A plasma doping method that can control a dose precisely is realized. In-plane uniformity of the dose is improved.

1. Background of the Invention
The present invention relates to a plasma doping method, and in particular, to a plasma doping method for doping an impurity into a surface of a solid sample such as a semiconductor substrate.
2. Description of the Related Art
As a technology for doping an impurity into a surface of a solid sample, a plasma doping (PD) method for ionizing the impurity and doping the ionized impurity into a solid at low energy is well known (for example, see U.S. Pat. No. 4,912,065).
On the other hands, among the methods for doping an impurity, an ion implantation method is most widely used at present. The plasma doping method is described in "Column of Shallow Junction Ion Doping of Figure 30 of Front End Process in International Technology Roadmap for Semiconductors 2001 Edition (ITRS2001)" and "International Technology Roadmap for Semiconductors 2003 Edition (ITRS2003)" as a next-generation technology for implanting ion. The plasma doping method is different from the ion implantation method. Moreover, ITRS is a document that is widely referred to by engineers in semiconductor industries. A technical difference between ion implantation and plasma doping will now be described in more detail.
In the ion implantation method, an apparatus comprising an ion source for generating plasma from gas, an analysis magnet for performing mass separation in order to select desired ions among ions extracted from the ion source, an electrode for accelerating the desired ions, and a process chamber for implanting the accelerated desired ions into a silicon substrate, is used. In the ion implantation, in order to implant the impurity shallow, it is preferable to set extraction energy for extracting ions from the ion source and acceleration energy for accelerating small. However, when the extraction energy is set small, the number of ions to be extracted is decreased. In addition, when the acceleration energy is set small, while an ion beam is transported from the ion source to a wafer, a beam diameter is widened due to a repulsive force generated by charges between the ions. As a result, the ion beam may collide against the inner wall of a beam line, and a large number of ions may be lost. For this reason, throughput of an implantation processing will be lowered. For example, when B+ ions are implanted, if the acceleration energy becomes 2 keV or less, the throughput starts to be lowered, if the acceleration energy becomes 0.5 keV or less, the beam transportation itself become difficult. Further, even though the acceleration energy is lowered to 0.5 keV, the B ions may be implanted at a depth of approximately 20 nm. That is, in case of forming an extension electrode having a thinner thickness than the depth, productivity may be lowered drastically.
In contrast, in the plasma doping method, an apparatus comprising a plasma generation source for inducing plasma into a cylindrical vacuum chamber in which a silicon substrate can be disposed, a bias electrode on which the silicon substrate is disposed, and a bias power supply for adjusting a potential of the bias electrode, is used. The apparatus has the different configuration from the apparatus used in the ion implantation in point that the analysis magnet and the acceleration electrode are not provided. The bias electrode serving as a plasma source and a wafer holder is provided in the vacuum chamber. Then, the ions are accelerated and introduced by a potential to be generated between the plasma and the wafer. With this configuration, since low-energy plasma can be directly used, a large amount of low-energy ions can be irradiated onto the wafer, compared with the ion implantation. That is, a dose rate is considerably high. For this reason, in the low-energy B-ion implantation, high throughput can be kept.
By applying the plasma doping method, the inventors have developed a process technology for forming a source-to-drain extension electrode having a very shallow thickness and low resistance. The paper on this new process technology is adopted in VLSI Symposium that is the highest authority as one of International Conferences, in June 2004. This new process technology is known as a process technology that has particular effects ("Y. Sasaki, et al., Symp. on VLSI Tech. p180 (2004)").
In this method, doping material gas which is introduced from a gas introduction port, such as B2H6, is plasmized by a plasma generation unit having a microwave waveguide and an electric magnet. Then, boron ions in plasma are supplied to a surface of a sample by a high-frequency power supply.
With the reduction in size and high integration of a semiconductor device, characteristics in an impurity doped region are very important. Among these characteristics, a dose (impurity doping amount) determines low resistance that is one of important elements in determining element characteristics. Accordingly, the control of the dose is very important.
If the plasma doping method is used, it can be seen that the source-to-drain extension electrode having a very shallow thickness and low resistance can be formed. However, a dose control method for controlling the element characteristics has not been developed yet. Up to now, a method for changing the dose by way of changing a plasma doping time has been tested, but this method does not obtain sufficient control precision, and as a result, it is unpractical.
In this situation, as a method which is capable of improving safety by diluting toxic B2H6 having a serious risk to the human body as large as possible, stably generating and keeping plasma without degrading doping efficiency, and easily performing the control of the dopant dose, the inventors has suggested the following method. In the method, B2H6 gas as a material containing an impurity to be doped is diluted with He gas having small ionization energy, then He plasma is generated earlier, and subsequently B2H6 is discharged (JP2004-179592) suggested that the concentration of B2H6 gas is preferably less than 0.05%.
When the concentration is low, for example, approximately 0.05%, although it is reported that the dose is easily controlled, changing the dose by varying the time while the gas concentration is kept constant is described. That is, when the B2H6 gas concentration is low, the change in the dose is small with respect to the variation in time, and thus the dose is easily controlled. Here, there is a progress in that the control precision of the dose is increased. However, this just improves the known method for changing the dose by changing a plasma doping time. Herein, there is no study for the relationship between the change in the dose and the gas concentration.
As described above, it is important to form the impurity doped region or control the dose. Of course, in-plane uniformity is also very important to form an element. In particular, while there is a recent progress in a large diameter of a wafer, it is very difficult to obtain a uniform dose in the surface.

Abstract: It has been found that, if a bias is applied by irradiating B2H6/He plasma onto a silicon substrate, there is a time at which a dose of boron is made substantially uniform, and the saturation time is comparatively long and ease to stably use, compared with a time at which repeatability of an apparatus control can be secured. The invention has been finalized focusing on the result. That is, if plasma irradiation starts, a dose is initially increased, but a time at which the dose is made substantially uniform without depending on a time variation is continued. In addition, if the time is further increased, the dose is decreased. The dose can be accurately controlled through a process window of the time at which the dose is made substantially uniform without depending on the time variation.

Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.


A multi-speed automatic transmission includes an input, an output, a first gear unit drivable connected to the input and including a component rotating at the speed of the input and a first gear unit output, the first gear unit producing a gear ratio of a speed of the input and a speed of the first gear unit output, a planetary gear unit including a modified Simpson gearset, the gear unit being secured to first, second, third, fourth and fifth rotating members, the fifth member being secured to the output for rotation therewith, a first clutch being operable to connect the first rotating member and the first gear unit output, a second clutch being operable to connect the second rotating member and the first gear unit output, a third clutch being operable to connect the third rotating member and an element rotating at a speed of the input, a fourth clutch being operable to connect the fourth rotating member and said element rotating at the speed of the input, a first brake being operable to hold the fourth rotating member against rotation, and a second brake being operable to hold the third rotating member against rotation.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to the field of automatic transmissions for motor vehicles. More particularly, the invention pertains to a kinematic arrangement of gearing, clutches, brakes, and the interconnections among them in a power transmission.
2. Description of the Prior Art
A truck customer may desire improved launch capability, particularly when the vehicle is loaded and/or starting on a grade. The vehicle manufacturer offers customers options to allow improved launch capability. One option is to choose steeper (higher numerical) axle ratios. For those who have chosen a 4×4 truck, the transfer case generally is 2 speeds, one speed of which is a low-range which can also improve launch capability.
The steeper axle ratios improve vehicle launch capability when loaded, but reduce fuel economy even when the vehicle is unloaded. Offering multiple axle ratios adds complexity to the vehicle assembly plant. Operators of light trucks having 4×4 drivelines rarely use the low-range capability of a two-speed transfer case. The clutch mechanism for selecting low and high-ranges of the transfer case cannot be shifted unless the vehicle is stopped.
Most operators of such vehicle are accustomed to and prefer a small first-second gear step size of the transmission, which is 1.414 in a current production transmission. Eight-speed transmissions that have been proposed have gear mesh losses that exceeded those of highly efficient six-speed transmissions.
There is a need for a power transmission that can produce eight forward speeds and two reverse speeds, has high theoretical gear mesh efficiency and a wide speed ratio span.


Useful life extension for a data storage system in which either or both of read/write probes and storage areas are components subject to wear caused by the access operations. An access counter counts an access count for each component subject to wear. A data exchange module operates in response to the access count for one of the components subject to wear reaching a first threshold to perform a data exchange in which data stored in a first storage area are exchanged with data stored is a second storage area. When the components subject to wear are the storage areas, the first storage area is the storage area whose access count reached the first threshold value, and the second storage area is a storage area whose access count is less than the first threshold value. When the components subject to wear are the read/write probes, the first storage area is the storage area accessed by the read/write probe whose access count reached the first threshold value, and the second storage area is a storage area accessed by a read/write probe whose access count is less than the first threshold value. An address conversion table rewriting module operates after each data exchange to rewrite part of an address conversion table to assign the physical addresses of the storage areas after the data exchange to logical addresses that correspond to the physical addresses of the storage areas before the data exchange.

A hard magnetic disk drive (HDD) is often used as an auxiliary mass data storage device for a computer. Saitoh, Scanning Memory Device, Japanese patent application no. 6-270297 discloses a scanning-type data storage system that is used as a substitute mass data storage device for an HDD. Such mass data storage system occupies a much smaller volume than an HDD, while providing both significantly faster access speeds and higher storage densities.
A scanning-type data storage system reads or writes data by applying electrical stimuli to a data storage medium with a plural data read/write access probes. Both a read operation and a write operation performed by a probe constitute access operations. The useful life of this type of mass data storage system is limited by wear of the probes and the wear of storage medium. Thus, the number of access operations to the storage medium by the probe is limited by probe wear, and is also limited by wear of the storage medium.
In a scanning-type data storage system, the maximum number of access operations that each probe can perform is the same, and the maximum number of access operations that each storage area can receive is the same. However, the probes perform access operations different frequencies, and the storage areas receive access operations at different frequencies. For example, the data stored in some of the storage areas may be read much more frequently than the data stored in other storage areas, and the data stored in some of the storage areas may be rewritten much more frequently than the data stored in others of the storage areas.
Some probes perform many access operations and therefore reach their limit counts for access operations sooner than other probes. In contrast, because some probes perform few access operations, these probes can continue to be useful until reaching their limit counts for access operations, even if the access operations performed by other probes have reached their limit counts. Similarly, because some storage areas receive many access operations, they reach their limit counts for access operations sooner than other storage areas that receive few access operations. In contrast, some storage areas receive few access operations and can continue to be useful long after the storage areas that received many access operations have reached their limit counts for access operations.
A conventional scanning-type data storage system can therefore reach the end of its useful life and become useless, even though many probes and many storage areas have not reached their limit counts for the access operations. Thus, a conventional scanning-type data storage system can reach the end of its useful life without wearing out all of its probes or all of its storage areas.
In Saitoh, probes that have reached a predetermined number of access operations, i.e., their limit count, are considered to be unavailable, and the data in the storage area that is accessed by an invalid probe are transferred to a spare storage area. However, the spare storage areas are sometimes rapidly exhausted. The data storage system reaches the end of its useful life when all of the spare storage areas are used, and any probe again reaches the limit count for access operations.
While the prior-art provides some ways of extending the useful life of a data storage system, the prior art fails to provide ways to extend the useful life of the data storage system when the limits on the number of access operations of the probes and/or to the storage medium have been reached. The development of a system overcomes these limitations would constitute a major technological advance.

Apparatus and method for extending the useful life of a data storage system


A tunnel is established across an IPv4 domain for the transport of packets from a source host on one IPv6 domain to a destination host on another IPv6 domain, there being respective interfaces between the IPv4 domain and the IPv6 domains.

1. Technical Field
This invention relates to the establishment of a tunnel entrance for packets crossing the border between a first network operating in accordance with a first transmission protocol and having network addresses in accordance with a first addressing convention, herein referred to as first type addresses, and a second network operating in accordance with a second transmission protocol and having network addresses in accordance with a second addressing convention, herein referred to as second type addresses, and relates particularly, but not exclusively, to communication between hosts in respective Internet Protocol version 6 (IPv6) domains separated by an Internet Protocol version 4 (IPv4) domain.
Herein, the terms packet and message are used interchangeably and have the same meaning, and the term Internet domain is used as a specific example of a network.
2. Related Art
In Internet technology, it had become apparent that the initial transport protocol, IPv4, needed to be enhanced, principally to increase the available address space and add a hierarchical address structure. The result was IPv6 which has a simplified header format compared with IPv4, but which uses 128 bit addresses as compared with 32 bit addresses used in IPv4.
Readers wishing to have an overview of this general area might like to access a list of Internet-Drafts, which are working documents of the IETF, at http://www.ietf.org/1id-abstracts.txt, and a particularly relevant document is "A Guide to the Introduction of IPv6 in the IPv4 World"<draft-ietf-ngtrans-introduction-to-ipv6-transition-01.txt>, also referred to as "Guide to IPv6 Transition".
As mentioned, the present invention relates to tunnelling. Known tunnelling techniques are of two types: configured and automatic.
A configured tunnel is created by manual configuration of a tunnelling interface between an IPv6 domain and an IPv4 domain such that all packets received from the IPv6 domain are encapsulated in IPv4 packets addressed to a specific tunnel end point, i.e. the tunnelling interface between the IPv4 domain and the remote IPv6 domain containing the destination IPv6 host.
An automatic tunnel on the other hand does not need manual configuration: the tunnel end points are automatically determined. Several automatic tunnelling mechanisms are currently in development within the IETF, these being known in the art as, 6over4, 6to4, Dynamic Tunnelling, and Tunnel Broker.
For more detailed information on 6over4 the reader can obtain from the IETF, the document known as RFC2829, or any variant thereof, "Transmission of IPv6 over IPv4 Domains without Explicit Tunnels", by B. Carpenter and C. Jung, March 1999.
For more detailed information on 6to4 the reader can obtain from the IETF, the document known as draft-ietf-ngtrans-6to4-02.txt, or any variant thereof, "Connection of IPv6 Domains via IPv4 Clouds without Explicit Tunnels", by B. Carpenter and K. Moore.
For more detailed information on Dynamic Tunnelling the reader can obtain from the IETF, the document known as draft-ietf-ngtrans-dti-00.txt.
For more detailed information on Tunnel Broker the reader can obtain from the IETF, the document known as draft-ietf-ngtrans-broker-00.txt.
These known automatic tunnelling mechanisms use a variety of techniques to enable the tunnel to be automatically established:
ξ 6over4 Multicast
ξ 6to4 Special IPv6 address in which the top level aggregator (TLA) contains an identifier for the 6to4 tunnelling mechanism, and the next level aggregator (NLA) contains the IPv4 address of the tunnel end point
ξ Dynamic Tunnelling via DNS
ξ Tunnel Broker www based tool


Magnetic memory devices, and methods of operating the same, include a magnetoresistive element including a free layer, a pinned layer, and a separation layer between the free layer and the pinned layer. The devices, and methods, further include a first conductive line connected to the free layer and configured to apply a Rashba field to, or induce the Rashba field in, the free layer, and a second conductive line spaced apart from the free layer and configured to apply an external magnetic field to the free layer. A magnetization direction of the free layer is switchable by application of the Rashba field and the external magnetic field to the free layer.

1. Field
Example embodiments relate to magnetic memory devices and methods of operating the same.
2. Description of the Related Art
Magnetic random access memories (MRAMs) are memory devices that store data by using a variation in resistance of a magnetic tunneling junction (MTJ) element. The resistance of the MTJ element varies according to a magnetization direction of a free layer. That is, when the magnetization direction of the free layer is the same as a magnetization direction of a pinned layer, the MTJ element has low resistance. When the magnetization direction of the free layer is opposite to the magnetization direction of the pinned layer, the MTJ element has high resistance. A case where the MTJ element has the low resistance may correspond to data '0', and a case where the MTJ element has the high resistance may correspond to data '1'. Because MRAMs are non-volatile, capable of high speed operations and have high endurance, MRAMs have gained attention as one of the next generation non-volatile memory devices.
A typical MRAM includes an MTJ element having a horizontal magnetization, and uses a digit line and a bit line to switch a magnetization direction of a free layer. Such an MRAM uses an MTJ element having a horizontal magnetization, and also has a relatively complicated structure, and accordingly, it is difficult to realize high-densification.
In the case of a spin transfer torque magnetic random access memory (STT-MRAM) that does not use a digit line, a magnetization direction of a free layer is switched by using a spin torque that occurs due to a current flowing through an MTJ element. However, to secure data retention characteristics of a free layer, a material with high magnetic anisotropy energy is used as a free layer material. When a material having a high magnetic anisotropy is used for the free layer material, an amount of the current (that is, a switching current) required to switch a magnetization direction of the free layer increases. Accordingly, a large-size cell transistor is required for supplying the switching current. In addition, in the case of the STT-MRAM, a writing current needs to be repeatedly provided to the MTJ element. Accordingly, problems related to endurance and reliability of a tunneling layer interposed between a free layer and a pinned layer of an MTJ element may occur.

Magnetic memory devices and methods of operating the same


A leak detection tool is positioned in in a tubing string that is disposed in a wellbore. The leak detection tool is attached to a downhole end of a line and includes a cup. An outside diameter of the cup is substantially the same as an inside diameter of the tubing string. An uphole end of the line is attached to a spool disposed proximate to an uphole end of the wellbore. The leak detection tool is propelled through the tubing string in a downhole direction by pumping a fluid down the tubing string such that a fluid pressure uphole of the cup is greater than a fluid pressure downhole of the cup. A flow of fluid from an interior of the tubing string uphole of the cup to an exterior of the tubing string through a leak in a wall of the tubing string is detected as the cup passes the leak. A depth of the leak is determined based on a length of the line from the spool to the leak detection tool when the flow of fluid from uphole of the cup through the leak is first detected.

Wells for hydrocarbon production or other applications are completed and made ready for production by cementing a casing within the wellbore and inserting a tubing string (sometimes called production tubing) within the casing. Hydrocarbons or other fluids can be produced from a subterranean formation up the tubing string.
Over time, leaks can develop in the walls of the tubing string. Such leaks can reduce production rates and/or cause other problems with the wellbore equipment and operations.


A gas spring assembly includes an end member, a piston assembly and a flexible sleeve secured therebetween. An end closure secures an end of the flexible sleeve to the piston assembly. A connector fitting connects the end closure to a support post of the piston assembly. The connector fitting includes a fitting passage and a first annular groove. A jounce bumper assembly is supported on the connector fitting. The jounce bumper assembly includes a bumper body and a bumper mount. The bumper mount includes securement pin having a second annular groove. A retaining member is received within the first and second annular grooves such that the jounce bumper assembly can freely rotate relative to the connector fitting while substantially restricting axial displacement of the jounce bumper assembly relative to the piston assembly during such rotation.

The subject matter of the present disclosure broadly relates to the art of gas spring devices and, more particularly, to a gas spring assembly that includes a jounce bumper assembly capable of rotation about an axis while maintaining an approximately fixed axial position during such rotation as well as a method of assembling such a gas spring assembly.
The subject matter of the present disclosure finds particular application and use in conjunction with suspension systems of wheeled vehicles, and will be shown and described herein with reference thereto. However, it is to be appreciated that the subject matter of the present disclosure is also amenable to other applications and environments, and that the specific uses shown and described herein are merely exemplary. For example, the subject matter of the present disclosure could be used in support structures, height adjusting systems and actuators associated with industrial machinery, components thereof and/or other such equipment. Accordingly, the subject matter of the present disclosure is not intended to be limited to use associated with vehicle suspensions.
Motor vehicles of most types and kinds include a sprung mass, such as a body or chassis, for example, with a suspension system disposed therebetween. Gas spring assemblies, which are also commonly referred to as air springs, are commonly known and widely used in vehicle suspension systems. Typical suspension systems include a plurality of spring devices as well as a plurality of damping devices that together permit both sprung and unsprung masses of the vehicle to move in a somewhat controlled manner relative to one another. Movement of the sprung and unsprung masses toward one another is normally referred to in the art as jounce motion while movement of the sprung and unsprung masses away from one another is commonly referred to in the art as rebound motion.
A gas spring assembly generally includes a flexible sleeve or bellows that extends between a pair of end members. In the assembled condition, the end members are secured to the flexible sleeve or bellows in a substantially permanent manner such that a fluid-tight spring chamber is formed within the gas spring assembly. Generally, the range of motion of a gas spring assembly extends between a fully compressed condition and a fully extended condition. To eliminate contact between opposing portions of the sprung and unsprung masses, contact between opposing portions of components of the suspension system or contact between any combination thereof, a jounce bumper is commonly installed within the spring chamber on one of the end members of the gas spring assembly. The jounce bumper prevents opposing portions of the suspension system from directly impacting one another. Thus, during jounce motion, an opposing component will contact the jounce bumper rather than impacting the component on or near which the jounce bumper is mounted.
Jounce bumpers of a variety of types, kinds and configurations have been developed and are widely used to prevent direct contact between vehicle and/or suspension system components. However, one difficulty with known jounce bumper constructions relates to the connection arrangements that are commonly utilized to secure the jounce bumper within the spring chamber to one of the end members of the gas spring assembly. In particular, it has been observed that under certain conditions of use repeated contact of an end member with a jounce bumper of a known construction can result in the jounce bumper becoming detached or otherwise disconnected from the end member. As mentioned above, however, gas spring assemblies are generally considered to be permanently assembled. As such, the detached jounce bumper will normally remain free within the spring chamber until the gas spring assembly is replaced.
It is believed desirable to develop gas spring assemblies and methods of assembling the same that are capable of overcoming the foregoing and/or other problems and disadvantages.

Gas spring assembly and method of assembling same

Firestone Industrial Products Company, LLC


A roller drive unit with a roller, a motor to drive the roller, a drive shaft coupled to the motor, and a gear system to couple the roller to the drive shaft. The gear system has a drive gear coupled in a non-rotating manner to the drive shaft, and a driven gear coupled to the roller on the one hand and to the drive gear on the other. The drive unit also includes a support element on which the roller is supported in a rotary manner and which is in turn rotatable about the axis of the roller, a device for limiting the angular range about which the support element rotates, and a supporting device for receiving the force acting by means of a load on the roller. The support element carries at least one eccentric cam supported on a cam support.

The invention pertains to a roller drive unit with:
a roller PA1 a motor to drive the roller PA1 a drive shaft coupled to the motor PA1 a gear system to couple the roller to the drive shaft whereby the gear system has: PA1 a support element on which the roller is supported in a rotary manner and which is in turn rotatable about the axis of the roller, PA1 a device for limiting the angular range about which the support element rotates and PA1 a supporting device for receiving the force acting by means of a load on the roller.
a drive gear coupled in a non-rotating manner to the drive shaft and PA2 a driven gear coupled to the roller on the one hand and to the drive gear on the other
Roller drive units similar to this are known. Such roller drive units are used, for example, for conveying freight holders which are placed on roller conveyors. Such freight holders can be containers or pallets. A preferred field of application for the roller drive unit shown is a freight-loading system in air freight traffic in which the containers are driven into the cargo space of an aircraft and are stowed there. The roller drive unit is accordingly installed in the aircraft itself.
An example of a known roller drive unit is shown in DE-C-3 911 214 (U.S. Pat. No. 5,048,672). The known roller drive unit uses a swivel element as a basic supporting feature. This swivel element supports the roller. The swivel element is supported by the drive shaft and the drive shaft is supported by the frame. With this type of arrangement the driving forces are carried through the drive shaft to the aircraft structure.
To raise the roller the swivel element is rotated around the drive shaft. The roller rises due to the eccentric location of the drive shaft. The transfer of drive forces therefore transmits an undesirable bending moment to the drive shaft.
A similar roller drive unit is described in DE-C-3 724 126. Here the stator supports the roller. It is swivel mounted and swings around the axle to raise the roller. Also here the driving forces are carried to the frame through the drive shaft.
From DE-C-4 336 978 another power drive roller is known which increases the vertical force of the roller by using the reaction force of the planetary gear to depress a spring thereby transferring the driving forces to the structure.


A heterogeneous network apparatus, method, computer program, and computer readable medium can detect path status parameters of heterogeneous networks. The path status parameters are used to calculate path priorities. The path priorities are used to determine an assignment ratio. The assignment ratio is used to assign network paths to transmit a packet, whereby the problem that the heterogeneous network apparatus of the prior art cannot utilize different network interfaces effectively at the same time is solved.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a network transmission apparatus, a method, and a computer readable medium thereof, specifically, it relates to a heterogeneous network transmission apparatus, a method, and a computer readable medium thereof for simultaneously transmitting data through a plurality of network paths according to an assignment ratio.
2. Descriptions of the Related Art
Since portable electronic equipments are popular and various wireless communication technologies make progress, people frequently connect to the network through the portable electronic equipments. It is not hard to imagine that having a plurality of network interfaces for connecting to the Internet in an electronic apparatus is very common. In order to appropriately use the heterogeneous network interfaces on the electronic apparatus, a general way is to adopt the stream control transmission protocol (SCTP). The SCTP is a transport layer protocol defined by SIGTRAN of IETF in 2000. In contrast to the TCP and the UDP, the SCTP uses multi-homing to achieve the objective of controlling the heterogeneous network interfaces.
FIG. 1 shows a conventional heterogeneous network transmission system 1 using the SCTP, wherein a first transceiver 10 intends to transmit data to a second transceiver 11 through the internet 12. There are a first network interface 13, a second network interface 14 and a third network interface 15 which can be selected between the first transceiver 10 and the second transceiver 12. If the first network interface 13 is selected for data transmission, the whole data has to be transmitted through the first network interface 13. If the transmission through the first network interface 13 fails, the SCTP will control the first transceiver 10 to make two duplicates of the data to be transmitted simultaneously through the second network interface 14 and the third network interface 15.
In the conventional heterogeneous network transmission system 1, although the objective of using the heterogeneous network to transmit data between the first transceiver 10 and the second transceiver 11 is achieved, the whole data can only be transmitted through one network interface. This causes other unused network interfaces idle. As described above, even two copies of the data are transmitted simultaneously through two different network interfaces, each copy as a whole must be transmitted through one of the network interfaces. The resource utilization is not efficiently. On the other hand, since portable electronic apparatuses have limited battery capacity, power consumption has to be taken into account when transmission occurs. Consequently, how to select a power-saving network interface and to efficiently utilize the resources of different network interfaces is still an object for the industry to endeavor.

Heterogeneous network transmission apparatus, method, and computer readable medium capable of transmitting a packet with a plurality of network paths according to an assignment ratio


The invention relates to a device for controlling and guiding gas flow in atomizers, in breathing and rebreathing regions of a respiratory appliance. A first embodiment comprises a bypass device; and a said second embodiment comprises a valve which is timed by the respiratory appliance, such that the dead space is not filled with aerosol. Both embodiments provide for an application of aerosol only in the inspiration phase, reduction of the applied medication quantity by reducing the atomization of the dead space, reduction of the side effects of the medications, and sufficient moisturizing of the airways.

With patients suffering from pulmonary diseases, aerosols are often used for therapy. However, special difficulties arise with the utilization of aerosols with patients receiving artificial respiration. Either compressed-air operated nozzle atomizers or atomizers producing aerosols continuously, such as, e.g., ultrasound atomizers or piezoelectric atomizers are used. The nozzle atomizers are normally placed in the common end segment for inspiration and expiration of the artificial respiration hoses, shortly before the tube barrel and are controlled via the artificial respirator, so that they are active only during inspiration. An atomizer is, however, active until the end of inspiration, so that in the overall hose system distal gas enriched with aerosol is present in the atomizer so that the dead-space volume is also provided with aerosol. Thus, it is possible as a rule to place a bacterial filter between the inspiration or expiration legs and the tube barrel, playing also a role in humidifying the respiratory tracts. The heavy humidification of the non-utilized gas column (dead space volume), mostly with large aerosol particles, causes the filter to become filled with liquid and thus loses its antibacterial effect on the one hand, while, on the other hand, the resistance of the filter increases so much that it closes up.
The continuous atomizers such as, e.g., ultrasound atomizers or piezoelectric atomizers produce smaller particles (average size less than 7 μm) that reach the point of utilization more easily, resulting in fewer side effects and lower drug costs. However, these devices can only be placed in the inspiration leg of an artificial respirator since they produce aerosols continuously and would thus convey aerosols to or from the patient during the inspiration as well as during the expiration phase. A filter would, therefore, fill up and lose effectiveness or close up. By omitting a filter, insufficient humidification of the breathing or inhaled air results so that a breathing-air humidifier has to be used which, in addition to costs, also involves a hygienic problem (nosocomial pneumonia). Accordingly, an object of the invention is to create a device in combination with aerosol-producing atomizers that can avoid the foregoing described problems.


A screen for displaying an image by projection light includes: a selectively reflective layer having reflection properties with respect to light in a specific wavelength region corresponding to the projection light, and having absorption properties with respect to light in a wavelength region other than the specific wavelength region. And the selectively reflective layer includes an optical multilayer film having a dielectric film and a light-absorbing thin film having transmission properties, and a reflective layer for reflecting light which has passed through the optical multilayer film.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a screen which displays an image by projection light, and more particularly to a reflective screen and a method for manufacturing the same.
2. Description of Related Art
In recent years, as means of presenting materials in a conference and the like, data projectors are widely used, and video projectors and moving picture film projectors for home use are being spread. In these projectors, light emitted from a light source is spatially modulated by a light valve to form light image, and the light image is projected on a screen for projection through a lighting optic, such as a lens.
The projectors of this type include one which allows color images to appear using, as a light source, a lamp emitting white light including light of three primary colors, i.e., red (R), green (G), and blue (B) light, and using a transmissive liquid-crystal panel as a light valve. In this projector, white light emitted from the light source is split by a lighting optic into light rays of red, green, and blue, and the individual light rays are converged to predetermined optical paths. These light fluxes are spatially modulated by the liquid-crystal panel according to the image signals, and the modulated light fluxes are combined by a light combining unit to form color light image, and the color light image combined is magnified by means of a projection lens and projected on a screen.
Further, recently, as a projector which allows color images to appear, an apparatus using a narrow-band three primary-color light source as a light source, for example, a laser generator emitting narrow-band light of the three primary colors, and using a grating light valve (GLV) as a light valve has been developed. In this projector, light fluxes of the individual colors emitted from the laser generator are spatially modulated by the GLV according to the image signals. The modulated light fluxes are combined by a light combining unit like in the above-mentioned projectors to form color light image, and the color light image combined is magnified by means of a projection lens and projected on a screen.
In the above projectors, the screen which displays a projection image is roughly classified into a transmissive screen and a reflective screen. The transmissive screen is a screen which transmits light image emitted from a projector in the rear of the screen so that a projection image can be seen as the transmitted light, and the reflective screen is a screen which reflects light image emitted from a projector in front of the screen so that a projection image can be seen as the reflected light.
As the reflective screen, a beads screen or white screen which reflects and scatters projection light from a projector is used, and this screen also reflects light other than the projection light, i.e., ambient light, and hence not only the ambient light level but also the black level (black image luminance) are increased, and therefore the screen can display only an image having a low contrast (=white level/black level) in the bright light at a high ambient light level, and thus the room must be dim for lowering the ambient light level.
For solving the problem, there has been proposed a screen in which a light absorbing layer is formed in front of a reflective layer to lower the black level, improving the contrast in the ambient light (see, for example, patent document 1 below). However, in this case, the light absorbing layer absorbs not only the ambient light but also the projection light, and therefore the white level is lowered to reduce the screen gain (luminance), and further the improvement of the contrast in the bright light is not satisfactory.
In addition, there has been proposed a screen shown in FIG. 25, in which a transparent layer 103 having a plurality of protrusions 102 is formed on a diffuser panel 101 on the surface of the screen and an opaque layer 104 including a black coating composition is formed on the sidewall of each protrusion to absorb ambient light, improving the contrast in the ambient light without lowering the white level (see, for example, patent document 2 below). However, in this case, the ambient light from the front of the screen is not absorbed and the improvement of the contrast in the bright light is not satisfactory, and further there is a problem in that a prolonged time and a cumbersome process are required in forming the protrusions and the opaque layer on the sidewall of each protrusion.    [Patent document 1] Japanese Patent No. 3103802    [Patent document 2] Japanese Patent No. 2889153

Screen and method for manufacturing the same


An image forming apparatus includes: an image carrier having an endless circumferential surface on which a latent image is formed due to an electrostatic potential difference; a developing device that attaches a toner to the image carrier to form a toner image; an endless intermediate transfer belt that is entrained around a plurality of roll members and moves circumferentially, and contacts the image carrier to transfer the toner image to the intermediate transfer belt; a transferring device that further transfers the toner image that has been transferred to the intermediate transfer belt, to a recording sheet; and a load applying member that cooperates with one of the roll members placed inside the intermediate transfer belt, to nip the intermediate transfer belt to apply a load to the intermediate transfer belt, the load applying member contacting a non-image region of the intermediate transfer belt.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus for transferring a toner to a latent image due to an electrostatic potential difference, to form a visible image.
2. Related Art
As an image forming apparatus for transferring a toner to an electrostatic latent image formed on an image carrier to form a toner image, an apparatus is widely used in which a toner image formed on an image carrier is once transferred to an intermediate transfer member, and the toner image on the intermediate transfer member is transferred to a recording medium. As an intermediate transfer member, an endless intermediate transfer belt which is circularly moved while being entrained around a plurality of roll members such as a driving roll and a steering roll is often used.
In such an apparatus, a toner image formed on the image carrier is transferred to the intermediate transfer belt at a primary transfer position, and then conveyed to a secondary transfer position by the circular movement of the intermediate transfer belt. At the secondary transfer position, a backup roll which is butted against the inner circumferential surface of the intermediate transfer belt, and a secondary transfer roll which is pressed from the outside of the intermediate transfer belt against the backup roll through the intermediate transfer belt are placed, and a recording medium is overlaid on the intermediate transfer belt and then nipped between the secondary transfer roll and the backup roll.

Image forming apparatus including load applying member


A gas generator is provided, the gas generator having a propellant cushion that prevents movement of propellant tablets or grains by providing a bias thereagainst. Furthermore, the cushion is formed from an auto-igniting material thereby functioning not only as a cushion, but also as an enhanced auto-ignition charge.

Inflatable restraint systems or "airbag" systems have become a standard feature in many new vehicles. These systems have made significant contributions to automobile safety, however, as with the addition of any standard feature, they increase the cost, manufacturing complexity and weight of most vehicles. Technological advances addressing these concerns are therefore welcomed by the industry. In particular, the gas generator or inflator used in many occupant restraint systems tends to be the heaviest, most complex component. Thus, simplifying the design and manufacturing of airbag inflators, while retaining optimal function, has long been a goal of automotive engineers.
Typical inflators are constructed having an elongate metallic body. Because many inflators utilize pyrotechnic gas generant compounds to produce inflation gas for the associated airbag, the inflator structure is necessarily robust, making such inflators correspondingly heavy. An increasingly popular and useful inflator style uses multiple, selectively activated gas generant charges. In such systems, the multiple propellant beds disposed within the inflator body may be ignited either simultaneously or serially. Certain vehicle and occupant parameters may justify firing both propellant beds in the event of a crash. Other scenarios may be best addressed by firing only one of the propellant charges, or firing the charges sequentially, with a delay between the two events. In order to avoid sympathetic ignition of one charge during firing of the other, the combustion chambers must generally be fluidly isolated. The relatively large forces on the inflator generated by the combustion of pyrotechnics therein requires the internal partitions and other structural members of the inflator that fluidly isolate the charges to be relatively sturdy, further adding to the weight of the inflator.
Various schemes have developed for constructing sturdy, internally partitioned multi-chamber inflators. One approach involves inserting a partition into the interior of the inflator, then crimping or roll-forming the inflator body to retain the partition. This approach has proven effective, however, in many circumstances a heavier-duty/thicker inflator body must be used that will withstand the crimping and/or roll forming process. Such inflator bodies can be quite heavy, and the manufacturing process is relatively complicated given processing steps necessary to secure the internal partitions.
Yet another concern is repeatability of performance of the gas generator. Propellant springs or cushions are employed to prevent fracture of the propellant thereby maintaining a relatively constant propellant surface area of combustion. Optimizing the weight and size of the inflator, while providing the necessary multi-functionality of the inflator constituents remains an ongoing challenge.


Systems and methods are provided for offering a financial product or service to a group of consumers. A first marketing pack for marketing a financial product or service to a group of consumers, where the first marketing pack has a first value for at least one marketing pack attribute, is selected. A second marketing pack having a second value for the at least one marketing pack attribute is then selected, such that the difference between the first value and the second value satisfies a predetermined marketing distance criteria. Thereafter, the financial product or service is offered to the group of consumers using the first marketing pack and the second marketing pack.

I. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to marketing systems and methods for offering products or services, such as financial products and services. More particularly, the invention relates to systems and methods for providing complementary marketing of financial products and services to consumers.
II. Background and Material Information
The marketing of products and services, such as financial products and services, typically involves customer or marketing research. Generally, the focus of such research is to determine what types of products or services a majority of the population prefers. To this end, businesses use market-testing techniques, such as focus groups and other techniques, to determine the preferences of consumers.
Marketing research may also be performed to ascertain the best way of presenting an offer for a product or service. Thus, for example, various attributes of marketing material (such as a marketing pack or envelope sent to consumers) may be tailored to make it more attractive to a majority of the population. Such attributes may include the size, layout and/or colors for the marketing material, as well as the type, font, or color of the text used in the materials.
Typically, businesses will determine the attributes that make a particular marketing pack or envelope the most attractive to a majority of consumers and tailor it to the needs of that majority. However, tailoring such marketing materials to the majority of the population ignores other consumers, who may respond to other types of marketing packs or other types of products and services. Accordingly, there is a need for a system and method for providing marketing materials and offers for products and services in such a way that not only the majority of the consumer population is captured, but also the minority of consumers are targeted and captured.

Systems and methods for marketing financial products and services


An electromagnetic wave absorptive film for absorbing electromagnetic waves by means of destructive interference is disclosed to include a compound layer, which has single-layer and/or double-layer wave-absorbing and/or wave reflecting grains embedded therein and a thickness equal to ¼n times of the wavelength of the electromagnetic wave to be absorbed, and a reflective layer, which is covered on one side of the compound layer and has a refractive index greater than the compound layer.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to EMI protective materials and more particularly, to an electromagnetic wave absorptive film that absorbs electromagnetic waves by means of destructive interference. The invention relates also to the fabrication of such an electromagnetic wave absorptive film.
2. Description of the Related Art
Following fast development of high technology, a variety of computers and digitalized communication apparatus and consumer electronic products have been disclosed and have appeared on the market. It is the market trend to make electronic products of relatively higher frequency. In consequence, consumers have a high chance of exposing the body to the harm of electromagnetic waves that may result in a high risk of leukaemia, encephalophyma, DNA destructive disease, and other diseases. According to studies, electromagnetic waves over 60 Hz become harmful to DNA in human cells. Some other foreign studies indicate influences of a cellular telephone to human brain such as temporary memory loss, lowering of the ability of behavior, etc. Because bad effects of electromagnetic waves have been continuously discovered, it has become the major research object in different fields to find electromagnetic wave protective materials.
Regular electromagnetic wave protective materials include electric field shielding materials and magnetic field shielding materials. Further, there are EMI (electromagnetic interference) protective materials prepared from mixture of metal fibers and other natural and synthetic fibers. Organic compound materials may be coated on a variety of materials such as metals, plastics, magnesium alloy, titanium alloy, aluminum alloy, wood, ceramics to change their surface characteristics, achieving EMI protective function.
However, conventional EMI protective materials commonly have a certain thickness that limits the application range. Nowadays, it is the market trend to develop cellular telephones and other electronic products having light, thin, short and small characteristics. When conventional EMI protective materials are used in small mobile electronic products, electromagnetic waves will still leak.
Therefore, it is desirable to provide an electromagnetic absorptive film that eliminates the aforesaid problems.

Electromagnetic wave absorptive film and its fabrication


Flexible thermal control coatings for use on components of spacecraft and methods for fabricating such coatings are provided. In an exemplary embodiment, a flexible thermal control coating comprises a flexible organic binder for disposition on the component and an inorganic material having a radiation absorptance (α) of less than about 0.2 and an emissivity (ε) of at least about 0.6. The inorganic material and the organic binder are oriented relative to each other so that an exterior surface of the coating has a higher concentration of inorganic material than an interior surface of the coating and a lower concentration of organic binder than the interior surface.

Spacecraft, such as satellites and deep-space craft, are exposed to a wide range of thermal conditions during service. A side facing the sun is heated by absorption of direct solar radiation, while a side facing the void of space is cooled by emission of thermal radiation. If the temperature of the structure or payload becomes too hot or too cold, structural distortion can occur resulting in reduced system capability. Furthermore, payloads such as electronics, batteries and other critical systems can experience lower efficiency, non-operation, shortened lifetimes or failures. Thermal control of the spacecraft is therefore important. Various techniques have been developed to reduce temperature variations in external structural elements such as antennas and booms, and to maintain the interior of the spacecraft at a temperature suitable for sensitive equipment, payloads, and occupancy by human beings.
In one thermal control approach, the external surface of the spacecraft is covered with an inorganic white coating. The coating is designed to absorb very little solar radiation, yet efficiently radiate thermal energy in the infrared spectrum, thus biasing the overall temperature of the satellite structure on which it is disposed towards cooler temperatures. The coating is substantially stable to the radiation and low pressure gaseous environment encountered in space without losing its thermal properties by discoloring, darkening, or otherwise degrading over time in the harsh environment of low to high earth orbit. For some applications, the coating also must be sufficiently electrically conductive to dissipate electrostatic charge on the surface of the spacecraft.
While prior art inorganic coatings may work well to prevent overheating of rigid spacecraft structures, they tend to be brittle and impliable, making them unsuitable for use on inflatable structures, deployable structures, flexible structures, reconfigurable or movable structures, and the like. However, deployable, inflatable, reconfigurable, flexible, and/or movable structures are becoming more prevalent on spacecraft. While mechanically flexible thermal control coatings can be made from organic binders and resins, they are highly susceptible to darkening and degradation over time due to solar and other sources of radiation, which increases their solar radiation absorbance and therefore increases their surface temperatures eventually leading to abnormal functioning or even premature failure of spacecraft components.
Accordingly, it is desirable to provide flexible thermal control coatings suitable for use on deployable, inflatable, reconfigurable, movable, or otherwise flexible structures of spacecraft. In addition, it is desirable to provide flexible thermal control coatings that maintain low solar radiation absorbance and high infrared emissivity during extended exposure to space environments. It is also desirable to provide methods for fabricating such thermal control coatings. Furthermore, other desirable features and characteristics of the present invention will become apparent from the subsequent detailed description of the invention and the appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and this background of the invention.

Flexible thermal control coatings and methods for fabricating the same


A control pedal disabling device includes a housing having a side opening or notch for receiving a pedal assembly component. The opening has a forward surface for bearing against the underside of a pedal assembly component. A rod is slidably mounted to the housing. The rod is movable across the opening to trap the pedal assembly component in the opening. The rod is also movable forwardly from the housing to bear against a vehicle floor, thereby preventing movement of the pedal assembly component toward the vehicle floor.

The present invention relates generally to a vehicle theft deterrent, and more particularly to a device for selectively disabling a vehicle control pedal to prevent theft of the vehicle.
Control pedal disabling devices permit a vehicle owner to selectively disable one or more vehicle control pedals while the vehicle is unoccupied to prevent theft of the vehicle. Because vehicles are now typically equipped with brake-shift-interlocks, which prevent shifting the vehicle transmission out of park unless the brake is depressed, brake locks are a useful deterrent to vehicle theft. Existing brake locks are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,575,001, 6,463,772 and 6,202,456, for example. These devices are complex, have numerous parts and are consequently expensive. Some of these designs also have a substantial risk of pinching the users hand or fingers between its serrated rod and housing.


Disclosed is an optical cable with a secondary sheath for surrounding and protecting a plurality of optical fiber units in which at least 1-core optical fiber is mounted in a buffer tube, wherein the secondary sheath is made of a mixture including 100 parts by weight of base resin selected from the group consisting of low density polyethylene, linear low density polyethylene, and their mixture; and 0.2 to 60 parts by weight of inorganic additive. The secondary sheath of this optical cable shows excellent cutting and tear characteristics and ensures easy contact and divergence.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an optical cable having a secondary sheath for surrounding and protecting a plurality of optical fiber units in which at least one-core optical fiber is mounted in a buffer tube.
2. Description of the Related Art
As various communication services such as bi-directional communications and image communications are propagated more broadly at home and abroad, a demand for optical cables keeps increasing. Referring to FIG. 1, a general optical cable 20 has a plurality of optical fiber units 10 in which 1- to 12-core optical fiber 13 is mounted in a buffer tube 15 and a jelly 11 is selectively filled therein. The plurality of optical fiber units 10 are inserted into and protected by a secondary sheath 16, and the secondary sheath 16 may be filled with waterproof powder or jelly 17 for making it watertight. In addition, the outside of the secondary sheath 16 is selectively wrapped by a waterproof tape or paper 18, and the outermost layer is protected by a primary sheath 19 made of resin.
Among the elements composing the optical cable, the secondary sheath plays a role of protecting the optical fiber units in the sheath and reinforcing tensile force of the cable that is required for its circumstances. Conventionally, the secondary sheath is frequently made of hard resin such as high density polyethylene and polypropylene with excellent mechanical features in consideration of its primary function for protecting the optical fiber units.
However, such hard polymer materials are not easily shed and require experienced skill for shedding, so they take much time for contact of optical fibers during the cable installation process. That is to say, in order to branch off the cable in a midway position, some strands of optical fibers should be taken out after the primary and secondary sheaths are shed. However, the secondary sheath made of hard polymer materials such as high density polyethylene may damage the buffer tube and the optical fiber when being shed, and it is also difficult to make its surface be cut smoothly. In order to shed the secondary sheath, an effective way is to make a scar on a certain region of the secondary sheath and then tear it. However, the hard high density polyethylene has not good tear characteristic due to bad initial brittleness and strong tenacity. In addition, since the secondary sheath is elongated while being torn, it is not easy to tear it over several ten centimeters smoothly.
Meanwhile, a plasticized PVC made by adding a plasticizer to give flexibility to hard PVC is sometimes used as a material of the secondary sheath. However, the plasticized PVC may cause a fatal problem on the optical fiber in the buffer tube when the contained plasticizer is leaked out, so very limited kinds of materials may be used for the buffer tube.

Optical cable with easily removable inner sheath


The present invention provides an isolated nucleic acid comprising a single retroviral LTR, a polypurine tract, a packaging signal, a primer binding site and a rev responsive element. Further provided is an isolated nucleic acid comprising a heterologous nucleotide sequence, a single retroviral long terminal repeat (LTR), a packaging signal, a rev responsive element, a polypurine tract, a eukaryotic promoter, a primer binding site, a bacterial origin of replication and a bacterial selection marker. In addition, the present invention provides an isolated nucleic acid comprising a 5′ retroviral LTR and a 3′ retroviral LTR, a heterologous nucleotide sequence, a packaging signal, a rev responsive element, a polypurine tract, a eukaryotic promoter, a primer binding site, a bacterial origin of replication and a bacterial selection marker cassette, wherein the bacterial origin of replication and bacterial selection marker are located between the two LTRs.

Retrovirus vectors are common tools used in gene therapy model systems. However, there are many safety concerns associated with the use of such vectors. A consideration in the construction of retroviral packaging cell lines is the production of high titer vector supernatants free of recombinant replication competent retroviruses (RCRs). In particular, one method to reduce the likelihood of generating RCRs in packaging cells is to divide the packaging functions into two genomes, for example, one which expresses the gag and pol gene products and the other which expresses the env gene product (Bosselman et al., Mol. Cell. Biol. (1987) 7(5):1797–1806; Markowitz et al., J. Virol. (1988) 62(4):1120–1124; Danos & Mulligan, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. (1988) 85:6460–6464). This approach minimizes the ability for co-packaging and subsequent transfer of the two genomes, and allows for a significantly decrease in the frequency of recombination to produce RCRs, due to the presence of three retroviral genomes in the packaging cell. High titer retroviral vector stocks have also been generated by a minimal packaging system containing only the gag-pol gene. High titer retroviral HIV-1 vector stocks have also been generated by a minimal packaging system containing only the gag-pol gene and the rev gene. In the event recombinants arise, mutations (Danos & Mulligan, supra) or deletions (Bosselman et al., supra; Markowitz et al., supra) can be configured within the undesired gene products to render any possible recombinants non-functional. In addition, deletion in the 3′ LTR in the vector construct further reduces the ability to form functional recombinant particles.
Several research groups have focused on the lentivirus vector system. Lentiviruses are complex retroviruses that contain, in addition to the common retroviral genes gag, pol and env, other genes with regulatory or structural function. A representative example of a lentivirus is human immunodeficiency virus-1 (HIV-1), an etiologic agent of acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS).
In addition to full-length linear HIV-1 DNA, which serves as the precursor to the integrated provirus, nuclei of virus-transduced cells contain quantities of circular viral DNA forms that do not contribute to provirus integration. These forms have been considered as "dead-end by-products of aborted infections," with minimum contribution to the virus life cycle.
It is believed that a retroviral vector construct used in the production of recombinant retroviral particles should have two LTRs, each containing a complete R region, because both are believed to be required for efficient vector production and viral replication. The present invention provides a retroviral vector construct containing only one retroviral LTR that is used to produce high titers of recombinant retroviral particles, thereby reducing the likelihood of recombination and rearrangement during particle formation that can lead to the generation of RCR.


A vehicle control system for a multi-branching track has a main travelling track for guiding a vehicle, a storage unit disposed before a branch point and storing data for selectively guiding the vehicle to one of a plurality of branch tracks, and a data-reading unit mounted on the vehicle and for reading the data stored at the storage unit. The storage unit stores data of branching directions of the branch tracks and further data of addresses of stations included in the respective branch tracks, with the data and further data being correlated with each other.

1 Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a vehicle control system for a multi-branching track, and more particularly to a system of the above-noted type including a storage means storing data for selectively guiding a vehicle to one of a plurality of branch tracks, the storage means being disposed before a branch point of a vehicle travelling track and read means mounted on the vehicle for reading the data stored at the storage means.
2 Description of the Related Art
A conventional vehicle control system of the above-described type is disclosed in e.g. the Japanese laid-open patent gazette No. 63-124113. This convention will be briefly described next.
In this system, a storage means (commonly referred to as an ID card or ID tag) having a writable memory and a wireless communication means is provided at a position before a branching point where a single branch track branches from a main track. The storage means stores data of an address of a station included in the branch track.
On the other hand, a vehicle includes a wireless communication means for communication with the storage means and through this means the vehicle reads the data stored at the storage means when the vehicle reaches the location before the branching point. Upon detection of presence of address data of a target station, the vehicle is guided to the branch track. With detection of absence of the data, on the other hand, the vehicle keeps travelling on the main travelling track without switching over to the branch track.
This conventional system has the advantage of flexiblity to cope with a change in the layout of the stations only through re-writing of the data stored at the storage means.
However, the conventional system is usable only for selective vehicle guidance between the main travelling track and one branch track. Furthermore, for simplicity of the system, the data stored at the storage means comprises only the address data of the station positioned within the branch track. Accordingly, the selective vehicle guidance of the system is effected only between the main track and the branch track depending on the presence or absence of the address data.
As a result, the conventional system is not usable for selectively guiding the vehicle among more than three tracks, e.g. one main track and right and left branch tracks.
The present invention attends to this inconvenience of the convention and its primary object is to provide an improved vehicle control system for a multi-branching track which system is usable for selective vehicle guidance among more than three tracks through communication with a storage means positioned before a branching point and storing data relating to the itinerary of the vehicle.

Vehicle control system for multi-branching track


A framework for generating optimized recommendations is described herein. For example, an optimized customer recommendation engine is described herein. Customer data is collected and pre-processed into a data model. Recommendations are calculated and provided by an aggregated method. The aggregated output is generated based on the outputs of a real-time prediction model and an offline modeling process. The real-time prediction model may be an online modeling training technique based on support vector machines (SVM) to classify customers and provide quick recommendations. The offline modeling process may be a learning process based on a back-propagation artificial neural network (BP-ANN) to provide with reliable predictions. Validation may be introduced to evaluate the accuracy of the recommendation model.

Certain types of industries, such as the insurance industry, have diverse customers with different needs. Diverse customers with different needs present challenges to companies. For example, it is difficult to produce products or provide services which satisfy needs of different customers. Due to the diverse needs and desires of different customers, it is difficult to mass market products and services.
In the case of an insurance company, it may have numerous products to offer. Traditionally, the insurance industry relies on one-to-one quotations and customizations by insurance agents to satisfy the various needs of different customers. However, this requires a high demand for human resources and therefore is costly and time consuming. Therefore, it is desirable to provide an efficient and reliable recommendation system to identify potential customers and to assist with marketing strategy for different insurance products in view of the market dynamics.
The present disclosure relates to a system and method for recommending potential customers to a sales agent in order to increase hit rate and improve cross-selling rate.


One embodiment of the present invention provides a system that facilitates scheduling packets in a multi-service integrated switch fabric wherein packet services are attached directly to the switch fabric. During operation, the system receives a packet at the switch fabric. Upon receiving the packet, the system uses pre-defined rules to identify packet services to perform operations on the packet. The system then attaches a tag to the packet, which identifies the packet services to be performed on the packet. The system then schedules the packet on the switch fabric. During the scheduling process, the system considers the packet services identified by the tag and the occupancies of queues associated with the identified packet services when scheduling the packet in an attempt to optimize network throughput.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to computer networks. More specifically, the present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for scheduling packets in a multi-service integrated switch fabric.
2. Related Art
Because of the increasing volume and complexity of data center applications, it has become increasingly common for businesses and data centers to separate enterprise applications into three or more tiers. This n-tier architecture provides the benefits of improved scalability and performance, as well as increased security.
In addition to the n-tier model, more complex IP services, such as SSL, XML, URL switching and NAT, are being relocated from general purpose servers to specialized hardware appliances. These "packet services" are performed on each packet regardless of the data payload of the packet.
While IP service specialization has many potential benefits, including faster processing and better security, this specialization increases network traffic and places an added burden on the network switch fabric. In a traditional client-server environment, the network switch fabric sees a stream of packets coming into the server and another stream of packets returning to the client. However, in current n-tier models, as clients interact with enterprise applications, as well as with specialized appliances and servers, the same packets traveling between the client and the enterprise application can potentially get routed to many specialized appliances and servers, and can consequently generate much more traffic in the local switch fabric than the simple two-way traffic in traditional systems.
In order to handle increased traffic on the local network, organizations have typically increased their bandwidth with faster switches, as well as with more intelligent packet-scheduling switches. These packet-scheduling switches prioritize traffic according to various criteria including, the type of packet and the destination of the packet. However, these packet-scheduling switches typically only consider the next destination for a packet. For example, if a packet is encrypted via Secure Socket Layers (SSL), and is consequently being routed to an SSL appliance, the packet is scheduled on the switch fabric using only knowledge of the required SSL services. If the packet will subsequently require another service, such as Network Address Translation (NAT), after SSL, the need for NAT is not considered when scheduling the packet for the SSL service. This can lead to sub-optimal scheduling decisions. For example, if the SSL service queue is currently occupied, and the NAT service queue is empty, it is preferable for the packet-scheduling switch to route the packet to the empty NAT service queue prior to routing the packet to the occupied SSL service queue, instead of routing the packet to the busy SSL service queue first.
Hence, what is needed is a method for scheduling traffic on a switch fabric in a manner that considers all of the services needed by each packet.

Method and apparatus for scheduling packets in a multi-service integrated switch fabric


A semiconductor integrated circuit device includes a storage unit arranged on a semiconductor chip to store a plurality of data, and a plurality of registers provided on the semiconductor chip, the registers storing the data transferred from the storage unit, respectively. The storage unit has a nonvolatile memory element section and a volatile memory element section. The nonvolatile memory element section includes an address area which stores identification information of the registers as addresses and a data area which stores the data to correspond to the addresses by varying electrical characteristics irreversibly. The volatile memory element section temporarily stores the data read from the nonvolatile memory element section.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a semiconductor integrated circuit device. More specifically, the invention relates to a system large-scale integrated circuit (LSI) including a storage unit that stores information such as replacement information of memory circuits integrated on a chip, chip identification codes and setting information for setting circuit constants of, e.g., power supply circuits, and the like.
2. Description of the Related Art
With the recent advance of integrated circuit technology, a semiconductor integrated circuit device called a system LSI including various types of circuits having different functions and integrated on one or more chips has been achieved. As circuits integrated on the system LSI, there are a logic circuit for performing various operations, a memory circuit for storing information such as results of the operations, a power supply circuit such as an internal potential generation circuit for generating an internal potential, different types of analog circuits, and the like.
Some of the above circuits need their internal settings to be changed after the system LSI is manufactured and tested or after it is sealed in a package. As settings to be changed, there can be considered replacement information for replacing a defective cell with a defect-free cell in the memory circuit and setting information for setting circuit characteristics (circuit constant) of the circuit in the internal potential generation circuit. Conventionally, such information is stored in a nonvolatile memory on a chip or outside a chip. For simplification of management of a system LSI sealed in a package, each chip has coded identification information (chip identification code) and, in such a case, too, the nonvolatile memory is used.
In the system LSI so configured, information items are read in sequence from the nonvolatile memory at power-on. The read information items are transferred to a register for storing chip identification codes, a register for storing setting information of the internal potential generation circuit, and a register for storing replacement information of the memory circuit. Thus, the internal settings of the respective circuits are performed in accordance with the information items stored in the registers.
As the above nonvolatile memory, a fuse macro including a plurality of fuse elements has, conventionally, often been used. Well-known examples of the above-described fuse elements include fuses for fusing a wiring layer by a laser beam, fuses for fusing a wiring layer by current (current-fusing type), and fuses for breaking a gate oxide film of a transistor by a high voltage (high-voltage breaking type). These can be added with the manufacturing process of a system LSI being hardly changed, and the occupied areas are small and the control thereof is easy, which leads to a broad range of use thereof. Further, because such fuse elements can be programmed only once from the property thereof, they are called one-time programmable (OTP) memories. Note that, with respect to some of the fuse elements which are electrically programmed, such as a current-fusing type and a high-voltage breaking type, there is the advantage that programming can be carried out even after the system LSI is sealed in a package, which has been attracting attention in particular.
However, there is a problem in that no information can be overwritten (rewritten) to a blown fuse element. If a fuse element is blown only once, the fuse macro can serve as a nonvolatile storage unit sufficiently. However, various types of tests are conducted on a system LSI and there is a case where the written information has to be rewritten after another test. The fuse macro cannot cope with this case.
As the prior art of the present invention, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,102,963 proposes transferring data serially from a data-rewritable nonvolatile memory to a volatile programmable logic device (PLD).

Semiconductor integrated circuit device including storage unit having nonvolatile and volatile memory element sections


An apparatus for determining a coefficient of friction on a surface of objects such as rails. In one embodiment, the apparatus comprises a vertical sensor assembly for determining the coefficient of friction of a top surface of a rail. A different embodiment comprises a lateral sensor assembly for determining a coefficient of friction of a gage face of a rail. The sensor assemblies may include a shoe. The sensor assemblies may include a load cell. Other embodiments include various combinations of lateral sensor assemblies and vertical sensor assemblies. Structure for mounting the assemblies to a vehicle may also be provided.

This invention relates generally to devices for measuring the coefficient of friction between a sliding piece and a stationary element, and in particular to a device adapted for measuring the coefficient of friction of railroad rail.
Railroad rails are lubricated primarily for two reasons: reduction of wear and reduction of energy consumption. While lubrication has been used on rails in curves for decades, recent discoveries have made it advantageous to lubricate straight or tangent track to reduce locomotive fuel consumption. Conversely, there are some operating situations where lubrication is very undesirable because of a need for high traction by the locomotive and braking of entire trains. Management of lubrication strategies is essential to safe and efficient railroad operations.
A conventional device for measuring friction must be pushed along the track manually by an operator. It can only measure one location on one track at a time. Also, it is very labor-intensive and places the operator out in the elements while measurements are taken.
A device was needed that measured both the running surface (top) and the gage face (side) or corner of both rails. Such a device would preferably provide information on the lubrication condition of four locations as the device was moved along a pair of railroad tracks. Mounting of such a device on a regular piece of railroad maintenance and inspection equipment would increase its utility. The railroads regularly use a modified pickup truck with small railroad wheels attached to inspect railroad tracks. The small railroad wheels guide the pickup truck and its rubber tires provide the traction and motive power. The installation of a coefficient of friction measuring device on the front bumper of such a pickup truck would greatly enhance the utility of such a measuring device. The operator could place the friction measuring device on the rail and drive for miles, collecting data in the process. By using a computer up in the cab of the pickup with electrical connections to the friction measuring device, the operator could observe the electrical responses of the device and discern the actual coefficient of friction as he drives on the rail. The device could also record the measurements for later analysis.
An object of the invention is to provide a simple, accurate, reliable device with minimal maintenance to measure the coefficient of friction to assess lubrication levels. It would be advantageous to assess the levels of lubrication at two locations of both railroad tracks simultaneously. The device is preferably lightweight for ease of installation and easy to use. Preferably, it produces consistent results independent of travel speed or the vehicle to which it is attached. An advantage of the invention described herein is that a lightweight device can be easily mounted to a railroad maintenance vehicle and collect many miles of data reliably, which will enable improved management of rail lubrication on the railroads.

Device for determining coefficient of friction and level of lubrication


A non-polishing planarizing method for forming a planarized aperture fill layer within an aperture within a topographic substrate layer. There is first provided a topographic substrate layer employed within a microelectronics fabrication, where the topographic substrate layer comprises a series of mesas of substantially equivalent height but of differing widths, separated by a series of apertures. The series of mesas has formed thereupon a co-extensive series of patterned sacrificial layers. There is then formed upon the topographic substrate layer and the series of patterned sacrificial layers a blanket aperture fill layer employing a deposition and sputter method to fill the series of apertures to a planarizing thickness greater than the height of the mesas, while simultaneously forming a series of protrusions of the blanket aperture fill layer corresponding with the locations of the series of patterned sacrificial layers. There is then masked with a mask layer the blanket aperture fill layer to leave exposed at least a protrusion of the blanket aperture fill layer formed upon a widest of the patterned sacrificial layers. There is then etched while employing the mask layer and a first etch method at least a portion of the protrusion. There is then stripped from the microelectronics fabrication the mask layer. There is then etched while employing an isotropic second etch method which is selective to a remaining blanket aperture fill layer with respect to the patterned sacrificial layers the blanket aperture fill layer to form a series of patterned planarized aperture fill layers separated by the series of mesas, where the thickness of each patterned planarized aperture fill layer is substantially equivalent to the height of the mesas. Finally, there is stripped while employing an isotropic third etch method which is selective to the patterned sacrificial layers with respect to the patterned planarized aperture fill layers the patterned sacrificial layers from the topographic substrate layer to leave remaining the series of patterned planarized aperture fill layers substantially co-planar with the series of mesas which comprises the topographic substrate layer.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to methods for forming patterned planarized aperture fill layers within apertures within topographic substrate layers employed within microelectronics fabrications. More particularly, the present invention relates to non-polishing methods for forming patterned planarized aperture fill layers within apertures within topographic substrate layers employed within microelectronics fabrications.
2. Description of the Related Art
Integrated circuit microelectronics fabrications are formed from semiconductor substrates within and upon whose surfaces are formed integrated circuit devices. The integrated circuit devices are connected internally and externally to the semiconductor substrates upon which they are formed through use of patterned conductor layers which are separated by dielectric layers.
As integrated circuit microelectronics fabrication integration levels have increased and integrated circuit device and patterned conductor layer dimensions have decreased, it has become more prevalent in the art of integrated circuit microelectronics fabrication to employ trench isolation methods, such as but not limited to shallow trench isolation (STI) methods and recessed oxide isolation (ROI) methods, to form planarized trench isolation regions within isolation trenches within semiconductor substrates in order to separate active regions of the semiconductor substrates within and upon which are formed integrated circuit devices.
Such shallow trench isolation (STI) methods and recessed oxide isolation (ROI) methods are desirable for forming planarized trench isolation regions within isolation trenches within semiconductor substrates employed within integrated circuit microelectronics fabrications since shallow trench isolation (STI) methods and recessed oxide isolation (ROI) methods typically provide planarized trench isolation regions which are nominally co-planar with the surfaces of adjoining active regions of a semiconductor substrate which they separate. Such nominally coplanar planarized trench isolation regions and adjoining active regions of a semiconductor substrate generally optimize an attenuated depth of focus typically achievable with an advanced photoexposure apparatus employed when forming advanced integrated circuit devices and patterned conductor layers within an advanced integrated circuit microelectronics fabrication.
While shallow trench isolation (STI) methods and recessed oxide isolation (ROI) methods are thus desirable when forming planarized trench isolation regions within isolation trenches within semiconductor substrates employed within advanced integrated circuit microelectronics fabrications, shallow trench isolation (STI) methods and recessed oxide isolation (ROI) methods are nonetheless not entirely without problems when forming planarized trench isolation regions within isolation trenches within semiconductor substrates employed within advanced integrated circuit microelectronics fabrications. In particular, it is often difficult to form when employing shallow trench isolation (STI) methods which in turn employ chemical mechanical polish (CMP) planarizing methods for forming planarized trench isolation regions within isolation trenches within semiconductor substrates employed within integrated circuit microelectronics fabrications planarized trench isolation regions which are uniformly and economically planarized. In that regard, chemical mechanical polish (CMP) planarizing methods often provide non-uniformly chemical mechanical polish (CMP) planarized trench isolation regions, such as chemical mechanical polish (CMP) planarized trench isolation regions whose surfaces are dished, when such chemical mechanical polish (CMP) planarized trench isolation regions are formed within particularly wide isolation trenches of greater than about 300 microns width. In addition, chemical mechanical polish (CMP) planarizing methods also generally add complexity and cost to integrated circuit microelectronics fabrication methods, since such chemical mechanical polish (CMP) planarizing methods require additional integrated circuit microelectronics fabrication processing equipment and attendant capital expenditures.
It is therefore desirable within the art of integrated circuit microelectronics fabrication to provide non-polishing methods and materials through which planarized trench isolation regions may be formed within isolation trenches within semiconductor substrates employed within integrated circuit microelectronics fabrications to provide integrated circuit microelectronics fabrications fabricated with attenuated process complexity, attenuated integrated circuit microelectronics fabrication cost and enhanced planarized trench isolation region uniformity. In a more general sense, it is also desirable within the art of microelectronics fabrication, but not necessarily the art of integrated circuit microelectronics fabrication, to provide methods and materials through which planarized aperture fill layers, which need not necessarily be planarized trench isolation regions, may be formed within apertures within topographic substrate layers employed within microelectronics fabrications to provide microelectronics fabrications fabricated with attenuated process complexity, attenuated microelectronics fabrication cost and enhanced planarized aperture fill layer uniformity.
It is towards the foregoing objects that the present invention is both specifically and more generally directed.
Various planarizing methods have been disclosed in the art of integrated circuit microelectronics fabrication for forming planarized aperture fill layers within apertures within topographic substrate layers employed within integrated circuit microelectronics fabrications.
For example, Nag et al., in "Comparative Evaluation of Gap-Fill Dielectrics in Shallow Trench Isolation for Sub-0.25 .mu.m Technologies," IEDM 96, IEEE, pp. 841-44, compares a series of physical and electrical properties for each of several dielectric materials which may be employed within chemical mechanical polish (CMP) planarized trench isolation regions formed within isolation trenches within semiconductor substrates employed within integrated circuit microelectronics fabrications.
In addition, Avanzino et al., in U.S. Pat. No. 4,954,459, discloses a polishing planarizing method for forming a planarized aperture fill dielectric layer within an aperture, such as but not limited to an isolation trench, within a topographic substrate layer, such as but not limited to a semiconductor substrate, employed within an integrated circuit microelectronics fabrication. The method employs a conformal dielectric oxide layer formed over the topographic substrate layer, where upper lying portions of the conformal dielectric oxide layer corresponding with upper lying features of an underlying topography of the topographic substrate layer are selectively etched prior to a polish planarizing of the etched conformal dielectric oxide layer so formed.
Further, Haskall et al., in U.S. Pat. No. 4,962,064, discloses an alternative polish planarizing method for forming a planarized aperture fill dielectric layer within an aperture, such as but not limited to an isolation trench, within a topographic substrate layer, such as but not limited to a semiconductor substrate, employed within an integrated circuit microelectronics fabrication. The method employs a conformal dielectric oxide layer formed upon the topographic substrate layer, where the conformal dielectric oxide layer has a conformal planarizing material layer formed thereupon. An upper portion of the conformal planarizing material layer and a lower portion of the conformal planarizing material layer are then successively removed employing two separate polish planarizing process steps having interposed therebetween an etch process step which employs the lower portion of the conformal planarizing material layer as an etch mask layer.
Still further, Bose et al., in U.S. Pat. No. 5,492,858, discloses a polish planarizing method for forming a planarized trench isolation region within an isolation trench of high aspect ratio within a semiconductor substrate employed within an integrated circuit microelectronics fabrication. The method employs forming a silicon nitride trench liner layer within the isolation trench prior forming within the isolation trench a conformal oxide dielectric layer which is subsequently steam annealed and polish planarized to form the planarized trench isolation region exhibiting enhanced properties.
Still yet further, Jain, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,494,854, discloses a polish planarizing method for simultaneously planarizing a series of patterned conductor layers of equivalent thickness, but differing aspect ratios, formed within an integrated circuit microelectronics fabrication. The method employs forming a first gap filling dielectric layer for planarizing apertures formed interposed between at least the patterns which comprise a high aspect ratio portion of the patterned conductor layers, where the first gap filling dielectric layer has formed thereupon a second dielectric layer which is polish planarized with enhanced throughput, planarity and uniformity.
Finally, Kwon et al., in U.S. Pat. No. 5,665,635, discloses an etchback planarizing method for forming a planarized trench isolation region within an isolation trench within a semiconductor substrate employed within an integrated circuit microelectronics fabrication. The method employs a surface treatment of an isolation trench liner layer and an isolation trench masking layer in a fashion such that a trench fill dielectric layer when subsequently formed upon the isolation trench liner layer and the isolation trench masking layer is formed more rapidly within the isolation trench than upon the isolation trench masking layer, thus allowing the etchback planarizing method to efficiently form a planarized trench isolation region within the isolation trench.
Desirable within the art of integrated circuit microelectronics fabrication are non-polishing methods and materials through which planarized trench isolation regions may be formed within isolation trenches within semiconductor substrates employed within integrated circuit microelectronics fabrications to provide integrated circuit microelectronics fabrications fabricated with attenuated process complexity, attenuated integrated circuit microelectronics fabrication cost and enhanced planarized trench isolation region uniformity. More generally desirable within the art of microelectronics fabrication, but not necessarily the art of integrated circuit microelectronics fabrication, are methods and materials through which planarized aperture fill layers, but not necessarily planarized trench isolation regions, may be formed within apertures within topographic substrate layers employed within microelectronics fabrications to provide microelectronics fabrications fabricated with attenuated process complexity, attenuated microelectronics fabrication cost and enhanced planarized aperture fill layer uniformity.
It is towards the foregoing objects that the present invention is both specifically and more generally directed.

Non-polishing sacrificial layer etchback planarizing method for forming a planarized aperture fill layer

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company