A method of making a thermotropic liquid crystal polymer film includes continuously heat treating of the thermotropic liquid crystal polymer film 2 while the latter is jointed to a sheet-like support member 4, and subsequently separating the heat-treated thermotropic liquid crystal polymer film 2 from the support member 4. The continuous heat treatment of the thermotropic liquid crystal polymer film 2 then jointed to the support member 4 is carried out for a predetermined heating time within the range of 5 to 60 seconds at a predetermined heating temperature T° C. equal to or higher than the melting point Tm° C. of the thermotropic liquid crystal polymer film less 15° C. (i.e., Tm−15° C.), but lower than the melting point Tm° C. (thus, Tm−15° C.≦T° C.<Tm° C.), to thereby increase the thermal expansion coefficient of the thermotropic liquid crystal polymer film.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method of continuously preparing a film made of a thermotropic polymer capable of forming an optically anisotropic melt phase.
In the following description of the present invention, the thermotropic polymer capable of forming an optically anisotropic melt phase is sometimes referred to as a "thermotropic liquid crystal polymer" unless otherwise specified and, also, the film made of such thermotropic liquid crystal polymer will be referred to as a "thermotropic liquid crystal polymer film" unless otherwise specified.
2. Description of the Related Art
The thermotropic liquid crystal polymer film is known to have an excellent low moisture absorbability, a high beat resistance, a high chemical resistance and excellent electrical properties and is therefore rapidly commercialized as an electric insulating material that improves the reliability of printed wiring boards or the like. In recent years, in the field of the electric and electronic appliances, the SMT (surface mounting technology) has come to be widely utilized and is currently largely applied in the production of electric and electronic appliances. As a result, the packaging density of electric and/or electronic component parts on a circuit board has drastically increased and lighter, more compact high-tech products hitherto considered unable to make have come to be developed. Accordingly, the need has arisen to improve the accuracy of dimension of the circuit boards.
When it comes to mounting electric/electronic component parts such as, for example, semiconductor elements and resistance elements directly on a surface of a circuit board, the presence of a difference in coefficient of thermal expansion between the circuit board and the electric/electronic component parts tends to bring about a problem associated with displacement in position of those component parts relative to the electric printed circuit board.
In order to resolve such problem, attempts have made to heat treat a laminated circuit board, made up of a thermotropic liquid crystal polymer film and a metallic foil, prior to electric/electronic component parts being mounted on the surface thereof, so as to render the film, forming a part of the laminated circuit board, to have a thermal expansion coefficient to be substantially equal to that of the electric/electronic component parts, such as disclosed in, for example, the Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 10-157010. Also, U.S. Pat. No. 5,529,740, issued Jun. 25, 1996, to Jester, et al., for example, discloses the heat treatment of a laminated product, including the thermotropic liquid crystal polymer film and a support body made up of the metal foil, to thereby improve the physical properties of the thermotropic liquid crystal polymer film.
According to the Japanese laid-open patent publication referred to above, it is described that if the thermotropic liquid crystal polymer film forming apart of the laminated circuit board has a thermal expansion coefficient larger than that of a component part to be surface mounted, the heat treatment of the laminated circuit board is carried out at a temperature within the range of the temperature, which is lower by 140° C. than the melting point of the film, to the melting point thereof and that by so doing, the thermal expansion coefficient of the film could be lowered by 18×10−6 cm/cm/° C. at the maximum. It is also described that if the film has a thermal expansion coefficient smaller than that of a component part to be surface mounted, the heat treatment of the laminated circuit board is carried out at a temperature within the range of, the melting point of the film to the temperature, which is higher by 20° C. than the melting point thereof, to thereby render the film to have an increased thermal expansion coefficient.
On the other hand, the USP referred to hereinabove discloses heating of a thermotropic liquid crystal polymer film, held in contact with a support body, at a temperature higher than the melting point of the film to thereby melt the latter and subsequent cooling of the melted film to form of a solidified polymer layer. This USP also discloses various physical properties of the resultant film and describes that the thermal expansion coefficient of the film could have been increased by means of the heating and cooling carried out in the specified manner.
However, as is well known to those skilled in the art, the thermotropic liquid crystal polymer, when formed a film by the use of an extrusion molding technique such as, for example, an inflation molding, generally results in the film having a negative coefficient of thermal expansion. When it comes to the use of such thermotropic liquid crystal polymer film as an electric insulating layer on the circuit board, in order for the thermotropic liquid crystal polymer film to have a thermal expansion coefficient matching with that of component parts to be eventually surface mounted on the printed circuit board, the thermal expansion coefficient of the thermotropic liquid crystal polymer film must be increased during the course of manufacture of the circuit board. Although as hereinabove discussed, the thermal expansion coefficient of the thermotropic liquid crystal polymer film can be adjusted by means of the specific heat treatment, it is generally understood that to increase the thermal expansion coefficient of the thermotropic liquid crystal polymer film the heat treatment must be carried out at a temperature equal to or higher than the melting point thereof as disclosed in any one of the previously discussed patent literatures.
It has, however, been found that the heat treatment of the thermotropic liquid crystal polymer film at such a high temperature involves numerous problems associated with the manufacture thereof on an industrial scale. Specifically, as a result of excessive thermal load imposed on the film, the resin tends to be quickly deteriorated; the higher the temperature of heat treatment, the more difficult to control the thermal expansion coefficient of the film precisely; inconveniences such as, for example, film deflection tend to occur easily; a substantial amount of energies is required to accomplish the intended heat treatment; and apparatuses used to manufacture the thermotropic liquid crystal polymer films are limited to result in increase of costs.

Method of making liquid crystal polymer films


A photodiode has a photodiode gate structure on the surface of the substrate. The photodiode may be located in a pixel sensor cell comprising a substrate having a first surface level. The photodiode has a first doped region of a first conductivity type and a second doped region of a second conductivity type located beneath the first surface level of the substrate. A photodiode gate is formed of a first dielectric substance layer formed over the first surface of the substrate, thereby forming a second surface, and a second polysilicon layer formed over the second surface of the first layer. A transistor is located adjacent to the photodiode. The photodiode gate improves charge transfer from the photodiode to the transfer gate and floating diffusion region. The improved charge transfer minimizes image lag and leakage and reduces energy barriers.

Typically, a digital imager array includes a focal plane array of pixel cells, each one of the cells including a photoconversion device, e.g. a photodiode gate, photoconductor, or a photodiode. In a CMOS imager a readout circuit is connected to each pixel cell which typically includes a source follower output transistor. The photoconversion device converts photons to electrons which are typically transferred to a floating diffusion region connected to the gate of the source follower output transistor. A charge transfer device (e.g., transistor) can be included for transferring charge from the photoconversion device to the floating diffusion region. In addition, such imager cells typically have a transistor for resetting the floating diffusion region to a predetermined charge level prior to charge transference. The output of the source follower transistor is gated as an output signal by a row select transistor.
Exemplary CMOS imaging circuits, processing steps thereof, and detailed descriptions of the functions of various CMOS elements of an imaging circuit are described, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 6,140,630 to Rhodes, U.S. Pat. No. 6,376,868 to Rhodes, U.S. Pat. No. 6,310,366 to Rhodes et al., U.S. Pat. No. 6,326,652 to Rhodes, U.S. Pat. No. 6,204,524 to Rhodes, and U.S. Pat. No. 6,333,205 to Rhodes. The disclosures of each of the foregoing are hereby incorporated by reference herein in their entirety.
A known imager device has a pixel array with a plurality of pixels arranged in a predetermined number of columns and rows. The pixels of each row in an array are all turned on at the same time by a row select line, and the pixels of each column are selectively output by respective column select lines. A plurality of row and column lines are provided for an entire array. The row lines are selectively activated by a row driver in response to a row address decoder. The column select lines are selectively activated by a column driver in response to a column address decoder. Thus, a row and column address is provided for each pixel. The imager is operated by a timing and control circuit, which controls the row and column address decoders for selecting the appropriate row and column lines for pixel readout. The control circuit also controls the row and column driver circuitry such that these apply driving voltages to the drive transistors of the selected row and column lines. The pixel column signals, which typically include a pixel reset signal (Vrst) and a pixel image signal (Vsig), are read by a sample and hold circuit associated with the column device. A differential signal (Vrst−Vsig) is produced by a differential amplifier for each pixel which is digitized by an analog to digital converter (ADC). The analog to digital converter supplies the digitized pixel signals to an image processor which forms a digital image.
A known image sensor is depicted in cross-section in FIG. 1. A 4-transistor (4T) image sensor has a transfer transistor 56, reset transistor 57, source follower transistor (not shown) and row select transistor (not shown). The photodiode 59 shown in FIG. 1 is a conventional p-n-p photodiode having a p-type region 10 closest to the surface with an n-type region 12 aligned vertically beneath the p-type region 10. The photodiode 59 detects photon energy and generates electrons which are collected in the photodiode while the transfer gate is "OFF." When the transfer gate is "ON," the photon-generated electrons are transferred to the floating diffusion region 11 because of the potential difference existing between the photodiode and floating diffusion region. The electrons are then converted to voltage signals that will be read at the source follower gate.
Applicants have determined that there are two significantly high energy barriers for electrons to overcome. The barriers occur between the photodiode 59 and the floating diffusion region 11 and between the photodiode 59 and the gate of the transfer transistor 56. It becomes necessary to minimize these two energy barriers to fully utilize the generated electrons. The higher the energy barrier, the lower the output signal and responsivity in weak light intensity conditions. Image lag can also result from high energy barriers when electrons collected in the photodiode are not completely transferred before the sensor is reset.
In addition, in short gate length sensors, sub-threshold current can become significantly high because of the breakdown between n-type regions on either side of the transfer gate. In particular, the n-type region 12 of the photodiode 59 may have increased The energy barrier between the photodiode and the transfer gate should be reduced as much as possible or eliminated in order to control leakage and maximize charges transferred from the photodiode.


A nacelle having a fan casing, a cowl that movable between an advanced position and a retracted position that opens an opening between a bypass duct and the outside, deflectors secured to the mobile cowl, wherein, in the advanced position, they are around the fan casing and wherein, in the retracted position, they are across the opening, and a fan ramp with a mounting base and flaps that are able to rotate on the mounting base between a stowed position and a deployed position. For each flap, the fan ramp has a return element that urges the flap) into the deployed position, and the deflectors have a stop in contact with the flap when the mobile cowl passes from the retracted position to the advanced position. Thus, in the advanced position, the flaps are folded back and their bulk is reduced.

FIG. 4 shows a nacelle 400 of an aircraft of the prior art, in particular, a nacelle 400 for a turbofan. Such a nacelle 400 surrounds the engine, shown here by its engine casing 402 and the nacelle 400 delimits, with the engine casing 402, a bypass duct 404 in which a flow of air 406 flows from the front towards the rear.
The bypass duct 404 is located at the rear of a fan that drives the flow of air 406 and is located inside a fan casing 408 that takes the general shape of a cylinder and is fastened to a fixed structure of the nacelle 400.
The nacelle 400 also has a fixed cowl 410 that is secured to the fixed structure, and a mobile cowl 412 that is mounted so as to be able to move in translation on the fixed structure. The fixed cowl 410 and the mobile cowl 412 take the general shape of cylinders. The fixed cowl 410 is around the fan casing 408.
The mobile cowl 412 is able to move between an advanced position in which the mobile cowl 412 extends the fixed cowl 410 at the rear thereof, and a retracted position in which the mobile cowl 412 is moved away from the fixed cowl 410 so as to open between them an opening 414 that establishes the fluidic communication between the bypass duct 404 and the outside of the nacelle 400.
The turbofan also has reversal doors 416, each one being able to move between a stowed position in which it does not obstruct the bypass duct 404 and a deployed position (FIG. 4) in which it obstructs the bypass duct 404 so as to direct the flow of air 406 towards the opening 414 and thus ensure thrust reversal of the turbofan.
In order to best guide the flow of air 406 into the opening 414 and towards the outside, deflectors 418 are disposed across the opening 414.
In order to guide the flow of air 406 towards the deflectors 418, the nacelle 400 has a fan ramp 420, which is an aerodynamic structure fastened to the fan casing 408 just upstream of the opening 414. The fan ramp 420 has a domed zone 422 that is fastened to the rear of the fan casing 408 and oriented towards the opening 414, and a straight zone 424 that is fastened to the rear of the domed zone 422 and oriented generally radially just in front of the deflectors 418.
Although this installation gives good results, the particular shape of the fan ramp 420, and, in particular, the presence of the straight zone 424, makes it necessary to increase the diameter of the nacelle 400 so as to encompass the fan ramp 420, and this can cause significant drag in flight.

Aircraft nacelle having a fan ramp with articulated flaps


A container for pharmaceutical items, comprising a tray having at least one compartment adapted to retrievably contain at least one pharmaceutical item, each said compartment having associated therewith a lid movable between a closed position restricting access to the associated compartment and an open position permitting access to the associated compartment, and each lid having associated therewith a mechanism responsive to control signals from a computer to permit movement between the closed and open positions. The invention also includes a system for dispensing pharmaceutical items comprising at least one support structure supporting at least one drawer, each said drawer being adapted to receive at least one of the above described containers and being movable with respect to said support structure between an open position permitting access to a given compartment of a given container and a closed position restricting access to all containers in each said drawer; and at least one said computer operable to control access to each compartment in each container. The invention also includes a method of controllably and securably dispensing pharmaceutical items comprising, storing pharmaceutical items in locations identifiable by a computer and to which access is controlled by a computer, inputting data identifying a desired pharmaceutical item, and having said computer identify a location having the desired item and issue appropriate control signals to permit access to the desired item.

In recent years, a number of systems have been designed to provide pharmaceutical items at locations such as nursing stations in hospitals. By providing an inventory of medicine at such locations, these systems seek to reduce the requirement for nurses or pharmacy personnel to travel repeatedly between the nursing station and the pharmacy to acquire medicine and other pharmaceutical items. These systems also attempt to enhance the management of pharmaceutical items and the secure control of inventory. This is especially true of narcotics. Some examples of these systems include the Meditrol.RTM. Automated Dispensing System (Meditrol, Houston, Tex. 77036), the Sure-Med.RTM. (Baxter Healthcare, I. V. Systems Division, Deerfield, Ill. 60015), MEDSTATION.RTM. (Pyxis Corporation, San Diego, Calif. 92121) and Access (Lionville Systems, Inc., Exton, Pa. 19431).
Although these systems are, in many respects, adequate for their intended purpose, they are limited in other ways. Some of these systems store many identical articles together in batch in a single bin and then control bin access. When a user accesses a specific medication they are provided access to the contents of the entire bin. A disadvantage of this approach is that monitoring the specific number of articles removed from a bin by a user is difficult, if not impossible. This is due to the reliance of the system on each user to correctly and honestly report the number of articles he or she removed.
Another limitation of some of these devices is that single identical medications are loaded and stored in an array (linear or other) and then the user is then allowed access to the medicines in a fixed sequence. A limitation of arrays is that they contain identical medications. The problem with the resulting device is that to inventory a number of different medications, it is necessary to have an equal number of arrays. This follows from the sequential access limitation.
Other disadvantages of some of these devices include the requirement for the unpackaging of protective wraps on items to be dispensed, such as for prefilled syringes, before they are placed within the device. This unpackaging is a result of the inability of the device geometry to accommodate protective wraps and/or of the reliance of the device mechanism to hold some specific geometry of items to be dispensed, which the protective packaging inhibits.
Other designs provide the flexibility to access a number of medication types in a flexible format but do not offer controlled access to individual medications and pharmaceutical items.
As a result of these limitations, there is a need for a system capable of rapid and secure controlled access to pharmaceutical items including narcotics. Additionally, there is a need for a system that is not tied to a sequential, batch, or unit dose packaging format which limit flexibility and are not space efficient. There is a need for a system that provides for complete and controlled flexibility and random access to a variety of medications, including syringes, and also provide for a flexible inventory management capability. The unit should be simple to operate, so that the nursing staff may retrieve a required item. The unit should be simple and efficient to load. The unit should also be space efficient and cost effective so that the hospitals or other facilities can place them strategically and afford to use them.

Secure medication storage and retrieval system


An ice maker has an ice mold that includes a metallic piece and an insulated piece. A cooling source is thermally coupled to the metallic piece. A cavity is within the ice mold and has a first reservoir in the metallic piece and a second reservoir in the insulated piece. The first and second reservoirs align to substantially enclose the cavity. An intake aperture in the insulated piece extends to the cavity for receiving water. A drive body rotatably coupled to the ice mold that operates in an ice-making cycle, wherein the drive body repeatedly rotates the mold from an injection position to a tilted position. The cavity receives an incremental amount of water in the injection position and moves to the tilted position to freeze at least a portion of the incremental amount of water over a side surface of the cavity to make an ice piece.

During the ice making process when water is frozen to form ice, trapped air tends to make the resulting ice that is cloudy in appearance. The result is an ice cube which, when used in drinks, can provide an undesirable taste and appearance which distracts from the enjoyment of a beverage. Clear ice is significantly more desirable but requires processing techniques and structure which can be somewhat costly to efficiently include in consumer appliances.


A method, apparatus, article of manufacture, and a memory structure for providing media program information to a user is disclosed. The method comprises the steps of accepting a command to provide a menu guide from a plurality of menu guides defining a media program information space segmented by a daypart, wherein the menu guide is associated with a first daypart, and providing a menu guide comprising a menu guide content portion presenting at least some of the media program information. The apparatus comprises a receiver having a tuner for receiving the media program and the media program information, a processor, communicatively coupled to the tuner for providing a menu guide having a menu guide content portion presenting at least some of the media program information, wherein the menu guide is selectable from a plurality of menu guides together defining a program information space segmented by a daypart. The foregoing daypart-based presentation of the media program information provides for an efficient use of display space by initially providing information programs the user is likely to be interested in, while still permitting the user to intuitively navigate to other media program information as well.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to systems and methods for presenting data regarding media programs to subscribers, and in particular to a method and apparatus for navigating media program information based on a daypart paradigm.
2. Description of the Related Art
Program guides for television programming are known in the art. A common method for obtaining television programming information is by consulting paper television programming guides or schedules. This method of disseminating information, however, has limitations. A paper guide may become obsolete or a schedule may change, rendering the paper copy useless. Additionally, the paper schedule may easily be lost.
Electronic program guides have been used to alleviate some of the limitations of paper. One example is a cable system that provides a continuous feed of guide information to a dedicated television channel. The channel displays continuous program listings. The continuous nature of the link allows the guide to be updated and reflect current scheduling information. An alternate method of providing guide content is to send it, along with program content, through satellite transmissions to receiving stations.
Typically, electronic program guides are based around the use of a scheduling grid. This grid typically involves one axis that corresponds to time and another axis that corresponds to transmission channels. At the intersection of each channel and time slot is a "cell" which typically displays the title of the program that is being shown on that channel at that time.
The number of media programs available to the consumer has been increasing dramatically. As a result, on screen guide information density is increasing exponentially as well. Due largely to resolution limitations, conventional scheduling grids are ill suited to present the increased number of available media programs to the user in a meaningful way. For example, as a general rule, any information provided in a program guide should be legible when presented on a 19 inch NTSC television with 250 scan lines of resolution at a distance of 15 feet. This substantially limits the amount of information that can be presented at one time. Such limitations are especially problematic for scheduling grids, because the grids present information the viewer is not interested in (channels time slots that are not of interest), and not enough information about what the viewer is interested in (more detailed information about future broadcasts on the current channel or other channels).
Current grid guides, especially those that incorporate a PIG or "picture in guide" suffer as channel capacity and therefore information density increases. Reduced screen real estate brought on by the video window results in limited viewable time line (1.5 hrs ahead is typical), limited channel display area, limited space for program descriptions, limited overall legibility and cumbersome navigation. All of these factors negatively impact the real world usefulness of a grid guide.
When taken on whole, a "snap shot" of the most sophisticated grid guide exhibits a remarkable lack of useful information. In many cases, program titles in the grid are reduced to single words making them unidentifiable unless highlighted. System latencies slow the highlighting process. Program descriptions are displayed one at a time. Incorporating advertising, whether in the grid or blocked along side will impact the information capacity even further.
Also, if a user wishes to determine what programs will be available on a particular channel two hours in the future, the user must typically scroll through a number of screens to obtain this information. Then, after the user has done so, the information presented by the scheduling grid is minimal at best, and shared with other programs that are not of interest (i.e. those broadcast on other channels).
One way of overcoming the space limitations is to reduce guide fonts. However, this increases visual clutter and decreases legibility. Cumbersome and complex graphic "animations" must be employed to display second level information in the limited screen real estate. Current attempts to overcome these limitations try to cram ever more complex information display metaphors into less space with the result being more equaling less.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,075,575, issued to Schein et al. on Jun. 13, 2000, for example, shows a typical grid-based program guide. While the program guide permits the user to view a wide range of information, it still suffers the same limitations as the grid guides of old in that it presents information that the user is not interested in and does not present information that the user is likely to be interested in. The resulting waste of display real estate requires the user to pass through a maze of complicated commands with far more user inputs than is really necessary.
What is needed is a user interface that displays information in a way that presents information the user is interested in, and which does not waste screen space presenting information of no interest. What is also needed is a new information and navigation paradigm that streamlines the accessing, manipulating, and sorting of guide data related to broadcast, stored and streamed video and interactive service offerings.
The present invention satisfies that need.


The case for a molten salt battery is used for a molten salt battery containing as an electrolyte a molten salt containing sodium ions. The case is formed of aluminum or an aluminum alloy containing 90% by mass or more of aluminum.

As described in Patent Document 1, a molten salt containing sodium ions is used for an electrolyte of a molten salt battery. The oxidation-reduction reaction of a sodium compound is performed on the positive electrode of a molten salt battery. The oxidation-reduction reaction of sodium ions is performed on the negative electrode of a molten salt battery.

Molten salt battery case, and molten salt battery


One or more techniques and/or systems are disclosed for a container transport device. A base member may be coupled with a handle, one or more wheel members and a base engaging member. The handle can have a grip disposed at one end, and may be used to tilt and move the device. Further, a clamping member can be selectively engaged with the handle, and may be used to engage a top portion of a target container, using a top notch disposed in the clamping member. The base engaging member may be configured to engage the bottom of the target container, thereby holding the container in place during lifting and/or transportation. The wheel member(s) can support the base member off a floor surface, and help move the device during transportation of a container.

Some containers may be sized such that manual lifting is unwieldy, and/or may comprise materials too heavy for a person to safely lift manually. Various types of carts/dollys can be used to facilitate lifting and transportation of such containers. Some carts/dollys can be configured for particular types of containers, where a container is of particular size, shape and/or weight.


A hydraulic assembly for slip-controlled brake systems of motor vehicles, having a valve block with receiving bores, each for a hydraulic part of electromagnetically actuated valves, each of which contains magnetically active elements and a respective electric part having an electric coil encompassing the valve dome, a coil housing, and a washer that is contained at least indirectly in the coil housing, on the side oriented toward the hydraulic part. The washers of at least some of the valves are interconnected to form a multi-washer component. The production of the hydraulic assembly then includes the production of a structural unit, which supports the respective electric parts of at least some of the valves, by connecting the coil housing to the associated washers of the multi-washer component, and the placement of this structural unit onto the valve block by introducing the valve domes into through openings of the washers.

1 Field of the Invention
The invention is directed to an improved hydraulic assembly for slip-controlled brake systems of motor vehicles and to a method for its production.
2 Description of the Prior Art
A hydraulic assembly of the type with which this invention is concerned is known from EP 0 720 551 B1 and has a valve block with receiving bores, each for containing the hydraulic part of respective electromagnetically actuated valves, each of which contains magnetically active elements such as an armature and magnetic core of the valve dome that contains the hydraulic part and that protrudes in the extension of the receiving bore, up from a delimiting plane of the hydraulic block. The valves also each have an electric part, which is slid onto the valve dome, and have an electric coil that encompasses this valve dome, a coil housing, and a washer that is contained in the coil housing, on the side oriented toward the delimiting plane. The electric part is centered in relation to the hydraulic part of the valve, among other things by the washer being slid onto a bushing that is caulked into the receiving bore. Usually six or twelve coils are used for each hydraulic assembly; in order to assemble the electric part of the valves, the washers for each coil are individually press-fitted into a bottom opening of the associated coil housing, and then the coil housing and the coil together are slid onto the valve dome from above until the washer comes into contact with the bushing.

Hydraulic unit for anti-lock automobile brake systems and method for producing the same


An organic light emitting display includes a brightness controller that restricts the total brightness of a pixel unit when the number of pixels that emit bright light is greater than a predetermined level.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an organic light emitting display and a method of driving the same, and more particularly, to an organic light emitting display in which brightness is restricted in accordance with an emission area and the amount of change in the brightness varies with the emission area and a method of driving the same.
2. Discussion of the Background
Light emitting displays may be classified as either organic light emitting displays, which use organic light emitting diodes (OLED) and inorganic light emitting displays, which use inorganic light emitting diodes.
An OLED includes an anode electrode, a cathode electrode, and an organic emission layer positioned between the anode electrode and the cathode electrode. The organic emission layer emits light by combining electrons and holes.
An inorganic light emitting diode, referred to as a light emitting diode (LED), includes an emission layer formed of inorganic material such as a PN-junction semiconductor.
FIG. 1 illustrates the structure of a conventional organic light emitting display. Referring to FIG. 1, the conventional light emitting display includes a pixel unit 10, a data driver 20, a scan driver 30, and a power source supply unit 40.
The pixel unit 10 includes a plurality of pixels 11, each of which is connected to an OLED (not shown). The pixel unit 10 also includes n number of scan lines S1, S2, . . . , Sn-1, and Sn arranged in a row direction to transmit scan signals, n number of emission control signal lines E1, E2, . . . , En-1, and En arranged in a row direction to transmit emission control signals, m number of data lines D1, D2, . . . , Dm-1, and Dm arranged in a column direction to transmit data signals, m number of first power source supply lines (not shown) for transmitting a first power source ELVdd, and m number of second power source supply lines (not shown) for transmitting a second power source ELVss with a lower potential than the potential of the first power source ELVdd.
The brightness and duration of emission of light emitted by the OLEDs in the pixel units 10 are controlled to display images by the scan signals, the emission control signals, the data signals, the first power source ELVdd, and the second power source ELVss.
The data driver 20 applies data signals to the pixel unit 10 through the data lines D1, D2, . . . , Dm-1, and Dm.
The scan driver 30 sequentially outputs the scan signals to the specific rows of the pixel unit 10 through the scan lines S1, S2, . . . , Sn-1, and Sn. The scan driver 30 sequentially outputs the emission control signal lines to the specific rows of the pixel units 10 through the emission control signal lines E1, E2, . . . , En-1, and En.
The data signals and scan signals are transmitted to the pixels 11 to generate a current that corresponds to the data signals. The currents flowing to the OLEDs are controlled by the emission control signals. When the scan signals and the emission control signals in all of the rows are sequentially selected, one frame is completed. Images are thus displayed by the emission of light from the OLEDs.
The power source supply unit 40 transmits the first power source ELVdd and the second power source ELVss to the pixel unit 10. The second power source ELVss has a lower potential than the first power source ELVdd. Currents corresponding to the data signals thus flow through the pixels 11 due to the difference in voltage between the first power source ELVdd and the second power source ELVss.
Organic light emitting displays such as the one described above require a large amount of current to flow through the pixel unit 10 for the pixel unit 10 to emit bright light and require a small amount of current to flow through the pixel unit 10 for the pixel unit 10 to emit dim light. A large load is applied to the power source supply unit 40 to produce enough current to produce bright light, which requires the power source supply unit 40 to have a high output capability.
The widths of the emission control signals may be used to control the brightness by controlling the amount of time during which light is emitted. However, when the brightness is low, the amount of time that the light is emitted may be so short that a viewer may perceive a flickering phenomenon.

Brightness controlled organic light emitting display and method of driving the same


A measuring device for bone screw types of different shaft diameters is described. This measuring device has multiple receiving grooves for bone screws in a surface or an area near the surface. In the area of each receiving groove a length measuring scale, which is associated with one or more of the different bone screw types, is arranged. Also, for each of the receiving grooves a limit stop to work with a received bone screw is provided. The receiving grooves and/or the associated limit stops have a selectivity with respect to the shaft diameter of the bone screw types which can be received in the individual receiving grooves.

In surgical operations, for instance in the middle face area, there is often the problem that bone plates must be fixed to bones or bone fragments using suitable bone screws. To fix a bone plate, the surgeon will usually first make a preliminary bore hole in the bone or bone fragment using a suitable drill, and then select a suitably dimensioned bone screw, which should be inserted into the preliminary bore hole to fix the bone plate.
The surgeon selects a suitable bone screw depending on the depth of the preliminary bore hole and the hole diameter of the bone plate to be fixed. As part of this selection, it is often necessary to check the geometrical dimensions of a particular bone screw. Otherwise, there is the danger of a wrongly dimensioned bone screw being screwed into the bone or bone fragment.
The dangers for the patient which are associated with screwing in a wrongly dimensioned bone screw are obvious. As well as the bone plate being insufficiently held, for instance by a too short bone screw, in the case of a too long bone screw there is the danger that the screw tip exits again from the bone or bone fragment.
The invention is based on the object of giving a multifunctional measuring device for bone screws and a measuring system which includes this measuring device.

System and device for measuring bone screws


An image processing apparatus has a plurality of image processing functions, executes processing based on an OS as an operation system, and includes an OS memory and a control device. The control device functions as an allocating device, a determination device, and a release device. The allocating device allocates, on the OS memory, image processing memories used for image processing, for the image processing functions, respectively. The determination device determines, based on respective past usage statuses of the image processing memories allocated for each of the image processing functions, regions unlikely to be used, of the image processing memories. The release device, upon occurring memory shortage in the OS memory, releases the regions of the image processing memories determined by the determination device to resolve the memory shortage.

This disclosure relates to a technology for resolving memory shortage.
In response to an increase in the number of functions included in image processing apparatuses such as multifunction peripherals in recent years, not only an image processing memory used in image processing but also the capacity of an operating system (hereinafter referred to as OS) memory used by the OS has been increasing.

Image processing apparatus resolving memory shortage


An acoustic transducer arrangement and system and method utilizing the same are presented. The acoustic transducer arrangement includes: an acoustic transmitter assembly including an array of transmitter elements operable to generate together a multi-frequency acoustic signal; and a control unit preprogrammed to operate the acoustic transmitter assembly in accordance with digital data stream indicative of a received signal to generate the multi-frequency acoustic signal indicative of the received signal.

Acoustic computer communication techniques have been developed as an alternative to IR and RF wireless communication. Unlike IR and RF, acoustics does not suffer from such unexpected environmental conditions as sunlight, rain, metal objects, and can be "hidden" from people if its frequency is higher than 20 kHz. Indeed, IR usually requires direct visibility and is hampered by sunlight or bright interior light. Also, IR has such unexpected features as propagation through materials (that are not transparent in visible light) and reflection from various materials. RF, in turn, suffers from interference problems and can be blocked by metallic objects.
Various advantageous features of the acoustic-based communication, as well as examples for protocols for acoustic transmission, are disclosed in the following article: "Things that talk: Using sound for device-to-device and device-to-human communication", V. Gerasimov and W. Bender, IBM Systems Journal, Vol. 39, Nos 384, 2000, pp. 530-546. This article suggests using ultrasound for device-to-device communication and using audible signals when devices communicate to human listeners.
Methods for communicating with an electronic device utilizing acoustic transmission below 100 kHz are disclosed in WO 00/21020 and WO 00/21203. WO 00/21020 describes a smart card comprising a memory for storing information; at least one transmitting or receiving antenna (which may be acoustic antenna); and a low frequency circuit, for handling information associated with said antenna and said memory, which information is modulated at a modulation frequency of between 5 kHz and 100 kHz. WO 00/21203 describes a method of communicating with an electronic device via acoustic signals with the frequency below 50 kHz. This technique consists of providing a computer having an audible sound receiving and generating sub-system including a microphone; transmitting from a source at least one ultrasonic acoustic signal, encoded with information to the computer; and receiving said at least one signal by said microphone, to be detected by said computer.

Method and system for acoustic communication

Medit-Medical Interactive Technologies, Ltd.


A quiet fluid passing apparatus comprising a fluid passing rotor comprising open porous structure extending along an annular path, the rotor forming passage means to pass fluid through the rotor open porous structure as the rotor rotates; said path having an inner circumference with diameter ID and an outer circumference with diameter OD, and wherein ##EQU1## The quiet, fluid-passing apparatus may include open porous structure in combination with structures, such as blades and honeycomb material, to form rotors capable of moving fluid in axial or radial directions.

This invention relates generally to improvements in rotors comprised of porous material to quietly pass fluid, such as gas, as such rotors rotate; and more particularly to such rotors operating as blowers or turbines by virtue of connection to driving or driven rotary structures.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,795,314 describes a quiet hair drier device wherein air is caused to pass through an annulus of porous material, such as foam, acting as a pump as the foam rotates. There is need to increase the air moving efficiency of such devices; and there is need to provide a class of efficiently operating devices wherein gas is caused to pass through rotating foam, or cellular structure, in a quiet manner, as in blowers or turbines.


An adaptive voice and data bandwidth management system is implemented in a subscriber loop to permit higher data rates and adaptive allocation of this increased capacity between multiple applications. The management system communicates digital data across multiple-lines when these lines are not in use by other communication equipment. However, when a request for use of a line by another device is detected, a modem clears down a subscriber line and connects the subscriber line to the appropriate communication device. As a result, simultaneous use of a modem and other communication devices is allowed. Once the other communication device ends its communication session, the system adapts to once again communicate digital data over multiple lines in order to increase the speed and efficiency of the data communication.

Many current designs for high-speed Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) modem devices include a plain old telephone system (POTS) splitter enabling simultaneous telephone and high-speed data use. There are numerous problems with designing suitable POTS splitters and, because of this, some high-speed DSL modems are being planned, similar to conventional modems, where a telephone is essentially connected in parallel with the DSL modem across the subscriber line. With this configuration, the user has only alternate use of the telephone or the modem.
Since a conventional parallel modem/telephone arrangement does not permit simultaneous telephone use and modem use, many users install a second phone line so others can call them or they can call out when the original subscriber line is tied up for modem use. This second phone line can also then provide a "teen line" capability which permits two independent voice connections simultaneously whenever the modem is not in use. Unfortunately, there is currently no design allowing the modem to make use of the added bandwidth available when only the modem is in use.
Thus, a heretofore unaddressed need exists in the industry for a system and method for providing a multi-line telephone/DSL modem arrangement which allows multiple-line data communications when the telephone is not in use.

Adaptive voice and data bandwidth management system for multiple-line digital subscriber loop data communications


A method for forming a hydrophobic material layer upon a hydrophilic material layer over a substrate. There is first provided a substrate. There is then formed over the substrate a hydrated hydrophilic material layer. There is then treated the hydrated hydrophilic material layer with a glycol ether acetate material in the absence of an organofunctional silane material to form a glycol ether derivatized hydrophilic material layer having a glycol ether moiety covalently bonded thereto through condensation of the hydrated hydrophilic material layer with the glycol ether acetate material. Finally, there is then formed upon the glycol ether derivatized hydrophilic material layer a hydrophobic material layer. The method is particularly useful in enhancing adhesion onto hydrated hydrophilic material layers of positive photoresist material layers whose solubility in a developer results from a photogenerated acid material.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to adhesion between hydrophobic material layers formed upon hydrophilic material layers within fabrications such as but not limited to microelectronics fabrications. More particularly, the present invention relates to methods for promoting adhesion between hydrophobic material layers formed upon hydrophilic material layers within fabrications such as but not limited to microelectronics fabrications.
2. Description of the Related Art
Microelectronics fabrications are formed from microelectronics substrates over which are formed patterned microelectronics conductor layers which are separated by microelectronics dielectric layers.
In the process of forming microelectronics fabrications, it is common in the art of microelectronics fabrication to encounter microelectronics processing steps where it is required to adhere a hydrophobic material layer, such as but not limited to an organic polymer hydrophobic material layer such as a photoresist material layer, onto a hydrophilic material layer, such as but not limited to a hydrated oxide hydrophilic material layer. In general, within fabrications such as but not limited to microelectronics fabrications, hydrophobic material layers are intended as material layers having a sessile deionized water drop contact angle of greater than about 55 degrees with respect to the hydrophobic material layer surface while hydrophilic material layers are intended as material layers having a sessile deionized water drop contact angle of less than about 55 degrees with respect to the hydrophilic material layer surface.
Conventionally, it is common in the art of microelectronics fabrication to employ an organofunctional silane coupling agent material bearing both a hydrophobic group and a condensable hydrophilic group to form an organofunctional silane coupling agent material layer interposed between the hydrophobic material layer and the hydrophilic material layer in order to enhance adhesion between the hydrophobic material layer and the hydrophilic material layer. A particularly common organofunctional silane coupling agent material employed for forming such organofunctional silane coupling agent material layers within microelectronics fabrications is hexamethyldisilazane (HMDS).
While hexamethyldisilazane (HMDS) is commonly employed when forming organofunctional silane coupling agent material layers interposed between hydrophobic material layers and hydrophilic material layers within microelectronics fabrications, hexamethyldisilazane (HMDS) derived organofunctional silane coupling agent material layers are not entirely without problems when employed as adhesion promoter layers interposed between hydrophobic material layers and hydrophilic materials layers within microelectronics fabrications. In particular, it has been observed within microelectronics fabrications employing hexamethyldisilazane (HMDS) organofunctional silane coupling agent material layers interposed between positive deep ultraviolet (DUV) hydrophobic photoresist material layers and hydrated hydrophilic silicon containing material layers that the positive deep ultraviolet (DUV) hydrophobic photoresist material layers are often not uniformly developed after photoexposure. A series of schematic cross-sectional diagrams illustrating a microelectronics fabrication having formed therein such a non-uniformly developed positive deep ultraviolet (DUV) hydrophobic photoresist layer is illustrated in FIG. 1 to FIG. 4.
Shown in FIG. 1 is a substrate 10 employed within a microelectronics fabrication, where the substrate 10 has formed thereupon a hydrated hydrophilic silicon containing layer 11. As is illustrated within FIG. 1, the hydrated hydrophilic silicon containing layer 11 has pendent hydroxyl (--OH) groups covalently bonded thereupon which provide at least in part the hydrophilic character to the hydrated hydrophilic silicon containing layer 11. Shown also in FIG. 1 is a molecule of hexamethyldisilazane (HMDS) in the vicinity of the surface of the hydrated hydrophilic silicon containing layer 11.
Referring now to FIG. 2, there is shown a schematic cross-sectional diagram illustrating the results of further processing of the microelectronics fabrication whose schematic cross-sectional diagram is illustrated in FIG. 1. Shown in FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional diagram of a microelectronics fabrication otherwise equivalent to the microelectronics fabrication whose schematic cross-sectional diagram is illustrated in FIG. 1, but wherein the hexamethyldisilazane (HMDS) molecule has reacted with the pendant covalently bonded hydroxyl (--OH) groups to for a covalently bonded trimethylsilyl derivatized hydrophobic silicon containing layer 11' and ammonia, or in the alternative some lower order alkyl amine derived from the hexamethyldisilazane (HMDS).
Referring now to FIG. 3, there is show a schematic cross-sectional diagram illustrating the results of further processing of the microelectronics fabrication whose schematic cross-sectional diagram is illustrated in FIG. 2. Shown in FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional diagram of a microelectronics fabrication otherwise equivalent to the microelectronics fabrication whose schematic cross-sectional diagram is illustrated in FIG. 2, but wherein there is formed upon the trimethylsilyl derivatized hydrophobic silicon containing layer 11' a blanket positive deep ultraviolet (DUV) hydrophobic photoresist layer 12 which is photoexposed through a photoexposure reticle 13 while employing a deep ultraviolet (DUV) photoexposure radiation beam 14.
Referring now to FIG. 4, there is shown a schematic cross-sectional diagram illustrating the results of further processing of the microelectronics fabrication whose schematic cross-sectional diagram is illustrated in FIG. 3. Shown in FIG. 4 is a microelectronics fabrication otherwise equivalent to the microelectronics fabrication whose schematic cross-sectional diagram is illustrated in FIG. 3, but wherein the photoexposed blanket positive deep ultraviolet (DUV) hydrophobic photoresist layer 12 has been developed to form the partially patterned positive deep ultraviolet (DUV) hydrophobic photoresist layer 12'. As is illustrated within the schematic cross-sectional diagram of FIG. 4, the partially patterned positive deep ultraviolet (DUV) hydrophobic photoresist layer 12' is incompletely patterned with residue layers formed most closely adjoining the trimethylsilyl derivatized hydrophobic silicon containing layer 11', as well as "T" top protrusions defining the upper surfaces of apertures formed within the partially patterned deep ultraviolet (DUV) hydrophobic photoresist layer 12'.
Partially patterned photoresist layers, such as the partially patterned positive deep ultraviolet (DUV) hydrophobic photoresist layer 12' as illustrated within the schematic cross-sectional diagram of FIG. 4, are undesirable within microelectronics fabrication since they impede proper patterning of layers formed beneath those partially patterned photoresist layers.
Beyond the foregoing problem pertaining to difficulty in forming a fully patterned positive deep ultraviolet (DUV) hydrophobic photoresist layer upon a trimethylsilyl derivatized hydrophobic silicon containing layer while employing a hexamethyldisflazane (HMDS) organofunctional silane coupling agent material layer within a microelectronics fabrication, hexamethyldisilazane (HMDS) organofunctional silane coupling agent materials are generally also known as expensive materials in comparison with many other materials which are employed within microelectronics fabrication, thus contributing to added microelectronics fabrication cost. Finally, hexamethyldisilazane HMDS) organofunctional silane coupling agent materials are often also known as particularly toxic materials in comparison with many other materials which are employed in microelectronics fabrication. Such toxicity generally requires that hexamethyldisilazane (HMDS) organofunctional silane coupling agent materials require special handling when employed within microelectronics fabrication.
It is thus desirable within the art of microelectronics fabrication to provide methods and materials through which adhesion between hydrophobic material layers formed upon hydrophilic material layers within microelectronics fabrications may be enhanced without the use of hexamethyldisilazane (HMDS) organofunctional silane adhesion promoter material layers formed interposed between the hydrophobic material layers and the hydrophilic material layers. It is towards that goal the present invention is directed.
Various methods and materials have been disclosed in the art of microelectronics fabrication for fabricating photoresist layers and photoresist materials which may be employed within microelectronics fabrications.
For example, Durham, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,806,458 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,692,398, discloses a photoresist stripping composition, and a method for stripping a photoresist layer from a microelectronics substrate while employing the photoresist stripping composition, where the photoresist stripping composition employs a hexaalkyldisflazane, such as hexamethyldisilazane (HMDS), within a solvent composition comprising at least one of a propylene glycol alkyl ether and a propylene glycol alkyl ether acetate. The photoresist stripping composition when dried to a tack free state may also serve as an adhesion promoter layer for promoting adhesion of a photoresist material layer formed over the microelectronics substrate.
In addition, Davidson, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,618,655, discloses a method for reducing trace metal impurity levels within photoresist materials employed within microelectronics fabrications. The method employs an aqueous alkaline extraction of the trace metal impurities from the photoresist materials through use of an immiscible co-solvent mixture which may include as one of the solvent components propylene glycol methyl ether acetate.
Desirable in the art of microelectronics fabrication are methods and materials through which hydrophobic material layers, such as photoresist layers, may be formed upon hydrophilic material layers, such as hydrated oxide layers, within microelectronics fabrications, with enhanced adhesion without employing hexamethyldisilazane (HMDS) organofunctional silane adhesion promoter material layers interposed between the hydrophobic material layers and the hydrophilic material layers. It is towards that goal that the present invention is directed.

Adhesion promotion method employing glycol ether acetate as adhesion promoter material

Chartered Semiconductor Manufacturing, Ltd.


A method for training a multi-class classification model includes receiving training data corresponding to a plurality of classes. For each class in the plurality of classes, the method includes training a binary classification model configured to determine whether or not an observation of training data belongs to the class and for each observation of training data identified as belonging to the class, extracting one or more class identification features from the observation of training data based on activations of an intermediate attention layer in the binary classification model. A multi-class classification model is trained using the class identification features extracted for each of the plurality of classes.

Deep learning models can be used to classify various forms of data. It is known to train these deep learning models based on a corpus of training data which includes a large number of data observations with pre-assigned classifications. Using machine learning techniques, a deep learning model to assign a previously unseen data observation to one of the plurality of classifications seen in the training data. In general, the larger the corpus of training data the greater accuracy of the trained model, and the greater the number of classifications that can be accurately trained.
One example of a classification model is a text classification model, where input text documents are assigned to one of a plurality of classifications. For example, an email management tool may use a text classification model to automatically assign incoming mail to one of a plurality of known classes. The email management tool may automatically take action, e.g. generate responses or follow-up tasks, based on the assigned class.
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a conventional document classifier 100 known in the art, e.g. an email management tool which uses a text classification model. The document classifier 100 is configured to receive an input text 10 in the form of a text document, e.g. an email. The document classifier 100 then assigns the input text 10 to one of a plurality, N, document classes 20. Where feedback is available, for example through supervision, sampling or client feedback, then an update mechanism may improve the text classification model by positive reinforcement of a correct result and negative reinforcement of an incorrect result.
In an initial training phase, the document classifier 100 receives training data 30 in the form of a plurality of email documents. The email documents in the training data 30 may be referred to as observations. Each email document in the training data 30 is provided with a pre-assigned classification, for example, each email may be classified according to an intent or purpose of the author. In some embodiments, for example, the training data 30 may comprise a plurality of email replies to an outgoing email communication, such as a marketing email. The replies may be classified into one or more classes such as 'not interested', 'interested', 'existing customer', 'wrong person', 'unsubscribe', 'left company', 'contact later', etc.
Following a conventional machine learning technique, parameters of the text classification model are randomised in an initial state and the email documents are assigned to the plurality of classes 20. The update mechanism is used to improve the parameters of the text classification model by comparing the assignments to the known classification of each email document. This process is repeated until the document classifier 100 can reliably assign the email documents of the training data 30 to the correct classes 20.
At this stage, it is intended that the text classification model can also accurately assign previously unseen email documents. However, the number of documents required to train the text classification model to a satisfactory level of accuracy may be larger than the number of training documents available, e.g. a number of stored and classified emails. In addition, some email documents may be particularly difficult to classify correctly. The following is an example of such an email document that can potentially be misclassified by a multi-class classification model:                "Sorry for taking so long to get back to you, I reviewed your offer with my manager yesterday. Even though it seems like a good fit at the moment we don't have the budget for it. We will contact you if it ever becomes a priority in the future. Thanks for your time!".
This example can easily be misclassified as "interested" instead of "not interested".
Furthermore, creating additional training data by labelling an unclassified training corpus can be laborious and inefficient. Furthermore, remedying a low model accuracy by using the update mechanism on real world data over a period of time can lead to an unacceptable number of errors in an early stage. Furthermore, even obtaining a larger amount of training data can impede the speed and processing efficiency of the training process if parts of the training documents are not relevant to the class.
As such, there is a need to improve the corpus of training data. The present invention aims to address this need.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Systems and methods for automatic extraction of classification training data


An apparatus for measuring a subject's cornea, comprising (A.) a slit projection subsystem comprising a light source, (B.) a mask subsystem disposed in a path of light from the light source, comprising a first slit mask defining a plurality of apertures, (C.) a movement apparatus adapted to move at least a portion of the slit projection subsystem, the movement apparatus configured and arranged such that, by moving the portion of the slit projection subsystem, portions of the light can be selectively transmitted through an aperture of the plurality of apertures toward the cornea, (D.) an imaging element configured and arranged to image at least one of the plurality of apertures onto the cornea, and (E.) an image capture subsystem arranged to capture images of the portions of light after the light impinges on the cornea.

Ophthalmologists and optometrists would like to have an accurate representation of subjects' eye. Such representations include, for example, one or more of a representation of a subject's corneal anterior surface, posterior surface, and corneal thickness and density, as well as anterior chamber profiles. This information may be used to prescribe contact lenses and eye glasses, and to reshape the cornea by surgical procedures or to perform other surgical procedures. Since it is not comfortable to measure these data with physical contact, remote sensing techniques are preferably used to perform the measurements. A device that measures only the front surface of a cornea is commonly referred to as corneal topographer, a device that measures the front and back surfaces of a cornea, and the stroma of the eye is referred to as a corneal profiler, and a device that measures anterior chamber profile including the cornea is called an anterior chamber analyzer.
One common technique for obtaining corneal measurement information includes projecting narrow bands of light (commonly referred to as slits or slit beams) onto a patient's cornea at multiple locations across a cornea. For each of the slits, after the light in the slit has been scattered by the cornea, an image of the light is obtained.
To project a slit of light, typically, an aperture of appropriate shape and size, and a lens are placed in the path of light from a light source such that the light passing through the aperture forms a slit of light on a subject's cornea. Typically, to project slits at each of multiple locations across the cornea, a single aperture is translated such that the light passing through the aperture at selected times forms the multiple slits. One example of such a corneal measurement apparatus is presented in U.S. Pat. No. 5,512,966 to Snook.
A problem with such apparatus is that it is difficult to accurately position an aperture to form each of the slits, and over time (after many patients) it is difficult to know the position of the slits accurately so that an accurate recreation of a cornea can be obtained.

Corneal measurement apparatus and a method of using the same


A method and apparatus for performing residual phase noise compensation is described. A coarse carrier compensation of a received modulated signal is performed to obtain a coarse carrier compensated signal and a trellis-based residual carrier recovery is performed to estimate a residual phase noise of the coarse carrier compensated signal. The coarse carrier compensated signal is compensated based on the estimated residual phase noise.

Communication systems may face several channel impairments and component impairments through the transmission links. These impairments may be compensated digitally in the digital signal processing (DSP) units of the receivers or transceivers.
Several methods for carrier recovery (CR) have been proposed. However, there is a need for an improved method and apparatus for residual phase noise compensation.

Method and apparatus for residual phase noise compensation


A carpet tack strip includes a strip member having a notch throughout its length. A series of tacks are mounted to the strip member, with the points of the tacks extending above the upper surface of the strip member. Horizontal passages extend between the sides of the strip member. The tack strip is advantageously used when laying carpet on a concrete floor. The strip is placed such that the notch faces the lower end of a wall against which the carpet is to be placed. Nails are placed through the passages and driven into the wall, to securely mount the tack strip to the wall. The carpet pad abuts the outer edge of the tack strip, and the carpet is placed over the tack strip and tucked into the notch. The tack points retain the carpet in place, and the nails prevent the tack strip from being pulled away from the wall.

This invention pertains to a carpet retaining device commonly known as a carpet tack strip, and more particularly to a carpet tack strip construction for use in laying carpet on a concrete floor.
A conventional carpet tack strip consists of an elongated strip of wood, typically a laminated wood product such as plywood. A series of relatively short nails or tacks are driven through the strip such that the head of each tack is flush with the underside of the strip, and the point of each tack extends above the upper surface of the strip.
When laying carpet on a wood floor, the strips are nailed, stapled or otherwise secured to the floor adjacent the edges of the room in which the carpet is being laid. The carpet pad is cut and placed such that its edge is located adjacent the outer edge of the strip, and the carpet is laid over the pad and strip and retained in place by the upwardly facing points of the tacks.
When laying carpet on a concrete floor, it is known to drill holes in the floor around the edges of the room, in locations where the tack strip is to be placed. Anchors are mounted within the holes, and threaded fasteners are employed to mount the tack strip to the anchors, for securing the strip in place on the floor. As can be appreciated, drilling a large number of holes into a concrete floor is a time consuming, cumbersome and messy procedure, thus increasing the time and expense involved in laying carpet on a concrete floor. Alternatively, concrete nails are used to secure the strip to the floor. This results in chipping of the concrete in the vicinity of each nail, resulting in inadequate holding of the strip when the carpet is stretched over the strip.
It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved carpet tack strip structure for use in laying carpet on a concrete floor or the like. It is a further object of the invention to provide a carpet tack strip structure which is easily installed over a concrete floor and which functions in a manner similar to a conventional tack strip. Yet another object of the invention is to provide such a carpet tack strip which is relatively easy and inexpensive to manufacture.
In accordance with the invention, a carpet tack strip for use in laying carpet on a concrete floor and for placement adjacent a wall, consists of an elongated notched strip member. The notch is formed at one of the edges of the strip member along the length of the strip member, and defines a vertical surface and a horizontal upwardly facing surface. The strip member is placed against the wall with the notch located immediately adjacent the wall, to define a space between the wall and the vertical surface defined by the notch. The strip member thus consists of a lower base portion extending throughout the entire width of the strip member, and an upper portion extending upwardly from the base portion and spaced from the wall, with the notch being located between the wall and the upper portion. A series of tacks extend through the base portion and the upper portion of the strip member, extending upwardly above the upper surface of the strip member. The tacks are preferably angled in a direction toward the notch. A series of lateral passages are formed in the strip member. The passages are preferably horizontal and are provided at equal spacing along the length of the strip member. The passages are formed in the strip member such that a portion of the passage opens onto the vertical notch surface, and a portion defines a channel opening onto the horizontal notch surface. The passages are adapted to receive fasteners such as nails, which are driven through the strip member and into the wall. With this arrangement, the strip is securely mounted to the wall at the corner formed by the wall and the floor, and it is unnecessary to penetrate the floor in order to securely mount the strip member in position. Once the strip member is secured in this manner, the carpet pad is cut and placed such that its edge is located adjacent the outer surface of the strip member. The carpet is then cut and placed over the pad, with the edge of the carpet being tucked into the notch formed in the strip member. The tacks function to retain the carpet in place.
The invention further contemplates a method of laying carpet on a concrete floor, substantially in accordance with the foregoing summary.
Various other features, objects and advantages of the invention will be made apparent from the following description taken together with the drawings.


Provided is a method and apparatus for mounting a plurality of electronic components. The method comprises mounting a first electronic component on a substrate; forming a mask on the substrate to expose the first electronic component and a region of the substrate on which a solder paste is to be applied; forming a guide on a portion of the mask disposed around the first electronic component; applying the solder paste onto the substrate by using a squeezer contacting a portion of the mask disposed around the region of the substrate on which the solder paste is to be applied; removing the guide and the mask; and mounting a second electronic component on the solder paste.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for mounting electronic components on a substrate.
2. Background
There are various kinds of electronic products, such as a digital camera, a cellular phone, a personal digital assistant (PDA), an MP3 player, and a personal multimedia player, on the market. Such electronic products are becoming more miniaturized for portability. Accordingly, more electronic components, such as semiconductor devices, should be mounted within a smaller area in the electronic products.
A conventional method of mounting electronic components includes printing a solder paste onto a substrate, mounting the electronic components on the solder paste, and reflow-soldering the electronic components.
Among the electronic components mounted on the substrate, there may be some exceptional electronic components having reliability under low temperature limits. Although conventional electronic components can withstand a temperature of about 260° C., some exceptional electronic components can withstand a temperature of just about 200° C. In order to mount the exceptional electronic components with the other electronic components on the same substrate, according to the conventional method, the exceptional electronic components have to be manually soldered on the substrate.
Another conventional method of mounting electronic components includes printing a first solder paste, mounting first electronic components, forming a mask covering the first mounted electronic components, printing a second solder paste by using the mask, and mounting second electronic components. However, if the first electronic components are thick, it is difficult to form the mask covering the thick first electronic components, and it is also very difficult to move a squeezer when applying the second solder paste.
Another conventional method includes mounting electronic components having reliability under different temperature limits on different substrates. However, this approach goes against the trend toward minimizing electronic products.

Method and apparatus for mounting at least two types of electronic components


The present invention provides a method for protecting a character entered at a graphical interface. The method comprises the steps of: generating a set of images that form a complete image of a keypad having a button-to-character assignment; displaying the graphical keypad using said image set; and, obtaining the character of a selected button using the button-to-character assignment. The inventive method can be repeated with a different button-to-character assignment in each repetition to obtain a sequence of characters. In consequence of the inventive method, the entered character is protected as monitoring software can capture merely unreadable portions of the complete keypad image. In furtherance of this purpose, the present invention also provides a method for generating a set of images from a complete image of a character belonging to a character set.

Password is commonly required for enabling access across a network to an application hosted by a service provider. In a web-centric environment, a user of the service is required to enter his password into a textbox in the browser, which is then submitted to the server application using SSL for authentication. Unfortunately, this does not protect the password sufficiently as the client computer is vulnerable to security breach.
Monitoring software present in the client computer can be recording key-presses, mouse-clicks, and screenshots without the user's knowledge. This means that a hacker who has access to the monitoring software can steal the user's password, regardless of whether the password is entered using the keyboard or by clicking on a graphical keypad on the screen.
Publicly accessible computers, like those found in airports or internet cafes, are especially vulnerable to such hacking as users have neither control nor knowledge over what are installed on the computers. It is important, especially for the service provider, to secure client computers to prevent such hacking activity. In addition, other confidential user information, like user ID or account number, are also vulnerable.
Presently, the best technique to thwart such hacking activity is to use scanning software to scan for monitoring software and to detect key and mouse logging activities. The disadvantage of this technique is that the scanning software needs to be installed on the client computer. This may not always be possible as the service provider cannot dictate what is installed on the user's computer, or the user may be using a public terminal and has no permission to install anything. Another disadvantage is that the scanning software may need regular updating to function properly which can be a costly process. Hence, it can be seen that this technique is not a satisfactory solution.
The problem is therefore how to obtain password, or other confidential information, in such a way that is safe from the prying "eyes" of monitoring software.

Method for protecting a character entered at a graphical interface


A backlight (lighting device) is arranged on a backside of a liquid crystal panel, and comprises an LED, an optical waveguide, a reflective sheet, and a prism sheet. A diffractive optical element (DOE) constituted of a binary concave and convex pattern is formed in an end surface of the optical waveguide on an LED arranged side.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a lighting device comprising a light source and an optical waveguide, and a liquid crystal display device using the same.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Liquid crystal display devices have widely been used for electronic devices such as portable telephones, personal digital assistants (PDA) and the like because of thin formation, light weight, and small power consumption. Lighting devices called backlights are usually disposed in the liquid crystal display devices used for such electronic devices.
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a conventional liquid crystal display device. As shown in FIG. 1, the liquid crystal display device comprises a liquid crystal panel 10, and a backlight 20 arranged on a backside of the liquid crystal panel 10.
The liquid crystal panel 10 is formed by sealing a liquid crystal 12 between two transparent substrates 11a and 11b. Polarizing plates (not shown) are arranged on both sides of the liquid crystal panel 10 in a thickness direction thereof.
The backlight 20 comprises a light emitting diode (LED) 21 which becomes a light source, an optical waveguide 22, a reflective sheet 23, and a prism sheet 24. The LED 21 is arranged on one end surface side of the optical waveguide 22. In the case of a 2-inch liquid crystal panel, three to four LED's 21 are usually used.
The optical waveguide 22 is made of a transparent resin, and wedge-shaped in section as shown in FIG. 1. The reflective sheet 23 is arranged on a backside of the optical waveguide 22, and the prism sheet 24 is arranged on a front side (liquid crystal panel 10 side).
In the liquid crystal display device configured in such a manner, light emitted from the LED 21 enters the optical waveguide 22, is reflected by the reflective sheet 23, and emitted toward the liquid crystal panel 10.
A pixel electrode is formed for each pixel in one of the two transparent substrates 11a and 11b constituting the liquid crystal panel 10, and a common electrode is formed in the other substrate to face the pixel electrode. An amount of light transmitted through the pixels can be controlled by voltage applied between the pixel electrode and the common electrode. A desired image can be then displayed by controlling a light transmission amount for each pixel.
In the liquid crystal display device, light emitted from the backlight 20 preferably uniformly illuminates an entire surface of the liquid crystal panel 10. Accordingly, the fine concave and convex portions are formed on the front side or the backside of the optical waveguide 22 to scatter the light more uniformly, or the prism sheet 24 is arranged as a light distribution control plate between the optical waveguide 22 and the liquid crystal panel 10 as shown in FIG. 1.
However, if only the LED 21 is arranged near the end surface of the optical waveguide 22 as shown in FIG. 1, uneven brightness occurs to cause a problem of reduction in quality of an image displayed in the liquid crystal display device. FIG. 2 is a plan view when the backlight 20 is seen from the liquid crystal panel 10 side. As shown in FIG. 2, a plurality of LED's 21 are usually used for the liquid crystal display device. However, if only the LED's 21 are arranged near the end surface of the optical waveguide 22, light does not reach a region between adjacent LED's 21, creating dark portions (portions indicated by A in FIG. 2), and portions of high luminance (portions indicated by B in FIG. 2) are created near the front of the LED's 21.
Various technologies have conventionally been developed to solve the aforementioned problems. For example, in Patent Document 1, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2004-163886 discloses a lighting device in which concave lenses are arranged between an optical waveguide and each of light sources. In this lighting device, the light emitted from the light sources is refracted by the concave lenses. Thus, occurrence of uneven brightness can be avoided. Moreover, in Patent Document 2, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-357823, as shown in FIG. 3A, an optical waveguide 26 having a semicircular notch formed in a portion corresponding to an LED 21 is described. In this optical waveguide 26, light emitted from the LED 21 is refracted by the notch. Thus, the light reaches a region between adjacent LED's 21 to prevent uneven brightness.
Further, in Patent Document 3, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2003-331628, as shown in FIG. 3B, formation of many prisms (triangular concave and convex portions) 27a in an entire end surface of an LED arranged side of an optical waveguide 27 is described. In this optical waveguide 27, light emitted from an LED 21 is refracted by the prism 27a. Thus, the light reaches a region between adjacent LED's 21 to suppress uneven brightness.
Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 3C, there is an optical waveguide 28 having fine concave and convex portions formed in an end surface of its LED arranged side. Such fine concave and convex portions are formed by blast processing with a mold block. In the optical waveguide 28, light emitted from an LED 21 is scattered by the fine concave and convex portions when it enters the optical waveguide, and reaches a region between adjacent LED's 21 to prevent uneven brightness.
FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing a method of manufacturing the optical waveguide 28 shown in FIG. 3C. As shown in FIG. 4, the mold block 41 is subjected to a blast processing. To be more specific, concave and convex portions are formed on a surface by spraying sands (abrasive grains) injected through a nozzle 42 to a mold block 41. At this time, concave and convex patterns can be changed by adjusting a material, a particle diameter, an injecting speed, an injecting amount, an injecting angle or the like of sand. Next, the optical waveguide 28 is molded by using the mold block 41. Subsequently, an LED, a reflective sheet, a prism sheet and the like are mounted to the optical waveguide 28 to constitute a backlight, and optical characteristic (uniformity) is evaluated by lighting the LED. Then, if desired optical characteristic is not obtained, blast processing is performed again by changing conditions.
However, the conventional lighting devices using the optical waveguides shown in FIGS. 3A to 3C have the following problems. That is, in the lighting device using the optical waveguide 26 shown in FIG. 3A, the LED 21 and the semicircular notch must be fairly accurately aligned with each other. The device lacks versatility because the number and positions of LED's 21 are determined by the notch of the optical waveguide 26. Thus, it is not easy to deal with changes in panel size.
In the lighting device using the optical waveguide 27 shown in FIG. 3B, the LED 21 and the prism 27a must be fairly accurately aligned with each other. A certain distance is necessary between the LED 21 and the optical waveguide 27 to effectively use the prism 27a. Thus, leakage light not entering the optical waveguide 27 increases to reduce light usage efficiency, causing a problem of reduction in an amount of light emitted to the liquid crystal panel side.
In the optical waveguide 28 shown in FIG. 3C, fairly accurate alignment is not necessary because of the formation of the fine concave and convex portions in the entire end surface on the LED arranged side. However, the concave and convex portions exhibiting desired characteristics must be formed by repeating the blast processing for the mold block 41, the molding and the optical evaluation. Thus, there is a drawback that the mold manufacturing takes time. In the case of a portable telephone, many molds are necessary because there are many manufacturing steps. However, reproducibility of concave and convex portions by the blast processing is low, causing a problem of nonuniform mold qualities, which in turn causes an increase in manufacturing cost.
Moreover, even the lighting device disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2004-163886 involves a complicated procedure in which the light sources are aligned with the lenses with high precision. In addition, a large space needs to be secured between the optical waveguide and each of the light sources, leading to a decrease of light usage efficiency.

Lighting device and liquid crystal display device


The present invention relates to a tungsten chemical vapor deposition method and a method for forming a tungsten plug. The tungsten chemical vapor deposition method of the present invention includes preparing a wafer where a barrier layer is formed. Silane gas is supplied from each of a top of the wafer and a bottom of an edge part of the wafer toward the wafer simultaneously, in order to form a silicon passivation thin film on the top surface and the edge part of the wafer; in order to form a tungsten nucleation on the top surface of the wafer where the passivation thin film is formed. A mixed gas including a tungsten fluoride gas and a silane gas is supplied from the top of the wafer toward the wafer, and at the same time a silane gas is supplied from the bottom of the edge part toward the wafer. A mixed gas including a tungsten fluoride gas and a hydrogen gas is supplied from the top of the wafer toward the wafer, in order to deposit a sufficiently thick tungsten on the surface of the wafer. Therefore, the present invention can prevent a fluoride ion generated during a tungsten deposition process from reacting with the barrier layer at the edge part by passivating not only the top surface of the wafer but also the edge part with the silane gas at the initial step of the tungsten deposition process.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a tungsten chemical vapor deposition method and a method for forming a tungsten plug, and more specifically, to a tungsten chemical vapor deposition method and a method for forming a tungsten plug capable of preventing a fluoride ion generated during a tungsten deposition process from reacting with the barrier layer at an edge portion.
2. Description of the Related Art
An aspect ratio of a contact hole or a via hole, i.e., the ratio of the length of a hole to its diameter, is increased as the size of the device in which it is formed is miniaturized by high integration of the device. Since contact holes or via holes cannot be formed reliably using the conventional aluminum deposition technology, a tungsten plug is commonly formed in a contact hole or in a via hole using tungsten chemical vapor deposition (CVD).
In general, a tungsten plug is formed by first forming a first conductive layer on a wafer and then covering the surface with a flat insulation layer. After forming a contact hole or a via hole on the insulation layer, a Ti/TiN barrier layer is blanket deposited on the wafer. Then, tungsten is deposited on the barrier layer to a sufficient thickness such that the contact hole or the via hole can be sufficiently buried by tungsten CVD. A tungsten plug is formed in the contact hole or in the via hole by polishing the surface of the deposited tungsten layer to make the layer flat using an etchback process or chemical mechanical polishing method until the surface of the insulation layer is exposed.
When using the tungsten CVD process to form the tungsten plug, there occurs a volcano phenomenon as set forth in U.S. Pat. No. 5,489,552, incorporated herein in its entirety by reference. That is, in a tungsten CVD, tungsten is deposited on the surface of the Ti/TiN barrier layer by reducing a tungsten fluoride gas with a silane gas or a hydrogen gas. At this time, TiFx vapors are generated by such that a fluoride ion generated by the reduction reaction reacts with Ti of the bottom layer through a pin hole on the TiN layer forming the barrier layer, and as the volume of the Ti layer increases by the reaction, the Ti layer penetrates the top layer, and a defect occurs similar in shape to a volcano eruption.
To solve said problem, U.S. Pat. No. 5,489,552 discloses a technology preventing the volcano phenomenon by blocking the fluoride ion generated in the succeeding reaction process from reacting with the bottom film by annealing the surface of the barrier layer or by applying a passivation to the surface of the TiN layer with a silane gas at a flow rate ranging from 75 to 300 SCCM for from 25 to 150 seconds at the CVD initial step.
On the other hand, the tungsten deposited by the tungsten CVD method is removed by an etchback method or by the CMP method. The removal of the tungsten formed on the edge part of the wafer is readily accomplished using the etchback method, but in the CMP method it is difficult to remove the tungsten deposited on the edge part, that is, on the side or on the back surface because only the top surface of the wafer is polished. The residue on the edge part is dropped in the succeeding process and contaminates the facility or acts as a contaminant.
In Japanese Pat. Publication No. 8-213344 is disclosed a ring clamp covering the edge part in order to prevent a reaction gas from contacting directly in order to prevent in advance the creation of a tungsten residue remaining on the edge part of the wafer when forming a tungsten plug. The Japanese publication also discloses a technology of supplying a fluoride gas capturing gas like an ethylene CH2 toward the edge part of the wafer from the bottom of the edge part.
In U.S. Pat. No. 5,953,630, incorporated herein in its entirety, is disclosed a technology of forming a passivation film on the edge part by supplying a purge gas including halides such as NF.sub.3, C.sub.2F.sub.6, Cl.sub.2, F.sub.2, ClF.sub.3 and BCl.sub.3 toward the edge part of the wafer from the bottom of the edge part of the wafer.
If the deposition of tungsten on the edge part of the wafer in a tungsten CVD process is not prevented actively, the barrier layer is lifted by the volcano phenomenon generated on the edge part, and the reaction continues to proceed toward the center of the wafer along the lifted interface and results in generating a device defect and in reducing the yield.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a tungsten chemical vapor deposition method and a method for forming a tungsten plug which can prevent a fluoride ion generated during a tungsten deposition process from reacting with the barrier layer at the edge part by applying a passivation not only to the top surface of the wafer but also to the edge part with silane gas at the initial step of the tungsten deposition process.
To accomplish the above object, a chemical vapor deposition method of the present invention includes forming a tungsten layer on a wafer having a top surface and a peripheral edge portion. A silane gas is supplied to each of the top surface and the edge portion of the wafer before the deposition of tungsten, in order to form a silicon passivation thin film on the top surface and on the edge portion of the wafer to prevent a fluoride ion generated in reaction from penetrating into a bottom layer through a pin hole.
In another aspect, the deposition method of the present invention includes preparing a wafer where a barrier layer is formed. Silane gas is supplied from a top of the wafer and from a bottom of an edge portion toward the wafer simultaneously, in order to form a silicon passivation thin film on the top surface and the edge portion of the wafer. In order to form a tungsten nucleation on the top surface of the wafer where the passivation thin film is formed, a mixed gas including a tungsten fluoride gas and a silane gas is supplied from the top of the wafer toward the wafer, and at the same time silane gas is supplied from the bottom of the edge portion toward the wafer. A mixed gas including a tungsten fluoride gas and a hydrogen gas is supplied from the top of the wafer toward the wafer, in order to deposit a sufficiently thick tungsten on the surface of the wafer.
In another aspect, the invention is directed to a method for forming a tungsten plug in a semiconductor device. A hole is formed on an insulation layer on a wafer, and a titanium thin film is deposited with a uniform thickness on the resulted structure. A titanium nitride film is deposited with a uniform thickness on the titanium thin film. A silicon passivation thin film is formed on the titanium nitride film by supplying silane gas to each of a top surface and an edge portion of a wafer deposited with the titanium nitride film. A tungsten nucleation is formed on the top surface of the wafer as supplying silane gas to each of the top surface and the edge portion of the wafer where the silicon passivation thin film is formed. Tungsten is deposited on the top surface of the wafer where the tungsten nucleation is formed, in order for the hole to be filled sufficiently.
In one embodiment, it is desirable to form the silicon passivation thin film with a thickness of at least about 10 angstroms by supplying the silane gas supplied to form the silicon passivation thin film at a flow rate ranging from 30 to 50 SCCM for about 5 or 30 seconds in a vacuum chamber maintaining the temperature of about 415 degrees C. and the pressure of about 40 Torr. That is, it is sufficient to be as thick as to fill in a pin hole of the barrier layer.
In one embodiment, the final thickness of the deposited tungsten is about 4,000 angstroms.
In one embodiment, the wafer is clamped with a ring clamp for preventing a tungsten fluoride gas from contacting directly with the edge part of the wafer.
The present invention can prevent a fluoride gas generated in a tungsten deposition process of a succeeding process from penetrating into a titanium thin film through a titanium nitride film on the edge part of the wafer by applying passivation to not only the top surface but also to the edge part of the wafer, in an initial step of the tungsten deposition process. Therefore, the present invention can improve the yield and the reliability since the volcano phenomenon, which occurs on the edge part and proceeds toward the center of the wafer, can be prevented as the reaction of the titanium and the fluoride gas is stopped.

Method of tungsten chemical vapor deposition and tungsten plug formation