This invention relates to a powder coating composition made from at least two components comprising (A) a film forming resin composition; and (B) a transfer efficiency enhancing amount of at least one aromatic ring compound containing at least two substituents, wherein one of the two substituents is selected independently from the group consisting of (i) groups containing at least one carboxy or a carboxy producing moiety; (ii) alkoxy groups; and (iii) halogen groups; and the second substitutent is a nitro or a halogen group; wherein component (B) is incorporated into the powder coating composition by addition of component (B) to an extruded composition comprising components other than component (B) The invention also relates to a method for coating a substrate using the foregoing powder coating composition.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to powder coating compositions, specifically to powder coating compositions containing additives that improve the transfer efficiency of the powder coating compositions.
2. Description of the Related Art
It is known that during the application of a powder-coating composition on to substrate, not all of the coating composition ends up on the substrate. The amount of powder-coating material being applied on to a substrate that actually ends up on the substrate as the powder coating relates to the transfer efficiency of the process. The transfer efficiency can be calculated by dividing the change in weight of the substrate by the change in weight of powder coating source dispensing the powder coating composition wherein the change in weight is the weight difference before and after the application of the powder coating. The transfer efficiency is conveniently expressed as a percent.
Although the powder coatings market is growing rapidly, one of the limiting factors for continued growth is the transfer efficiency. Typical powder coating application lines have first pass powder transfer efficiency from spray point to substrate of about 50-80%. The remaining powder has to be reclaimed and re-sprayed. Although this respray ability enables the powder coatings industry to cite lower coating costs and higher utilization of raw materials (of up to 95%) than liquid, solvent-based coatings it does decrease the efficiency of the process.
Furthermore, in some applications recycling powder is not possible owing to issues relating to appearance and quality of the finished part. One such area is in automotive clear coat applications. In these applications, the recycled material may contain lint or other foreign matter that is likely to cause defects in the finished coated automotive part.
Also, when using metallic or other dry blended systems (expensive color, etc.), the components may not transfer at equal rates (for example, metallic pigments or colors transfer at a different rate than the rest of the coating). Any reclaimed material looks different than the originally transferred coating. Thus spraying reclaimed material here amounts essentially to spraying to waste. This adds further cost to an already expensive dry blending process that is used to mix some of the components together to make the coating. Clearly there is a need for improving the transfer efficiency of powder coatings. The present invention fulfils such a need.
A transfer efficiency additive can positively affect the economics of the powder coating process. If recycling and reclaiming of powder-coating compositions are not feasible or desired, as mentioned above for automotive clear coats or when using metallic colors, then an efficient first-pass transfer becomes even more important. Two other factors that could be affected by a transfer efficiency additive are: 1) an improvement in the ability of the powder spray to penetrate into corners and close spaces, and 2) improving the ability of very small size powder coating particles to efficiently transfer and build on a metal substrate. Some industry sources estimate that an increase of about 3 to 5% in transfer efficiency would justify the cost involved in adding a transfer efficiency additive to achieve this increased transfer efficiency.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,073,579, Macholdt et al., Dec. 17, 1991, discloses a process for enhancing the electrostatic chargeability of powder coatings or powders intended for surface-coating solid objects, by homogeneously incorporating at least one triarylmethane, azine, thiazine and/or oxazine compound in an amount from about 0.01 to about 10 percent by weight into powder coatings or powders, the compounds mentioned being dissolved or dispersed in the powder coating system or powders.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,021,473, Macholdt et al., Jun. 4, 1991, discloses a triboelectrically sprayable powder coating composition consisting essentially of
(1) an epoxy resin; or PA1 (2) a hydroxyl- or carboxyl-containing polyester resin; or PA1 (3) an acrylic resin; or PA1 (4) a combination of hydroxyl-or carboxyl-containing polyester resin and epoxy resin, or combinations thereof, and, homogeneously distributed, dissolved, or dispersed in said powder-coating composition, about 0.01 to about 10 percent by weight of at least one salt-like cationic compound of the formula (1) ##STR1##
in which R.sub.1, R.sub.2, R.sub.3 and R.sub.4, independently of one another, denote hydrogen atoms, straight-chain or branched alkyl groups having 1 to 30 carbon atoms, mononuclear or polynuclear cycloaliphatic radicals having 5 to 12 carbon atoms, oxethyl groups of the formula --(CH.sub.2 --CH.sub.2 --O).sub.n --R in which n denotes a number from 1 to 10 and R denotes a hydrogen atom, a (C.sub.1 -C.sub.4)-alkyl or acyl group, furthermore denote a mononuclear or polynuclear aromatic radicals or araliphatic radicals, where the aliphatic, aromatic and araliphatic radicals may be substituted by hydroxyl, (C.sub.1 -C.sub.4)alkoxy, secondary or tertiary amino groups, acid amide groups and/or acid amide groups, where the alkyl, cycloalkyl, aralkyl and aryl radicals for R.sub.1 to R.sub.4 may be substituted by fluorine, chorine or bromine atoms, X denotes a phosphorus, arsenic or antimony atoms, where, in the case where X denotes an arsenic or antimony atom, at least one of the radicals R.sub.1 -R.sub.4 does not denote a hydrogen atom, and A.sup.- denotes the equivalent of an inorganic or organic anion. This patent also discloses a method for enhancing the electrostatic chargeability of a triboelectrically sprayable powder-coating composition comprising the above composition in an amount from about 0.01 to about 10 percent by weight into powder coatings.
European Patent Publication 0 371 528 Al, Stamicarbon, Jun. 6, 1990, discloses a triboelectrically processable powder coating based on a polyester-containing binding agent and a nitrogen-containing additive, characterized in that the nitrogen-containing additive is a sterically hindered tertiary amine or aminoalcohol.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,908,225, Niimura et al., Mar. 13, 1990, discloses a method of electrostatic coating, which comprises electrostatically coating a surface with a resin powder composition, wherein said composition comprises a thermosetting or thermoplastic resin the improvement comprising incorporating into said resin, an electric charge-increasing agent selected from the group consisting of a phthalocyanine compound, an anthraquinone compound, a metal compound of an organic carboxylic acid and an alkyl onium salt.

Powder-coating compositions containing transfer efficiency-enhancing additives


A method is provided for upgrading rock, for example building block, aggregate, preexisting stone structures, portland cement and bituminous concrete structures to render such rock more resistant to degradation resulting from environmental exposure. An organic condensation polymer containing rock treating composition in the form of a solution or dispersion is also provided based on the use of an organic condensation polymer, such as a silicone-arylpolycarbonate block polymer, an organic aliphatic polyamine and an organic solvent, as well as treated aggregate and improved cement and concrete compositions containing such treated aggregate.

The present invention relates to a method for improving the resistance of rock to degradation resulting from exposure to adverse elements in the environment, for example, exposure to oxides of sulfur, wet-dry cycles, freeze-thaw cycles, exposure to metallic salts such as sodium chloride, etc. from atmospheric, soil, or other sources. More particularly, an organic condensation polymer composition is provided which can be used to treat the rock to improve its degradation resistance.
Prior to the present invention, various methods were evaluated from treating rock to render the rock more resistant to the effects of atmospheric contamination, wet-dry cycles and freeze-thaw cycles. There have been many studies and methods of improving the quality of building stone and monuments, but only a small amount of study has been related to coarse aggregate quality improvement. Standard engineering tests can be performed to predict the quality of aggregate. One procedure, for example, has been the magnesium or sodium sulfate soundness test, ASTM C88-76. In many instances, local high quality course aggregate is not available for building construction and must be obtained at a high transportation cost. Various procedures have been used in an attempt to improve the quality of marginal or submarginal rock, for example, argillaceous limestone, highly crystalline limestone, graywacke sandstone and other rock types to upgrade such materials for use in portland cement or bituminous concrete. Procedures of the prior art have been found to be unacceptable because of economic reasons, or the treated rock failed to meet the specified percent loss in the magnesium or sodium sulfate soundness test.


Machine for milling cereals, in particular rice, in an annular space (11) which has a vertical axis and is bounded on the outside by an outer casing (4), containing through-passages, and on the inside by a rotor (8), coaxial with respect to the same, and to which the milling material is fed by means of a positively driven conveyor (21). In order to increase the machine capacity along with the material being treated more gently, the outer casing (4) and the rotor (8) are frustoconical, the material is fed at the top, narrower end of the annular space (11), and the bottom end of the latter is provided with a compliant closure element (32).

The invention relates to a machine for milling cereals, in particular rice, which belongs to the known type in which the milling material runs through an annular space which is bounded on the outside by an outer casing and on the inside by a milling rotor. The outer casing contains holes or slots through which the milled flour can emerge. The milling material is fed to the annular space at one end and led away from it at the other end. In the case of a known machine of this type (EP-B-521 452), the outer casing and the rotor are designed cylindrically and arranged vertically. The material is fed in a positively driven manner to the annular space at the bottom end by a screw conveyor. At the top end, the treated material emerges freely from the annular space. Filling of the annular space is ensured by the gravitational force, which is directed counter to the conveying direction. This arrangement has the disadvantage that the milling conditions cannot be adjusted optimally. It is not possible for the increase in the radial width of the annular space, said increase being caused by the gradual wear of the rotor, to be compensated for. Adaptation of the process parameters to different properties of the milling material is not possible.
This also applies in the case of known machines (prior public use) in which the cylindrical, vertically arranged annular space has material running through it from top to bottom. The material is fed merely by gravitational force, without any positively driven conveying operation. Its unobstructed emergence at the bottom end is prevented by a counterpressure disc, which closes off the bottom end of the annular space and can yield to the outlet pressure of the material, counter to a weight-loaded lever system. Experience shows that, despite the presence of the counterpressure disc, the annular space is not filled completely. As in the case of the abovementioned machine, the capacity is comparatively low, the broken fraction is high and a high temperature is also established.
Machines of which the annular space is designed conically are also known (prior public use). The material is fed, by gravitational force, to the top, large-diameter end. The bottom, small-diameter end is open. Complete filling of the working space, this filling being a prerequisite for high capacity, cannot be achieved. This disadvantage is not offset either by the advantage of the adjustability of the width of the annular space since, in the attempt to increase the capacity by reducing the width of the annular space, an excessively high working temperature is established. Reversing the cone arrangement does not provide improved properties either. Consequently, at the present time, high-quality manufacturers only provide machines with a cylindrical working space.


An intelligent power module (IPM) has a first, second, third and fourth die paddles, a first, second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth transistors, a tie bar, a low voltage IC, a high voltage IC, a first, second and third boost diodes, a plurality of leads and a molding encapsulation. The first transistor is attached to the first die paddle. The second transistor is attached to the second die paddle. The third transistor is attached to the third die paddle. The fourth, fifth and sixth transistor s are attached to the fourth die paddle. The low and high voltage ICs are attached to the tie bar. The molding encapsulation encloses the first, second, third and fourth die paddles, the first, second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth transistors, the tie bar, the low and high voltage ICs, and the first, second and third boost diodes. The IPM has a reduced top surface area and a reduced number of leads compared to a conventional IPM.

A conventional IPM uses an insulated metal substrate (IMS). The IMS is usually clamped by two copper layers. In the present disclosure, the use of lead frame and die paddles in an over-mold type IPM simplifies the manufacturing process and reduces the fabrication cost. A conventional IPM for driving a motor has three driving integrated circuits (ICs). In the present disclosure, the IPM has a low voltage IC and a high voltage IC.
Compact package size is achieved by optimization of the layout. The optimization includes use of two driving ICs instead of three driving ICS and introduction of conformal curved sides along adjacent die paddles. Reduction of the number of leads is achieved by attaching the two driving ICs on a same tie bar and wire-bonding three boost diodes to a selected lead connected to a power supply pin.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

ALPHA AND OMEGA SEMICONDUCTOR (CAYMAN) LTD.


An air compressor assembly may include a support structure, an operating unit including a compressor operatively connected to a motor through at least one drive belt, and at least one vibration isolator that is positioned between at least a portion of the support structure and at least a portion of the operating unit. The vibration isolator(s) is configured to dampen vibratory energy generated by the operating unit.

Pressurized fluid cylinders are used in various settings. For example, a self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) typically includes an air cylinder that is used to provide safe, clean air to an individual for breathing. An SCBA is configured to be worn by individuals, such as rescue workers, firefighters, and others, to provide breathable air in a hazardous or otherwise unsafe atmosphere. When configured for use underwater, an SCBA is typically referred to as a self-contained underwater breathing apparatus (SCUBA).
An SCBA typically includes a high-pressure tank (for example, 4,500 psi) that connects to a pressure regulator, which in turn connects an inhalation connection, such as a mouthpiece, mouth mask, or face mask. At least one of the tank, regulator, and inhalation connection may be secured to a carrying frame that allows an individual to carry the SCBA on his/her back, for example.
After use, a fluid tank or cylinder needs to be re-filled for future use. An air compressor assembly may be used to re-fill the fluid tank or cylinder. One known type of compressor assembly provides a vertical assembly in which a compressor is positioned directly above an electric motor that drives the compressor. A vertical compressor assembly may include a box-shaped sheet metal frame that houses components of the assembly. As such, the compressor assembly may be contained within a relatively small space.
Additionally, because the motor is positioned below the compressor, the weight of the motor self-tensions the drive belt that operatively connects the motor to the compressor. However, the motor and the compressor are typically rigidly attached to the frame. Accordingly, during operation, the entire compressor assembly may shake, which generates noise, and may damage components of the assembly.
As noted, a known vertical compressor assembly may include a box frame that supports all of the components. During operation, the entire assembly shakes and/or rattles due to vibration generated by the compressor. In order for the belt tensioning device to properly function, the relationship between the compressor and the motor typically remains fixed. In order to accomplish this, however, the compressor is typically rigidly fixed to the box frame. Moreover, in order for the box frame to maintain structural integrity, an upper attachment plate for the compressor is typically rigidly fixed to the box walls. Vibrations generated by the compressor and/or motor generate noise through such rigid connections.

Vibration-dampening air compressor assembly


A carriage motor which is a heat generating device is arranged next to a CIS in a scanner unit. The carriage motor drives respective transport rollers of an ADF unit via a gear system as well. The scanner unit makes a white reference board be read so as to obtain white reference data, and obtains black reference data more frequently than the white reference data, e.g., in a continuous process for reading a document. As a CIS module continues a reading process, the black reference data changes as being affected by a change in temperature in the CIS module, etc. The scanner unit deals with such a change in the black reference data by obtaining the black reference data more frequently.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to an image reading apparatus, an image reading method and a program.
2. Related Art
An image reading apparatus which stores black reference data in advance, measures only white reference data in time of reading a document, and uses the black reference data having been stored in advance and the measured white reference data for shading correction to image data produced from the read document is proposed in recent years, e.g., as disclosed in JP-A-2005-94135. The apparatus stores the black reference data to be used for shading correction before reading the document so as to further control a delay in starting to read the document.
Incidentally, the image reading apparatus according to JP-A-2005-94135 described above is aimed at carrying out a process for reading a document faster. Black reference data read by an image reading apparatus may conceivably change in some cases depending upon a configuration or a reading method of the image reading apparatus. Thus, enhancement of image quality produced from a read document is desired.

Image reading apparatus, image reading method and a program for measuring black and white reference data


A novel solid composition and method for generating fluorine and gaseous orine components comprising fluorine rich inorganic oxidizing salts such as tetrafluoro ammonium tetrafluoroborate borofluoride and a high energy fuel selected from the group consisting of metals and metal nitrides together with a complexing agent capable of reacting with and trapping the boron trifluoride combustion by-product.

Fluorine or gases rich in fluorine are required for many applications that take advantage of fluorination and reactions which comprise such diverse areas such as metal welding, formation of protective coatings or reactants for chemical lasers.
The compositions or methods of the instant invention described in the following disclosure are useful for any applications where fluorine is required and in particular for generators providing reactants for chemical lasers.
Presently fluorine or other gaseous fluorine compounds such as NF.sub.3 or ClF.sub.5 are stored in gaseous form in high pressure cylinders or as cryogenic liquids at low temperatures. The storage of fluorine or fluorine compounds in gaseous form requires a volume of about 10 times larger than liquid storage.
Therefore it would be readily apparent that it would be greatly beneficial to be able to store gaseous fluorine and fluorine containing compounds in a liquid or solid form. A gas generator utilizing this principle is fully and completely disclosed in this invention.
The storage of fluorine or fluorine compounds embedded in a solid matrix or any other solid form has the advantage of safe, efficient storage at ambient temperature and pressure.
There has been a great deal of effort, time, money and research made to develop solid F.sub.2 /NF.sub.3 generators. None of these efforts have been, prior to the instant invention completely successful.

Solid compositions for generation fluorine and gaseous fluorine compounds

The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy


A cleaning assembly for cleaning electrically conductive, flexible contact springs around the perimeter of a closure in a shield erected to prevent the passage of unwanted electromagnetic radiation. A pressurized solvent supply system and a vacuum recovery system are mounted in portable cabinet and each is connected via a flexible hose to a hand held cleaning head. The cleaning head comprises a trigger operated spray gun having a support block with a narrow vacuum recovery slot located immediately adjacent to and extending downwardly from the nozzle of the spray gun. The vacuum recovery slot is connected via an internal cavity in the support block to the hose leading to a vacuum recovery container.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to the field of cleaning devices, and more particularly but not by way of limitation, to a device which utilizes a high pressure stream of liquid solvent to clean electrically conducting closures and the like with minimum exposure to the surrounding atmosphere.
2. Discussion
Much electronic apparatus can be adversely affected by the presence of externally generated electromagnetic radiation. In addition, some electronic apparatus will itself generate undesirable electromagnetic radiation. This phenomenon is generally termed Electromagnetic Interference (EMI) or alternately, Radio Frequency Interference (RFI). EMI is a recently used term which includes the entire electromagnetic spectrum, whereas RFI is more restricted to the radio frequency band, generally considered to be between the limits 10 kHz to 10 GHz. EMI is defined as undesired conducted or radiated electrical disturbances, including transients, which can interfere with the operation of electrical or electronic equipment. Such disturbances can occur anywhere in the electromagnetic spectrum.
For a variety of reasons it becomes necessary during operation, testing, and adjusting of the electronic apparatus to provide shielding to prevent the unwanted incursion of externally generated radiation or the escape of radiation being emitted by the electronic apparatus. The electromagnetic disturbance can also be transmitted by conductance.
Since the electronic apparatus to be shielded is frequently installed in other, larger equipment such as aircraft, automotive vehicles and the like, the shielding can take the form of a large, totally enclosed room having numerous openings, such as doors for passage of personnel and equipment, air vents, and access panels for various utility services. For completely effective EMI shielding, each opening must be so designed that full electrical continuity is firmly established completely around its periphery when the opening is closed.
One method of achieving this electrical continuity is to provide a tongue of electrically conductive material around the perimeter of the door, the tongue extending perpendicularly into the plane of the opening in such a manner so that when the door is closed, the tongue will penetrate into a matching slot in the wall surrounding the opening. The recessed cavity of the slot is fitted with a plurality of flexible, electrically conductive springs, usually beryllium copper, phosphor bronze, or the like. Thus, when the door is closed, electrical continuity is achieved and EMI shielding is complete.
Very large shielded rooms, as required to accommodate aircraft and the like, require openings so large that hinged doors are impractical; in these cases, sliding or roll-up type closures are used. In order to achieve the same degree of EMI shielding afforded by the tongue and slot method used on hinged doors, the inside surface of the door jamb is equipped with an electrically conducting metal plate on which are mounted a plurality of rows of flexible, electrically conducting springs. An inflatable bladder is installed behind the metal plate; when the door is closed, the bladder is inflated and the flexible, electrically conducting springs are pushed into contact with an electrically conducting strip, usually made of brass or the like, on the outer periphery of the door, thus achieving full electrical continuity and the required EMI shielding.
Over a period of time, dust and dirt can accumulate in the slot, and the conductive springs can become oxidized or otherwise corroded, resulting in a loss of electrical continuity and a diminution of EMI shielding. To insure the integrity of the shielding system, it is necessary to meticulously clean all of the slots surrounding the openings and the electrically conducting springs on a regular periodic basis. Heretofore, this cleaning has required much manual labor, involving hand scrubbing of the springs in the slot with a solvent soaked cloth wrapped around a spatula such as a putty knife. The electrically conducting springs, both in the recessed cavity and on the bladder plate, are rather fragile and highly susceptible to damage and permanent deformation during this hand cleaning process. It is to eliminate this manual cleaning that the present invention is directed.

Cleaning assembly for electrically conducting closures


A device to monitor tension in a fastener assembly such as a stationary bolt and a moveable nut for securing elements therebetween. The device is in the form of a washer for use in the assembly between the nut and the elements or the bolt head and the elements. In one example, a slot is provided in the surface of the washer and extends radially outwardly from the inner periphery thereof. A recess is formed in the bottom of the slot, creating at least one fulcrum point in the slot. A monitor and indicating strip, for example a spring steel, is located in the slot and, under tension from one of the fastener assembly members, the distal end of the strip rises from the slot to provide a visual and measurable monitor of tension in the assembly. In another example, the monitor strip is located on the surface of the washer and the fulcrum is located on one of the fastener elements, such as on the underside of the nut, for engaging the strip under pressure, causing its distal end to rise.

There are many applications for the use of high tensile strength bolts, such as in bridgework, steel building structures and the aircraft industry, to name a few. In such structures, the maintenance of proper bolt tension is most important. Obviously, if bolt tension is insufficient or below requirements in any way, the joint secured by the bolt will be substandard in the strength that is desired. Also, if a bolt is over stressed, there is always a possibility of failure in the joint of the fastener assembly.
In many applications using high tensile strength bolts in fastener assemblies, it is important to maintain a desired bolt tension throughout the life of the fastener assembly. Thus, it is desirable to frequently or periodically monitor the tension of the fastener assembly.
One form of monitoring bolt tension is set out in U.S. Pat. No. 4,773,272, Trungold, issued Sep. 27, 1988 as well in a corresponding Canadian Patent 1,311,944 of Dec. 29, 1992.
The present invention sets forth improvements in the art such as the Trungold disclosures.


The disclosed circuit employs a single programmable timer and address decoder which identifies a plurality of bursts received from other stations in a TDMA communications network by means by identifying their origin addresses, and then starts associated timing intervals in the programmable timer for each burst. The instant when the intervals being timed terminate, corresponds approximately to the instant at which the local station should commence its transmission burst. The programmable timer and synchronizer associates each of a plurality of timing intervals with each of the plurality of transmitting stations in the TDMA network, and terminates each respective interval at approximately the same instant in a given local station, thus allowing the time for commencement of the local station's transmission burst to be reliably determined without regard for the participation of any more than one other of the plurality of transmitting stations in the TDMA network. This enables a TDMA communications system to be democratically synchronized in a reliable manner.

Time domain multiple access communications networks employ links such as a commonly connected, time divided bus or alternately a time shared satellite transponder, to transmit time synchronized bursts of digital data which are time multiplexed without overlapping. For example, in time domain multiple access (TDMA) satellite communications networks, a plurality of radio stations communicate through an earth satellite repeater by transmitting time synchronized bursts of radio energy relative to the repeater and which receive a time multiplexed composite of bursts containing corresponding modulated information from the repeater. In TDMA operations, multiple ground stations associated with radio signaling nodes transmit bursts of time concentrated information signals on a shared carrier frequency spectrum and receive the same information signals after repetition by the satellite repeater on a shifted carrier frequency spectrum. Each ground station is assigned a particular time slot in a continuum of recurrent frames for transmission of its bursts and for the reception of its own bursts and the bursts of other stations. The bursts interleave at the satellite in close time formation without overlapping. Each earth station includes connections to incoming digital lines originating from terrestrial sources.
An example of such a system is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,262,356 to Lautier, et al entitled "Method and System for Synchronizing a TDMA Communication Network Comprising a Satellite Equipped with Several Directional Beam Antennas Transmitting Signals at Various Frequencies," which is assigned to the IBM Corporation. The relative position of the earth stations and the satellite transponder for the TDMA communications network is illustrated in FIG. 1. Three earth stations A, B and C on the surface of the earth 40 communicate via the synchronous satellite transponder 45 which orbits at approximately 22,500 miles above the surface of the earth 40, in a geosynchronous orbit. A transmission 42 from one of the stations B, for example, is received by the satellite transponder 45 and retransmitted over paths 42, 44 and 46 to all three of the stations A, B and C. The Lautier, et al patent describes a peer or democratic communications network where the method of synchronization allows a given station to determine the time at which its bursts are to be transmitted by detecting the time of reception of bursts originating from the other stations. In any TDMA frame, each station transmits its burst during predetermined time intervals. Each burst has the format shown in FIG. 2 herein, where a unique word (UW) is followed by the address of the transmitting station. A receiving station, for example station A detects a unique word and then decodes the transmitting station's address which follows that unique word, for example the address of station B, and initiates a time associated with station B. This timer defines the appropriate interval dT.sub.AB which must elapse between the receipt of the address from station B and a start of station A's transmission of the next burst.
In normal operation, if all stations are transmitting, three unique words (UW) and three transmitting station address are detected within one TDMA frame duration. In such a system as is described by Lautier, et al, each station is equipped with as many timers as there are stations in the TDMA network so that each timer can be associated with a different TDMA station signal which is received at a particular station. Each respective timer at a given receiving station is started at the moment that the burst from the transmitting station is received and all of the timers at a station should complete the timing of their respective intervals substantially simultaneously, that instant of termination indicating the approximate time at which that station should commence its own transmission. This can be seen with reference to FIG. 4 herein, which is a waveform diagram of bursts which are transmitted and received in a TDMA network in accordance with the Lautier, et al patent. The waveform T.sub.XA corresponds to the transmission of the burst from station A. The waveform T.sub.XB corresponds to the burst transmitted from station B. The waveform T.sub.XC corresponds to the burst from station C. Since the satellite transponder is in geosynchronous orbit, the time of reception of the transmitted bursts at any one station is delayed with respect to the time of transmission. The waveform R.sub.XA,B,C represents the waveform of the received signals which are the composite bursts from station A, station B and station C. It is seen that the burst transmitted from station A starting at time t.sub.1 is received for example at station A from the satellite transponder at the later time t.sub.2. Such delays can be as long as 300 milliseconds. For ease of explanation, the delay between the reception and transmission of a given burst will be shown as a relatively small value with respect to the duration of the bursts themselves, however it should be understood that the delay between transmission and reception can be arbitrarily long and yet the operation of the invention disclosed herein will still remain effective.
FIG. 4 also shows the relative timing of three separate timers in station A, each timer corresponding to one of the three transmitting stations A, B or C. The first timer in station A corresponding to the transmissions from station A, corresponds to the waveform labeled T.sub.AA shown in FIG. 4. At the instant t.sub.2 when the transmitted burst T.sub.XA from station A is received at station A, the timer T.sub.AA starts timing and continues for a duration dT.sub.AA until the instant t.sub.7. In a similar manner, a second timer at station A represented by the waveform T.sub.AB starts timing at the time t.sub.4 when the burst transmitted from station B at time t.sub.3 is received at station A. The timer T.sub.AB starts at the instant t.sub.4 and continues for a duration dT.sub.AB until the time t.sub.7. In a similar manner, the third timer at station A represented by the waveform T.sub.AC corresponds to bursts originating from station C and starts at the instant t.sub.6, the time of reception of the burst from station C. The timer T.sub.AC continues for a duration dT.sub.AC until the instant t.sub.7. It is noted that all three timers at station A stop at the instant t.sub.7. After a guard time T.sub.G at station A which commences at the instant t.sub.7 and ends at the instant t.sub.8, the transmission of a burst from station A commences, as is shown for the waveform T.sub.XA, and continues until the instant t.sub.8 '. As is seen in FIG. 4, the operation of the three timers at station A continues in this fashion, with the simultaneous termination of the three timers at station A signifying the starting of the guard time T.sub.G after which station A's transmission burst begins.
The operation at station B is similar to that described for station A, except that the timers T.sub.BB, T.sub.BC and T.sub.BA, corresponding respectively to bursts received from transmitting stations B, C and A, respectively, all simultaneously terminate at the instant t.sub.10. Following the guard time T.sub.G after the instant t.sub.10, the transmission burst from station B commences at the instant t.sub.11. The transmission of the burst from station A terminates before the commencement of the transmission of the burst from station B in order to insure that signals from the two respective stations will not overlap when they reach the satellite transponder 45.
The operation at station C is similar to that described for stations A and stations B, station C having three timers T.sub.CC, T.sub.CA and T.sub.CB corresponding respectively to bursts received from stations C, A and B. The three timers at station C all terminate simultaneously at the time t.sub.13, which starts the guard time T.sub.G, after which the burst from station C is transmitted at time t.sub.14. The bursts transmitted from station A and station B will have terminated prior to the commencement of the transmission of the burst T.sub.XC from station C, in order to insure that the bursts transmitted from the three stations do not overlap at the satellite transponder.

Programmable timing and synchronization circuit for a TDMA communications controller

International Business Machines Corporation


A liquid crystal electro-optic device is disclosed. The liquid crystal electro-optic device is provided with means for optic compensation in order to realize black-and-white display. A high contrast black-and-white display is realized by providing two retardation films having anisotropy of refractive index for optic compensation so that an angle (a) formed by the drawing direction of one of the two retardation films and an edge line of a liquid crystal panel of the device and an angle (b) formed by the drawing direction of the other one of the two retardation films and the edge line satisfy the expressions: (a).ltoreq.90.degree.; (b).ltoreq.90.degree.; and .vertline.(a)-(b).vertline..ltoreq.40.degree..

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a liquid crystal electroptic device.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Conventionally, an STN type liquid crystal display device taking advantage of birefringence is known. The conventional STN type liquid crystal display device displays colored display in a yellow-green mode or a blue mode. In order to realize black-and-white display, the conventional STN type liquid crystal display device is provided with an STN type liquid crystal panel for compensating for the colored display in addition to its STN type liquid crystal panel for driving liquid crystal. However, this conventional device is thick and heavy and the number of its manufacture steps is increased and cost of its manufacture is high.

Liquid crystal electro-optic device with particular relationship between retardation film drawing direction and substrate edge

Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.


Polygalactomannans containing a hydrophilic substituent and a hydrophobic substituent are useful as oil shale inhibitor compositions in oil well drilling fluids.

Most oil well systems utilize a rotary drill bit for drilling a subterranean well. This system utilizes a column of drill pipe that is attached to a multi-faceted drill bit which rotates as it is forced downward through the soil and rock. The drill bit cuts into the soil and rock and this creates ground cuttings and debris that accumulate in the drilling container. Hence, a drilling fluid must be employed to carry the excavated cuttings to the surface for removal. This is necessary to prevent jamming and clogging of the drill bit and pipe and to keep the bottom of the hole clean at all times.
To remove cuttings produced during an oil well drilling operation, a drilling fluid is circulated down the drill pipe and up the annulus between the drill pipe and the formation whereby the cuttings are carried to the surface. The cuttings are then shaken out of the drilling fluid and the fluid is recirculated. In addition to removing the cuttings, the drilling fluid must also coat and lubricate the drill bit and stabilize the shale formation.
In some areas, formations known as heaving or sloughing shales are penetrated during a well-drilling operation. These shales have a tendency to swell or crack upon contact with the drilling fluid whereupon the bore hole walls are rendered unstable and the heaving shale material, which makes up such walls, sloughs and caves into the bore hole. Sloughing of shale material into the bore hole can cause the drill stem to become stuck and can enlarge the bore hole with the result that large subterranean cavities are formed. Furthermore, where sloughing occurs while the drilling bit is being changed at the surface, the bore hole fills up and must be cleared before drilling can proceed. In addition, the heaving shale material taken up into the drilling fluid adversely affects the viscosity characteristics of the drilling fluid to the point where the fluid must be chemically treated to reduce the viscosity thereof or it must be diluted followed by the addition of weighing material to maintain a given mud weight.
This drilling fluid then not only must carry drill cuttings to the surface of the well but must also control formation pressure and maintain stability of the surrounding rock and soil formation in the uncased sections of the bore hole. They must also protect productive formations as well as cool and lubricate the drill bit and drill string. Hence, a drill fluid must have certain chemical and physical characteristics such as low fluid loss or filtration control, solid suspension power, shale inhibition, insensitivity to shear, thermal stability and the like.
A wide variety of additives have been utilized in drilling fluids to stabilize shale formations encountered during oil well drilling operations. For example, Weiss et. al. U.S. Pat. No. 2,802,783 discloses saturating an aqueous drilling fluid with calcium hydroxide; Scott et. al. U.S. Pat. No. 3,017,351 discloses incorporating into the drilling fluid an acetate salt of an amide of a fatty acid and a polyamine along with ammonium sulfate, oil and an acrylamide polymer hydrolyte; Blattel et. al. U.S. Pat. No. 4,341,645 discloses slats of copolymers of acrylic acid and hydroxypropyl acrylate; while Dupre et. al. U.S. Pat. No., 4,299,710 discloses the combination of an acid-containing polymer and a polysaccharide wherein the acid-containing polymer can be a copolymer of any one of a long list of saturated carboxylic acids, including acrylic acid on a half-amide of a dicarboxylic acid, with any one of a long list of vinyl monomers, including 2-hydroxyethyl and hydroxypropyl acrylates. These additives all require the formation of salts in order to be utilized in aqueous-based drilling fluids. The potassium chloride salts of polyacrylamide and modified starch have also bene used as shale stabilizer compositions in drilling mud for water sensitive shales in wells Clark et. al. J. Petrol Tech. pp 719-727 (June, 1976).
Polygalactomannans and their derivatives are well known compositions which have many uses as thickening agents in aqueous systems. They are polysaccharides composed principally of galactose and mannose units and are usually found in the endosperm of leguminous seeds, such as guar, locust bean, honey locust, flame tree and the like. Guar gum, for example, is composed mostly of a polygalactomannan which essentially is a straight chain polymannan with single-membered galactose branches. The ratio of galactose to mannose units in the guar polymer is 1:2.
Locust bean gum is a polygalactomannan of similar molecular structure in which the ratio of galactose to mannose is 1:4. Guar and locust bean gums are the preferred sources of the polygalactomannans, principally because of their commercial availability.
Derivatives of polygalactomannan gums are made by reacting the gums with various derivatizing agents, which react with the hydroxyl groups of the gums to form ethers or esters. For example, hydroxyalkyl ethers of polygalactomannans are made by reacting alkylene oxides with the gums as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,483,121. The galactose and mannose sugar units of polygalactomannans each have an average of three reactive hydroxyl groups. These react with alkylene oxides to produce hydroxyalkyl ethers of the gums. Each unit of alkylene oxide added to the polygalactomannan in turn adds a new hydroxyl group which is itself reactive. Theoretically, there is no limit to the amount of alkylene oxide which may be added to the polygalactomannan. As a practical matter, however, a molecular substitution (M.S.) of about 4 or 5 is a practical upper limit.
In U.S. Pat. No. 4,870,167, alkyl ethers of polygalactomannans are disclosed wherein the alkyl groups contain 1 to 4 carbon atoms which are further modified with long chain aliphatic epoxides wherein the long chains contain 8 to about 28 carbon atoms. Such polygalactomannans are particularly useful as thickening agents for aqueous systems.
Perricone et. al. U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,941,981 and 4,830,765 disclose modified non-polluting liquid phase shale swelling inhibition drilling fluids comprised of a liquid phase consisting of sea water or brine with water soluble alcohols, glycol, polypropylene glycols and the like dissolved therein. A viscosifier is added in order to suspend the solids in the aqueous phase together with a filtration control agent.
Lee et. al. U.S. Pat. No. 4,743,384 discloses a drilling fluid composition consisting of aqueous phase comprised of fresh, brine or seawater and a carboxymethyl guar gum and a metal salt selected from the group consisting of water soluble metal carbonates and bicarbonates. The drilling fluid allegedly exhibits the requisite rheological and fluid loss properties as well as excellent clay and shale inhibition with enhanced thermal stability.
In European Patent Application No. 323,627, which was published Jul. 7, 1989, polygalactomannan derivatives containing both hydrophilic substituents and hydrophilic substituents are described.
The present invention provides oil shale stabilizers which can be added to a drilling fluid to eliminate or significantly reduce shale swelling. The shale stabilizers are comprised of polygalactomannon derivatives having at least two different alkyl ether substituents, one of which is hydrophilic and the other which is hydrophobic.
The compounds of the present invention are particularly useful as shale stabilizers comprising water soluble copolymers which are essentially free of cross-linking. These shale stabilizers or inhibitors are adapted to be added to a drilling fluid which circulates through a well bore hole so that the shale stabilizers of the present invention contact and are adsorbed by the shale formation thereby inhibiting hydration of the shale thereby preventing its sloughing and collapse into the bore hole.

Modified polygalactomannans as oil field shale inhibitors


An endoscope has a shaft which is composed of an outer tube and an inner tube, providing a channel therebetween. The proximal end of the shaft is connected to an endoscope head. The endoscope head is provided with a light guide connector. Light guides extend from said light guide connector to a distal end of said channel in said shaft. Said channel housing said light guides is filled with an adhesive.

The invention relates to an endoscope, the shaft of which comprises an outer tube and an inner tube inserted into said outer tube. A channel is disposed between the outer side of said inner tube and the inner side of said inner tube. An endoscope head houses a proximal end of the shaft. A light connector projects, in particular laterally, from said endoscope head. Light guides extend from said light guide connector to a distal end of said channel for guiding light from said light connector to the distal end of the endoscope for illuminating purposes.
Endoscopes of this type are generally known.
Endoscopes are generally used in so-called minimal-invasive surgeries, for example arthroscopy, gastrointestinal examinations and chest cavity examinations, in case of ruptures and during joint and spinal column surgeries.
Within the inner tube, a so-called optic is accommodated, generally a rod lens system or an electronic image recording and conversion system.
In order to illuminate the operation side with light, a light guide system is arranged within the endoscope. The light guide system which usually is composed of a bundle of light guiding fibers, in particular glass fibers, is usually housed loosely in the channel between the inner and the outer tube. Additionally, the bundle of light fibers is loosely guided to the proximal end of the light guide connector within the endoscope head.
For sealing purposes, the opposite end sections of the light guides are tightly and sealingly fixed at the distal end of the shaft on the one side and on the proximal end of the light guide connector on the other side.
In minimal-invasive surgery, very small incisions with a length of about half an inch are made in the body for inserting the endoscope into the body. For it, the shafts of the endoscopes should be designed as thin as possible.
This results in the shaft not being mechanically very robust, in particular in terms of bending of the shaft.
When the endoscope is being handled, irrespective of whether it is during an intervention or during the subsequent cleaning and autoclaving processes, forces that are applied can result in a bending of the shaft. A bending of the shaft also bends the inner tube containing the optic system, which can lead to fracture and/or some detachments, for example on the rod lenses of the optics system.
Fracture cracks at the distal and proximal sealing points of the light guides can result in moisture entering into the channel housing the light guides. This moisture can contain aggressive cleaning liquids, for example peroxide containing liquids, which leads to the destruction of the very fine glass fibers during autoclaving. Additionally, the loose fibers can break when the shaft is bent remarkably.
As a result, the lifetime of the endoscope is shortened.
It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide an endoscope with an extended lifetime.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a method for manufacturing an endoscope with an extended lifetime.

Endoscope and method for its manufacturing


A method of manufacturing a gallium nitride (GaN)-based semiconductor light emitting device includes forming a contact resistance improved layer on a p-type GaN-based semiconductor layer with at least one metal selected from the group of Au, Mg, Mn, Mo, Pd, Pt, Sn, Ti and Zn, heat-treating the p-type GaN-based semiconductor layer so that elements in the contact resistance improved layer diffuse into the p-type GaN-based semiconductor layer and that Ga elements in the p-type GaN-based semiconductor layer dissolve into the contact resistance improved layer, and removing the contact resistance improved layer remaining on the p-type GaN-based semiconductor layer.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a semiconductor light emitting device, and more particularly to a method of manufacturing a gallium nitride (GaN) based semiconductor light emitting device, which ensures a high brightness while lowering a contact resistance near a surface formed with a p-side electrode.
2. Description of the Related Art
In general, a gallium nitride-based semiconductor is used for a light emitting diode for emitting light in a wavelength range of a blue light or a green light and usually comprises semiconductor materials with the formula AlxInyGa(l-x-y)N (where 0≦x≦1, 0≦y≦1, 0≦x+y≦1). As for the light emitting device generating a green light, a gallium nitride (GaN) semiconductor material with a large energy band gap of about 3.4 eV is usually used.
As the GaN-based semiconductor generally has a large energy band gap, there is a difficulty in achieving an ohmic contact with an electrode thereon. Specifically, a p-type clad layer to be formed with a p-side electrode has a large contact resistance, causing a problem of raising operating voltage of the device and amount of heat.
Conventionally, as for a method for overcoming the problem for the ohmic contact, various methods have been suggested. However, since an ohmic contact portion is provided as a primary light emitting plane, it is needed to satisfy a requirement of ensuring a transmission of light generated from an active layer through the light emitting plane. Thus, only a few methods could be restrictively adopted in practice as a method for lowering the contact resistance.
As a conventional method, U.S. Pat. No. 5,563,422 entitled "Nitride gallium-based III–IV compound semiconductor device and method of producing the same," which is assigned to Nichia Chemical Industry Limited, discloses a transparent electrode using a bi-layer of Ni-Au. FIG. 1 shows a light emitting device according to an embodiment of U.S. Pat. No. 5,563,422.
As shown in FIG. 1, a gallium nitride-based semiconductor light emitting device 10 of the prior art comprises an n-type GaN semiconductor layer 13 formed on the substrate 11, a GaN/InGaN active layer 15 having a multi-well structure and a p-type GaN semiconductor layer 17. An n-side electrode 19a is formed on the n-type GaN semiconductor layer 13, which has a portion of the p-type GaN semiconductor layer 17 and GaN/InGaN active layer 15 removed. A transparent electrode 18 and a p-side electrode 19b are sequentially laminated with Ni and Au on the p-type GaN semiconductor layer 17. The transparent electrode 18 is a translucent layer for improving the contact resistance and forms the ohmic contact through a deposition process for Ni/Au and a subsequent heat treatment.
It is desirable that the transparent electrode 18 is formed as thick as possible in order to improve current injection efficiency. However, as the transparent electrode 18 is formed of metals, it could be difficult for the transparent electrode to have a desired translucency. Even though a NiO layer of a relatively high translucency is formed through the heat treatment, it has a transmittance of merely 60%, so that light emitting efficiency can be deteriorated as the transparent electrode thickens.
Thus, the transparent electrode should be limited to a thickness of 100 μm or less, causing a restriction in improving the current injection efficiency.
Further, even though the transparent electrode of the metals has a proper thickness in consideration of a desired transmittance, it inevitably encounters some reduction in brightness due to a restrictive transmittance in the transparent electrode that is made of the metals having a high photon absorption rate, such as Au.

Method of manufacturing gallium nitride based semiconductor light emitting device


A method of sealing electric parts mounted in a bare state on an electric wiring board uses a liquid sealing resin as a printing ink and a screen serving as screen printing means and having apertures in the same pattern as the electric parts mounted on the board. The lower end of a peripheral wall of the screen defining each of the apertures is substantially brought into line-to-line contact with the surface of the board for screen printing. The screen has a recess formed on the rear side of the line contact portion thereof and surrounding the contact portion. These features prevent the printing ink from adhering to the rear side of the screen and the collapse of the sealing resin layer that would occur if the ink adheres to the screen rear sides.

With an increase in the complexity of arrangement of parts mounted on the surface of electric wiring boards, for example, of printed circuit boards, electric parts such as integrated semiconductor devices are mounted in a bare state directly on printed boards and electrically connected thereto. In this case, the electric parts mounted in a bare state on the printed board must be sealed with an electrically insulating resin mainly so as to retain their quality.
As such a method of sealing electric parts with resin, the so-called potting method has already been proposed wherein a pneumatically operable dispenser a is used for applying a liquid sealing resin d dropwise onto an electric part c mounted on a printed board b to seal the part as shown in FIG. 10. The potting method has the problems to be described below with reference to FIGS. 11 and 12.
(1) As seen in FIG. 12, the resin portion d' sealing the electric part c appears convex in shape, has a thickness which is largest at the center and gradually decreases toward the outer periphery, and therefore fails to produce a uniform sealing effect.
(2) The part c is usually square to rectangular, whereas the sealing resin portion d' is circular as shown in FIG. 11, so that the part c must be sealed over an excessive area. This is not desirable in view of the high complexity of the arrangement on the board.
(3) Although the amount of resin d to be applied dropwise can be suitably determined according to the size of the part c, the resin d applied is difficult to control in thickness.
(4) For application to LSIs or like large-scale electric parts, the resin d must be applied dividedly several times. It is then difficult to give a uniform appearance and a uniform thickness to the sealing resin layer to be formed. The part therefore can not be sealed effectively with good stability.
(5) The method is low in productivity since parts c must be sealed individually one by one.
(6) When the resin is to be applied to the next part after application to one part, cobwebbing of the resin is liable to occur. The thread of resin is then likely to soil the printed board b.
We have already proposed a method of sealing electric parts mounted on the surface of electric wiring boards with resin using screen printing means (see, for example, Unexamined Japanese Patent Publication No.82639/1989). All the foregoing problems (1) to (6) involved in the potting method can be overcome by this method which employs the screen printing means.
The proposed sealing method with use of the screen printing means employs a screen having apertures in the same pattern as the electric parts mounted on the board and is practiced by forcing a liquid sealing resin serving as the printing ink into a space formed between each of the apertures and the part registered therewith by the operation of a squeegee to fill the space and seal the part. However, when the printing cycle is repeated many times, the liquid sealing resin serving as the printing ink adheres to the rear side of the screen, and the resin portion adhering to the rear side is printed on the surface of the board in the form of a thin overflow portion around the sealing resin layer, consequently collapsing the resin layer slightly as will be described below in detail.
Further when the liquid sealing resin is forcibly filled into the screen aperture by operating the squeegee, the amount of resin filled in is larger toward the end side of stroke of the squeegee than toward the starting side of the stroke. The uneven amount of resin filled in gives an uneven thickness to the sealing resin layer and results in reduced productivity as will be described in detail later.

Method of sealing electric parts mounted on electric wiring board with resin composition


In one embodiment, a hard disk drive includes a magnetic disk medium, a magnetic head adapted for writing data to the magnetic disk medium, a mechanism (such as a detection circuit) adapted for detecting at least one recording condition of drive current provided to the magnetic head during writing operations, and an energy conversion element for controlling at least one recording characteristic of the magnetic head in response to the at least one detected recording condition. According to another embodiment, a method includes writing data to a magnetic medium using a magnetic head, detecting at least one recording condition of drive current provided to the magnetic head during the writing, and controlling at least one recording characteristic of the magnetic head during the writing using an energy conversion element in response to the at least one detected recording condition.

The magnetic disk drive is indispensable in today's advanced information society as a device capable of recording huge quantities of data which can also allow the data to be stably read and written. One example of such as magnetic disk drive is a hard disk drive (HDD), common in personal computers and massive server installations. The magnetic disk drive is typically constructed from a magnetic recording medium (magnetic disk) for recording data thereto, a magnetic head for reading and writing the data, and circuit modules, such as a voice coil motor for driving the head, a channel integrated circuit (IC), a pre-amplifier, etc.
The magnetic head comprises a write head for writing data and a read head for reading the data recorded on the magnetic disk. Recently, in order to achieve a higher recording density of the data on the magnetic disk, HDDs having an assist mechanism using microwaves and methods which drive the assist element synchronized to the write signal have been proposed. The magnetic head reads and writes while moving above the magnetic disk at an extremely low flying height. To control the flying height, typically, a technique is used to improve the reliability of the magnetic disk drive. In some prior art methods, the flying-height control function measures the output resolution of the read head and uses this to capture changes in the stationary flying height caused by changes in the air pressure or changes in the ambient temperature. In practice, the structure of the write head, the shape of the flying surface of the slider, and the suspension are designed to set the stationary flying height, which is in the specifications. However, when a high-frequency signal is written (in particular), the flying height decreases due to expansion caused by the heating of the write head (write protrusion), and the head comes into contact with the disk medium. As a result, more precise control is necessary because of concern about reduced reliability of the drive caused by repeated head contact with the disk medium.
Currently, a heating element, such as a thermal flying-height control (TFC) or dynamic flying-height control (DFC) for controlling the flying height of the slider by applying power and intentionally causing thermal expansion is installed in the magnetic head and is used in flying-height control. One method carries out the control by synchronizing this heater to the write gate (WG) signal. From the perspective of control synchronized to the write signal, another structure uses a write-safe circuit using the signal induced in the read path by the write signal in the write path.
However, in any of these methods, it becomes difficult for a magnetic head to write a signal on a magnetic recording medium because the write magnetic field strength generated by the write head is reduced. Consequently, the quality of the signal obtained is degraded. Thus, a stronger assist becomes necessary as the signal frequency increases. On the other hand, when a high-frequency signal is written, the concerns are contact with the medium caused by the lower flying height due to the expansion (write protrusion) caused by the heating of the write head, data loss, damage to the head, and a drop in the reliability of the drive. Normally, the flying height is controlled to correspond to the changes in frequency in the radial direction of the magnetic recording medium, but is not controlled in the circumferential direction. Thus, a concern is that intermittent contact develops in sections in the circumferential direction and the signal quality degrades as a consequence of this contact.

Hard disk drive with write assist based on detected conditions


The invention relates to a disc-brake with a caliper (2) slidably mounted on a stationary support (1), comprising two friction pads, (4, 5) anchorably and slidably received in the stationary support (1) and capable of frictionally engaging with the opposite faces of a revolving disc (3) upon application of a brake (8), an axial column (10), integral with the stationary support (1) and slidably received in a corresponding bore (11) formed in the caliper (2), and a mechanism (20) for locking the caliper (2) in rotation about the column (10) on the stationary support (1). The mechanism (20) for locking the caliper (2) on the stationary support (1) is of the ball joint type so as to permit a disalignment of the caliper (2) with respect to the stationary support (1) upon actuation of the brake motor (8).

The invention relates to a disc-brake with a slidable caliper, in particular for a motor vehicle.
The invention relates in particular to a disc-brake, the caliper of which is slidably mounted, by means of an axial column, on a stationary support in which two friction pads are anchorably and slidably received and are capable of frictionally engaging with the opposite faces of a revolving disc upon activation of a brake motor acting directly on one of the friction pads and acting on the other friction pad by reaction across the slidable caliper.
In a known manner, in this type of disc-brake the caliper is generally held in position on the stationary support, during assembly of the brake, either with the aid of a pin passing through bore holes formed in lugs integral with the stationary support and through an opening formed in an extension of the caliper, or with the aid of a second axial column joined to the stationary support by a threaded connection.
However, these various types of locking may hinder, during actuation of the brake motor, a longitudinal sliding of the caliper, given that a torsion of the caliper occurs, or produce bruising of the locking member or of the parts of the caliper which are brought into contact with the parts of the stationary support.


A smoke detecting apparatus includes a lamp, a light receiving element for receiving light from the lamp, and a smoke detecting circuit for detecting the smoke density in accordance with the signal outputted from the light receiving element. The apparatus further includes a light emission failure detector and counter for detecting a light emission failure in which the lamp fails to emit light in response to a light emission instruction from the smoke detecting and counting light emission failures, and a memory for storing the number of light emission failures. The apparatus may further include a warning unit which, when the number of failures becomes a predetermined value or more, warns that the lamp will soon be exhausted. Thus, the unit enables a maintenance person to replace the lamp without fail before it is exhausted.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a smoke detecting apparatus for a fire alarm which includes a light emitting lamp, such as a xenon lamp, and a light receiving element provided in a smoke chamber so as to detect the smoke density in the smoke chamber in accordance with an output signal of the light receiving element upon receiving light emitted from the light emitting lamp and scattered by the smoke inside the smoke chamber.
2. Description of the Related Art
A conventional smoke detecting apparatus, which detects the smoke density in the smoke chamber in accordance with an output signal of a light receiving element upon receiving light from a xenon lamp, is unable to operate normally after a certain length of service because the xenon lamp loses its light emitting efficiency or is no longer able to emit light at all after a certain number of service years or a certain number of light emissions.
To detect the failure of the xenon lamp, the known smoke detecting apparatus monitors the reception level of the light from the xenon lamp. When the reception level falls below a predetermined level, the apparatus determines that the xenon lamp has failed. More specifically, when no reception above a predetermined level has been detected in a predetermined length of time, for example, 30 or 60 seconds, the apparatus determines that the xenon lamp has failed, and indicates the failure of the xenon lamp by, for example, producing an audible-alarm.
Although the conventional apparatus is able to indicate that the xenon lamp has failed, it is unable to predict the lamp failure. Therefore, when the xenon lamp of the conventional smoke detecting apparatus has failed, the smoke detecting apparatus remains out of operation for some time before a maintenance person notices the failure and replaces the xenon lamp. Such an inoperative period is undesirable. Other types of smoke detecting apparatuses employing light emitting lamps other than the xenon lamp are also subject to the same problem.

Smoke detecting apparatus for fire alarm


Apparatuses and methods to establish and share resources over a personal area network are provided. The units sharing similar functions or common applications are connected by a personal area network such as a low-power radio frequency network such as a ZIGBEE® network such that a selected one of the units sharing the functions or applications runs the application or function for each of the connected units. the similar function or common applications may include, for example, location determinations, data transmission, or the like. The selection of the one unit to run the application may be based on battery charge, processor capacity, or the like.

1. Field
The technology of the present application relates to personal wireless networks, and more specifically to sharing resources between devices having at least one similar functionality that are co-located in a wireless personal area network.
2. Background
Wireless devices such as cellular telephones, radio frequency identification units, laptop computers, navigation tools, and the like are prevalent today. The ability to identify or determine the location of mobile, wireless devices; mobile, wireless terminals; or other mobile, wireless equipment (hereinafter generally referred to as mobile equipment or ME) is becoming ubiquitous. The location of mobile equipment may be determined or estimated using a number of techniques, as are generally known in the industry, using one or more of a number of networks, including, for example, private and public networks, a WLAN, a WWAN, WiFi, WiMax, or the like. The communication protocols may include, for example, Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) network protocols, Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) network protocols, Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA) network protocols, Single-Carrier Frequency Division Multiple Access (SC-FDMA) network protocols, or the like. Additionally, the location or position information may be either a satellite based positioning system, a terrestrial based positioning system, or a hybrid positioning system as is generally known in the art. For example, a satellite based positioning system (SPS) may employ the Global Positioning System (GPS—was originally titled NAVSTAR when developed by the military). Of course, GPS is simply one example of an SPS and other SPSs may be used, such as, for example, other Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS), Galileo positioning system (Europe), Glonass (Russian), Compass/Beidou (Chinese), QZSS (Japanese), a combination thereof, and the like.
According to one exemplary system, the mobile equipment may estimate its position or location based in part on signals received from satellites associated with a SPS, such as the United States' GPS system. Mobile equipment may be configured to communication with a mobile positioning center and/or position determining equipment through an uplink portion of a wireless network and an associated base station to request assistance concerning determining its location. In response to the request, the mobile positioning center and/or positioning determining equipment may transmit the requested information to the mobile equipment through a downlink portion of the wireless network and associated base station. Such requested information may include, for example, identification of satellites currently in view and from which the mobile equipment may be able to receive information regarding the location of the in-view satellites, correction factors, information regarding the Doppler shift to be expected, and the like as is generally known in the art. Transmitting, receiving, and processing the information, acquiring the satellite signals, determining the location, and the like require a significant amount of power that reduces the amount of time the mobile equipment may operate between recharges, new batteries, or the like.
More and more frequently, multiple pieces of mobile equipment are reasonably co-located such that all the pieces of equipment may be considered to be in the same location, such as, for example, containers on a cargo ship, a shipping truck such as a FEDEX® shipping truck, or the like. Additionally, different types of mobile equipment also may be sufficiently co-located as to be considered in the same location. For example, a user of mobile equipment may carry both a cellular telephone and a laptop computer. Today, the equipment may all be fabricated or fitted with a location device, such as those mentioned above. Each piece of mobile equipment, however, separately performs the common application relating to location determination. Thus, two cargo containers, each with a radio frequency identification unit coupled to it, would separately determine their location.
There is, therefore, a need in the art for methods and apparatuses to allow mobile equipment to communicate over a personal area network to allow the mobile equipment to share resources regarding common applications.

Resource sharing over wireless personal area networks


A ceramic circuit board comprises a ceramic substrate having a glaze film formed thereon, the glaze film being overlaid with a functional thin film such as a ferromagnetic film serving as a magnetic sensor, for example. The ceramic substrate is made of a low-firing ceramic material such as a glass ceramic material which can be sintered at a temperature below 1000.degree. C. by co-firing with the glaze film. Preferably, the ceramic substrate has a recess on its top surface, and the glaze film is embedded in the recess such that the difference in level between the ceramic substrate and the glaze film is 20 .mu.m or less. The ceramic circuit board can be produced by preparing a plurality of ceramic green sheets from a low-firing ceramic material, laminating the ceramic green sheets after a through-hole or indentation is formed in the uppermost sheet, thereby forming a multilayer ceramic green substrate having a recess on its top surface, filling the recess with a glaze-forming glass material to such a height that the difference in level between the ceramic substrate and the glaze film formed after firing is 20 .mu.m or less, and co-firing the ceramic green substrate and the glaze-forming glass material at a temperature below 1000.degree. C.

This invention relates to a ceramic circuit board comprising a ceramic substrate having a glaze film formed thereon and a process for producing such a ceramic circuit board. The glaze film is subsequently overlaid with a functional film such as a ferromagnetic or conductive film.
A ceramic circuit board having a photolithographically patterned film of a ferromagnetic material, which serves as a magnetoresistive element having a resistivity which varies with magnetic field strength, has found applications as a magnetic sensor or MR head (magneto-resistive head), which is a kind of thin film magnetic head. Such a magnetic sensor is useful for counting revolutions of a part, for example. An MR head is a read only head, but it has a high reproducing output even at a low circumferential velocity since it detects the magnitude of magnetic flux, and it can be used to read a magnetic recording medium having a high recording density.
In a ceramic circuit board having a photolithographically patterned ferromagnetic film on a ceramic substrate, a glaze film having a smooth surface is normally interposed between the ceramic substrate and the ferromagnetic film in order to prevent the ferromagnetic film, particularly where the patterned film has areas in the form of thin lines, from breaking (disconnecting) due to projections or pores which inevitably exist on the surface of the ceramic substrate. The glaze film also minimizes fluctuations in the resistivity of the ferromagnetic film. Similarly, in a ceramic circuit board having, on a ceramic substrate, a conductive film of a metallic material which serves as a heating element, a glaze film is interposed between the ceramic substrate and the conductive film.
In the manufacture of these ceramic circuit boards, a glaze film is first formed on the surface of a ceramic substrate to produce a ceramic circuit board having a glaze film (such a board being hereinafter referred to as "glazed ceramic circuit board"). A functional film such as a ferromagnetic or conductive film is then formed on the glaze film of the glazed ceramic circuit board.
As schematically shown in FIG. 7, a conventional glazed ceramic circuit board has a ceramic substrate 11 usually made of alumina, on which a glaze film 13 and a conductor circuit 15 are formed. Such a glazed ceramic circuit board has conventionally been produced by firing a ceramic green sheet to form a ceramic substrate 11, applying a glaze-forming glass material and a conductive paste onto the substrate by screen printing, and firing again to form a glaze film 13 and a conductor circuit 15 on the substrate.
The ceramic circuit board can be used, for example, as a magnetic sensor, after a ferromagnetic material is deposited by sputtering on the glaze film 13 and patterned photolithographically so as to form a ferromagnetic film 17 serving as a magnetic sensor and a connecting circuit 19 is then formed so as to extend from the ferromagnetic film 17 to the conductor circuit 15 and transmit signals generated by the ferromagnetic film to the conductor circuit, as shown in FIG. 9.
However, the above-mentioned conventional glazed ceramic circuit board has the following drawbacks.
First, the glaze film 13 has a coefficient of thermal expansion which is significantly greater than that of the ceramic substrate 11. Therefore, the glaze film undergoes a greater contraction than the substrate does during cooling, which follows firing to form the glaze film and conductor circuit, thereby producing a thermal stress and warpage in the board, as shown in FIG. 8. When a thermal shock is applied to the thermally stressed ceramic circuit board during subsequent processing or in use, cracks 21 may form in the glaze film 13, resulting in disconnection of the ferromagnetic film 17 formed thereon.
Second, the ferromagnetic film 17 formed on the glaze film must have a uniform thickness, since the sensing accuracy of a magnetic sensor is significantly deteriorated if the thickness of the ferromagnetic film varies remarkably. In order to form a ferromagnetic film having a uniform thickness on a glaze film, the glaze film must have a smooth surface with a surface roughness of 0.05 .mu.m Ra or less, which is obtainable only when the glaze film has a sufficient thickness. For this reason, the glaze film 13 is usually formed so as to have a thickness of at least 30 .mu.m, which is substantially greater than the thickness of the conductor circuit 15 which is normally between about 5 .mu.m and about 15 .mu.m.
Therefore, there is a difference in level of 30 .mu.m or greater between the glaze film 13 and the ceramic substrate 11. As schematically shown in FIG. 10, such a big difference in level causes a connecting circuit 19, which is formed to connect the ferromagnetic film 17 formed on the glaze film 13 to the conductor circuit 15 which is, in turn, connected to external connecting pins 23, to become very thin and at times interrupted or disconnected on the peripheral wall 13A of the glaze film. This significantly reduces the reliability of connection by the connecting circuit 19. It is possible to alleviate this problem by forming the glaze film so as to have a gently declining peripheral wall rather than the depicted vertical one. Such a glaze film, however, will occupy an increased area on the ceramic substrate and hence hinders the reduction in size of ceramic circuit boards, which is always a goal in the art.

Ceramic circuit board and process for producing same


The invention relates to a staple for surgical purposes, made from bendable wire-like material. According to the invention, a staple is so designed that the base is shaped bent backwards from its tissue fastening surface, starting from its center section, on both sides, opposite to the direction of the legs, so far that the ends of the base touch or come close to each other, the base and legs thereby forming an essentially .OMEGA.-shaped contour. The bent-back configuration effects a substantial reduction in the width of the staple when it is pushed forward through the trocar cannula, so that endoscopically larger staples than usual can be set with a suitable fastening mechanism.

Mechanical wound closures by means of staples or clips are used in practically all surgical areas, in order to bind tissue and hold it together. For example, clips are used during anastomoses in the whole digestive tract, from the esophagus to the rectum, and also generally when setting sutures. The clips applied in such cases are made from bendable wire-like material and are bent into a closed form, which firmly encloses the tissue lying in between. Such clips and staple applying mechanisms are shown in the complete Ethicon, Inc., Somerville, N.J. catalogue published in 1989, pages 119 to 127.
The clips are placed in the staplers in a form which largely corresponds to that known from office staples. The lower part of FIG. 6 shows correspondingly formed conventional staples, which has a rectilinear bottom side or base 10; from the two ends 12 and 14 of which extend legs or limbs 42 and 44, projecting essentially at right angles. In use, the clip is bent into the closed staple shown in FIG. 6a with the use of a clip applier, and wraps round the tissue lying in between. The closed staple is essentially rectangular in shape, the limbs 42, 44 essentially forming the upper side of the rectangle and the base 10 becoming the bottom and the two sides of the rectangle.
Surgical staples are also used in modern minimally invasive operation techniques. In these operations, mostly called endoscopic or laparoscopic, the instruments needed for operative measures are introduced into the body through one or more trocar cannulae to the operation area, for example into the abdominal cavity, and controlled there under endoscopic monitoring. The trocar cannulae have a small diameter, in order that only minimal wounds occur when the trocar cannula is introduced through the abdominal wall; two sizes often used by surgeons allow passage of 5 mm and 10 mm instruments.
Staplers which are to be used endoscopically must likewise be introduced into the operation area through such trocar cannulae, the clips contained in the stapler lying with their bottom sides perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the trocar cannula, and pushed forward in this position within the stapler. This produces the condition that the length of the base of the clip must always be less than the internal diameter of the trocar cannula. Since, for medical reasons, trocar diameters are usually pre-set for 5 mm and 10 mm trocars, the problem to date has been that only clips with a relatively small base length (and thus with a small perimeter and small overall size) can be used in endoscopic operations through trocar cannulae. An example of such appliers are those found in U.S. Pat. No. 5,174,487 and Ser. No. 07/759,014 (docket No. SEN-83), now U.S. Pat. No. 5,246,156, herein incorporated by reference.
FIG. 6 shows a conventional clip prior to setting. It has a straight bottom side or base 10 from whose ends 12 and 14 legs 42 and 44 project respectively. It is easy to see that much of the perimeter of the finally formed, essentially rectangular clip in the upper part of FIG. 6 comes from the originally straight base 10. The height (h) and width (b) of the closed rectangular clip (as in FIG. 6a) are approximately linked to the length of the base 10 prior to setting (L.sub.base) through the relationship b+2 h=L.sub.base, if one assumes that the base side (b) and the two lateral sides (1) of the set clip are formed from the base 10. A clip which has, for example, a width b=8 mm and a height h=6 mm after setting would, if formed conventionally, have a base length of some 20 mm. The clip to be introduced with its base transversely through a trocar cannula would thus require a trocar cannula with an internal diameter of more than 20 mm. Trocars of this size are not generally desirable as, when they are applied, the advantages of minimally invasive surgery would be somewhat compromised.
From German Patent No. 32 04 532 a surgical clip made from bendable wire-like material is known, in which before setting, the base does not run along a straight line but is bent backwards, opposite to the fully closed direction of the legs. In this way, the free ends of the legs and the vertex of the base lie approximately along one line. Because of this shape before setting, the staple is somewhat more compact than the clips described above, which have a straight base. The extension of the staple in DE 32 04 532 measured transversely with respect to the legs is, however, again significantly greater than the extension measured in the direction of the legs, so that introducing such staple also would require a large trocar cannula.

"Omega"-shaped staple for surgical, especially endoscopic, purposes


The present invention relates to a process for the preparation of bis-carbonic acid aryl esters of polyester-diols, lengthened via --OCOO-- groups, characterized in that polyester-diols with molecular weights Mn (number-average) of over 250, preferably over 600, are heated with carbonic acid bis-aryl esters at temperatures between about 100.degree. C. and 200.degree. C., preferably between about 110.degree. C. and 180.degree. C., in vacuo below about 35 mm Hg, preferably between about 25 and 1 mm Hg, in the presence of catalysts, less than one mol of carbonic acid bis-aryl ester being employed per OH group of the polyester-diol and the hydroxyaryl compounds formed being distilled off.. The invention further relates to the bis-carbonic acid aryl esters of polyester-diols lengthened via --OCOO-- groups obtained according to the instant invention and their use for the preparation of polyester diol bis-diphenol carbonates, lengthened via carbonate groups, characterized in that polyester-diol bis-aryl carbonates are reacted with a diphenol at a temperature of from about 100.degree. to about 200.degree. C. in vacuo below about 35 mm Hg in the presence of a catalyst, wherein more than 1 mol of diphenol is employed per mol of carbonic acid aryl ester groups of the polyester-diol bis-aryl carbonate, lengthened via carbonate groups, and the resulting hydroxyaryl compound is distilled off.. The invention finally relates to the polyester-diol bis-diphenol carbonates, lengthened via carbonate groups obtained according to the instant invention and their use for the preparation of polyester/polycarbonates and the polycarbonate/polyesters so prepared.

Bis-carbonic acid monoaryl esters which are derived fron aliphatic polyester-polyols can be prepared, for example, by reacting polyester-diols with diarylcarbonates in the presence of special catalysts according to German Patent Application Ser. No. P 2,651,639.2 which corresponds to U.S. Patent Application Ser. No. 845,174, filed Oct. 25, 1977, now U.S. Pat. No. 4,191,705. Products of this type are valuable starting materials for various block copolymers and are, therefore, readily transesterified, for example with bis-phenols. The compounds thus obtained can then be used for preparing, for example, polycarbonate/polyester block copolymers, as described in German Published Patent Specification No. 2,651,639.

Process for the preparation of carbonic acid aryl esters of polyester-diols lengthened via carbonate groups and their use for the preparation of polyester-diol bis-diphenol carbonates and polyester/polycarbonates


An optical device includes: a first electrode; a second electrode; a refractive index adjustment layer that has a refractive index changing in response to an electric field and is changeable between a transparent state and a state in which the refractive index adjustment layer distributes incident light; and a textured layer including a plurality of protrusions protruding toward the second electrode. The refractive index adjustment layer is provided between the first electrode and the second electrode. The textured layer is provided between the first electrode and the refractive index adjustment layer. The plurality of protrusions is in the form of stripes. The protrusion has a substantially trapezoidal cross-section. A trapezoid which is a cross-sectional shape of the protrusion has a base angle θ at both ends of the lower base ranging from 70 degrees to 85 degrees.

Optical devices which change their optical states when electricity is supplied thereto have been proposed. For example, Patent Literature (PTL) 1 discloses a light-adjusting element in which an electrolyte layer including an electrochromic material that contains silver is sandwiched between a pair of transparent electrodes and depressions and protrusions of nanometer-scale order are provided in one of the transparent electrodes. The light-adjusting element in PTL 1 can form a mirror state through application of a voltage.

PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.


A conductive plastic molding obtained by melt molding an ethylene copolymer comprising from 40 to 90% by weight of an ethylene unit, from 10 to 60% by weight of at least one dialkylaminoalkylacrylamide comonomer unit represented by formula ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1 represents a hydrogen atom or a methyl group; R.sub.2 and R.sub.3 each represents an alkyl group having from 1 to 4 carbon atoms; and n represents an integer of from 2 to 5, and up to 20% by weight of one or more ethylenically unsaturated comonomer units and having a number average molecular weight of from 5,000 to 50,000 and impregnating at least 10 parts by weight of an aqueous solution of at least one of an organic acid, an inorganic acid, and an inorganic metal salt into 100 parts by weight of the resulting melt molded. The molding exhibits excellent conductivity and can be obtained easily and at low cost without any limitation on shape.

Conductive plastic moldings obtained by imparting electrical conductivity to plastic moldings have advantages of moldability, light weight, and the like and have recently been utilized in a broad range of application, such as electromagnetic wave shields, antistatic materials, plane heaters for room heating, etc. The application range tends to be further broadened.
Known techniques for imparting conductivity to plastic moldings include compounding of a conductive substance, e.g., carbon black, metal powders, metallic fibers, etc. into a resin molding material, application of a coating containing a conductive substance to a resin molding, adhesion of a metal atom to a resin molding by ion plating or sputtering, and the like. In addition, various attempts have been made to render the resin per se electrically conductive.
However, these conventional techniques have their respective disadvantages as described below, and the resulting products are not always satisfactory depending on use.
According to the method of dispersing a conductive substance in a resin before molding to obtain a conductive resin molding material, achievement of satisfactory conductivity requires a large quantity of the conductive substance to be compounded, which leads to adverse influences on molding properties of the resulting mixture and physical properties of the resin.
The method comprising applying a coating having incorporated therein a conductive substance onto a resin molding encounters difficulty in uniformly applying the coating particularly on a molding of complicated shape. Besides, the conductive layer formed on the surface of the molding is apt to fall off during long-term use.
The method comprising adhesion of a metal atom to the surface of a resin molding requires a special apparatus to carry out to thereby increase the cost.
Further, none of the so-far proposed resins showing conductivity by themselves have been put into practical use due to their poor molding properties.
On the other hand, in the filed of portable storage batteries including lead accumulators which are utilized as auto batteries, there are many problems in handling and transportation because a fluid, such as dilute sulfuric acid, is employed as an electrolyte liquor.
In order to solve these problems, various attempts have been made to fix the electrolyte liquor. For example, there have been proposed a method of impregnating an electrolyte liquor into voids of glass cloth and a method of incorporating a gelling agent to an electrolyte liquor. These proposals, however, are still unsatisfactory as fixation or retention of the electrolyte liquor is insufficient and also the cell to be used is limited in shape and volume. Therefore, it has been keenly demanded to develop an effective method for fixation of an electrolyte liquor for portable storage batteries.

Electrically conductive plastic moldings and process for producing the same


A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device includes the steps of mounting a Si interposer over a printed wiring substrate, plasma-cleaning an upper surface of the Si interposer, disposing an NCF over the upper surface of the Si interposer, and mounting a semiconductor chip over the upper surface of the Si interposer through the NCF. Also, the method includes the step of electrically coupling each of plural electrodes of a second substrate and each of plural electrode pads of the semiconductor chip with each other through plural bump electrodes by reflow, and the surface of the Si interposer is plasma-cleaned before attaching the NCF to the Si interposer.

The present invention relates to a manufacturing technology of a semiconductor device, and relates specifically to a manufacturing technology of a semiconductor device in which flip chip coupling is executed.
In a semiconductor device in which a semiconductor chip is mounted on a substrate by flip chip coupling, a resin (underfill) is disposed in the gap between the semiconductor chip and the substrate, and the coupling section of the flip chip coupling is protected by this resin.
With respect to formation of the underfill described above, there are a prefabrication method in which the resin is fed to over the substrate before the semiconductor chip is mounted, and a retrofitting method in which the resin is poured into the gap described above after the semiconductor chip is mounted. As an example of the prefabrication method, an NCF (Non-Conductive Film) method is known. The NCF is a film-like insulative adhesive, and has the characteristic of having fluidity when heated.
Also, in recent years, the number of pieces of the bump of the semiconductor chip tends to increase because of multifunction and so on of the semiconductor device. As a result, the pitch between the bumps is mostly a fine pitch (narrow pitch). Also, when the pitch between the bumps is the fine pitch, because the bump size also becomes small, the gap between the semiconductor chip and the substrate also becomes narrow, the resin hardly enters the gap even when warp within a permissible range is formed in the substrate for example, and therefore the retrofitting method is not suitable to the fine pitch.
Accordingly, when the pitch between the bumps is made the fine pitch, it is preferable to employ the prefabrication method.
Also, a manufacturing method in which an electronic component is mounted over a wiring board through an adhesive film is disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2012-231039, for example.

Method for manufacturing semiconductor device