A communication system (700) comprises a plurality of base sites (702-708) which include a first antenna (712) for transmitting a synchronous communication protocol such as a paging protocol and a second antenna (714) for transmitting a rotating phase signal. A communication device (250) takes the synchronous communication protocol and develops a reference signal (220) from the received protocol. The communication device (250) takes the reference signal (220) and the received rotating phase signal (214) and uses a phase detector (216) to produce a phase difference signal (232) which is substantially equal to the angle of the communication device (250) with respect to the particular base site (702-708) which transmitted the signals. In order to determine the location of the communication device at least two such phase difference signals (232), one phase difference signal from at least two different base sites is determined. In the preferred embodiment, the phase difference signals (232) are transmitted by the communication device (250) to a paging system controller (710) for calculation of the proximate location of the communication device (250).

It is useful in many communication systems, for example paging systems, to know the location of the portable units or pagers which are operating within the system. The location or position information of the remote units for example can be used for registration and directed delivery of messages to the units or to locate a user in case of an emergency situation.
Prior schemes for locating portable communication devices have relied on one of several possible technologies, all having disadvantages for portable communication unit applications such as paging systems.
In one prior art system, the system computes arrival times of portable-to-base transmissions using direct frequency spread spectrum techniques. The position of the portable unit can be computed when arrival times at three or more receiver sites are known. The main disadvantage of this system is that it requires the use of complex spread spectrum transmitters at the portable device, and must operate in the Industrial, Scientific, and Medical (ISM) bands and accept any interference present in these frequency bands which are unlicensed.
In a second prior art system, the portable units incorporate a LORAN or GPS (global positioning system) receiver to compute its position. The portable units then report their position information to the system. The main disadvantage with this system is that it requires the added cost of integrating a LORAN or GPS receiver in the portable units, which adds further cost and complexity to the portable units. Not to mention that it also forces the portable units to be larger in size in order to accommodate the additional LORAN or GPS circuitry.
A third prior art communication system uses direction finding equipment at each base site in order to fix the location of the portable unit. The position of the portable units are computed by triangulation when two or more base stations receive the same signal. The disadvantage to this system is that the portable units have to transmit for long time periods at high power levels in order to enable accurate measurements of angles by the base stations. Such high power and long duty cycle transmissions would not be effective for small portable communication device applications (e.g., two way paging, etc.) since battery life in these applications is very important.
A fourth prior art communication system known as very high-frequency omnidirectional range (VOR) which is used primarily as a navigation aid for aircraft compares the phase of a fixed and rotating signal to compute its angle with respect to a transmitter station. In a VOR system, a transmitter emits a (variable) modulation whose phase relative to a reference modulation is different for each bearing of the receiving point from the station. A main drawback to a VOR system for use in portable communication applications is that the VOR transmitter(s) have to provide both a reference modulation signal and a variable modulation signal. The typical radio frequency (RF) bandwidth required for a VOR system is around 25 kilohertz (Khz). Such a large bandwidth requirement would be unacceptable for use in a two-way paging or other similar type of portable subscriber application. A need thus exists for a communication system and device which can provide for low cost location of communication devices such as pagers, radiotelephones, etc.

Communication system and device having unit locating feature


A positioning control apparatus for controlling a moving member to trace the position of a target member which almost equally repeats the position shift at a predetermined period comprises a position detector for detecting a relative position error, a first adder for adding a delay signal and a position error signal, a signal delay unit for outputting the delay signal which is obtained by delaying an output signal of the first adder at a period corresponding to the position shift of the target member, a second adder for adding the position error signal and the delay signal, a third adder for adding an output of the second adder and the delay signal via a filter, a compensating unit for performing the compensation for offset and/or the compensation for stabilization of the positioning control apparatus based on an output of the third adder, a drive unit for driving the moving member based on an output of the compensating unit, and a delay-amount setting unit for setting the amount of delay of a signal delayed by the signal delay unit.

The present invention relates to a technology for controlling the operation for positioning and tracing a member to a target position. More particularly, the present invention relates to a radial tracking control apparatus or an axial tracking control (focus control) apparatus in an optical disk apparatus or a positioning control apparatus for positioning and tracing a transducer for recording and reading a signal of a laser beam spot, a magnetic head onto a disc-shaped recording medium, such as a tracking apparatus in a magnetic disk apparatus, and a positioning control method.
Conventionally, optical disk apparatuses for recording or reading information by irradiating laser beams onto a disk-shaped recording medium are widely used. As the above-mentioned optical disk apparatuses, there are a CD, a CD-R, a CD-RW, a DVD-ROM, etc. These optical disk apparatuses require the beam tracking to a track for recording information with high accuracy so as to improve the density for recording the information. Further, these optical disk apparatuses require the focus control (axial tracking) with high accuracy in accordance with the vertical deviation of an optical-disk surface.
In general, the improvement in accuracy of the tracking control uses a method for improving a loop gain of a control system and increasing a response frequency of the control-system loop. However, since characteristics of a mechanical system for moving a moving member are limited, the above-mentioned method cannot ensure sufficient accuracy.
In order to solve the above problem, a position error is compressed by using the regularity of the vertical deviation of the optical-disk or the eccentric of a recording track of the disk-shaped recording medium. That is, the rotation of the optical disk causes the position shift on the optical-disk or the radial movement of the optical-disk, and a position shift component or a radial-movement component is approximately synchronized with the rotation of the optical disk. Therefore, the tracking of the moving member (laser beam spot) to a target member (information recording position on the optical disk) can be improved by a position offset signal from one to several numbers of rotations by using the periodicity of the position shift of the information recording position on the optical disk.
As disclosed in Japanese Examined Patent Application Publication No. 60-57085, a "positioning control apparatus" is proposed (hereinafter, referred to as a first conventional art). According to the first conventional art, the positioning control apparatus comprises a signal delay unit for adding and accumulating a position error signal synchronously with a rotational period every position shift with a predetermined period. Consequently, the position error signal is added and is inputted to the signal delay unit, and a moving member is driven based on a signal obtained by adding the position error signal.
Herein, it is defined that a basic control unit comprises a position detector for detecting a relative position error between a target member and the moving member, a compensating unit for performing at least one of compensation for stabilization of a control loop and compensation for offset, and a drive unit for driving the moving member, which are serially combined.
According to the first conventional art, a transfer function of the basic control unit is expressed by G(s) and a periodic position shift of the target member is expressed by Xi. In this case, if the periodic position shift Xi is repeated n times, a relative position error Xe is expressed by [Xe=Xi/{1+G(s)}n which means that an output of delay means comes close to Xi/G(s).
More specifically, the relative position error makes an approach to zero within a frequency band having an absolute of [1+G(s)], which is larger than 1. Therefore, a signal for tracking a positioning member to the periodic position shift is applied almost by the output of the signal delay unit. Thus, the tracking can excessively be improved without so increasing the gain of the basic control unit (absolute of G(s)) or the response frequency.
A "positioning control apparatus and a positioning control method" are obtained by further improving the first conventional art as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application No. 2001-030525 (hereinafter, referred to as a second conventional art).
According to the second conventional art, the positioning control apparatus comprises a signal delay unit which adds and accumulates a relative error between a target position which is periodically shifted and a moving member. An output of the signal delay unit is added to a position error signal at this time. The moving member is driven based on the addition signal and a signal obtained by filtering processing of the output of the signal delay unit of a filter having specified characteristics.
According to the second conventional art, it is assumed that a transfer function of a filter is expressed by F(s). When the periodic position shift is repeated n times, a relative position error Xe is expressed by [Xe(n)={(1−G(s)F(s))n−1/(1+G(s))n}−Xi].
By setting proper filter characteristics F(s) in such a manner that a value of G(s)F(s) approaches 1, even if a value of [1+G(s)] is smaller than 1 and [1−G(s)F(s)] as a numerator is further smaller, the remaining position error Xe(n) can come close to zero.
However, the first and second conventional arts can be applied to an optical disk apparatus using a CAV (Constant Angular Velocity) format as a recording format because the rotational period of the optical disk apparatus is approximately constant, irrespective of the position of the laser beam spot in the radius direction of the optical disk apparatus. On the other hand, although the first and second conventional arts can be applied to an optical disk apparatus using a CLV (Constant Linear Velocity) format as the recording format, there is a drawback that the increase in accumulated phase offsets of the position error signal, relative to a rotational phase of the optical disk apparatus, causes the deterioration in compression performance of the position error signal in accordance with the movement of the laser light beam spot in the radius direction of the optical disk apparatus due to the change in rotational period of the optical disk apparatus depending on the position of the light beam spot in the radius direction, of the optical disk apparatus.
Further, the first and second conventional arts have a problem that when the position error signal is not repeatedly generated, a signal for driving the moving member does not necessarily compress the position error. In particular, when a phase of the position error signal is inverted, the position error is further deteriorated after one period.
For example, in consideration of a initial response of the position error signal according to the first conventional art, it is assumed that the amounts of position shift of the target member are Xi(1), Xi(2), and Xi(3) at first to third periods of the optical disk apparatus after starting the positioning control according to the first conventional art. Further, it is assumed that the relative position errors are Xe(1), Xe(2), and Xe(3) at the first to third periods. Since the position error signals are not added and accumulated at the first period of the rotation of the optical disk apparatus, the relative position error is expressed by the following formula, similarly to the case of using no first conventional art.Xe(1)=Xi(1)/(1+G(s))  (B1)
The position error signals at the first and second periods are added and accumulated into the signal delay unit at the second and third periods of the rotation of the optical disk apparatus. Therefore, formulae (B2) and (B3) are established.
                              Xe                                (            2            )                          =                                              {                                          Xi                                                  (                  2                  )                                            -                                                Xi                                                        (                    1                    )                                                  ·                                                      G                                                              (                      s                      )                                                        /                                      (                                          1                      +                                              G                                                                          (                          s                          )                                                                                )                                                                        }                    /                      (                          1              +                              G                                                  (                  s                  )                                                      )                                              (        B2        )                                                                                Xe                                                  (                  3                  )                                            =                                                          {                                                      Xi                                                              (                      3                      )                                                        -                                                            Xi                                                                    (                        2                        )                                                              ·                                                                  G                                                                          (                          s                          )                                                                    /                                              (                                                  1                          +                                                      G                                                                                (                              s                              )                                                                                )                                                                              -                                                            Xi                                                                    (                        2                        )                                                              ·                                                                  G                                                                          (                          s                          )                                                                    /                                                                                (                                              1                        +                                                  G                                                                                (                            s                            )                                                                                )                                        2                                    }                                            /                              (                                  1                  +                                      G                                                              (                      s                      )                                                                      )                                                                        (        B3        )
If the amounts of position shift of the target member are equal at the first to third periods of the rotation of the optical disk apparatus, in other words, if the period of the position shift of the target member is maintained and a formula of [Xi(1)=Xi(2)=Xi(3)=Xi] is established, the formula (B2) is expressed by [Xe(2)=Xi/(1+G(s))2] and the formula (B3) is expressed by [Xe(3)=Xi/(1+G(s))3]. In other words, in a frequency range with a larger gain of [1+G(s)] than 1, the relative position error is compressed every period of the rotation of the optical disk apparatus.
However, if the phase of the position shift of the target member Is inverted at the second period of the disk rotation, namely, if the periodicity of the position shift of the target member is not maintained and a relationship of [Xi(1)=Xi(3)=Xi] and a relationship of [Xi(2)=−Xi] are established, the above formula (B3) is as follows.Xe(3)=Xi[{G(s)/(1+G(s))}2+1]/(1+G(s))  (B4)
In the case of comparing the formula (B1) with the formula (B4), if the phase of the position shift is inversed at the second period, it will obviously be understood that in a frequency range with a larger gain of [1+G(s)] than 1, the amount of compression of the position error is deteriorated up to the half at the third period. Based on the formulae (B1) to (B4), the relative position error is represented every period of the disk rotation. Similarly, if the period of the position shift of the target member is not maintained only in the case of a part of the rotational phase of the disk rotation, the relative position error is partly deteriorated in the case of the part of the rotational phase of the disk after one period.
Although the phase inverse of the position shift of the target member has been described based on the formulae (1) to (4), equivalently, mixing of a signal asynchronous with the rotation of the optical disk to the amount of movement of the moving member also deteriorates the amount of compression of the position error. However, the amount of compression of the position error is decreased as the phase offset approaches the inverse phase though the phase is not inversed. Similarly, according to the second conventional art, in the positioning control apparatus comprising the means for adding and accumulating the position error signal, the amount of compression of the position error is deteriorated when the position error signal is not repeatedly generated.
Just after the control loop is closed, the period of the position error signal is not necessarily maintained. Specifically speaking, just after the control loop is closed, a response of the position error signal almost has frequency characteristics of the closed loop in the basic control unit. It does not necessarily reflect the periodicity of the position shift. Further, when an asynchronous disturbance oscillation is applied to the tracking controlling apparatus, the periodicity of the position error signal is not maintained.
According to the first and second conventional arts, components asynchronous with the frequency caused by repeating the periodic position shift deteriorate a compression ratio of the position error signal. For example, when a disturbance asynchronous with the frequency caused by repeating the periodic position shift is continuously applied, the signal components caused by the asynchronous disturbance might deteriorate the position error signal.
That is, according to the first and second conventional arts, the tracking can be improved without extremely increasing the gain of the basic control unit or the response frequency of the basic control unit. In addition, the position error having a frequency higher than a cut-off frequency of the basic control unit can be suppressed. However, the first and second conventional arts require the improvement.
Compression characteristics Gc1(s) of the position error signal are expressed by the following formula (C1) when the position error signal is not added and accumulated. Compression characteristics Gc2(s) of the position error signal are expressed by the following formula (C2) when the position error signal is added and accumulated. The compression characteristics of the position error signal are defined by transfer characteristics in a signal route to position error signal from the position shift of the target member.Gc1(s)=1/{1+G(s)}  (C1)Gc2(s)=1/{1+G(s)/(1−e−Ls)}  (C2)where s=j×2πf, L: the amount of signal delay in the signal delay unit (the amount of delay: time), J: imaginary-number unit, and f: frequency.
The formula (C2) has a maximum value near an intermediate period of the amount of delay. In other words, when the frequency f in the formula (C2) has the maximum value near a frequency satisfying [f0=(2k+1)/2L (k=0, 1, 2, 3 . . . ). The formula (C2) is expressed by the formula (C3) when the frequency f=f0.Gc2′(s)=1/{1+G(s)/2}  (C3)
In the case of comparing the formula (C1) with the formula (C3), within a frequency band having G(s) substantially larger than 1 (namely, frequency band having G(s) substantially smaller than the cut-off frequency of the basic control unit), the amount of compression is deteriorated to the half according to the first and second conventional arts.
In other words, according to the first and second conventional arts, in the case of the position shift of the target member at the intermediate period of the amount of delay, the amount of compression of the position error signal is deteriorated to the half.
In the optical disk apparatus, since the main frequency component of the position error signal is a rotational-period frequency of the optical disk apparatus or a harmonic component of the rotational period, the regularity of repetition of the position error signals can almost be held. However, the disturbance oscillation asynchronous with the rotational period might continuously be multiplied to the position error signal.
As one example of the asynchronous disturbance oscillation, there is a beat oscillation caused by a spindle motor for rotating and driving the optical disk. Further, as another example, there is an optical-head oscillation caused by a feed mechanism of an optical head by stick slip when moving the laser beam spot in the radius direction of the optical disk apparatus. Incidentally, the stick slip means the transition from static friction to dynamic friction or the transition reverse thereto.
The asynchronous disturbance oscillation is not mainly caused in the position shift or the radial movement of the optical-disk. However, it is mainly caused in the position error signal after tracking with high accuracy in accordance with the component synchronous with the rotation according to the first and second conventional arts. Therefore, the asynchronous disturbance oscillation degrades higher tracking accuracy.
In the optical disk apparatus, the asynchronous disturbance oscillation substantially exists as a lower frequency component, as compared with, mainly, the cut-off frequency in the basic control unit. Therefore, according to the first and second conventional arts, preferably, the remaining position error signal can be obtained without adding and accumulating the position error signal at the frequency band lower than the cut-off frequency in the basic control unit.

Positioning control apparatus and method capable of reducing relative position error without increasing gain and frequency band of transfer characteristics of control system


A method of achieving halftone representation of image data by using a printer for printing the image data includes the steps of providing a plurality of tone curves which takes into consideration characteristics of the printer, and selecting a tone curve from the plurality of tone curves. The method further includes a step of printing the image data by using the selected tone curve.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to methods of printing images by using printing devices, and particularly relates to a method of representing halftones of images by forming dots through area-based tone representation.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Printing devices which form letters and images by printing dots represent halftones by adjusting a ratio of a dot-occupied area to a unit area. For example, a square area of 8.times.8 dots or 16.times.16 dots is treated as one unit, and halftones are represented by adjusting the number of dots printed within this area. When deciding whether to print a dot at a given dot position within this area, a level of the input image data is compared with a threshold value allocated to the given dot.
When a binary-value printer is employed, for example, use of an 8-by-8 matrix can represent 64 halftones, and use of a 16-by-16 matrix can represent 256 halftones. In general, area-based halftone representation uses an M-by-N-dot matrix to represent M.times.N.times.(k-1)+1 halftones, wherein k is the number of levels which one dot can represent.
In halftone representation, a decision has to be made with respect to each level of image data as to how many dots are formed in which position of a matrix. A dither matrix is a typical example of a matrix which is used for making such a decision. By defining a dither matrix, a tone curve is created to define a relationship between levels of the input image data and print densities.
In general, it is preferable to set characteristics of a tone curve such that the tone curve can properly represent input images in accordance with characteristics of the input image. For example, a histogram of levels may be obtained with regard to image data, and a tone curve may be defined so as to have a greater dynamic range of halftone representation in levels in which a greater number of pixels are in existence. Such a tone curve can enhance printing characteristics. This technique is disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-open Applications No.1-237142 and No.63-181568.
The technique of the above-cited references, however, has a problem in that the tone curve defined based on the input image data does not reflect characteristics of printing devices.
Printers generally form dots which have a diameter larger than a dot pitch, and a conventional setting is that the dot diameter is 1.4 times larger than the dot pitch. The use of this dot diameter ensures that adjacent dots are properly connected when a diagonal line is formed with a one-dot line width. If the dot diameter is equal to the dot pitch, a diagonal line appears as a dotted line, and small white gaps are created when all areas are supposed to be printed in black. In order to avoid these, the dot diameter is set so as to be slightly larger than 1.4 times the dot pitch.
Use of a dot diameter larger than the dot pitch creates a problem in halftone representation when printing devices are used.
When a 2-by-2 matrix is used for halftone representation, for example, three halftones can be represented between 0% and 100% of the tone, i.e., halftones of 25%, 50%, and 75% are represented. In order to represent the halftone of 25%, for example, one of the four dots is printed. If the dot diameter is 1.4 times as large as the dot pitch, however, forming one dot in an attempt to achieve an area ratio of a dotted area to the total matrix area being 0.25 will result in an area ratio of 0.385. By the same token, an intended area ratio of 50% will result in an area ratio of 0.77, and an intended area ratio of 75% will end up bringing about an area ratio of 1.02.
Accordingly, a tone curve needs to be defined by taking into consideration a dot diameter of a printing device when halftone representation is employed.
Further, the number of dots printed in halftone representation should be decided based on actually printed lightness. Lightness, which is a measure derived from sensitivity characteristics of human vision, is supposed to be 100 when a surface is a perfectly diffuse reflector, and is zero when there is no reflection. Ideally, white on a printed surface corresponds to lightness of 100, and black on the printed surface is equal to lightness of zero. In actual printing devices, however, white with no printed dot corresponds to lightness of a paper surface, and approximately correspond to lightness of 90. Further, black created by forming all the dots corresponds to lightness of the black ink, and is approximately equal to lightness of 20.
Accordingly, a tone curve needs to be defined by taking into consideration actual lightness on a surface printed by a printing device when halftone representation is employed.
Accordingly, there is a general need to represent halftone images by using a tone curve which takes into account characteristics of the images and characteristics of a printing device that employs area-based halftone representation based on formation of dots.
There is a more specific need to represent halftone images by using a tone curve which takes into account a dot diameter of a printing device that employs area-based halftone representation based on formation of dots.
There is another need to represent halftone images by using a tone curve which takes into account actual lightness generated by a printing device that employs area-based halftone representation based on formation of dots.

Halftone representation taking into account characteristics of image and printer


A controlling method of a rewritable non-volatile memory module, and a memory controller and a data transmission system using the same are provided. The controlling method includes following steps. A command is received from a host system. Whether the command is a configuration command is determined according to a command code of the command. A plurality of action information in the configuration command and an execution sequence corresponding to the action information are analyzed. The action information is executed according to the execution sequence. Each action information is configured to request the rewritable non-volatile memory module to execute a predetermined action. Thereby, the functionality of a memory storage device can be dynamically extended.

1. Technology Field
The invention generally relates to a controlling method, and more particularly, to a controlling method of a rewritable non-volatile memory module, a memory controller, and a data transmission system.
2. Description of Related Art
Along with the widespread of digital cameras, cell phones, and MP3 players in recently years, the consumers' demand to storage media has increased drastically. Rewritable non-volatile memory (for example, flash memory) is one of the most adaptable storage media to aforementioned portable multimedia devices due to its many characteristics such as data non-volatility, low power consumption, small volume, and non-mechanical structure.
A rewritable non-volatile memory module is usually controlled by a memory controller. The memory controller provides a plurality of commands to a host system, and the host system issues these commands to the memory controller to control the rewritable non-volatile memory module. However, these commands are set up when the memory controller is manufactured. If the manufacturer of the memory controller wants to add a new command to accomplish a specific function, the manufacturer of the memory controller has to re-design the memory controller, which is very tedious and inflexible. Thereby, how to dynamically extend the functionality of a memory controller has become a subject to be resolved in the industry.
Nothing herein should be construed as an admission of knowledge in the prior art of any portion of the present invention. Furthermore, citation or identification of any document in this application is not an admission that such document is available as prior art to the present invention, or that any reference forms a part of the common general knowledge in the art.

Controlling method, memory controller, and data transmission system


A liquid developer capable of preventing each of the disadvantages of uneven development density caused by uneven distribution of colored particles, poor transfer due to an insufficient amount of the liquid, and poor fixing due to an excess amount of the liquid, without complicating handling with the generation of volatile gas. Present on the surface of toner particles to be dispersed in a carrier liquid made of dimethyl silicone are a silicone group of one-end methacryloxy-modified silicone and a basic group. The silicone group prevents agglutination of the toner particles with each other. The silicone group functions as an affinity group and provides the toner particles with an affinity to the carrier liquid. Thus, it becomes possible to disperse the toner particles uniformly in the carrier liquid. Besides, the basic group on the surface of toner particles allows the toner particles to ensure the desired charge amount. Therefore, colored particles such as the toner particles hardly agglutinate with each other in a nonpolar insulating liquid to be provided as a nonaqueous solvent, while the colored particles can be electrophoresed at high speed by an electric field.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a liquid developer containing colored particles such as toner in the liquid and develops a latent image formed on an image carrier such as a photoconductive member by the colored particles, and also relates to a copier, facsimile apparatus, printer or similar image forming apparatus using the liquid developer.
2. Description of the Background Art
A liquid developer having toner dispersed in an organic solvent mainly composed of an isoparaffinic hydrocarbon has been conventionally known in the art, and is, for example, disclosed in JP 05-045937 A. Examples of such organic solvents which are commercially available in the market include Isopar (trade name) from Exxon Corp., Shellsol (trade name) from Shell Kagaku KK., and Soltol (trade name) from Philips Petroleum Co., Ltd.
Besides, liquid developers in which colored particles are dispersed in nonvolatile liquids have been also known in the art. For example, a nonvolatile liquid using silicone oil is disclosed in JP 12-206738 A. Furthermore, an example of a liquid-type image forming apparatus using a liquid developer is disclosed in JP 2001-305887 A.
As disclosed in JP 05-045937 A, however, the conventional liquid developer using an organic solvent mainly composed of a high-volatility isoparaffinic hydrocarbon as a liquid has a problem, that is, it is very hard to handle the isoparaffinic hydrocarbon because of its high volatility.
On the other hand, since the liquid developer disclosed in JP 12-206738 A uses a nonvolatile liquid and does not generate toxic volatile gas, the problem mentioned above can be solved. However, this kind of liquid developer tends to cause deterioration in image quality when the proportion of the liquid to colored particles is hardly adjusted in an appropriate manner in the successive steps of the image forming process including developing, transferring, and fixing steps. In the developing step, for instance, colored particles are electrophoresed from a developer carrier to a photoconductive member. If the proportion of the liquid is too small, such an electrophoresis of the colored particles can not be effectively performed. Likewise, the transferring step requires an amount of the liquid enough to electrophorese the colored particles constituting a visible image from the image carrier to a recording medium such as a sheet of transfer paper. Nevertheless, the transferring step makes the colored particles more difficult to be electrophoresed. This is because the colored particles electrophoresed are allowed to be applied to the latent image in the preceding developing step while a significant portion of the liquid remains on the developer carrier and is then isolated from a visible image after the development. Therefore, the amount of the liquid throughout the process from the developing step to the transferring step should be controlled to prevent removal of an excessive amount of liquid from the visible image.
However, at the time of fixing the visible image transferred to the recording medium with heat and pressure, absorbing an excessive amount of the liquid in the recording medium prevents the visible image from fixing on the recording image so as to lower the fixing ability. Since the liquid is nonvolatile, deterioration in fixing ability becomes unavoidable when the transfer of the visible image involves the absorption of the liquid in the recording medium. In the transferring step, while ensuring the amount of the liquid enough to allow the electrophoresis of the visible image, the liquid amount should be kept within a level at which the subsequent fixing process is effectively performed.
To solve this problem, JP 2001-305887 A proposes a liquid-type image forming apparatus in which an excessive amount of liquid is removed from a visible image prior to transfer of the visible image to a recording medium. The liquid-type image forming apparatus insures a favorable transfer characteristic by removing an excessive part of the liquid beyond an amount of liquid required for the transfer from a visible image having a large amount of liquid which affects the fixing process.
However, the inventors of the present invention have diligently studied and found that the fixation of a visible image may be affected even though the prior art liquid-type image forming apparatus is used. Specifically, when the colored particles are unevenly dispersed in the liquid developer, unevenness in development density inevitably occurs because high and low toner density portions are generated in the liquid developer. Thus, the inventors prepared a liquid developer in which toner provided as colored particles and a dispersant for facilitating the dispersion of the toner were dispersed in silicone oil provided as a nonvolatile liquid. The dispersant used is adsorbed to the surface of toner particles and the conformation thereof prevents the contact between the toner particles to allow the respective toner particles to be favorably dispersed in the liquid. When the prepared liquid developer was applied to the liquid-type image forming apparatus mentioned above to form an image, the toner particles were dispersed enough to effectively suppress unevenness in development density but the fixing ability is lowered. This is because, at the time of removing an excessive part of the liquid from a visible image prior to the transfer, the dispersant unavoidably remains in the visible image. The dispersant itself or the liquid absorbed therein deteriorated the fixing ability of the toner.

Liquid developer for image forming apparatus


A process and system for simultaneously removing from a gaseous mixture, sulfur oxides by a solid sulfur oxide acceptor sorbent on a porous carrier, nitrogen oxides by ammonia gas and particulate matter by filtration and for the regeneration of loaded solid sulfur oxide acceptor sorbent. Finely-divided solid sulfur oxide acceptor sorbent is entrained in a gaseous mixture to deplete sulfur oxides from the gaseous mixture, the finely-divided solid sulfur oxide acceptor sorbent being dispersed on a porous carrier material having a particle size up to about 200 microns. In the process, the gaseous mixture is optionally prefiltered to remove particulate matter and thereafter finely-divided solid sulfur oxide acceptor sorbent is injected into the gaseous mixture to form an entrained bed. Ammonia gas is also injected into the exhaust gas stream. A filter separates spent solid sorbent and particulate matter from clean gas. A classifier is used to separate mixtures of spent sorbent from particulate matter. A regenerator receives spent sorbents for regeneration and regenerated finely-divided solid sorbent is passed from the regenerator to the entrained bed reactor. A preferred sorbent is copper oxide on porous alumina carrier.

This invention relates to a process and system for reducing the concentration of pollutants contained in a gaseous mixture, and more particularly, to a process and system for the removal of particulate matter and the oxides of nitrogen and sulfur from a gaseous mixture, as well as the regeneration and recycling of spent sorbent used to remove the oxides of sulfur from the gaseous mixture.
Particulate matter and the oxides of sulfur and nitrogen result from the combustion or air oxidation of carbon-containing materials, such as coal, fuel oil and the like, and are responsible for major amounts of pollution in our environment. Currently, the commercially available processes and systems for the removal of oxides of sulfur and nitrogen and particulate matter from combustion gases resulting from the combustion or air oxidation of coal or fuel oil in power plants are generally very expensive to build and to operate. The removal of each contaminant requires a large scale system and produces large quantities of waste.
A large number of processes and systems have also been proposed in the literature, including the processes and systems discussed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,501,897; 3,776,854; 3,816,597; 3,840,643; 3,966,879; 4,101,634; 4,164;546; 4,170,627; 4,192,855; 4,193,972; 4,258,020; 4,609,537; 4,692,318; 4,744,967 and 4,851,202, all of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. In the foregoing references, either SO.sub.2 is removed; or NO.sub.x is removed; or SO.sub.2 and NO.sub.x as well as particulate matter are removed from combustion gases, usually by using solid sulfur oxide acceptors and/or ammonia gas. In certain instances, it is also known to regenerate the spent or loaded sulfur oxide acceptor by various means as described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,501,897; 3,776,854; 3,778,501; 3,846,536; 4,001,376; 4,101,634; 4,164,546; 4,192,855; 4,609,537 and 4,692,318, all of which are incorporated by reference herein in their entirety. In many of the references, the solid sulfur oxide acceptor is used in the form of a moving bed, a fluidized bed, a fixed bed or in a "parallel passage" reactor, and both the removal of sulfur oxides with solid sulfur oxide acceptor and the regeneration of the spent or loaded solid sulfur oxide acceptor are inefficient, inadequate and/or expensive.
In most instances in the prior art, copper, copper oxide or a mixture thereof is coated on alumina or impregnated in alumina to form solid sorbents for the removal of sulfur dioxide from gases. In U.S. Pat. No. 3,966,879, sulfur oxides and particulate matter are removed from waste gases in the same processing zone under the reaction conditions required for sulfur oxide acceptance in a moving bed which contacts the waste gas stream in cross-current fashion.
The reduction of the nitrogen oxides (NO.sub.x), both NO and NO.sub.2, to free nitrogen with ammonia in the presence of a copper oxide-containing catalyst is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,101,634 where it is also indicated that the conversion of nitrogen oxides with the simultaneous removal of sulfur oxides by means of a copper-containing acceptor proves not to exceed 70 percent.
In U.S. Pat. No. 4,101,634 sulfur oxides and nitrogen oxides are removed simultaneously by use of a metal-containing acceptor with continuous addition of ammonia or precursor thereof with some improvement in efficiency when the metal-containing acceptor is regenerated at regular intervals by a reducing gas passed counter-currently in the bed; the regeneration is terminated at the moment when at least some of the acceptor is still in the sulfate form; and the oxygen-containing gas stream to be purified is then re-contacted with the acceptor with the simultaneous addition of ammonia or precursor.
In U.S. Pat. No. 4,164,546, nitrogen oxides are removed from a gaseous mixture containing nitrogen oxides and oxygen by addition of ammonia thereto and by contacting with a suitable catalyst for the nitrogen-ammonia reaction wherein best results are achieved when sulfur dioxide is also present in the gaseous mixture and wherein excess sulfur dioxide is separated prior to the nitrogen oxide conversion, simultaneously therewith or subsequent thereto. In U.S. Pat. No. 4,164,546, fixed beds of the contact mass, such as copper oxide on alumina are preferred for effective removal of both sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide with regeneration by a reducing gas such as hydrogen, methane, ethane, propane and the like. Further, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,164,546, it is indicated that the flue gas may contain small amounts of finely-divided suspended particulate matter such as fly ash.
In U.S. Pat. No. 4,193,972, sulfur dioxides are removed from a gas stream by the use of a metal-containing regenerable acceptor and nitrogen oxides contained in the gas stream are reduced to nitrogen gas in a parallel passage vapor-solids contactor which is conventional for processing gas streams containing particulate matter, such as fly ash, and wherein-the reduction of nitrogen oxides to nitrogen is catalyzed by copper sulfate on alumina. In U.S. Pat. No. 4,193,972, the reduction of nitrogen oxides to nitrogen may be carried out simultaneously with the acceptance of sulfur oxides on copper-containing acceptors, and the reaction may be preceded by the admixture of ammonia into the gas stream being treated.
Although regenerative processes wherein spent or loaded solid acceptor used to absorb sulfur dioxide from gas streams is regenerated in processes and systems for the simultaneous removal of sulfur dioxide, NO.sub.x and particulate matter from gas streams are well-known, the processes and systems remain disadvantageous because they are inefficient, require high capital investment when utilized in large scale systems and are expensive to operate in large plants, such as power plants which utilize combustible coal or fuel oil. Even though a certain amount of waste has been eliminated by the foregoing prior art regenerative processes, none of the emerging processes and systems discussed above have gained a wide industrial acceptance due to their high cost and complexity.

Regenerative system for the simultaneous removal of particulates and the oxides of sulfur and nitrogen from a gas stream

General Electric Environmental Services, Incorporated


A synchronous semiconductor memory device including a data alignment reference pulse generating unit configured to generate a data alignment reference pulse in response to a data strobe signal (DQS), an alignment hold signal generating unit configured to generate an alignment hold signal, which is activated during a period corresponding to a postamble of the data strobe signal, in response to the data alignment reference pulse and a data input clock, and a data alignment unit configured to align input data in response to the data alignment reference pulse and the alignment hold signal.

The subject matter relates to a semiconductor design technology, and more particularly, to a write path of a synchronous semiconductor memory device.
Semiconductor memory devices, such as a dynamic random access memory (DRAM), receive write data from a chipset (a memory controller), and transfer read data to the chipset. Meanwhile, synchronous semiconductor memory devices operate in synchronization with a system clock. However, when transferring data from the chipset to the memory device, skew occurs between data and a system clock due to different loading and traces for data and the system clock and location differences between the system clock and a plurality of memory devices.
In order to reduce the skew between the data and the system clock, a data strobe signal (DQS) is transferred together with data when transferring the data from the chipset to the memory device. The data strobe signal (DQS) is also called an echo clock. By strobing the data using the data strobe signal (DQS), skew occurring due to the location difference between the system clock and the memory devices can be reduced because the data strobe signal (DQS) has the same loading and trace as the data. Meanwhile, in a read operation, the memory device transfers a read data strobe signal (DQS) to the chipset together with the data.
FIG. 1 is a circuit diagram illustrating a write path of a conventional synchronous semiconductor memory device.
Referring to FIG. 1, on the write path, the conventional synchronous semiconductor memory device includes a DQS input buffer unit 110, a data strobe falling pulse (DSFP) generating unit 120, a DQS buffer disable signal generating unit 130, a data alignment unit 140, and a global data line (GDL) write driving unit 150. The DQS input buffer unit 110 buffers a data strobe signal DQS in response to a DQS buffer disable signal DISABLE_DQS. The DSFP generating unit 120 receives an output signal of the DQS input buffer unit 110 to generate a data strobe falling pulse DSFP in synchronization with a falling edge of the data strobe signal DQS. The DQS buffer disable signal generating unit 130 generates the DQS buffer disable signal DISABLE_DQS in response to the data strobe falling pulse DSFP, a data strobe disable signal DIS_DSP, and a write pulse WTPb. The data strobe disable signal DIS_DSP is a signal that is pulsed to a logic high level after a time corresponding to a burst length (BL) elapses from the input of a write command, and the write pulse WTPb is a signal that is pulsed to a logic low level when a write command is input. The data alignment unit 140 aligns input data DIN in response to the data strobe falling pulse DSFP. The input data DIN are data output from a data input buffer (not shown). The GDL write driving unit 150 transfers the aligned data ALGN_R0, ALGN_R1, ALGN_F0 and ALGN_F1 output from the data alignment unit 140 through global data lines GDL_Q0, GDL_Q1, GDL_Q2 and GDL_Q3 in synchronization with a data input clock DINCLK. The data input clock DINCLK is a signal that is pulsed to a logic high level after a predetermined time considering a write latency (WL) elapses from the input of the write command.
The DQS buffer disable signal generating unit 130 includes an AND gate AND1, a pull-up PMOS transistor MP1, a pull-down NMOS transistor MN1, and a latch INV1 and INV2. The AND gate AND1 performs an AND operation on the data strobe falling pulse DSFP and the data strobe disable signal DIS_DSP. The pull-up PMOS transistor MP1 has a source connected to a power supply voltage terminal VDD, a drain connected to a DISABLE_DQS output terminal N1, and a gate receiving the write pulse WTPb. The pull-down NMOS transistor MN1 has a source connected to a ground voltage terminal VSS, a drain connected to the DISABLE_DQS output terminal N1, and a gate receiving an output signal of the AND gate AND1. The latch INV1 and INV2 latches a signal applied to the DISABLE_DQS output terminal N1.
The data alignment unit 140 includes an inverter INV3, a D flip-flop 142, a D flip-flop 144, a D flip-flop 146, and a D flip-flop 148. The inverter INV3 inverts the data strobe falling pulse DSFP, and the D flip-flop 142 transfers the input data DIN in response to a falling edge of an output signal of the inverter INV3. The D flip-flop 144 transfers the aligned data ALGN_R1 output from the D flip-flop 142 in response to the falling edge of the output signal of the inverter INV3. The D flip-flop 146 transfers the input data DIN in response to the falling edge of the output signal of the inverter INV3. The D flip-flop 148 transfers the aligned data ALGN_F1 output from the D flip-flop 146 in response to the falling edge of the output signal of the inverter INV3.
The GDL write driving unit 150 includes GDL write drivers 152, 154, 156 and 158. The GDL write driver 152 transfers the aligned data ALGN_R0 output from the D flip-flop 144 to the global data line GDL_Q0 in synchronization with the data input clock DINCLK. The GDL write driver 154 transfers the aligned data ALGN_R1 output from the D flip-flop 142 to the global data line GDL_Q1 in synchronization with the data input clock DINCLK. The GDL write driver 156 transfers the aligned data ALGN_F0 output from the D flip-flop 148 to the global data line GDL_Q2 in synchronization with the data input clock DINCLK. The GDL write driver 158 transfers the aligned data ALGN_F1 output from the D flip-flop 146 to the global data line GDL_Q3 in synchronization with the data input clock DINCLK.
FIG. 2 is a timing diagram of the conventional synchronous semiconductor memory device of FIG. 1.
Referring to FIG. 2, when the write command is input, the memory device receives the data DQ together with the data strobe signal DQS. In FIG. 2, a burst write command is input (BL=4) and a reference symbol "INT_WT" represents an internal write command signal.
The DSFP generating unit 120 generates the data strobe falling pulse DSFP that is activated to a logic high level at each falling edge of the data strobe signal DQS, and the data alignment unit 140 outputs the aligned data ALGN_R0, ALGN_R1, ALGN_F0 and ALGN_F1 in synchronization with rising edges of the data strobe signal DSFP.
When the input of the data DQ is completed and thus both the data strobe falling pulse DSFP and the data strobe disable signal DIS_DSP become a logic high level, the DQS buffer disable signal generating unit 130 changes the DQS buffer disable signal DISABLE_DQS to a logic low level. Thus, the DQS input buffer unit 110 is disabled so that it does not receive the data strobe signal DQS any more.
The GDL write drivers 152, 154, 156 and 158 transfer the aligned data ALGN_R0, ALGN_R1, ALGN_F0 and ALGN_F1 to the global data lines GDL_Q0, GDL_Q1, GDL_Q2 and GDL_Q3 in synchronization with the data input clock DINCLK.
However, when the toggling data strobe signal DQS returns to a high impedance (Hi-Z) after the last falling edge, one-time ringing often occurs. This phenomenon is called a write postamble ringing.
FIG. 3 is a timing diagram of the synchronous semiconductor memory device of FIG. 1 when a write postamble ringing occurs.
It can be seen from FIG. 3 that the ringing occurs when the toggling data strobe signal DQS returns to the high impedance (Hi-Z).
If the ringing occurs before the DQS buffer enable signal DISABLE_DQS changes to a logic low level, the DSFP generating unit 120 recognizes it as the falling edge of the data strobe signal DQS, so that glitch is generated at the data strobe falling pulse DSFP.
Due to the glitch, the values of the aligned data ALGN_R0, ALGN_R1, ALGN_F0 and ALGN_F1 are early changed. Therefore, incorrect data are input at the rising edges of the data input clock DINCLK, and undesired data are loaded on the global data lines GDL_Q0, GDL_Q1, GDL_R2 and GDL_Q3.
Such problems may occur when the write command is independently applied, as well as when the write command is successively input.

Synchronous semiconductor memory device and method for driving the same


Techniques for utilizing a pool of human workers along with an automated classification feedback loop for identifying documents that meet certain criteria. As described herein, a requestor that desires to locate documents that meet certain specified criteria may first program a classifier with the specified criteria. The requestor may also determine the desired classes into which the classifier will categorize documents that are run against the classifier. The requestor may then locate one or more documents that represent each of the determined classes and then train the classifier using the documents. Thereafter, the requestor may publish a request to a pool of human workers soliciting documents meeting the criteria. Each of the documents may be run against the trained classifier and passed onto the requestor for further analysis if the classifier categorizes the respective document as acceptable.

Companies often seek qualified candidates for varying employment positions with these companies. These companies may use many different techniques to locate these candidates, such as employing or contracting with "sourcers" to find competent individuals for consideration by hiring managers. Sourcers spend a majority of their time performing three primary tasks: (1) working with hiring managers to develop job descriptions; (2) finding candidate resumes that meet qualifications of the developed job descriptions, and (3) vetting qualifications, interest, and availability of qualified candidates that the sourcers have located.
To find candidate resumes, sourcers often perform manual tasks, such as searching websites, attending recruiting events, networking with individuals in particular fields, and the like. Unfortunately, sourcers often spend a majority of their time performing these manual tasks of simply locating resumes of qualified candidates, rather than spending this time performing higher-value functions, such as developing accurate job descriptions and vetting qualified candidates.

Crowdsourcing for documents that include specified criteria


The present embodiment relates to the use of a musculoskeletal repositioning device in the birthing process by causing increased muscular strength and decreased muscular tension especially during the “push” phase of child birth. The device guides the condyles and articulating discs of the temporomandibular joint from a neutral or passive position into an active power position.

The temporomandibular joint (TMJ), the joint of the jaw, is a complex joint that must allow for both rotational and translational (sliding) movement. The muscles and joints of the face are thought to be involved in the pathologies of conditions of not just the head and neck, but of the entire body. It has long been considered that tension and improper alignment of the muscles and joints of the face can lead to tension in other parts of the body. As such, oral orthotics and mouthpieces have been developed to try and reduce tension in the facial muscles and joints.
A number of nerves and blood vessels which communicate between the brain and the rest of the body pass through the jaw area near the TMJ. As such, it is thought that abnormalities and stress in this area can cause muscle weakness and muscle tension throughout the body. Further, it is hypothesized that when pressure on the TMJ is released, the energy typically directed towards the masseter muscles can be directed to other parts of the body, improving performance.
A family of patents to Kittelsen, et al., including U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,299,804; 6,691,710; 6,675,807; 6,675,806; 6,626,180; 6,598,605; 6,588,430; 6,510,853; 6,505,628; 6,505,627; 6,505,626; 6,478,492; 6,415,794; 6,012,919; 5,879,155; 5,865,619; 5,339,832; and 5,152,301; describe a mouthpiece made of a thermoplastic material having a "reverse bite plate wedge." The mouthpieces described in the Kittelsen patents are fitted to the upper jaw of the user. As is described in the Kittelsen patents, the mouthpieces are designed to be one-size-fits-all mouthpieces that are fitted to the individual user using a "boil and bite" method wherein the mouthpiece is placed in boiling water to soften the thermoplastic material. According to the Kittelsen patents, the reverse bite plate wedge of the mouthpiece "lowers the condyle from the temporomandibular joint in a fulcrum action." As such, the wedge of the Kittelsen mouthpieces functions to move the condyle downwardly, to open up the TMJ. However, this type of fulcrum action primarily forces the lower jaw to move only downward. Further, as the mouthpieces described by Kittelsen are made of composite layers, they are complicated and expensive to manufacture. Similar references having similar deficiencies are U.S. Pat. No. 4,765,324 to Lake, U.S. Pat. No. 7,305,990 to Mathias, and U.S. Pat. No. 6,530,375 to Cieslik.
Patents to Kittelsen, et al., mentioning birthing aids include the above-cited '758 and '155 patents as well as U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,626,180; 6,539,943; 6,415,794; 6,257,239; 6,237,601; and 6,200,133; which describe athletic mouthpiece made of various materials. The mouthpieces described in these patents are designed for athletic use and to absorb the forces of contact in sport activities. Further, as the mouthpieces described by Kittelsen are made of composite layers, they are complicated and expensive to manufacture. None of the cited patents possess molded ramps consisting of the lingual anatomy of the upper posterior teeth and the anatomy of the adjoining of the palatal tissue.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,529,762 and 5,624,257 to Farrell describe a mouthguard that receives the teeth of both the upper and lower jaws. The mouthguard has a one-size-fits-all design that is intended to only receive the teeth of both the upper and lower jaws when the lower jaw is in a certain position. As the mouthguards described by Farrell are not custom fitted, they may not move the jaw of the user into the active power position. None of the cited patents possess molded ramps consisting of the lingual anatomy of the upper posterior teeth and the anatomy of the adjoining of the palatal tissue
U.S. Pat. No. 5,836,761 to Belvedere describes an athletic mouthpiece on the lower poster teeth to absorb shock.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,114,614 to Kesling teaches a hinged mouthguard.
U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2005/0204455 to Pelligra describes pregnancy push straps.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,668,833 to Ju Chui Rhee describes a birthing aid to be wrapped around the shin or thigh of a patient engaged in the birthing process.
However, none of the cited prior art teaches or suggests devices that can cause the repositioning of the lower jaw to place the TMJ in an active optimal power position for the release of muscular tension, particularly in the context of childbirth.

Birthing aid: method of using musculoskeletal repositioning device


According to embodiments of the present invention, an antifuse circuit is operated by coupling an elevated voltage to a first terminal of an antifuse, controlling current in the antifuse with a program driver circuit coupled to a second terminal of the antifuse, and shunting current around the antifuse with a bypass circuit coupled between the first terminal of the antifuse and the program driver circuit to protect the antifuse. The antifuse includes a layer of gate dielectric between the first terminal and the second terminal. The embodiments of the present invention protect a gate dielectric antifuse.

Integrated circuits are interconnected networks of electrical components fabricated on a common foundation called a substrate. The electrical components are typically fabricated on a wafer of semiconductor material that serves as a substrate. Various fabrication techniques, such as layering, doping, masking, and etching, are used to build millions of resistors, transistors, and other electrical components on the wafer. The components are then wired together, or interconnected, to define a specific electrical circuit, such as a processor or a memory device.
Fusible elements are employed in integrated circuits to permit changes in the configuration of the integrated circuits after fabrication. For example, fusible elements may be used to replace defective circuits with redundant circuits. Memory devices are typically fabricated with redundant memory cells. The redundant memory cells may be enabled with fusible elements after fabrication to replace defective memory cells found during a test of fabricated memory devices. Fusible elements are also used to customize the configuration of a generic integrated circuit after it is fabricated, or to identify an integrated circuit.
One type of fusible element is a polysilicon fuse. The polysilicon fuse comprises a polysilicon conductor fabricated to conduct electrical current on an integrated circuit. A portion of the polysilicon fuse may be evaporated or opened by a laser beam to create an open circuit between terminals of the polysilicon fuse. The laser beam may be used to open selected polysilicon fuses in an integrated circuit to change its configuration. The use of polysilicon fuses is attended by several disadvantages. Polysilicon fuses must be spaced apart from each other in an integrated circuit such that when one of them is being opened by a laser beam the other polysilicon fuses are not damaged. A bank of polysilicon fuses therefore occupies a substantial area of an integrated circuit. In addition, polysilicon fuses cannot be opened once an integrated circuit is placed in an integrated circuit package, or is encapsulated in any manner.
Another type of fusible element is an antifuse. An antifuse comprises two conductive terminals separated by an insulator or a dielectric, and is fabricated as an open circuit. The antifuse is programmed by applying a high voltage across its terminals to rupture the insulator and form an electrical path between the terminals.
Antifuses have several advantages that are not available with fuses. A bank of antifuses takes tip much less area of an integrated circuit because they are programmed by a voltage difference that can be supplied on wires connected to the terminals of each of the antifuses. The antifuses may be placed close together in the bank, and adjacent antifuses are not at risk when one is being programmed. Antifuses may also be programmed after an integrated circuit is placed in an integrated circuit package, or encapsulated, by applying appropriate signals to pins of the package. This is a significant advantage for several reasons. First, an integrated circuit may be tested after it is in a package, and may then be repaired by replacing defective circuits with redundant circuits by programming selected antifuses. A generic integrated circuit may be tested and placed in a package before it is configured to meet the specifications of a customer. This reduces the delay between a customer order and shipment. The use of antifuses to customize generic integrated circuits also improves the production yield for integrated circuits because the same generic integrated circuit may be produced to meet the needs of a wide variety of customers.
Despite their advantages, the use of antifuses in integrated circuits is limited by a lack of adequate circuitry to support the programming and reading of the antifuses. There exists a need for improved circuits and methods for programming and reading antifuses in integrated circuits.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Circuits and methods to protect a gate dielectric antifuse


The different advantageous embodiments may provide an apparatus that may comprise a support structure, a number of acoustic sensors, and a controller. The number of acoustic sensors may be coupled to the support structure. The controller may be configured to control the support structure to change the spatial distribution of the number of acoustic sensors.

1. Field
The present disclosure relates generally to an apparatus for acquiring acoustic data and more particularly to a method for changing capabilities of an acoustic array.
2. Background
The analysis of noise and the sources or causes of noise may be performed to understand the physics behind the noise generation. For example, an analysis may be performed to identify where the noise is coming from. This type of analysis may be performed in the testing of devices. For example, noise data may be collected for an aircraft engine, such as a jet engine. The noise data collected may be analyzed to determine what components within, and exterior to the jet engine contribute to the noise. These different components may also be referred to as component noise sources.
Currently, arrays of microphones may be used to collect noise data. This noise data may be processed to produce a "picture" of where the noise is coming from, and to determine the intensity of the radiated noise. In obtaining this data, microphones may be placed at different locations. With current array designs, hundreds or thousands of microphone locations may be needed to cover all the sound propagation paths formed by connecting hundreds of candidate noise source locations to dozens of measurement points of interest.
The currently used methods for obtaining noise using arrays of microphones may be limited to the array size or location. Further, the current methodologies may collect noise information with limited numbers of microphones. The microphones may be placed at positions at which noise data may be collected. This type of collection may result only in noise data being collected for a limited number of emission angles.
Therefore, it would be advantageous to have a method and apparatus that overcomes one or more of the issues described above as well as possibly other issues.


An RF coil apparatus for generating an elliptical polarization field includes an RF coil assembly having a pair of independent drive channels connected thereto. The drive channels are driven such that an elliptical polarization field is generated in a volume-of-interest within the RF coil assembly. The elliptical polarization field is generated about a subject having a generally elliptical cross-section disposed within the volume-of-interest.

The present invention relates generally to magnetic resonance (MR) imaging and, more particularly, to a system and method of driving a birdcage coil to generate an elliptically-shaped B1 field.
When a substance such as human tissue is subjected to a uniform magnetic field (polarizing field B0), the individual magnetic moments of the spins in the tissue attempt to align with this polarizing field, but precess about it in random order at their characteristic Larmor frequency. If the substance, or tissue, is subjected to a magnetic field (excitation field B1) which is in the x-y plane and which is near the Larmor frequency, the net aligned moment, or "longitudinal magnetization", Mz, may be rotated, or "tipped", into the x-y plane to produce a net transverse magnetic moment Mt. A signal is emitted by the excited spins after the excitation signal B1 is terminated and this signal may be received and processed to form an image.
When utilizing these signals to produce images, magnetic field gradients (Gx, Gy, and Gz) are employed. Typically, the region to be imaged is scanned by a sequence of measurement cycles in which these gradients vary according to the particular localization method being used. The resulting set of received NMR signals are digitized and processed to reconstruct the image using one of many well known reconstruction techniques.
It is generally desirable to have a relatively uniform sensitivity, both for signal generation and reception, throughout a cross-section of an imaged object when acquiring MR data. However, as the resonance frequency is increased, this becomes more difficult due to conductive losses and wavelength effects within the object. Further, as frequency increases, the power deposition required to achieve a given B1 field also increases.
Quadrature excitation and reception has been adapted as a standard method of operating volume RF coils to achieve a relatively uniform sensitivity or B1 field. Compared with a linear mode of operation, quadrature excitation and reception may result in signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) improvements of up to 40% and a power reduction of up to a factor of 2.0 for the same effective B1 field.
It is well known that in free space, a quadrature operated volume birdcage coil produces and receives a circularly polarized B1 field. For lossy objects with a relative permittivity similar to water and circular in cross-section, the B1 field is only truly circularly polarized over a small region at the center. Nevertheless, for a circular cross-sectioned object, a circularly polarized B1 field is considered the most efficient in terms of B1 field generated for a given amount of power.
For elliptically-shaped objects, however, circular polarization is less than optimal. That is, if a subject has an elliptical cross-section, then a circularly polarized B1 field is not well-matched to the subject and, therefore, is less than optimal. Similarly, the SNR on reception is less than optimal. Further, transmit efficiency, which is defined as B1 field strength divided by the square root of the power deposited in the subject, is relatively poor. This is particularly problematic in abdominal imaging and similar scans where the object under inspection is defined to have an elliptical cross-section.
It would therefore be desirable to have a system and method capable of generating a polarized B1 field better suited for an elliptically cross-sectioned subject.

System and method of elliptically driving an MRI Coil


An in-die cover forming method for integrally forming a cover member with a surface of a base member in a die is provided. The die including an upper die half and a lower die half. The upper die halves are movable relative to each other. The base member is set on the lower die half such that its back is opposed to the lower die half. Using position determining mechanisms located between the lower die half and the back of the base member, the position of the surface of the base member in relation to the lower die half in the die moving direction is determined. The cover member is placed between the base member and the upper die half. The cover member is integrated with the surface of the base member by closing the upper die half with respect to the lower die half while pressing the cover member against the base member through vacuuming.

The present invention relates to an in-die cover forming method, in which a cover is integrally formed with the surface of a base member in a die, and to a method for manufacturing a product integrated with a cover through the in-die cover forming method.
Interior parts such as side panels and lids of consoles, instrument panels, lids of glove compartments typically have an ornamental surface made of a cover material so that the parts have a quality appearance. When manufacturing such an interior part 80, a resin base member 81 and a cover member 82 are placed in a die 90 as shown in FIG. 3. Then, the die 90 is closed while pressing the cover member 82 against the base member 81 through vacuuming. Consequently, the cover member 82 is integrated with the surface of the base member 81. This method is referred to as the in-die cover forming method. The die 90 used in such a forming method includes an upper die half 90a and a lower die half 90b. The upper die half 90a has a cavity surface that corresponds to the shape of the surface of the base member 81. The lower die half 90b has a cavity surface that corresponds to the shape of the back of the base member 81.
As shown FIG. 3, the interior part 80 has a reinforcing ribs 81c and side walls 81b. When manufacturing the interior part 80 using the die 90, the shape of the back of the base member 81 including the reinforcing ribs 81c and the side walls 81b are caused to conform to the shape of the lower die half 90b as shown in the right half of FIG. 3. In other words, the base member 81 is placed on the lower die half 90b with the position of the base member 81 determined both in the longitudinal and transverse directions. The longitudinal and transverse directions are defined in a plane that is perpendicular to the direction in which the die halves 90a, 90b are moved relative to each other (vertical direction as viewed in FIG. 3).
Subsequently, the cover member 82, which has been heated and softened, is placed on the surface of the base member 81, and the upper die half 90a is placed on the upper surface of the cover member 82. Thereafter, the cover member 82 is drawn from the side of the cavity surface of the lower die half 90b through vacuuming, so that the cover member 82 intimately contacts the base member 81. Finally, the cover member 82 is bonded to the surface of the base member 81 by closing the die 90. Typically, an adhesive is used to bond the cover member 82 to the base member 81.
Generally, the ornamental surface of the interior part 80 has a number of curved shapes to give a quality appearance. It is difficult to integrate the flat cover member 82 with a member having such a three-dimensional configuration. Therefore, defective can be caused. For example, there may be cases where the cover member 82 is displaced from a proper position with respect to the base member 81, or the cover member 82 is partially creased. To deal with such problems, for example, Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 7-205167 proposes an in-die cover forming method in which a fixation apparatus is used. The fixation apparatus disclosed in the publication No. 7-205167 includes actuators each having an actuation rod at a periphery of an upper die half. When the die is opened, the actuation rods are caused to move toward a lower die half. The actuation rods are moved downward when the die is closed so that the rods press and fix a cover member placed on a lower die half at the periphery. The rods are retracted by the pressure applied by the lower die half as the die is closed.
On the other hand, Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2001-179759 discloses a method for forming a product through bonding. In this method, a cover member on the back of which an adhesive layer is formed is pressed against a core having a curved shape. Thereafter, folded portions at the periphery of the cover member are folded back to contact the back of the core. This forming method is characterized by the following features. That is, when pressing the cover member against the surface of the core using the die, water is applied to the back of the folded portions so that the bonding function of the adhesive layer is temporarily lowered. Then, the folded portions are heated so that the portions recover adhesive function, and folded along the back of the core.
As described above, it is difficult to integrate the flat cover member 82 with the base member 81 so as to the cover member 82 conform to the surface of the base member 81 having a three-dimensional shape. Thus, the yield cannot be sufficiently increased simply by determining the position of the base member 81 with respect to the lower die half 90b in the longitudinal and transverse directions, or by suppressing the displacement of the cover member 82 relative to the lower die half 90b. Particularly, if the base member 81 has an elongated shape, the base member 81 is likely to be warped after injection molding. This creates variations in dimensional accuracy. When performing the in-die cover forming method using the base member 81, one end of the base member 81 is likely to separate from the lower die half 90b as schematically shown in FIG. 3. This can crease or break the cover member 82. There is therefore much demand for a technique that significantly increases the yield by suppressing defective due to variations in dimensional accuracy of the base member 81.

In-die cover forming method and method for manufacturing product integrated with cover


According to an example aspect of the present invention, there is provided A process for making a cellulose fibre or film comprising the steps of dissolving pulp in an ionic liquid containing a cationic 1,5,7-triazabicyclo[4.4.0]dec-5-enium [TBDH]+ moiety and an anion selected from the group according to Formula a), Formula b) and Formula c), wherein each of R, R2, R3, R4, R5, R7, R8, R9 and R10 is H or an organyl radical and X− is selected from the group consisting of halides, pseudohalides, carboxylates, alkyl sulphite, alkyl sulphate, dialkylphosphite, dialkyl phosphate, dialkyl phosphonites and dialkyl phosphonates, to provide a spinning dope, extruding the spinning dope through a spinneret to form one or more filaments, and a step selected from the group consisting of spinning cellulose fibres from the solution, and extruding a cellulose film from the solution.

The textile market comprises conventional clothing (apparel) textiles as well as the more and more important technical textiles (TT), which are used principally for their performance or functional characteristics rather than for their aesthetics, or are used for non-consumer (i.e. industrial) applications. The clothing textile market is predominantly (80%) based on either cotton or polyester, both having questionable effects on environment. Production of cotton requires a lot of water, artificial fertilizers and pesticides. Despite of the unsustainable cultivation of cotton the product properties are appreciated by consumers as they have good hand feel ("close-to-skin-feel-good") and are a natural fibre and, thus, biodegradable. The consumption of technical textiles is growing four times faster than clothing in both terms of value and volume. The market value for technical textiles reached a global turnover of 100 billion € in 2011 and is increasing rapidly especially in Asia. The share of viscose or other wood-based cellulosic fibres is only 6% of the entire fibre market. Between 1995 and 2005, the world's consumption of TT has grown by 41%. Roughly one fourth of the raw material used in technical textiles is natural based fibres (cotton, wood pulp), representing 3.8 million tons in year 2005. The global market for nonwovens was 7.05 million tons corresponding to a market value of about 19.8 billion euros in 2010 with estimated increase to 10 million tons by the end of 2016. The average growth (2010-2015) for all nonwovens and sustainable nonwovens is 8.5% and 12.7%, respectively, but in certain sectors the growth can exceed 25% p.a. The growth is expected to be further accelerated by enhanced properties of sustainable materials. The main market segments in terms of volume for nonwovens are hygiene (31.8%), construction (18.5%), wipes (15.4%) and filtration (4.0%). The total world fibre market was 89.4 Mt in 2014 and is estimated to grow by about 10% by 2020. The MMCF share of this global market was 6.7%, i.e. 6 Mt, and is estimated to grow by 6% by 2020. Present MMCF production capacities are unable to satisfy the future demand and it is estimated that the cellulose gap will be 10-20 Mt/a already in 2030.
Currently, approximately three quarter of the global production of man-made cellulosic fibres are based on the Viscose process. From an environmental point of view, however, it is questionable whether the Viscose technique should be further promoted. The utilization of large amounts of CS2 and caustic results in hazardous byproducts such as SOx and H2S gases which may cause severe stress for labour forces and the environment. Alternatively, the so-called Lyocell process can convert pulps by direct dissolution in NMMO monohydrate into value added products. The first patents on the manufacture of Lyocell fibres were filed by American Enka/Akzona Inc (U.S. Pat. No. 4,246,221), later by Courtauld and Lenzing AG (EP0490870). The wood-pulp is dissolved in a solution of hot N-methyl morpholine N-oxide monohydrate and in contrast to the Viscose process, the spinning dope is not extruded directly into the coagulation medium (wet spinning) but passes an air gap where it remains a liquid filament for a short period of time. By drawing the fibre before and in the coagulation zone, the characteristic high tensile strength of Lyocell fibres is gained which—unlike Viscose fibres—remains high even under wet conditions. However, the versatility of the Lyocell process is limited by certain intrinsic properties of NMMO resulting from its peculiar structure. The N—O moiety impedes the implementation of redox-active agents whereas the cyclic ether structure is prone to so-called thermal runaway reactions necessitating appropriate stabilizers. Ionic liquids (ILs) could offer a possibility to bypass these problems. WO 03/029329 A2 claims the dissolution and possibility of regeneration of cellulose in a variety of ionic liquids. DE 102005017715 A1 and WO 2006/108861 A2 describe the dissolution of cellulose in various ionic liquids and mixtures of ILs with amine bases, respectively. In WO 2007/101812 A1 the intentional homogeneous degradation of cellulose in ionic liquids is demonstrated. Details concerning the fibre spinning from ionic liquid solutions can be found in DE 102004031025 B3, WO 2007/128268 A2, and WO 2009/118262 A1. The solvents described in those patents are mainly imidazolium based halides and carboxylates. Halides are characterized by a pronounced corrosiveness towards metal processing equipment and require high processing temperatures which leads to pronounced degradation of the cellulose. Carboxylates, and in particular 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium acetate, show inferior viscoelastic properties for fibre spinning.
Previously, 1,5-diazabicyclo[4.3.0]non-5-ene (DBN)-based ILs have been described as superior solvents for cellulose processing (WO 2014/162062 A1). In particular [DBNH] carboxylates could dissolve cellulose at moderate temperatures in short times. This contributes substantially to the maintenance of the cellulose integrity and to energy and costs savings. Further, they show superior spinnability in a dry-jet wet Lyocell-type spinning process to yield fibres with excellent mechanical properties. The resulting fibres are similar or slightly superior to Lyocell fibres. Notably, ILs are inherently safer than NMMO. The latter is prone to spontaneous thermal runaway reactions. Stabilizers are needed which, however, can only minimize the risk of accidents but cannot guarantee a 100% safe operation. For future processes as safe technological foundation is obviously a decisive asset—if not a key-requirement.
A key unit operation in the Lyocell process is the solvent recycling from the spin and washing baths. This comprises the removal of the antisolvent, typically water, through various evaporation stages. This exerts thermal stress on the solvent-antisolvent mixture and can cause degradation or other side reactions. This results in highly undesirable solvent losses and requires a strategy to reverse the (degradation) reactions and restore the original solvent structure. Further, solute (cellulose) degradation might occur during the dissolution, filtration, de-aeration and spinning operations and respective degradation products accumulate in the coagulation bath. NMMO is known to induce a wide set of cellulose degradations reactions. Stabilizers can prevent them only to a limited extent. This deteriorates the cost competiveness through material loss and additional purification steps within the solvent recovery. Additional solvent-derived degradation products can exacerbate the removal of carbohydrates from the recovered solvent.

Process for making cellulose fibre or film


A semiconductor memory device controlling a program voltage according to the number of cells to be programmed and a method of programming the same. The semiconductor memory device includes a memory cell array. A write data buffer receives write data in a predetermined unit. A program cell counter calculates the amount of data, from the write data, to be programmed in the memory cell array. A program voltage generator outputs a program voltage to be applied to the memory cell array, in accordance with the amount of data to be programmed, at a time, in the memory cell array. The program voltage is controlled in accordance with the number of memory cells to be programmed.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to semiconductor memory devices and more particularly, to a semiconductor memory device controlling a program voltage according to the number of memory cells to be programmed and a method of programming the same.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
Semiconductor memory devices are storage units capable of retaining data that may be read out as needed. Semiconductor memory devices may either be volatile memory devices that lose data in the absence of power or nonvolatile memory devices that retain data even without power. Flash memory is an example of a non-volatile memory.
Flash memory may either be NAND type or NOR type. NOR flash memory is often used for code storage. For example, NOR flash memory is used in mobile telephone terminals because NOR flash memory provides fast data processing and is operable at high frequencies. NAND flash memory conducts programming and erasing operations by means of Fowler-Nordheim (F-N) tunneling. In NOR flash memory, programming operations are carried out by hot electron injection and erasing operations are carried out by F-N tunneling. NOR flash memory is differentiated into stack-gate and split-gate types in accordance with the gate structure of the memory cells.
FIG. 1 is a sectional diagram showing a stack-gate memory cell 10 of a NOR flash memory. Referring to FIG. 1, the memory cell 10 is constructed of N+ source and drain regions 13 and 14, respectively, which are formed in a P-type substrate 19. A floating gate (FG) 16 is formed over a channel region through an isolation film 15 having a thickness of less than 100 Å. A control gate (CG) 18 is formed over the floating gate 16 through an intergate insulation film, for example, an oxide-nitride-oxide (ONO) film 17. The source region 13, the drain region 14, and the control gate 18 are coupled to a source line SL, a bit line BL, and a word line WL, respectively.
During a programming operation, the source line SL and the substrate 19 are grounded. The word line WL is supplied with a word line voltage of approximately 10V and the bit line BL is supplied with a bit line voltage of approximately 5V. Under such a bias condition, electrons are injected into the floating gate 16 from the channel region adjacent to the drain region 14. This mechanism is referred to as hot electron injection, which is a feature of the NOR flash memory.
Generally, during the programming operation, when a voltage of approximately 5V is applied to the drain region 14 of the memory cell, a cell current of approximately 200 μA flows from the drain region 14 toward the source region 13 through the channel region. For example, in programming multiple bits of data, for example, bytes or words of data, at the same time, the cell current is at most approximately 1.6 mA (200 μA×8) for a byte or 3.2 mA (200 μA×16) for a word.
FIG. 2 is a sectional diagram showing a split-gate memory cell 20 of a NOR flash memory. Referring to FIG. 2, the memory cell 20 is constructed of N+ source and drain regions 23 and 24, respectively, which are formed in a P-type substrate 29. A floating gate (FG) 26 is formed over a channel region through a gate oxide film 25. A control gate (CG) 28 is formed over the floating gate 26. The gate oxide film 25 is formed through a tunnel oxide film 27. The source region 23, the drain region 24, and the control gate 28 are coupled to a source line SL, a bit line BL, and a word line WL, respectively.
Examples of bias voltages applied to the memory cell 20 for a programming operation are described herein. A source line voltage VSL of approximately 9V is applied to the source line SL. A word line voltage VWL of approximately 2V is applied to the word line WL. The bit line BL is supplied with a bit line voltage VBL of approximately 0.5V or approximately 2V in accordance with program data. Under this bias condition, electrons are injected into the floating gate 26 from the channel region adjacent to the source region 23 by hot electron injection.
In the NOR flash memory device with split-gate structure, during the programming operation, a program voltage of approximately 9V is applied to the source line SL. This program voltage is supplied from a program voltage generator that is included in the NOR flash memory device. The program voltage generator includes a regulator fbr generating a program voltage of a constant level. The program voltage output from the program voltage generator drops while passing through a driver and a source line selection circuit. For example, the source line voltage VSL is applied to the source line SL at a voltage lower than the program voltage output from the program voltage generator.
The drop of the source line voltage VSL becomes more problematic as the number of memory cells to be programmed at a time increases. For example, 32 memory cells may be programmed at the same time. The 32 memory cells include cells to be programmed (hereinafter, referred to as 'program cells') and cells to be inhibited in programming (hereinafter, referred to as 'program-inhibit cells'). The program cells are memory cells that are changed from an erased state to a programmed state. The program-inhibit cells are memory cells that remain in an erased state.
In the above example, the voltage drop of the source line voltage VSL is different when the number of program cells is 1 than when the number of program cells is 32. As the number of program cells increases, the source line voltage VSL becomes lower. The dropping pattern of the source line voltage VSL according to the number of program cells is shown in FIG. 6A. Such a drop of the source line voltage VSL according to the number of program cells would degrade program characteristics of the memory cells. For example, the number of program cells may affect a degree of stress that is placed upon the memory cells. Further, a large number of program cells can cause program failures due to insufficient cell currents.

Semiconductor memory device controlling program voltage according to the number of cells to be programmed and method of programming the same


A thermally expandable sheet includes:    a thermally expansive layer formed on a one surface of a base;    a first ink receiving layer that is provided on the thermally expansive layer for receiving ink;    a film provided on the first ink receiving layer; and    a second ink receiving layer that is provided on the film for receiving ink;    wherein the first ink receiving layer is formed of a material that provides a texture a different from a texture of the second ink receiving layer.

In the related art, thermally expandable sheets in which a thermally expansive layer containing a thermally expandable material foaming and expanding according to the amount of heat absorbed is formed on one side of a base sheet are known. The thermally expansive layer can be distended in part or in whole by forming a photothermal conversion layer converting light to heat on the thermally expandable sheet and irradiating the photothermal conversion layer with light. Moreover, methods for forming a shaped object having a three dimensional uneven surface on the thermally expandable sheet by changing the shape of the photothermal conversion layer are also known (see, for example, Unexamined Japanese Patent Application Kokai Publication Nos. S64-28660 and 2001-150812).
The texture (for example, glossy, non-glossy) of the shaped object formed on the surface of thermally expandable sheet varies depending on the material from which the layer provided on the sheet surface is formed. Therefore, when the texture of the shaped object is to be varied throughout the whole sheet, sheets in which the layers provided on the surface contain different materials must be prepared and individually printed, or the whole sheet must be subjected to secondary processing (for example, a glossy treatment) to cause the texture of the surface to vary. Moreover, a problem is that, when the texture of the shaped object is to be varied in a portion of the sheet, that portion must be subjected to secondary processing.
Therefore, there is a demand for a thermally expandable sheet, a production method for the thermally expandable sheet, and a 2.5D image forming method whereby a shaped object having varying textures can be formed by one sheet.
The present disclosure is made with the view of the above situation, and an objective of the present disclosure is to provide a thermally expandable sheet in which a shaped object having varying textures can be formed, a production method for the thermally expandable sheet, and a 2.5D image forming method.

Thermally expandable sheet, production method for thermally expandable sheet, and 2.5D image forming method