A negative electrode material for a high input/output currant-type non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery, comprising a carbon material having an average (002) interlayer spacing d002 of 0.355-0.400 nm determined by X-ray diffractometry and a true density of 1.50-1.60 g/cm3, and exhibiting a capacity (A) of at least 50 mAh/g in a battery voltage range of 0.3-1.0 V and a ratio ((A)/(B)) of at least 0.3 between the capacity (A) and a capacity (B) in a battery voltage range of 0-1.0 V when measured as discharge capacities with a counter electrode of lithium. The negative electrode material is non-graphitizable and has properties suitable for a negative electrode material for high input/output current non-aqueous electrolyte secondary batteries as used in HEV, etc.

As a type of high-energy density secondary battery, there has been proposed a non-aqueous electrolyte-type lithium secondary battery using a carbon material as a negative electrode (e.g., Patent documents 1-4 listed below). The battery utilizes a phenomenon that a carbon intercalation compound of lithium can be easily formed electrochemically, and when the battery is charged, lithium in the positive electrode comprising, e.g., a chalcogenide compound such as LiCoO2, is electrochemically inserted between carbon layers in the negative electrode (doping). The carbon thus doped with lithium functions as a lithium electrode to cause a discharge, whereby the lithium is liberated (dedoped) from the carbon layers to return to the positive electrode. Such a non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery is small-sized and light in weight to have a high energy density, and accordingly demands therefor have increased as power supplies for portable appliances.
As negative electrode materials for such non-aqueous electrolyte secondary batteries for portable appliances, there has been also widely used non-graphitizable carbon having a potential capacity well exceeding a theoretical value of 372 mAh/g of graphite in terms of discharge capacity per 1 g of carbon, and in order to increase the discharge capacity thereof, several measures have been taken such as to effect a calcination while positively flowing an inert gas (Patent document 5 below) or under a reduced pressure (Patent document 6) so as to positively remove gas generated during carbonization reaction, thereby accelerating the growth of pores. However, the thus-formed non-graphitizable carbon is accompanied with a problem that it is oxidized when left in the atmosphere to result in an increase of irreversible capacity and a lowering in cycle characteristic. For solving the problem, there has been proposed a method of storing non-graphitizable carbon in an inert gas atmosphere (Patent document 7 below). Further, as another means for suppressing the degradation, there has been also proposed a method of depositing pyrolyzed carbon in the carbon surface to adjust the pore diameter (Patent document 8 below).
As a new use taking advantage of the characteristic of small-size and lightness of the non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery, the development of batteries for electric cars or vehicles, such as electric cars (EV) driven by only motors and hybrid-type electric cars (HEV) combining an internal combustion engine and batteries, has been extensively made, and particularly HEV combining an engine and a battery-driven motor has been put before footlights as a motor car satisfying economy and low fuel consumption. Particularly, since the appearance as a commercially available car, an HEV has been increasing its markets because its concept of amenity to environments. For this type of cars, there has been demanded a weight reduction of batteries and an improvement in battery performances represented by input and output densities that directly lead to an improvement in fuel consumption, and a part of non-aqueous electrolyte secondary batteries have been commercialized for car use.
An HEV car is driven by increasing the load of a motor having a better drive efficiency than an internal combustion engine in a drive or running mode of a low velocity or a low load and driven by principally using the engine having a better drive efficacy than the motor in a drive mode of a high speed or a high load, such as quick start or passing at a high speed. Further, at the time of braking, the motor is used as a dynamo to recover a regenerated current and store it in the battery. Accordingly, the motor is principally used at the time of start, acceleration and speed reduction, and the battery for supplying an electric power to the motor is required to exhibit not a high energy density for supplying a small power for long hours but high input and output performances required for repetition of supply and receipt of large powers in a short time.
Thus, a secondary battery for HEV is required to show performances which are different from those of conventional secondary batteries for small-size portable appliances. However, the studies hitherto made for negative electrode materials for non-aqueous electrolyte secondary batteries have been almost exclusively directed to improved performances for negative electrode materials for secondary batteries as power supplies for small-size portable appliances. As a result, it is a present state that a negative electrode material having sufficient properties suitable for non-aqueous electrolyte secondary batteries of high input and output currents as represented by secondary batteries for HEV has not been developed.
Patent document 1: JP-A 57-208079
Patent document 2: JP-A 62-90863
Patent document 3: JP-A 62-122066
Patent document 4: JP-A 2-66856
Patent document 5: JP-B 3399015
Patent document 6: JP-B 3427577
Patent document 7: JP-A 8-298111
Patent document 8: JP-A 2003-323891

Negative electrode material for nonacqueous electrolyte secondary battery of high input/output current, method for producing the same and battery employing negative electrode material


A digital signal regeneration apparatus measures regeneration output pulses produced by binary-coding an analog signal acquired by reading information from a recording medium to regenerate a digital signal recorded on the recording medium, comprising a pulse spacing extracting circuit for extracting a pulse spacing of a binary-coded regeneration output pulse, a pulse multiple detecting circuit for detecting a multiple indicating how many times a pulse spacing the pulse spacing extracting circuit extracts is larger than a reference cycle, a reference cycle calculating circuit for calculating a new reference cycle using the pulse spacings and multiples of a plurality of predetermined contiguous regeneration output pulses sent from the pulse spacing extracting circuit and pulse multiple detecting circuit, a clock generating circuit for generating a demodulating clock using the reference cycle the reference cycle calculating circuit calculates, a clock synchronizing circuit for synchronizing a demodulating clock the clock generating circuit generates in phase with regeneration output pulses in given durations, and synchronizing the demodulating clock in phase with a regeneration output pulse coming in a given initial range of data regeneration not by locking the demodulating clock in a given interval but by matching the demodulating clock and the regeneration output pulse coming in the given initial range, a demodulating circuit for demodulating a binary-coded regeneration output pulse train using the demodulating clock the clock generating circuit generates.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an improved digital signal regeneration apparatus for regenerating digital signals recorded on a floppy disk, magnetic card, optical card, or other recording medium in MFM mode or 2-7 mode.
2. Description of the Related Art
Various digital signal recording/regenerating modes have been proposed in the past. To demodulate digital signals recorded on a recording medium correctly, measures must be taken against a variation in regenerated pulse duration due to a variation in relative moving rate between the recording medium and a read head, or a fluctuation in signal level or a missing signal due to flaws or dust on a medium.
Proposed, for example, in Japanese Patent Examined Publication No. 57-24700 is an analog mode based on a PLL mode which counts a phase difference between a regenerated pulse and a self-pulsing clock, and feeds back the count to the frequency of the self-pulsing clock wherein a read clock is produced to be synchronous with regenerated pulses, then used to demodulate regenerated pulses.
Alternatively, a digital mode uses a generated pulse as a reference to generate a read window signal for each pulse. For example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 62-241176 has been proposed in which a clock bit cycle is extracted from a pulse spacing between regenerated pulses, a compensation clock whose reference cycle is half the extracted clock bit cycle is generated to form a read window signal, and thus regenerated pulses are demodulated.
The present applicant has proposed a digital signal regeneration apparatus is Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 3-69069. In the digital signal regeneration apparatus, a reference cycle is calculated by averaging several pulse spacings detected during regeneration output, then a demodulation clock is generated to be synchronous with incoming pulses in the calculated clock cycles. This apparatus samples a data bit using a demodulating clock to determine whether demodulation data is 0 or 1.
As described previously, in Japanese Patent Examined Publication No. 57-24700, a phase difference between a regenerated pulse and a self-pulsing clock is fed back to the frequency of the self-pulsing clock, and thus a read clock is produced to be synchronous with regenerated pulses. Once a regenerated pulse and a read clock are out of phase, it takes too much time until the read clock becomes correctly in phase with a regenerated pulse. Moreover, an abrupt variation in pulse duration causes a phase lag. Consequently, the regenerated pulse is demodulated incorrectly. This makes it necessary to install a locking pattern formed with a regular signal train on a medium.
If sectors differ from each other greatly, synchronization may not be achieved. For example, if data is written in multiple sectors using difference equipment among the sectors, the signal interrecord gap may vary from sector to sector because of the differences among the equipment. In a recording mode in which sectors are not interspaced, especially, if sectors are read out consecutively, a synchronous out occurs at the transition from a sector to a succeeding sector. Consequently, data cannot be read from the subsequent sectors.
In Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 62-241176, a clock bit cycle is extracted from a pulse spacing of an incoming pulse to form a demodulation window. In this case, since the clock cycle varies depending on an incoming pulse, when a pulse position changes drastically due to a fluctuation in moving rate of a medium, demodulation is done incorrectly. For example, when a pulse position shifts behind of a normal position, a pulse preceding the pulse becomes longer but a succeeding pulse becomes shorter. Therefore, if a clock cycle is extended with the preceding pulse, no pulse comes during a window open period. As a result, demodulation if done incorrectly. When a jitter (a distortion of a signal) occurs because of flaws or dust on a medium, if, for example, the pulse duration increases abruptly and the next pulse duration becomes shorter, bits overflow a data window. Specifically, clock bits and data bits are reversed, then demodulated.
In an apparatus according to Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 3-69069, regenerated signal pulses are selectively synchronized in phase. Therefore, if a phase difference between a first incoming regenerated signal pulse and a clock is too great to achieve synchronization, since a generated clock tracks regenerated signal pulses moderately, the first regenerated signal pulse is not fully in phase with the clock. Furthermore, it takes much time to attain synchronization. Therefore, the apparatus described in the examined publication must have a synchronization pattern for locking on a recording medium in order to ensure precise locking from the beginning of regeneration and reduce the locking time.
Compared with an analog apparatus, the foregoing digital apparatus is good at achieving synchronization. However, when a pulse duration changes drastically from sector to sector, the digital apparatus, similarly to the analog apparatus, may fail to achieve synchronization. Consequently, a synchronous out occurs on a boundary between sectors and thereby subsequent data is not read out.

Digital signal apparatus for correctly demodulating data despite a fluctuation in reading rate or variation in regenerated pulse duration due to abnormalities in a recording medium from which data is being read


A holder for holding a tool implement for use with a power tool having a drive output member. The holder includes a pair of first and second supports for connection to the output member, a clamp member located between the supports, and a cam supported between the first support and the clamp member. The cam can be turned between an operative position, urging the clamp member towards the second support to hold the tool implement, and an inoperative position, releasing the clamp member for removal of the tool implement.

In the majority of cases, power tools incorporate a holder at a drive output for detachably holding a tool implement, such as a chuck for an electric drill, or the clamping mechanism as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,643,063.
The present invention seeks to provide an improved or new tool implement holder.

Choon Nang Electrical Appliance Mfy., Ltd.


The present invention relates to matching a camera-photographed image with map data in a portable terminal. Location information of objects of images photographed by a camera and location information of display objects, such as a building included in the map data are calculated based on location information of the camera, and the calculated location information is used to match the objects with the display objects. The image photographed by the camera is displayed on a screen, and text information of display objects matched to the objects is read out from the map data and is displayed on the locations of the objects displayed on the screen. If a user moves, a travel route is guided using the matching information between the objects and display objects, so the user can be guided with the travel route while personally checking objects such as a building.

In a Global Positioning System (GPS), four or more GPS satellites per plane are positioned in six orbital planes with each GPS satellite crossing the equator of the Earth at an inclination angle of 55 degrees in order to maximize user coverage anywhere on the Earth's surface. Each GPS satellite circles the earth approximately every 12 hours to transmit navigation messages.
A GPS receiver receives the navigation messages periodically transmitted from at least four or more GPS satellites out of a plurality of GPS satellites. The GPS receiver detects a distance between the receiver and the GPS satellites, and a position vector (3D location coordinate) of the GPS satellites to calculate its position vector.
In a navigation system equipped with the GPS receiver, the position vector detected by the GPS receiver is map-matched on a digital map to be displayed on a display screen. As a value-added service, the navigation system provides a travel route guidance service notifying a user's current position or a travel route from a starting point to a destination. Accordingly, the user of the navigation system can easily find a destination from a starting point or a current location by receiving the travel route guidance service of the navigation system.
Recently, navigation systems have been mounted to various mobile terminals, such as a portable terminal, a personal digital assistance (PDA), an iBook phone, and a smart phone. Hereinafter, the mobile terminal is simply referred to as a portable terminal for convenience. Thus, a user can be guided by a travel route to a destination even if the user walks to the destination on foot.
If a user of a portable terminal equipped with a navigation system is provided with a service for guiding the user to a predetermined destination on a travel route, the user typically has to check for an actual object on the street to correspond to an object displayed on a digital map on a display of the portable terminal.
In this case, the user has to visually check and match one-by-one the object on the map with the actual object on the street. For example, the user would have to match a building that he or she actually sees on the street with that shown on the digital map to make sure that a prescribed building ("A") displayed on the screen is identical to an actual building. Thereafter, discrimination is made as to which building on the map actually corresponds to the building "A" on the screen.
Particularly, if an object building is located far away from a current location of a user, the user has to personally move to a location of the object building in order to obtain information of the object building. By moving to the location of the object building, the user can confirm that the building wanted by him or her corresponds to the object building on the map only if the information obtained on the object building matches the building displayed on the map.
Furthermore, if a user moves to a destination by receiving a travel route via a navigation system disposed on a portable terminal, the navigation system typically displays a map on a screen and guides the user onto the travel route. As a result, the user has to find a destination by checking buildings on the map one-by-one with the actual object building on the street.

Matching camera-photographed image with map data in portable terminal and travel route guidance method


A synchronous semiconductor memory device satisfying the CAS function requirement of JEDEC is provided. Through command input pins and address input pins, external command signals and address signals are applied. A command decoder decodes the applied command signals. A write command latency control unit, a read command latency control unit, and a column address latency control unit delay a write command, a read command, and a column address signal, respectively, for a time period equal to N/2 times a clock signal cycle in response to a latency control signal. N is an integer equal to or greater than zero, and the latency control signal is activated in response to a value set in an extended mode register set.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to semiconductor devices and, in particular, to a synchronous dynamic random access memory (SDRAM) operating in synchronization with a clock signal.
2. Description of Related Art
Generally, a read operation or a write operation of a synchronous dynamic random access memory (SDPAM) is controlled in synchronization with a clock signal applied external of the memory chip. In a DRAM, a column address strobe (CAS) command, such as a write command or a read command, can be provided a predetermined time after a row address strobe (RAS) activation command is provided. This predetermined time is referred to as a RAS to CAS delay (tRCD). That is, a read command or a write command can be provided a tRCD after an RAS activation command. In an SDRAM, a tRCD generally takes two or three clock cycles. Since a clock cycle is represented by a tCC, the tRCD is two or three tCC.
Therefore, in a conventional SDRAM, considering a tRCD, the controller for the SDRAM should provide a read command or a write command at an appropriate time after an RAS activation command. In this conventional method, the controller for an SDRAM or a user should consider the tRCD specification of the SDRAM, and the decrease in usage efficiency of a bus between the controller and the SDRAM command input pins. Due to these problems, an international electronics standardization organization, namely the Joint Electronic Device Engineering Council (JEDEC), proposed to add a CAS latency function (also referred to as a posted CAS function) and set up a standard corresponding thereto. JEDEC proposes a posted CAS function in a double data rate 2 (DDR2) SDRAM, which is an upgraded version of a DDR SDRAM. Also, the proposed JEDEC standards require that the tCC for an additive CAS latency be set in advance using an extended mode register set (EMRS) of an SDRAM.
The problems stated above, as well as other related problems of the prior art, are solved by the present invention, a synchronous semiconductor memory device having a posted column address strobe (CAS) function. The present invention provides an SDRAM that enhances the usage efficiency of a bus between the SDRAM and an external controller, and satisfies the posted CAS function requirement promulgated by JEDEC.
According to an aspect of the invention, there is provided a synchronous semiconductor memory device having a posted column address. strobe (CAS) function. The synchronous semiconductor memory device includes one or more command input pins for receiving command signals applied externally with respect to the memory device. A command decoder receives the command signals and outputs decoded commands corresponding to the command signals. A write command latency control unit receives a write command from among the decoded commands output from the command decoder, delays the write command for a time period equal to N/2 times a clock signal cycle in response to a predetermined latency control signal, and outputs the delayed write command. N is an integer equal to or greater than zero. The predetermined latency control signal is activated in response to a value set in an extended mode register set of the memory device.
According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a synchronous semiconductor memory device having a posted column address strobe (CAS) function. The synchronous semiconductor memory device includes one or more command input pins adapted to receive command signals applied externally with respect to the memory device. A command decoder receives the command signals and outputs decoded commands corresponding to the command signals. A read command latency control unit receives a read command from among the decoded commands output from the command decoder, delays the read command for a time period equal to N/2 times a clock signal cycle in response to a predetermined latency control signal, and outputs the delayed read command. N is an integer equal to or greater than zero. The predetermined latency control signal is activated in response to a value set in an extended mode register set.
According to yet another aspect of the invention, there is provided a synchronous semiconductor memory device having a posted column address strobe (CAS) function. The synchronous semiconductor memory device includes one or more address input pins adapted to receive an address signal applied externally with respect to the memory device. A column address determining unit receives the address signal, and outputs the address signal to a column address path when the address signal is a column address signal. A column address latency control unit, located on the column address path, delays the column address signal for a time period equal to N/2 times a clock signal cycle in response to a predetermined latency control signal, and outputs the delayed column address signal. N is an integer equal to or greater than zero. The predetermined latency control signal is activated in response to a value set in an extended mode register set.
According to yet still another aspect of the invention, there is provided a synchronous semiconductor memory device having a posted column address strobe (CAS) function. The synchronous semiconductor memory device includes one or more command input pins adapted to receive command signals applied from the outside. A command decoder receives the command signals and outputs decoded commands corresponding to the command signals. A write command latency control unit receives a write command from among the decoded commands output from the command decoder, delays the write command for a time period equal to N/2 times a clock signal cycle in response to a predetermined latency control signal, and outputs the delayed write command. A read command latency control receives a read command from among the decoded commands output from the command decoder, delays the read command for a time period equal to N/2 times the clock signal cycle in response to the predetermined latency control signal, and outputs the delayed read command. N is an integer equal to or greater than zero. The predetermined latency control signal is activated in response to a value set in an extended mode register set.
According to a further aspect of the invention, there is provided a synchronous semiconductor memory device having a posted column address strobe (CAS) function. The synchronous semiconductor memory device includes one or more command input pins for receiving command signals applied externally with respect to the memory device. One or more address input pins receive an address signal applied externally with respect to the memory device. A command decoder receives the command signals and outputs decoded commands corresponding to the command signals. A write command latency control unit receives a write command from among the decoded commands output from the command decoder, delays the write command for a time period equal to N/2 times a clock signal cycle in response to a predetermined latency control signal, and outputs the delayed write command. A read command latency control unit receives a read command from among the decoded commands output from the command decoder, delays the read command for the time period equal to N/2 times the clock signal cycle in response to the predetermined latency control signal, and outputs the delayed read command. A column address determining unit receives the address signal, and outputs the address signal to a column address path when the address signal is a column address signal. A column address latency control unit, located on the column address path, delays the column address signal for the time period equal to N/2 times the clock signal cycle in response to the predetermined latency control signal, and outputs the delayed column address signal. N is an integer one of equal to and greater than zero. The predetermined latency control signal is activated in response to a value set in an extended mode register set.
These and other aspects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments, which is to be read in connection with the accompanying drawings.

SDRAM having posted CAS function of JEDEC standard


A method of documenting a patient's optic nerve utilizing solid and dashed line arrows as well as other references to clearly describe the diagnosis of each visit. An electronic medical record software product that provides a method for entering, documenting, and recording the appearance and diagnosed status of a patient's optic nerve. The software can provide the user the ability to enter the information in a variety of ways, including selection of various features from images presented as examples, entry data via text or selection from a table, drawing the optic nerve, or from an image. The software can store and present an animated history to help provide prognosis.

The optic nerve is the part of the eye that carries visual information from the eye to the brain. The optic nerve is located at the very back of the eye just to the nose side of center. The optic nerve is the part of the eye that gets damaged when someone has glaucoma and many other ocular diseases.
The optic nerve comprising of approximately 1 million small individual thread-like nerve fibers which originates from the retina. The fibers bend about 90 degrees as they leave the retina and enter the front of the optic nerve (referred to as the optic nerve head). Normally, there is a small crater-like depression (referred to as the cup) seen at the front of the optic nerve head. In healthy eyes, the diameter of the cup is smaller than the diameter of the optic nerve. Many years ago, it was common practice for a doctor to look at the nerve using a monocular magnification device. The image of the nerve head would resemble a cup on a saucer (or disc), hence deriving a number of terms for describing the optic nerve. Such terms or descriptors include: cup to disc ratio (CDR); cupping; cupped; full rim; rim thinning; saucerization; notching, etc.).
It is critical to monitor the shape and health of the optic nerve. This is accomplished by maintaining records that describe the appearance and shape of the optic nerve. The normal cup to disc ratio (the diameter of the cup divided by the diameter of the whole nerve head or disc) is about ⅓ or 0.3. There is some normal variation here, with some patients having almost no cup (thus having 1/10 or 0.1), whereas others have as high as ⅗ths or 0.6 as a cup to disc ratio. If a patient has a cup/disc ratio larger than ⅓, then doctors get suspicious that the cup could be getting larger than it used to be, implying the progression of a disease process.
Glaucoma can cause the cup to enlarge (actually little nerve fibers are being wiped out along the rim of the optic nerve in glaucoma). Some doctors refer to an enlarged cup/disc ratio as cupping or a cupped nerve. Glaucoma typically causes the cup to get bigger in a vertical oval type pattern, initially. However, any change in the optic nerve can be an early sign of glaucoma.
To differentiate whether a large cup is normal or glaucomatous requires the doctor to pay close attention to the rim of the nerve. Photos and other analysis of the optic nerve are extremely valuable for documentation of the nerve shape and for future comparisons. If the temporal rim of the optic nerve is very thin sloped or notched, then glaucoma is more likely and may be diagnosed.
The doctor also pays close attention to the color of the optic nerve because some other diseases of the optic nerve can cause enlarged cups but also cause the nerve to look pale (multiple sclerosis, brain tumors, strokes, etc.).
One can take and record an image (i.e. photo) and store such image. Providing such image is limiting in that a photo does not clearly describe and identify information. A photo requires greater memory for storage.
What is desirable is a method that provides Doctors with the ability to maintain illustrated documentation and history of a patient's optic nerve.

Optic nerve documentation via electronic medical records


A technique for etching with a single layered patterned photomask at wavelengths of 193 nanometers or less. Specifically, a method for etching a bottom anti-reflectant coating layer that utilizes a combination of CF4, CH2F2, and O2 to produce a stabilized pattern in the photoresist layer. The etching process results in a structure with a defined pattern having minimal defects and that maintains integrity through the remainder of the etching. A second etching process implementing an etchant having a high dielectric to photoresist selectivity may be used to further etch underlying layers

1. Field of the Invention
This present invention relates generally to the field of electronic circuitry and, more specifically, to techniques for fabricating integrated circuits implementing small wavelength photolithography technology.
2. Description of the Related Art
This section is intended to introduce the reader to various aspects of art that may be related to various aspects of the present invention, which are described and/or claimed below. This discussion is believed to be helpful in providing the reader with background information to facilitate a better understanding of the various aspects of the present invention. Accordingly, it should be understood that these statements are to be read in this light, and not as admissions of prior art.
Microprocessor-controlled circuits are used in a wide variety of applications throughout the world. Such applications include personal computers, control systems, telephone networks, and a host of other consumer products. A personal computer or control system is made up of various different components that handle different functions for the overall system. By combining these different components, various consumer products and systems are able to meet the specific needs of an end user. As is well known, microprocessors are essentially generic devices that perform specific functions under the control of software programs. These software programs are generally stored in one or more memory devices that are coupled to the microprocessor and/or other peripherals.
The memory devices generally include many different types of integrated circuits that are typically fabricated from one or more semiconductor materials. The integrated circuits work together to enable the memory device to carry out and control various functions within an electronic device. With the current trend in decreasing the "footprint" or overall size of the electronic devices, the different components of the electronic devices, such as the memory devices, may be reduced to accommodate these requirements. Accordingly, the integrated circuits that make up the memory device may be designed to consume less space. The reduction in size of these integrated circuits is a key component to the technological development of many devices containing electrical components. Accordingly, the fabrication processes that are used to form these integrated circuits have experienced dramatic changes.
Integrated circuits, such as memory devices, are typically fabricated on a wafer surface through any number of manufacturing processes, such as layering, doping, and patterning. Layering generally refers to adding material to the surface of the wafer by a growth process, such as oxidation, or through a deposition process, such as chemical vapor deposition (CVD) or physical vapor deposition (PVD). Doping generally refers to the process of implanting dopants into the wafer surface or overlying layer and may be used to increase the current carrying capacity of a region of the wafer or overlying layer of material. The doping process may be implemented before a layer is formed, between layers, or even after the layer are formed. Generally, the doping process may be accomplished through an ion implantation process, using boron or other similar dopants, or through thermal diffusion, for example.
Patterning refers to a series of steps that result in the removal of selected portions of layers or underlying wafer material. After removal of the selected portions of the layer(s), via a wet or dry etch process, a pattern of the layer is left on the wafer surface. The removal of material allows the structure of the device to be formed by providing holes or windows between layers or by removing unwanted layers. Patterning sets the critical dimensions of the integrated circuit structures being fabricated. Disadvantageously, errors in the patterning and removal process may result in changes and failures in the electrical characteristics in the device.
One commonly used patterning technique is photolithography. In using photolithography, a pattern may be formed by using a photomask to expose certain regions of a radiation sensitive material, such as a photoresist or resist, to a certain wavelength of light. Typically, the radiation source provides UV light to pattern the resist. However, certain resists may also be implemented using other energy types, such as X-rays. Exposure to the radiation changes the structure of the resist. If the resist is a negative resist, then the resist become polymerized where it is exposed. If the resist is a positive resist, the exposed region of resist becomes divided or softened. After the exposure to the radiation, the unpolymerized regions may be dissolved by applying an appropriate solvent.
To fabricate an appropriately sized structure, a bottom anti-reflectant coating (BARC) layer may be implemented underneath the resist to enhance the photolithography process. The BARC layer is used to absorb the radiation generated by the source, thereby reducing development of the photoresist caused by reflections from underlying layers. By providing an underlying layer for absorbing the radiation, the patterned structure is typically more defined with fewer defects than the methods wherein a BARC layer is not included. Once the resist has been patterned, the resist layer may be removed to allow the underlying structure to be developed. While it may be desirable to retain the BARC layer, it is typically desirable to remove the BARC layer through an etching process.
After patterning of the photoresist layer, various etchants may be selected to implement the removal of selected portions of material from the surface of the structure. Selectivity relates to the preservation of the surface underlying the etched material layer. The selectivity is generally expressed as a ratio of the etch rate of the material layer to the etch rate of the underlying surface. Further, selectivity may be used to refer to the removal rate of the photoresist with respect to the underlying material layer. As can be appreciated, as the material layer is being etched through the openings patterned in the photoresist, some of the photoresist may also be removed. The selectivity should be high enough to ensure that the photoresist layer is not removed before the etched patterns in the material layer.
One of the objectives in photolithography is to transfer a well-defined pattern with minimal ambiguities or anomalies. One technique that may be used to develop the respective gates, devices, or desired structures is to implement a multi-layer resist scheme. The multi-layer resist scheme employs multiple layers of resist for each gate or structure. This process employs different photoresists and etchants to ensure that the gate or structure is formed correctly. However, with the multi-layer resist process, the resulting gate or structure is more expensive because the various layers of resist may increase the number of steps in the process, which increases the time required to fabricate the device. This increase in processing time has a further negative effect of decreasing the quantity of devices that may be produced over a period of time, such as a week or month. Furthermore, the additional fabrication process steps increase the likelihood of potential errors by complicating the method of making the device.
To meet the ever-increasing demand for smaller integrated circuit structures, smaller wavelength photolithography techniques have been developed. One such technique implements 193 nm technology. That is to say that the photoresist used to pattern the underlying materials is developed by exposure to a radiation source having a wavelength of 193 nm. While 193 nm technology allows the resist to be patterned with smaller structures, the resist does not generally retain a crisp pattern throughout the entire etch process. Instead, the 193 nm resist tends to wrinkle, shred, and bend during the etch process. To mitigate some of these effects, an etchant to which the 193 nm photoresist has a higher selectivity could be implemented. However, in the 193 nm process, increased resist selectivity produces large striations through the resist. Regardless of whether the defects include wrinkles, striations, or other anomalies, defects in the photoresist are undesirable, since the defects may be transferred to the underlying layers. Disadvantageously, defects in the underlying layers may result in failures of the structure or integrated circuit device being fabricated.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Method of etching materials patterned with a single layer 193nm resist


A computerized-method for generating a dataset for a Machine Learning (ML) model for an increased accurate financial crime detection from an initiation stage of the ML model implementation. The computerized-method includes: retrieval of financial transaction records from a database of financial transaction records to arrange a dataset of financial transaction records, according to preconfigured techniques. Then, processing the records in the dataset; Then, operating feature engineering on preselected anomalous related features to yield probabilistic categorical features and to yield probabilistic numerical features, and then combining the probabilistic categorical features with the probabilistic numerical features to generate a complex features dataset, and providing the probabilistic categorical features, the probabilistic numerical features and the complex features dataset to an ML model, thus, increasing accuracy of detection that is performed right from an initiation stage of the ML model implementation.

Financial institutions are becoming more sensitive to a continuing increase in the cost of their fraud and financial crime compliance activities. Accordingly, financial institutions are in a constant search for a better and faster ways to identify fraud events to stay ahead of money laundering, fraud and other financial crime activities. In addition to reduction of cost caused by fraud, avoiding low customer satisfaction due to fraud activity, remains at the forefront of concern for these financial institutions. Accordingly, financial institutions are seeking ways to detect proper oversight and compliance measures in a way that is less obtrusive and doesn't significantly detract from business operations.
Machine learning (ML) models which are implemented in the financial institutions systems, commonly improve automatically through experience, meaning, over time and not right after their initiation in the financial institutions systems. However, there is a growing demand from the financial institutions, for ML models to be applies right after they initiate viz, start sending data, when fraud events data is commonly not available or very rare. The ramifications of the rarity of the fraud data is that there is no data or only limited fraud data which makes it difficult to fully study all the fraud data details for later on classification and detection, as such, by the ML models.
Accordingly, there is a need for a technical solution for improving the accuracy of the detection of fraud at an early stage, i.e., at the initial stage itself, without waiting until a specified amount of fraud financial transactions, are being tagged.
Furthermore, current approaches, which are used for anomaly detection and classification, implement feature engineering of features which are too generic in nature. Meaning, these approaches are not focused on anomalous related features, such as risk-based feature values identification. Hence, there is a need for a system and method for generating a dataset for a Machine Learning (ML) model for a more accurate anomaly detection, such as, financial crime detection, i.e., fraud events.
In other words, there is a need for a system and method for generating a representative dataset of the data as a whole by creating or engineering features which are anomalous related. Thus, when the needed generated representative dataset is provided to an ML model, the ML model will more accurately detect anomaly events, such as, financial crime. Meaning, the ML model will prioritize or highlight the anomalous data, e.g., financial transactions, by binarizing data in a crisp and efficient manner even with no data or limited fraud data.

Probabilistic feature engineering technique for anomaly detection


In an optical position detection device, when emitting the detection light from the light source section, the light receiving section receives the reflected light from the target object with the first light receiving element and the second light receiving element. The first light receiving element and the second light receiving element are arranged to have the intersection angle greater than 90° and smaller than 180°, the intersection angle being formed between the normal direction with respect to the light receiving surface of the first light receiving element and the normal direction with respect to the light receiving surface of the second light receiving element.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to an optical position detection device for optically detecting the position of a target object, and a display system with an input function provided with the optical position detection device.
2. Related Art
As the optical position detection device for optically detecting the position of the target object, there is proposed a device having a plurality of point light sources disposed at respective positions distant from each other, in which detection lights reflected by the target object are transmitted through a light transmissive member and then detected by a light receiving section when emitting the detection lights respectively from the plurality of point light sources toward the target object via the light transmissive member (see, e.g., JP-T-2003-534554). Further, there are also proposed optical position detection devices using a method of emitting the detection lights, which are emitted respectively from a plurality of point light sources, via a light guide plate, and then detecting the detection lights reflected by the target object with a light receiving section (see, e.g., JP-A-2010-127671 (Document 2) and JP-A-2009-295318 (Document 3)).
In such optical position detection devices, one light receiving element is used as the light receiving section, and the position of the target object is detected based on the result of the comparison between an output from the light receiving element when lighting some of a plurality of point light sources and an output from the light receiving element when lighting some other of the plurality of point light sources.
However, since the optical position detection device described in Document 1 uses the detection lights emitted from the point light sources, the irradiation range itself of the detection light is narrow. Therefore, there is a problem that the range in which the position of the target object can be detected is narrow. Further, since the optical position detection devices described in Document 2 and 3 each form a light intensity distribution using the light guide plate, the range in which the detection is possible is limited by the size of the light guide plate. Therefore, there is a problem that the range in which the position of the target object can be detected is narrow.
Therefore, the inventors of the invention have studied a method of detecting the position of the target object on a virtual plane using the detection light emitted from a light source device along the virtual plane. For example, as in an optical position detection device shown in FIG. 16, the detection light L2 is emitted from the light source section 12 along an X-Y plane, and at the same time, the emission intensity of the detection light L2 is reduced in a direction from one side toward the other side of a space (a detection space 10R) in which the detection light L2 is emitted as indicated by the diameter of the circular arc L21 in a first lighting operation in a first period. Further, in a second lighting operation in a second period not overlapping the first period, the emission intensity of the detection light L2 is reduced in the direction from the other side toward the one side as indicated by the diameter of the circular arc L22. Then, the position of the target object Ob is detected based on the result of the comparison between the result of receiving the detection light (reflected light L3), which is reflected by the target object Ob in the first period, by the light receiving element 130 and the result of receiving the detection light (the reflected light L3), which is reflected by the target object Ob in the second period, by the light receiving element 130. According to such a configuration, since the detection light L2 is emitted along a coordinate plane (the virtual plane) for detecting the target object Ob, there is an advantage that the detection space 10R is large.
However, in either of the configuration explained with reference to FIG. 16 and the configurations described in Documents 1 through 3, there is a problem that the detection error due to the directivity in sensitivity of the light receiving element 130 occurs. Further, since a part of the detection light L2 reflected by an object other than the target object Ob enters the light receiving element 130 when emitting the detection light L2, if the target object Ob is located in the direction tilted at a large angle with the normal direction of a light receiving surface 130a, there is also a problem that the proportion of the output component due to the detection light L2, which is reflected by the object other than the target object Ob and then enters the light receiving element 130, increases to thereby degrade the detection accuracy.
Specifically, as shown in FIG. 17A, the light receiving element 130 is provided with an element main body 130b having a rectangular solid shape as a whole, and terminals 130c projecting from both ends of the element main body 130b, and the element main body 130b is provided with the light receiving surface 130a on one surface side. The light receiving sensitivity of such a light receiving element 130 has an incident angle dependency (the directivity in sensitivity) shown in FIG. 17B, and has a sensitivity peak direction in the normal direction with respect to the light receiving surface 130a. Further, as is understood from FIG. 17B, the sensitivity of the light receiving element 130 is degraded to be less than a half of the sensitivity peak value if the incident angle of the detection light is tilted equal to or greater than 60° from the normal direction with respect to the light receiving surface 130a, and if the incident angle of the detection light is tilted equal to or greater than 90° from normal direction with respect to the light receiving surface 130a, the sensitivity becomes 0. Therefore, if the incident angle of the detection light is significantly tilted with respect to the normal direction to the light receiving surface 130a, the level of the signal output from the light receiving element 130 is lowered, and thus the detection accuracy is degraded.
Specifically, when performing the first lighting operation and the second lighting operation while varying the angular position of the target object Ob, the output signal from the light receiving section 13 results in what is shown in FIG. 18A. In FIG. 18A, the lateral axis represents the angular position of the target object Ob assuming that the direction corresponding to the one side (the other side X2 in the X-axis direction) in the emission space of the detection light L2 is 0°. Further, in FIG. 18A, the value indicated by the line V181 represents the output signal from the light receiving element 130 in the first lighting operation, the value indicated by the line V182 represents the output signal from the light receiving element 130 in the second lighting operation, and the value indicated by the line V183 corresponds to the difference between the output signal from the light receiving element 130 in the first lighting operation and the output signal from the light receiving element 130 in the second lighting operation. In such a result, although the difference represented by the line V183 should monotonically vary as the angular position of the target object Ob moves, in fact, in the case in which the reflected light L3 enters the light receiving surface 130a of the light receiving element 130 in the direction significantly tilted from the normal direction, the level of the output signal from the light receiving element 130 is extremely low, and at the same time, the difference becomes to fail to show the monotonic variation.
It should be noted that by multiplying the result shown in FIG. 18A by the sensitivity shown in FIG. 17B, the result shown in FIG. 18A is converted into the result shown in FIG. 18B. In FIG. 18B, the value indicated by the line V186 represents the result of the multiplication of the output signal from the light receiving element 130 in the first lighting operation and the sensitivity, the value indicated by the line V187 represents the result of the multiplication of the output signal from the light receiving element 130 in the second lighting operation and the sensitivity, and the value indicated by the line V188 corresponds to the difference from the output signal after the conversion. As shown in FIG. 18B, by performing the conversion using the sensitivity, the level of the output signal from the light receiving element 130 is set to be sufficiently high and the difference shows the monotonic variation in a large angular range even in the case in which the reflected light L3 enters the light receiving surface 130a of the light receiving element 130 in the direction significantly tilted from the normal direction. Therefore, it can be said that the abnormal variation shown in FIG. 18A is caused by the directivity in sensitivity of the light receiving element 130, and the incident light intensity itself to the light receiving element 130 is appropriate irrespective of the incident angle.
Therefore, although it results that it is sufficient to arrange the light receiving element 130 so as to surround the detection space 10R in order for solving the problem caused by the directivity in sensitivity of the light receiving element 130, such a configuration makes the device grow in size, and is therefore difficult to be put into practice.

Optical position detection device and display system with input function


When a collect call is initiated by a calling party, and the call is routed to an operator services position, an automated attendant, or other system in the telephone network. In addition to playing an announcement to the called party to determine if he or she will accept the call, information is furnished to the called party, preferably by an announcement, indicating (a) the anticipated cost for the call, and, optionally, (b) the relative cost of the call, as compared to the cost that would be imposed if another carrier carried the call. This information may be obtained using the dialed number and information identifying the calling party location, and by querying a database containing (a) rate information, and optionally (b) comparative information setting forth the rates of different carriers offering collect call service in the same calling area. The invention can be practiced in an automated attendant, sometimes referred to as an interactive telecommunications services platform, which may be part of (a) a switch in a local exchange network, or (b) a switch in an interexchange (long distance) network. The collect calls may be originated by dialing a 0+ call, or by calling a predetermined 800 number such as 1-800-CALL ATT.

Various regulatory and technological developments have opened competition in the field of both local and long distance collect calls. The traditional method of initiating a collect call is to dial "0" plus the desired telephone number, and this call will be carried by the local exchange carrier (LEC) in the case of a local call, and by the interexchange carrier (IXC) to which the called party subscribes, in the case of a long distance call. To route the call using a particular long distance carrier, it is possible to prefix a collect call with an access code, such as 10288 in the case of AT&T. A further alternative is to make the collect call by dialing a predetermined toll free number, such as 1-800-CALL-ATT or 1-800-OPERATOR.
What is common to all of these variants is the fact that the calling party now has a choice of the carrier that will carry a collect telephone call, but the called party, who will pay for the collect call (if the call is accepted as a collect call) has no choice, and indeed, little or no advance information about the call.


An integrated circuit having a photosensitive cell with an entry face, a photosensitive element and at least two elements forming a light guide and placed between the entry face and the photosensitive element. The second element is located between the first element and the entry face such that the two elements guide the light coming from the entry face onto the photosensitive element and each element forms a light guide. The inner volume has a first surface located on the same side as the photosensitive element, a second surface located on the same side as the entry face, and a lateral surface joining said first surface to said second surface and separating the inner volume from the outer volume. The first surface of the inner volume of the second element has a smaller area than that of the second surface of the inner volume of the first element.

Many conventional optical components incorporate a photosensitive cell. For example, optical detectors typically include a single element, or cell, sensitive to the light incident on its entry face. As another example, optical detectors may be formed from a matrix of photosensitive cells that are juxtaposed alongside another. Thus, the respective entry faces lie in a common plane. The photosensitive cells are generally of small dimensions in order to obtain a sufficient spatial resolution. For example, the light entry face may have dimensions of approximately 5 μm×5 μm. Consequently, the quantity of light entering the photosensitive cell is limited by the size of the entry face.
The cells detect the light with a photosensitive element which may be based, for example, on CMOS technology. Thus, it is possible to convert the received light signal into an electrical signal. The photosensitive elements require at least one and often three metallization levels in order to connect them to the circuits that control them or that process their information. The metallization levels are formed from tracks that are generally made of copper and are isolated by dielectric layers. The metallization levels are formed between the photosensitive element and the light entry face of the cell. The dielectric materials used for isolating the tracks must therefore be transparent at the wavelengths detected by the photosensitive element. The light, however, is attenuated between the entry face and the photosensitive element especially when the number of metallization levels grouped into a multilayer increases.
To limit this attenuation, conventional methods produce an optical guide passing through the multilayer. In order to accomplish this, each multilayer level has a via. The vias are aligned and filled with a material whose refractive index is higher than the refractive indices of the materials forming the multilayer. It is, however, tricky to produce such a guide since it requires strict alignment of the constituent vias. If the vias are not aligned properly the guide could allow the photons initially propagating therein to escape. In addition, the photosensitive element is generally a surface portion of the semiconductor substrate, said surface portion being especially treated so as to fulfil this function. However, the surface of the substrate also includes, inside the cell, apart from the photosensitive element, electronic components needed for the operation of the photosensitive element.
The photosensitive element possesses a photosensitive surface of smaller area than the area of the entry face. For example, the dimensions of the photosensitive surface are 2 μm×2 μm for an entry face measuring 5 μm×5 μm. Therefore, incident light in the form of a uniform beam directed approximately perpendicular to the entry face, and which illuminates the semiconductor substrate at the electronic components is lost. Thus, the light does not reach the photosensitive element and is substantially that part of the light which does not return to the optical guide. This loss reduces the sensitivity of the cell, particularly for low incident light intensities, compared with the theoretical sensitivity defined by the size of the entry face for light to enter the cell.
Some conventional methods provide a light guide by removing a part of the interconnection dielectric material and by depositing a material of high refractive index. This light guide has a frustoconical shape, the large cross section of which is located near the entry face and the small cross section of which is located near the photosensitive element. The element forming a light guide has the effect of concentrating the light entering via the large cross section onto the smaller surface of the photosensitive element. The production of such light guides involves the formation of a hole with a depth very much greater than its diameter, followed by the hole being filled with a material of high refractive index. This introduces, when filling the guide defects may cause light losses. In addition, as these defects are more numerous, the larger the height of the light guide.
Therefore, what is needed is an optical coupling element of high efficiency, whose efficiency depends little on the alignment defects of the various parts of the integrated circuit.


A docking station for a portable computer includes a wireless transceiver for wireless communication with the portable computer. The docking station also includes a plurality of ports. Each port includes a physical connector for connection to, for example, one or more peripheral devices, a network or a monitor. A translation manager within the docking station manages translation of information transferred between the wireless transceiver and the plurality of ports.

The present invention concerns docking stations for portable computers.
Generally a portable computer, such as a notebook computer, a laptop computer or a palm top computer, is optimized to reduce size and weight. This often requires tradeoffs, for example, in the size of the display and keyboard, as well as the number and types of ports which are implemented.
One way to increase the versatility of portable computers is to provide for a docking station. The docking station when connected to a portable computer provides for a number of different types of ports. These ports are used, for example, to drive a large monitor, communicate with various peripherals provide connection to a network, and so on. See for example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,283,714 issued to Collins Tsai, et al, for "Docking Apparatus for a Portable Computer."
The docking station may reside in a permanent location with ports connected to various devices. When "at the office" a user can take advantage of the power of a full desktop computer by connecting the portable computer to the docking station. When "on the road" the user has the advantage of a light weight and small sized personal computer.
Docking stations, while useful, have several significant drawbacks. For example, they are generally bulky mechanical devices that consume desktop space. They require costly mechanical and electrical interconnects. They are difficult to develop electrically due to electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) requirements beyond the requirements of portable computers. In addition, each time there is a change in the physical dimensions of a successive generation of portable computers, it is generally necessary to utilize a new docking station which is designed specifically to interact with the new generation of portable computers.

Docking station for docking a portable computer with a wireless interface


An exterior body of a secondary battery includes an insertion portion for insertion of a third electrode including metal lithium. An injection and expelling portion through which an electrolyte solution can be replaced is further provided. Specifically, a nonaqueous secondary battery includes a positive electrode, a negative electrode, an electrolyte solution, a separator, and an exterior body covering the positive electrode, the negative electrode, and the electrolyte solution. The exterior body includes a positive electrode terminal to which the positive electrode is electrically connected, a negative electrode terminal to which the negative electrode is electrically connected, and an insertion portion for insertion of a third electrode including metal lithium.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an object (a product including a machine, a manufacture, and a composition of matter) and a method (a process including a simple method and a production method). In particular, one embodiment of the present invention relates to a nonaqueous secondary battery, or relates to a method for restoring a capacity of a nonaqueous secondary battery.
2. Description of the Related Art
Lithium-ion secondary batteries have advantageous effects such as high output and high energy density and have been frequently used for a variety of uses such as portable electronic devices, next-generation clean energy vehicles including hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) and electric vehicles (EVs), and stationary power storage devices. In particular, development of comparatively large-sized secondary batteries for vehicles and stationary power storage devices, which can be used for a long period of time, has been needed along with a growing demand for energy saving in recent years.
A lithium-ion secondary battery, which is one of nonaqueous secondary batteries, includes a positive electrode, a negative electrode, a separator, a nonaqueous electrolyte solution, and an exterior body covering these components. In lithium-ion secondary batteries, positive electrodes and negative electrodes are generally used; the positive electrodes each include a positive electrode current collector made of aluminum or the like and a positive electrode mix which includes a positive electrode active material capable of occluding and releasing lithium ions and which is applied to both surfaces of the positive electrode current collector, and the negative electrodes each include a negative electrode current collector made of copper or the like and a negative electrode mix which includes a negative electrode active material capable of occluding and releasing lithium ions and which is applied to both surfaces of the negative electrode current collector. These positive and negative electrodes are insulated from each other by a separator provided therebetween, and the positive electrode and the negative electrode are electrically connected to a positive electrode terminal and a negative electrode terminal, respectively, which are provided for the exterior body. The exterior body has a certain shape such as a cylindrical shape or a rectangular shape.
When a secondary battery is used for a long period of time, e.g., for several years or for more than ten years or more, a problem of a decrease in capacity arises. A cause of the decrease in the capacity of a lithium-ion secondary battery is a reduction in lithium ions contributing to a battery reaction.
There are several causes of the reduction in lithium ions contributing to a battery reaction. One of them is formation of a coating film on a surface of a negative electrode. Specifically, an electrolyte solution is decomposed at the interface between the negative electrode and the electrolyte solution, and a coating film containing lithium is formed on a surface of the negative electrode. Formation of the coating film allows a stable battery reaction; however, excessive formation of the coating film is not preferable because lithium ions contributing to a battery reaction are reduced.
The following is another cause of the reduction in lithium ions contributing to a battery reaction. By rapid charging or the like, metal lithium is deposited on an active material and a surface of an active material and separated from a current collector.
In normal low-rate charging, metal lithium is deposited on an active material and a surface of an active material. In the case where conductivity is kept between the active material and the metal lithium, the deposited metal lithium slowly disappears in discharging. However, the metal lithium expands and shrinks when the active material, particularly the negative electrode active material, occludes and releases a lithium ion. Therefore, when rapid charging is performed or deposition of metal lithium is repeatedly performed for a long period of time, the deposited metal lithium loses its conductivity with the current collector, leading to separation of the metal lithium in some cases.
The separated active material or metal lithium causes clogging of the separator, whereby the diffusibility of lithium ions is reduced and lithium ions are concentrated in the periphery of the clogging, leading to further deposition of metal lithium and a further decrease in the capacity of the secondary battery.
Another cause of the decrease in the capacity of a lithium-ion secondary battery is deterioration of an electrolyte solution. An electrolyte solution which normally functions is reduced by decomposition of the electrolyte solution at the interface between an electrode and the electrolyte solution, vaporization of the electrolyte solution due to heat generated in a battery reaction, and the like, reducing the diffusibility of lithium ions.
The reduction in the diffusibility of lithium ions causes further deposition of metal lithium as described above, leading to a vicious cycle.
In order to suppress the above-described reduction in lithium ions contributing to a battery reaction, various methods have been studied. For example, a method for predoping a negative electrode with lithium before assembly of a secondary battery is known. As another method, a metal lithium electrode is provided in advance as a third electrode inside a secondary battery, and lithium ions are supplied from the metal lithium electrode when its capacity is decreased (Patent Document 1). Furthermore, in another method under study, a metal lithium electrode which has been installed in a cassette case is inserted into a secondary battery to supply lithium ions when its capacity is decreased (Patent Document 2).

Secondary battery and method for restoring capacity of secondary battery

SEMICONDUCTOR ENERGY LABORATORY CO., LTD.


An optical recording medium, typically an optical disc, has a recording region of a laser medium extending thicknesswise thereof, and a reference region positioned radially inwardly of the recording region for emitting reference light. The recording region has pits and lands formed on a surface thereof as representing recorded information. The pits and lands having respective first surfaces parallel to corresponding second surfaces on an opposite surface of the recording region. The first and second surfaces provide different thicknesses of the recording region. When pumping light emitted from a semiconductor laser, for example, is applied to the recording region, the recording region operates as optical resonators between the first and second surfaces for emitting laser signal light of a variable frequency depending on the recorded information. The optical resonators have respective optical axes extending thicknesswise of the recording region.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an optical recording medium which can be played back by a light beam that is applied thereto to read the information recorded as bits on the surface of the optical recording medium, and a method of playing back such an optical recording medium.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Presently available optical recording mediums, i.e., optical discs, store information in the form of pits, for example, burned in their surfaces. To read the recorded information from an optical disc, a light beam is applied to the information recording surface of the optical disc, and a beam of light reflected by the surface or transmitted through the optical disc is detected.
Recently, efforts have been made to achieve higher recording density in such optical information recording technology. One attempt is to record multivalued information in the form of pits having different stepwise depths for higher information packing density. However, manufacturing limitations and detecting accuracy problems have imposed difficulties on the recording of multivalued information on optical discs.
According to another proposal, a reading light beam of shorter wavelength is used to read information recorded as binary signals on optical discs. Because of the limited sensitivity of light detectors used to detect such a reading light beam, however, information can be recorded on optical discs in a packing density only up to three times the present level. In addition, since the recorded information on optical discs is read using the interference of light, the level of a reproduced output signal indicative of the recorded information is relatively low, and hence the signal-to-noise (S/N) and carrier-to-noise (C/N) ratios thereof are also relatively low.

Optical recording medium and method of optically playing back same including recording medium structure operating as optical resonators emitting applied pumping light at a variable frequency


A method for producing a polyolefin is disclosed which comprises polymerizing an .alpha.-olefin in the presence of a catalyst composition comprising (A) a solid catalyst component prepared by contacting (a) a solid component comprising a magnesium alkoxide and/or a magnesium salt of a fatty acid supported on an inorganic oxide composed of at least one member selected from the group consisting of oxides of elements belonging to Groups II, III and IV of the periodic table and/or a composite inorganic oxide containing at least one member selected from the group consisting of oxides of elements belonging to Groups II, III and IV of the periodic table, the inorganic oxide or composite inorganic oxide having a surface hydroxide concentration of 3 .mu.mol/m.sup.2 or less, (b) an electron donating compound and (c) a titanium halide, (B) an organic metal compound, and (C) an electron donating compound.. According to the method, a step of removing the catalyst residue: from the polypropylene produced can be eliminated and the products have well balanced mechanical strength such as stiffness and impact strength.

It is known to produce a polyolefin using a Ziegler Natta catalyst comprising a solid catalyst component composed of a titanium component and a magnesium halide carrier, and an organic aluminum compound component as described in JP-A-39991/78, JP-A-206415/84, etc.
This conventional catalyst has a relative high activity. However, there is a problem that when the polyolefin produced by the above-described conventional method is molded using a molding machine, magnesium halide which remains in the polyolefin produced promotes corrosion of the molding machine and leads to production of molded articles having a poor appearance.
On the other hand, a method for producing a polyolefin has been proposed which uses a solid catalyst component prepared by supporting a magnesium dialkoxide on a carrier of an inorganic oxide such as SiO.sub.2 not containing a halogen and reacting the thus-prepared solid catalyst component with an electron donating compound such as a carboxylic acid monoester and a titanium halide compound, as described in JP-A-162607/83.
However, this method is disadvantageous in that the catalyst used has a low catalytic activity and the deposition of the magnesium alkoxide on the carrier is insufficient, resulting in that the polyolefin obtained is powder of poor particle size distribution and has an insufficient stereoregularity, and that depending on the kind of the .alpha.-olefin used the molecular weight distribution of the resulting polyolefin is broad and films molded therefrom have a poor transparency.
Further, a method for producing a polyolefin using a solid catalyst composed of a titanium halide and a carrier which is prepared by reacting an organic silicon compound with silica, for example, and further reacting the product with a magnesium compound such as a magnesium alkyl halide compound (RMgX) and with an alcohol, sequentially, as described in Japanese Patent Publication No. 6962/85.
This conventional method, however, is disadvantageous in that polymers having a high stereoregularity are not obtained.
On the other hand, it is known to produce a polypropylene, one of polyolefins, using a multi-stage polymerization method in order to improve the impact strength of the polypropylene.
For example, there is known a two-stage slurry polymerization method as described in , e.g., Japanese Patent Publication No. 11448/83. The polypropylene produced by this method has an impact strength which is improved to some extent but is insufficiently satisfactory.
A three-stage slurry polymerization method is also proposed as described in Japanese Patent Publication No. 145114/82, which method fails to produce polypropylenes that have a satisfactorily improved impact strength.
In addition, a two-stage gas phase polymerization method using a titanium trichloride catalyst is proposed as described in, e.g., JP-A-187 413. Although this method is somewhat improved since it does not require a step of recovering the solvent used and thus a step of drying the resulting polymer is widely simplified, it still needs to remove catalyst residue because the catalyst used has a low catalytic activity. In order to cope with this problem, development of a gas phase polymerization method using a catalyst having a high catalytic activity is under way but there are many problems to be solved before such method can be utilized in practice and a complete solution therefore has not been proposed yet as far as is known.
Among polyolefins, there is included propylene ethylene random copolymers, which are used widely in various fields of film technology. The propylene-ethylene random copolymers are produced by copolymerizing propylene and ethylene monomers using a stereoregular polymerization catalyst comprising a solid catalyst component composed of a titanium compound supported on a magnesium halide carrier, and an organic aluminum compound.
However, such propylene-ethylene random copolymers are disadvantageous in that they have poor heat sealing properties at low temperatures.
In order to improve the heat sealing properties of propylene-ethylene random copolymers, it has conventionally been proposed to increase the content of ethylene as a monomer unit.
When a slurry polymerization method is employed in order to increase the content of ethylene, not only the amount of soluble polymers which are by-produced increases and as a result the yield of the propylene-ethylene random copolymer desired decreases but also the properties of the slurry during the polymerization reaction is deteriorated and it is difficult to carry out the polymerization reaction continuously.
On the other hand, an attempt to increase the content of ethylene by the use of a gas phase polymerization method gives rise to a new problem in that the resulting propylene-ethylene random copolymer has an increased adherent property which tends to lead to the formation of agglomerates and as a result to the occurrence of accidents such as clogging of pipelines for transportation and the like.
Further, the various polyolefins produced by the above-described polymerization methods, which are usually transported in a pipeline to a predetermined place in the form of dry powders, tend to cause accidents due to clogging of pipelines for transportation since the polyolefins produced by the conventional methods have unsatisfactory particle size distribution.


An oil pump includes a partition for dividing an outlet port into a first passage section on the upstream side and a second passage section on the downstream side, wherein a discharge passage fluidly communicates with the first passage section, and a relief valve is disposed in the second passage section.

The present invention relates to an oil pump for feeding lubricating oil to various slide portions of an internal combustion engine, for example.
A trochoid oil pump for an automotive internal combustion engine comprises a pump casing formed with inlet and outlet ports formed in both sides, and a drive shaft arranged through the pump casing roughly in the center for receiving torque of an engine crankshaft. Arranged rotatably in the pump casing are an inner rotor coupled to the drive shaft and including external teeth at the outer periphery, and an outer rotor including internal teeth meshed with the external teeth of the inner rotor.
With rotation of the inner and outer rotors, volume chambers defined between the internal and external teeth of the rotors vary in volume to discharge to the outlet port lubricating oil inhaled through the inlet port, ensuring pump action. Excess oil discharged through the outlet port is returned from a relief valve to the low-pressure side (inlet-port side), achieving the discharge pressure controlled at a given value.
With the oil pump, however, since lubricating oil inhaled through the inlet port is discharged to the outlet port while being compressed due to volume variation in the volume chambers as described above, pulsation at a certain period occurs to cause sideward oscillation of the relief valve, opening/closing a relief port. This can amplify pulsation to produce relatively great noise at the discharge side.
With the aim of reducing pulsation, Japanese document P2003-184523A teaches an oil pump which comprises a bent wall arranged downstream of the outlet port and a branch passage arranged downstream of the bent wall to reverse the direction of oil flow, whereby oil out of the outlet port is made to flow from the bent wall to the branch passage.


A stripper rubber comprising a resilient stripper rubber body, an insert support, and a plurality of stripper rubber inserts. The resilient stripper rubber body has a drillstring bore extending therethrough. The insert support is at least partially within the body. The insert support includes a central opening generally aligned with the drillstring bore thereby allowing a drillstring to pass jointly through the central opening and the drillstring bore. The plurality of stripper rubber inserts are each at least partially disposed within the body. The inserts are arranged in a side-by-side manner around the drillstring bore with a first end portion thereof pivotably engaged with the insert support. Each one of the inserts is offset from the drillstring bore for precluding the inserts from being exposed from within the body at the drillstring bore.

In the drilling industry, seals are used in various applications including rotating blowout preventers, swab cups, pipe and Kelly wipers, sucker rod guides, tubing protectors, stuffing box rubbers, stripper rubbers for coiled tubing applications, snubbing stripper rubbers, and stripper rubbers for rotating control heads or diverter/preventers. Stripper rubbers, for example, are utilized in rotating control heads to seal around the rough and irregular outside diameter of a drillstring of a drilling rig.
Stripper rubbers are currently made so that the inside diameter of the stripper rubber is considerably smaller (usually about one inch) than the smallest outside diameter of any component of a drillstring. As the components move longitudinally through the interior of the stripper rubber, a seal is continuously affected.
Stripper rubbers affect self-actuating fluid-tight seals in that, as pressure builds in the annulus of a well, and in the bowl of the rotating control head, the vector forces of that pressure bear against the outside surface or profile of the stripper rubber and compress the stripper rubber against the outside surface of the drillstring. The pressure forces complement the stretch-fit forces already present in the stripper rubber. The result is an active mechanical seal the increases the seal strength as the well bore pressure increases.
Well pressure forces often distort the elastic profile of a stripper rubber, deforming the shape from that of a cone to that of a donut. Lowering an oil tool through the stripper rubber often causes the deformed, rolled up, rubber to temporarily uncurl, but the rubber quickly returns to the deformed donut shape once it is re-pressurized. Wear and tear on the stripper rubber occurs, therefore, not only from frictional forces between the rubber and a longitudinally moving oil tool, but from the mechanical forces acting on the rubber as it rolls up and unrolls during drilling operations.
Stripper rubbers seal around rough and irregular surfaces of varying diameters such as those found around a drill pipe, tool joints, or a Kelly, and are operated under drilling conditions where strength and resistance to wear are prized attributes. When using a stripper rubber in a rotating control head, the longitudinal location of the rotating control head is fixed due to the mounting of a stripper rubber onto a bearing assembly. The bearing assembly allows the stripper rubber, or stripper rubbers, to rotate with the Kelly or drillstring, but restrains the stripper rubber from longitudinal, axial, movement. Wear of the interior surface of a stripper rubber is caused by relative longitudinal movement of the drillstring components, including the end to end coupling areas of larger diameter joints and the larger diameter of tools that bear against a stripper rubber.
Wear and tear upon a stripper rubber from frictional and mechanical forces will, over a period of time, cause a thinning or weakening of the elastic material to the point that the stripper rubber will fail. Such wear is exacerbated by the movement of multiple lengths of a drillstring through the stripper rubber, such as when a drillstring is "tripped" into or out of the well. Furthermore, the stretch-fit of the rubber rapidly becomes exhausted, and the rubber fails to seal the well. Rapid exhaustion of the rubber remains a persistent problem, and requires frequent, sometimes as often as weekly, replacement of the stripper rubber.
Metal structures, called "inserts," embedded in the rubber portion of a stripper rubber are used to provide connectors and structural support to the rubber. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,647,444, issued to the present inventor, discloses a dual stripper rubber apparatus. Each stripper rubber provides a pair of circular spring inserts that circumnavigate the packer perpendicular to the drillstring bore. The springs provide structural support to the rubber, yet permit the rubber to dilate so that pipe joints or tools can pass through the drillstring bore of the stripper rubbers.
Wear is present in all drilling and production applications where a rubber seal or wiper is subjected to the relative movement of a component such as a drillstring tool. A long-felt need persists for a rubber seal or wiper that is resistant to wear, will withstand the great bore hole pressures of modern wells, and is capable of a longer service life than has been heretofore possible.


A semiconductor structure comprises a first layer. The first layer comprises a first III-V semiconductor material. The semiconductor structure also comprises a second layer over the first layer. The second layer comprises a second III-V semiconductor material different from the first III-V semiconductor material. The semiconductor structure further comprises an insulating layer over the second layer. The insulating layer is patterned to expose a portion of the first layer. The exposed portion of the first layer comprises electrons of the second layer. The semiconductor structure additionally comprises an intermetallic compound over the exposed portion of the first layer.

In semiconductor technology, due to its characteristics, III-V based high electron mobility transistors have a number of attractive properties, including high electron mobility and the ability to transmit signals at high frequency, etc.
However, the III-V based high electron mobility transistors are costly to make by using the traditional III-V processes. For example, the traditional III-V process requires metal formation by evaporation and using ohmic structures containing gold, all of which can be expensive. Therefore, what is needed is to develop a process by which the existing silicon fabrication tools can be used to manufacture III-V based transistors.

Method of forming a semiconductor structure

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.


A system for introducing live content into an electronic mail message comprising at least one dynamic live content area sent through an e-mail service provider system comprises memory and a click manager. The memory includes live content comprising image data and expiration data. The click manager receives an indication of the opening of the message by a recipient, wherein the click manager accesses the memory to retrieve live content and send the retrieved live content for rendering in the dynamic live content area of the e-mail message opened by the one of the plurality of recipients.

The disclosed system and method relate to dynamic electronic mail (e-mail) content and more particularly to providing e-mails that have their final content determined or rendered after the sending of the e-mail or at the time of opening of the e-mail so that the content displayed therein is timely.
The disclosed systems, methods and graphical user interfaces disclosed herein may be envisioned as extending the functionality of the Dynamic Content Electronic Mail Marketing System and Method, disclosed in pending U.S. application Ser. No. 10/769,095, (published as U.S. Pub. No. 2004/0,215,479 A1). Additionally, the disclosed systems and methods may be implemented in other systems and methods of providing dynamic content e-mail messages with live content.
Since the advent of e-mails and more particularly since the popularity of utilizing e-mails transferred over the interne has increased, advertisers and others have utilized the e-mail media to convey messages and advertising to potential customers. One problem with utilizing e-mail for conveying time sensitive information, such as, for example, notifying a potential customer of a one day sale, advertising a limited inventory item or similar time sensitive matter, is that there is no assurance that the e-mail will be opened by a time such that the information is not irrelevant. For example, an e-mail advertising a price on a limited inventory item which is opened after the entire inventory of the item is sold will not be timely.
E-mail marketers commonly know more than just the content of their messages; frequently they know a considerable amount about demographics and other information regarding recipients of their messages. This demographic and other information may be utilized to prepare targeted e-mail messages for sending only to recipients believed to have an interest in the content contained therein. One key in e-mail marketing success is that the advertisements or other marketing materials that are delivered fit with the expectations or interests of the recipient. Especially when a recipient is a subscriber to a newsletter or to an e-mail marketer's program or system, e-mail marketers seek to avoid abusing the permission granted by or failing to honor the privacy of the subscriber, and providing the subscriber with irrelevant content.
One problem with e-mail advertisement is determining an appropriate pricing scheme for advertisements to be placed in e-mails. Advertisers who place advertisements on web pages are accustomed to pricing schemes which result in them being charged only when there is a possibility that the advertisement has been seen, such as when a user views a web page upon which the advertisement is placed, or when a user has taken some action indicative of a possible interest in the advertisement, such as clicking on a hyperlink in the advertisement displayed on the web page they are viewing. Thus, one common pricing scheme utilized to sell advertising space (inventory) on web pages is based on cost per thousand impressions of the advertising being sold ("CPM"). Typically, each view of a web page upon which the advertisement is displayed is considered an impression in such a pricing scheme. Another common pricing scheme for electronic advertising is to charge based on the number of interactions with an advertisement, such as charging for each click on a hyperlink associated with the advertisement, which is know as cost per click ("CPC") pricing. In other words an advertiser purchasing advertising space on a web page may pay a given amount for 1000 web page views with their ad present on that page and even higher rates for cost per click CPC or 1000 clicks on their ad. Those skilled in the art will recognize that advertising pricing schemes may be based on more or fewer impressions than the above disclosed one thousand impressions or on more than each single click.
Marketers using e-mail service providers ("ESPs") are already placing ads in their e-mails today. Entertainment venues, online hotel inventory sellers, travel websites and many other companies whose core business is not advertising are selling ad space in e-mail messages sent to their consumers. Many customers and marketers would appreciate an improved way to monetize their e-mail program. E-mail is trackable and well known methods exist for determining when an e-mail message is delivered, when the e-mail message is opened and/or when some content within the e-mail message is interacted with by a recipient.
Traditionally, ESPs have fixed at the time of sending of e-mails the location of all images to be retrieved in targeted e-mails when they are opened. Thus, what the recipient will see when they open the e-mail message is determined at the time it is sent, not at the time it is opened. Utilizing this traditional method of creating targeted e-mails, if an e-mail message is opened multiple times the same advertising would be displayed each time it is opened, even if it is opened after some time limit for taking advantage of the advertising has expired. As mentioned above, advertising on web pages is sold via models where targeting techniques are used on every web page view or impression, to ensure that the most targeted and relevant ad is presented to the end user when viewing the web page. Also, the ads are traditionally sold based on cost per thousand ("CPM") to drive the ad dollar spent by the advertiser. Currently, if an advertiser wants to place ads in an e-mail, they have difficulty selling advertising based on CPM impressions because a single e-mail may be opened multiple times.
Advertisers and others sending e-mails to recipients would appreciate a system and method wherein e-mail opens are treated like web page impressions, allowing the e-mail to retrieve the most targeted and relevant advertisement for the recipient. Images contained in the e-mail message can be rendered at the time of open, allowing an ad-server, which may be an in-house ad server of the targeted e-mail server or a third party ad server, to treat e-mail inventory with the same logic that drives online advertising.
Advertisers and others sending e-mails to recipients would appreciate the ability to send e-mail messages that, no matter when the e-mail messages are opened, contain timely content.


A switch is presented for a magnetically suspended or at least guided vehicle. The switch comprises a fork from a first track segment to a second and third track segment. An elongate conductive module, for example a conductive wire is provided along at least the first track segment and optionally along the second and third track segment. The conductive module comprises conductor segments that guide a current with a directional component substantially parallel the length of the track, at a first surface of the track. With an electromagnet provided on a carriage having a pole directed to the first surface of the track, a Lorentz force may be provided for urging the carriage in a direction perpendicular to the length of the track. This allows a carriage moving along the first track segment to be urged towards the second or third track segment at the other side of the fork.

Magnetically suspended vehicles are available for a longer time, for example between Shanghai Pu Dong Airport and the Pu Dong suburb of Shanghai. The carriages are suspended on the track by means of a magnetic force. The carriages are guided by a single rail, provided with linear motors on either side that interact with magnets provided at the bottom of the carriages. For switching tracks, mechanic switches are provided that make a mechanical movement between two track segments for defining a trajectory for the vehicles.

Switch for a track for guiding transportation of a vehicle