots around this axis to allow the platen cover to open and close with respect to the top of the platen.
It is not uncommon that the platen cover also has functions that are often associated with an automatic document feeder wherein such an apparatus is mounted onto the image forming apparatus to enable the consecutive feeding of a plurality of unbound and loose sheets one sheet at a time to the platen of the image forming apparatus. In such a case, the automatic document feeder itself also performs the essential function of the platen cover.
It should be understood that when an operator wants to use an image forming apparatus to copy specific pages from a relatively thick medium such as a book, the ordinary hinge mechanism just described, namely of a cover or an automatic document feeder mounted onto an image forming apparatus, can only apply a pushing pressure to one edge of the thick original, or book, to hold it in place against the platen of the image forming apparatus which will damage the binding of a book. Of course, if the operator should apply too much pressure from above onto the cover or the automatic document feeder to more completely cover the medium and thereby attempt to prevent unwanted diffusion of light, there would be an unequal distribution of pressure on the platen which will result in the damaging or even the cracking of the platen.
Thus, in order to alleviate such unwanted situations that result from the two piece construction of an automatic document feeder mounted to an image forming apparatus, it is desirable to arrange the structure of one device (hereinafter called xe2x80x9cplaten coverxe2x80x9d) with respect to the other device so that it can apply an equal pressure over the entire back side of a thick book by being parallel with respect to platen.
There have been opening and closing hinge apparatuses that move the platen cover into a vertical and parallel position above the platen.
An example of the prior art is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Disclosure No. Hei 5-9597. The hinge apparatus (hereinafter called xe2x80x9cfirst artxe2x80x9d) described is shown in FIGS. 15A to 15D. The first art shown in FIG. 15A comprises the attachment frame 302 which is attached to the copy machine 301 and the movable hinge 304 which is attached to the platen cover 303. The rising and lowering hinge 306 pivotably supports the movable hinge 304 on the shaft 305 and the parallel link arms 307 and 308 are connected to allow the rising and lower hinge 306 to move vertically with respect to the attachment frame 302. One end of each of the parallel link arms 307 and 308 is attached to the attachment frame 302 by shafts 309 and 310 respectively, and the other ends of each of the parallel link arms 307 and 308 are attached to the rising and lowering hinge 306 by the shafts 311 and 312, respectively. As can be seen in FIGS. 15(A) through (D), when the platen cover is opened by operating the platen cover hinge 303 to copy a thick document 313, the inner side of the platen cover pushes on the outer edge of the thick document 313 as the operator opens the platen cover by lifting. This pivots the platen cover on and around the line of the point of contact by pushing on the edge of the thick document 313. In the system as described for the hinge mechanism related to the first art, the rising and lowering hinge 306 is attached to the frame 302 using the parallel links 307 and 308 so the vertical movements of the parallel links 307 and 308 have substantially the same circular action. Thus, it is possible to attain the smooth upward movement of the rising and lowering hinge 306 only if the rotational force of the platen cover 303 is transmitted to the rising and lower hinge 306 using the thick document 313.
This hinge structure unifies the lifter mechanism by connecting the rising and lowering hinge 306 to the attachment frame 302 with the parallel links 307 and 308 thereby making it possible to provide a single hinge apparatus which encompasses both the opening and closing functions and the lifter function.
Another hinge apparatus (called xe2x80x9csecond artxe2x80x9d below) is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application No. Hei 61-20587 disclosed in the prior art as a document holder capable of opening and closing. This hinge apparatus, as can be seen in FIG. 16, comprises the lifter 351 which is attached to the copy machine 350 and the hinge 352 which is attached to the lifter 351. The platen cover 353 can be opened and closed with the hinge 352. The lifter 351 is composed of the base plate 354 and the paired first rising and lowering arms 355 and 356 which are attached to base plate 354 so that the platen cover 353 is vertically movable in the direction of opening and closing. The paired second rising and lowering arms 357 and 358 are movably attached to the free end of both the paired first rising and lowering arms 355 and 356 and the bracket 359 is attached to the free ends of the paired second rising and lowering arms 357 and 358. This bracket 359 employs the attached structure of the hinge 352. It is possible with this particular structure for an operator to place a thick book onto the platen without the front end of the platen cover remaining at an angle. This structure allows the complete and parallel covering of the upper surface of the book. It is also important to note that the structure of this apparatus prevents the platen cover from bending and it prevents the diffusion of light to outside of the photographic copy machine and the infusion of light into the internal optical system.
However, in the hinge apparatus of the first art just described, the pressing action of the platen cover 303 causes the lift mechanism to continue functioning while the edge of the book and the platen cover 303 are in contact. Thus, the thickness and the positioning of the book on the platen induce the book to move and become displaced in the left and right directions of FIG. 15C. Such a force generated by this movement presents the unwanted possibility of bending or otherwise damaging the pages that are in contact with the platen or causing the book to become mis-positioned. In this hinge apparatus, there is no systematic relationship between the movements of the hinge 306 and the lift action so when the operator is opening or closing the platen cover 360, he or she must perform the separate and unrelated actions of opening or closing the platen cover 360 and then operating the lift. These make the operation of the platen cover 360 a more complex task when the copying of a thick book is desired.
Also, in the platen cover hinge apparatus described above as the second art, there is an excessive cost because of the duplicative construction of each of the parts which are independently structured to enable the lift mechanism which uses a jack method to raise and lower the hinge for the opening and the closing actions. Also, because the operator must perform the action of opening or closing the platen cover and the action of lifting the entire platen cover, as is also the case with the first art, the operation of the platen cover is a more complex task and therefore it is more difficult.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a hinge apparatus that can perform both the rotating function along with a rising and lowering action to allow the platen cover to cover the thick book original both horizontally and parallelly without damaging the book or causing mis-positioning of the book.
It is also an object of the present invention to provide a hinge apparatus that is capable of pivoting open, and that is also capable of rising and lowering parallel to the copy machine body in one easy operation.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a hinge apparatus which is of a simple construction and which enables a platen cover to pivotally rotating open and to rise and lower parallel to the copy machine body in one easy operation.
In order to attain the objectives of the hinge apparatus, the present hinge apparatus that connects two bodies and opens and closes comprises an arm member pivotably attached to one of either of two bodies and an arm member connected to the other of the bodies. The first and second paired link members are equally spaced from each other and the bases of the arm members are pivotably attached to the apparatus body. The paired link members pivot in the same direction on their ends spaced apart in the direction of the pivot.
Also, the distances of the paired link members in the pivoting direction and the lengths of the link members substantially form a parallelogram.
There is also a means for restricting the opening and closing movement of at least one side of the pivoting movement of said arm member and the pivoting movement of said link arm member.
At the point where the platen cover is rotating from an open state to a closed state, a restricting means restricts the movement so that the first arm member will rotate, then the link member will rotate.

Hinge apparatus and image forming device having a platen cover control apparatus


A stove-hood fire extinguisher system includes a reservoir for fire extinguishing agent, and a distributor arm which in turn includes a fluid tube and an actuator tube. An extinguisher valve connects the reservoir to the fluid tube, and includes a valve stem extending into the actuator tube. A fuse mechanism on the distributor arm includes a fuse element, a movable trigger extending from the fuse element into the actuator tube, and a tightener to press the fuse element against the trigger. An actuator mechanism in the actuator tube includes an actuator rod with a detent block on one end for engagement with the trigger and a ramp on the other end for engagement with the valve stem, and a compression spring urging the ramp toward the valve stem. The trigger extending into the detent groove holds the actuator rod in a retracted position. Rupture of the fuse element releases the trigger from the detent groove, and the spring drives the actuator rod and ramp against the valve stem to open the extinguisher valve.

Various automatic extinguishing devices for stove top fires are known in the prior art. Prior art that I know of is as follows:
U.S. Pat. No. 4,256,181 issued Mar. 17, 1981 to Searcy PA1 U.S. Pat. No. 4,813,487 issued Mar. 21, 1989 to Mikulec et al. PA1 U.S. Pat. No. 4,979,572 issued Dec. 25, 1990 to Mikulec PA1 U.S. Pat. No. 5,297,636 issued Mar. 29, 1994 to North PA1 U.S. Pat. No. 5,351,760 issued Oct. 4, 1994 to Tabor, Ar.
These patents all disclose hood-mounted fire extinguishers for stove fires. Each of them includes an exposed tension cable extending across the open bottom of the hood, over a stove top. The tension cable is connected to a fire extinguisher valve, holding the valve closed. The cable includes fusible links. In the event of a stove top fire, the resulting melting of a link breaks the tension cable to open the fire extinguisher valve. The exposed cable is unsightly, and it becomes more so as it accumulates a coating of grease from stove is that homeowners occasionally use the cable as a convenient line from which to hang small articles of wet laundry. Careless removal of such items from the tension cable can then trigger the valve mechanism with unfortunate results.


In a monolithic active matrix circuit formed on a substrate, the active regions of at least a part of the thin film transistors (TFTs) constituting the peripheral circuit for driving the matrix region are added with a metal element for promoting the crystallization of silicon at a concentration of 1.times.10.sup.16 to 5.times.1019 cm.sup.-3, no metal element is added to the active region of the TFTs for the matrix region. The channel forming regions of at least a part of the TFTs constituting the peripheral circuit and the channel forming regions of the TFTs for the matrix region are formed by a silicon semiconductor thin film having a monodomain structure.

The present invention relates to a semiconductor device, more particularly, to a thin film transistor, for an electro-optical device and a method of manufacturing the same. Even more particularly, the present invention relates to a semiconductor circuit having a plurality of thin film transistors (TFT) for an electro-optical device. A TFT according to the present invention is formed on either an insulating substrate made of glass or the like or a semiconductor substrate made of single crystal silicon or the like. The present invention especially relates to a semiconductor circuit having a matrix circuit operating at a low speed and peripheral circuits operating at a high speed for driving the same such as a monolithic active matrix circuit (used for a liquid crystal display device or the like).
Recently, techniques for forming transistors utilizing a semiconductor thin film (thin film transistors (TFT)) on a substrate made of glass or quartz have researched. Especially, techniques utilizing amorphous silicon as a semiconductor thin film has been put in practical use and are applied to active matrix type liquid crystal display devices or the like.
However, a TFT utilizing amorphous silicon has a problem in that its has low characteristics. For example, the characteristics of a TFT utilizing an amorphous silicon film is too low to provide high display performance of an active matrix type liquid crystal display device.
A technique for forming a TFT using a crystalline silicon film obtained by crystallizing an amorphous silicon film is known wherein an amorphous silicon film is transformed into a crystalline silicon film by performing a heating process or laser irradiation after forming an amorphous silicon film. In general, a crystalline silicon film has a polycrystalline structure or a microcrystalline structure. A TFT formed by a crystalline silicon film provides characteristics much higher than those of a TFT formed by an amorphous silicon film. In mobility which is one of parameters for evaluating the characteristics of TFTs, a TFT utilizing an amorphous silicon film has mobility of 1-2 cm.sup.2 /Vs or less while the mobility of a TFT utilizing a crystalline silicon film can be about 100 cm.sup.2 /Vs or more.
However, a crystalline silicon film has many problems originating from grain boundaries because it has a polycrystalline structure. For example, a severe limitation is put on the withstand voltage of a TFT by the presence of carriers which move through grain boundaries. Further, the characteristics of a TFT can be changed or deteriorated, when it is operated at a high speed. In addition, the presence of carriers moving through grain boundaries increases leakage current from a TFT when it is turned off.
In order to form an active matrix type liquid crystal display device with a high level of integration, it is desirable to form not only the pixel region but also the peripheral circuits on a single glass substrate. In this case, since several hundred thousands of pixel transistors provided in the form of a matrix are driven, the TFTs provided in the peripheral circuits must be capable of handling a high current.
In order to provide a TFT capable of handling a high current, a structure having a large channel width must be employed. However, a TFT utilizing a polycrystalline silicon film or microcrystalline silicon film is not practical even with a wide channel width because of the problem with the withstand voltage. Further, it is impractical from other points of views such as significant fluctuations in thresholds.
Also, researches are made on insulated gate type semiconductor devices having an active layer (also referred to as active region) in the form of a thin film on an insulating substrate. Especially, researches are active on insulated gate type transistors in the form of a thin film, i.e., the so-called thin film transistor (TFTs). They are formed on a transparent insulating substrate and are used for pixel control and for driving circuits in display devices such as liquid crystal display devices having a matrix structure.
Semiconductor thin films forming TFTs include amorphous silicon semiconductors and crystalline silicon obtained by crystallizing amorphous silicon semiconductors by heating and laser irradiation. TFTs utilizing such amorphous silicon thin film and crystalline silicon thin films are called amorphous silicon TFTs and crystalline silicon TFTs, respectively. Since the electrical field mobility of an amorphous semiconductor is generally low, such a semiconductor can not be used for TFTs which must be operated at a high speed. In order to manufacture circuits having higher performance, research and development are active on crystalline silicon TFTs.
Since the electrical field mobility of a crystalline semiconductor is higher than that of an amorphous semiconductor, a crystalline semiconductor can be operated at a higher speed. A CMOS circuit can be formed from crystalline silicon because not only an NMOS TFT but also a PMOS TFT can be obtained from crystalline silicon. In the field of active matrix type liquid crystal display device, a device having the so-called monolithic structure is known in which not only the active matrix circuit portion but also peripheral circuits (drivers and etc.) are formed using CMOS crystalline TFTs.
FIG. 10 shows a monolithic type active matrix circuit used in a liquid crystal display device. A column decoder 1 and a line decoder 2 are formed on a substrate 7 as a peripheral driver circuit. A multiplicity of pixel circuits 4 including transistors and capacitors are formed in a matrix region 5 wherein a multiplicity of pixels are provided in the form of a matrix, and the matrix region and the peripheral circuit are connected to each other by wirings 5 and 6. The TFTs used in the peripheral circuit must be able to operate at a high speed and the TFTs used in the pixel circuit must have a low leakage current. The device having such characteristics contradictory to each other must be formed on the same substrate simultaneously.
However, TFTs manufactured by the same process have similar characteristics. Although crystalline silicon can be obtained by crystallization using a laser (laser annealing), if crystalline silicon obtained by laser crystallization is used for both of the TFTs for the matrix region and the peripheral driving circuit region, the TFTs will have similar characteristics. As a result, it will be difficult to achieve both of the low leakage current characteristic required for the pixel circuit and the high mobility characteristic required for the peripheral driving circuits.

Semiconductor circuit for electro-optical device and method of manufacturing the same

Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.


A vehicle occupant restraint having an adjustable web tether utilizes a first section of webbing that is tautly positioned between the vehicle floor and an upper mounting location. A second section of webbing extends from a floor-mounted (or wall- or seat-mounted) emergency locking retractor (ELR) and through a turning point at the upper mounting location, after which the second webbing section transitions to a shoulder belt for the occupant. In order to provide a pivot point for the shoulder belt, an adjustable web tether is mounted to the first webbing section and captures the second webbing section in sliding engagement by means of a ring. The ring of the web tether therefore provides a pivot point for the shoulder strap. The vertical position of the web tether upon the first webbing section is adjustable, so that the height of the shoulder strap pivot point, and therefore the trajectory of the shoulder strap across the occupant, is adjustable.

It is notoriously well known in the art that the provision of a shoulder belt in a vehicle occupant restraint system significantly increases the system's ability to restrain movement of the occupant in the event of a sudden vehicle maneuver or collision. There are, however, certain vehicle seating arrangements which do not easily lend themselves to the provision of a shoulder belt, such as the arrangement of driver and/or passenger seats in a commercial vehicle and, in particular, to the driver's seat in a bus.
As illustrated schematically in FIG. 1, a vehicle 10 includes a seat 12 (such as a driver's seat) that is mounted to the vehicle floor 14 (for the purposes of the present description, the vehicle floor and/or chassis is designated as ground and is therefore a fixed reference plane for the occupant restraint system). A driver (or passenger) 16 occupies the seat 12. A distal end of a shoulder belt (not shown) of an occupant restraint system is attached to a releasably attachment point 18 that is in turn anchored to the floor 14.
The desired trajectory of the shoulder belt after coupling to attachment point 18 is indicated by the dashed line 20. When in this position, the shoulder belt will lay across the occupant's chest, which is the most comfortable position. Unfortunately, many vehiclees 10 have windows 22 that are positioned at the desired point of attachment of the proximal end of the shoulder belt to the vehicle 10 sidewall when the shoulder belt position is as shown at 20. Obviously, the proximal end of the shoulder belt cannot be mounted to the window.
One easy solution known in the prior art is to simply move the mounting position of the proximal end of the shoulder belt to a location 24 above the window 22, where the shoulder belt can be securely anchored to the sidewall of the vehicle 10. While this solution provides a secure attachment point for the proximal end of the shoulder belt, it forces the shoulder belt to follow a trajectory indicated by the dashed line 26. Such a trajectory 26 is undesirable in that it moves the shoulder belt away from the chest of occupant 16. The trajectory 26 is very uncomfortable to the occupant 16, who will in response to this discomfort often slide the shoulder belt under his arm (thereby severely decreasing its effectiveness) or simply not use the restraint system at all.
A prior art occupant restraint system which attempts to solve the difficulties illustrated in FIG. 1 is illustrated schematically in FIG. 2 and indicated generally at 30. The restraint system 30 includes a shoulder belt 32 with a tongue 34 sliding thereon for releasable engagement with the attachment point 18. The webbing of the shoulder belt 32 is routed through the lower half of a D-ring 36 and terminates in an emergency locking retractor (ELR) 38 mounted to the floor 14. The D-ring 36 is supported through its upper-half by a webbing section 40 that includes a loop at each end. The D-ring 36 is captured within the distal loop of the web 40, while the proximal loop thereof engages the distal end of a slack adjuster 42.
The proximal end of slack adjustor 42 has a length of webbing 43 looped therethrough. A first end 44 of the webbing 43 is routed through the lower half of a second D-ring 46 and then anchored to the floor 14 through a second slack adjustor 48. The first end 44 is sewn together at 49 in order to prevent sliding through D-ring 46. The D-ring 46 is mounted to the sidewall or ceiling of the vehicle by means of the bracket 48 and bolt 50. A second end 52 of the webbing 43 is also routed through the lower half of D-ring 46 and terminates in a loop 54. Finally, a plastic sleeve 56 captures the webbing 40, the first end 44 and the second end 52 therein.
In operation, the occupant restraint system 30 of FIG. 2 is mounted between the vehicle floor (or to the wall or seat near the floor) and the upper sidewall or ceiling. The slack adjustor 48 is then adjusted in order to make the first end 44 of the web 43 taut between the floor 14 and the D-ring 46. Once thus configured, the height of the D-ring 36 from the floor 14, and hence the trajectory of the shoulder belt 32 across the occupant of the seat 12, may be adjusted as follows: In order to raise the height of the D-ring 36 above the floor 14, a finger is inserted through the loop 54 and the loop 54 is pulled in a downward direction, thus raising slack adjustor 42 and hence D-ring 36. In order to lower the D-ring 36, the slack adjustor 42 must be tilted inboard and moved downward, thus lowering D-ring 36.
Although the prior art occupant restraint system 30 of FIG. 2 allows for adjustment of the height of the D-ring 36 (and therefore the trajectory of the shoulder belt 32 across the occupant of the set 12), it suffers from several drawbacks. First, it is a rather complicated device to manufacture, install and use, due to its high parts count and complex webbing routings. Secondly, it is not intuitively obvious how to adjust the height of the D-ring 36 without training, as portions of the device must be pulled downward regardless of whether the D-ring 36 is to be moved downward or upward. Finally, breakage of the relatively fragile plastic sleeve 56 will allow the shoulder belt pivot point to shift from the D-ring 36 to the D-ring 46, placing the shoulder belt 32 at an improper trajectory with respect to the occupant of the seat 12.
There is therefore a need for an occupant restraint system for a vehicle (such as a vehicle) which allows the upper pivot point for the shoulder belt to be located adjacent a window (or other location where it is undesirable or impossible to mount a pivot mechanism), that is relatively simple to manufacture and install and that is intuitive in the operation of its height adjustment. The present invention is directed toward meeting these needs.

Vehicle occupant restraint having an adjustable web tether