Systems and methods for design and operation of signal generator circuitry with output frequencies greater than the oscillator frequency. Accordingly, in a first method embodiment, a method of producing an output periodic electronic signal comprises accessing four signals having a quadrature phase relationship. First and second pairs of these signals having a one half cycle phase relationship are averaged to produce two signals having an improved duty cycle and a one-quarter cycle phase relationship. The first and second averaged periodic electronic signals are combined in an exclusive OR circuit to produce the output periodic electronic signal at twice the oscillator frequency. Advantageously, the periodic signal may comprise a desirable duty cycle of 50 percent.

Phase locked loop (PLL) circuits are commonly used in integrated circuits, e.g., microprocessors, to provide clock signals to circuitry of the integrated circuit, for example to synchronize logic operations. A conventional PLL circuit consists primarily of a phase detector, a voltage controlled oscillator (VCO) and a power-of-2 frequency divider. A programmable frequency divider may be provided to enable the production of various frequency signals.
A base, or "oscillator" frequency is provided by the voltage controlled oscillator. Depending on a variety of factors, including, for example, a number of stages and an input voltage range, such a VCO can generate frequencies within a particular range, e.g., within an octave between 2.5 GHz and 5.0 GHz. The programmable frequency divider may be used to divide down the frequency of the VCO so that the output of the programmable frequency divider matches the frequency of the input (reference) clock signal.
The phase detector is used to compare the phase of the reference clock signal to the output of the programmable frequency divider to determine if the output clock is too fast or too slow. The phase detector generally outputs control signal(s) to control the VCO in order to slow down or speed up its oscillations so as to match the reference clock signal in both phase and frequency.
The power-of-2 frequency divider divides the VCO output by a power of 2, e.g., 2, 4, 8, etc., to provide a final output frequency. In many designs, this "power-of-2" is at least a factor of two because it is desirable to output a clock signal with a duty cycle very close to 50 percent. For example, many synchronous logic designs utilize both rising and falling edges of clock signals, and require minimum set-up and hold times from such edges. In general, the output of a VCO does not have a 50 percent duty cycle and dividing its output signal by a factor of two generally produces a clock signal with very close to a 50 percent duty cycle.
Unfortunately, this widely used conventional PLL implementation limits the clock signal output to a maximum of one half of the maximum frequency of the VCO. In many integrated circuits, e.g., microprocessors, it is generally desirable to utilize an accurate clock signal of a frequency that is greater than this limit.

Signal generator with output frequency greater than the oscillator frequency


An electronic cigarette and a power supply device, having a power supply body provided with a receiving portion thereon; the receiving portion has a receiving chamber for accommodating an atomization device and an extending opening for a holder of the atomization device to extend outwards. The receiving chamber is internally provided with a connection assembly comprising a mounting seat for a connection joint to be detachably connected on the atomization device; the mounting seat is rotatably disposed with the atomization device, and the receiving chamber is internally provided with a position-limit mechanism defining a rotation range of the mounting seat. The atomization device and the mounting seat can be rotated to adjust a direction of rotation of the flat cigarette holder on the atomization device after the atomization device is connected to the mounting seat so as to meet different smoking needs of users.

With the development of electronic cigarettes, an increasing types and shapes of electronic cigarette products are provided. An existing electronic cigarette includes a power supply device and an atomizer with a holder. The power supply device has a receiving chamber for receiving a portion of the atomizer in the receiving chamber and exposing the holder to the receiving chamber for the usage of a user.
However, when the atomizer with the holder is connected to the power supply device, the user cannot adjust the angle of the holder when holding the smoking article, and when some small-sized atomizers are installed in the receiving chamber, the holder of the atomizer cannot be exposed out of the receiving chamber, or only a small portion of the holder are exposed out of the receiving chamber, which is inconvenient for the user.
Therefore, it is highly necessary to provide a new connection device for the electronic smoking article for the convenience of the user.

Electronic cigarette and power supply device


A mercury-free high pressure sodium vapor lamp is dosed with sodium, xenon and zinc as an elemental metal additive. The addition of the metal additive prevents an undesirable low-voltage operating mode of the sodium-xenon discharge associated with a mercury-free HPS lamp, which otherwise occurs when sodium is no longer available to participate in the arc discharge.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention pertains to high pressure sodium vapor lamps. More particularly, the invention relates to a mercury-free high pressure sodium vapor lamp, which is dosed with sodium, xenon and elemental zinc to prevent an undesirable low-voltage operating mode at end-of-life.
2. Discussion of the Art
Traditional arc-discharge high pressure sodium (xe2x80x9cHPSxe2x80x9d) vapor lamps are described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,248,590 to Schmidt, entitled xe2x80x9cHigh Pressure Sodium Vapor Lamp.xe2x80x9d These lamps utilize a slender, tubular envelope of light-transmissive refractory oxide material resistant to sodium at high temperatures, suitably high-density polycrystalline alumina or synthetic sapphire. The filling has traditionally comprised sodium along with a rare gas such as xenon to facilitate starting and mercury for improved efficiency. The ends of the alumina tube are sealed by suitable closure members affording connection to thermionic electrodes which may comprise a refractory metal structure activated by electron emissive material. The ceramic arc tube is generally supported within an outer vitreous envelope or jacket provided at one end with the usual screw base. The electrodes of the arc tube are connected to the terminals of the base, that is to shell and center contact, and the interenvelope space is usually evacuated in order to conserve heat.
New environmental standards have necessitated that mercury be eliminated from the traditional arc-discharge HPS lamp design. These new designs are dosed only with sodium and xenon. Accordingly, as sodium is xe2x80x9clostxe2x80x9d by chemical reactions or diffusion, the voltage decreases markedly. The resultant low voltage mode is characteristic of a xenon discharge. Low voltage operation at end-of-life is very undesirable, resulting in an overheated ballast, which gives rise to reduced ballast life.
There is a particular need for a mercury-free high pressure sodium lamp, which maintains lamp voltage within established operating limits thereby ensuring that the lamp does not cycle (from high voltage) and the ballast is not overheated (from low voltage) at the end-of-life.
Briefly, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, a new and improved mercury-free high pressure sodium lamp is provided. The lamp is designed to prevent an undesirable low-voltage operating mode of the sodium-xenon discharge, which otherwise occurs when sodium is no longer available to participate in the arc discharge. The end-of-life operating voltage designed into the mercury-free HPS lamp is configured to be within a range acceptable to the ballast in accordance with established ANSI/IEC standards.
A principal advantage of the present invention is that an undesirable low-voltage operating mode of a sodium-xenon discharge associated with a mercury-free HPS lamp is prevented.
Another advantage of the present invention is that the end-of-life operating voltage for a mercury-free HPS lamp falls within a range acceptable to established ANSI/IEC standards.
Still another advantage of the present invention is that mercury-free HPS lamps can be produced in a normal product line without significant equipment changes or increase in lamp variable cost.
Still a further advantage of the present invention is that the mercury-free HPS lamps are direct replacements to standard HPS lamps, saving time and money in retrofit applications.
Still another advantage of the present invention is that mercury, a toxic substance according to the United States EPA""s TCLP guidelines, is eliminated from the HPS lamp.

Sodium-xenon lamp with improved characteristics at end-of-life


An optical waveguide sheet that has an auxiliary layer for preventing light transmitted through the waveguide sheet from leaking or being lost and a manufacturing method thereof. The waveguide sheet transmits light from a light emitting element thereinto, and has a reflecting pattern for reflecting light forward. At least one auxiliary layer for providing a total reflection condition for preventing the light from leaking or being lost when the light is transmitted into the waveguide sheet is coated on the waveguide sheet.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to an optical waveguide sheet and a manufacturing method thereof, and more particularly to an optical waveguide sheet that has an auxiliary layer for preventing light transmitted through the waveguide sheet from leaking or being lost and a manufacturing method thereof.
2. Description of the Related Art
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, light A1 from a light emitting element 50 as a light emitting source is introduced into and is transmitted through a conventional optical waveguide sheet 30. Then, the light is reflected by a reflecting pattern 40 formed on a backside of the waveguide sheet, and finally the reflected light exits to the outside of the waveguide sheet.
If the light A1 is introduced from the light emitting element 50 into the waveguide sheet 30, the light A1 is transmitted within the waveguide sheet 30 by total reflection. When the transmitted light A1 arrives at upper and lower boundary surfaces of the waveguide sheet 30, the light A1 is reflected or exits depending on the incident angle θ2 of the light A1. That is, the light A1 exits the waveguide sheet 30 at a refracting angle θ4 when the incident angle θ2 is larger than a critical angle θ1 at which the light is reflected in parallel to the boundary surfaces, and the light A1 is reflected back into the waveguide sheet 30 at a reflecting angle θ3 when the incident angle θ2 is smaller than the critical angle θ1.
The light A1 is reflected back on or exits from the boundary surfaces according to the above reflecting principle. Therefore, the intensity of the light A1 is weaker the longer the light A1 travels within the waveguide sheet 30.
FIG. 3 illustrates reflection and loss behaviors of the light A1 traveling in a conventional waveguide sheet 30 adapted in a keypad assembly. The keypad assembly includes a keypad 20 with a plurality of keys 21 having a transparent mark 22, respectively, a light emitting element 50, such as a Light Emitting Diode (LED) or the like, for emitting light A1, and an optical waveguide sheet 30 having one or more reflecting patterns 40 for scattering light A1 transmitted from the light emitting element 50 to the keys 21.
When the light A1 emitted from the light emitting element 50 is introduced into the waveguide sheet 30, the light A1 is transmitted through the waveguide sheet 30, then meets with the reflecting patterns 40 formed on the backside of the waveguide sheet 30.
The light A1 is reflected towards the keypad 20 by the reflecting patterns 40, and then exits through the transparent marks 22 formed on the keys 21, wherein the transparent marks have shapes of corresponding numbers, characters, symbols, and the like.
However, a conventional waveguide sheet has problems where light introduced from a light emitting element into the waveguide sheet leaks or is lost at boundary surfaces of the waveguide sheet.
Accordingly, the intensity of the Light A1 is weaker the longer the light A1 is transmitted within the waveguide sheet 30. Also, brightness is further reduced as the light A1 is transmitted through a longer distance from the light emitting element.

Optical waveguide sheet and manufacturing method thereof


An unbalanced to balanced antenna matching unit (AMU) is capable of operating over a relatively large frequency range by utilizing multiple transformers connected in series, with a set of bypass switches used to control the number of transformers that are "active" in the matching unit at any particular time. Complex impedance matching by the AMU is controlled by a variable capacitor in parallel with the multiple transformers and a variable capacitor in series with the unbalanced input. The parallel variable capacitor may be located on either side of the transformer arrangement. The transformer output may be configured to switch between matching either a low impedance antenna or a high impedance antenna.

The present invention relates to a multiband antenna matching unit and, more particularly, to a multiband antenna matching unit comprising multiple transformers, at least one of which can be bypassed to efficiently shift the operating frequency of the matching unit while maintaining the same transformation ratio.
In many environments there is a need to couple an unbalanced transmission line (for example, a 50.OMEGA. coaxial cable) to a balanced line, such as a dipole antenna. Conventional arrangements rely on a balun or a fixed transformer with selectable taps to transform an input unbalance load to a balanced output load. In order to operate over a 10:1 (or larger) frequency range (for example, 3-30 Mhz), a conventional fixed inductor and variable capacitor is insufficient (such an arrangement is capable of covering a frequency range of only about 3:1). To achieve the desired 10:1 range, one typically changes the value of the inductor, by methods such as by selecting taps on a coil, varying an expensive roller inductor, or physically (or electrically) changing the inductor.
When using the tap selection arrangement, corona discharge must be avoided by shorting the unused turns, which results in increasing the loss in the inductor. An alternative exemplary prior art solution to this problem is illustrated in FIG. 1, which is defined as a "Z match" antenna matching unit 10. In this arrangement, the inductor includes a pair of output links 12, 14 to switch between a low impedance load (link 12) and a high impedance load (link 14). The variable capacitance on the unbalanced input includes a first capacitance 16 and second capacitance 18, where second capacitance 18 is added (i.e., paralleled) in lower operating frequency ranges. As shown, "Z match" antenna matching unit 10 s capable of providing tuning over a range of approximately 3.5-30 Mhz by electrically "switching" between the tank circuits formed by inductor 15 and capacitors 16 and 18 (see the article entitled "The Z-Match Coupler--Revisited and Revised" by C. A. Lofgren, appearing in The ARRL Antenna Compendium, Vol. 3,1992, page 191 et seq. for a complete discussion, the Lofgren article being herein incorporated by reference). A problem remaining with this arrangement is the presence of circulating currents, as indicated by the arrows, through the non-resonant variable capacitor and inductor combination, thereby significantly reducing the efficiency of the matching arrangement.
Thus, a need remains in the prior art for an antenna matching arrangement that is capable of operating over a relatively large range (10:1, for example) without suffering from the reduction in efficiency present in the prior art.


Methods, systems and devices for securing a bank account against an unauthorized access from a portable electronic device include or include using an auxiliary security device and a portable electronic device. The portable electronic device is adapted for controlling the bank account via the Internet. The auxiliary security device and the portable electronic device communicate via a Bluetooth protocol. Secure access to the bank account with the portable electronic device is based on a combination of information that is indicative of a key that is stored in the portable electronic device and data that is indicative of the key stored in the auxiliary security device that has been transmitted to the portable electronic device.

Various methods of protecting the services are known and offered by the respective providers to their clients via data networks to prevent access without due authorization. In the case of electronic banking services, for example, the clients of the respective banks ordinarily use a secure access to their bank accounts that is based on unique codes being sent to the clients' mobile telephones. Nevertheless, using such a secure method will not make sense in the case of an Internet banking service controlled via a mobile telephone, i.e., a so called mobile banking service, smart banking service or the like. Furthermore, there is a number of stand-alone devices which are usable for securing the services being provided to clients. Such devices, however, need a user interaction (pushing a button or entering a password/personal identification number (PIN), typing a previously generated code, or enabling a contactless device, such as a Near Field Communication (NFC) card, to be read by a secured system). Hence, the objective of the present invention is to suggest a technical solution which would enable to verify the authenticity of a request sent via the Internet from a portable device (mobile telephone) in a simple and easy manner, in particular when banking and similar, security sensitive, operations are concerned. Moreover, no client's interaction should be required and, thus, a considerably enhanced level of user comfort should be achievable.

Method and system for securing bank account access


The present invention relates to methods and systems for ablation based material removal configuration for use in semiconductor manufacturing that includes the steps of generating an initial wavelength-swept-with-time optical pulse in an optical pulse generator, amplifying the initial pulse, compressing the amplified pulse to a duration of less than about 10 picoseconds and applying the compressed optical pulse to the wafer surface, to remove material from, e.g., wafer surface.

Heretofore in this field, ablative removal of material is generally done with a short optical pulse that is stretched amplified and then compressed. A number of types of laser amplifiers have been used for the amplification.
Laser machining can remove ablatively material by disassociate the surface atoms and melting the material. Laser ablation is efficiently done with a beam of short pulses (generally a pulse-duration of three picoseconds or less). Techniques for generating these ultra-short pulses (USP) are described, e.g., in a book entitled "Femtosecond Laser Pulses" (C. Rulliere, editor), published 1998, Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg New York. Generally large systems, such as Ti:Sapphire, are used for generating ultra-short pulses (USP).
The USP phenomenon was first observed in the 1970's, when it was discovered that mode-locking a broad-spectrum laser could produce ultra-short pulses. The minimum pulse duration attainable is limited by the bandwidth of the gain medium, which is inversely proportional to this minimal or Fourier-transform-limited pulse duration. Mode-locked pulses are typically very short and will spread (i.e., undergo temporal dispersion) as they traverse any medium. Subsequent pulse-compression techniques are often used to obtain USP's. Pulse dispersion can occur within the laser cavity so that compression techniques are sometimes added intra-cavity. When high-power pulses are desired, they are intentionally lengthened before amplification to avoid internal component optical damage. This is referred to as "Chirped Pulse Amplification" (CPA). The pulse is subsequently compressed to obtain a high peak power (pulse-energy amplification and pulse-duration compression).

Semiconductor manufacturing using optical ablation


An optical module includes a polarizing plate and a light emitter disposed in a position facing the polarizing plate. The polarizing plate includes a polarizer and a protective film joined to the polarizer. The protective film has a light control function that changes the traveling direction of light. The light emitter is disposed in a position directly facing the protective film of the polarizing plate.

An optical module, having a polarizing plate including a polarizer, and a light emitter(s) disposed in a position facing the polarizing plate, is incorporated and used in an optical device these days. Such an optical module is typically used in a display device, in particular a liquid crystal display device. The liquid crystal display device includes a liquid crystal display panel, and a surface light source device which functions as a backlight.
As shown in FIG. 40, the surface light source device includes a light source including light emitters, and a number of optical sheets for changing the traveling direction of light from the light emitters, and is designed to be capable of illuminating the liquid crystal display panel with desired optical characteristics. In the exemplary surface light source device shown in FIG. 40, a diffusion plate A, a lower diffusion sheet B, a light condensing sheet C and an upper diffusion sheet D are arranged in this order, starting from the member nearest to the light emitters 26 of the light source 25. The light condensing sheet C has a function (light condensing function) that narrows down the traveling direction of light to the front direction, thereby increasing the front direction luminance. On the other hand, the diffusion plate A, the lower diffusion sheet B and the upper diffusion sheet D have a light diffusing function that diffuses light from the light emitters 26 of the light source 25, thereby obscuring the images of the light emitters 26.
On the other hand, the liquid crystal display panel includes a liquid crystal cell 11 capable of controlling the orientation of a liquid crystal for each pixel, a lower polarizing plate 13 disposed on the light entrance side of the liquid crystal cell 11, and an upper polarizing plate 12 disposed on the light exit side of the liquid crystal cell 11, as shown in FIG. 40. The pair of polarizing plates 12, 13 includes a polarizer which transmits light of a particular polarization component and absorbs light of a component(s) other than the particular polarization component, and a protective film, bonded to the polarizer, for protecting the polarizer.
In general, the protective film is comprised of a mere light transmissive film due to cost constraints and does not positively exert an optical effect on transmitted light. There is a known protective film to which an optical function is imparted, but only to such an extent that the surface of the protective film, on the side not facing a polarizer, is matted, because of the constraints of the adhesion to the polarizer and the polarizer-protecting function (see e.g. JP 9-258013A).
However, a sufficient light diffusing function cannot be imparted to a protective film merely by matting the one surface of the protective film. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 40, it has been necessary for the conventional display device to have a number of optical sheets on the light entrance side of the polarizing plate.
The inclusion of a number of optical sheets in a surface light source device (display device) may cause various problems. Firstly, an increase in the number of optical sheets directly increases the production cost of the display device. Further, assembly of a surface light source device (display device) using a large number of optical sheets necessitates troublesome positioning between the optical sheets and between the optical sheets and light emitters, which may also increase the production cost of the display device.
Each optical sheet does not transmit all the incident light: part of the incident light is reflected by the optical sheet. Light reflected by an optical sheet may be reflected e.g. by a reflective plate 21 (see FIG. 40) provided behind the light emitters 26, or by another optical sheet and can thus be reused. However, every time light is reflected by an optical sheet, part of the light is absorbed by the optical sheet. Such a loss of light by reflection considerably increases even when the number of optical sheets merely increases by one. Thus, the use of a number of optical sheets in a surface light source device (display device) will significantly lower the efficiency of the use of light emitted by the light emitters of a light source.
An optical sheet can be heated by heat from light emitters, which may cause deformation of the optical sheet, such as bending, deflection or warpage. In such a case, adjacent optical sheets can make contact with or rub against each other in a surface light source device (display device) having a number of optical sheets. A contact area between optical sheets cannot exert the intended optical effect. Furthermore, there is a fear of the contact area being visible. In addition, rubbing between optical sheets can cause scratching in the sheet(s) or produce debris, leading to poor display image quality.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


A process and apparatus are presented for the conversion of light paraffins to heavier liquid fuels or distillate. The process and apparatus includes conversion of a paraffin stream to an olefinic stream. The olefinic stream is passed through a reactor zone to convert the olefins to heavier hydrocarbons, including branched paraffins and branched olefins. The process includes recycling a portion of the product to the reactors for controlling the heat and reaction rate of the dimerization or oligomerization process.

When oligomerizing light olefins within a refinery, there is frequently a desire to have the flexibility to make high octane gasoline, high cetane diesel, or combination of both. However, catalysts that make high octane gasoline typically make product that is highly branched and within the gasoline boiling point range. This product is very undesirable for diesel. In addition, catalysts that make high cetane diesel typically make product that is more linear and in the distillate boiling point range. This results in less and poorer quality gasoline due to the more linear nature of the product which has a lower octane value.
The oligomerization of butenes is often associated with a desire to make a high yield of high quality gasoline product. There is typically a limit as to what can be achieved when oligomerizing butenes. When oligomerizing butenes, dimerization is desired to obtain gasoline range material. However, trimerization and higher oligomerization can occur which can produce material heavier than gasoline such as diesel. Efforts to produce diesel by oligomerization have failed to provide high yields except through multiple passes.
When oligomerizing olefins from a fluid catalytic cracking (FCC) unit, there is often the desire to maintain a liquid phase within the oligomerization reactors. A liquid phase helps with catalyst stability by acting as a solvent to wash the catalyst of heavier species produced. In addition, the liquid phase provides a higher concentration of olefins to the catalyst surface to achieve a higher catalyst activity. Typically, this liquid phase in the reactor is maintained by hydrogenating some of the heavy olefinic product and recycling this paraffinic product to the reactor inlet.
The products of olefin oligomerization are usually mixtures of, for example, olefin dimers, trimers, and higher oligomers. Further, each olefin oligomer is itself usually a mixture of isomers, both skeletal and in double bond location. This is also true of isomers in which access to the double bond is sterically hindered. Olefin types of the oligomers can be denominated according to the degree of substitution of the double bond, as follows:
TABLE 1Olefin TypeStructureDescriptionIR—HC═CH2MonosubstitutedIIR—HC═CH—RDisubstitutedIIIRRC═CH2DisubstitutedIVRRC═CHRTrisubstitutedVRRC═CRRTetrasubstitutedwherein R represents an alkyl group, each R being the same or different. Type I compounds are sometimes described as α- or vinyl olefins and Type III as vinylidene olefins. Type IV is sometimes subdivided to provide a Type IVA, in which access to the double bond is less hindered, and Type IVB where it is more hindered.
To maximize distillate produced in a refinery, refiners may contemplate oligomerizing FCC derived light olefins to make heavier oligomers, thereby shifting gasoline into the distillate range. However, not all refiners have cost advantaged FCC derived light olefin streams available. In some cases, light paraffins are the most cost advantaged feed.
Light paraffins are incapable of being converted to liquid fuels by oligomerization directly. Combination processes for the conversion of light alkanes to light alkenes, followed by oligomerization of the alkene to liquid fuels are known. U.S. Pat. No. 4,293,722 describes a process comprising dehydrogenation of propane followed by catalytic condensation to form C9 hydrocarbons, U.S. Pat. No. 4,304,948 describes a process comprising dehydrogenation of butane followed by catalytic condensation to form C8-C12 hydrocarbons, U.S. Pat. No. 4,542,247 describes a process comprising dehydrogenation of paraffins followed by 2 steps of oligomerization with an intermediate separation step, U.S. Pat. No. 6,897,345 describes a process comprising the isomerization of n-butane to isobutane followed by dehydrogenation and dimerization, U.S. Pat. No. 5,856,604 describes a process comprising dehydrogenation of isobutane, compression and oligomerization, U.S. Pat. No. 5,847,252 describes a process comprising low severity dehydrogenation of isobutane, oligomerization and saturation and U.S. Pat. No. 4,879,424 describes a process comprising feeding a heated feedstream to a zeolite catalyst to form olefins and aromatics and then passing this product stream to a second reaction zone where oligomerization occurs. These combined processes suffer from drawbacks such as low pressure oligomerization, aromatic formation or formation of high quantities of gasoline. Distillate range products are desired, particularly with a high cetane number.

Apparatus for the integration of dehydrogenation and oligomerization


A method for avoiding resist poisoning during a damascene process is disclosed. A semiconductor substrate is provided with a low-k dielectric layer (k≦2.9) thereon, a SiC layer over the low-k dielectric layer, and a blocking layer over the SiC layer. The blocking layer is used to prevent unpolymerized precursors diffused out from the low-k dielectric layer from contacting an overlying resist. A bottom anti-reflection coating (BARC) layer is formed on the blocking layer. A resist layer is formed on the BARC layer, the resist layer having an opening to expose a portion of the BARC layer. A damascene structure is formed in the low-k dielectric layer by etching the BARC layer, the blocking layer, the SiC layer, and the low-k dielectric layer through the opening.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a process for fabricating a metal interconnect, and more particularly, to a damascene process capable of avoiding via resist poisoning.
2. Description of the Prior Art
At present, metal interconnects of the sub-90 nm integrated circuit manufacturing process are formed by the damascene process and with a 193 nm resist. The damascene process etches a dielectric layer to form a pattern of a metal conductor wire, and then fills the pattern with metal. However, the conventional process needs to dry etch a metal layer and then fill the dielectric layer. Therefore, the damascene process is very important in metal interconnect manufacturing that is unsuitable to dry etch a metal layer, such as Cu. The damascene process could be sub-classified into a single damascene process and a dual damascene process.
Please refer to FIG. 1 to FIG. 3, which show the process schematics according to the single damascene of the prior the art. As shown in FIG. 1 to FIG. 3, the single damascene of the prior art could be classified into the following three main stages after finishing the conductor plug of the pre-layer (not shown). In the first-stage, as shown in FIG. 1, a base layer 10, such as SiN, is deposited. Next, a low-k dielectric layer 12 is deposited over the base layer 10 followed by a SiC layer 14 being deposited over the low-k dielectric layer 12. In the second-stage, as shown in FIG. 2, a bottom anti-reflection coating (BARC) layer 16 is formed over the SiC layer 14, a resist layer 18 having a opening 19 to exposure a portion of the BARC layer 16 is formed over the BARC layer 16. In the third-stage, as shown in FIG. 3, a single damascene structure 12 is formed in the low-k dielectric layer 12 by etching through the BARC layer 16 and the SiC layer 14 and etching the low-k dielectric layer 12. Then, a metal layer is deposited (not shown). A CMP process removes the metal residues over the low-k dielectric layer 12.
Please refer to FIG. 4 to FIG. 10, which show the process schematics according to the dual damascene of the prior art. As shown in FIG. 4 to FIG. 10, the dual damascene of the prior art could be classified into the following seven main stages after finishing the conductor wire of the pre-layer (not shown). In the first-stage, as shown in FIG. 4, a base layer 20, such as SiN, is deposited. A low-k dielectric layer 22 is deposited over the base layer 20. A SiC layer 24 is deposited over the low-k dielectric layer 22. A metal layer 26 is deposited over the SiC layer 24 to be a hard mask. A first BARC layer 28 is deposited over the metal layer 26. A dielectric layer (not shown) could be set between the metal layer 26 and the first BARC layer 28. A first resist layer 32 is formed having a trench opening 30, called a trench photo. In the second-stage, as shown in FIG. 5, a trench structure 34 is formed by etching through first BARC layer 28, the metal layer 26, and a portion of the SiC layer 24 through the trench opening 30. In the third-stage, as shown in FIG. 6, the first resist layer 32 and the first BARC layer 28 are removed.
In the fourth-stage, as shown in FIG. 7, a second BARC layer 36 is deposited over the SiC layer 24 and the metal layer 26, the second BARC layer 36 filling the trench structure 34. Next, a second resist layer 40 is formed having a via opening 38, called as via photo. In the fifth-stage, as shown in FIG. 8, a via structure 42 is formed by etching through the second BARC layer 36, the SiC layer 24, and a portion of the low-k dielectric layer 22 through the via opening 38.
In the sixth-stage, as shown in FIG. 9, the second resist layer 40 and the second BARC layer 36 are removed. In the seventh-stage, as shown in FIG. 10, a dual damascene structure having the trench and the via structure is formed in the low-k dielectric layer 22 by using the metal layer 26 and the SiC layer 24 as masks. Then, a metal layer (not shown) is deposited over the low-k dielectric layer 22. A CMP process removes the metal residues on the low-k dielectric layer 22.
However, a serious problem in the damascene process of the prior art is a via resist poisoning phenomenon. The above low-k dielectric layers 12, 22 of the damascene process of the prior art contain unpolymerized precursors. The unpolymerized precursors diffuse out from the low-k dielectric layers 12, 22, and the thickness of the SiC layers 14, 24 is insufficient to prevent unpolymerized precursors diffused out from the low-k dielectric layers 12, 22 from contacting an overlying resist. The unpolymerized precursors react with the subsequent resist layers 18, 22 to form a resist scum defect or via missing defect.

Damascene process capable of avoiding via resist poisoning


An overhead screen is provided for mounting above a wheelchair. The screen has an opaque canopy that protects the wheelchair occupant from direct sunshine as well as precipitation. The canopy is held in an extended position out over the wheelchair seat by a screen framework. The framework is releasably connected to the wheelchair by means of coupling elements, which may the form of elbows that fit telescopically over the rearwardly extending handles at the back of the wheelchair which are normally provided for the purpose of allowing a companion of the wheelchair occupant to push the wheelchair.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is an overhead screen for a wheelchair to protect the wheelchair occupant from the sun as well as precipitation.
2. Description of the Prior Art
A considerable number of people find themselves in circumstances where it is necessary to use wheelchairs in order to achieve a certain level of mobility to overcome physical handicaps or disabilities. Paraplegics and other disabled or infirm people find it necessary, or at least more comfortable, to move about in wheelchairs as part of their daily routines. While considerable recent attention has been directed toward providing wheelchair occupants with access to public places and other facilities, less attention has been directed toward improving the level of comfort and protection of wheelchair occupants in their wheelchairs.
A typical wheelchair is constructed of a frame formed of hollow, tubular metal members supported by wheels. The wheelchair frame has laterally spaced supports which define a seating area equipped with either a cushion or sling type seat. The wheelchair frame also defines a pair of armrests above and on either side of the wheelchair seat. A pair of large wheels are disposed on both sides of the frame adjacent the seating area. These wheels are equipped with tires and hand wheels by means of which the occupant can propel the wheelchair. Beneath the front of the seating area the wheelchair frame carries a pair of smaller wheels, typically mounted on swivels so as to provide the occupant with stability and a tight turning radius. A pair of footrests are normally provided immediately in front of the smaller wheels.
The wheelchair frame also has a pair of upright members which extend upwardly on both sides at the rear of the seating area. Either a cushion type or sling type back normally extends between these upright members to provide the occupant with a backrest. The upright members defining the backrest support normally terminate in end extremities that are portions of metal tubing which are bent rearwardly parallel to each other and parallel to the ore and aft alignment of the wheelchair generally. These end extremities at the back of the wheelchair serve as a pair of handles which are useful for someone other than the occupant to push the wheelchair.
While there is a general awareness of the restricted degree of mobility that wheelchair occupants have, there are certain other disadvantages and discomforts which wheelchair occupants must endure. In part because of the limited amount of physical activity in which wheelchair occupants are able to engage, such persons are particularly sensitive to the effects of direct and prolonged sunlight. For example, while wheelchair occupants enjoy watching spectator sports performed out of doors just as much if not more than other people who are not confined to wheelchairs, they tend to suffer more from prolonged exposure to the sun than do other people due to skin sensitivity.
Moreover, persons confined to wheelchairs are often exposed to more direct sunlight than others, since the areas accessible to wheelchairs at outdoor sporting events or concerts are normally located at the lowermost levels of a stadium or in the area immediately surrounding a playing field or stage. These areas are typically provided with the least amount of shade and protection from precipitation, since any such protection in stadiums or bleachers is normally greatest at the uppermost and rearmost seating areas. Therefore, not only are wheelchair occupants generally more sensitive to solar radiation, but they are often subjected to a greater amount of solar radiation than the general population at any given outdoor event. Wheelchair occupants are likewise provided with the least protection from precipitation for the same reason.


A MEMS microphone includes a substrate having a cavity defining a vibration area and a peripheral area surrounding the vibration area, a back plate disposed over the substrate and having a plurality of acoustic holes, a diaphragm disposed between the substrate and the back plate to cover the cavity, the diaphragm defining an air gap together with the back plate, and the diaphragm sensing an acoustic pressure to generate a displacement, a plurality of anchors arranged along a circumference of the diaphragm, and spaced apart from each other to define a plurality of slits configured to serve as first vent channels for communicating the air gap with the cavity, and at least one vent hole penetrating through the diaphragm, and serving as a second vent channel for communicating the air gap with the cavity.

Generally, a capacitive microphone utilizes a capacitance between a pair of electrodes which are facing each other for detecting an acoustic wave. The capacitive microphone includes a diaphragm and a back plate. The diaphragm may respond to an acoustic pressure to be configured to be bendable. A back plate may face the diaphragm.
The diaphragm may have a membrane structure to perceive an acoustic pressure to generate a displacement. In particular, when the acoustic pressure is applied to the diaphragm, the diaphragm may be bent toward the back plate in response to the acoustic pressure. The displacement of the diaphragm may be perceived through a change of capacitance between the diaphragm and the back plate. As a result, an acoustic wave may be converted into an electrical signal for output.
The capacitive microphone may be manufactured by a semiconductor MEMS process such that the capacitive microphone has a MEMS type having an ultra-small size, which is referred as MEMS microphone. The diaphragm is spaced apart from a substrate including a cavity so that the diaphragm can be freely bent upwardly or downwardly in accordance with the acoustic pressure. The MEMS microphone has an anchor provided at a peripheral portion of the diaphragm. The anchor makes contact with the substrate to stably support the diaphragm from the substrate.
It may be required to control an acoustic resistance of the MEMS microphone to adjust a Signal to Noise Ratio (hereinafter referred to as "SNR") value. Further, the MEMS microphone may be required to make uniform frequency characteristics uniform across a low frequency range and a high frequency range.

MEMS microphone, method of manufacturing the same and MEMS microphone package including the same


A power system consisting of parallel connected current-mode power converters combined with a voltage error signal on a shared-bus used in common for controlling all of the power stages for improved consistency, reliability, and performance in both transient and steady states. Near uniform current sharing is achievable without sacrificing the voltage regulation performance. The improved system offers faster settling time under step loads, consistent small signal characteristics and large signal responses regardless of mismatches of components values such as reference voltages, and reduced output impedance variations in magnitude and phase even during various modes of operation.

Power systems may have several parallel connected converters having their respective single control loops operating in either voltage regulation or current limiting mode. Performance limitations have been discovered through system simulations. Non-uniform current sharing occurs despite voltage droop characteristics that facilitate near-uniform current-distribution. Due to random mismatches in component values, uneven current sharing among parallel connected converters exists. This causes system performance characteristics to exhibit large variations and system current sharing is found to be far from uniform, resulting in poor system performance and reliability.
Each power stage may include a DC to DC converter and a respective control circuit. Multiple current mode DC to DC converters may be connected in parallel to meet increased current demands of a load. With increased current demand, additional converters can be added as needed. When connecting multiple current mode converters to a common load, a significant problem is the unequal delivery of current by all of the converters. Each converter should operate independently yet contribute an equal amount of current to the load in the presence of different voltage references and component values.
A parallel connected DC to DC converter system may use a random current sharing approach in which many basic power converter stages are connected in parallel. It is desirable that many power systems of the same design have consistent steady state and transient responses as well as small signal characteristics of the paralleled converter system under resistive load conditions over dynamic operating conditions. Different systems have varying performance limitations such as inconsistent current limiting and sharing performance, poor voltage regulation, and poor output impedance characteristics. These systems have undesirable current sharing control as a primary cause of the performance limitations. These performance limitations lead to low reliability of power components under uneven current stresses, poor output transient responses, and large variances in output impedance. Various current sharing approaches have been developed to solve these disadvantages. These current sharing approaches are intended for uses in classes of power converters that usually do not exploit current-mode controls as the inner-most basic control loop. Current-mode controlled converters become desirable when using simple current sharing control. Non-current-mode controlled paralleled converter systems also have many limitations including non-uniform current sharing, large variances in system output impedance, degraded output voltage regulation, and inferior transient output performance.
The parallel connected converter system with random current sharing may include several power stages, for example, twelve power stages, connected in parallel at respective inputs and outputs. Each power stage consists of a converter with an associated power switch driving circuit and a control circuit. The control circuit produces a rectangular pulse width modulated signal driving power switching devices in the converter through the power switch driving circuit. When each power stage is operated as a stand-alone converter, the output voltage and current are fed back to the control circuit to regulate either the converter output voltage or the output current. Depending on load conditions, only a single feedback control loop is operating at any time in either voltage regulation or current limiting mode. As an example, each power stage is a single-ended step-up forward converter and boosts the input DC voltage, e.g. 28V +/-2V, to an output voltage, e.g., 123V +/-2 V with a nominal output power up to 210 W.
In this exemplar case, a converter power stage has voltage regulation and a current limiting control loop. Each power stage has two control modes of operation. The first mode is voltage regulation and the second mode is current limiting. In the output voltage regulation mode, the output voltage is regulated and stabilized to 123V +/-2 V with linear droop characteristics from 125V to 121V corresponding to the load condition from zero to 1.75 A. When the load current is just above its nominal level, e.g. 1.75 A, the power stage operation starts shifting to a current limiting mode in which the output voltage begins to decrease below 121V with a moderate regulation error. When the load demands more current, the current limiting operation becomes fully active by regulating the load current about 10% above its nominal value with 1.96 A set as the output short-circuit current.
Different power stages are not likely to be the same. The power stages will operate in different modes with some of the power stages operating in the voltage regulation mode and others in the current limiting mode, primarily because of differing component values and independent reference voltages. Additionally, some of the power stages operating in voltage regulation mode may operate in the continuous conduction mode while other power stages operate in the discontinuous conduction mode. Power stages operate in the discontinuous conduction mode when the output current drops below 0.33 A. When a converter power stage operates in the discontinuous conduction mode, the converter power stage exhibits different large and small signal characteristics as compared to those obtained from the same converter operating in the continuous conduction mode. Hence, a conventional continuous conduction mode power stage model may not be suitable for design verification through simulation of light load or mismatched conditions that may have some power stages operating in the discontinuous conduction mode while other power stages operate in the continuous conduction mode. A high-fidelity large signal model of the power stage can be developed to determine the mode of operation in the discontinuous conduction mode or continuous conduction mode for both large and small signal analyses. Under variations of load and component tolerances, this large signal model allows more accurate and realistic performance simulations of dynamic operations as a function of output impedances, loop gain frequency responses of the converters operating in voltage regulation or current limiting mode, and step load responses.
For simplicity of discussion, the model of paralleled converter system may be partitioned into two groups of paralleled power stages. In the model, an ideal voltage source supplies power to all the converters that transfer most of the power through an output cable to a resistive load. When N power stages are operating identically in either voltage regulation or current limiting mode, a lumped model of N paralleled power stages is used to share the same feedback control circuit. The large signal model of N paralleled power stages is simply derived from the basic power stage by proper scaling of power component values, that is, power inductance scaled by 1/N, filter capacitance scaled by N, and parasitic series switching loss scaled by 1/N. The remainder of the power stages operating identically but in a different mode from the former group will be likewise scaled by the total number of converter minus N instead of N. Electronic circuit computer simulations can be performed to evaluate the basic transient and dynamic performance, that is, the stability of the voltage regulation and the current limiting loop gains, the output impedance, and the step load and fault transient responses. The converter system model includes several power stages operating in either voltage regulation or current limit mode depending on the load condition and the reference voltage. The two groups of power stages are set to be either identical or within 1% mismatch of their reference voltages. Despite the reference voltage mismatches, all twelve power stages operate in the voltage regulation mode under a 1 A load or other light to moderate load conditions. The simulation results may reveal many limitations of the converter system in both the current sharing performance and other dynamic performance characteristics, such as output impedance, voltage regulation, and current limiting loop gains.
From system to system, the paralleled power stages exhibit an inconsistent current sharing and current limiting performance. Small signal characteristics of current limiting loop gain reveal significant variations in unity gain frequencies under different load conditions. The current limiting responses obtained from non-identical power stages and control circuit due to slight component mismatches are compared to one another. These sets of responses show significant differences in terms of control bandwidths and imbalances in the currents distributed among the power stages in both transient and steady state values of the current limiting level. Due to the randomness in current sharing, the transient response during step loads can cause one or more power stages to always exceed or reach current limiting operation while the remainder never experience such stresses. Consequently, utilization time distributed among the paralleled power stages is far from uniform, and the system reliability is degraded. The power stages that suffer from high output current transient stresses will degrade at a faster rate than those not experiencing excessive stresses.
The power stages exhibit low DC gain and a slow voltage regulation loop response. To help achieve steady state near-uniform current sharing among the power stages, the voltage regulation control loops for respective power stages must provide at least near identical droop characteristics. The DC gain of the voltage regulation loop is then limited to a moderate value, e.g., less than 30 dB, to facilitate non-stiff characteristics of the output voltage. Consequently, the bandwidth of the control loop is restricted to low frequencies due to basic roll-off characteristics of the output filter in each power stage. The low control bandwidth also results in a slow transient performance as compared to that of a single converter system in which the voltage loop gain bandwidth can be extended due to the absence of current sharing complications.
The paralleled power stages exhibit a significant variation of the output impedance. There are many combinations of operational modes caused by random mismatches among the twelve power stages. As system to system performance inconsistency is apparent, the output impedance characteristics of such converter systems of the same design can be far different even at the same line and load condition. Significant variations of output impedance characteristics are realized when operating the power stages in various modes, including voltage regulation, current limiting, discontinuous conduction and continuous conduction modes. Under existing control approaches, there is no sure way to control the mismatches in component values for the reduction of the output impedance variances. This can result in an overlap between the system output and load impedances and contribute to a high risk of oscillation on output voltage and current sharing among power stages.
The random current sharing without shared-bus arrangement have several disadvantages. Non-uniform current sharing is due to mismatches in component values leading to different modes of operation existing among paralleled converters. The output voltage regulation performance, both in steady state and transient condition, is degraded to compromise with tolerable current sharing that is not always near-uniform. Large variations in output impedance is due to slight circuit and control mismatches among paralleled converters, leading to inconsistent output impedance characteristics from system to system. Inconsistent current sharing performance is realized from system to system due to inconsistent mismatches in component values and/or reference voltages within paralleled converters. Undesirable interactions among parallel connected converters lead to complicated stability designs due to different modes of operation among paralleled converters, each of which is controlled differently under respective dedicated voltage regulation control loops. The lack of an accessible common control port prohibits uniform control to the paralleled converters to meet other control objectives such as system over-voltage protection.
A shared-bus arrangement has been disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,157,269 in which the shared-bus is formed by wired-OR ideal rectifiers with a pull down resistor to a ground reference. The wired-OR ideal rectifiers provide a mean to output the maximum sensed current signal selected from all sensed current signals being proportional to the respective currents through the respective converters. The rectifiers have to be ideal because the signals being sensed must be proportional to the actual power stage currents. Zero voltage drop across the rectifiers is required to gain accuracy of the shared-bus signal that is used as a master current reference signal for uniform current sharing control of the slave converters. In this approach, the output currents of the slave converters are less than the output currents of the master converters. The master converters are not controlled in the same direction as are the slave converters. This sharedbus approach is for controlling the parallel connected converters that do not necessarily have current-mode operation in the inner most control loops. The approach serves as a mean to produce different reference voltages to which the output voltages of the respective converters are individually regulated as a way to equalize the output currents of the converters. Each converter has a respective voltage regulation feedback control path that generates different control signal strength and/or direction compared to the other converters. Due to many feedback paths of voltage regulation control loops having different reference voltages, conflicts are created in voltage regulation control. During any transient due to step load or step line conditions, the master and slave operation can be exchanged many times because the output current of a master converter is dependent on the output currents of the slave converters by sharing the same output load circuit. This dependency introduces oscillation of current sharing during transients, resulting in indefinite exchanges in master and slave operations. These and other disadvantages are solved or reduced using the present invention.

Shared-bus current sharing parallel connected current-mode DC to DC converters


A simple open-end wrench includes a driving head including first and second jaws, a space delimited between the first and second jaws, first and second recesses extended from the space, a pawl pivotally embedded in the first recess, and a biasing mechanism received in the second recess and abutted against the pawl. The pawl includes an abutting end disposed outside the second recess and extended into the space. The pawl is pivotal to a position with the abutting end thereof disposed within the second recess.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an open-end wrench and, in particular, to an open-end wrench including a ratchet mechanism.
2. Description of the Related Art
U.S. Pat. No. 2,700,315, entitled open-end ratchet wrench, shows a wrench including a head with a slot. Two dogs are respectively disposed at two sides of the slot. Each dog is pivotally engaged in a recess with a pivot and is pivotal relative to the head. Each dog is subject to a biasing force of a spring, which facilitates the dog to return to its original position. A shaft is used to fix each spring. However, each dog does not have a strong structure, because it is made with a through hole for pivot. A larger shear force can cause the pivot to break, because the pivot is limited to have a relatively small cross-sectional area. Therefore, the ratchet wrench can't withstand a large torque transmission well. The present invention is, therefore, intended to obviate or at least alleviate the problems encountered in the prior art, as well as to make a simple and cost-saving wrench.


A voltage-controlled oscillator includes a bias circuit and a delay circuit. The bias circuit may generate a bias voltage signal pair having levels that are based on the voltage level of an input voltage signal and that are constrained by the values of a maximum current signal and a minimum current signal that are generated in the bias circuit. The delay circuit generates an output signal having a frequency that varies in response to the bias voltage signal pair. Because an operating frequency range of a voltage-controlled oscillator VCO is limited by a bias circuit, the VCO can operate with reduced gain and can limit the maximum operating frequency to a predetermined level. The VCO may also include a PTAT current generator in the bias circuit which can allow the VCO to compensate for variations of the VCO output frequency based on temperature.

Phase-locked loop (PLL) circuits are widely used to synchronize clocks that are applied to circuit blocks. PLL circuits are used in a variety of modern electronic systems, including, for example communication systems, multimedia systems and in various other applications such as in FM demodulators, clock recovery circuits and tone decoders.
Conventional PLL circuits include a voltage-controlled oscillator (VCO). The operating characteristics of the VCO can have a significant impact on the performance of both the PLL and the system in which the PLL is used. In many applications, the performance of the PLL circuit may be improved if the VCO in the PLL has a relatively small gain, operates only in a particular frequency range and is relatively insensitive to noise from the power supply.
FIG. 1 is a graph of the frequency of the output signal of a VCO as a function of input voltage and operating conditions in a conventional PLL circuit.
As shown in FIG. 1, when a conventional VCO is designed to operate at a maximum operating frequency under the worst condition, the gain of the VCO may become relatively large when the VCO is operated in the best or typical conditions. This may cause the VCO to be sensitive to noise. Additionally, variation in the gain (Hz/Volt) of the VCO changes the loop bandwidth of the PLL circuit. As such, the operating characteristic of the PLL circuit may vary based on the operating condition and, under certain circumstances, the PLL circuit may not lock since the PLL circuit may operate in an unstable range. As is also apparent from FIG. 1, if the VCO is designed to satisfy a maximum operating frequency in a worst condition, the VCO may operate at an overly high frequency during a best condition.
When such a VCO is used in a PLL circuit, the operating speed of the divider and Phase/Frequency Detector (PFD) of the PLL circuit may be lower than the operating speed of the VCO. As a result, the PLL circuit may operate abnormally.

Voltage-controlled oscillators with controlled operating range and related bias circuits and methods


An optical system couples laser light into an optical fiber, such as a optical amplifier fiber, from the side of the fiber by side-pumping of the fiber that is in contact with the laser such that refracted laser light is redirected into and through the fiber using direct attachment of a laser, such as a high-power laser diode, to the inner cladding of a fiber.

Lasers have been used to pump, that is, inject laser light into optical fibers, such as amplifier fibers. High power fiber lasers and amplifier fibers are being developed for remote sensing, target identification, high power directed energy applications, and long-distance free-space optical communications. Novel fiber designs involving double clad fibers with enlarged core sizes and mixtures of rare earth ions have facilitated optical systems with over 100 W of optical power. The pumping of such systems is a key step for reaching still higher output power levels. Most semiconductor lasers will emit light normal to the exit facet at the end of the laser waveguide. When the laser light from the facet is directed from any side into the fiber, the laser light will not be guided through the fiber but will exit the fiber after a single crossing of the fiber. Hence, a redirection of the laser light along the fiber is necessary. Current systems use various methods for redirecting and coupling the pumped laser light into optical fibers.
End pumping methods include end optical pumping using a dichroic mirror or using a concentric set of fibers that are fused and tapered together to connect several delivery fibers to the end of an amplifier fiber. End pumping is convenient to implement. However, end pumping becomes more difficult as the power level is increased due to crowding of the pumps, which need access to the end fiber facets. Additionally, there is limited control over the optical excitation profile along the length of the fiber amplifier because light can only be launched from two points, the front or the back whereas side-pumping allows for tailoring of the excitation profile as desired. End pumping is restricted to only laser pumping from the ends of the fiber.
Groove methods provide for cutting grooves into the glass, and launching light from the side of the fiber onto these grooves for reflecting the laser light into the inner cladding. Using grooves for side coupling severely debilitates the mechanical strength of the fiber. Forming reflecting grooves is a tedious and difficult process, particularly when the intrinsic performance of the fiber is to be unaffected by the grooves. Furthermore, under certain conditions, the grooves can couple a significant amount of light out of the fiber, when not designed and placed properly.
Directional side-pumping methods remove part of the secondary polymeric fiber cladding and provide pump light by a contacting pump fiber. Directional side-pumping methods are currently being used in commercial products. The directional side-pumping method is effective, but is not conducive for coupling high-power laser diode arrays. The directional side-pumping method is essentially limited to single element devices and undesirably requires that a long contact length be maintained between the pump fiber and the amplifier fiber. The directional side-pumping method disadvantageously requires intermediate fibers or optics, such as lenses, between the laser diode pump source and the pump fiber. These intermediate free space optics complicate system designs.
High power optical amplifiers and fiber lasers make use of amplifier fibers. An amplifier fiber includes a polymeric cladding, a hexagonal inner cladding for confining pump laser light, and an inner most signal light core that communicates the laser light to be amplified. For example, the Er or Er/Yb doped amplifier fibers are components for high bit rate optical networks. Reliable and high power laser diodes are the essential devices for pumping these amplifying fibers. These laser and fiber systems require high fiber coupling efficiency. High coupling efficiency usually requires that the lasers have high spatial beam quality. Broad area multimode lasers have inherently broad area beams. Tapered lasers provide a solution in terms of high brightness with high power and high spatial beam quality. High bit rate optical networks using these doped fiber amplifiers may use reliable high power laser diodes operating at 980 nm for pumping these fiber amplifiers. Current methods do rely on improved spatial beam quality of high power laser diodes for efficiently pumping the optical fiber. These and other restrictions are solved or reduced using the invention.

Side-pumping laser and optical fiber system


A method for boring small holes in a substrate by disposing electrodes on both sides of a substrate to be machined and applying a voltage between the electrodes so as to perform plasma discharge treatment at a pressure of 10 to 2.times.10.sup.3 Torrs. In another method, the gap of the two electrodes is set to 0.01 to 50 mm and a peak voltage to 10 V to 50,000 V in accordance with the electrode gap within the range of .tau..sub.ON the voltage waveform of 5 .mu.s to 20 seconds. The methods make it possible to quickly and reliably accomplish removal of chips causing clogging, smoothing of the inner walls of the holes and removal of fins in the holes.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a reliable method of carrying out at a high speed treatment for removing chips that cause and a treatment for eliminating inner wall roughening that occur during the boring of small holes in a substrate.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In prior methods, when a boring operation of a double face copper-lined epoxy resin substrate incorporating a glass fiber as a substrate material of an electronic device is carried out, holes having a diameter of greater than 0.3 mm are bored, and the resulting chips are ordinarily removed by a method as ultrasonic washing. Recently, however, wiring is made in a miniature pattern having a high density and a multi-layered structure, and along therewith, diameters of through-holes become as small as about 0.25 mm to about 0.1 mm. Consequently, clogging due to chips, coarsening of inner walls and fins occur frequently due to problems such as wear and breakage of a cutting edge of a drill, and the ultrasonic washing method can no longer remove the chips, inner wall coarsening and the fins.

Method for boring small holes in substrate material


Systems and methods for transporting data from a source network to a destination network by way of a transport network. Data transmission units (DTUs) from the source network are received at a server logically located between the source and the transport networks. These first DTUs are subdivided into second DTUs and are transmitted to the destination network by way of the transport network. Also transmitted are encoded or extra second DTUs that allow the original first DTUs to be recreated even if some of the second DTUs are lost. These encoded second DTUs may be merely copies of the second DTUs transmitted, parity second DTUs, or second DTUs which have been encoded using erasure correcting coding. At the destination network, the second DTUs are received and are used to recreate the original first DTUs. In the event an insufficient number of second DTUs are received, such that recreating the original first DTU cannot be accomplished, a re-transmission of the second DTUs is requested.

The growth in the number of businesses using an internal network for geographically remote locations has been phenomenal in the past few years. An office in Dallas can have its own internal communications network separate and distinct from the networks of its sister offices in Los Angeles and Seattle. However, given the need to share data and resources between such distinct locations, high speed and high performance backbone links between such offices are usually leased by the parent company to connect the different networks. Clearly, such backbone links are expensive to lease from their providers. However, the businesses that lease these lines are looking for, among others, good application performance across the transport network or the network that transports the data between the two end networks.
Most, if not all, transport networks are packet based networks that break up larger pieces of data into smaller packets of data which are then transmitted from a first source network to a third destination network via a second transport network. However, due to congestion and other network limitations, not all packets successfully arrive at the destination network. It is this packet loss that the end networks seek to minimize and, consequently, the expensive high performance transport networks or links are leased.
What matters to the source and end destination networks is the performance of the transport network. The transport network must, from the point of view of the applications at the end networks, ideally be perfect with no lost packets. However, it would be preferred if such performance can be had for a price lower than the usual costs of leasing high performance transport networks.
Accordingly, there is a need for systems and methods which can be used with low cost communications transport networks to provide end network applications with a high performance view of the transport network.
Currently, two approaches have been tried to address the above situation. In one approach, the end networks employ custom protocols that are not greatly affected by data loss and latency. However, this approach requires extensive retooling as most systems use well accepted protocols such as TCP/IP. Such an approach may also result in chaos as there is no guarantee that such custom protocols will be interoperable with established end and transport networks.
Another approach involves using a custom protocol stack to transfer data across the transport network and initiating new TCP/IP sessions at the destination network. However, this approach is only useful for systems which use the TCP/IP protocol and other protocols, such as UDP/IP, may be affected by the latency and/or loss across the transport network.
It should be noted that the term data transmission unit (DTU) will be used in a generic sense throughout this document to mean units wich include transmitted data. Thus, such units may take the form of packets, cells, frames, or any other such units as long as data is encapsulated within the unit. Thus, the term DTU is applicable to any and all packets and frames that implement specific protocols, standards, or transmission schemes.

System and method for higher throughput through a transportation network


A method used for establishing an optimized path between two endpoints in a transmission network including subnetworks is provided. In the method, two endpoints and route selection elements are specified, a first route search is performed to search for route candidates each of which connects subnetworks by using data on network resources according to the route selection elements, and the route candidates is stored in a dynamic routing table. Then, at least a route candidate is selected as a selected route candidate according to the route selection elements, and a second route search is performed to search for a route connecting network elements in each subnetwork on the selected route candidate.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an optimized path establishment method and a network management system using the optimized path establishment method. More particularly, the present invention relates to a method for establishing an optimized path by selecting an optimum route which connects subnetworks and to a network management system using the optimized path establishment method, wherein the subnetwork is a smallest management unit in network element groups which form a transmission network.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventionally, routing technologies for avoiding various failures on paths under operation are disclosed in a transmission network management field. According to the routing technologies, a network manager determines an optimum route on the basis of minimum distance, traffic, available capacity, number of failures and the like manually, and the network manager generates a routing table from the optimum route beforehand. In addition, every time when a network configuration is changed, the network manager updates the routing table to a newest one.
There are following problems when the network management system has the routing table which is fixedly generated by the network manager beforehand.
First, since the number of network elements which form the subnetwork is very large in a large transmission network, it takes much time to check manually every route which connects endpoints when designing such a large transmission network. Second, in order to implement a network configuration according to network design, it is necessary to incorporate the routing table which is designed beforehand into the network management system.
Third, when a subnetwork is added or removed in the large transmission network, it is necessary to redesign a plurality of routes in consideration of all surrounding subnetworks which are physically connected to the added or removed subnetwork. Therefore, the routing table, which includes fixed data, needs maintenance frequently.
Fourth, as preparedness of a failure in a transmission network which is under operation, it is necessary to reserve alternative routes. Therefore, there are redundant network resources.
Fifth, since network design is performed by the network manager manually, there is a high possibility that the optimum route is overlooked due to a mistake or lack of consideration in designing.
Sixth, when establishing a path, it is necessary to specify subnetworks and CTPs in each subnetwork one by one, in which the CTP is a connection point between a subnetwork and an adjacent subnetwork located in the edge of the subnetwork.
Seventh, since the path establishment operation abends when path establishment fails in midstream, an operation to continue the path establishment becomes necessary.
Eighth, the network manager may be forced to correct the routing table when path establishment fails. Thus, it takes much time to complete the path establishment operation.

Optimized path establishment method and network management system using the method


A seat reclining apparatus for a vehicle includes a first plate held at one of a seat cushion frame and a seatback frame, a second plate held at the other one of the seat cushion frame and the seatback frame, a pole having an external tooth facing the internal tooth, a first protrusion provided at the pole, a restricting portion provided at the second plate so as to face the first, the restricting portion coming in contact with the first protrusion so that the internal tooth and the external tooth are prohibited from being engaged, a second protrusion provided at the pole, and a stopper portion provided at the second plate for keeping a rotational angle of the second plate relative to the first plate at a predetermined angle upon a contact with the second protrusion.

Conventionally, as a seat reclining apparatus for a vehicle for tilting a seatback relative to a seat cushion, there has been known an apparatus disclosed in JP2003-000379A, for example. The seat reclining apparatus for a vehicle comprises an upper plate (2) having an internal tooth (25a) and a lower plate (1) on which a plurality of poles (50, 60) are movably mounted in a radial direction. As a cam (40) provided about a rotational shaft rotates, the internal tooth of the upper plate and external teeth (54, 64) of the pole are engaged or released with or from each other, so that the rotation of the upper plate relative to the lower plate is restricted or allowed. Due to this structure, the rotation of the seatback relative to the seat cushion is restricted or allowed, so that the seatback can be adjusted and kept at a tilted angle preferable and desired for a passenger to seat.
Further, in a recessed portion (25) forming the internal tooth of the upper plate, a recessed portion (26) having an inner diameter smaller than the diameter of the recessed portion (25), concentric with the recessed portion (25), and recessed into deeper depth than the recessed portion (25) is provided. The recessed portion (26) is formed with a first stopper portion (27a) and a second stopper portion (27b) projecting radially inward from the inner peripheral surface thereof at an interval with a predetermined angle. On the other hand, one specific pole (50) is formed with a projection (51). As a result that the end surface at one side or the other side of the projection in the circumferential direction about the rotational shaft is brought into contact with the opposed surface of the first or the second stopper, the rotational angel of the upper plate relative to the lower plate, that is, the rotational angle of the seatback relative to the seat cushion is kept at a predetermined angle.
Further, the recessed portion (26) is formed with a restricting portion (28) projecting radially inward from the inner peripheral surface by the length of projection smaller than the first and second stopper portions within a predetermined angular range between the first and second stopper portions located at the side where the one specific pole is disposed. In the state where the projection of the pole is opposed to the restricting portion in the radial direction, the end surface of the projection located radially outward is brought into contact with the opposed surface of the restricting portion. In this state, the radial movement of the pole for engagement with the upper plate is restricted, and the rotation of the upper plate relative to the lower plate is kept in a permissive state. That is, the restricting portion defines an angular range in which the permissive state of the rotation of the upper plate relative to the lower plate is kept as it is, that is, an angular range in which the permissive state of the rotation of the seatback relative to the seat cushion is kept as it is. Thus, the rotational angle of the seatback relative to the seat cushion is maintainable in a range except for the angular range described above.
However, according to the seat reclining apparatus disclosed in JP2003-000379A, two kinds of poles (50, 60) are required, inevitably resulting in an increase in the number of kinds of parts. Further, the permissive state of the rotation of the upper plate relative to the lower plate is kept only by the engagement between the upper plate and one specific pole (50). The remaining pole (60) is controlled via a cam (40) which engages with the pole (60) by inserting a projection (47) into a cam hole (56) of one specific pole. Therefore, the remaining pole is movable in a radial direction within a clearance created between the pole and the projection (47) inserted into the cam hole (66). In this state, for example, even in the permissive state of the rotation of the upper plate relative to the lower plate, the external tooth (64) may interfere with the internal tooth of the upper plate.
A need thus exists to provide a seat reclining apparatus for a vehicle capable of suppressing an increase in the number of kinds of parts.


An apparatus and method for charging a battery are provided. The apparatus includes a controller that is configured to select a driving mode based on a user operation. In addition, a BMS (Battery Management System) is configured to execute a charge type based on the selected driving mode and charge the battery.

One of the main concerns of the automobile companies is the development of an eco-friendly vehicle. Recently, automobile companies have been developing a variety of eco-friendly vehicles to conform to user demands and government regulations, and the most noteworthy eco-friendly vehicle is an electric vehicle. The chief obstacle in the development of the electric vehicle depends upon whether new system components maintain durability in the environmental conditions of the vehicle. An example of such system components includes a high-voltage battery for charging. Degradation in durability for each charge condition of such a high-voltage battery may be a problem. FIGS. 1 and 2 show a use range of SOC (State of Charge) and a charge process of the high-voltage battery in the electric vehicle.
The following Table 1 indicates an available range of SOC, a size of charge current, and a drivable distance based on a charging method of the electric vehicle with reference to the graph shown in FIG. 1.
TABLE 1Available rangeSize ofCharging methodof SOCCharge currentDrivable distanceSlow charge~95%LowLargeQuick charge~80%HighSmall
That is, the vehicle may be charged in a manner of quick charge or slow charge based on ambient charge environments. The quick charge may perform charge at substantially high current for a predetermined short time and the slow charge may perform charge at substantially low current for an increased longer predetermined period of time. In other words, the battery may be charged up to high SOC (e.g., SOC about 95%) during the slow charge and may be charged up to low SOC (e.g., SOC about 80%) during the quick charge.
FIG. 2 shows an exemplary diagram understanding of the description. Referring to FIG. 2, whether a quick charge is the current charge may be determined (S210), and in response to determining a quick charge, the battery may be charged up to a substantially low SOC at high current (S220). In addition, in response to determining a slow charge, the battery may be charged up to a substantially high SOC at low current (S230).
However, according to the above-mentioned method, usable energy of the battery may be determined based upon the charging method regardless of a user's intention. In addition, a charge depth (e.g., charge level) of the battery may directly affect durability of the battery. Particularly, a lithium battery applied to the electric vehicle may be vulnerable to degradation as an operational range of upper limit SOC is increased.

Apparatus and method for charging battery


A mobile phone set includes a clock unit that counts time and a non-contact IC that receives time data indicative of current correct time from an RFID reader/writer. When the non-contact IC receives the time data, the time of the clock unit is corrected based on the received time data.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to technology for correcting time of a timer of an information processing apparatus.
2. Description of the Related Art
These days, mobile phone sets are also used for sending and receiving e-mails, accessing the Web, managing schedules, and so on apart from making or receiving telephone calls. Moreover, some people even use the clock in the mobile phone set instead of a wristwatch.
However, usually the time on the mobile phone set is not accurate. The time may be corrected by the user from television, radio, etc., however, this process causes the user extra effort.
A technique for automatically correcting the time in a mobile phone set is disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 2002-27555. According to this technique, when the user connects his mobile phone set to the Internet, a time server automatically corrects the time on the mobile phone set.
Another technique for automatically correcting time in a mobile phone set is disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 2002-300640. According to this technique, the time on the mobile phone set is automatically corrected based on time data received from a base station whenever there is an exchange of data between the mobile phone set and the base station.
Thus, in the conventional techniques, time data is received from outside. However, the bandwidth of the wireless circuit is consumed when receiving time data.
It is desirable to avoid consuming a bandwidth to get time data.

Information processing apparatus, non-contact IC reader/writer, time correction method, and computer product


A method for ascertaining a type of collision of a vehicle includes: receiving acceleration information items, via a reception interface, representing the accelerations of the vehicle in a vehicle longitudinal direction and a vehicle transverse direction; determining a first resultant acceleration information item from a first and a second acceleration information item; determining a second resultant acceleration information item from a third and a fourth acceleration information item; combining the first and second resultant acceleration information items to obtain at least one evaluation information item; and determining the collision type based on the at least one evaluation information item.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method for ascertaining a type of collision of a vehicle, a corresponding control unit, and a corresponding computer program product.
2. Description of the Related Art
Published German patent application document DE 10 2004 029 816 A1 relates to a device for recognizing an accident in the automobile sector with the aid of an acceleration sensor which is mounted in the vehicle at an angle relative to a transverse axis of the vehicle.

Method and control unit for ascertaining a type of collision of a vehicle


A can body is fitted to an inner shaping tool rotatable adjacent a freely rotatable outer shaping tool outside the can body. An arm having an outer end rotatably carrying the outer shaping tool and an inner end is pivotal about its inner end. The inner tool and the can body fitted thereto are rotated to entrain and rotate the outer tool. A motor controlledly pivots the arm and thereby moves the outer shaping tool toward and away from the inner shaping tool. A position detector connected to arm senses the angular position thereof and the relative spacing of the inner and outer tools. A controller including a memory controls the motor in accordance with a sensed angular position of the arm.

Such apparatuses are used for necking or grooving can bodies. For necking, a can body is reduced in diameter at one or both ends so that the diameters of the top and bottom ends of the can are made smaller.
Grooving entails inserting a cam-controlled profiled inner tool into the end of the can body and then rolling it off against an annular internally profiled outer tool so that the groove profile is imparted to the wall of the can-body end. Grooving serves for increasing the resistance to implosion of a filled can that is internally pressurized and filled hot and then cooled, so that the can interior is depressurized after cooling.
An example of an apparatus for forming a necked or grooved section at an end of a can body is shown in EP 0,772,501 (U.S. Pat. No. 5,653,138). Here two axially movable inner tools of which at least one is made to rotate, and with a shape corresponding to the necked and edged end are used with an outer shaping tool movable radially inward against the inner tools, which are mounted on separate coaxial shafts and which are mounted on their shafts so that they are braced against axial shifting. The region holding the cylindrical work piece of at least one of the inner tools has a radially effective clamping system that is pressed against the inner surface of the cylindrical body. The outer shaping tool is pressed for forming the necked or edged end against the profile of the inner tool such that the two inner tools shift axially apart. The radial displacement of the second tool is effected by a pivoted arm that is provided according to EP 0,772,501 with a follower roller that engages in a stationary cam groove. This cam drive moves the outer shaping tool drive inward toward and outward away from the common axes of the inner tools. Alternatively instead of the pivot arm it is possible to use an eccentric. The control cam determines the pivot arc, the type of movement—linear, progressive, degressive, or other—of the tool as well as the actual coordinates of the position of the movable tool, in particular the starting and ending points of the pivotal movement relative to the inner tools, which are usually rotatable but radially nonmovable and axially shiftable.
In order to accommodate variations in the workpiece reflected in the end position of the movable shaping tool, the shaping tool must be radially adjustable on the pivot arm. The cost of the mechanical parts for the pivot arm with an adjustable tool are considerable. Setting the shaping tool on the pivot arm or of the shaping tools on the pivot arms takes up quite some time.
In particular with multiple-head machines with plural shaping tools on change of the can diameter of the workpiece at least the shaping rollers must be changed in order to get the necessary geometry. The type of movement, that is for example linear progressive or degressive, as well as the control positions are not changeable. The pivot-arm movement is dictated by the mechanism even when there is no workpiece on the inner tool. Change in format requires an expensive switching of the mechanical drive.

Device for reshaping and/or folding bodies of cans


In one aspect, a method for reducing uncertainty in a hydraulic model of a water distribution network due to uncertain parameters and faults in the water distribution network is provided which includes the steps of: (i) calculating an optimized placement of sensors throughout a given uncertain section of the water distribution network; (ii) collecting data from the sensors; (iii) partitioning the given uncertain section of the water distribution network into observable and unobservable sub-sections based on the hydraulic model and a) a position, b) a number, and/or c) a type of the sensors that are available; (iv) correcting uncertain parameters and identifying faults for each of the observable sub-sections; (v) calculating a global uncertainty value for each of the unobservable sub-sections; and (vi) repeating the steps (i)-(vi) iteratively, at each iteration selecting an uncertain sub-section of the water distribution network, until no uncertain sub-sections of the water distribution network remain.

Simulation models of water distribution networks (WDNs) are fundamental for management, operational and monitoring purposes. Typical usage of the models range from pumps scheduling, management of the pressures at the nodes of the network, identification of faults (e.g., leaks), monitoring of water quality, etc.
WDN models available to utility companies, however, are often inaccurate due to the imperfect representation of the complete physical process and the incomplete knowledge of all of the required parameters. The uncertainty in the models is typically reduced with the calibration, where the parameters are adjusted such that pressures and flows predicted by the model match a set of actual observed field data to some desirable or acceptable level. Many methods have been proposed for the solution of the calibration problem. Methods for the optimal placement of sensors around the network have also been studied, in order to maximize the sensitivity of certain desired parameters to the collected data and therefore improve the quality of the estimation.
A major issue with the reduction of uncertainty in WDN models is the scarcity of measurement points around the network, with the number of parameters to be adjusted usually being much larger than the available measurements. Calibration can therefore only be successful on a selected subset of parameters of the model, which usually leaves significant uncertainty in major areas of the WDN model. Another issue, also related to the poor availability of measurement points, is the exact localization of the source of uncertainty. In some situations, in fact, an inconsistency between model predictions and field measurements could ambiguously be related to a number of different parameters or to a fault (e.g., leaks) in the network, the problem of exactly inferring the source of uncertainty could be undetermined with the available measurements.
Therefore, improved techniques for reducing uncertainty in WDN models that solves the problem of having scarce measurement points around the network would be desirable.

Techniques for iterative reduction of uncertainty in water distribution networks

International Business Machines Corporation