The invention relates to matrix image sensors organized into pixel rows and columns, and more specifically to image sensors produced with active pixels in MOS technology. The matrix is organized into groups of at least two pixels with means for grouping the charges engendered in the two pixels into one pixel, with the aim of improving sensitivity. Provision is made for at least one gate for temporarily storing charges, of dissymmetric form, arranged between the photodiode of the first pixel and the photodiode of the second pixel, and means for applying to the temporary storage gate a succession of potentials that allow prohibition first of all of the passage of charges between the first and second photodiodes during the charge integration period, then collection, under the gate, of the charges accumulated in the photodiodes, then discharge of these charges only into the second photodiode, on account of the dissymmetry of the gate. The charges grouped in this way in a single photodiode are read in the pixel.

It has already been proposed to produce matrix sensors in which the resolution and sensitivity can be modified as chosen by the user by grouping a plurality of neighboring pixels. For a better resolution, the pixels are read independently of one another. For better sensitivity at the cost of lower resolution, the pixels are grouped and supply a single signal for each group of pixels. The adjacent pixels can be grouped 2 by 2 or 4 by 4 or more generally m by n, m and n being two integers, at least one of which is greater than or equal to 2.
The grouping of pixels (or "binning") has been used in CCD (charge transfer device) technologies, where it is particularly effective because it allows photogenerated charges to be added by simple charge transfer. In active pixel MOS technologies, it is more complicated because the output signal from the pixels is a voltage; if the voltage is digitized and a plurality of digital signals are added in order to group pixels, the noise is likewise added.
However, even in active pixel MOS technologies, charge transfer structures have been proposed that allow unlimited grouping, in analog form, of photogenerated charges in a plurality of pixels. Charges are grouped by sharing the charge storage nodes of adjacent pixels before converting the charges into voltage; the disadvantage of the proposed devices is that this complicates the reading of the individual pixels when there is no wish to group them; moreover, these devices exhibit a lower charge/voltage conversion factor when the pixels are grouped than when they remain separate.
By way of example, the patent GB2474014 has proposed an architecture allowing conditional sharing of the charges between two pixels by means of a transistor that connects or does not connect the charge storage nodes of two adjacent pixels. The capacitance of the charge storage node greatly increases when this sharing is effected, which reduces the charge/voltage conversion factor.
Finally, the patent U.S. Pat. No. 6,452,153 has proposed charge sharing within the framework of a pixel that does not have an isolation transistor between the photodiode and a charge storage node and that, instead of this, has what is known as a "skimming" transistor that is DC-biased. This patent uses an architecture with a grouping transistor that is arranged so as to connect the outputs of a plurality of photodiodes to the read transistor of a single one of the pixels. Although the charge/voltage conversion factor remains the same when the pixels are separate and when they are grouped, the solution described in this patent has a major disadvantage that is low transfer efficiency because the charges on the photodiode that is furthest from the grouping pixel have trouble in reaching the read circuit of this pixel. The untransferred charges would appear in the next image, giving rise to a delay phenomenon that damages the image. Moreover, this structure has very little efficiency at low signal level because it works by skimming charges above a certain level. The grouping of charges is of particular interest at low light level.


A rongeur includes a device body having a first arm and a second arm slidably coupled to the first arm. A handle operatively coupled to the first arm and the second arm is configured to move the second arm along a length of the first arm in a first direction and an opposing second direction. A tip assembly is removably coupled to a distal end of the device body. The tip assembly includes a first tip and a second tip slidably coupled to the first tip. A locking mechanism is configured to removably couple the first tip to the first arm and removably couple the second tip to the second arm. The second tip is movable with respect to the first tip from an open position toward a closed position as the second arm moves in the first direction.

Rongeurs, such as Kerrison rongeurs, must have sharp cutting tips to accurately perform delicate surgery around the skull and the spinal column of a patient. The cutting tips quickly become dull, requiring sharpening after a limited number of cutting procedures through hard bone and strong tendons and ligaments. Many conventional cutting tips may only be used in 10-15 procedures before such sharpening is required. Further, due to the relatively small dimensions of the cutting tips, many cutting tips can only be sharpened 8-10 times before they are no longer effective.

Kerrison rongeur with removable tip assembly


A novel MMIC on-chip power-combined frequency multiplier device and a method of fabricating the same, comprising two or more multiplying structures integrated on a single chip, wherein each of the integrated multiplying structures are electrically identical and each of the multiplying structures include one input antenna (E-probe) for receiving an input signal in the millimeter-wave, submillimeter-wave or terahertz frequency range inputted on the chip, a stripline based input matching network electrically connecting the input antennas to two or more Schottky diodes in a balanced configuration, two or more Schottky diodes that are used as nonlinear semiconductor devices to generate harmonics out of the input signal and produce the multiplied output signal, stripline based output matching networks for transmitting the output signal from the Schottky diodes to an output antenna, and an output antenna (E-probe) for transmitting the output signal off the chip into the output waveguide transmission line.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to on-chip power combining for high-power Schottky diode based frequency multipliers.
2. Description of the Related Art.
(Note: This application references a number of different publications as indicated throughout the specification by one or more reference numbers within brackets, e.g., [x]. A list of these different publications ordered according to these reference numbers can be found below in the section entitled "References." Each of these publications is incorporated by reference herein.)
Solid-state multiplied local oscillator (LO) sources based on Schottky diode technology have been by far the preferred devices to drive the heterodyne receivers on imaging radars for concealed weapons detection and on-board planetary science and astrophysics space missions at submillimeter-waves and terahertz (THz) frequencies. The first generation of room-temperature Schottky multiplied LO sources exhibited up to 2 microwatts (μW) at 1.9 THz frequency (highest band of the HIFI instrument of the Herschel Space Observatory) by frequency multiplying from the available 100-150 milliwatt (mW) LO sources at W-band frequencies (75-100 Gigahertz, GHz) up to terahertz frequencies using a +2+3+3 (doubler, tripler, tripler) cascaded-multiplier configuration.
The recent progress in GaN-based power amplifier technology has recently demonstrated output power levels in excess of 5 Watts (W) from power amplifiers at W-band frequencies, making it now possible to conceive solid-state multiplied sources beyond 2 or 3 THz [2], as well as to develop multi-pixel heterodyne instruments for ground and space based applications in the THz range [3]. The increasing output power at W-band, together with the use of high-thermal conductivity substrates and power-combining schemes to increase the number of chips within the multipliers, have already led to world-record measured output powers up to 1.4 milliwatts (mW) at 0.9 THz, 60 microwatts (μW or uW) at 1.9 THz [1], and 18 μW at. 2.54 THz at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL). Using the novel GaN amplifier chains, power levels up to 10 mW at 600 GHz and >0.1 mW at 1.9 THz are envisioned using all-solid-state frequency multiplied sources.
Since the maximum power handled by a single chip is generally limited by the number of diodes in the chip, a number of multiplier chips need to be power-combined in order to make it possible to handle high amounts of power at the input and subsequently produce superior power levels at the output. However, the use of traditional power-combining topologies, already demonstrated below 1 THz, presents inconvenience beyond 1 THz. On the one hand, the use of Y-junction to divide/combine the input/output power at these frequency bands unnecessarily increases the electrical path of the signal at a range of frequencies where waveguide losses are considerably high. On the other hand, guaranteeing a perfect alignment of the very small chips during assembly, in order to preserve the balanced nature of the multiplier, is practically impossible, with a subsequent impact on the multiplier performance. Hence, novel power-combining schemes are very necessary in order to increase the power-handling capabilities of high-frequency multipliers, while preserving the multiplier circuit performance. The present invention satisfies this need.

On-chip power-combining for high-power schottky diode based frequency multipliers


Apparatus for capturing and printing images on photosensitive sheets, includes a camera for electronically storing an image of a subject and having a display for displaying such stored image. A printer includes light tight storage arrangement for receiving a stack of photosensitive sheets and receives an inserted camera to interconnect such camera to the printer and open a light tight optical path between the photosensitive sheets and the electronic camera display. After the camera is inserted into the printer, exposure takes place along the light tight optical path to a photographic surface of a sheet with an image from the electronic camera display.

It is known in the prior art to provide an electronic camera which uses an area image sensor. Digital images produced from the image sensor are stored in memory and these images can be shown on a display so that the user can determine which image should be stored for use in producing hard copy images. Typically, these images can be stored in a magnetic disk or a compact PCMCIA Flash RAM Card or dedicated memory within the electronic camera
A shortcoming with prior electronic cameras is that data must be transmitted from the electronic camera to printer. Interfaces must be present to transfer the data. As disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,032,911, printers that write to light sensitive media print must have a structure within the printer that operates on received data and converts the data into modulated light to mark the photosensitive sheet Many newer electronic cameras incorporate light emitting displays to view a captured image. However, the apparatus for producing images from such displays is not available for light writing onto photosensitive media.

Exposure control of camera attached to printer electronic camera


The present invention relates to an internal combustion engine (1) of the Otto type, comprising an induction pipe (3) in conjunction with the engine's (1) cylinders, a brake servo unit (15), a flow connection (29) for evacuating air from the brake servo unit (15) to the induction pipe (3) for the purpose of building up a vacuum inside the brake servo unit (15), in conjunction with which a Venturi unit (25) is arranged in the flow connection (17, 19) to assist with the building up of the aforementioned vacuum. The internal combustion engine is characterized in that the flow connection (17, 19) comprises a bypass line (29) having a lower flow resistance than the Venturi unit (25), the bypass line (29) being intended to connect the evacuated air past the Venturi unit (25) in the event of a transient vacuum in the induction pipe (3).

The purpose of a brake servo unit in a motor vehicle is to amplify the force from a driver's foot when the driver presses the brake pedal. For this purpose, a vacuum is generated inside the brake servo unit when the difference between the atmospheric pressure and the vacuum inside the brake servo unit assists the driver in his task of actuating the brake pedal.

Servo-brake system in an Otto cycle engine


A positioning system for tracking the location of a first responder emergency worker. The system includes mobile enabler units and a personnel badge having a ranging transponder. Two enabler units can use two-way ranging signals, a prescribed turn around time and differential altitude for automatically tracking the location of the badge.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates generally to positioning systems and more particularly to a positioning system for tracking the location of a first responder emergency worker.
2. Description of the Background Art
Recently, there has been great interest in the support of first responder emergency workers after a natural or terrorist disaster has occurred. A primary requirement for supporting the first responder in the field is the knowledge of his or her location. At this time, there is no universal positioning system with the accuracy that is needed that works reliably within buildings.
Current technology requires the first responder to use his or her two-way radio to communicate position. An advantage of this approach is that the first responder does not need to carry any extra positioning hardware. However, this advantage may be less than it seems because the two-way radios of many first responders are incompatible with each other. Further, it requires time and verbal skill to communicate an accurate unambiguous position. For example, the first responder may be situated in a maze that is hard to describe of rooms in the interior of a building. In any case, the first responder may not be able to see his or her position due to smoke or because the disaster has wiped out certain landmarks.


An array substrate and a maintenance method therefor, and a display apparatus are provided. The array substrate includes: a plurality of data signal lines, wherein each of the data signal lines includes a plurality of data signal line sub-segments corresponding to a plurality of pixel units on a one-to-one basis, and each of the pixel units includes a light-shielding metal strip, wherein an orthographic projection of an input end of the data signal line sub-segment on a base substrate and an orthographic projection of the light-shielding metal strip on the base substrate have a first overlapping region used as a first maintenance site, and an orthographic projection of an output end of the data signal line sub-segment on the base substrate and an orthographic projection of the light-shielding metal strip on the base substrate have a second overlapping region used as a second maintenance site.

At present, in a liquid crystal display device of an In-Plane Switching (IPS) mode, in order to reduce storage capacitance of an array substrate and avoid light leakage phenomenon of the array substrate upon being curved, a gate driver on array (GOA) technology and a color filter on array (COA) technology are adopted to manufacture the array substrate.

Array substrate and maintenance method therefor, and display apparatus

CHONGQING BOE OPTOELECTRONICS TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.


In image sensors and methods of manufacturing the same, a substrate has a photoelectric conversion area, a floating diffusion area and a recess between the photoelectric conversion area and the floating diffusion area. A plurality of photodiodes is vertically arranged inside the substrate in the photoelectric conversion area. A transfer transistor is arranged along a surface profile of the substrate having the recess and configured to transfer electric charges generated from the plurality of photodiodes to the floating diffusion area. The transfer transistor includes a gate insulation pattern on a sidewall and a bottom of the recess and on a surface of the substrate around the recess, and a gate conductive pattern including polysilicon doped with impurities and positioned on the gate insulation pattern along the surface profile of the substrate having the recess, wherein a cavity is in an upper surface of the gate conductive pattern.

1. Field
Example embodiments relate to image sensors and methods of manufacturing the same, and more particularly, to image sensors having a vertical transfer gate transistor and methods of manufacturing the same.
2. Description of the Related Art
An image sensor includes a semiconductor device for transforming optical image signals into electric signals. The image sensors are generally classified into a charge coupled device (CCD) type and a complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) type. The CMOS type image sensor usually includes a plurality of pixels that are arranged in two dimensions, and each of the pixels includes a photodiode. Recently, the size of the pixel is gradually decreased as the integration degree of the semiconductor devices increases, and thus the size of the photodiode is also reduced in the pixel.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Image sensors and methods of manufacturing the same


A circuit arrangement can carry out a method for controlling the light transmission of an electrochromic glass that involves generating a control voltage that is applied to the electrochromic glass to bring about a desired transparency or lack of transparency. The method optimizes, i.e. minimizes, the electrical energy that must be applied to the electrochromic glass, with respect to magnitude and duration, while achieving the desired degree of transparency very quickly. The actual voltage on the glass is measured at certain intervals and compared with a reference voltage that corresponds to a desired light transmission. A control voltage of positive or negative polarity is applied to the electrochromic glass for a certain charging or discharging period, depending on the deviation of the actual voltage from the reference value, and the actual voltage on the glass is again measured and compared with the reference voltage. These steps are repeated until the actual voltage on the glass is substantially equal to the reference voltage. The control voltage is then switched off or reduced such that no control current flows in the glass, until a subsequent measurement determines that the actual voltage has fallen below the reference voltage by more than an acceptable threshold difference amount, at which point the control voltage is again switched on.

This application is based on and claims the priority under 35 U.S.C. xc2xa7119 of German Patent Application 199 25 335.8, filed on Jun. 2, 1999, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.
The invention relates to a method of regulating the light transmission of an electrochromic glass pane, by generating an electrical voltage that is applied to the electrochromic glass pane and that is controlled dependent on the desired degree of light transmission, and by controlling the current that flows through the glass pane. The invention further relates to a circuit arrangement for implementing the method. Such electrochromic glass panes are especially suitable for use as the cockpit or cabin window panes of an aircraft, sunroofs and side windows of automobiles, and the like.
FIG. 1 shows a cross-section of a conventional electrochromic glass pane, which will simply be called an electrochromic glass herein. Two conventional glass panes 1, 2 are respectively arranged at each outer side of the electrochromic glass, and a transparent electrode layer 3, 4 is arranged directly adjacent to the respective glass panes 1, 2. A darkening or coloring layer 5, preferably a tungsten oxide layer, is arranged directly next to the transparent electrode layer 3. An electrolyte layer 6 and an ion storage layer 7 are arranged between the coloring layer 5 and the other transparent electrode layer 4. In order to vary the light transmission of such an electrochromic glass construction, the glass or its. components must be charged to a specific electrical potential. The voltage that is required to change the light transmission of the glass depends on the materials used. If a small electric potential exists between the electrodes 3, 4, then an ionic current flows into the, tungsten oxide layer. Electrons compensate the charge of the ions. The stored ions cause the originally transparent tungsten oxide layer to turn blue, thereby reducing the light transmission. This coloring or darkening effect can be reversed by shorting the circuit to reduce the voltage to zero or by applying a voltage of opposite polarity.
German Patent Laying-Open Publication DE 196 30 812 A1 discloses a transparent sunroof system for a vehicle. A transparent panel is slidably movable into an open position above or below another panel in the sunroof system in order to provide an opening in the roof. As a means of providing effective shade protection when the roof panel is closed and adequate transparency when the slidable panels are moved to an open position in which the panels are stacked one above the other, one of the two panels has an electrochromic layer that provides for variable light transmission or transparency. The transparency of the panel that is provided with the electrochromic layer can, for example, be varied by means of a variable resistor or potentiometer. Thus, for example, by applying a reduced voltage to a colored or darkened panel by means of the variable resistor, the panel can be xe2x80x9cbleachedxe2x80x9d, i.e., the transparency of the particular panel can be increased. Conversely, a transparent panel can be darkened or colored, i.e., the transparency can be decreased, by applying an increased voltage. According to this known technique, however, the increased voltage must be continuously applied to the glass without interruption, in order to maintain the reduced transparency condition. This is a disadvantage because the continuously applied higher voltage can have detrimental effects on the performance or service life of the glass, and requires increased energy, which is undesirable especially in a self-contained electrical system such as that of an automobile.
U. S. Pat. No. 5,384,578 (Lynam et al.) discloses a variable electrochromic light transmission system. The light transmission of a pane of glass is controlled by means of a memory time constant that is predetermined by the properties of the glass pane and a reference voltage set point. In this known system, the actual value of the light transmission is not determined, rather, the memory, time constant and the reference voltage set point control a drive signal or trigger signal that drives a multivibrator. The multivibrator generates a pulsed signal for charging the pane of glass.
In view of the above it is an object of the invention to provide a method of regulating the light transmission of an electrochromic glass that will optimize the electrical energy to be supplied to the electrochromic glass, with respect to magnitude and duration. It is a further object of the invention to provide a circuit arrangement for implementing the method according to the invention. The invention further aims to avoid or overcome the disadvantages of the prior art and to achieve additional advantages, as are apparent from the present specification.
The above objects have been achieved in a method of regulating light transmission of an electrochromic glass according to the invention, wherein the actual voltage existing or prevailing on the glass is determined and compared with a desired voltage value or reference voltage and, depending on the deviation or difference value of the actual voltage from the reference voltage, a control voltage of positive or negative polarity is applied to the glass to generate a control current flow. The control voltage remains applied until the actual voltage is substantially equal to the reference voltage. After the specified voltage level has been reached, the control voltage is switched off or reduced until no control current flows in the glass. Intermittently, at measuring intervals during a holding period, i.e., a period when there is no control current flow in the glass, the actual voltage on the glass is again measured and compared to the reference voltage or a threshold value. If it is determined that the actual value of the voltage on the glass deviates from the reference voltage by more than a predetermined threshold amount or value, then the control voltage is again applied to the glass with the appropriate polarity to minimize the deviation and is maintained until the actual voltage across the glass is again substantially equal to the reference voltage.
The method according to the invention provides the essential advantage that the appropriate reference voltages (with a defined current limit when applicable) and the time periods for the measuring intervals and charging or discharging periods are governed by the construction, the material, and the dimensions of the electrochromic glass. Thus, these parameters are adaptable to the specific electrochromic glass. A further advantage of the invention is that the automatic control or regulation electronics can be provided as an integrated component of the electrochromic glass or as a separate unit. The voltage supply for the automatic control or regulation electronics can be supplied, for example, by the on-board power supply network of an aircraft or by an automobile battery, or the like, depending on the particular application.
Embodiments of the invention provide that the control parameters, such as measuring intervals, voltage charging or discharging periods, and/or the reference voltages are variable during the automatic control operations. The automatic control operations may be carried out with discrete electronic components using threshold value queries or sampling and comparisons carried out by comparators. In a preferred embodiment, the automatic control is performed by a microcontroller or microprocessor that processes analog-to-digital converted signals using appropriate software to carry out the comparisons, timing, and other functions.
In an alternative embodiment of the invention, the light transmission of the glass, i.e. the charging or discharging of the glass, is regulated or controlled by measuring the control current flow in the glass, rather than by controlling the control voltage and the charging or discharging time period.
A circuit arrangement according to the invention for performing the method includes a computer or microprocessor, a power voltage follower, and a voltage reversing device. An input of the computer or microprocessor is connected via an analog-digital converter (A/D or ADC) to a component that provides a reference voltage set point, and an output of the computer or microprocessor is connected via a digital-analog converter (D/A or DAC) to the voltage follower and to the voltage reversing device. An output of the voltage reversing device is electrically connected to an input of the electrochromic glass. Also, the electrochromic glass as well as the voltage reversing device are connected via an analog-digital converter to an input of the computer or microprocessor.

Circuit arrangement for regulating light transmission of an electrochromic glass pane


In a mould-pressing machine, atomizing nozzles with a vortex chamber deliver atomized liquid mixed with air through outlet apertures. The atomizing air nozzle or nozzles are constantly supplied with compressed air through a pressure conduit while the liquid nozzle solely receives liquid under pressure through a liquid channel and a slave valve controlled by the liquid pressure in the periods during which injection of liquid mist is desired. A first (upstream) vortex chamber is provided upstream of a second (downstream) vortex chamber, and between these two vortex chambers a flow path is provided to interconnect the two vortex chambers, through which flow path the liquid mist having been formed in the first vortex chamber is forced to pass and change its direction and velocity of flow at least one, thus reducing the droplet size of the liquid mist.

Mould-pressing machines of the kind referred to above are e.g. known from U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,494,094 and 4,791,974.
In mould-pressing machines of the kind referred to above, usually being adapted to operate automatically producing series of casting moulds or casting-mould parts, it is of crucial importance that the correct quantity of liquid mist be injected in each cycle. Thus, an excess of liquid mist will, in addition to increasing the costs, create an unnecessary load on the environment, while too small quantities of liquid mist will result in an insufficient "lubrication" of the mould-chamber walls, in the worst case possibly causing parts of the compacted object to stick to the patterns mounted on the mould-chamber walls and thus make the mould part unsuitable for pouring.
Thus, it is desirable to inject the least possible quantity of liquid with the liquid mist, while at the same time ensuring with absolute certainty that the mould is lubricated sufficiently.
It is a relatively simple matter to ensure that the quantity being supplied to the system in each operating cycle is held below a predetermined upper limit, this effect e.g. being attainable by means of a suitably time-controlled and cycle-controlled pump only applying pressure to the liquid to be atomized in a period corresponding to the desired quantity of liquid mist for each operating cycle. Thus, the maximum quantity of liquid that it is possible to advance through the liquid path with a given pressure at a given moment in time sets the upper limit for the quantity of liquid.
On the other hand it can, however, be difficult to set the lower limit for the quantity of liquid being supplied to the liquid mist, a number of relationships coming into play. Thus, it is of primary importance that the liquid quantity being supplied is converted into a uniform liquid mist being distributed uniformly on the mould chamber walls, so that a sufficient quantity of liquid will be deposited on these walls to provide the requisite lubrication. If the nozzle aperture or other parts of the nozzle are contaminated by particulate mould material or other particles, this will have a negative effect on the formation of the liquid mist and the quantity of liquid being introduced into the mould chamber.
For this reason, the prior art referred to initially comprises the use of nozzles, in which it is possible to maintain a continuous air stream through the outlet aperture, making it difficult for particles from the mould chamber to penetrate into the apertures.
In these nozzles, the liquid mist is formed by liquid being injected from a first nozzle aperture into a vortex chamber, in which it is mixed with the atomizing air being blown into the vortex chamber from a second nozzle aperture, after which the liquid mist is discharged from the outlet aperture or apertures.
With this known technology, it has been difficult to form a liquid mist with fine and uniform droplets. In the prior art this makes it necessary to supply more liquid to the liquid mist than would have been necessary, if the liquid mist were more uniform and had finer droplets.
Further, it has been necessary to use relatively complex valves for shutting-off the liquid at the first nozzle aperture, because this valve is of substantial importance for the accuracy and precision with which the liquid can be delivered to the vortex chamber. It has, however, frequently been necessary to supply a greater quantity of liquid in order to compensate for inaccuracies and lack of precision in the delivery of the liquid. In addition to this, the possibility of liquid leaks occurring, e.g. due to particles--in spite of the continuous stream of air--having penetrated from the mould chamber and in through the outlet aperture to the shut-off valve at the nozzle aperture, has made it necessary to construct the valve in a complicated manner in order to safeguard the operation, and to supply a greater amount of liquid in order to compensate for possible leaks, respectively.

Mould-pressing machine with liquid-mist injection


A semiconductor package includes a circuit board comprising a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface. A first semiconductor chip is stacked on the first surface and a second semiconductor chip stacked on the first semiconductor chip. A region of the second chip protrudes beyond a side of the first semiconductor chip. A support underpins the protruding region of the second chip. The support may be, for example, dry film solder resist dam.

1. Field of the Inventive Concept Inventive concepts relate to a semiconductor package and a method of fabricating the same.
2. Description of the Related Art
A packaging technique, which may be referred to as two-channel, low-profile, cross-stacking may be employed to produce lighter, thinner, more compact electronic devices for use in mobile electronic products. In such an approach, low profile semiconductor chips may be stacked sequentially on a circuit board with a first semiconductor chip stacked on a circuit board along a first direction, and a second semiconductor chip stacked on the first semiconductor chip along a second direction perpendicular to the first direction.
When the second semiconductor chip is stacked on the first semiconductor, some regions of the second semiconductor chip may protrude from the first semiconductor chip, and the protruding regions of the second semiconductor chip may be bent, causing the second semiconductor chip to crack.
For example, in the process of wire-bonding the protruding regions of the second semiconductor chip to the circuit board, a force may be applied to the protruding regions of the second semiconductor chip, and the protruding regions of the second semiconductor chip may be bent by the applied force. In addition, when an encapsulant is molded on the protruding regions of the second semiconductor chip, the protruding regions of the second semiconductor chip may be bent by the weight of the encapsulant. When the protruding regions of the second semiconductor chip are bent down, it may be difficult to fill the spaces under the protruding regions of the second semiconductor chip with the encapsulant. Accordingly, cracks in the semiconductor chip or spaces devoid of encapsulant may reduce the reliability of products employing cross-stacked chips.

Semiconductor package including chip support and method of fabricating the same


A roulette-like ball game machine has a rotary disk with a plurality of pockets arranged in a peripheral direction and assigned a number respectively, and a guide circle provided around the rotary disk at a somewhat higher position and joining to the rotary disk through an inclined surface. While the rotary disk is turned, a ball rolled along the guide circle falls inside and enters one of the pockets to decide a prize number. In such a ball game machine, a plurality of operation stands are arranged around the guide circle, the rotary disk is formed in an annular shape having a large inner diameter, a large-sized picture surface is provided within the central space of the rotary disk and various pictures are projected on the picture surface by an image projector.

The present invention relates to a roulette-like ball game machine which can be utilized for a bingo game, a cards game and the like as well as the original roulette game.
In the actual roulette game, after a plurality of players bet a suitable number of chips on numbers selected by them respectively, a dealer turns a rotary disk having a plurality of pockets arranged circumferentially and then throws-in a ball along a guide circle provided round an outer periphery of the rotary disk so that the ball rolls guided by the guide circle in a direction opposite to the turning direction of the rotary disk.
The ball rolls along the guide circle owing to a centrifugal force at first, but when the rolling speed is lowered and the centrifugal force is reduced, the ball separates from the guide circle, moves toward the inside to reach the rotary disk and enters into any one of the pockets.
The pockets have corresponding numbers respectively, and an allotment is given to a player who betted on the number of the pocket the ball enters. The chips of the other players are confiscated.
Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open Publication No. Hei 5-29575 proposes a machine having a rotary disk driven by a motor to rotate, a plurality of operation stands arranged round a periphery of a roulette-like ball game machine and a large-sized screen erected vertically in the rear.
Namely, in this machine, as shown in FIG. 15, a plurality of operation stands 05 are arranged around a ball game machine 01 and a large-sized screen 08 is erected at a position biased on one side. On each of the operation stands 05 are provided a display monitor 06, an operation button section 07 and the like for each player.
The ball game machine 01 has a center mound 03 swelling up gently formed at a center of a rotary disk 02 integrally to turn together with the rotary disk 02 similarly to an actual roulette having a rotary disk turned by hand.
Each player faces to any one operation stand 05 to operate the operation button section 07 looking at the monitor 06 and in case of the roulette game he bets chips on a certain number and watches the ball game machine 01.
The ball game machine 01 shoots out a ball 09 to a guide circle 04 on an outer periphery of the turning rotary disk 02 in a direction opposite to the turning of the rotary disk. The ball 09 shot out vigorously rolls along the guide circle 04 owing to centrifugal force at first, but when the rolling speed is lowered, the ball 09 drops toward inside by its own weight and enters into a certain pocket on the turning rotary disk. If a number corresponding to the pocket into which the ball enters coincides with a number betted by a player, an allotment is given to him, therefore the players trace the ball 09.
Meanwhile, a picture on the screen 08 does not attract the player's attention and is ignored, therefore it cannot be expected that the screen exhibits a visual effect sufficient to excite the players.
The player is put to trouble because he must watch the monitor 06 and further the large-sized screen 08 with line of sight largely altered in addition to watching the ball game machine 01.
On the one hand, the large-sized screen 08 elected along the ball game machine requires an extra installation space so that the number of operation stands is limited to reduce the number of players who can play simultaneously.

Ball game machine with a roulette-type rotary disk and a display located in the central area therein


The present invention discloses a sealant coating equipment of a liquid crystal panel which comprises a nozzle, the nozzle is used for sealant coating of substrates required to be sealant-coated, the equipment further comprises a monitoring and detecting device. When the nozzle is performing sealant coating, the monitoring and detecting device is used for instantaneously acquiring images after the sealant coating is performed by the nozzle, determining if there are defects of sealant coating according to the acquired images, and recording location data of defective sealant coatings when determining that there are the defective sealant coatings. When the nozzle finishes the sealant coating, the monitoring and detecting device is further used for displaying images of the defective sealant coatings and locations data of the defective sealant coatings. The present invention further discloses a sealant coating method of a liquid crystal panel.

1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates to a field of liquid crystal display technology and more particularly to a sealant coating equipment and its coating method for a liquid crystal panel.
2. Related Art
In a sealant coating process for glass substrate in production of liquid crystal display, after sealant is coated and formed on glass substrate in an airtight coating box, it is then inspected by a sealant inspection machine, any defect of sealant coating found will be regarded as disqualified sealant coated product, such products have to be mended, for example, defective areas of sealant coating have to be patched up with sealant.
In existing techniques, patch up of sealant is commonly carried out with the following two methods:
firstly, purchasing a sealant inspection machine and an airtight coating box, inspection is performed with the purchased sealant inspection machine, when disqualified sealant coated products are found, patching up of sealant is carried out in the airtight coating box;
secondly, disqualified sealant coated products are moved back reversely by manpower to the original airtight coating box for patching up of sealant.
If purchasing the sealant inspection machine and airtight coating box, it will definitely increase the costs. If disqualified sealant coated products are moved back reversely by manpower to the original airtight coating box for patching up of sealant, production capacity of an entire sealant coating line will be affected; furthermore, if cracks or similar defects are found in sealant, it will be ineffective for patch up of sealant once a long period has passed since the defects are found.
Therefore, in order to ensure an effect of patching up of sealant, defects of sealant coating in sealant coating process have to be patched up timely. However, basically in existing techniques, after the substrates are coated with sealant, they are inspected in a stationary manner by locations if there are defects of sealant coating. Apparently, it is time-wasting if inspection is carried out with this method, and efficiency of patching up of sealant is reduced to a great extent, therefore production capacity of coating of sealant will be reduced as well.

Sealant coating equipment for liquid crystal panel and its coating method

SHENZHEN CHINA STAR OPTOELECTRONICS TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD


A fishing sinker device for maintaining the fishing line and attached fishing lure at the desired water level regardless of the terrain. The inventive device includes a buoyant member having a first end and a second end, a first engaging member attached to the first end of the buoyant member for engaging a fishing line, and a second engaging member attached to the second end of the buoyant member for engaging a weight. The buoyant member is preferably an elongate structure and is constructed of a buoyant material such as a foam rubber material or the like. The first engaging member includes a first slot for receiving the fishing line and the second engaging member includes a second slot for receiving a loop from the weight. The buoyant member maintains the fishing line at the desired height above the surface of the body of water during fishing regardless of the obstacles encountered during usage of the present invention.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to sinker devices and more specifically it relates to a fishing sinker device for maintaining the fishing line and attached fishing lure at the desired water level regardless of the terrain.
Individuals that troll for fish often times desire to position the lure at a specified depth within the water above the lake bottom. Fishermen are capable of controlling this depth of the lure by providing a specified length of fishing line and controlling the velocity of the boat within the water. Unfortunately, it is very difficult for the fisherman to maintain a constant lure level within the water and the lure engages debris at the bottom of the lake including rocks and weeds. Hence, there is a need for a fishing system that maintains the lure at a desired water depth regardless of the terrain encountered.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Bottom bouncers and other sinker devices have been in use for years. Typically, a conventional bottom bouncer comprises a weight, an upper shaft, and a lower shaft. The upper shaft includes an attachment structure for securing to a fishing line a finite distance before the fishing lure. The lower shaft engages the lake bottom thereby supporting the fishing lure a finite distance above the lake bottom while the fisherman is trolling.
The main problem with conventional bottom bouncers is that they often times tip over during usage thereby causing the fishing lure to become lower within the water thereby catching debris such as weeds and rocks. Another problem with conventional bottom bouncers is that they are extremely difficult to attach to a fishing line often times requiring the fisherman to tie knots within the fishing line. Another problem is that conventional bottom bouncers often times collect debris such as weeds during usage thereby contributing to them tipping over and reducing the overall action of the fishing system.
While these devices may be suitable for the particular purpose to which they address, they are not as suitable for maintaining the fishing line and attached fishing lure at the desired water level regardless of the terrain. Conventional bottom bouncers simply do not provide a consistent level for the fishing lure and often times result in the fisherman having to reel in their fishing lure to clean debris from thereof.
In these respects, the fishing sinker device according to the present invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in so doing provides an apparatus primarily developed for the purpose of maintaining the fishing line and attached fishing lure at the desired water level regardless of the terrain.
In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of bottom bouncers and weight devices now present in the prior art, the present invention provides a new fishing sinker device construction wherein the same can be utilized for maintaining the fishing line and attached fishing lure at the desired water level regardless of the terrain.
The general purpose of the present invention, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a new fishing sinker device that has many of the advantages of the bottom bouncers and weight devices mentioned heretofore and many novel features that result in a new fishing sinker device which is not anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by any of the prior art bottom bouncers, either alone or in any combination thereof.
To attain this, the present invention generally comprises a buoyant member having a first end and a second end, a first engaging member attached to the first end of the buoyant member for engaging a fishing line, and a second engaging member attached to the second end of the buoyant member for engaging a weight. The buoyant member is preferably an elongate structure and is constructed of a buoyant material such as a foam rubber material or the like. The first engaging member includes a first slot for receiving the fishing line and the second engaging member includes a second slot for receiving a loop from the weight. The buoyant member maintains the fishing line at the desired height above the surface of the body of water during fishing regardless of the obstacles encountered during usage of the present invention.
There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and that will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.
In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of the description and should not be regarded as limiting.
A primary object of the present invention is to provide a fishing sinker device that will overcome the shortcomings of the prior art devices.
A second object is to provide a fishing sinker device for maintaining the fishing line and attached fishing lure at the desired water level regardless of the terrain.
Another object is to provide a fishing sinker device that is almost impossible to tip over during usage.
An additional object is to provide a fishing sinker device that maintains a consistent height above a terrain surface during trolling and other fishing activities.
A further object is to provide a fishing sinker device that reduces the likelihood of the fishing lure catching upon debris such as weeds and rocks.
Another object is to provide a fishing sinker device -that does not catch upon weeks and rocks.
A further object is to provide a fishing sinker device that easily attaches to various sizes of sinker weights.
An additional object is to provide a fishing sinker device that easily attaches to a fishing line.
A further object is to provide a fishing sinker device that is comprised of a foam rubber material that is capable of breaking apart when a force is applied thereby salvaging the fishing lure attached to the fishing line.
An additional object is to provide a fishing sinker device that allows noodling or slipping through debris such as rocks and brush.
Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become obvious to the reader and it is intended that these objects and advantages are within the scope of the present invention.
To the accomplishment of the above and related objects, this invention may be embodied in the form illustrated in the accompanying drawings, attention being called to the fact, however, that the drawings are illustrative only, and that changes may be made in the specific construction illustrated and described within the scope of the appended claims.


Methods for the treatment of subterranean wells involving injecting a first fracturing fluid into a formation, and then injecting at least a second fracturing fluid into the formation in order to create extended conductive channels through a formation are described. The fracturing fluids can be similar in density, viscosity, pH and the other related characteristics. Alternatively, the fracturing fluids can differ in their densities, viscosities, and pH, allowing for variations in the conductive channels formed. Propping agents can also be included in one or both of the injected fluids, further enhancing the conductive channels formed. The described methods aid in minimizing proppant flowback problems typically associated with hydraulic fracturing techniques.

Hydraulic fracturing is one of the petroleum (oil and gas) industry's most complex operations. Applied in an effort to increase the well productivity, in a typical procedure fluids containing propping agents are pressurized and pumped into a well at pressures and flow rates high enough to split the rock and create two opposing cracks extending hundreds of meters out from the sides of the borehole.
Several problems have become associated with such processes, especially with regard to the placement of propping agents in fractures. For example, underdisplacement can occur if the fracture is not completely filled with propping agent in the near wellbore region, greatly reducing productivity due to the closure stresses at the mouth of the fracture near the wellbore. Such problems have been shown to cause the fracture to close upon incomplete fracture fill-up due to the high stress level in the near wellbore region, thereby reducing the effectiveness of the treatment. Similarly, overdisplacement can occur if too large a volume of propping agent is used, causing proppant to settle in the wellbore itself and cover well perforation, thereby potentially limiting and reducing well productivity.
Perhaps the most common problem associated with hydraulic fracturing, however, is that of proppant flowback following the fracturing treatment. In the treatment of subterranean wells and other formations, it is common to place particulate materials, or proppants, into the formation as a filter medium and/or as a propping agent in the near wellbore area and in the fractures extending outwardly from the wellbore. In fracturing operations, proppant is carried out into the fracture when hydraulic pressure is applied to the subterranean rock formation at a level such that cracks, or fractures, develop. Proppant suspended in a viscous fracturing fluid is carried outwardly away from the wellbore within the fractures as they are created and extended with continued pumping. Upon release of the pumping pressure, the proppant materials remain in the fractures holding the separated rock faces in an open position, thereby forming an open channel for the flow of formation fluids back to the wellbore. However, when the proppants themselves are transported back into the wellbore with the production fluids following fracturing, flowback problems arise.
Proppant flowback following hydraulic fracturing treatments has generated numerous concerns within the oil and gas industry. Following a fracture treatment, proppant flowback during cleanup, and over the lifetime of a well, can have many detrimental effects on the success of the treatment, and ultimately on the well itself. The effects include near wellbore collapse or closure, wells sanding or closing up, and damage to both surface equipment and production facilities by abrasion due to the proppant. Further problems can include the need for the separation of solids from the produced fluids, and occasional decreases in the efficiency of the fractured operation since the proppant does not remain within the fracture and may therefore limit the size of the created channel. These problems can in turn lead to reduced or ceased production from a well, increased well production costs, and numerous safety concerns.
In response to the many problems associated with proppant flowback, there have been many techniques and methods described in the art to prevent or control the flowback phenomenon. These include, for example, numerous modified proppants and proppant additives, modified treatment and flowback procedures, installation of screens, modifications to the fracturing fluid components such as cross-linkers, breakers, and buffers, and a variety of other remedial treatments. Several of these approaches are described in the following paragraphs.
For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,330,916 (issued Dec. 18, 2001) suggests a subterranean formation treatment wherein a blend of fracture proppant material and deformable particulate materials are injected into the formation. The combination of deformable proppant material with the fracture fluid proppant material can combine to cause an increase in fracture conductivity, and in doing so reduce proppant flowback.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,506,734 (issued Mar. 26, 1985) suggests compositions and methods for reducing the viscosity of a fracturing fluid introduced into a subterranean formation. The compositions are introduced into the subterranean formation and are reportedly activated by the closing of the fractures on the compositions. At this point, the viscosity reducing composition, which is a breaker such as an enzyme, oxidizer, acid, and the like, is released and acts upon the hydraulic fracturing fluid to reduce the viscosity, and simultaneously acts to reduce proppant flowback out of the fracture.
A method of preventing displacement of proppant during hydraulic well treatments has been discussed by Erbstoesser, et al. in U.S. Pat. No. 4,421,167 (issued Dec. 20, 1983). According to the specification, buoyant or neutrally buoyant ball sealers are incorporated into the trailing end portion of the fracturing fluid. These ball sealers seat on the well perforations during the final stages of the fracture, resulting in an increase in surface pumping pressure. Such an increase in pressure signals the end of the operation, and minimizes both proppant overdisplacement and proppant flowback in the wellbore.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,103,905 (issued Apr. 14, 1992) offers a method of optimizing the conductivity of a propped, fractured formation containing proppant, a polymer, a delayed breaker and a non-delayed breaker so as to minimize such problems with hydraulic fracturing as proppant flowback. The method generally describes determining after-closure polymer viscosity of the polymer in the fracture, calculating the amount of breaker necessary to reduce the after-closure viscosity of the polymer to attain a selected permeability through the fracture, determining a minimum viscosity of the fracturing fluid containing the proppant, and introducing an effective amount of delayed breaker and non-delayed breaker. The amount of breaker introduced depends upon the results of the calculations performed, and reportedly allows the proppant to be maintained in the fracture.
The addition of fibrous materials to an intimate mixture of particles for fracturing and gravel packing in order to control particulate flowback in subterranean wells has been discussed by Card, et al. in U.S. Pat. No. 5,439,055 (issued Aug. 8, 1995) and U.S. Pat. No. 6,172,011 (issued Jan. 9, 2001). These patents describe methods for fracturing subterranean formations using one or more viscous fluids and a fibrous material as a tail-in so as to stabilize the sand pack while decreasing proppant flowback and/or fines formation. The fibers are described as being natural and synthetic fibrous materials, as well as inorganic fibrous materials.
Other similar approaches have been offered for addressing proppant flowback problems and other fracture-related difficulties, most notably the use of resin-coated proppants, resin consolidation, and/or forced closure techniques. However, these methods generally suffer from having a high cost, and ineffectiveness due to the difficulty in placing such resin-coated proppants uniformly within the fracture and/or the resin coating itself negatively impacting fracture conductivity. Other problems can arise from undesirable chemical interactions between the resin coating and components of the fracturing fluid itself, such as the crosslinking systems that are commonly employed in the art.
Still further approaches to proppant flowback control, and the associated downhole complications, have been suggested in the relevant literature. For example, J. R. Murphy, et al., in SPE 19769 ("Proppant Flowback Control") described the use of epoxy resin-coated fracture sand which reportedly forms a highly conductive, consolidated proppant bed that is resistant to flowback. The use of deformable particles as proppants to control proppant flowback has been reported by C. Stephenson, et al. in SPE paper 56593 ("Increased Resistance to Proppant Flowback by Adding Deformable Particles to Proppant Packs Tested in the Laboratory"), while the use of high-stress, deformable particles having a needle-like shape having a reportedly higher efficiency was reported in SPE 77681 ("Exceptional Proppant Flowback Control for the Most Extreme Well Environments: The Shape of Things to Come").
While most all of the above approaches have merits, they all also have a negative impact on production and production costs, and are not always effective or applicable to a range of situations. Additionally, some flowback control additives, while capable of being successfully applied, carry severe penalties for the retained conductivity of the treated packs, due to the pore volume occupied and their inherent ability to trap migrating fines. These additives can also seriously impact cleanup and production procedures, and exert an undesirable environmental effect.
Thus, there exists a need for a fracturing fluid system for use in hydraulic fracturing which can maintain high conductivity and increase the drag forces at failure to greater than 100%, while at the same time allowing for a "viscous fingering" of the subterranean formation to occur. This fingering could allow for an increase in the overall fracture conductivity of the formation, and simultaneously reduce the pressure gradients associated with production. There is a further need for creating directional control of the fracture, such that the perforations formed in the subterranean formation can be prevented from entering unwanted areas, e.g. water zones. Additionally, there remains a high need for long-term proppant flowback control during fracturing processes.

Methods and compositions for introducing conductive channels into a hydraulic fracturing treatment


The invention relates to motion tracking system (10) for tracking a movement of an object (P) in a three-dimensional space, the said object being composed of object portions having individual dimensions and mutual proportions and being sequentially interconnected by joints the system comprising orientation measurement units (S1, S3, . . . SN) for measuring data related to at least orientation of the object portions, wherein the orientation measurement units are arranged in positional and orientational relationships with respective object portions and having at least orientational parameters; a processor (3, 5) for receiving data from the orientation measurement units, the said processor comprising a module for deriving orientation and/or position information of the object portions using the received data and a calibration unit (7) arranged to calculate calibration values based on received data and pre-determined constraints for determining at least the mutual proportions of the object portions and orientational parameters of the orientation measurement units based on received data, pre-determined constrains and additional input data. The invention further relates to a method for tracking a movement of an object, a medical rehabilitation system and an animation system.

Many different disciplines use motion analysis systems to capture movements and postures of the human body. To make realistic animations for movies and computer games, movements of the actor are captured and mapped onto a character. In sports, motion analysis techniques are used to analyze and improve performances. In the field of medicine and rehabilitation, recordings of human motion can be used, for example, to evaluate gait patterns.
Three dimensional (3D) motion capturing is generally performed using magnetic or camera-based systems. In camera-based systems, reflective or light-emitting markers attached to the body are observed by a number of cameras from which the 3D position can be reconstructed using triangulation of each camera 2D image. With magnetic trackers, magnetic field sensors measure the field as emitted by a source placed near the subject from which position and orientation of the magnetic field sensor with respect to the source can be calculated. The set-up of external emitters or cameras limits the working area where the subject can be captured and impedes many applications.
To capture the three dimensional human body movements and postures without the need for external emitters or camera's, miniature Orientation measurement units (OMU) can be placed on several body segments. These OMU can be arranged to measure their own motion with respect to an earth-fixed reference system or they can be arranged to measure relative orientation.
Orientation measurement units (OMU), notably inertial sensors, magnetic coils, goniometers, mechanical orientation sensing devices, or the like, can be used to record the movement of a subject i.e. an actor or a patient. The subject is described as an articulated body. By knowing the orientation of the segments as well as the relative distance between the joints, the complete body pose can be derived. An important requirement is that the pose orientation of the OMU with respect to the body segments must be known as well as the relative distances between joints.
In the known orientation measurement systems use is made of sequentially interconnected body portions connected by joints. To enable motion tracking, respective relative dimensions of the body portions constituting the said sequence must be known. The values of the dimensions are used for the distance between respective joints. Also, at least an orientation of the OMU with respect to the body portion must be known.
In order to enable motion tracking, the known motion tracking systems must be subjected to a step of calibration wherein both the orientation of the OMU's with respect to the body portions and at least a relative distance between the joints are determined. In an embodiment of the known motion tracking system such calibration step is performed by measuring the dimensions of the body portions and by collecting data from the OMU's when a person is standing in a standard, pre-known pose, like a T-pose. Different techniques exist for obtaining necessary data for calibration, notably the orientation of the OMU with respect to the body portion, of such known system:    a) Carefully securing the OMU in a known pose to the body portion of interest. Palpation of for example bony landmarks may be required to determine this pose;    b) Asking the subject whose movement is to be measured to stand in a known pose, for example upright with arms downwards, or a so-called T-pose.    c) Asking the subject to perform a certain movement that is assumed to correspond to a certain axis. For example, the arm axis is defined by a pronation or supination movement. Measured orientation, or other quantity such as angular velocity, is used to find the orientation of the OMU with respect to the body portion. Such a technique is for example described in Luinge et al J. Biomech. 2007; 40(1): 78-85. Epub 2006 Feb. 7.
Different techniques exist for obtaining necessary data for calibration, notably the relative distances between joints of the body portions, of such known system:
The distance between the joints can be obtained using regression equations to obtain body dimensions. One or a few body dimensions are measured using e.g. a measuring tape, or by using position measurements derived from a camera system. The measured dimensions can be used as input to known standard tables to estimate the joint positions.
It is a disadvantage of the known system and method for obtaining the orientation of the OMU with respect to the body portions as well as the relative distances between joints in that substantial inaccuracies occur due to errors in palpation or errors in acquiring and sustaining a static pose. Further, the known methods lacks subject specificity because only a few measures are taken and the joint position can not be measured directly, but must be derived using regression equations based on average human dimensions.
An inertial measurement unit (IMU) comprises gyroscopes, which measure angular velocities, accelerometers which measure accelerations including gravity and optionally magnetometers measuring the earth magnetic field. Using these signals, the orientation with respect to gravity and the Earth magnetic field and acceleration of the IMU housing can be obtained. An embodiment of a method an apparatus for motion tracking using IMU is known from U.S. Pat. No. 6,820,025.
The known methods for obtaining necessary data for calibration when using an IMU as OMU are particularly disadvantageous because as an additional requirement the subject has to stand in a known pose with respect to gravity as well as with respect to a local magnetic field. This latter condition places an extra burden on the subject.

System and a method for motion tracking using a calibration unit


An original pressing apparatus applicable to, e.g., an original reading apparatus having: an original pressing plate; a hinge unit having a first end supported rotatably with respect to the original pressing plate and a second end rotatably supported by an external device; and a press-fixing unit adapted to prevent rotation between said hinge unit and said original pressing plate by pressing the original pressing plate and the hinge unit into contact in a rotation axial direction, wherein the press-fixing unit is capable of releasing a press-contact state.

In recent years, image reading apparatuses including a scanner are widely used with widespread use of personal computers. Among these apparatuses, a flatbed image reading apparatus has an advantage that it can read a thick original such as a book.
FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing the structure of a conventional flatbed image reading apparatus. In the image reading apparatus in FIG. 11, an original is placed face down on a platen glass 51 provided on an upper surface of apparatus main body 50. A contact image sensor 52 provided in the apparatus main body 50 scans the original while it is moved along the surface of the original, thus optically reads the image of the original.
In the image reading apparatus, a document cover 53 as an original pressing member is openably/closably attached to the apparatus main body 50 such that the original is brought into intimate contact with the platen glass 51.
The document cover 53 is rotatably attached to the apparatus main body by a hinge 54 provided at a rear end of the apparatus. A document press-fixing member 55 such as a sponge is attached to the platen glass side.
The original is placed on the platen glass 51 and the document cover 53 is closed, thereby the original is pressed against the platen glass 51 and is fixed on the platen glass 51.
The above-described conventional flatbed image reading apparatus requires space for placement equal to or greater than the size of the original. If the apparatus is designed to read a large-sized original, it requires large space for placement of the apparatus.
However, as the contact image sensor for image reading is very small and light-weighted, and the height of the apparatus main body 50 is not so great, the apparatus main body 50 may be set upright with its side down using a stand 56 as an accessory tool, as shown in FIGS. 12A and 12B.
The original which can be scanned in the upright state is limited to a sheet type original. If the apparatus is arranged such that the document cover 53 and the end of the apparatus main body 50 are brought into contact with each other by a suction cup or the like, the original can be scanned while it is pressed against the platen glass 51.
On the other hand, the document cover 53 in the conventional structure opens/closes by rotation on the hinge 54 as a rotational axis in the rear end, however, the document cover 53 cannot press a thick original such as a book in this structure. Generally, the hinge 54 is configured slidable in upward and downward directions when the apparatus main body 50 is placed in level, and the document cover 53 floats from the platen glass, so that the document cover 53 can press the thick original against the platen glass.
However, in the image reading apparatus which can be set upright, if the hinge 54 in the horizontal position is upward/downward slidable, the hinge 54 slides when the apparatus is set upright, the document cover 53 floats from the platen glass 51 and cannot press the original properly. Accordingly, the slide hinge cannot be employed, and the thick original cannot be scanned by this structure.
Further, FIG. 13 shows a two-step hinge type structure as another example where two hinge members A and B are provided between the document cover and the apparatus main body, and the hinge member B has an additional function of restoring the positional relation between the document cover and the apparatus main body so as to open the document cover. In this structure, the document cover does not open when the apparatus is set upright. Further, when the apparatus is set in level, a thick original can be pressed against the platen glass in a stable manner.
However, in the two-step hinge type image reading apparatus, especially when it is set upright, the constant positional relation cannot be properly maintained between the document cover and the platen glass when the document cover is closed, due to backlash of the rotational axis between the document cover and the hinge member in the axial direction.
Further, when the document cover of this two-step hinge type structure for a thick original is closed from an opened state, as the barycenter of the document cover is higher than the rotation axes of the two hinges, the rotational axis of the hinge A, not the rotational axis of the hinge B, becomes the rotational axis of the document cover. Especially, as shown in FIG. 13, if the rotational axis of the hinge B is out of a straight line passing through the barycenter of the document cover and the hinge A, there is torque to open the document cover about the hinge B when the document cover is open. Accordingly, the hinge B does not follow the movement of the document cover to close but it buckles as shown in FIG. 13. As a result, a user feels insecure about opening/closing operations, and further, if the end of the document cover is brought into contact with the original, the original may be damaged.
Further, when the apparatus is set upright, the opening/closing operations of the document cover are unstable due to a similar reason. Further, as the document cover is closed in a buckled state, a sufficient pressing force cannot be obtained to press the original against the platen glass. Accordingly, the original may float from the platen glass, and the quality of read image may be degraded.

Original pressing apparatus and its application


Broadly speaking, the present invention contemplates a semiconductor manufacturing process in which LDD regions of a semiconductor transistor are implanted after the heavily doped regions without requiring the removal of spacer structures from the sidewalls of the transistor gate. A semiconductor substrate is provided. The semiconductor substrate includes a channel region laterally displaced between first and second lightly doped regions. The first and second lightly doped regions are laterally displaced between first and second heavily doped regions of the semiconductor substrate. A gate dielectric is formed on an upper surface of the semiconductor substrate. A conductive gate structure is then formed on the gate dielectric. The conductive gate structure is aligned over the channel region of the semiconductor substrate. First and second spacer structures are then formed on first and second sidewalls of the conductive gate. The first and second spacer structures extend laterally from the first and second sidewalls of the conductive gate such that the first and second spacer structures cover the first and second lightly doped regions of the semiconductor substrate. A projected range characteristic of the first and second spacer structures is greater than a projected range characteristic of the conductive gate structures. A first impurity distribution is then introduced into the semiconductor substrate. An interlevel dielectric layer is then deposited on the underlying topography and planarized. A projected range characteristic of the interlevel dielectric layer is approximately equal to a projected range characteristic of the first and second spacer structures. A second impurity distribution is then implanted into the semiconductor substrate through the interlevel dielectric layer.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to the field of semiconductor fabrication and, more particularly, to a transistor having extremely shallow source/drain junction depths and a method for fabricating the transistors.
2. Description of the Related Art
Integrated circuits are widely used in the electronics industry for an extremely broad range of applications including microprocessors, integrated circuit memories, and application specific logic products. The basic building block of the integrated circuit is the MOS transistor. FIG. 10 shows a typical embodiment of a single MOS n-channel transistor. MOS transistor 10 includes a lightly doped p-type semiconductor substrate 12 a gate dielectric 16 formed on substrate 12, a conductive gate 14 formed on gate dielectric 16, n-type source region 18, and n-type drain region 20. The operation and I-V characteristics of transistor 10 are well known. With no bias applied to conductive gate 14, back-to-back p-n junctions exist between drain region 20 and source channel region 18 such that the current flow from drain region 20 to source region 18 is negligible. If, however, a positive bias is applied to conductive gate 14, mobile carriers within channel region 22 of p-type substrate 12 are repelled from the surface leaving behind a depletion region of uncompensated donor ions. If conductive gate 14 is further biased, minority carriers (i.e. electrons) are attracted to channel region 22 of substrate 12 to form a conductive inversion region near the upper surface of semiconductor substrate 12 in channel region 22. The bias required to induce an electron concentration near the surface of substrate 12 approximately equal to the whole concentration in the bulk of semiconductor substrate 12 is referred to as the threshold voltage (V.sub.t). With a threshold voltage V.sub.t applied to conductive gate 14, the conductive channel in channel region 22 permits current flow from drain region 20 to source region 18 if an appropriate bias is applied between drain region 20 and source region 18. For small values of drain voltage V.sub.d (i.e. V.sub.d <V.sub.g -V.sub.t) the current (I.sub.ds) that flows from drain region 20 to source region 18 varies approximately linearly with the drain voltage V.sub.d. For large values of drain voltage (i.e. V.sub.d >V.sub.g -V.sub.t), I.sub.ds is independent of V.sub.d to a first order approximation. Applying a gate voltage V.sub.t that is less than the threshold voltage V.sub.t induces a weak inversion region in channel region 22 of semiconductor substrate 12 permitting a small but measurable subthreshold current to flow from source to drain. Subthreshold currents are particularly important (and undesirable) in low voltage, low power applications such as MOS integrated circuits because of the large number of transistors in the integrated circuit and because the subthreshold region determines the manner in which the transistors turn on and off.
MOS transistors may be broadly characterized as either short channel or long channel devices. In a long channel device, the sub-threshold current is independent of the drain voltage, the threshold voltage is independent of the channel length and the transistor biasing, and the drain current in the saturation region is independent of the drain voltage. It will be appreciated that these characteristics of long channel devices are desirable from a manufacturing and circuit design perspective because of their tendency to minimize subthreshold currents and threshold voltage variation among transistors of varying dimensions. In contrast to long channel devices, short channel devices are characterized by a subthreshold current that varies with drain voltage, a threshold voltage that varies with channel length and biasing conditions, and a failure of current saturation in the saturation region. The following useful equation predicts the minimum channel length that can be expected to result in long channel behavior for a given set of process parameters: EQU L.sub.min =0.4[(x)(d)(W.sub.S +W.sub.D)).sup.2 ].sup.1/3
where x is the junction depth, d is the oxide thickness, and W.sub.S +W.sub.D is the sum of the source and drain junction depletion widths. See S. M. Sze., Physics of Semiconductor Devices pp. 431-86 (John Wiley and Sons, 1981). From this equation, its is evident that smaller transistor devices require shallower junction depths to minimize sub-threshold effects.
It will be appreciated to those skilled in the art of semiconductor processing that the MOS transistor shown in and described with respect to FIG. 10 is formed with a single source/drain implant. It will be further appreciated that MOS transistor fabrication is commonly accomplished using a pair of source/drain implants in advanced semiconductor processes. In such dual implant processes, the second source/drain impurity distribution is characterized by a greater junction depth, a higher peak impurity concentration, and a lateral displacement from the transistor channel boundaries. By displacing the deeper and more heavily doped source/drain region from the transistor channel boundary, dual implant lightly doped drain (LDD) transistors beneficially reduce the maximum electric field occurring within the transistor channel region. The critical junction depth for purposes of determining L.sub.min is the junction depth of the LDD regions. It is therefore desirable to minimize the junction depth of the LDD regions in LDD transistors.
Minimization of LDD junction depth is complicated by the dual implant process. The dual implant process is commonly achieved by implanting the LDD region using the transistor gate as an implant mask, forming spacer structures on sidewalls of the transistor gate, and implanting the heavily doped regions using the combined gate/spacer structure as an implant mask. Unfortunately, the implant necessary to achieve the heavily doped source/drain regions typically produces significant damage to the silicon lattice. To alleviate or remove lattice damage after a medium or high energy implant and to activate the implanted ions so that they can participate in the conduction process, a high temperature anneal is generally performed following the heavily doped implant. In a process flow where the heavily doped implant is performed after the lightly doped implant, the anneal cycle undesirably redistributes the previously implanted lightly doped regions thereby undesirably increasing the LDD junction depth. To address the redistribution of the lightly doped regions, some semiconductor processes follow a sequence in which the heavily doped implant is performed first with the spacer structures intact upon the sidewalls of the conductive gate. Thereafter, the spacer structures are removed with a wet or dry etch process so that the LDD implant will be aligned with the sidewalls of the conductive gate. Although this sequence addresses the redistribution of the LDD region, the removal of the spacer structure is difficult, if not impossible, to achieve without some degradation of gate oxide quality. More specifically, spacer structures are typically comprised of a deposited oxide and, as is well known, gate dielectrics are typically comprised of a thermal oxide. Because the composition of the gate dielectric and the spacer structures are quite similar and because of the proximity of the spacer structure to the gate dielectric, complete removal of the spacer structures cannot typically be accomplished without some inadvertent removal of the gate oxide at the perimeters of the transistor channels. In the age of deep sub-micron transistors and thin (i.e., less than 50 angstroms) gate oxides, the quality of the gate dielectric cannot be compromised without significantly degrading the quality of the overall integrated circuit. Accordingly, it is highly desirable to implement a process flow in which an LDD junction depth can be minimized without compromising the quality of the gate dielectric.

Post-spacer LDD implant for shallow LDD transistor


An ink jet recorder includes a support unit configured to support a recording medium, and a mobile unit including a plurality of containers containing inks of identical composition and a head configured to eject the ink supplied from any one of the plurality of containers. The ink jet recorder is configured to record an image on the recording medium in such a manner that the head performs main scanning by ejecting the ink while changing positions in a first direction, and the mobile unit performs sub-scanning by moving in a second direction intersecting with the first direction.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to ink jet recorders.
2. Related Art
Ink jet recorders perform recording of data such as images on recording media by ejecting fine ink droplets through nozzles of an ink jet recording head. Such ink jet recorders have various structures in accordance with the types and sizes of the recording media used.
For example, JP-A-2012-45909 discloses a so-called serial ink jet recorder. A serial ink jet recorder has a head which is movable in a first direction (the width direction of the recording surface of a recording medium), and performs recording of images by moving the recording medium in a second direction intersecting with the first direction while reciprocating the head in the first direction.
JP-A-2010-264624 discloses a flat-bed ink jet recorder. A flat-bed ink jet recorder has, for example, a panel configured to fix a recording medium, and a head which is movable in a first direction of the recording surface of the recording medium (the width direction of the recording medium) and in a second direction intersecting with the first direction. Images are recorded on the fixed recording medium while the head is moved in the first direction and in the second direction. In most cases, such flat-bed ink jet recorders are used for the recording on hard, heavy and frequently large-sized recording media such as glass sheets, acrylic sheets and metal sheets.
On the other hand, UV curable inks are widely used in ink jet recording on such hard and heavy recording media because of their excellent weather resistance and water resistance. Ink jet recorders which record images with UV curable inks are usually equipped with an illuminator for curing the inks deposited on the recording media. For example, JP-A-2010-23285 discloses a flat-bed UV (UV curable) ink jet recorder in which a UV illumination device is mounted on a mobile member (such as a carriage) together with a printing head.
Such flat-bed ink jet recorders described above sometimes have a mobile unit which is movable at least in the second direction, and the head is mounted on the mobile unit to attain movability in the second direction.
On the other hand, ink cartridges (containers) for supplying inks to the head are often connected to the head via supply tubes. In such cases, the length of the supply tubes is preferably as short as possible because the increase in the length of the supply tubes tends to raise the probability of problems such as the entry of air and the increase in the amount of precipitates of ink components. In order to reduce the length of supply tubes, ink cartridges are sometimes mounted on the mobile unit similarly to the head.
In the case where an ink cartridge mounted on a mobile unit has run out of the ink during recording of images, the recording of images has to be interrupted for the exchange of ink cartridges. When the recording is resumed, however, it is often encountered that the colors of the images are different between before and after the resumption as well as that the mobile unit is misaligned during the exchange of ink cartridges, resulting in unsatisfactory images. Such failures of image recording cause a significant loss particularly in the recording with a flat-bed ink jet recorder because this type of recording usually involves expensive materials (for example, recording media such as acrylic sheets, and UV curable inks).
Meanwhile, UV curable inks exhibit high viscosity ascribed to the components (for example, polymerizable compounds) and consequently have a difficulty in being ejected through a recording head at times. Thus, the UV curable inks are heated to lower the viscosity to a level suited for ejection before the inks are ejected through a recording head. For example, such heating of UV curable inks is performed with heating units having a heater or the like which are disposed in, for example, the recording head, the containers containing the UV curable inks, and the ink channels connecting the containers to the recording head.
On the other hand, the flat-bed ink jet recorder described above sometimes has a mobile unit which is movable in the second direction (the direction intersecting with the width direction of the recording surface of a recording medium), and the head is mounted on the mobile unit to attain movability in the second direction. In this case, it is preferable that the mobile unit be lightweight in order to remedy the load on devices such as a motor driving the mobile unit.
However, the weight of the mobile unit tends to be increased, particularly when UV curable inks are used, because components such as the aforementioned UV illumination device and ink containers are often mounted on the mobile unit in addition to the recording head. In such cases, further installation of the heating unit in the mobile unit significantly increases the load on devices associated with the mobile unit.


A system for prevention of texting while driving is comprised of an always-on mobile application which is installed in the user's smartphone or other mobile electronic device, and a proximity sensor and transmitter which is preferably mounted on the steering column of the user's vehicle. The sensor detects any electronic device with the mobile application installed within a specific short distance, consistent with the user being seated in the driver's seat with the electronic device activated. The sensor transmits a periodic SMS text message which is received by the electronic device. The electronic device receives the text message, and the mobile application covers the visual display with a prohibitive message. Optionally, the mobile application may also disable the keys of the electronic device.

The invention relates generally to accessories for electronic devices and in particular to a system for prevention of texting while driving. Worldwide, thousands of drivers and passengers lose their lives every year due to the unfortunate practice of texting while driving. Tens of thousands more are injured every year, with millions of dollars in property damage. Sadly, young drivers are exceptionally vulnerable due to a confluence of factors: their highly elevated reliance on text messaging compared to the rest of the population, coupled with their inexperience behind the wheel. The practice has been banned in most states for good reason, but the changes in the law haven't made much impact on the death toll. An electronic system which effectively prevents drivers from texting while seated in the driver's seat would be well received. Parents may insist on installation of the system before their teenagers are allowed to drive the family car. Large corporations may require installation in every vehicle in their fleet. Traffic court judges may reasonably require proof of installation of the system in defendants' vehicles and personal electronic devices as a condition of sentencing for a broad range of traffic offenses, not limited to texting while driving. Ultimately, state and federal legislatures, traffic safety agencies, and communications regulatory agencies may require that any vehicle or personal electronic device built or sold within their jurisdictions must have components of the system installed. A system for prevention of texting while driving, which blocks the visual display of a smartphone or similar mobile electronic device, would resolve this problem.

System for prevention of texting while driving


A device for inspecting microscopic objects. A plurality of LEDS is arranged in an array underneath a lens. Some of the LEDS are lighted and some of the LEDS are unlighted. A computer is in control of the LED array. The computer turns on selected LEDS from the array to form the lighted LEDS. Also, the computer turns off selected LEDS from the array to form the unlighted LEDS. The lighted LEDS form a pattern of lighted LEDS underneath the lens. In a preferred embodiment, the lens is connected to a computer controlled camera and the microscopic objects are microscopic crystals.

The determination of the three dimensional atomic structure of matter is one of the most important areas of pure and applied research. One way in which the three dimensional atomic structure of matter can be determined is through X-ray crystallography. X-ray crystallography utilizes the diffraction of X-rays from crystals in order to determine the precise arrangement of atoms within the crystal. The result may reveal the atomic structure of substances such as metal alloys, deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), or the structure of proteins.
There are very important benefits to knowing the accurate molecular structure of a protein crystal. For example, once the molecular structure is known, a drug designer can more effectively develop effective therapeutic agents and drugs. However, despite its promises, X-ray crystallography is limited by the fact that it is very difficult to grow successful crystals.

Computer controllable LED light source for device for inspecting microscopic objects


A metered cooling slot disposed in a wall comprising an outer surface that is exposed to a hot gas stream and an inner surface that defines an internal coolant chamber through which a coolant passes, the metered cooling slot comprising: a slot formed within the outer surface elongated in a first direction, the slot comprising a pair of spaced apart, opposing, slot surfaces and a base, the slot surfaces intersecting the outer surface to form a slot outlet opposite the base; and two or more metering apertures formed within the wall, each metering aperture intersecting the inner surface of the wall to form a metering aperture inlet and intersecting one of the pair of slot surfaces to form a metering aperture outlet; wherein: D represents the approximate diameter of at least two of the metering apertures; P represents the approximate distance between the center lines of at least two neighboring metering apertures; and P/D comprises a value within the range of about 4 to 6.

This present application relates generally to apparatus, methods and/or systems for improving film cooling of components in gas turbine engines. More specifically, but not by way of limitation, the present application relates to apparatus, methods and/or systems pertaining to film cooling slots with metered flow.
Gas turbine engines typically include a compressor, a combustor, and a turbine. The compressor and turbine generally include rows of blades that are axially stacked in stages. Each stage includes a row of circumferentially-spaced stator blades, which are fixed, and a row of rotor blades, which rotate about a central axis or shaft. In operation, generally, the compressor rotor blades rotate about the shaft, and, acting in concert with the stator blades, compress a flow of air. The supply of compressed air then is used in the combustor to combust a supply of fuel. The resulting flow of hot expanding gases from the combustion is expanded through the turbine section of the engine. The flow of working fluid through the turbine induces the rotor blades to rotate. The rotor blades are connected to a central shaft such that the rotation of the rotor blades rotates the shaft.
In this manner, the energy contained in the fuel is converted into the mechanical energy of the rotating shaft, which, for example, may be used to rotate the rotor blades of the compressor, such that the supply of compressed air needed for combustion is produced, and the coils of a generator, such that electrical power is generated. During operation, because of the high temperatures of the hot-gas path, the velocity of the working fluid, and the rotational velocities found in the compressor and turbine, turbine blades, which, as described, generally include rotor and stator blades, become highly stressed with extreme mechanical and thermal loads.
Often, to reduce the thermal loads, turbine blades are air cooled. Generally, this involves passing a relatively cool supply of compressed air, which is typically bled from the compressor, through internal cooling circuits within the blades. As the compressed air passes through the blade, it convectively cools the airfoil. After passing through the airfoil, the compressed air typically is released through openings on the surface of the blades. When released in a desired manner, the air forms a thin layer or film of relatively cool air at the surface of the airfoil, which both cools and insulates the part from the higher temperatures that surround it. Not surprisingly, this type of cooling is often referred to as "film cooling." Generally, to adequately cool the blades, numerous film cooling openings, which generally are the outlets of hollow passages that originate at interior cooling cavities, are necessary.
For film cooling to be most effective, it necessary that the air exiting the opening remain entrained in a boundary layer on the surface of the blade for an adequate distance downstream of the opening. However, due to a variety of factors, the effectiveness of conventional film cooling systems decreases rapidly as the distance from the cooling opening increases. While this shortcoming may be cured somewhat by increasing the amount of cooling air released, it is well known in the art that the usage of bypass cooling air should be limited due to its negative impact on efficiency. That is, whenever possible, the use of cooling air should be minimized because such cooling air is working fluid which has been extracted from the compressor and its loss from the gas flow path rapidly reduces engine efficiency. Given these competing factors, conventional film cooling methods either prove moderately ineffective or, when effective, come at a significant cost to the engine efficiency. Prior art advancements that include slots with metered flow, such as, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,726,735, improved film cooling performance in certain limited ways, but still fell short of employing the cooling air in an efficient and effective manner. As a result, there remains a need for improved film cooling apparatus, methods and/or systems that minimizes the usage of bypass cooling air.

Metered cooling slots for turbine blades