Methods are provided for fabricating Bulk FinFET devices having deep trench isolation. One or more deep isolation trenches are formed in a bulk silicon wafer. Mandrel-forming material is deposited overlying the bulk silicon wafer and dielectric pad layer thereon and simultaneously into the trench(es) as filler material. Mandrels are formed, overetching thereof creating a recess at the trench upper end. A conformal sidewall spacer material from which sidewall spacers are fabricated is deposited overlying the mandrels and into the recess forming a spacer overlying the filler material in the trench(es). Mandrels are removed using the spacer as an etch stop. Fin structures are formed from the bulk silicon wafer using the sidewall spacers as an etch mask. The mandrel-forming material is amorphous and/or polycrystalline silicon.

In contrast to traditional planar metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistors (MOSFETS), which are fabricated using conventional lithographic fabrication methods, nonplanar FETs (Field-Effect Transistors) incorporate various vertical transistor structures, and typically include two or more gate structures formed in parallel. One such semiconductor structure is the "FinFET" which takes its name from the multiple thin silicon "fins" that are used to form the respective gate channels, and which are typically on the order of tens of nanometers in width.
More particularly, referring to the exemplary prior art nonplanar MOS transistor having a FinFET configuration shown in FIG. 1, a FinFET device 10 generally includes one or more parallel silicon fin structures (or simply "fins") 12. The fins extend between a common source electrode and a common drain electrode (not shown in FIG. 1). A conductive gate structure 16 "wraps around" three sides of both fins, and is separated from the fins by a standard gate insulator layer 18. Fins may be suitably doped to produce the desired FET polarity, as is known in the art, such that a gate channel is formed within the near surface of the fins adjacent to the gate insulator 18.
Fin structures (and thus FinFET devices) may be formed on a semiconductor substrate. The semiconductor substrate may be a silicon on insulator (SOI) wafer (not shown). The silicon on insulator (SOI) wafer comprises a silicon-comprising material layer overlying a silicon oxide layer. Fin structures are formed from the silicon-comprising material layer The SOI wafer is supported by a support substrate.
Alternatively, the semiconductor substrate may be a bulk silicon wafer from which the fin structures are formed. The bulk silicon wafer comprises a monolithic block of single crystal silicon. A FinFET device formed from a bulk silicon wafer is referred to herein as a "bulk FinFET device".
Electrical isolation between adjacent fins and between the source and drain electrodes of unrelated FinFET devices is needed. "Unrelated" as used herein means that the devices are not intended to be coupled together. Electrical current leakage is a parasitic effect, which degrades performance of an integrated circuit (IC). When fin structures are formed from the silicon-comprising material layer of an SOI wafer, silicon and thus a conduction path are removed and thus electrical isolation between the fin structures and between unrelated source and drain electrodes is relatively easy.
However, isolating the fin structures and source and drain electrodes of unrelated FinFET devices on a bulk silicon wafer is more problematic as the silicon of the bulk silicon wafer (See e.g., FIG. 11) between the fin structures and source and drain regions forms a conduction path. Isolation trenches have been used to electrically isolate adjacent semiconductor devices formed in a semiconductor substrate. Typical isolation trenches may generally be formed by creating an isolation trench in the semiconductor substrate through an anisotropic etch process, filling the trench with a dielectric material, such as chemical vapor deposition (CVD) silicon oxide (SiO2) or the like, and removing the excess dielectric using a planarization process, such as chemical mechanical polishing (CMP).
In FinFET devices, deep trench isolation (DTI) is generally sought to provide adequate isolation between the source and drain electrodes of unrelated FinFET devices and to substantially prevent latch-up. Shallow trench isolation (STI) is generally used to provide isolation between fin structures. The formation and filling of isolation trenches to provide electrical isolation, particularly deep isolation trenches, is difficult because isolation trenches have high aspect ratios. Aspect ratio is the ratio of the depth of the opening to its width. Even state of the art oxide chemical vapor deposition (CVD) processes such as advanced high density plasma (HDP) or ozone based TEOS (tetraethylorthosilicate) processes cannot reliably fill these high aspect ratio isolation trenches. This causes problems in controlling and creating electrical isolation in bulk FinFET devices, particularly deep trench isolation.
Accordingly, it is desirable to provide methods for forming bulk FinFET devices having deep trench isolation (DTI) between source and drain electrodes of unrelated FinFET devices and to substantially prevent latch-up. In addition, it is desirable to provide methods for forming deep isolation trenches that reduce the number of processing steps conventionally required to form the bulk FinFET device. Furthermore, other desirable features and characteristics of the present invention will become apparent from the subsequent detailed description of the invention and the appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and this background of the invention.

Methods for fabricating bulk FinFET devices having deep trench isolation


An apparatus for protecting and retaining a wire includes a molded body forming a passage adapted to receive and retain the wire between the molded body and a mounting structure. The apparatus also includes at least three apertures through the molded body where at least one aperture is positioned on an opposite side of the passage. At least one fastener is adapted to mount the molded body to the mounting structure while the molded body is adapted to prevent the at least one fastener from abutting the wire.

The subject invention generally and in various embodiments relates to devices for retaining and protecting wires, and more particularly to wire protecting apparatuses for use in retaining wires in an environment where wires may otherwise become damaged by fasteners.
Technicians often are required to mount lines or wires, e.g. flat wire, to mounting objects with fasteners, e.g. staples, nails, etc. As an example illustration, a staple may be held over a section of wire and hammered into place to retain the wire in a desired position on the mounting structure. Most staples and stapling techniques can be applied in such a way that the wire as well as the technician's fingers may become injured if not properly applied. This can create problems such as, for example, causing a short circuit on electrical wires that could be stapled in such a way that exposes the wire to such damage.
It can be appreciated that commercial entities and other organizations that employ workers in elevated environments are aware of the potential risks attendant upon work performed in such environments. In view of this awareness, commercial entities and other organizations devote time and resources to promoting the safety of workers performing work in elevated environments to make the performance of work as safe as possible. Promoting safety of workers in elevated environments may involve instituting training programs and/or providing workers with a variety of support devices, support systems, backup devices and systems, and/or other means that promote the stability and safety of workers in elevated environments. Despite the best efforts of an organization to enhance the safety of its workers and reduce the risk of falling from elevated structures, for example, it is nonetheless difficult to eliminate all risks to workers performing work on such elevated structures.
Redundant systems for promoting safety of workers on elevated utility structures may thus sometimes be used. Such redundant systems can sometimes be beneficial in addition to the myriad of existing support systems, methods, devices and/or other apparatus employed by workers on elevated structures to reduce or mitigate risks associated with falling from utility structures, for example.

BellSouth Intellectual Property Corporation


A crystalline substrate such as diamond, cubic boron nitride or silicon carbide is doped with a dopant atom such as boron, phosphorus or arsenic. The method includes the steps of creating a first damaged layer containing vacancies and interstitial atoms in the crystal lattice of the crystalline substrate, implanting the dopant atoms under conditions to create a second damaged layer separate from the first damaged layer and containing the dopant atoms, and causing the dopant atoms in the second layer to diffuse out of that layer and into vacancies in the first layer and thereby occupy substitutional positions in that layer.

This invention relates to the doping of crystalline substrates.
The doping of crystalline substrates such as silicon carbide, diamond and other such materials to provide such substrates with semi-conducting properties and/or optically active centres, is well established in the art. Dopant atoms can be introduced into the substrate by using ion implantation techniques.
European Patent Publication No. 0 209 257 discloses a method of producing a doped diamond which includes the steps of bombarding the diamond with ions of a suitable energy to produce a damaged layer of point defects in the form of vacancies and interstitials within the crystal lattice, the bombardment being carried out at a temperature sufficiently low to inhibit diffusion of the point defects, followed by annealing the damaged substrate. Dopant atoms are introduced into the damaged layer by ion implantation during, before or after the damage-creating bombardment. The dopant atom implantation also takes place at a temperature sufficiently low to inhibit diffusion of the point defects in the damaged layer.
European Patent Publication No. 0 573 312 discloses a method of producing a doped diamond which includes the steps of creating a damaged layer of point defects in the form of vacancies and interstitial atoms within the crystal lattice of the diamond using low dose ion implantation at low temperature, introducing dopant atoms into the damaged layer using low dose ion implantation at low temperature, rapidly annealing the product to reduce lattice damage and to cause dopant interstitial atoms to diffuse into lattice positions, and repeating the doping and rapid annealing steps until a doped diamond having a desired amount of dopant is produced.
In the methods described above, the implanting of the diamond substrate is at a temperature low enough to "freeze" the implanted atoms and intrinsic point defects (vacancies and interstitials) which are created during the implantation process, such that they cannot diffuse out of the implanted layer being created. The temperature required for diamond is preferably well below room temperature and typically liquid nitrogen temperatures. In order to get a good intermix of implanted atoms, vacancies and self-interstitials, and a large width for the implanted layer, the ions are usually implanted at a series of different energies and doses at these energies. This cold implantation step is then followed by annealing (usually rapid annealing) at a suitable temperature. The implanted atoms which combine with vacancies then become activated dopant atoms, and the self-interstitials, which similarly combine with vacancies, reduce the implantation damage.
The width of the implanted layer, and vacancy density in it, are important to this method because some of the implanted dopant atoms and self-interstitials can escape and diffuse away before recombining with the vacancies in the layer, thus leaving behind a residue of these vacancies.
Unfortunately, vacancies in diamond are optically and electrically active and have thus, in most cases, a deleterious effect on the required properties of the doped layer. Even if they were not optically or electrically active, their presence leads to scattering of charge carriers which is undesirable in high quality doped materials. Although further annealing at higher temperatures usually reduce these undesired effects, it has not been possible to remove them altogether by, for example, enticing all the vacancies to diffuse out of the layer. This is prevented by the tendency of the vacancies to agglomerate and form more complex defects which, like the single vacancies, are usually deleterious. Thus, it is desirable to prevent the interstitial atoms (both dopant and self) diffusing away before recombining with vacancies. Obviously, the wider the implanted layer and the more vacancies it contains, the lower the fraction of interstitials (both dopant and self) which can escape. However, to increase the vacancy density requires larger ion doses which, in turn, also create more interstitials, and although a larger fraction of these interstitials now combine with vacancies, it has been found that the total amount of interstitials escaping increases, which, in this way, leaves behind an even larger density of vacancies in the implanted layer. If, on the other hand, very low ion doses are used to diminish the total density of residual vacancies, the fraction of implanted dopant interstitials which can escape, increases, and too few activated dopant atoms may remain.

Doping in crystalline diamond substrates


A defect detector having: a first optical system including a first light source to irradiate a surface of a subject with coaxial incident-light while scanning, and a first imaging device to receive light regularly reflected from the subject and change the light to a first electrical signal to form a first electrical image; a second optical system including a second light source to irradiate the surface of the subject with inclined light while scanning, and a second imaging device to receive light scattered at the subject and change the light to a second electrical signal to form a second electrical image, in which the inclined light of the second light source does not meet the coaxial incident-light of the first light source; and a computer to compare the first electrical signal with a predetermined first threshold to detect a concavo-convex defect on the surface of the subject, and to compare the second electrical signal with a predetermined second threshold to detect a blocky color defect on the surface of the subject.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a defect detector and a method of detecting a defect and more particularly, to a defect detector for inspecting a surface of an electrophotographic photoreceptor used for copiers, printers, and facsimiles.
2. Discussion of Background
In processes of manufacturing electrophotographic photoreceptors used for copiers, printers, and facsimiles, the photoreceptors occasionally have defective surfaces such as scratches, foreign materials, and coating irregularities. As a method of detecting the defects, a visual inspection is typically performed by an inspector. However, since the visual inspection has fluctuations due to individual differences among inspectors, various automatic detecting methods and apparatus have been suggested.
For example, as a prior art apparatus and method, Japanese Laid-Open Publication No. 9-325120 (hereinafter referred to as a Prior Example 1) discloses a detector detecting the following defects by irradiating an electrophotographic photoreceptor from a light source, receiving light reflected from the photoreceptor with a camera, and producing an electrical signal representing the difference between:                (1) a concavo-convex defect having a high rate of change of surface concavity and convexity, such as pin holes, dents, coating scratches, and dusts; and        (2) a blocky defect having a low rate of change of surface concavity and convexity, such as coating irregularities of the photosensitive layers.
In addition, Japanese Laid-Open Publications Nos. 7-128240(hereinafter referred to as a Prior Example 2) and 7-128241(hereinafter referred to as a Prior Example 3) disclose a detector taking plural photographs of a concavo-convex defect and a blocky defect with a light source and plural charge coupled device (hereinafter "CCD") cameras or a CCD camera and plural light sources.
However, in an optical system of the Prior Example 1, both the concavo-convex defect and the blocky defect are photographed without distinction, and a decision to pass or fail has to be made in accordance with the defect having a severer acceptance criterion. Therefore, even a normally good photoreceptor is disposed of as a defective one, or a photoreceptor, which the defect detector judges to be rejected, has to be inspected again by an inspector. In addition, there is an advantage that the optical system is easily controlled because of its few controllers, but there is a disadvantage that when sensitivity of photographing either the concavo-convex defect or the blocky defect is increased, sensitivity of photographing the other defect is decreased.
Further, in the Prior Examples 2 and 3 , two light sources or two CCD cameras can increase sensitivities of photographing both the concavo-convex defect and the blocky defect. However, inspection time is long because of its plural times of photographing. In addition, the control operation is complicated because plural CCD cameras are combined with a light source or plural light sources are combined with a CCD camera.
Because of these reasons, a need exists for a defect detector which can efficiently detect a concavo-convex defect and a blocky defect by photographing a defect having a high rate of change of surface concavity and convexity and a defect having a low rate of change thereof with separate optical systems, and which can reduce losses due to excessive inspections.

Defect detector and method of detecting defect


Examples can include a system for creating filters within a computer-aided design (“CAD”) application and performing actions on elements that satisfy the filter criteria. A plugin can generate an element modification window that is displayed on a graphical user interface (“GUI”). The plugin can receive criteria for a first filter based on a tab that allows the user to select a parameter, operator, and operand. The user can categorize and edit the filters and select an action to perform on elements that fit the filter criteria. Such actions can include copying a parameter, modifying a parameter, executing a macro, and changing an element's associated work set. The plugin automatically perform the action on new and modified elements based on a user selection.

Computer-aided design ("CAD") software allows users to design structures for construction, among other things. One type of CAD software is Building Information Modeling ("BIM") software, which allows users to elaborately design three-dimensional structures. AUTODESK REVIT is one type of BIM software that can be used to design complex buildings all the way down to components and assemblies for use in a project. For example, a user can model an entire plumbing or electrical installation within a building.
REVIT allows users to add elements, such as electrical assemblies, to a design layout that is displayed in a graphical user interface ("GUI"). Often, a user will want to change the parameter on a particular set of elements within a complex design layout. For example, a user will want to change a work set for a group of elements in a project. REVIT currently does not include this functionality. Instead, a user must modify the parameter of each element individually. This is both time consuming and likely to lead to elements in a design layout not having the correct parameters. For example, it may be impossible for a user to physically notice and change elements that need a parameter change. Users are often limited to using REVIT in many cases because of REVIT's widespread success.
As a result, a need exists for parameter modification in REVIT based on a granular selection of elements.

Modifying elements in a computer-aided design application using enhanced selection filtering


The disclosure relates to a sensor apparatus and a method for measuring the flow rate of a shielding gas in a welding apparatus. The sensor apparatus comprises at least one inlet and at least one outlet in fluid connection with one or more bypass channels and with one or more sensor channels, and at least one input hose and one output hose. The apparatus also comprises one or more thermal mass flow sensors connected to the one or more sensor channels, and a control unit configured to retrieve sensor responses from the one or more thermal mass flow sensors and to determine the flow rate of the shielding gas through the sensor apparatus based on the retrieved sensor response and calibration data, wherein the calibration data comprises one or more characteristic curves comprising gas flow values and sensor response values. The control unit is configured to retrieve from a memory unit: the composition of the shielding gas; the number of active thermodynamic degrees of freedom which the molecules of each gas component in the shielding gas possess at the retrieved shielding gas temperature; a characteristic curve for each gas component separately, which consists of sensor response data as a function of gas flow rate, measured in a calibration experiment conducted with a pure gas consisting only of that gas component. The control unit is configured to calculate a new, mixture-specific characteristic curve for the gas mixture as a weighted average of the pure-gas characteristic curves, wherein the weight assigned to each value on a pure-gas characteristic curve is a product of the concentration percentage of that gas component in the shielding gas mixture and the number of active thermodynamic degrees of freedom which the molecules of that gas component possess at the retrieved shielding gas temperature; and to use the mixture-specific characteristic curve as the characteristic curve for the shielding gas mixture by retrieving from this characteristic curve the calibration gas flow rate which corresponds most closely to the retrieved new sensor response; and to identify this flow rate as the current flow rate of the shielding gas through the sensor apparatus. The sensor apparatus also comprises a display unit configured to display the determined flow rate of the shielding gas to a user and/or a memory unit for storing the determined flow rate of the shielding gas.

In gas metal arc welding, an electric arc burns between an electrode and a workpiece. The electrode extends outward from a tubular gas nozzle, and a shielding gas which surrounds the electrode also flows through the nozzle towards the work piece during welding. The shielding gas prevents impurities from coming into contact with the melted weld and controls heat input. The shielding gas also stabilizes the weld by preventing splatter. The shielding gas may be inert, or it may be a reactive gas which may interact chemically with the weld, for example by reducing or increasing oxidation.
Shielding gases typically comprise argon, helium, oxygen, hydrogen, nitrogen and carbon dioxide, either as a pure gas which comprises only one of these gas components, or as a gas mixture which comprises two or more of them. In addition to the six gases listed above, shielding gas mixtures may comprise small amounts of other gaseous components. In order to continuously monitor and optimize shielding gas usage, the weld operator should preferably know the instantaneous flow rate of the shielding gas to be able to control it accurately. This requires equipment for continuous flow rate measurements, which must be integrated with the welding equipment.
Shielding gas mixtures are typically bought as ready-made mixture. The manufacturer specifies the concentration percentage of each gas component in the mixture, usually with error limits. The number of available shielding gas mixtures is very large because the six basic shielding gases listed above can be combined to produce many possible gas combinations, and the concentration percentages of each gas component in a given combination can vary within broad ranges.
Shielding gas flow rate measurements should therefore preferably be conducted with a sensor apparatus which can perform accurate flow rate measurements on a great number of different shielding gas mixtures. It is possible to conduct intermittent flow rate measurements on all gas mixtures with flow sensors which can be placed near the gas nozzle temporarily. However, intermittent measurements are often inconvenient and yield much less information than a continuous measurement would.
Shielding gas flow rate measurements should also preferably be conducted relatively close to the gas nozzle, because some of the shielding gas may leak as it proceeds downstream from the gas source to the nozzle. In summary, there is a need for a relatively small and mobile sensor apparatus for measuring the flow rate of a shielding gas, capable of performing accurate flow rate measurements for a wide variety of shielding gases.
Document U.S. Pat. No. 6,450,024 discloses an apparatus for determining the mass flow rate of a fluid using thermal means, but it does not disclose a sensor which could be conveniently integrated to a welding apparatus.

Method and apparatus for measuring the flow rate of a shielding gas mixture


A functional block for verifying correct interface operation of any functional block is generated from interface description and installed on a LSI chip. To accomplish this, from the interface description, hardware description of a synthesizable interface checker is generated. Means for selecting interface functions to be checked is provided, thereby making it possible to reduce the overhead of circuits to be installed on the LSI.

The present invention relates to logical integrated circuit (IC) and system LSI chips that are constructed by assembling a plurality of logical blocks into a chip, a method of designing such chips and a method of mass production thereof.
When designing logical IC and system LSI chips, such a design method has conventionally been used that comprises dividing the whole functionalty into multiple functional blocks, designing each block, and assembling all blocks into the chip. A design method reusing functional blocks that have been designed beforehand and retained as Intellectual Properties (IPs) has lately been known. A corporation manufacturing IC and LSI chips may buy such blocks of IPs of another corporation in addition to using in-house designed IPs.
When constructing a system LSI chip by assembling its functional blocks into the chip, it is required for each block that signal inputs and outputs take place in conformity with the block interface specifications to make the functional block properly function, wherein the interface means passing input/output signals from one block to another block and vice versa. As a method of determining whether inputting and outputting signals to/from each functional block conform to the interface specifications, the following method is known. To a logic simulation model for a system LSI as a whole, a block is added that monitors input/output signals to/from each functional block and determines whether they occur at correct timing, according to the specifications, during the logic simulation. When the logic simulation model runs, the above determination is made.
Meanwhile, there exists a method of describing the interface specifications of functional blocks, for example, the one disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication (Kokai) No. 2000-123064. In this method disclosed, alphabets are assigned to values of signals in combinations passing across a functional block interface and the interface is defined as a set of sequences of alphabets. As the notation of a sequence and the notation of a set of sequences thereof, regular exprssion is used so that a variety of interface definitions can be described by a small quantity of code. Hereinafter, this notation will be referred to as interface notation of Kokai 2000-123064.
As methods for detecting defective or faulty LSIs due to errors in the fabrication process or after the fabrication, a Build-In Self Test (BIST) and an online test are known. These methods provide each LSI with a function of testing for its proper operation. The BIST runs the LSI in test mode different from normal operation and checks for a fault. The online test checks for a fault during normal operation of the LSI. By these test functions, a fault existing in a logical design block of IP can be detected.

Design method and apparatus for a semiconductor integrated circuit comprising checkers verifying the interface between circuit blocks


A tunable color LED module comprises at least two sub-modules, each comprising an LED, a wavelength converting element (WCE) and a reflector cup. The total light emitted by the module comprises light generated from each LED and WCE and the module is configured to emit a total light having a predefined color chromaticity when activation properties of the LEDs are managed appropriately. The total light may have a broad white emission spectrum. The module combines the benefits of a low cost with uniform chromaticity properties in the far field, and offers long and controlled lifetime at the same time as flexibility and intelligence of tunable color chromaticity, Color Rendering Index (CRI) and intensity, either at manufacture or in an end user lighting application. A controlled LED module system comprises a control system for the managing activation properties of the LEDs in the sub-modules. Also described is a method of manufacture.

Vertical light emitting diodes typically employ metal substrates and top contact regions. These characteristically introduce optical loss to trapped waveguide modes residing in the light emitting region. Currently, top surface roughening techniques are employed to extract the maximum amount of light on the first pass of light incident on the top surface. However, if light is multiply scattered by the bottom metal reflector then loss is introduced to the trapped waveguide mode.
Light emitting diodes (LEDs) are based on a forward biased p-n junction. Recently, LEDs have reached high brightness levels that have allowed them to enter into new solid state lighting applications as well as replacements for high brightness light sources such as light engines for projectors and automotive car headlights. These markets have also been enabled by the economical gains achieved through the high efficiencies of LEDs, as well as reliability, long lifetime and environmental benefits. These gains have been partly achieved by use of LEDs that are capable of being driven at high currents and hence produce high luminous outputs while still maintaining high wall plug efficiencies.
Solid state lighting applications require that LEDs exceed efficiencies currently achievable by alternative fluorescent lighting technologies. The efficiencies of LEDs can be quantified by three main factors, namely internal quantum efficiency, injection efficiency, and extraction efficiency. The latter being the basis for the present invention.
One of the main limiting factors reducing the extraction efficiency in LEDs is the emitted photons being totally internally reflected and trapped in the high refractive index of the epi-material. These trapped waveguide modes propagate in the LED structure until they are scattered, escape or reabsorbed. The thickness of the LED structure determines the number of modes that can be set up.
Many methods have been successfully employed to improve light extraction in LED heterostructures. These include shaping LED die, as described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,015,719 and 6,323,063, flip-chip mounting of LEDs as described by Wierer et al. in Appl. Phys. Lett., 78, Pg. 3379, 2001, roughening of the top surface as taught by Schnitzer et al in Applied Physics Letters 63, 2174, 1993, and using omnidirectional reflectors as suggested by Fink et al. in Science vol. 282, Pg. 1679, 1998. Other suggested methods include the use of periodic texturing on at least one interface of the structure to improve light extraction out of the light emitting region, as suggested in U.S. Pat. No. 5,779,924.
To provide light emitting devices with high current and thermal driving capabilities the vertical type n-p contact configuration in GaN material systems has been recently adopted. Such examples have been disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,884,646 and U.S. Pat. 20060154389A1. However, one major drawback with such vertical type light emitting structures is the existence of optically lossy metal contacts in the close vicinity of the light emitting heterostructure. Trapped modes in the high index light emitting device typically undergo multiple internal reflections. The photons reflected at the interface between the metallic contact surface and the heterostructure material experiences large losses and hence reduces the total light output of the light emitting diode.
In U.S. Pat. No. 6,784,462 the use of an omni-directional reflector is proposed. This single dielectric electrically insulating layer is disposed between the light emitting region and the lower conductive region and having a plurality of electrical conductive vias contacting the lower light emitting region and an electrical contact. It is typically an object of vertical light emitting devices to provide good electrical and thermal conduction. However, the single dielectric layer residing between the light emitting region and the lower conductive region hinders good electrical conduction. In addition, a single dielectric layer will not provide true omni-directional reflectivity and light at angles residing within the escape cone formed between the light emitting medium and the dielectric layer will experience a reflection at the metal contact boundary, which will introduce optical loss. Additional loss in the light emitting device will also be experienced by the metal electrical contacts at the top surface of the device, which is not desirable.
Back Light Units (BLU) for LCD panels are key elements in the performance of an LCD panel. Currently most LCD panels employ compact cathode fluorescent light (ccfl) sources. However, these suffer from several problems such as poor colour gamut, environmental recycling and manufacture issues, thickness and profile, high voltage requirements, poor thermal management, weight and high power consumption. In order to alleviate these problems LCD manufacturers are implementing LED BLU units. These offer benefits in improved light coupling, colour gamut, lower power consumption, thin profiles, low voltage requirements, good thermal management and low weight.
Another application area for the present invention is in light engines for front and rear projectors. Conventional High Intensity Discharge (HID) type projector light engines have always been hindered by low efficiency and short lifetime resulting in slow adoption into consumer markets.
The present invention is directed towards another technique for improving the efficiency of LEDs, thereby enabling their use in various applications, including those described above.


A system and method to fabricate three dimensional objects. A set of fabrication tools include at least a coarse deposition head and a fine additive head, a fine subtractive head or both employed concurrently within a single housing. A scanner may also be used within the housing to perform interleaved scanning of the partial fabrication during the fabrication. The process may be adjusted based on the scan results.

Various three dimensional printers exist which can be used to fabricate a three dimensional object from a digital model. Typically, such printers spray down a series of fine dots of a plastic material perpendicularly to a build surface. The dot size is selected to permit creation of the minimum feature size desired. As a result, when larger than the minimum feature size is desired, many more dots must be accumulated to create the feature. Additionally, a sacrificial material must be used to support any features that are not perpendicularly supported by the build surface. As a result, the build process tends to be quite slow.
Other existing three dimensional fabrication systems employ a gel, which is extruded and cured to form a three dimensional object. However, this system has many of issues described above and additionally suffers from sagging and deformation during cure.
Additionally, anomalies or inconsistencies within the build process cannot be identified, while the process is occurring. Thus, it is only after the time is consumed for the complete fabrication that the finished product may reveal the build was unsuccessful. Thus, an entire additional build process must be undertaken to create a new object. A more reliable and faster apparatus and system for forming three dimensional objects from a digital representation is desirable.


In a gate driving circuit, when a driving target device is turned on, an auxiliary driving element is turned on to form a closed circuit comprising a DC power source, a reactor, an auxiliary driving element and an OFF-driving element, and make reactor current flow in the direction from a power source intermediate point to an output point in advance. Just before the driving target device is turned on, the OFF-driving element is turned off to form a resonance circuit comprising the reactor, the auxiliary driving element and the gate capacitance, and make gate current (reactor current) flow so that the gate capacitance is charged by using resonance phenomenon of the resonance circuit.

A conventional driving circuit for driving a voltage driving type semiconductor switching device such as FET, IGBT or the like includes a switching element (hereinafter referred to as "ON-driving element") for applying an ON-voltage to the gate of a switching element to be driven (hereinafter referred to as "driving target device") and a switching element (hereinafter referred to as "OFF-driving element") for applying an OFF-voltage to the gate of the driving target device.
This type of driving circuit controls an ON/OFF state of the driving target device by turning on one of the ON-driving element and OFF-driving element and turning off the other. The switching operation of the voltage driving type semiconductor switching device can be understood as a charging/discharging process of parasitic capacitance occurring between the gate and emitter (gate and source) and between the gate and collector (gate and drain).
That is, when an ON-voltage is applied to the gate of a driving target device through an ON-driving element or when an OFF-voltage is applied to the gate of the driving target device through an OFF-driving element, the gate voltage or gate current varies at a rate based on a time constant determined by the parasitic capacitance of the gate and a resistance component extending to the gate.
As indicated by a broken line of FIG. 28, the gate current of the driving target device has a peak value just after the switching operation of the driving target device has started, and it is then reduced at the rate based on the time constant. Noise occurring at the switching time is more greatly intensified as then variation rate of current flowing in the driving target device and the variation rate of voltage applied to both the ends of the driving target device (a source/drain voltage, a collector/emitter voltage) are higher. When the resistance component described above is low, the peak value and the variation rate are greatly increased. However, a time required for charging/discharging the parasitic capacitance of the gate is short, and thus there is an advantage of reduced switching loss.
Therefore, the noise is generally suppressed by connecting a resistor to the gate (hereinafter referred to as "gate resistor") to reduce the peak value and variation rate of the gate current. In this case, as indicated by a chain line in FIG. 28, as the resistance of the gate resistor thus connected is increased, the peak value of the gate current is smaller and the time required for charging/discharging the parasitic capacitance of the gate is longer (variation of the gate voltage is moderate), and thus the voltage at both the ends of the driving target device and variation of current are moderate. However, such a driving target device has a drawback of an increased switching loss at the transit time when the ON/OFF state is switched (see FIG. 29).
That is, in the adjustment method using the gate resistor as described above, there is a tradeoff between reduction of noise and reduction of switching loss (high-speed switching). Thus, both of the noise and the switching loss cannot be reduced at the same time.
Furthermore, there is known a gate driving circuit having a gate resistor whose resistance value is adjustable (JP-A-2001-314075 paragraph [0004], FIG. 11, for example). This gate driving circuit is driven as follows. At the switching time of a driving target device (IGBT), the gate resistor is first set to a low resistance value so that the collector-emitter voltage rises up quickly (switched at high speed), and then when the collector-emitter voltage reaches a predetermined value, the gate resistor is switched to a high resistance value to suppress the variation rate of the voltage or current. That is, both the reduction of the switching loss and the reduction of noise are performed at the same time by switching the resistance value of the gate resistor during the switching period.
However, in the gate driving circuit disclosed in JP-A-2001-314075 (hereinafter referred to as "related-art device"), a time period required for turning on or off a voltage driving type semiconductor switching device used as a driving target device is normally set to a short value such as several hundred ns or less, and thus the resistance value must be switched at a good timing within an extremely short switching period in the related-art device. Accordingly, the related-art device must be constructed by elements which operate at high speed to make the gate resistance value variable and also a high-precision sensor for detecting a high voltage, so that the device itself is complicated and high in cost, and also it is difficult to control the device because there is no accessory for control timing.
As described above, the related-art device cannot avoid the tradeoff between the reduction of noise and the reduction of the switching loss because it uses a gate resistor, and thus it cannot be expected to have a great improvement.
Furthermore, the related-art device has a problem in that when the frequency of the switching operation of a driving target element is further increased, a conduction loss at the gate resistor is increased.


Photographed images from a front camera and a side camera respectively installed at the front and left side of a vehicle are respectively converted into bird's-eye view images, and a synthetic bird's-eye view image is displayed which is obtained by synthesizing the bird's-eye view images. Based on a difference image between the front and side cameras, a difference region where a solid object is drawn is detected from a common region where the both bird's-eye view images overlap. Then, based on position of each pixel forming the difference region, it is evaluated which of the front and side cameras captures the solid object better, and an image of the common region in the synthetic bird's-eye view image is formed based on the image obtained from one of the cameras.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a visual field support device and a visual field support method, and particularly relates to technology of generating bird's-eye views from images taken by a plurality of cameras installed at a vehicle and then synthesizing the bird's-eye views. The present invention also relates to an image processor for use in the visual field support device.
2. Description of Related Art
A driver of an automobile or the like, upon running backward, faces difficulty in checking rearview due to the presence of a blind spot. Thus, a system has been already developed which is equipped with an in-car camera for monitoring the rear of a vehicle that is likely to be a blind spot for the driver and which displays a photographed image of the rear on a screen for car navigation or the like.
Moreover, studies have been conducted for, instead of simply displaying a picture with a camera, presenting a more human-friendly picture by use of image processing technology. One of such studies is performing coordinate conversion of a photographed image to thereby generate and display such a bird's-eye view image as is viewed from above the ground. Displaying this bird's-eye view image makes it easier for the driver to recognize condition of the rear of the vehicle.
Furthermore, a visual field support device has been developed which converts images obtained from a plurality of cameras into an all-around bird's-eye view image through geometric conversion and then displays this image on a display section. This visual field support device has an advantage of capable of presenting the driver with condition of all the periphery of the vehicle as a picture viewed from the above, thus covering the surrounding of the vehicle through 360 degrees without any blind spots.
Now, the visual field support device of this type will be described as a conventional example. FIG. 16 is a plan view from above the vehicle 100, showing installation condition of cameras at the vehicle 100. FIG. 17 is a view from the diagonally left front of the vehicle 100. FIG. 17 schematically shows visual fields (photographing regions) of the respective cameras. The vehicle 100 is a truck composed of a driver's cabin and a luggage compartment having a height larger than that of the driver's cabin.
As shown in FIG. 16, the vehicle 100 has cameras (photographing apparatuses) 1F, 1B, 1L, and 1R respectively fitted at the front, rear, left, and right thereof. The cameras 1F, 1B, 1L, and 1R correspond to a front camera, a rear camera, a left side camera, and a right side camera, respectively.
The visual field support device generates bird's-eye view images from images taken by the respective cameras and then synthesizes these bird's-eye view images to thereby display on a display device an all-around bird's-eye view image as shown in FIG. 18. On the display screen of the display device, the vehicle is displayed at the center and the bird's-eye view images respectively obtained from the cameras 1F, 1B, 1L, and 1R are displayed at the front, rear, left and right, respectively, of this vehicle.
There is a portion where visual fields (photographing regions) of the different cameras overlap each other, as shown in FIG. 17. For example, at a given region located diagonally left front of the vehicle 100, the visual fields of the cameras 1F and 1L overlap each other. This overlapping portion corresponds to a region numbered with numeral 101 of FIG. 18. Typically displayed on the region 101 is a picture based on the image photographed by the camera 1F or the image photographed by the camera 1L, or a picture obtained by averaging these images.
The visual field support device of this type performs synthesis processing so that an image has continuity on the ground surface, and thus displays parking slot lines, signs, letters, and the like drawn on the ground surface without any problems. This also applies to the region 101 of FIG. 18. However, a solid object placed on the ground surface is viewed differently at different viewpoints of the camera, thus making it difficult, in principle, to accurately and continuously draw this object in an all-round bird's-eye view image.
For example, consider a case where a person as a solid object 102 is present in a portion (space) where the visual field of the camera 1F and the visual field of the camera 1L overlap each other, as shown in FIG. 19. In this case, when a bird's-eye view image is generated from an image photographed by the camera 1F, the solid object 102 on this bird's-eye view image appears as an image tilted leftward, as shown in FIG. 20. On the other hand, when a bird's-eye view image is generated from an image photographed by the camera 1L, the solid object 102 on this bird's-eye view image appears as an image tilted forward, as shown in FIG. 21.
To synthesize the bird's-eye view image obtained from the camera 1F and the bird's-eye view image obtained from the camera 1L, defining a synthesis boundary 103 as shown in FIGS. 20 and 21 and then simply attaching together the both bird's-eye view images at the synthesis boundary 103 causes a problem that the solid object 102 disappears in an all-round bird's-eye view image obtained through this synthesis.
A possible technique for solving such a problem is generating an image of a common region, where the bird's-eye view image obtained from the camera 1F and the bird's-eye view image obtained from the camera 1L overlap each other, by way of averaging the both bird's-eye view images. However, adopting such an averaging technique results in a solid object appearing as a double image in the all-round bird's-eye view image. Moreover, each image included in the double image is averaged with a background image, which makes it very hard to see the solid object depending on the colors of the solid object and the background.
A method as provided below is a conventional method for separately generating an all-round bird's-eye view image adopting only a bird's-eye view image obtained from the cameral 1F as an image of a common region and an all-round bird's-eye view image adopting only a bird's-eye view image obtained from the cameral 1L as an image of a common region and then displaying these two types of all-around bird's-eye view images on the right and left. A display image in this case appears as a display image 200 of FIG. 22. With this method, however, a plurality of images to be checked by the driver are displayed simultaneously, thus adversely causing confusion, which possibly compromises the security.
There is also a possible method for switching, through, manual or machine operation between adopting an image of a bird's-eye view obtained from the camera 1F as an image of a common region and adopting an image of a bird's-eye view obtained from the camera 1L as an image of a common region. In this case, a display image 201 and a display image 202 shown in FIG. 23 are switched for display. However, switching by the manual operation is complicated, and a picture generated only based on the machine operation is not necessarily a picture in which a solid object can be easily recognized. Further, the switching based on manual or machine operation is equivalent to moving the synthesis boundary to the end of the common region, thus leaving possibility that a display of the solid object around the boundary disappears. That is, it is difficult to avoid, by simple switching, the problem that the solid object disappears.

Image processor and visual field support device


A method and apparatus for masking the effects of latency within an information distribution system. The apparatus comprises a set top terminal that requests and receives information from an information server within the information distribution system. The information is generally displayed upon a conventional television that is coupled to the set top terminal. The set top terminal contains a central processing unit and an information stream decoder that are programmed to implement the method. The method is a routine which is executed when a subscriber selects certain functions, usually via a remote control, that are available for the set top terminal to perform. Upon execution, the method recalls a predefined image from memory and begins to fade the presently displayed image into a predefined image, e.g., a white screen. Simultaneously, the presently playing sound is also faded into the predefined sound, e.g., no sound. The decoder within the set top terminal is reset to flush from its buffer and residual sound or video information from the previously decoded video. Lastly, once the new video stream has arrived and begins to be decoded, the set top terminal fades up from the pre-defined image to the new video stream and from the pre-defined audio to the audio stream that accompanies the video stream. At this point, the subscriber's selected function has been fully implemented without display of the detrimental affects usually associated with a latency delay.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an interactive information distribution system such as a video-on-demand (VOD) system. More particularly, the present invention relates to a method and apparatus for masking the effects of latency within such an interactive information distribution system.
2. Description of the Background Art
Recent advances in digital signal processing techniques and, in particular, improvements in digital compression techniques, have led to a plethora of proposals for providing new digital services to a subscriber's home via existing telephone and coaxial cable networks. For example, it has been proposed to provide hundreds of cable television channels to subscribers by compressing digital video, transmitting the compressed digital video over conventional coaxial cable television channels, and then decompressing the video at a subscriber's set top terminal. Another proposed application of this technology is a video-on-demand system in which a subscriber communicates directly with a video service provider via telephone lines to request a video program from a video library and the requested video program is routed to the subscriber's home via telephone lines or via coaxial cable television cables for immediate viewing. Other proposed video-on-demand systems use a frequency multiplexing technique to enable control information from a set top terminal to be transmitted through a cable network back to an information server. Such a system permits bi-directional communications between the service provider and the subscriber over a single network.
In each of these information distribution systems, the compression and decompression techniques as well as processing of control information requires a substantial amount of time. As such, a customer experiences a significant delay or latency between the selection of a function via their set top terminal and when the selected function is actually implemented upon the screen of their television. Heretofore this latency has merely been an annoyance which, for the most part, has been ignored by the interactive information distribution system providers. Typically, upon selection of a certain function, such as stop or pause, while viewing a particular video stream, the present systems merely delay the time of implementing that stop or pause function by the amount of latency. The latency can be in excess of five seconds. Furthermore, if a customer has a particular video stream being displayed and then selects a second video stream for display, present systems, after a slight control signal processing delay, switch from one video stream to another video stream without any attempt to smooth the transition. As such, the video that is received and decoded by the user's set top terminal is generally garbled or distorted during the transition period. If a customer is rapidly switching from video stream to video stream, e.g., channel surfing, the customer will view garbled video images for a substantial amount of time between "channel" changes. Such an extended period of garbled images is unacceptable for a commercial system.
Therefore, there is a need in the art for a method and apparatus for masking the effects of latency in an interactive information distribution system.

Method and apparatus for masking the effects of latency in an interactive information distribution system


A carrier in the shape of a triangle for carrying multiple plastic bags with handles, shopping bags with handles, or items with carry handles, straps, bands, loops or hooks. The handle body uses a small opening in the top center of the grasping portion for the insertion of the items to be carried which is secured shut by the hand of the person carrying the handle. The lowest center point of the triangle shape allows the handles carried to settle at a central, low point, for a secure and balanced load carrying ability. The opposing faces of the handle body have an I shaped cross section for comfortable, secure carrying along with increased rigidity, strength, and a secure gripping surface. Two notches on the inner surface of the grasping portion of the handle allow for the attachment of a carrying strap to free the hands of the user.

There have long been carrying devices for engaging bag handles to carry one or more bags such as plastic shopping bags. A problem has been that prior bag holders do not hold the bags in a centrally balanced position, so that the bags can slide in the holder during carrying and can become unstable and inconvenient to use.
Another disadvantage of prior bag carrying handles is that they are not designed to allow the attachment of a carrying strap that can be slung over a shoulder to allow the use of the hands of the person carrying the bags for other purposes such as opening doors, carrying other objects, or any other use deemed necessary by the person carrying the bags.
Bag carrying devices have taken a variety of forms, such as that of Winborne, U.S. Pat. Des. 374,622 which has an unneeded keeper making it difficult to remove the bag handles from the device. And only allows the attachment of any kind of strap or lanyard from one point on the device, which, if attached would create an unstable situation, while allowing the bag handles to slide thru the opening by the keeper across from the point of attachment. Wickson, U.S. Pat. No. 6,623,056 which shows a looped bag holder with an opening at the top that is too small to allow the easy entry or removal of the plastic bag handles, and does not allow for attachment of a carrying strap for heavy loads.
Other prior Patents included in the following Classes and Sub-classes: 294, 137, 142, 153, 158, are as follows: U.S. Pat. Nos.:    A) 386,682    B) 4,621,855    C) 4,772,059    D) 5,433,494    E) 5,441,323    F) 5,697,661    G) 5,855,403    H) 5,904,388    I) 6,347,822    J) 6,499,781

Baggy buddy grocery and department store bag carry handle


The present invention provides an interdental brush and a cap, said brush having a good handling property and a low manufacturing cost, said brush being stored with the cap on while adjusting the brush body at any angle. The handle member 3 supporting the brush body 2 includes a handle body 6, an arm 12 extending from one end of the handle body 6, a brush support 13 that holds a base of the brush body 2, a first hinge 14 that connects the tip of the arm 12 and one end of the brush support 13 in a freely rotating manner, an operating portion 15 provided slidably at the other end of the handle member 3, and a second hinge 16 that connects the tip of the operating portion 15 and the other end of the brush support 13 in a freely rotating manner.

The interdental brushes generally known and used consist of a handle and a brush body formed of a thin metal wire strand folded and twisted wherein a filament is captured between the wire. The brushes are generally cylindrical or cone-shaped and the handle is generally synthetic and often cylindrical of appropriate size to hold in the hand. A wire base of the brush body is often fixed onto the handle using methods such as insert molding and other physical joining methods including thermal fusion by high frequent and ultrasonic waves to integrate the brush body with the handle.
The problem with such conventional interdental brushes is that the base was often bent to fit into the gap between teeth to insure the best angle between the handle member and the brush. Repeating this procedure will damage the wire quite easily in a fairly short time period.
As a proposed solution, some interdental brushes have a handle, and a brush support member to fix and hold the brush body, with the tip of the handle branched in two on which the brush support member is pivotally supported in a freely rotating manner. (See Kokai Disclosure No. 9-121942 (Patent Document 1). However, such interdental brushes have the problem of increased manufacturing costs due to the increased number of parts necessary to make the brush support member.
Another type of interdental brush has been proposed in which the handle is made of two sub-handles, right and left sub-handles symmetrically centered on a common axis to form one handle, with the tip of both sub-handles fixed via five rings with a wire support. (See Kokai Application No. 8-508179 (Patent Document 2).
The interdental brush shown in Patent Document 2 adjusts the angle of the brush body against the handle by sliding the right and left sub-handles in the direction of the handle by which operation the cleaning action is enhanced. By forming the handle member so that these two sub-handles can open at an angle of 180°, the handle can be formed in one process whereby the number of parts and costs incurred are reduced.
Patent Document 1: Kokai Disclosure No. 9-121942
Patent Document 2: Kokai Application No. 8-508179


A novel free-fluid electrophoresis system applicable to both "analytical" and "preparative" separations combines the advantages of electrophoresis with those of automated liquid chromatography. The system attains plug flow of sample molecules within a separation column that has a sufficiently small diameter to avoid uncorrected convective dispersions and a sufficiently large diameter to ensure adequate preparative throughput. Sample molecules are introduced by liquid chromatographic-type injection mechanisms and moved to the separation column by means of a highly accurate, low-pressure pumping system. A novel pressure detector monitors pressure across the column during the electrophoretic separation. When the pressure across the column is zero, electroosmotic flow within the column exactly balances pump-induced flow so that there is no lateral dispersion of the separating sample molecules (i.e., plug flow is achieved). The pressure detector is monitored by a computer that controls either the pump and/or the electrophoretic power supply to maintain balance between the pressure-driven flow and the electroosmotically driven flow; alternatively carefully controlled departures from the balance can be maintained to increase throughput. The separated sample molecules can be optically detected within the separation column. When the separated sample molecules leave the separation column, they can be collected using fraction collection equipment similar to that used in liquid chromatography. The use of programmed nonuniform voltage and temperature fields allow for practically unlimited scale-up potential.

1. Field of the Invention
The general field of this invention is that of free-fluid electrophoresis. More specifically, the invention concerns the combination of the high separation efficiency of capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE) with the high operational efficiency similar to high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) to create a new computer-controlled separation process, namely chromatography-format fluid electrophoresis (CFFE).
2. Description of Related Art
The primary technologies used for high-resolution separation of biological proteins and macromolecules have been variations of either chromatography or electrophoresis. In chromatography, separation occurs because of selective interactions between sample molecules and the fluid or solid phases through which the fluid sample is transported by either gravity or pressure. In electrophoresis an electrical field is used to impart motion to electrically charged sample molecules which then separate according to their mobility.
Early in the 20th century a Russian botanist, Mikhail Tswett, first developed chromatographic techniques to separate plant pigments. Chromatography has since evolved into techniques as diverse as one- and two-dimensional thin layer chromatography and various forms of liquid chromatography (LC), e.g., adsorption, affinity, ion exchange, gel permeation, and size exclusion. This wide variety of available techniques reflects the lack of a single instrument or method that satisfies the needs of the entire scientific community. When the research scientist wants a sample purified and/or analyzed, the method of choice is established based upon either past experience with similar samples or the result of trial and error with the wide variety of devices in the laboratory.
A number of chromatography variants have evolved because of the wide diversity of sample molecules and compatible liquid environments. For example, ion exchange chromatography is capable of separating molecules differing by very small differences in charge, depending upon ionic interactions with the media through which they pass. Affinity chromatography is a special type of adsorption chromatography in which the molecule to be analyzed or purified is specifically and reversibly adsorbed to a complimentary binding site on an insoluble porous solid substructure, the matrix. A change in solvent conditions may be used later to release the bound molecules.
Speed of chromatographic separation is second in importance only to the resolution of the separation; increased speed can be achieved by driving the solute through the matrix at a higher velocity than normal gravity-induced sedimentation. Generally the solute is driven by applying a high pressure, hence the name high pressure LC, an early name for the method now called HPLC which has evolved into the method of choice for high-resolution fractionation of biological materials. The development and optimization of HPLC was led by chemists who appreciated the overall versatility and flexibility of chromatography and who were experienced with both LC and thin layer chromatography. Although these scientists also had access to gel electrophoresis, HPLC identified and solved the major difficulties surrounding requirements for increased quantities of purified products.
Although, currently, electrophoresis is absolutely critical for certain analysis such as that involved in gene sequencing, it is generally much less popular than chromatography, especially for preparative separations. A major drawback to electrophoresis has been ohmic heating caused by the current flow and the resulting thermal degradation or disruption of the separation process. Early attempts at fluid electrophoresis date back to Reuss in 1807 and were greatly hampered by thermal convection. Modern electrophoresis was developed as an analytical and preparative technique by Arne Tiselius in 1937.
However, electrophoresis did not become practical and popular until a matrix was introduced to limit convective mixing. First, paper-based electrophoresis was used in the 1950's to elucidate the biochemical pathways of carbon fixation in green plants. In the 1960's electrophoresis in a gel matrix was introduced in starch, agarose, and polyacrylamide forms and quickly revolutionized protein biochemistry. In gel electrophoresis the electric field simply serves to move the sample through the gel matrix while the sieving effect of the matrix eliminates convection and improves the separation. Therefore, strictly speaking, gel electrophoresis is a hybrid between electrophoresis and chromatography with the matrix being responsible for at least part of the resolution of the separation. Gels with highly uniform pore structure provide size exclusion (i.e., separation based on molecular size) as well as limiting flows due to thermal convection. Isoelectric focusing, which takes advantage of the molecular mobility dependence on pH, combined with "ordinary" electrophoresis as a two-dimensional analog of thin layer chromatography has been an important analytical diagnostic technique.
Historically most separation processes, both chromatographic and electrophoretic, have been carried out in a supporting matrix which also served as the discriminator producing the separation. It must be kept in mind that matrix-based electrophoretic techniques generally combined chromatographic separation with true electrophoresis. However, the disruptive effects of thermal convection in free-fluid electrophoresis have been exaggerated. Although Hjerten's.sup.(11) classic 1967 work is often cited as an indictment of thermal convection, Hjerten employed rotation of his separation tube to control sedimentation, not thermal convection. HPLC, a largely free-fluid separation, has side-stepped the problem of thermal convection for the most part, since there is very little heating associated with fluid flow. On the other hand, electrochromatography is similar to gel electrophoresis in that considerable ohmic heating is developed but the packing material (matrix) is sufficiently restrictive to preclude convective mixing.sup.(12).
Like chromatography electrophoresis has also been used on a preparative scale. Preparative electrophoresis began when electrophoresis on filter paper was operated vertically and the dripping separands were collected over time. Exchanging a thin flowing liquid curtain for the paper removed the size exclusion advantage of the paper but improved the overall unrestricted separation of the separand molecules. "Continuous flow" electrophoresis grew from initial systems in 1960 until newer methods, such as HPLC, were shown to be easier to operate. With the perfection of HPLC, continuous flow electrophoresis declined from being the primary system for purification and collection of proteins and cells to a minor system used only in highly specialized cases, relying on older equipment that is no longer even manufactured.
During the 1970's, a number of electrophoresis systems with vertical cylindrical columns were developed to accomplish preparative batch separations. The separations took place in a thin annular part of the column since the central core and outer surface were cooled to minimize heat build-up. Density gradients of various high molecular weight gel polymers were frequently added to stabilize the migrating bands against thermal convection.
Although electrophoresis is conceptually simpler, chromatography has generally won the popularity contest. The reigning monarch of chromatography is HPLC which is capable of both sensitive analytic separations as well as preparative scale separations. No single analog to HPLC has thus far evolved in electrophoretic separations, although specific apparatus is available for some applications. CZE, the latest electrophoretic method to challenge HPLC, solves the problem of thermal mixing by making the separation column diameter so small that the wall effectively dampens appreciable thermal mixing. Also, the column cross section is so small that thermal gradients are kept very small.
In CZE the buffer and separation molecules are transported through the capillary by a process known as electroosmosis. When an electric field is applied to the filled capillary, the fluid will move relative to the charged inner surface. The cause of the charged inner wall of the capillary is ionization, ion adsorption, and/or ion dissolution due to contact with a polar medium. This wall condition can be described by a zeta potential. This inner surface charge is nominally negative in the presence of common aqueous buffers. Pharmaceuticals and proteins are frequently positively charged because of their pervasive amino functionality. The hydrated positive ions (counter-ions) at the wall move under the action of the electric field and through viscosity, causing a plug-type flow in the separation chamber (capillary). Unfortunately, positive sample species are also attracted to the negatively charged walls which can cause nonuniform wall zeta potential and hence an unpredictable electroosmotic (EOF) or "wall mobility."
CZE has now found a small niche due to its high resolving power and automated operation. Extremely small samples can be precisely separated by CZE in narrow-bore glass tubing--a significant advantage to those with only small, expensive, or scarce samples, CZE systems have found a market for drug testing and forensic applications and the "high end" equipment is now characterized as "high performance capillary electrophoresis."
In the analytical range CZE is considered superior, but attempts to provide CZE with preparative abilities, i.e., the capability of collecting useful quantities of separated samples.sup.(20) has yielded, at best, a tedious collection scheme not suited to commercial application. A major advantage of chromatography continues to be flexibility and versatility provided by a wide range of different columns and internal packings that can be adapted to a single front end (i.e., sampler/buffer insertion apparatus) and back end (i.e., detection, and fraction collection devices). However, this improved flexibility does come at a rather high system price.
The major disadvantage of chromatography is the necessity to obtain or find optimum adsorption materials to get the best resolution for a given separation. The power of affinity chromatography relies on highly specific interactions between the porous column matrix and the sample molecules. Ion exchange chromatography uses an insoluble matrix to which various charge groups are attached. The actual separation requires very selective sample attachment (adsorption) and detachment (desorption) from the matrix as different solutions are passed through the column. Thus, many chromatographic separations can be optimized only when molecular-specific interactions have been identified, matrix material manufactured, tested, and protocol for elution has been confirmed. Therefore, efforts to optimize the system can become very significant research tasks in themselves.
An additional problem with chromatographic separations of biological material is loss of biological activity. Close contact and physical/chemical interaction of the sample with the stationary phase provides a constant danger of less of biological activity (i.e., denaturation) as well as the significant possibility of irreversible adsorption of the sample to the chromatographic medium. Also, the use of the supporting matrix in HPLC leads to problems including "eddy migration" and adsorption interactions affecting resolution and separation time. For high resolution, HPLC suffers inherently from external (to the column) processes such as detection and injection; i.e., after injection the sample zone is subjected to hydrodynamic dispersion in the connecting tubing, and similar dispersion occurs when the separated zones leave the column on their way to the detector. In preparative HPLC the very high pressures necessary to ensure adequate throughput cause the stationary phase to deform or "slump." Also, due to the large pressure drop incurred by the column, the height-to-diameter ratio is small, often leading to unequal migration paths for the sample moving through the column.
Electrophoresis in thin layer gels is the world-wide standard for hospitals and diagnostic laboratories because of ease of operation and low cost of equipment. Medical technicians in hospitals and clinics use thin layer gel electrophoresis for the routine, standard analysis of body fluids. When properly stained and stored, the gels identify abnormal molecules and their relative quantity. A problem with gels is their lack of resolving power since gels can only be used to identify those proteins which bind the stain. Also, modern gel electrophoresis is an accumulation, for the most part, of manually intensive methodologies that cannot be run unattended and that cannot be readily automated: casting gels, applying samples, running gels, and staining gels are time-consuming tasks prone to irreproducibility and poor quantitative accuracy.
To electrophoretically distinguish the proteins and macromolecules not readily detected on gels, one must use CZE. An average commercial CZE system costs more than 20 times a typical gel electrophoresis system but will identify more than 20 times the number of subfractions under ideal conditions. Capillary systems now incorporate a variety of coatings and packing materials in their narrow bore (<100 .mu.m) columns and separations of some mixtures of pharmaceutical interest have been resolved to the point that all molecules of interest have been identified. The small sample sizes (nanograms) can be an advantage if cost and availability limit the sample but are a disadvantage if further analysis of separated subfractions is necessary. The collection of subfractions is neither feasible nor practical with the presently available commercial units.
Reproducibility is an important factor in separations, especially analytical. In some cases it may be more important than resolution. Since the capillaries used in CZE are usually <100 .mu.m in diameter, significant adsorption of the sample frequently takes place. This adsorption not only affects reproducibility but also resolution. As sample material coats the capillary walls, a nonuniform wall zeta potential results. This phenomenon has been investigated.sup.(18) where it was shown that plug flow in a capillary cannot be expected in cases where nonuniform wall mobilities exist, and further, that a nonuniform zeta potential generally leads to significant dispersion of subfraction peaks. It was shown that the nonuniform wall mobilities induced both sample circulations and parabolic flows in the affected capillaries. These sample circulations were highly localized and were not considered as significant a cause of peak broadening as were parabolic flows. Dispersion effects in the free-fluid electrophoretic process has led to a necessary but rather onerous preoccupation with capillary wall conditions. Much money, time, and effort have been spent in the development of wall coatings which reduce adsorption and enhance reproducibility of results.
Many problems are also associated with the methods of sample injection used in CZE. In a 1989 article, Grushka and McCormick.sup.(10) point out these inadequacies. These authors found that the actual insertion of the capillary into or withdrawal of the capillary from the sample solution resulted in the extraneous injection of sample into the capillary. They also found that the injected core length can exceed the maximum value permitted for the realization of the high separation efficiency of CZE. They concluded that the extraneous injection length will be superimposed on both the electrokinetic and hydrostatic injection techniques resulting in total injection zone sizes which can be unacceptable in terms of plate heights. Thus, while "dunking" the capillary might be simple, it is also quite crude with respect to obtaining the injected zone most desirable for high resolution.
In summary, chromatography and electrophoresis have distinct but different advantages for the separation and purification of biological materials. Scientists have traditionally purchased, used, and discarded a variety of instruments claimed to improve the purity of their desired product. Some of these instruments have been used successively to provide a slight improvement at each stage. It is the objective of this patent to take advantage of the best features of each method combined with specific innovations and produce a single instrument which will satisfy a majority of users' needs.


A method and system for processing received and transmit data by an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) from a network link. The method for received data includes swapping received data polarity if swap-polarity ability is set and swapping byte lanes for the received data if swap-lane ability is set. The method for transmit data includes swapping byte lanes for transmit data, if swap-byte lane ability is set and swapping data polarity if swap-polarity ability is set. The ASIC includes a network connector that receives and transmits data from the network link.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to application specific integrated circuits (ASICs), and more particularly, to using ASICs' in different platform/operating environments.
2. Background of the Invention
ASICs are commonly used in different applications and operating environments. For example, ASICs are used in host bus adapters (HBAs) and switch chassis/elements. HBAs and switches may be used in different operating environments, for example, Fibre Channel, InfiniBand and Serial Attached SCSI based networks.
Typically, ASICs for HBAs and switches receive and transmit data via a network connector located on printed circuit boards (PCB). To operate the ASIC, a positive data signal is fed to a positive input pin of the network connector and a negative data signal is fed to a negative input pin of the connector.
The network connector can be on the top or bottom side of the PCB. If the network connector is on the top side of the PCB, data signals are routed directly to the pins of the connector with minimal loss of signal integrity.
If the network connector is on the bottom side of the PCB, the ability to maintain signal integrity has challenges. For example, a signal trace has to change routing layers so that the ASIC can function and maintain integrity in different environments. To accomplish this, extra via structures may be placed on PCB traces. Via structures may be used so that data signals from the ASIC cross over to connect to the pins of the network connector. This approach has disadvantages because it causes degraded signal integrity, reduced propagation distance and increased jitter.
Another approach is to design a separate ASIC for each environment/platform. For example, separate ASICs (switch element or HBA) may be used in a Fibre Channel network, InfiniBand and Serial Attached SCSI based networks. This solution is expensive and hence is undesirable.
Therefore, there is a need for a method and system that allows an ASIC to be used in different environments/platforms without causing significant signal integrity degradation.

Method and system for using application specific integrated circuits


An electronic fitness device is provided, the electronic fitness device including an enclosure having a cover, a motor positioned within the enclosure, a circuit board, a variable resistor positioned on the circuit board, the variable resistor comprising a first trace, a second trace, and a semiconductive film disposed over the first trace and the second trace, and control circuitry coupled to at least the motor and the circuit board. The cover is positioned to press the semiconductive film against the first trace and the second trace in response to a pressure applied to the cover, and the control circuitry is configured to actuate the motor in response to a change in the resistance between the first trace and the second trace resulting from the pressure applied to the cover. Also provided are a method of monitoring abdominal muscle position, and control circuitry.

People often seek to increase their overall fitness level by losing weight and/or increasing their muscle mass. One area of particular interest includes an individual's stomach. It has been suggested that by exercising good posture and making an effort to maintain a tightened muscle condition of the abdominal muscles an individual may realize a substantial benefit in posture, weight control, back health, and/or core strength, while also helping to reduce or avoid back pain.
However, for a variety of reasons, many people are unable to effectively exercise their abdominal muscles. One common problem most individuals experience is a difficulty remembering to exercise good posture and to maintain tightened abdominal muscles as they go about their day. As a result, an undue number of people suffer from increased weight carried in the abdominal region and decreased core strength.
Although there have been prior attempts to provide devices which remind individuals to tighten their abdominal muscles, the existing devices are often uncomfortable, non-adjustable, incorporated as part of a larger article (e.g., a belt), or distracting to other individuals.
Therefore, an electronic fitness device that does not suffer from one or more of the above drawbacks would be desirable in the art.


Condition monitoring device including a condition monitoring sensor configured to acquire vibration signals produced by the system and an integrated power supply having an energy harvester for providing power energy to the condition monitoring sensor and having an electromagnetic coil and a permanent magnet. The integrated power supply includes a system power switch between the energy harvester and the condition monitoring sensor and configured to be switched between at least a first high impedance position providing power energy of the energy harvester to the sensor and a second low impedance position where no power is transmitted to the sensor. Also, a system for restricting movement of the energy harvester configured to be connected across the electromagnetic coil in the low impedance passive position of the system power switch.

Condition monitoring devices allow for the monitoring of the condition of a system without the need for manual inspection. These devices may be particularly advantageous in remote locations or locations which are difficult and/or dangerous to access, such as axles and/or bearings of a railway system.
The analysis of vibration signals produced by moving machines is well known in the field of machine condition monitoring.
Generally, electrical sensors are used to gather vibration measurements that may then be analysed to determine the machine condition and detect any machine defects.
In many situations, it may be convenient for the condition monitoring devices to be powered by an integrated generation source. Indeed, it may be necessary to provide electric energy to devices that are located in remote locations, for example where either power supply infrastructure does not exist or, if an infrastructure does exist, power is not available at the specific location where the device is installed.
To power condition monitoring devices, it is known to use a battery pack or limited capability power source such as an energy harvester.
Such condition monitoring device relies on vibrations produced by the machine being monitored; the mechanical vibration may thus be used as a power source that can be harvested locally. Indeed, vibration energy harvesting is the process of using vibrations from the environment to drive generators that provide power for use in electric devices. Such technology is particularly advantageous since it is capable of providing power autonomy to devices located at remote locations.
Vibration energy harvester generally generates electric power from a conductive coil that moves relative to a magnetic field. This relative movement is caused by vibrational energy from the machine under condition monitoring. Current is thus induced in a conductor moving through a magnetic field. Generally, vibration energy harvester comprises a fixed permanent magnet and a coil suspended by springs that is induced to oscillate relative to the permanent magnet. In another type of energy harvester, the permanent magnet is suspended on springs and induced to oscillate relative to a fixed coil.
In order to achieve efficient energy harvesting, it is necessary to increase oscillating movement within the harvester. However, during vibration signal measurement acquisition, current in the coil may produce an alternating magnetic field that can induce an unwanted signal in the condition monitoring sensor.
There is thus a need to reduce harvester oscillations during measurement acquisition.
The aim of the present invention is to provide a system and method for restricting movement of the energy harvester during vibration signal measurement acquisition by the condition monitoring sensor.

Condition monitoring device having a power switch between an integrated energy harvester and a method for operating said power switch


Disclosed is a compatible progressive download method and system. In the system, a terminal acquires format information of a remote content file prior to download of the content file and sets a progressive download environment based on the acquired format information. The terminal then simultaneously downloads data in a position corresponding to the format information from a server and plays the downloaded data. At this time, receipt of each media data, i.e., audio data and video data, is performed independently and a progressive download is performed in such a way that media data that is smaller than its threshold during playback is downloaded to fill a buffer. This progressive download method can be applied to downloading of content in other formats in addition to formats defined by the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP). Therefore, it is not necessary for the server to modify the format of content according to the 3GPP standard.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to a progressive download method and system, and in particular, to a compatible progressive download method and system using meta data.
2. Description of the Related Art
In general, a content download service refers to a service which enables a Web client to download specific multimedia content from a server, store the downloaded multimedia content in its local memory, and repeatedly play the stored multimedia content. Since a conventional download methods use a Hyper Text Transfer Protocol (HTTP) and perform reliable data transmission/reception through a Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) transmission, data loss is minimized and high display quality can be provided once downloading has been completed. However, according to conventional download methods, content that is being downloaded cannot be played until the downloading has been completed.
A data transmission process according to conventional download methods using the TCP will be described with reference to FIG. 2A. In FIG. 2A, when a terminal 200 and a server 210 are TCP connected through a network, the terminal 200 transmits an x.mp4 request for an mp4 format file having a specific range to the server 210. Upon receipt of a response signal 200 OK to the x.mp4 request, the terminal 200 downloads a corresponding x.mp4 file and releases TCP connection. In this way, data transmission/reception is performed.
A data transmission process according to a conventional resumable download method will be described with reference to FIG. 2B. In FIG. 2B, downloading of a file is interrupted by an internal or external factor. In this case, after a timeout as indicated by 220, a request for resuming the downloading of the file is transmitted to the server 210. Since the terminal 200 knows the range of the file that has been downloaded so far (i.e., before the time out), the terminal 200 informs the server 210 of the range of the file that has been downloaded to download the remaining range of the file.
A streaming method regarded as a representative real-time application in terms of data transmission through a network uses a User Datagram Protocol (UDP) transmission having no retransmission capability at a specific transmission rate. The streaming method performs real-time transmission/reception through UDP transmission that requires a more complex and unreliable control process than content downloading, and has a high possibility of experiencing errors and/or data loss. Since streaming data having a data loss is stored in a local memory, quality that is equivalent to that of the original content cannot be provided when the stored data is played, if there is a data loss.
As an alternative to the foregoing two methods, there is a progressive download method suggested by the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP). The progressive download method is targeted for a *.3gp format file basically based on MPEG4 (Motion Picture Experts Group-4) and is defined in the 3GPP TS26.244 standard. The progressive download method can play content that is being downloaded, thereby ensuring high display quality without a data loss and providing a real-time service. With these advantages, some European General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) and Universal Traffic Management Systems (UTMS) network operators are actively introducing the progressive download method.
However, the progressive download method has the following constraints.
First, the streaming method uses the UDP transmission having no retransmission at a specific transmission rate, whereas the progressive download method uses the reliable transmission protocol TCP download and storage of storing time-insensitive files as opposed to real-time playback of files. For example, in the progressive download method, downloading may be temporarily interrupted due to flow control and retransmission provided by TCP transmission, resulting in degradation of a real-time feature in a real-time application.
The progressive download method has a constraint in the creation of content in view of data storing. The 3GPP TS 26.244 V6.0.0 standard prescribes a 3gp file format for a progressive download service. In the 3GPP TS 26.244 V6.0.0 standard, a profile of a file is prescribed as '3gr6', a 'moov' box in the 3gp file must be positioned immediately after an 'ftyp' box, and the two boxes (or atoms) must be positioned at the head of the 3gp file. In addition, all media tracks must be interleaved by an interval of 1 second or less.
However, a general MPEG4 content file has various formats as shown in FIGS. 1A through 1C. FIGS. 1A through 1C illustrate various formats of a general MPEG4 content file.
In a 3gp format content file named sharp.3gp in FIG. 1A, a file name sharp.3gp 100 is followed by an 'ftpy' box indicating a file type and the 'ftpy' box is followed by an 'mdat' box 105 that is followed by a 'moov' box 110. This file has a 3gp file format, but internally, its video data composed of 22 frames has an H.263 format and its audio data composed of 21 frames has an AMR (Adaptive Multi-Rate) format.
In contrast, in FIG. 1B, a file name aking.mp4 115 is followed sequentially by an 'ftpy' box, an 'udta' box 120, a plurality of 'mdat' boxes 125, and a 'moov' box 130. In the file shown in FIG. 1B, video data has an MPEG4 format and audio data has the AMR format.
In FIG. 1C, a file name vfuk.3gp 135 is followed sequentially by an 'ftpy' box, a 'moov' box 140, and an 'mdat' box 145. In the file shown in FIG. 1C, both video data and audio data have the MPEG4 format. As shown in FIGS. 1A through 1C, since the MPEG4 content file does not comply with the prescription suggested by the 3GPP, the progressive download method cannot be applied to conventional content files created without complying with the 3GPP prescription.
However, the 3GPP does not suggest an alternative progressive download method that is compatible with conventional content in a wireless network. Nevertheless, there is an increasing demand for an alternative technique that is compatible with conventional content as the progressive download method prescribed only for a 3G network is evolving towards a 4G technique aiming at integrating wired and wireless networks and establishing an open architecture. For example, some of representative European GPRS (General Packet Radio Service) and UTMS (Universal . . . ) network operators such as Vodafone allow terminal users to access a Web server on an external Internet of the UTMS network through a Uniform Resource Locator (URL) input and to download desired content. However, contents of almost all servers on the Internet are created with no regard to the 3GPP standard and it is practically impossible to recreate the created content according to the 3GPP standard.
As described above, although being capable of playing content that is being downloaded, a conventional progressive download method cannot be used when content created without regard to the 3GPP standard is downloaded.

Compatible progressive download method and system