An actuator that at least inhibits the deleterious effects of corrosive fluids, such as seawater, does not rely on relatively expensive materials, and is capable of operation and relatively high pressures includes two sealed buffer chambers. One buffer chamber is supplied with a buffer fluid, and the other buffer chamber is maintained at a vacuum pressure. The buffer fluid in the first buffer chamber helps remove any residual corrosive fluid that may remain on the actuator translation member as it moves into the actuator housing, and any fluid that leaks into the second chamber will boil as a result of the vacuum pressure therein.

Actuators are used in myriad devices and systems. For example, many vehicles including, for example, aircraft, spacecraft, watercraft, and numerous other terrestrial and non-terrestrial vehicles, include one or more actuators to effect the movement of various control surfaces or components. In many applications such as, for example, in seagoing vehicles, the actuators that are used may be subject to corrosive fluid, such as seawater. Moreover, depending on the type of seagoing vehicle, the actuators that are used may be subject to relatively high pressure. For example, underwater vehicles, including both manned and autonomous (i.e., unmanned) underwater vehicles, include actuators that may be at least partially exposed to the corrosive seawater environment at relatively high pressures.
To prevent or at least inhibit the potentially deleterious effects of seawater corrosion, actuators may be constructed, at least partially, of various corrosion resistant materials. These materials, however, can be relatively expensive, and thus can increase actuator costs and, concomitantly, overall system and/or vehicle costs. Moreover, the use of corrosion resistant materials for gears and bearings can decrease load capacity and/or component life, as compared to the use of non-corrosion-resistant materials. Although various seals and seal systems exist for inhibiting the ingress of fluids, such as seawater, into devices, such as actuators, many of these seals and seal systems are not useful at relatively high pressures. Additionally, seal leakage may increase over time.
Hence, there is a need for a system that at least inhibits the deleterious effects of corrosive fluids on an actuator that does not rely on one or more relatively expensive materials and/or is capable of operation and relatively high pressures for relatively long periods of exposure to a corrosive fluid, such as seawater. The present invention addresses at least these needs.

Self-contained sea water linear actuator


An electronic device is described which has a user interface which receives an input comprising a sequence of target indicators of data items. The data entry system has a search component which searches for candidate expanded sequences of indicators comprising the target indicators. The search component searches amongst indicators generated by a trained conditional language model, the conditional language model having been trained using pairs, each individual pair comprising a sequence of indicators and a corresponding expanded sequence of indicators.

Data entry into electronic devices such as smart phones, smart watches and other wearable computing devices, tablet computers and others is time consuming, error prone and burdensome for end users. Sequences of indicators such as words, emoji, pictograms, letters, symbols and other indicators need to be specified one by one by means of user input of some type, such as key presses on a virtual or physical keyboard, gesture based input, spoken input or other modalities of user input.
In the case of text entry, it is time consuming to type a whole sentence, with a lot of predictable text between the key information-bearing words. Even with next-word prediction and correction, as in current mobile virtual keyboards, entering text word-by-word can be slow. This also applies to other types of sequences of indicators such as emoji, pictograms and others. In the case of emoji or pictograms there is often no emoji or pictogram available to express "predictable text" such as the word "the" which makes it hard for end users to enter that data by using only emoji or pictograms.
Use of lists of pre-canned standard replies for a user to scroll through and select from is very limited in that only the standard replies that are available in the list can be selected. If a user wants to make a different reply, or a reply that varies from one of the standard replies, he has to make more text input and also editing user input. Also, use of pre-canned standard replies relies heavily on context information being available in order to select appropriate pre-canned standard replies to present to a user. Technology which automatically generates replies to messages based only on the preceding message thread relies on the information in the preceding message thread. Typically candidate replies need to be manually edited by the end user.
Information retrieval is difficult for many end users since the relevance of retrieved results to input search queries is often poor. Query suggestion facilities are available in some information retrieval systems. Some query suggestion facilities search for words which are semantically similar to query terms or search for queries in query logs which are similar to the input query terms. Candidate query suggestions are then offered to end users. Query expansion is also available whereby queries input by a user are expanded to include more query terms. The expanded queries are used to retrieve results such that the results may have greater relevance to the end user. Some query expansion methods use query logs or search for terms which are semantically similar to the query terms.
The embodiments described below are not limited to implementations which solve any or all of the disadvantages of known sequence expanders.

Sequence expander for data entry/information retrieval


A method of implanting, for example, a phosphorous plug over a charge collection region and a method of forming a contact over the phosphorous plug implant and charge collection region. The method allows implantation of phosphorous or other materials without contamination of other contact regions. The method further allows implantation of a material with only one step and without an extra masking step.

Typically, a digital imager array includes a focal plane array of pixel cells, each one of the cells including a photoconversion device such as, e.g., a photogate, photoconductor, or a photodiode. In a complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) imager a readout circuit is connected to each pixel cell which typically includes a source follower output transistor. The photoconversion device converts photons to electrons which are typically transferred to a floating diffusion region connected to the gate of the source follower output transistor. A charge transfer device (e.g., transistor) can be included for transferring charge from the photoconversion device to the floating diffusion region. In addition, such imager cells typically have a transistor for resetting the floating diffusion region to a predetermined charge level prior to charge transference. The output of the source follower transistor is a voltage output on a column line when a row select transistor for the row containing the pixel is activated.
Exemplary CMOS imaging circuits, processing steps thereof, and detailed descriptions of the functions of various CMOS elements of an imaging circuit are described, for example, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,140,630, 6,376,868, 6,310,366, 6,326,652, 6,204,524, and 6,333,205, assigned to Micron Technology, Inc. The disclosures of each of the forgoing patents are herein incorporated by reference in their entirety.
In a digital CMOS imager, when incident light strikes the surface of a photodiode, electron/hole pairs are generated in the p-n junction of the photodiode. The generated electrons are collected in the n-type region of the photodiode. The photo charge moves from the initial charge accumulation region to a charge collection region, typically a floating diffusion region, or it may be transferred to the floating diffusion region via a transfer transistor. The charge at the floating diffusion region is typically converted to a pixel output voltage by a source follower transistor.
The floating diffusion region of a CMOS imager is typically connected to metal runners by a contact photoresist/etch process that results in a metal to silicon Schottky diode contact. Some processes use a phosphorous plug implant just prior to contact metallization to reduce resistance and improve operation of the Schottky diode. This phosphorous implant can have a detrimental effect during processing of pixels, for example, when forming p-channel transistors phosphorous contamination can counter dope the p+ source and drain regions. The p+ source and drain regions and the more heavily doped conventional phosphorous ohmic contacts are typically formed during the same photoresist/etch step as the phosphorous plug. A method is needed to target implantation of dopants to minimize contamination of adjacent source/drain regions or other components of the pixel.

Self masking contact using an angled implant


This disclosure describes a system and method for determining the center of gravity of a payload engaged by an automated aerial vehicle and adjusting components of the automated aerial vehicle and/or the engagement location with the payload so that the center of gravity of the payload is within a defined position with respect to the center of gravity of the automated aerial vehicle. Adjusting the center of gravity to be within a defined position improves the efficiency, maneuverability and safety of the automated aerial vehicle. In some implementations, the stability of the payload may also be determined to ensure that the center of gravity does not change or shift during transport due to movement of an item of the payload.

Many companies package items and/or groups of items together for a variety of purposes, such as e-commerce and mail-order companies that package items (e.g., books, CDs, apparel, food, etc.) to be shipped to fulfill orders from customers. Retailers, wholesalers and other product distributors (which may collectively be referred to as distributors) typically maintain an inventory of various items that may be ordered by clients or customers. This inventory may be maintained and processed at a materials handling facility, such as a warehouse, distribution center, etc.
To deliver these products to the customers, agents working within the materials handling facility pick the items from storage, pack the items in one or more containers and have the items shipped or transported to a customers designated location. Because different items vary in size, shape and weight, the location of the center of gravity of each container varies greatly depending on the contents and/or how those contents are placed in the container.
While implementations are described herein by way of example, those skilled in the art will recognize that the implementations are not limited to the examples or drawings described. It should be understood that the drawings and detailed description thereto are not intended to limit implementations to the particular form disclosed but, on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope as defined by the appended claims. The headings used herein are for organizational purposes only and are not meant to be used to limit the scope of the description or the claims. As used throughout this application, the word "may" is used in a permissive sense (i.e., meaning having the potential to), rather than the mandatory sense (i.e., meaning must). Similarly, the words "include," "including," and "includes" mean including, but not limited to.

Determining center of gravity of an automated aerial vehicle and a payload


Disclosed are a developing unit and an image forming apparatus having the same. The developing unit includes a first frame and a second frame. The first frame supports thereon a first set of processing members and includes at least one jig hole for mounting to a jig. The second frame supports thereon a second set of processing members. Several connection parts provided in the first and second frames allow assembly of the developing unit that includes a rectilinear movement and a rotational movement of the first and second frames relative to each other during the coupling together of the connection parts so as to couple the first and second frames together. The relative movement in certain direction of the frames may be limited during the relative rotational movement of the frames.

Image forming apparatuses are apparatuses that form an image on tangible print medium, e.g., paper, according to an input image signal, and may be, for example, a printer, a copier, a fax machine and a so-called multi-functional peripheral that combines some of the functionalities of the afore-mentioned.
An image forming apparatus generally includes a main body that defines the external appearance of the image forming apparatus and various components supported or accommodated in the main body. Such components may include, for example, a print media supply unit for storing print media, a developing unit for forming an image of developer on a print medium supplied by the print media supply unit, a fusing unit for fixing the developer on the print medium and an exit unit for discharging the print medium, on which the developer image is fixed, outside the main body.
By way of an example, in an image forming apparatus of the above described configuration, a light modulated with image information is irradiated on a photoconductor (often also referred to as "an image carrier" or a "photosensitive member"), the surface of which had been pre-charged to a uniform electrical potential, so as to form an electrostatic latent image on the surface of the photoconductor based on the potential difference resulting from the light exposure. So created electrostatic latent image is then developed into a visible image by applying developer that adhere to selective portions of the surface of the photoconductor due to the potential differences defined by the electrostatic latent image. The visible image of developer is then transferred from the photoconductor onto a print medium supplied from the print media storage unit. The visible image so transferred to the print media is fused or permanently fixed to the print medium using a fusing unit to thereby complete the image formation. After the completion of the image formation, the print medium bearing the fixed developer image is discharged from the main body by an exit unit.
A developing unit of such an image forming apparatus typically includes one or more processing members operable to accomplish the above described formation of a visible image. Examples of such processing members may include, a photoconductor for supporting thereon an electrostatic latent image, a developing body for supplying the developer to the photoconductor so as to form a visible image, a developer storage part to store the developer, a waste developer storage part to store the waste developer that remain residual after a development of an electrostatic latent image, a cleaning unit to clean the waste developer remaining on the photoconductor and a charging unit to charge the surface of the photoconductor to a potential level.
In a developing unit, one or more of the afore-mentioned processing members are supported, in some cases, rotatably, in the frame that defines the external appearance of the developing unit. The frame of the developing unit may include a number of sub-frames. When the sub-frames are not assembled precisely, the positions of the processing members supported by the sub-frames may not be properly aligned, thus possibly resulting in defects in the images. The misalignment of the processing members may also result in the excessive wearing of the processing members due to unintended contacts and/or friction between the processing members, and may even cause the leakage of the developer stored in the developing unit. Assembly of a developing unit may involve steps to ensure sufficient level of precision. Thus, a developing unit capable of being assembled with simpler assembly process is thus desirable.

Developing unit and image forming apparatus having the same


Circuitry for independently controlling the erasure of a flash memory including redundant rows for replacing shorted rows within the memory array is described. An erase command fires a sequencer circuit, which schedules the controllers that execute the tasks of an erase event. By nesting the control of erase events, the sequencer circuit allows easy modification of erase events. The sequencer circuit fires a precondition controller upon receipt of an erase command. The precondition controller then manages the preconditioning of the memory array, including memory cells within shorted rows. The precondition controller does so by disabling the replacement of shorted rows with redundant rows. During preconditioning each memory cell is programmed to a logic 0, before the memory cell is erased to a logic 1, to prevent the overerasure of memory cells during subsequent erasure. Afterward, the sequencer fires the erase controller. The erase control circuit then manages erasure. The circuitry also includes a postcondition controller and a program controller.

One type of prior non-volatile semiconductor memory is the flash electrically erasable programmable read-only memory ("flash memory"). The flash memory can be programmed by a user, and once programmed, the flash memory retains its data until erased. After erasure, the flash memory may be programmed with new code or data.
Flash memories differ from conventional electrically erasable programmable read only memory ("EEPROMs") with respect to erasure. Conventional EEPROMs typically use a select transistor for individual byte erase control. Flash memories, on the other hand, typically achieve much higher density with single transistor cells. During one prior art flash memory erase method, a high voltage is supplied to the sources of every memory cell in a memory array simultaneously. This results in a full array erasure.
For one prior flash EEPROM, a logical "one" means that few if any electrons are stored on a floating gate associated with a bit cell. A logical "zero" means that many electrons are stored on the floating gate associated with the bit cell. Erasure of that prior flash memory causes a logical one to be stored in each bit cell. Every cell of that flash memory can only be written from a logical zero to a logical one by erasure of the entire array. Bit cells of the prior flash memory can, however, be individually overwritten from a logical one to a logical zero, given that this entails simply adding electrons to a floating gate that contains the intrinsic number of electrons associated with the erased state.
One prior flash EEPROM is the 28F256 complementary metal oxide semiconductor ("CMOS") flash memory sold by Intel Corporation of Santa Clara, Calif., which is a 256 kilobit flash EEPROM. The 28F256 flash memory includes a command register to manage electrical erasure and reprogramming. Commands are written to the command register from a controlling microprocessor using standard microprocessor write timings. The command register contents serve as input to an internal state machine that controls erase and programming circuitry.
The controlling microprocessor controls the erasure and programming of the flash memory. A prior Quick-Erase.TM. algorithm of Intel Corporation can be used by the microprocessor to erase the flash memory. The prior Quick-Erase.TM. algorithm requires that all bits first be programmed to their charged state, that is, each bit of data must be equal to 0. Erasure then proceeds by pulling the sources of the flash transistors in the array up to a high voltage level for a period of 10 msec, while keeping the transistor gates at zero volts. After each erase operation, byte verification is performed. Proper device operation requires that the erasure procedure be strictly followed.
The prior Quick-Pulse Programming.TM. algorithm of Intel Corporation can be used to then program the flash memory. The Quick-Pulse Programming.TM. algorithm requires that a programming pulse of a specific duration and voltage level be applied to the program power supply Vpp and the device power supply Vcc. For example, for certain prior Intel flash memories a programming pulse of 10 .mu.sec has been suggested while Vpp is held at 12.75. After the programming pulse is applied, the user must verify whether the memory cell addressed is properly programmed. If not properly programmed, a programming pulse may be reapplied a number of times before a programming error is recognized. Proper and reliable operation of the flash memory mandates that the programming procedure be strictly followed.
One disadvantage of this prior method of controlling erasure and programming using a microprocessor is that it ties up the microprocessor, thus requiring a relatively high level of microprocessor overhead. This, in turn, decreases system throughput.
Another disadvantage of the prior way of controlling erasure and programming of the flash memory using a microprocessor is the relatively high complexity of typical erasure/programming software. This complex software requires a relatively high level of user sophistication. Moreover, this complex software increases the likelihood of a customer error, such as over-erasure of the flash memory.
Another prior flash memory is the 28F001 CMOS flash memory sold by Intel Corporation of Santa Clara, Calif. The 28F001 is a 1 megabit flash memory, which incorporates a prior write state machine. The prior write state machine automatically programs and erases the array upon receipt of a two stage command from the command port. The prior write state machine thus simplifies erasure and programming for flash memory users. The prior write state machine increases system throughput by freeing the controlling microprocessor for other tasks.
The prior write state machine executes both erase and program commands using a single algorithm. The algorithm manages several prior peripheral circuits to execute program and erase commands.
A disadvantage of the algorithm of the prior write state machine is its complexity and lack of flexibility. The erase portion of the algorithm cannot be modified without effecting the program portion, and vice versa. Further, modifications to the algorithm cannot be made without also modifying the prior peripheral circuits. Also, handling both erasure and programming via a single algorithm makes it difficult to optimize both erasure and programming.
Another disadvantage of the prior write state machine is that it does not permit the repair or replacement of shorted rows within the memory array. Prior flash memories including shorted rows must be discarded.

Method and circuitry for erasing a nonvolatile semiconductor memory incorporating row redundancy


Real time communications over a network are adjusted to improve the quality of service (QoS) under incipient congestion conditions. The system detects incipient network congestion and feeds back information regarding the incipient congestion back to the transmitter. Based on this information, the transmission rate is altered appropriately using a control algorithm, which computes the altered transmission rate based on a weight parameter, a gain parameter, and information from a congestion report. The altered transmission rate improves the transmitter's use of the available bandwidth to maintain an acceptable QoS at the receiver.

Many current multimedia applications, such as streaming video and audio players, were originally designed to operate from attached local storage (e.g., CD or hard disk) or over a high-quality low latency network (e.g., a lightly loaded local area network or LAN). However, when running over a lower quality network such as a wide-area network (WAN), packet loss and latency resulting from network congestion often impair the real-time operation of a multimedia application enough to provide a poor user experience, often described as poor Quality of Service (QoS). For example, video frames may be lost, or video and audio synchronization may be corrupted, resulting in poor quality multimedia performance.
To address these issues, some current multimedia applications have been developed to adapt their transmission rates according to network conditions. One approach alters transmission rate in response to the detection of lost packets. Specifically, for real time applications, such as streaming multimedia, a Real Time Protocol (RTP) has been specified with an associated Real Time Control Protocol (RTCP) to monitor QoS and convey participant information based on lost packet detection. Another approach increases the number of packets that are buffered in networking equipment in the hope of avoiding or minimizing data loss. Forward Error Correction may also be employed with these enhanced buffering schemes. Yet another approach estimates the expected bandwidth of "bottleneck" links and attempts to statically set the transmission rate accordingly.
However, these existing approaches are inadequate. Because the first approach relies on detection of lost packets, any attempt to correct the problems is too late to avoid a poor user experience from initial packet loss. The second approach of increasing buffering replaces data loss with increased latency introduced by large send queues. Furthermore, the second approach is problematic for devices having limited buffer memory, such as an audio/visual mobile phone or watch. The third approach fails to address inherently variable bandwidth bottlenecks (such as a wireless link) or dynamic congestion changes introduced by multiple applications sharing the available bandwidth at the bottleneck.
In addition, no existing approach specifically addresses reactive bandwidth control, responsive to incipient congestion for real-time communications, which are commonly employed in multimedia applications.

Reactive bandwidth control for streaming data


Provided are an n-type carbon nanotube field effect transistor (CNT FET) and a method of fabricating the n-type CNT FET. The n-type CNT FET may include a substrate; electrodes formed on the substrate and separated from each other; a CNT forrmed on the substrate and electrically connected to the electrodes; a gate oxide layer formed on the CNT; and a gate electrode formed on the gate oxide layer, wherein the gate oxide layer contains electron donor atoms which donate electrons to the CNT such that the CNT may be n-doped by the electron donor atoms.

This application claims the benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2004-0078544, filed on Oct. 2, 2004, in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference.
1. Field of the Disclosure
Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a field effect transistor (FET) having n-doped carbon nanotube (CNT) and a method of fabricating the n-type CNT FET, and more particularly, to an n-type CNT FET having n-doped CNT which may be manufactured by adsorbing electron donor atoms on a CNT layer and a method of fabricating the n-type CNT FET.
2. Description of the Related Art
CNTs have excellent mechanical and chemical properties and may have a long length of up to one micrometer with a diameter ranging from several nanometers to several tens of nanometers. CNTs have excellent electrical conductivity and may be applied to electronic devices. Vigorous research has been conducted on the use of CNTs in various devices and they are now used in electric field emission devices, optical switches in the field of optical communication, biodevices, etc.
Methods of manufacturing CNTs are well known in the art. Examples include arc discharge, pulsed laser vaporization, chemical vapor deposition, screen printing and spin coating.
To use CNTs in a semiconductor device, such as a complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) transistor, p-type and n-type MOS transistors are required. In general, CNTs are easily to be hole-doped (p-type doped).
U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2003-122,133 describes a method of manufacturing an n-type nanotube using an oxygen or potassium ion as a dopant. However, an oxygen molecule cannot be easily decomposed into oxygen atoms and it is difficult to handle potassium ions.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,723,624 suggests another n-type doping method. In this method, silicon nitride (SiNx) is deposited on the CNT using plasma-enhanced chemical vapor-phased deposition (PECVD), and then heated, thereby manufacturing an n-type (electron-doped) CNT.

N-type carbon nanotube field effect transistor and method of fabricating the same


The hydrogen permeable substrate includes a copper plate, a stainless steel plate, an insulating member, and hydrogen permeable metal. The hydrogen permeable substrate is formed by locating the insulating member between the stainless steel plate and a combined member formed by embedding the hydrogen permeable metal in through-holes made in the copper plate; subjecting the joining face of each component for joining to other components to irradiation with argon ions, to remove the oxide film thereon and activate the surface; and stacking and rolling the components. By so doing, they may be joined at low temperature and low pressure. Once joined, by cutting the hydrogen permeable metal into individual pieces along cut lines, a plurality of hydrogen permeable substrates may be manufactured all at once.

In recent years, fuel cells that generate electricity by means of an electrochemical reaction of hydrogen and air have attracted attention as a source of energy. A fuel cell produces electromotive force by means of an electrochemical reaction of hydrogen and air. Hydrogen to be supplied to a fuel cell is obtained, for example, by using a hydrogen separation unit to separate hydrogen from reformed gases derived by reforming a hydrocarbon feedstock.
Known hydrogen separation units include, for example, devices that utilize hydrogen permeable metal having the quality of selectively passing hydrogen, such as palladium or palladium alloy. With such a device, when reformed gases are supplied to a first side of the hydrogen-separating metal, hydrogen is extracted at the other side. Conventional hydrogen separation units are fabricated, for example, by initially fabricating a hydrogen permeable substrate that formed palladium coating on vanadium (which is also a hydrogen-separating metal), then stacking various parts such as flow channel plates and a top panel on the hydrogen permeable substrate and joining them by means of diffusion bonding, laser bonding, or other joining process.

Method of manufacturing a hydrogen separation substrate


A display control device includes: a turn signal installed in a vehicle; indicators for displaying a lighting state of the turn signal to an occupant of the vehicle; and a controller for controlling the lighting state of the turn signal and a lighting state of the indicators. The controller makes timing of starting to turn on the turn signal and timing of starting to turn on the indicators different from each other.

There is a conventionally-known technique of, during automated driving, informing other vehicles around a host vehicle that the host vehicle is going to change lanes (Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2017-30436). The invention disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2017-30436 is configured such that after an occupant of the host vehicle manipulates a winker switch for changing lanes, if a vehicle which hinders the lane change is detected around the host vehicle, no turn signal is turned on until the detected vehicle goes so far away from the host vehicle that the host vehicle can change lanes safely.

Display control method and display control device


A process of separating milk clotting enzymes in extracts of animal stomach tissue which comprises contacting a partially purified extract with an ion exchange resin under conditions where chymosin is bound to the resin and recovering the chymosin, the process optionally comprising the further step of recovering pepsin, from a pepsin-rich extract fraction using an ion exchange resin, and a liquid of powdered rennet composition containing at least 90% of its milk clotting activity as chymosin activity, the composition comprising a chymosin stabilizing agent which is typically selected from a protein, a peptide, an amino acid or ascorbic acid.

Milk clotting enzymes are widely used in the cheese industry to provide a curd of the major milk proteins. Commercially available milk clotting enzymes include native enzymes derived from microbial or animal tissue sources, or the enzymes may be provided as gene products of recombinant cells expressing a milk clotting enzyme of animal or microbial origin.
Native milk clotting enzymes of animal origin are isolated by extraction from animal tissues containing one or several of these enzymes. Thus, animal milk clotting enzymes include several enzymes of the group of aspartic endopeptidases having molecular weights which are in the range of about 35,000 to 42,000 daltons (group 3.4.23 according to the Enzyme Nomenclature, 1992 of the International Union of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, IUBMB) such as pepsin A (22.214.171.124) and gastricsin (126.96.36.199) which is excreted into the gastric juice of vertebrates including ruminants, pigs and humans, and chymosin (18.104.22.168) which is a predominantly neonatal gastric enzyme with high milk clotting activity, excreted in mammals. The molecular weights of animal milk clotting enzymes are in the range of about 35,000 to about 42,000 daltons. Thus, chymosin has a calculated molecular weight of 35,652 daltons.
The primary industrial source of native animal milk clotting enzymes are stomachs of calves and adult cattle in which essentially all of the in-vivo milk clotting activity is associated with the presence in the gastric juice of chymosin and pepsin A. However, when produced in the stomach tissue cells, these enzymes occur as enzymatically inactive pre-enzymes which are designated pre-prochymosin and pre-pepsinogen A, respectively. When chymosin is excreted, an N-terminal fragment is cleaved off to give prochymosin including a pro-fragment. Prochymosin is an essentially inactive form of the enzyme which, however, under acidic conditions becomes activated to the active chymosin molecule by removal of the pro-fragment. This activation takes place in-vivo in the gastric lumen under appropriate pH conditions. Pepsinogen A is activated into the active enzyme by partial hydrolysis under acidic conditions.
Pseudochymosin is the designation of a chymosin species where only part of the pro-fragment (amino acid residues 1-27) is removed. Pseudochymosin will e.g. occur in an extract which has been exposed to a low pH, such as a pH of 2. Pseudochymosin has enzyme activity and is stable at low pH but is processed to chymosin at higher pH. The isoelectric point of pseudochymosin is not known, but it is assumed to be higher than 4.9.
Recently, animal chymosin that is produced in recombinant microorganisms including filamentous fungi has been introduced into the industrial market. Such recombinantly manufactured milk clotting enzyme products are also referred to as fermentation produced chymosin or rennet.
In addition to the above milk clotting enzymes of animal origin several natively produced microbial enzymes are used in the dairy industry. Such enzymes are referred to as microbial milk clotting enzymes or microbial coagulants in the following. Examples of such enzymes include Rhizomucor (previously Mucor) miehei proteases including destabilized, i.e. oxidized Rhizomucor miehei protease, Mucor pusillus protease and Endothia parasitica protease.
Preparations or compositions containing native milk clotting enzymes of animal origin are prepared industrially by extraction from stomach tissues, in particular from ruminants including calves and adult cattle. Enzyme-containing crude extracts contain chymosin species including precursors, and pepsin species in ratios which depend primarily on the age of the animal. Thus, the distribution between chymosin and pepsin in stomachs from young calves is typically about 80:20 to 90:10 whereas in stomachs from adult cattle it is typically about 25:75. It will be understood that intermediate distributions between these enzyme species may be found in older calves and young cattle. As an example, the above ratio in extracts from these animals is typically in the order of 50:50.
Conventionally, commercial products containing milk clotting enzymes of animal origin is manufactured by a multistep, time consuming process which typically include the following steps: (i) preparing a crude enzyme-containing extract by extracting comminuted, frozen or dried calf or cattle stomachs with water, (ii) transforming the proenzymes into the active enzymes, (iii) a clarification step wherein a flocculant is added to facilitate the subsequent filtration step, (iv) concentration steps, (v) repeated clarification, (vi) further filtration step to remove precipitated impurities, (vii) adjusting salt and preservative concentration, (viii) adjusting the enzymatic strength and composition to obtain the finished product which is usually referred to as rennet. Prior to packaging, the rennet product may be subjected to a final filtration step including a sterile filtration. This conventional process of manufacturing rennet involves a high consumption of chemical agents and energy.
The entire conventional process of rennet manufacturing may take about one week. It will be understood that such conventionally manufactured enzyme preparations will contain a mixture of chymosin and pepsin, the latter enzyme being much less active than chymosin in respect to milk clotting.
However, chymosin is considered in the dairy industry as far the best milk clotting enzyme for manufacturing of cheese with respect to specific clotting activity, curd formation, cheese texture and flavour and yield of cheese. The distribution of milk clotting enzymes, i.e. the composition of a given batch of animal rennet may vary considerably depending i.a. on the animal stomach raw material. If a conventional rennet having a relatively high proportion of chymosin is desired, stomachs from young calves is the preferred raw material. Such products may be designated calf rennet. Rennet products having lower proportions of chymosin may be manufactured on the basis of stomachs from older calves or from adult cattle (ox rennet). Naturally, rennet products having intermediate enzyme chymosin content may be obtained e.g. by mixing a calf rennet and an ox rennet. The strength of a crude extract as described above is typically in the range of 5 to 30 Chr. Hansen units (CHU)/mL as defined below. Typically conventionally manufactured commercial liquid rennet products has an enzymatic strength in the range of 40 to 100 CHUs/mL.
The above conventional rennet manufacturing process has several essential drawbacks. Firstly, the process is time consuming and labour-intensive; secondly, the provision of rennet having high contents of chymosin requires use of stomachs from young calves which is a relatively scarce and costly raw material; thirdly, the process requires use of clarifying agents which add to the production costs; fourthly part of the process takes place at pH values where microbial growth is not inhibited, which may cause spoilage problems and furthermore, part of the process is at pH values where the chymosin has a reduced stability; fifthly, the process results in large quantities of contaminated waste-water and sixthly, the resulting rennet may be less suitable as the basis for production of powdered rennet products with a very high milk clotting activity due to its relatively low enzymatic activity (strength) and finally, it is a significant drawback that the liquid rennet products have low strengths which implies significant transportation costs.
In the prior art some of the above problems have been addressed e.g. by suggesting processes whereby chymosin and pepsin are separated. Thus, WO 88/02220 discloses a method for separating chymosin from a liquid containing chymosin and pepsin, comprising adjusting the enzyme-containing liquid to a pH of about 3.8 to about 5.2, preferably in the range of 4.4 to 4.5, and to a conductivity of about 2 to about 19 mS/cm, and contacting this liquid with an equilibrated anion exchange medium to bind pepsin, recovering the chymosin in the liquid resulting after contact with the exchange medium and removing the pepsin from the exchange medium. However, this process results in a fraction where chymosin is present in an amount which is generally lower than that of the starting enzyme-containing liquid and the process is based on anion exchange at a pH where chymosin is unstable and which allows microbial growth. Furthermore, the anion exchange medium as disclosed is a weak DEAE-cellulose ion exchanger the performance of which under the disclosed conditions will be affected by small variations in the pH or conductivity of the extract applied to the weak exchanger.
In WO 90/15866 is disclosed a method of recovering chymosin from an aqueous solution which additionally contains pepsin, comprising adding to the aqueous solution, polyethylene glycol (PEG) and an inorganic salt so as to form a two-phase system which after separation into a chymosin and pepsin-rich PEG phase and an enzyme-poor salt phase, and contacting the PEG phase with an ion exchange resin under conditions where the chymosin is bound to the resin, and recovering the chymosin from the resin. Although this process may result in a rennet product essentially only containing chymosin, it involves several technological drawbacks which contribute significantly to the production costs: (i) the use of PEG during the process requires strict measures be taken to remove the PEG, (ii) PEG and inorganic salt in the high amounts to be used are costly, (iii) in order to dissolve the added salt, it is required to use energy to warm the solution, (iv) the two phases must be separated by centrifugation (v) after the ion exchange step, the PEG must either be recycled or discharged, and (vi) according to that disclosure it is necessary to regenerate the resin after each batch.
The present invention provides a novel one-phase ion exchange-based process of separating chymosin and pepsin from a crude extract of animal tissues containing these milk clotting enzymes that is surprisingly efficient with regard to separating and concentrating the enzymes and to obtaining a high yield of enzymes, and which in comparison to the prior art methods is simple and cost-effective.
However, it has been found that rennet products containing milk clotting enzymes of animal origin that are provided by an ion exchange process may be prone to reduction in their enzymatic activity, assumingly due to oxidation of certain amino acid residues. This phenomenon of oxidative enzyme destabilization is known in the art in connection with microbial coagulants, and is in fact utilized in the manufacturing of so-called destabilized milk clotting proteases of microbial origin, which is oxidized to a level where they are readily inactivated during the pasteurization of the whey. It is also known to add stabilizing agents to such proteases in order to preserve their activity up to their use. Thus, DE 3234761 discloses solutions of such fungal proteases stabilized by the addition of at least 0.1 wt % methionine.
Milk clotting enzymes may e.g. be exposed to oxidizing agents such as e.g chlorine or cleaning agent residues present in the water used during the manufacturing of rennet products or in the dairies. In contrast to the rennet products provided herein, conventionally manufactured animal milk clotting enzyme extracts (rennets) are not very sensitive to oxidation due to their high content of impurities which are readily oxidized.
It has now surprisingly been found that it is possible to protect animal milk clotting enzymes having a low content of impurities by the addition of compounds which are readily oxidized, including methionine. Therefore, it is an important aspect of the present invention to provide liquid and powdered rennet products comprising a milk clotting enzyme and a stabilizing compound which improve the stability of the enzymes against oxidative inactivation. In the present context, rennet products having a low content of impurities include rennets manufactured on the basis of enzyme-containing animal tissues, e.g. in accordance with the process of this invention or by an other process leading to a rennet product with a low content of impurities which are readily oxidizable, and milk clotting enzymes expressed by a recombinant microorganism (fermentation product rennets).

Process for separating milk clotting enzymes, and stable rennet compositions


The present invention is directed to an aqueous post-strip rinsing composition, comprising (1) water; (2) at least one water-soluble organic acid; and (3) at least one water-soluble surface-active agent, the rinse solution having a pH in the range from about 2.0 to about 5.0. The present invention is also directed to a method of using the above composition to remove residues from a semiconductor substrate.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an aqueous rinsing composition, comprising water, at least one water-soluble organic acid, and at least one water-soluble surface-active agent, the rinse solution having a pH in the range from about 2.0 to about 5.0. The present invention also relates to a process for removing residues from a substrate bearing said residues, wherein said residues comprise photoresist residues, post-etch residues, remover solution residues and combinations thereof, comprising treating the residue-bearing substrate with an aqueous rinse solution comprising water, at least one water-soluble organic acid, and at least one water-soluble surface-active agent, said rinse solution having a pH in the range from about 2.0 to about 5.0.
2. Brief Description of the Art
The manufacture of semiconductor components and integrated circuits is generally carried out using photolithographic processes. These processes involve first coating the semiconductor substrates with photoresist (positive or negative) to form a photoresist layer thereon, followed by imagewise exposing and subsequent developing to form a patterned photoresist layer on the substrate. This patterned layer acts as a mask for actual substrate patterning processes such as etching, doping, coating with metals or other semiconductor materials or other insulating materials.
After these substrate patterning operations, the patterned photoresist structure or layer must be removed from the substrate. In the past, mixtures of polar organic solvents with other compounds such as alkanolamines were used to strip this photoresist layer from the substrate. These solutions are commonly known in the art as photoresist stripping solutions. While these stripping solutions are generally effective, in some cases, a small amount of photoresist residue and stripper solution may remain on the surface of the substrate after the stripping operation.
Alternatively and more preferred at the present time, oxygen-gas plasma ashing is used to remove the photoresist layer. This plasma treatment burns the photoresist layer; however, small amounts of photoresist residue, post-etch residue and cleaner solution may still remain on the surface of the substrate in some situations.
Other methods for removing the patterned photoresist layer include mechanical means such as scrubbing with a liquid or a gas jet-stream, cryogenic treatment with liquid nitrogen, argon, or supercritical fluids, or by peeling away the layer with an adhesive-coated paper attached to the top of the photoresist layer.
When a liquid photoresist stripper solution or an oxygen gas plasma ashing step is used to remove the patterned photoresist layer, it is common to employ a subsequent liquid rinse operation. Generally, this rinse treatment involves first rinsing the substrate with an organic solvent (e.g., most commonly isopropyl alcohol) followed by a second rinsing operation with deionized water. Besides isopropyl alcohol, specific teachings of alternative organic solvent rinse solutions are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,786,578 (Neisius et al.)(an organic base such as triethanolamine in combination with a non-ionic surfactant); 4,824,762 (Kobayashi et al.) (an ether compound such as dipropyleneglycol monomethyl ether and optionally, an amine compound such as monoethanolamine); and 5,174,816 (Aoyama et al.)(an aqueous solution of a quaternary ammonium hydroxide in combination with a sugar or sugar alcohol). However, the use of such organic solvent-containing rinses are not necessarily desirable because they add complexity to the photoresist removal operation and generate additional solvent waste.
In addition to photoresist residues produced by liquid stripping operations or oxygen gas plasma ashing operations or the like, other residues may form during plasma etching operations used in conjunction with photolithographic processes. For example, as explained in U.S. Pat. No. 5,174,816 (Aoyama et al.) metal halides such as aluminum chlorides may be formed as post-etch residues. Such metal halides may cause corrosion of the substrates when contacted with water.
Furthermore, during anisotropic plasma etching processes for via contacts, metal patterns and possivation openings, post-etch residues may be formed and are know in the art as sidewall polymer residues. After oxygen plasma ashing of the photoresist layer, these sidewall polymer residues become metal oxides which are generally more difficult to remove. Incomplete removal of these residues interferes with pattern definition and/or complete filling of via holes.
A new class of product called "cleaner solutions" has been developed for removing these post-etch residues, particularly the metal oxide type. These cleaners have generally been described as aqueous solutions of amines or ammonium salts that contain one or more corrosion inhibitors. See U.S. Pat. No. 5,612,304 (Honda et al.). Moreover, alkaline aqueous developers such as those containing tetramethylammonium hydroxide (TMAH) are known to attack aluminum. Thus, aluminum oxide-type residues can be etched away with TMAH. However, other types of the post-etch residues , e.g., metal fluorides such as AlF.sub.3 cannot be so easily removed with TMAH without metal layer corrosion. TMAH also is ineffective on residues from polysilicon plasma etch processes.
The metal oxide type sidewall residues can also be removed with: (1) an aqueous mixture of hydrofluoric acid and ethylene glycol ether, or (2) a mixture of nitric acid, acetic acid, and hydrofluoric acid. However, these solutions require careful process control to prevent excessive attack of critical metal and oxide layers. In some device structures, these solutions are not useful because of their non-selective attack mechanisms. Also, Wai M. Lee described at Interconnects, Contact Metallization and Multilevel Metallization Symposium (183rd Spring Meeting of The Electrochemical Society) in Honolulu, Hi., May 16-21, 1993, that a hydroxylamine-containing amine/water-based stripper composition can remove some kinds of the sidewall residues.
However, there is still a need for better rinse solutions that can be used after either liquid stripper solutions or the new liquid cleaner solutions (or both), or after a dry oxygen gas plasma ashing operation, that will inhibit metal corrosion caused by the reaction of water with the above-noted types of residues, yet not contain organic solvents that require special disposal operations. It is believed the present invention offers a solution to that need.


Input apparatus including at least one textile fabric carrier, at least one flexible, wire-and/or thread-like electrical conductor comprising at least one weft and/or warp thread of the fabric carrier, and at least one electrically conductive, flexible key device which is electrically connected to a key connection of the conductor, wherein the conductor is designed for the connection of an evaluation device.

The integration of electronic components in textile consumer items, such as e.g. items of clothing, requires not only the implementation of the electronic circuits but also the implementation of an apparatus for data inputting, in particular a tactile user interface. Despite ever more sophisticated possibilities of voice control systems, key inputting is still necessary or desirable in many applications since, on the one hand, voice control systems can only be used to a limited extent in many situations and, on the other hand, key inputs can often be carried out more reliably, more simply and more rapidly. By way of example, a continuously variable volume control cannot be realized in a convenient manner by means of voice control systems.
Known attempts to integrate keyboards or input apparatuses into a textile environment comprise, in particular, incorporating or sewing conventional flexible keyboards into a textile fabric carrier. Furthermore, multilayer material fabric structures are known in which, by means of mechanical actuation, an electrical contact or proximity can be produced in the multilayer construction and read resistively or capacitively. Finally, keyboards whose keys and leads have been embroidered on or sewn on from conductive and nonconductive strips have also been proposed.
Although input apparatuses having a multilayer material fabric structure are well suited to the realization of touch sensors (touch pads) having a high spatial resolution, since a matrix structure prescribed by the textile structure is read, what is disadvantageous is that these systems comprise multilayer textiles and that, at the edge of the input area, in some instances a large number of connections have to be fed to an electronic evaluation device. The likewise known possibility of fitting input keys of a keypad to the textile carrier in particular by embroidery or sewing methods admittedly enables a high degree of freedom with regard to the configuration and arrangement of the key devices, but harbors the disadvantage that this involves a complicated and thus cost-intensive manufacturing step downstream of the textile production method.
Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to specify an input apparatus which can be integrated into a textile environment in a simple manner and which is accessible to an industrial scale manufacturing process. Furthermore, it is an object of the invention to specify a method for producing such an input apparatus.

Keypad in textiles with capacitive read-out circuit


A thin film magnetic head which includes a magnetoresistive layer selectively formed; a magnetic bias layer sandwiching said magnetoresistive layer; a pair of leads for detecting magnetic resistance; and a cap layer formed under the lead between the magnetoresistive layer. This configuration enables to accurately specify a magnetic response region by both ends of the cap layers, concentrating the current from the lead onto the magnetic response region through a tip of the cap layer for improving a S/N ratio.

The present invention relates to the field of thin film magnetic heads that employ a magnetoresistive layer and which are used as reproduction heads for magnetic disk devices.
In response to the increasing recording density of hard disk drives, reproduction heads are being developed with a narrower reproduction track width and greater reproduction output than those of conventional thin film magnetic heads. One of these new reproduction heads is a MR head which utilizes the magnetoresistive effect, in which electric resistance changes in response to changes in an externally applied magnetic field. Types using materials with greater magnetoresistive effect are called GMR heads.
FIG. 4 is a sectional view of a part of a conventional thin film magnetic head. In FIG. 4, an insulating base layer 21 made such as of alumina, a lower shield magnetic layer 22 made of soft magnetic material such as nickel and iron, a first insulating layer 23 made of a non-magnetic material such as alumina, and a magnetoresistive layer 24 are formed on a substrate (not illustrated) made such as of alumina/titanium carbide. In the magnetoresistive layer 24, a magnetic response region 24a is for generating normal signals and an unwanted signal generating region 24b generates unwanted signals when the current flows through this region. A magnetic bias layer 25, made such as of hard magnetic film and antiferromagnetic film, for applying a magnetic bias to the magnetoresistive layer 24; lead 26; and a second insulating layer 27 for covering the lead 26, etc. are also formed.
The end face of the tip of the lead 26 is tapered, and a first taper close to the magnetoresistive layer 24 is formed at a large angle xcex8, and a second taper far from the magnetoresistive layer 24 is formed at a smaller angle xcfx86. For simplification, the upper shielding magnetic layer formed on the second insulating layer 27 is not illustrated.
In the prior art shown in FIG. 4, the magnetic bias layer 25 is disposed in a clearance created on the first insulating layer 23, and the magnetoresistive layer 24 is formed on the magnetic bias layer 25 and the clearance. The tip of the lead 26 contacts the magnetoresistive layer 24 beyond the end of the magnetic bias layer 25.
In general, the magnetic response region 24a is approximately equivalent to the area between the tips of the leads 26. Strictly speaking, however, it is not electrically equivalent to the area between the tips of the leads 26 because the current from the lead 26 flows not only from the tip of the lead 26 but also extensively in the lengthwise direction of the lead 26.
In order to satisfy the increasing demand for higher recording density, the magnetic head needs to achieve a narrower reproduction track width by narrowing the magnetic response region but without degrading the sensitivity and S/N ratio. Accordingly, the current needs to be fed efficiently only to the magnetic response region, which is equivalent to the width of a track, without any current leakage to other regions.
In the aforementioned prior art, the width of the magnetic response region is accurately specified by forming the large angle xcex8 at the tip of the lead 26 against the main face of the magnetoresistive layer 24. The coverage of the second insulating layer 27 at the step portion is improved by forming a portion following the tip of the lead with a smaller angle xcfx86 for a gentle slope.
However, the magnetoresistive layer 24 is formed crossing the step portion at the tip of the magnetic bias layer 25, and this causes a different concern. More specifically, the magnetic bias layer 25 needs to be disposed as close as possible to the magnetic response layer 24a in order to efficiently apply a magnetic bias to the magnetic response layer 24a in the above conventional configuration. On the other hand, the tip of the magnetic bias layer 25 and the tip of the lead 26 also come closer when the magnetic bias layer 25 and the magnetic response layer 24a are in closer proximity. This requires that the lead 26 be thickened at the portion close to the magnetic bias layer 25, resulting in an overall increase in the thickness of the lead 26. Greater thickness at the tip of the lead 26, which is thickness of a slope portion having the angle xcex8, causes problems in coverage of the second insulating layer 27 at the step portion covering the lead 26, and occurrence of cracks.
Also in the conventional configuration, the lead 26 directly contacts the magnetoresistive layer 24, and this requires that a material for the lead 26 be selected for good adhesivity to the magnetoresistive layer 24 without causing a reaction with the magnetoresistive layer 24, resulting in many restrictions on its practical use.
The present invention aims to provide a thin film magnetic head which allows the accurate definition of the magnetic response region, to reduce current to the magnetoresistive layer at regions other than the magnetic response region, and to increase the S/N ratio by increasing the proportion of current flowing in the magnetic response region; and to offer a structure that is easy to manufacture.
The thin film magnetic head of the present invention includes an insulating base layer; a lower shield magnetic layer formed on the insulating base layer; a first insulating layer formed on the lower shield magnetic layer; a magnetoresistive layer formed selectively over at least a portion of the first insulating layer; a magnetic bias layer formed sandwiching the magnetoresistive layer for applying magnetic bias to the magnetoresistive layer; a pair of leads formed over at least a portion of the magnetic bias layer for detecting a change in electric resistance of the magnetoresistive layer by an external magnetic field; a non-magnetic cap layer formed under the lead between the lead and the magnetoresistive layer; a second insulating layer at least covering the magnetoresistive layer, magnetic bias layer, and pair of leads; and an upper shield magnetic layer formed on the second insulating layer.
In the above configuration, the non-magnetic cap layer under the leads accurate specification of the width of the magnetic response region, allowing the current to effectively flow from the lead to the magnetic response region.
Moreover, the thin film magnetic head of the present invention includes an insulating base layer; a lower shield magnetic layer formed on the insulating base layer; a first insulating layer formed on the lower shield magnetic layer; a magnetoresistive layer formed over at least a portion of the first insulating layer; a magnetic bias layer formed sandwiching the magnetoresistive layer for applying magnetic bias to the magnetoresistive layer; a non-magnetic cap layer formed on a main face of the magnetoresistive layer; a pair of leads formed over at least a portion of the magnetic layer for detecting a change in electric resistance of the magnetoresistive layer by an external magnetic field; a second insulating layer at least covering the magnetoresistive layer, magnetic bias layer; and pair of leads; and an upper shield magnetic layer formed on the second insulating layer. The portion of the non-magnetic cap layer under the lead is thicker than the portion of the non-magnetic cap layer not under the lead.
This configuration enables to effectively protect the main face of the magnetoresistive layer in the manufacturing process, and, at the same time, the thick non-magnetic cap layer under the leads enables to accurately specify the width of the magnetic response region, allowing the current to effectively flow is from the lead to the magnetic response region.
Still more, the thin film magnetic head of the present invention includes an insulating base layer; a lower shield magnetic layer formed on the insulating base layer; a first insulating layer formed on the lower shield magnetic layer; a magnetoresistive layer formed over at least a portion of the first insulating layer; a magnetic bias layer formed sandwiching the magnetoresistive layer for applying magnetic bias to the magnetoresistive layer; a first non-magnetic cap layer formed on a main face of the magnetoresistive layer; a pair of leads formed over at least a portion of the magnetic bias layer for detecting a change in electric resistance of the magnetoresistive layer by an external magnetic field; a second non-magnetic cap layer under the lead between the lead and the first non-magnetic cap layer; a second insulating layer at least covering the magnetoresistive layer, magnetic bias layer, and pair of leads; and an upper shield magnetic layer formed on the second insulating layer.
The above configuration enables to demonstrate stronger effect by selecting appropriate materials for the first and second non-magnetic cap layers. In addition, a material for the first non-magnetic cap layer is selectable with respect to increased adhesivity to the second non-magnetic cap layer and preventing reaction between the magnetoresistive layer and second non-magnetic cap layer.
Still more, the above thin film magnetic head of the present invention has the configuration that the top face of the non-magnetic cap layer under the lead and the main face of the magnetic bias layer are approximately leveled. This reduces a step at the top end of the magnetic bias layer, enabling to make the lead thinner, and solve problems of the coverage by the second insulating layer and occurrence of cracks, and so on.
Still more, the above thin film magnetic head of the present invention has the configuration that opposing end faces of the non-magnetic cap layers under the lead form an angle xcex81 against the main face of the magnetoresistive layer, and the top end face of the pair of leads form an angle xcfx861 against the main face of the non-magnetic cap layer. In addition, xcex81 and xcfx861 satisfy the relation of xcfx861 less than xcex81 less than 90xc2x0. This enables to easily and accurately specify the magnetic response region using the top ends of the non-magnetic cap layers.
Still more, the above thin film magnetic head of the present invention has the configuration that the sheet resistance of a thin portion of the non-magnetic cap layer sandwiched with the tips of the leads on the main face of the magnetoresistive layer is higher than the sheet resistance of the magnetoresistive layer. This enables to supply a larger proportion of current to the magnetoresistive layer than that to the thin non-magnetic cap layer, allowing to increase the S/N ratio.
Still more, the above thin film magnetic head of the present invention has the configuration that the specific resistivity xcfx811 of the first non-magnetic cap layer and the specific resistivity xcfx812 of the second non-magnetic cap layer satisfy xcfx811 greater than xcfx812. This enables to prevent the current supplied to the second non-magnetic cap layer from reaching the first non-magnetic cap layer adjacent to the magnetoresistive region, allowing increased current directed to the magnetoresistive region for increasing the S/N ratio.
Still more, the above thin film magnetic head of the present invention has the configuration that the specific resistivity xcfx811 of the first non-magnetic cap layer, the specific resistivity xcfx812 of the second non-magnetic cap layer, and the specific resistivity xcfx813 of the third non-magnetic cap layer satisfy xcfx811 greater than xcfx813 greater than xcfx812. By specifying the relation of specific resistivity in each layer, the current is effectively fed from the lead to the magnetoresistive region, allowing to increase the S/N ratio.
Still more, the above thin film magnetic head of the present invention has the configuration that a thickness t1 of the non-magnetic cap layer under the lead, a thickness t2 of the non-magnetic cap layer on the magnetoresistive layer at portions other than that under the lead satisfy t2 less than (t1-t2). This enables to limit the current flowing through the non-magnetic cap layer on the magnetoresistive layer and enhances the current flow at a portion of the non-magnetic cap layer under the lead, resulting in increasing the S/N ratio.
Still more, the above thin film magnetic head of the present invention has the configuration that a thickness t3 of the first non-magnetic cap layer and a thickness t4 of the second non-magnetic cap layer satisfy t3 less than t4. This enables to relatively increase the current flowing to the magnetoresistive region, resulting in increasing the S/N ratio.
Still more, the above thin film magnetic head of the present invention has the configuration that the sheet resistance of the non-magnetic cap layer formed under the pair of leads is lower than the sheet resistance of the magnetoresistive layer. This enhances the current from the magnetic bias layer to be fed to the magnetic response region through the tip of the non-magnetic cap layer, reducing the current flowing to the unwanted signal generating region, and thus increasing the S/N ratio.
As described above, the thin film magnetic head of the present invention selectively provides the magnetic bias layer on both sides of the magnetoresistive layer, and the pair of leads are connected to the magnetoresistive layer through the non-magnetic cap layer provided under the lead. This enables to accurately specify the magnetoresistive region using the tip of the non-magnetic cap layer, and also enables to effectively feed the current from the lead to the magnetoresistive region by effectively concentrating the current on the tip of the non-magnetic cap layer.
Still more, a first non-magnetic cap layer formed over an entire main face of the magnetoresistive layer and a second non-magnetic cap layer provided under the lead between the lead and the first non-magnetic cap layer enable to broaden a choice of material for the non-magnetic cap layer, realizing a thin film magnetic head with high accuracy and high reliability.
Still more, if a main face of the non-magnetic cap layer under the lead and a main face of the magnetic bias layer are approximately leveled, the lead may be formed almost without any step. This allows to thin the lead, making the step seen from the second insulating layer smaller compared to the prior art.
In addition, the angle between the end face of the non-magnetic cap layer and the main face of the magnetoresistive layer may be made large. This makes the current efficiently flow only to the magnetic response region, improving the S/N ratio. At the same time, a gentle slope at the lead tip prevents an insufficient coverage or cracks of the insulating film covering the lead at the step portion.
In each of the above configurations, a relation among a sheet resistance between the non-magnetic cap layer and magnetoresistive layer, specific resistivity, and film thickness may be appropriately set to increase the current fed to the magnetic response region for improving the S/N ratio.
The non-magnetic cap layer described in the present invention is formed on an uppermost layer of the magnetoresistive layer. An expression of the magnetoresistive layer may include the non-magnetic cap layer in some descriptions. However, for easier understanding in the present invention, the magnetoresistive layer refers to an overlayed film having a magnetoresistive effect, and a non-magnetic cap layer refers to a layer formed on the magnetoresistive layer. Accordingly, the non-magnetic cap layer also refers to the layer formed over a part of the overlayed film having magnetoresistive effect, a non-magnetic cap layer configured with multiple layers. Furthermore, the term non-magnetic cap layer is used regardless of a purpose or effect on an overlayed film having a magnetoresistive effect.

Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.


A full digital symbol timing recovery apparatus which can recover a symbol timing from a received signal. In the apparatus, a fixed oscillator generates a frequency signal having a constant frequency. An analog-to-digital converter samples the received signal at the constant frequency supplied from the fixed oscillator and converts the analog signal into a digital signal. A matching matches and filters the digitized signal according to a load filter coefficient and adjusts a timing phase. A timing error detector detects a symbol timing error from the output of the matching filter. A subtracter subtracts a predetermined value from the output of the timing error detector and outputs the subtracted result. A numerically controlled oscillator generates a frequency signal which varies periodically according to the output of the subtracter. A read-only-memory in which a plurality of sets of the filter coefficients are prestored receives the output of the numerically controlled oscillator as an address value and loads a set of the filter coefficients corresponding to the address value into the matching filter. A controller generates a symbol clock using a sampling clock of the constant frequency output from the fixed oscillator and delays the symbol clock corresponding to the positions at which repeated data is generated according to the output of the numerically controlled oscillator and outputs the delayed result.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an apparatus for recovering a symbol timing of a signal received in a receiver of a digital communication system. The present invention is based on Korean Application No. 96-3484, which is incorporated herein by reference.
2. Description of the Prior Art
A transmitter of a general digital communication apparatus modulates a signal by a quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM) method or a quadrature phase shift keying (QPSK) method and converts the modulated signal into an analog signal to transmit it. A receiver thereof demodulates the modulated signal transmitted from the transmitter and converts the demodulated signal into a digital signal to restore it to the original signal. Such a receiver can accurately restore the received signals into original symbol values when the received signals are sampled at the same interval of time and phase as those of the symbols transmitted from the transmitter. Therefore, one of the important signal processings which should be done in the receiver of the digital communication apparatus is to accurately restore a symbol timing representing a point in time to be sampled from the received signal. When a particular carrier corresponding to a sampling frequency is not transmitted, it is very important to accurately recover a symbol timing using only the received signal. A conventional apparatus for recovering a symbol timing is shown in FIG. 1.
In FIG. 1, a received signal is input to an analog-to-digital (A/D) converter 11. The A/D converter 11 samples the input signal at a frequency supplied from a voltage controlled oscillator (VCO) 15 and converts the analog signal into a digital signal. The digitized signal is output via a matching filter 12, and simultaneously input to a timing error detector 13. The timing error detector 13 detects a symbol timing error from the input signal and outputs a detected error value, to a loop filter 14. The loop filter 14 filters the input signal to remove various noises. The VCO 15 oscillates at a frequency according to the output of the loop filter 14 and supplies the oscillated frequency signal to the A/D converter 11.
Since analog components are used in the hardware implemented circuit, the apparatus of FIG. 1 is greatly affected by temperature and environment. Due to such effects, the apparatus does not appropriately trace an interval of time of symbols which are transmitted from the transmitter. As a result, a symbol timing drift phenomenon occurs in which the number of symbols transmitted from the transmitter differs from that of restored symbols.
To solve this problem, a full digital implementation of a symbol timing recovery apparatus, as shown in FIG. 2, was developed. In FIG. 2, a fixed oscillator 22 generates a constant frequency signal and supplies the same to an A/D converter 21. The A/D converter 21 converts the received signal into a digital signal using the frequency signal supplied from the fixed oscillator 22, and outputs the digitized signal to an interpolator 23. Meanwhile, a controller 27 receives a symbol timing error signal output a timing error detector 25 via a loop filter 26. The controller 27 generates an interpolation coefficient according to the input symbol timing error signal and supplies the same to the interpolator 23. The interpolator 23 interpolates the digitized signal with the interpolation coefficient supplied from the controller 27, and outputs the interpolated result to a matching filter 24.
The A/D converter 21 samples the received signal at a sampling frequency supplied from the fixed oscillator 22 and converts the analog signal to the digital signal. The digitized signal is output via the interpolator 23 and the matching filter 24 and simultaneously input to the timing error detector 25. The symbol timing error signal which is detected in the timing error detector 25 and has noise removed in the loop filter 26 is then input to the controller 27. The controller 27 generates the interpolation coefficient according to the input signal. The interpolator 23 interpolates the digitized signal according to the interpolation coefficient supplied from the controller 27, and thereby removes the symbol timing error. Although this apparatus can accurately recover the symbol timing, it is very complicated to implement using hardware.

Apparatus for recovering full digital symbol timing


A digital camera configured to carry out a strobe photographing is provided. The digital camera includes an imaging optical system, which forms an optical image of an object with its background, an image capturing system configured to capture the optical image of the object and the background, a color temperature sensor configured to detect a color temperature of the object and the background illuminated with external light, a white balance adjusting system configured to adjust a white balance of the image captured by the image capturing system, and a color temperature converting filter inserted in an optical path of light which passes through the imaging optical system to form the optical image when the strobe photographing is carried out. The color temperature converting filter converts the color temperature of the external light to a predetermined value.

The present invention relates to a digital camera capable of executing a strobe photographing, and particularly to such a digital camera having a white balance adjusting function.
In digital cameras, a color of a captured object may appear different from an original color of the object depending on a type of a light source. For example, a color of a white object photographed under the sun light is different from a color of the object under fluorescent lamp light. Generally, the latter is slightly greener than the former.
In order to avoid the color difference due to a difference of the light source type, a digital camera is typically provided with a white balance sensor. With the white balance sensor, a color of the object, i.e., a color temperature of the object is measured, and corresponding to the thus measured color temperature, the color image signal obtained from an image capturing element is processed to adjust the color of the image so that a white object can be captured as a white image. An example of such technique is disclosed in Japanese Patent Provisional Publication No. P2004-193715A, which discloses a digital camera provided with the white balance sensor. Depending on whether a strobe emits light or not, the white balance is adjusted so that the image of the object shows the object with appropriate colors.
When an object such as people or stationary objects are located relatively close indoors or there is a night lighting environment with the digital camera, the strobe device is generally used to illuminate the object. A Xenon illumination has a color temperature of 5400 K. Therefore, the digital camera having the white balancing function is configured to meet the color temperature when the strobe device (i.e., Xenon lamp) is used. With this configuration, even if the strobe device is used, the object is photographed such that the captured image represents the actual color. However, for objects which are not sufficiently illuminated by the strobe light but mainly illuminated with other lighting devices such as a fluorescent light (whose color temperature is 4200 K) or a filament lamp (whose color temperature is 3000 K), the captured image does not represent the actual colors thereof since the white balance is not adjusted. Such objects are captured such that the color represented by the image is greenish or reddish.
FIG. 7A shows a composition when a person close to the digital camera is photographed using the strobe illumination. Since the person in the composition is illuminated with the strobe light, the color temperature is 5400 K, while a background (i.e., a dotted area) is being illuminated with the filament lamp, and the color temperature at the area is 3000 K. If the white balance is adjusted to meet the strobe illumination, the background is photographed as a reddish image.

Camera executing strobe photographing using filters


Induction of telomere shortening, G2 arrest and apoptosis in telomerase positive cancer cells using acyclic nucleoside analogs has been disclosed. In addition, methods for impairment or prevention of tumorigenic telomerase positive cells from having a chance to grow into a tumor and methods for promoting tumor regression (decrease in size of an established tumor) using acyclic nucleoside analogs has been disclosed.

An asymmetry in the synthesis of leading and lagging DNA strands creates the "end problem" for replication of linear genomes.1 To overcome this problem, eukaryotic chromosomes have specialized end structures, telomeres, consisting of TTAGGG repeats.2 Telomerase3,4 is a ribonucleoprotein enzyme that elongates telomeres and therefore maintains chromosomal stability in majority of cancer cells during cell doubling.5 The gradual loss of DNA from the ends of telomeres during cell doubling has been implicated in the control of cellular proliferative potential in somatic cells.6
Normal cultured human cells have a limited replication potential in culture. Normal cells in culture replicate until they reach a discrete point at which population growth ceases. This is termed mortality stage 1 (M1 stage) and is caused by the shortening of a few telomeres to a size that leads to a growth arrest called cellular senescence. This stage can be bypassed by abrogation of the function of p53 and pRB human tumor suppressor genes. The cells then can continue to proliferate with further decreases in telomere length until another check point termed mortality stage 2 (M2 stage) or crisis stage. The growth arrest in the M2 stage is caused by balance between the cell proliferation and cell death rate. At this stage, when most of the telomeres are extremely short, end-to-end fusions and chromosomal breakage-fusion cause marked chromosomal abnormalities and apoptosis. Under rare circumstances, a cell can escape M2 and become immortal by stabilizing the length of its telomeres. This occurs through the activation of the enzyme telomerase or an alternative mechanism of telomere lengthening (ALT).7,8
Human germline9 and the majority of cancer cells3 express telomerase. Telomerase is a ribonucleoprotein enzyme that elongates telomeres and, therefore, maintains chromosomal stability in majority of cancer cells during cell doubling.10 Indeed, elongation of shortened telomeres by telomerase is a major mechanism of telomere maintenance in the human cancer cells. Inhibition of telomerase limits the growth of human telomerase positive cancer cells11 by decreasing telomere length.
Elongation of shortened telomeres by telomerase is a well known mechanism of telomere maintenance in the human cancer cells. From a biological point of view, telomerase elongates telomeres by the addition of repetitive DNA sequences of the TTAGGG-type (telomeric sequences), at the end of the telomere, during cell division. Through this action, telomerase imparts chromosomal stability and renders the cell immortal. In attempting to obtain selective inhibitors as useful tools for studying this enzyme, inhibitory effects of nucleotide analogues have been investigated in cell-free systems (Yamaguchi et al., (2001, Nucleic Acids Research Supplement No. 1 211-212). Since proliferating cells including cancer cells express telomerase activity while normal human somatic cells do not express telomerase activity at levels sufficient to maintain telomere length over many cell divisions as seen in cancer cells, telomerase is a good target for treating proliferative disorders including cancer.
Currently, strategies aimed at selectively treating the cancers from telomerase positive cells involve modulation of TERT (Telomerase Reverse Transcriptase) function or length of telomeres by antisense strategy, dominant negative mutants or pharmacological agents (see, Bisoffi et al., Eur J Cancer, 1998, 34: 1242-1249; Roth et al., Leukemia, 2003, 17:2410-2417; Damm et al., EMBO J., 2001, 20:6958-6968; U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,294,332, 6,194,206, 6,156,763 and 6,046,307). The use of nucleoside analogs (e.g., AZT) has been attempted to interfere with human telomerase activity with an aim to treat cancers. The methods disclosed in the prior art administering nucleoside analogs to modify telomerase activity, however, are not satisfactory or are not suitable in a clinical setting because their clinical utility is limited by a low therapeutic ratio, i.e., the ratio of toxic dose to effective dose.
Prolonged exposure of telomerase positive cell lines to AZT failed to induce any significant telomere shortening at a concentration of the drug equal to 100 μM (Murakami, J., Nagai. N., Shigemasa. K., Ohama. K. Inhibition of telomerase activity and cell proliferation by a reverse transcriptase inhibitor in gynaecological cancer cell lines. Eur. J. Cancer 35, 1027-1034 (1999) or even 800 μM (Gomez D E, Tejera A M, Olivero O A. Irreversible telomere shortening by 3′-azido-2′,3′-dideoxythymidine (AZT) treatment. Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 1998; 246(1): 107-10; Tejera A M, Alonso D F, Gomez D E, Olivero O A. Chronic in vitro exposure to 3′-azido-2′,3′-dideoxythymidine induces senescence and apoptosis and reduces tumorigenicity of metastatic mouse mammary tumor cells. Breast Cancer Res Treat. 2001; 65(2):93-9).
While peak serum concentration after taking single oral dose of 300 mg of AZT was less than 10 μM, and it was rapidly absorbed within 0.5 h (Morse G D, Olson J, Portnore A, Taylor C, Plank C, Reichman R C Pharmacokinetics of orally administered zidovudine among patients with hemophilia and asymptomatic human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. Antiviral Res. 1989 March; 11(2):57-65). Standard AZT treatment is 500 or 600 mg/day in two or three divided doses for adults according to the recommendations of the manufacturer of Retrovir® (AZT). It has been reported that even a short-time exposure to AZT at a concentration of 5 μM induces undesirable toxic effects on mammalian cells in vitro and in vivo (Roskrow M, Wickramasinghe S N. Acute effects of 3′-azido-3′-deoxythymidine on the cell cycle of HL60 cells. Clin Lab Haematol. 1990; 12(2):177-84.). Based on these reports, one can predict that doses of nucleoside analogs such as AZT high enough to provide antitelomerase and antitumor efficacies can be highly toxic and cause damage to important tissues in humans. Thus, there is need for the identification of therapeutic nucleoside analogs, which have modulation or inhibitory activity against human telomerase, and development of methods of treatment of cancers in which telomerase contributes to the immortality and undesirable proliferation.

Modulation of telomere length in telomerase positive cells and cancer therapy


This invention relates to a top loading, top unloading bottom discharge, ring drive silo unloader that is adapted for use with a hexapod suspension. The unloader features a stationary support frame with an open center concept. The support frame includes three main support members joined together to form a triangular frame. Three bracing members are added to the support frame to form an interior perimeter with a generally hexagon shape that delineates the open central area. A rotating drive ring is suspended from the support frame. An electric motor drives a chain loop that engages the exterior surface of the drive ring and causes it to rotate. A gathering mechanism that includes a subframe with a telescoping tubular support is suspended from the rotating drive ring. An auger is suspended from the tubular support. The telescoping tubular support is designed to permit installation adjustment so that the silo unloader can fit into a range of silo diameters and accommodate warpage in the round shape of the silo wall. The tubular support and auger are pitched at an angle of about six degrees to facilitate the distribution and gathering of silage across the top layer of the silage. The auger is driven by an electric motor having a drive shaft in line with the auger shaft. Power is supplied to the auger motor via a collector ring. The collector ring is mounted on a tower extending from the tubular support. A double pivoting wall wheel is secured to the end of the tubular support. A hole former is also secured to the tubular support and can be automatically power driven from a central loading position to a offset storage or unloading position. An on-board winch assembly may also be provided to raise and lower the silo unloader.

A main problem with silo unloaders is obtaining even distribution of silage over the top layer of the silo during filling. Silage is not a free-flowing material, and does not move easily from the center to the silo walls. In addition, the silo unloader itself is typically positioned in the center of the silo and interferes with a centrally positioned fill chute. This results in either the fill chute being positioned off center--increasing unevenness of distribution--or the need to fill under the suspended unloader from the side of the silo with a "splitter" pipe, which also gives uneven distribution.
Another problem is that the uneven distributor of silage impacts the stability of the unloader during the loading and unloading process. A greater quantity of silage may be packed into one area due to an uneven distribution or there may be an uneven distribution in the moisture content of the silage during the filing process. One side of the silo may also be exposed to more freezing and thawing which can affect the density of the silage in that area. When the auger encounters dense or hardened silage, the auger may become unstable by bouncing or raising up in the silage so that the auger cuts through the silage in an uneven manner. This poor stability also increases the need for maintenance on the machine.
Ease of operation is also a problem in bottom discharge ring drive silo unloader design. The silo unloader should be easily raised and lowered in the silo and the hole former should be easily centered into the silage opening or removed from the silage opening. The more a farmer has to enter the silo to adjust the operation of the unloader, the greater the safety risk to the farmer.
A further problem is that the silo unloader should be adaptable for use with a conventional hexapod suspension. Unloaders frequently wear out more quickly than their hexapod suspension. Installation costs naturally increase if both an unloader and the hexapod suspension need to be replaced even though the suspension is in good condition.
Manufacturing costs are also of importance in bottom unloading ring drive silo unloader design. Minimization of parts and ease of assembly are important factors to produce a productive cost effective machine.
This invention is intended to solve these and other problems.

Bottom discharge, rotating ring drive silo unloader


A cooling apparatus includes a thermostat that adjusts a feed rate of coolant to a radiator, estimating means that estimates a coolant temperature simulated value at least based on the detection value of an intake-air temperature sensor, and diagnosis means that diagnoses an operating state of the thermostat by comparing the detection value of a coolant temperature sensor, and the coolant temperature simulated value when a diagnosis condition is established. When a ratio of an integrated value of the simulated water temperature variation in an idle state to the integrated value of the simulated water temperature variation in a normal driving state is equal to or greater than an upper limit ratio XP, the diagnosis of the operating state of the thermostat is prohibited.

The present invention relates to a cooling apparatus for an internal combustion engine that performs diagnosis of an operating state of a thermostat.
In an internal combustion engine, a phenomenon (stuck-open valve) often occurs in which a valve inside the thermostat is in an opened state and yet does not operate. In a state in which the stuck-open valve occurs (at the abnormal state of the thermostat), a coolant is always circulated through a radiator, and therefore, the temperature of the coolant is hard to rise as compared with the normal state of the thermostat.
In a conventional cooling apparatus, anomaly of the thermostat is detected by paying attention to a change of the temperature of the coolant through the following processes (A) and (B).
(A) Based on the parameter having a correlation to the coolant temperature, a reference temperature equivalent to the coolant temperature is calculated when an operating state of the thermostat is normal.
(B) When a diagnosis condition is established, the reference temperature and the actual coolant temperature are compared, thereby to diagnose on the operating state of the thermostat. That is, when a ascending degree of the reference temperature is greater than the ascending degree of the actual coolant temperature, it is determined that an anomaly is developed in the thermostat.
In the cooling apparatus disclosed in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2000-220456, attention is paid to the fact that a difference between the coolant temperature and the external air temperature affects a heat dissipation rate of the coolant. That is, based on that temperature difference, the reference temperature is calculated, so that the anomaly of the thermostat is detected. Further, for the calculation of the temperature difference, the detection value of an intake-air temperature sensor is used as the value equivalent to the external air temperature.
Since the intake-air temperature sensor rises in its temperature by heat reception from the engine, the detection value of the sensor shows values greater than the actual external air temperature.
Hence, in the cooling apparatus disclosed in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2000-220456, in case a ascending degree of the temperature of the intake-air temperature sensor is excessively great, a diagnosis of the operating state is performed based on the reference temperature sharply deviated from a predetermined value, and it is, therefore, not possible to accurately detect the anomaly of the thermostat.
In a case of a cooling apparatus in which the detection value of the intake-air temperature sensor is adopted as the external air temperature, and the reference temperature is estimated based on that detection value, the same problem mentioned above occurs.

Cooling apparatus for internal combustion engine


An image size changing section obtains a size changed image by changing the size of one of two original images captured by a pair of cameras. If an edge of an object has many oblique components, the edge is difficult to detect as a vertical edge but, when the image is horizontally reduced, an oblique edge becomes close to a vertical edge. For this reason, feature end points are extracted with reliability by a feature extracting section and, thereby, an object is recognized and the distance to the object is determined reliably.

An image-processing ranging system using a pair of cameras typically utilizes a range-image method. In this method, the amount of processing is large, and a high-performance CPU and a large-scale circuit are required. In order to reduce the amount of processing and improve the accuracy for distance determination, portions having many features are extracted from an image, and distance determination is performed only for the positions where the features are extracted. Feature extraction is performed by, for example, an edge extracting process, etc. Distance determination is performed by a pattern matching process. Thus, high performance distance determination, at the same level as the above range-image system, can be carried out while the amount of processing is reduced.
However, the problems listed below occur when edge extracting and pattern matching processes are used.
(1) If a vertical edge is not extracted in a feature extracting process, the distance to an object to be recognized in front of a ranging device cannot be determined. In particular, for an object having many oblique edges, portions having many features are difficult to detect by an edge extracting process.
(2) Accurate feature extraction increases the required amount of processing, thereby increasing the time of processing. For this reason, the amount of processing must be reduced.
(3) The image of a windshield wiper or the like passing in front of a pair of cameras may be captured by the cameras. In such cases, it must be prevented that the distance is not determined or determined improperly due to the image of the windshield wiper or the like.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Ranging device utilizing image processing