An improved chemical mechanical polishing method of and apparatus (30) for performing CMP process on a plurality of semiconductor devices includes a plurality of carrier devices (14), each for receiving one of the plurality of semiconductor devices (22) such as a semiconductor wafer. A plurality of polishing pad mechanisms (12) associate with each of the carrier devices (14) so that each of the plurality of polishing pad mechanisms (12) separately and approximately simultaneously polishes one of the plurality of semiconductor devices (22). Control means controls the movement of each of the plurality of polishing pad mechanisms (12) relative to the associated semiconductor device (22) so that the semiconductor device (22) is separately polished. To minimize the adverse effects of gravity in the CMP process, the present invention may include a plurality of orienting mechanisms (38) for orienting each of the plurality of carrier devices (14) and each of the plurality of polishing pad mechanisms (12) in the vertical plane.

Advances in electronic devices generally include reducing the size of the components that form integrated circuits. With smaller circuit components, the value of each unit area of a semiconductor wafer becomes higher. This is because the ability to use all of the wafer area for integrated circuit components improves. To properly form an integrated circuit that employs a much higher percentage of usable wafer area, it is critical that contaminant particle counts on the semiconductor wafer surface be reduced below levels which previously may have been acceptable. For example, minute particles of oxides and metals of less than 0.2 microns are unacceptable for many of the popular advanced circuit designs, because they can short out two or more conducting lines.
In order to planarize a semiconductor wafer and to remove unwanted particles, chemical mechanical polishing or chemical mechanical polish (hereinafter "CMP") process has become popular. CMP systems place a semiconductor wafer in contact with a polishing pad that rotates relative to the semiconductor wafer. The semiconductor wafer may be stationary, or it may also rotate on a carrier that holds the wafer. Problems of conventional methods of performing a chemical mechanical polish is that they produce nonuniform wafers and produce larger than desirable edge exclusion areas. Both of these problems impair operation of resulting electronic components formed from the semiconductor devices. Semiconductor wafer non-uniformity may cause undesirable layers not to be removed at some places and desirable layers to be removed at other places on the wafer surface. This causes various areas on the wafer surface to be unusable for forming semiconductor devices. Process uniformity from wafer to wafer is also important in CMP processing. Known CMP systems, however, suffer from significant wafer-to-wafer non-uniformities. This can also adversely affect the throughput and yield of the CMP process. Edge exclusion occurs when too much of the semiconductor wafer surface is polished at the edge of the wafer. This causes the outer edge of the wafer to be unusable for applications such as semiconductor device fabrication.
Another problem of known methods of and systems for chemical mechanical polishing a semiconductor device is that they have throughput limitations. Wafer polish throughput, like polish uniformity is an important process parameter because it directly affects the number of integrated circuits or other applications for which the fabrication facility may supply components for a given period of time.

Chemical mechanical polishing method and apparatus


Provided is an in-folding type hinge structure having a flexible display panel installed therein in a mobile communication terminal in which a flexible display panel is provided in a pair of panel portions which are foldably connected to each other, in which a stable folding operation can be performed while the panel portions are being folded or unfolded and the panel portions do not rotate over 180 degrees when the panel portions are fully unfolded, whereby damage of the flexible display panel provided on the surfaces of the panel portions can be prevented.

Mobile communication terminals are configured to perform various functions. Examples of the functions include a data and speech communication function, a function of capturing a still image or a moving image using a camera, a speech storing function, a function of reproducing a music file using a speaker system, and a function of displaying a still image or a moving image (a video).
Some mobile communication terminals have additional functions for playing games, and some mobile communication terminals are embodied as multimedia devices. Recently, mobile communication terminals can also receive broadcast or multicast signals and reproduce a video or a television program.
Researches for supporting and improving other functions of mobile communication terminals in addition to the above-mentioned functions have been carried out. These researches include modification and improvement of structural constituents of the mobile communication terminals and addition and improvement of software or hardware.
In general, a display module of a mobile communication terminal displays information which is processed by the mobile communication terminal. For example, when the mobile communication terminal is in a call mode, the display module displays a user interface (UI) or a graphic user interface (GUI) associated with a call.
When the mobile communication terminal is in a video call mode or an image capturing mode, the display module displays a captured or/and received image, a UI, or a GUI. The display module includes a liquid crystal display (LCD), a thin-film transistor liquid crystal display (TFT LCD), an organic light emitting diode (OLED), a flexible display, or a 3D display.
A flexible display (or a flexible LCD) has been regularly researched with its merit of deformability. It takes much time to use a rolled display like a paper roll as shown in science-fiction movies.
Therefore, transitional forms of flexible displays will be many used until the flexible displays are regularly used with sufficient development thereof, and these transitional forms will be similar to current structures of communication terminals. Accordingly, there is necessity for description of usage and protection of flexible displays when such flexible displays are used in mobile communication terminals.

Infolding-type hinge structure having flexible display panel installed therein


A section of a gas turbine engine includes a case structure having a first coefficient of thermal expansion. A continuous, ring-shaped liner has a second coefficient of thermal expansion that is substantially different than the first coefficient of thermal expansion. A flexible leaf member operatively connects the liner to the case structure. The leaf member is configured to accommodate diametrical change in the liner throughout various fan section operating temperatures.

This disclosure relates to a section of a gas turbine engine, for example, a fan section, and, in particular, to a conformal liner for the fan section.
One type of gas turbine engine includes a core engine having compressor and turbine sections that drive a fan section. The fan section includes circumferentially arranged fan blades disposed within a fan case. The fan section is subject to large temperature fluctuations throughout engine operation. A minimized clearance tight seal is desired between the tips of the fan blades and the fan case throughout engine operation at the various operating temperatures.
One system has been proposed to accommodate thermal expansion and contraction in a fan section having composite fan blades. The composite fan blades are arranged within a composite liner of generally the same material. Several pins at discrete circumferential locations along the liner are used to support the liner relative to a metallic fan case and permit the fan case to expand and contract relative to the composite liner.

Clearance control for gas turbine engine section


A bulk container bag of flexible fabric is provided with shape retaining flexible fabric strips at the corners to prevent distortion of the filled bag. Each corner is provided with a plurality of shape retaining rectangular strips anchored at their opposed ends to the adjacent side walls and extending across the corner. The strips are mounted one atop the other and spaced apart sufficiently to enable fill material to flow freely in and out of the corners to have complete filling and packing so that the bags will retain their shape even when stacked. The shape of the strips ensure uniform tensile forces on the walls from top to bottom of the strip.

This invention relates to flexible bulk containers or bags used for flowable materials, and, more particularly to containers having shape retaining internal baffles.
Flexible bulk containers carrying flowable materials are generally made of fabric in the shape of a cube so that they can be stored, stacked, and transported in a minimal space. However, because the walls are so flexible, the flowable material deforms the walls, forcing them into a more cylindrical shape by bulging the sidewalls and rounding the corners. Various strategies of internal baffling have been employed to overcome this problem. The prior art is most effectively reviewed by U.S. Pat. No. 5,468,528 issued Nov. 21, 1995 to Schnaars et al.. It includes various panels and ropes joining adjacent side walls to restrain their outward bulging. To permit material to flow into and out of the corners enclosed by the baffle panels, various circular, oval, and triangular apertures have been cut in the baffle panels. Unfortunately, these apertures result in irregular stiffening or restraining forces being applied to the side walls as well as irregular packing of the material. This causes bulging of the side walls adjacent the apertures. These irregular bulges increase the packing space required by the filled bags and also cause the bags to lean irregularly, making stacking very unstable. Maintaining the sides of the filled bag as straight as possible is most important not only for shipment and storage, but also in handling the bag for dispensing, for example, when the bag must fit into the dispensing apparatus. At the same time, the addition of effective shape retaining elements should not increase the cost of the bags unnecessarily and should not interfere with effective filling and emptying of the flowable material in all corners of the bags.

Bulk container with internal baffle bands


An apparatus and method for triaging patients according to radiation exposure measures electron paramagnetic resonance spectra of fingernails, toenails, and/or teeth. In vivo, radiation induced spectra are obtained from intact fingernails, toenails, or teeth placed within a magnet and with pickup coils over nails between the cut edge at the end of the fingernail and proximal skin or placed adjacent to at least one tooth. The system may also operate in vitro with fingernail clippings. At least three spectra are obtained with one after a delay at above twenty degrees Celsius, and at least one at power levels different from the others. The spectra are used to determine and remove a mechanically induced signal from EPR spectra to determine radiation-induced spectra. The radiation induced spectra are used to determine radiation dose, the dose is compared to triage limits, and a radiological triage tag is printed for the patients.

While most molecules have paired electrons in consequence of covalent bonding, some molecules—including free radicals—have electrons that are not paired. Paired electrons have opposite spins (Ms=+/−½) that cancel out net magnetic moments. Unpaired electrons have spins that can interact with magnetic fields.
Unpaired electrons in molecules will resonate in a magnetic field. Electron Paramagnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (EPR), sometimes known as Electron Spin Resonance Spectroscopy, takes advantage of this effect to quantify and determine environments of the unpaired electrons. This is done by applying a magnetic field to a substance, which may be located within a human or animal subject, to align spins of any unpaired electrons in the substance. Once spins are aligned, a response of the spins of the unpaired electrons in the substance to radio-frequency electromagnetic radiation at and near a resonant frequency is measured. The resonant frequency and amount of absorption of the electromagnetic radiation is often dependent on the local environment of the unpaired electrons in the molecule as well as the applied magnetic field. The resonance results in such effects as a spike in a radio-frequency absorption spectrum of the substance in a magnetic field.
An EPR spectrum is often acquired by placing a sample in a magnetic field, holding a frequency of a radio frequency source and absorption measuring device constant, and making repeated measurements of response of the sample to the radio frequency energy while sweeping the intensity of the magnetic field. It may also be obtained by repeated measurements made while holding the magnetic field intensity constant and sweeping the frequency of the radio frequency source and measuring device.
Unpaired electrons are naturally found in small quantities in chemicals, such as free radicals, that are found in biological materials. For example, free radicals are produced during, and have importance in oxidative energy production by mitochondria.
It is known that the hydroxyapatite in tooth enamel and keratin in structures, such as fingernails, develop and retain unpaired electrons capable of producing an EPR signal when teeth and fingernails are subjected to ionizing radiation.
In the case of teeth, this EPR signal is roughly proportional to the mass of tooth enamel and to the total radiation dose received in that mass since the tooth formed. This radiation-induced signal has a long half-life.
In the case of fingernails, there is also a radiation induced EPR signal (RIS) having a moderate half-life of at least a few weeks. The RIS is of an intensity that is a function of radiation dose over a range that extends from radiation doses likely to be survived by a subject without treatment, through radiation doses that require medical treatment of a subject for survival, to radiation doses that are fatal to the vast majority of subjects. Ionizing radiation that can create an RIS includes x-ray and gamma-ray radiation such as that emitted by an operating nuclear reactor or a nuclear weapon detonation, as well as radiation emitted by fission products produced by nuclear weapons and reactors.
If the fingernails are clipped, there is also a mechanically-induced EPR signal (MIS) caused by molecular bonds broken when the fingernail is subjected the mechanical stresses of clipping. The MIS is believed to be due at least in part to shearing of Sulfur-Sulfur bonds between cysteine residues of the keratin in the fingernail. Breaking of these bonds leaves a radical that becomes stabilized. This signal is caused in part by the bending fingernail clippings undergo while their edges are being cut, as well as the shearing of cut keratin at the edges of the clipping.
While some decay is seen in the MIS signal, the MIS has a residual component that occurs at similar frequency and magnetic field strength as, and shows some similar characteristics in spectral shape to, any RIS that may be present.
While nuclear reactor operators typically carry dosimeters for measuring radiation that they may be exposed to in a work environment, members of the public, emergency services organizations, and armed forces rarely carry such dosimeters. In the event of nuclear accident, terrorism, or warfare, it would be desirable to measure recent radiation exposure of people exposed to such events. It is proposed that measurement of EPR of fingernails and teeth may provide dosimetry in such people.
Past attempts of dosimetry using EPR of fingernail clippings have found confusion between the RISs and the MIS to be an issue. Not only are components of the MIS found at the same frequency-magnetic field combination as the RIS, but the MIS is of intensity sufficient to obscure the RIS for much of the dose range of interest for triage for acute effects of ionizing radiation. If EPR of fingernail clippings is to be a practical method of dosimetry, it is desirable to find improved ways of reducing interference from the MIS, or of better extracting the RIS component from an overall EPR signal.
Past efforts to reduce the MIS have included soaking the fingernail clippings in water or sodium thioglycolate solutions, these treatments have been found to significantly reduce MIS by allowing radicals at the edges of cut nails to react. The literature and our experiments suggest, however, that the RIS may also affected by soaking and our experiments with water-soaking have not given reproducible and accurate dosimetry results.
Past techniques for measuring EPR signal in teeth have required extraction of a tooth, a procedure unpopular with victims of nuclear disasters.
In an international climate where perpetual enemies, India and Pakistan, are both nuclear powers, where North Korea has nuclear weapons and Iran—a country that has threatened Israel, a country widely believed to be a nuclear power—may soon acquire them, the risk of a nuclear attack or terrorism is increasingly significant. Further, with recent high oil prices and a worldwide resurgence of nuclear power to produce electricity without emitting greenhouse gasses, there is a significant risk of nuclear accident. Nuclear accidents have also resulted from improper disposal of radioactive materials, such as radiation treatment machines.
In nuclear attack, nuclear improper-disposal events, and nuclear accident, there may be people potentially exposed to ionizing radiation while not carrying previously-issued dosimeters. Both nuclear attack and nuclear accident could be mass-casualty situations with several hundred to tens of thousands of people potentially exposed to radiation.
The Chernobyl, Goiânia, Hiroshima, and Nagasaki events each involved at least some deaths from acute radiation syndrome, as have other events. These events also generated demands for measurements of radiation exposure in many thousands of individuals of widely varying radiation exposure, resulting in a substantial stress on the medical systems.
In mass casualty situations there is often mass hysteria, where large numbers of 'worried-well' people physically unaffected by the event may believe that their lives are in danger and may even exhibit psychosomatic symptoms of exposure. This phenomenon is expected to occur in nuclear events such as nuclear attack, terrorism, or accident. Further, there are likely to be limited medical facilities available after some such events—treatment of everyone, the 'worried well' as well as the exposed, is not expected to be possible immediately after a major event.
It is desirable to be able to rapidly sort large numbers of people into categories which may include: those who are 'worried well;' those with minimal exposure-possibly sufficient to cause increased cancer rates or otherwise need follow up—but who will not need treatment for acute radiation sickness; those who have received significant exposure but should recover from acute radiation sickness with conventional therapy; those who should recover from acute radiation sickness with aggressive therapy such as marrow transplants; and those who will probably die regardless of treatment. In the short term, treatment can then be focused upon those groups who most likely will benefit from the treatment. The process of sorting people according to radiation dose or other injuries into treatable, urgently treatable, or untreatable groups is known as triage, and was formalized for non-radiological injuries by the French army as a way to handle the large number of casualties generated on World War I battlefields. Further, if radiation dose can be approximately quantified, this information can be used to help guide patient transport and treatment by determining which people will likely survive with simple supportive care, which will need advanced care such as transfusions, and which will need more drastic measures such as bone-marrow transplant to survive.
In the event of nuclear attack, communications are likely to be disrupted over a large area. In particular, centralized databases, remote locations, the internet, and the cell and land-line telephone networks are likely to be nonfunctional or unreachable.
Existing technologies for determining which people of a population have been exposed to large doses of radiation include a differential blood count; neutrophils decrease in number because of bone marrow suppression and lack of replacement, while lymphocytes may undergo apoptosis. Unfortunately, not only do such counts require repeated measurements made by skilled medical staff, but baseline counts are unlikely to be available for the majority of people needing screening and both neutrophil and lymphocyte counts may undergo drastic changes from other causes ranging from HIV infection and stress to infection. A better method of triaging the potentially radiation exposed is needed.

System and method for post-exposure dosimetry using electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy


A storage system capable of reducing the start-up time of disk drives is provided. If a power source monitor circuit itself is normal (S93), the power source monitor circuit reads a detection signal from a detection circuit, and checks power sources (S94). If the power sources are normal (S95), all disks are spun up (S96). When the spin-up of all disks is completed (S98), processing is completed. If either of two power sources fails (S95), the power source monitor circuit reports the fact to a host control logical part (S99). The power source monitor circuit clears its internal counter to zero (S100) and issues a drive command to HDDs (S101). When the spin-up of all disks is completed (S103), processing is completed. If there is a disk which has not yet been spun up, the power source monitor circuit sets the internal counter to n+1 (S104) and returns to Step S101. N-number of HDDs are divided into groups respectively including six disks, six disks, four disks and one disk, and if the disks are driven in units of the groups, the power source monitor circuit sets the internal counter to n+Δn.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a storage system communicably connected to a host computer or another storage system, as well as a control method for the storage system. More particularly, the invention relates to a disk unit section of the storage system and a drive control method for the disk unit section.
2. Description of the Related Art
A power source control device and a power source control method for a disk array apparatus have heretofore been proposed. The power source control device and the power source control method make it possible to restrain increases in size and cost of a power source device, in spite of making it possible to maintain the redundancy of the power source device when all hard disks (hereinafter referred to as "disks") provided in the disk array apparatus are in their STAND BY states and in their Operate W/R states. The disk array apparatus according to this proposal has a plurality of disks, a plurality of power source devices, and a power source control part. The power source control part adds together current supplied from the respective power source devices, and performs control to supply each of the disks with electric power according to the state of each individual one of the disks (refer to, for example, Patent Document 1).
Patent Document 1: JP-A-2001-186655

Storage system having a power source state detection unit


Power consumption on a mobile computing device is reduced, by identifying and managing apps that prevent the mobile device from sleeping while the screen is off. It is detected when the screen is turned off and when it is subsequently turned back on. During the ensuing period of time, it is determined which specific apps prevent the mobile device from sleeping. This can take the form of identifying each specific app on the mobile device that has an unreleased wake lock at any point during the given period of time while the screen is off. The prevention of the device from sleeping while the screen was off is quantified by app according to power consumption, based on factors such as duration. Any apps for which the quantified prevention of the mobile device from sleeping while the screen was off meets a specific threshold are identified and managed.

Mobile computing devices such as smartphones and tablets are becoming more widely used every day. Android is an open-source, Linux based operating system for such mobile devices. Android, which continues to gain increasingly prevalent market share, accounted for approximately 80% of all smartphones shipped in the second quarter of 2013. A large community of developers write applications ("apps") that run on Android devices. Many Android apps are available either for purchase or for free through Google Play (formerly known as Android Market). Android apps can also be downloaded from other online stores and additional third-party sites.
In addition to phone and Wi-Fi connectivity, current mobile computing devices are typically equipped with a variety of popular features, such as a web browser, a digital camera and apps to manage a library of photographs and videos, sound input/output hardware and apps for managing a library of audio recordings, Bluetooth, NFC, apps for interacting with social media sites, apps for reading print media, etc. These devices are also generally equipped with a GPS, and many apps provide services to users based on current physical location. The devices can also include input hardware such as an accelerometer, gyroscope and proximity sensor, which can be used to control and customize interaction with the user in a wide variety of different ways. Thus, a current mobile device puts a great deal of computing power in the user's pocket or purse.
Current mobile computing devices require a significant amount of power to run, and are powered by rechargeable batteries. A mobile computing device's battery is charged by connecting the device to an external power source, such as a wall socket via a USB connection and an adaptor. An external power source is not always available, and even when it is, charging a mobile device can be inconvenient for the user. Generally, improvements in mobile batteries have lagged behind developments in processors and other mobile computing technology. The limited capacity of the battery can be a weak point in the capabilities of a mobile device. With the intensive power demands of mobile devices, many users find that the amount of time for which battery power is available between changes is less than ideal. Therefore, it is desirable to conserve power to the extent practicable, and not drain the battery any faster than necessary.
For this reason, Android uses a sleep mode in which the screen is turned off and the operations of the system are suspended. This significantly decreases power consumption, and thus prolongs the battery life. Android puts a device into sleep mode after a given amount of time has passed without activity, or in response to an indication from the user (typically, a quick press of the power switch). However, Android allows apps to run background tasks when the screen is off and the mobile device would otherwise be in sleep mode, which can be useful but also draws power. It is desirable for some background activity to occur during these times. For example, a user may want to continue listening to music even after the screen times out in response to no user activity occurring for a given period of time, which requires that the music player continues to operate in the background with the screen off. As another example, a phone might be configured to periodically pull e-mail from a server when the screen is off and the phone would otherwise be sleeping. However, if background tasks are run too often or for too long, the battery can be drained significantly when the device is supposed to be sleeping. Some badly designed apps prevent the mobile device from sleeping in order to run their own background tasks without proper regard for power consumption, and thus run down the battery while the phone is meant to be in sleep mode.
It would be desirable to address these issues.

Mobile battery performance by identifying apps that disproportionally run background tasks that prevent mobile devices from sleeping


The inkjet recording method and apparatus eject ink droplets made of an ink composition on a recording medium to record. The method and apparatus use insulating ink prepared by dispersing colorant particles capable of being charged in a solvent as the ink composition, allow an electrostatic force to act on the ink composition to form a thread of the ink composition and provide a stimulus to the thread at a frequency in a range of 100 kHz to 800 kHz to separate the thread into the ink droplets. The apparatus includes an inkjet head for ejecting the ink droplets, an electrode substrate for applying a charging voltage to the recording medium and a stimulus providing unit for providing the stimulus.

The present invention relates to an electrostatic inkjet recording method and apparatus for ejecting an ink composition using an electrostatic field. More specifically, the present invention relates to an inkjet recording method and apparatus for a high resolution capable of stably ejecting fine ink droplets.
According to electrostatic inkjet recording, a predetermined voltage is applied to each ejection portion of an inkjet head in accordance with image data, using an ink composition (hereinafter, simply referred to as ink) prepared by dispersing charged colorant particles in a dispersion medium, whereby the ejection of ink is controlled using an electrostatic force, and an image corresponding to image data is recorded on a recording medium. As a recording apparatus adopting the electrostatic inkjet recording, for example, JP 10-230608 A discloses an inkjet recording apparatus that ejects ink from a surface of a flat insulating substrate in a direction normal to the surface.
FIG. 6 shows a conceptual diagram of the inkjet recording apparatus disclosed by JP 10-230608 A during ejection of an ink droplet R. An inkjet head 80 includes a head substrate 82, ink guides 84, an insulating substrate 86, control electrodes 88, a counter electrode 90, a DC bias voltage source 92, and a pulse voltage source 94.
In the insulating substrate 86, nozzles (through-holes) 96 for ejecting ink are formed. The head substrate 82 is provided in an arrangement direction of the nozzles 96, and the ink guides 84 are disposed on the head substrate 82 at positions corresponding to the through-holes. The ink guides 84 extend through the nozzles 96, and each tip end portion 84a protrudes upward from the surface of the insulating substrate 86 on a recording medium P side. Each ink guide 84 is provided with a slit-shaped ink guide groove 83 in a vertical direction in the figure, and an ink composition is guided to the tip end of the ink guide groove 83 by a capillary phenomenon.
The insulating substrate 86 is placed at a predetermined distance from the head substrate 82, and a flow path of ink Q is formed therebetween.
The ink Q containing fine particles (colorant particles) charged in the same polarity as that of a voltage to be applied to the control electrodes 88 circulates in an ink flow path 98, for example, from the right side to the left side in the figure owing to a circulation mechanism of ink (not shown), whereby ink is supplied to each nozzle 96.
The control electrodes 88 are provided in a ring shape so as to surround the circumference of each nozzle 96 on the surface of the insulating substrate 86 on the recording medium P side. Furthermore, the control electrodes 88 are connected to the pulse power source 94 generating a pulse voltage in accordance with image data, and the pulse power source 94 is grounded via the DC bias power source 92.
Furthermore, the counter electrode 90 is placed at a predetermined distance from the tip ends of the ink guides 84 and grounded. The recording medium P is held on the counter electrode 90 so as to be opposed to the tip end portions 84a of the ink guides 84.
In such electrostatic inkjet recording, under the condition that only a bias voltage is applied to the control electrodes 88 by the DC bias power source 92, the Coulomb attraction with respect to the charged particles (charged particles, colorant particles) in ink, ink viscosity, surface tension, repulsion force between charged particles, fluid pressure in ink supply, and the like act on each other owing to the bias voltage, whereby ink rises slightly at the ink guide tip end to form meniscus.
Furthermore, the charged particles migrate to move to the vicinity of the meniscus by virtue of the Coulomb attraction and the like. That is, ink is concentrated.
When the pulse voltage (control voltage) by the pulse power source 94 is applied to the control electrodes 88, and an ejection ON state is established, a pulse voltage is superimposed on a bias voltage. Consequently, the ink Q present at the tip end of the ink guide is attracted to the recording medium P (counter electrode) side to allow meniscus to glow into a substantially conical shape, a so-called Taylor cone.
When a predetermined period of time elapses after the start of the application of a voltage, the Coulomb attraction acting on the charged particles and the surface tension of a dispersion medium become out of balance. Consequently, ink is ejected and flies toward the recording medium P as droplets, and attracted to the recording medium P side.
In the electrostatic inkjet recording, generally, a pulse voltage is modulated and applied to each control electrode 88 to control ejection ON/OFF, whereby ink droplets are modulated to be ejected, and on-demand ejection of ink droplets in accordance with an image to be recorded is performed. Thus, a desired image is formed on the recording medium P.
The inventor of the present invention has studied the ejection principle of such electrostatic inkjet recording, and found the following. As described above, when a pulse voltage (control voltage) is applied to the control electrode 88, meniscus grows at the tip end of the ink guide. Furthermore, when a finite time elapses, a large electrostatic force acts on the meniscus tip end portion with the highest electric field intensity, and the Coulomb force mainly acting on particles and the surface tension acting on the solvent become out of balance. At this time, a narrow liquid column with a diameter of about several μm to tens of μm called a thread extending toward a recording medium is formed. Then, when a finite time further elapses, the thread is separated in the middle into droplets, which are ejected toward the recording medium. Since the diameter of the thread is very small, the droplets formed by the separation of the thread are very minute. Thus, fine dots of about 10 μm can be formed on the recording medium.
Furthermore, the inventor has also found that the separation of the thread occurs at a frequency higher than a driving frequency of a pulse voltage for ejecting ink. That is, the separation of the thread continuously occurs a plurality of times within the time when a pulse voltage is applied once. Thus, one dot on the recording medium is formed of fine droplets ejected after the separation of the thread.
When one attempts to realize a higher resolution, it is desired to stably perform the formation and separation of the thread to stably form fine droplets. However, the formation and separation of the thread are based on a very complicated mechanism. Therefore, there is a possibility that until the thread is formed, the diameter and length of the thread, the separation position of the thread, and the like may vary. Those variations are considered to vary a dot diameter or a dot shape, and to cause the degradation of an image.


A security system using home gateway alliance includes an alliance management server which includes a gateway registration unit which registers at least one of position information and IP (Internet Protocol) information of a home gateway upon making a request for registration of the home gateway; and an alliance management unit which, in response to a request for alliance from a user terminal of the home gateway registered with the gateway registration unit, sets an alliance relationship between the home gateway having made the request for alliance and other home gateways adjacent to the home gateway having made the request for alliance.

As interest in protection of lives and properties increases, domestic and foreign markets for security systems and security services are also increasingly growing.
A security service is largely divided into two categories: a manned security service where trained security guards are on the scene in case of security incidents; and an unmanned security service where security incidents are only reported to registered contact information in case of security incidents.
The unmanned security service where security guards are not dispatched to the scene of the security incident has only to cover the cost of installing security equipment with no extra expense. However, the unmanned security service is less effective in security since a victim of a security incident has to deal with the security incident. Although the security equipment has a function of making a call to predetermined contact information, it is very hard for police or fire departments to get detailed information on the security incident since the security equipment just provides a repeated pre-recorded voice. Besides, since the report is made in a recorded voice rather than in an interactive manner, the police department has trouble dispatching the police to the scene of the security incident.
The manned security service where security guards are dispatched to the scene of the security incident provides a more reliable security service than the unmanned security service. However, the manned security service requires security costs. Besides, if the security guard is distant from the scene of the security incident, the manned security service may become less effective. Actually, it has happened that before the security guard arrives at the scene, the security incident is already concluded.
In case of a security incident, either the manned security service or the unmanned security service alerts a victim of the security incident and his or her neighbors by setting off an alarm at the scene of the security incident. However, since the alarm is limited in loudness, the victim and his or her neighbors may not know about the occurrence of the security incident if they are distant from the scene of the security incident. This may make it hard to prevent subsequent damages.

Security system and method using home gateway alliance


A time-division radio is disclosed that can use a lower-power energy source than radios in the prior art. An illustrative embodiment of the present invention comprises a time-division transmitter that has a transmit mode and an idle mode, a primary energy storage device and a secondary energy storage device. The radio uses the secondary energy storage device as a kind of "power cache" in which to store power when it is in abundance and from which to draw power when it is scarce. When the transmitter is in idle mode, the primary energy storage device charges the secondary energy storage device and powers the transmitter. But when the transmitter is briefly in transmit mode, and, therefore, requires more power than the primary energy storage device alone can supply, the secondary energy storage device discharges to supplement the power from the primary energy storage device and satisfy the transmitter's power requirements.

The duration with which a wireless terminal (e.g., a cellular telephone, a hand-held data entry device, a cellular modem, a cordless telephone, a hand-held Global Positioning System receiver, etc.) can operate is limited by the product of two factors: (1) the power requirement of the wireless terminal, and (2) the capacity of the energy storage device that powers the wireless terminal.
Numerous technologies have been invented to reduce the power consumption of wireless terminals. These include, for example, the development of low-power CMOS devices and the development of time-division multiplexed/time-division multiple access ("TDM/TDMA") and time-division duplex ("TDD") protocols. TDM/TDMA and TDD protocols reduce power consumption by enabling a wireless terminal's radio transmitter to enter a low-power idle mode when the transmitter is not transmitting and the wireless terminal's radio receiver to enter a low-power idle mode when the receiver is not receiving.
For example, FIG. 1 depicts a block diagram of an illustrative wireless terminal that is typical of a time-division wireless terminal in the prior art. Wireless terminal 100 comprises: an energy storage device such as battery 101, time-division receiver 103 and time-division transmitter 105. Battery 101 is typically an electro-chemical energy storage device that powers receiver 103 and transmitter 105, in well-known fashion.
Time-division receiver 103 is compliant with a TDM/TDMA or TDD protocol, such as the IEEE 802.11 Wireless LAN protocol, in well-known fashion. The salient characteristic of receiver 103 is that it is always in either of one or two modes: receive mode or idle mode. When receiver 103 is in receive mode, it is capable of receiving RF signals from a remote transmitter and draws approximately 250 milliwatts from battery 101. When receiver 103 is in idle mode, it is not capable of receiving RF signals but only draws 5 milliwatts from battery 101. As is well-known in the prior art, the particular protocol to which wireless terminal 100 operates determines how and when receiver 103 toggles between receive mode and idle mode.
Time-division transmitter 105 is compliant with a TDM/TDMA or TDD protocol, such as the IEEE 802.11 Wireless LAN protocol, in well-known fashion. The salient characteristic of transmitter 105 is that it is always in either of one of two modes: transmit mode or idle mode. When transmitter 105 is in transmit mode, it is capable of transmitting RF signals to a remote receiver and draws approximately 300 milliwatts from battery 101. When transmitter 105 is in idle mode, it is not capable of transmitting RF signals but only draws 5 milliwatts from battery 101. As is well-known in the prior art, the particular protocol to which wireless terminal 100 operates determines how and when transmitter 105 toggles between transmit mode and idle mode.
Wireless terminal 100 can operate in either full-duplex or half-duplex mode. When wireless terminal 100 operates in full-duplex mode, both receiver 103 and transmitter 105 can operate simultaneously. Furthermore, receiver 103 can toggle between receive mode and idle mode independently of when transmitter 105 toggles between transmit mode and idle mode. In full-duplex mode the power drain on battery 101 can range from 10 milliwatts to 550 milliwatts.
In contrast, when wireless terminal 100 operates in half-duplex mode, either receiver 103 or transmitter 105 can operate, but not both simultaneously. Furthermore, neither receiver 103 nor transmitter 105 can toggle out of idle mode until the other has toggled into idle mode. In half-duplex mode the power drain on battery 101 can range from 10 milliwatts to 300 milliwatts.
Clearly, the duration with which wireless terminal 100 can operate is determined largely by the extent to which receiver 103 and transmitter 105 can remain in idle mode yet still provide an acceptable quality of service to the user of wireless terminal 100.
Another technique for lengthening the duration with which a wireless terminal can operate is to incorporate a longer-life battery into the wireless terminal. This is, however, not always practical because the market demand for a wireless terminal is based largely on the size and weight of the wireless terminal and a long-life battery is heavy and bulky and detracts from the marketability of the wireless terminal. There are, in fact, situations in which the form factor of the wireless terminal's radio simply will not accommodate a larger, longer-life battery. As is well-known in the art, the term "form factor" means the spatial dimensions that limit the size of a device.
Furthermore, there are situations in which the radio's form factor is so limiting that it is not possible to include both the radio and a battery that is large enough to merely power the radio into the allocated form factor. This is particularly true for the PCMCIA card or "PC" card form factor.
For example, when time-division receiver 103 and time-division transmitter 105 are designed to fit into a PCMCIA card form factor, time-division receiver 103 and time-division transmitter 105 may at times require up to 550 milliwatts, but the space remaining in the PCMCIA card for battery 101 may only leave enough room for a battery that can supply 200 milliwatts. Therefore, the need exists for a time-division radio whose transmitter and receiver can operate on a low-power battery.

Time-division radio that is powered by a low-power energy source


A device and method for deterring the theft of personal computers having an unused serial or parallel port. An eyelet bolt is screwed into each of the threaded apertures adjacent the unused port and the eyelets are then secured to some relatively immovable object by a chain or steel cable. The chain or steel cable may simply pass through the eyelets or may be secured to the eyelets with a padlock, in either case preventing the eyelets from rotating and being removed from the computer. The opposite end of the cable or chain may simply be wrapped around the immovable object or locked to it as by a second pair of eyelets screwed into the lower surface of the computer desk.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to personal computers, and more particularly to an apparatus for deterring the theft of personal computers.
2. Description of the Related Art
As can be seen by reference to U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,733,840; 5,351,507; 5,406,809; 5,520,031; and 5,579,657; the prior art is replete with myriad and diverse devices for deterring the theft of personal computers, monitors, printers and the like. While all of these aforementioned prior art devices are adequate for the basic purpose and function for which they have been specifically designed they are all uncessarily complex and expensive.
Those concerned with these and other problems recognize the need for an improved apparatus for securing personal computers.

Anti-theft device for personal computers


Chinese snacks having a proteinic adhesive layer with which transglutaminase has reacted, formed between the filling and the dumpling skin thereof are disclosed, and uncooked Chinese snacks half-made in such that a proteinic adhesive layer can be formed between the filling and the dumpling skin thereof by the action of transglutaminase, as well as such Chinese snacks in the frozen form (frozen foods), which undergo a less change in eating texture and have a fresh texture maintained both at the skin portion and filling even for many hours after cooking, after thawing, or the like.

The present invention relates to Chinese snacks which undergo a less change in eating texture and are capable of maintaining the excellent fresh eating texture. More specifically, the invention pertains to Chinese snacks which are capable of maintaining the fresh eating texture even after heating for cooking, storing in the frozen form, thawing upon selling, storing the thawed product for many hours or re-heating upon eating, by forming, between the filling and the dumpling skin of the snacks, a proteinic adhesive layer with which transglutaminase has reacted. Incidentally, at supermarkets or convenience stores, Chinese snacks which have been delivered thereat in the frozen form, are usually sold after thawing or cooking and then storing at room temperature or in a refrigerator, and purchasers heat them again upon eating. Of course, it is possible for a purchaser to heat the frozen Chinese snacks directly to a temperature suited for eating with a microwave oven or the like.
Many kinds of Chinese snacks require a heating step for making. Chinese snacks in the frozen form which have recently shown a steady increase on the market require, in addition thereto, re-heating in a microwave oven or the like upon thawing (at the stores as described above) or eating.
During such heating (step) or thawing step, or further, during storage after thawing, or the like, however, dripping becomes a problem. This dripping induces, in turn, various problems. Described specifically, dripping is accompanied with outflow of nutrients or components relating to the taste. In addition, since the dumpling skin portion of the Chinese snacks is swollen with water or oils and fats flowing out from their filling, not only eating texture but also their appearance is deteriorated. Moreover, owing to this outflow of water or oils and fats, the filling loses its juicy texture and becomes hard, and crumbling. Such a change in the eating texture and the like caused by dripping at the dumpling skin portion or filling has markedly deteriorated the preference for Chinese snacks. Upon storage at room temperature or in a refrigerator after cooking, or heating in a microwave oven upon eating, water transfer from the filling to the skin portion proceeds, resulting in a further deterioration in appearance and eating texture.
It is the common practice to add extra water or oils and fats to the filling in order to prevent a deterioration in the eating texture of the filling, in other words, to maintain juicy texture of the filling. An increase in the amount of water or oils and fats softens the food, thereby deteriorating moldability or formability. It also causes problems such as an increase in the amount of dripping during a heating step for sterilization or cooking, or during a thawing step for selling, and also an increase in the transfer amount of water from the filling to the skin portion upon storage at room temperature or in a refrigerator or heating in a microwave oven, leading to acceleration of a deterioration in the appearance of the skin portion or eating texture.
Technology has been reported to supplement the juicy texture of the filling by adding thereto a polysaccharide gel (Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (Kokai) No. Hei 2-145157) or dry mashed potato and/or gellan gum gel (Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (Kokai) No. Hei 8-317780). Although such techniques bring about some effects for improving the juicy texture of the filling just after cooking, the improved texture does not last long and moreover, the eating texture at the skin portion is, on the contrary, deteriorated by the addition.
Technical developments have so far been conducted for preventing a deterioration in the appearance or eating texture of the skin portion due to the transfer of water and the like from the filling. For example, reported are techniques for reducing the dripping amount from the filling by relaxing thawing conditions of frozen beef (Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (Kokai) No. Hei 1-181740), spraying a high-temperature oil on the surface of a vegetable, thereby forming its film thereover (Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (Kokai) No. Hei 2-238860), removing dripping from meat which appears upon heating, by using a water absorptive material (Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (Kokai) No. Hei 4-211325), or the like. According to these techniques, however, deteriorations in the appearance and eating texture of the skin portion can be suppressed, but they have a difficulty in maintaining the juicy texture of the filling.
A method wherein transglutaminase is used, is also proposed. Described specifically, reported as a method for making transglutaminase react with the surface or skin used for the dumpling skin portion of Chinese snacks are a method wherein transglutaminase is kneaded into noodles (Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (Kokai) No. Hei 6-14733, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (Kokai) No. Hei 6-225717, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (Kokai) No. Hei 9-28334, and the like), a method wherein noodles are dipped in a transglutaminase solution (Japanese Patent No. 2749363), a method wherein noodles are dusted or scattered with a powdery transglutaminase preparation (Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (Kokai) No. Hei 11-9209), and the like. According to the above-described methods, however, noodles are only reacted with by transglutaminase. The methods can be recognized to be slightly effective in preventing swelling of the skin portion, but are not recognized at all to be effective in retaining juicy texture of the filling.
As has been described above, it is very difficult to maintain, for many hours, the fresh appearance and eating texture of the skin portion and also the juicy texture of the filling, and the existing techniques cannot attain this.
[Problems to be Solved by the Invention]
Based on the background of the above-described prior arts, it is an object of the present invention to provide Chinese snacks which undergo a less change in eating texture and have a fresh texture maintained both at the skin portion and filling even for many hours after cooking, after thawing, or the like.
[Means for Solving the Problems]
With a view to overcoming the above-described problems, the present inventors have carried out an extensive investigation. As a result, it has been found that fresh, juicy texture of Chinese snacks can be maintained even after thawing when they are products frozen after cooking (frozen food), after heating (in a microwave oven) upon eating, or the like, by forming, between the filling and the dumpling skin portion, a proteinic adhesive layer with which transglutaminase has reacted. Based on such findings, the present invention has been completed.
Accordingly, the present invention relates to Chinese snacks having a proteinic adhesive layer with which transglutaminase has reacted, formed between the filling and the dumpling skin thereof, and uncooked Chinese snacks half-made in such that a proteinic adhesive layer can be formed between the filling and the dumpling skin thereof by the action of transglutaminase, as well as such Chinese snacks in the frozen form (frozen foods).


A toolless thermal print head mounting apparatus including; a print head mounting bracket including a front face and a rear face, a plurality of print head mounting stud holes and a plurality of cable clamp mounting slots formed in the print head mounting bracket, each of the plurality of cable clamp mounting slots including a side slot and a vertical slot, a capture latch operatively connected to the print head mounting bracket, a plurality of key-slots formed in the capture latch and aligned with the plurality of mounting stud holes, and a floating cable clamp including a plurality of shoulder pins disposed on a rear face thereof, each of the plurality of shoulder pins including a neck configured to pass through the plurality of cable clamp mounting slots and a head configured to be larger than a width of the vertical slot of the cable clamp mounting slots.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to a system for toolless thermal print head mounting/removal, and more particularly, to a toolless thermal print head mounting apparatus including a print head mounting bracket having side slots and print head mounting stud holes, a floating cable clamp with shoulder pins configured to fit within the side slots and a dual key-slot capture latch disposed on the rear of the print head mounting bracket to capture mounting studs disposed on a print head.
2. Description of the Background
Thermal printers are used in a wide variety of applications. A recent trend in the use of such printers is in point of sale ("POS") printing of sales receipts. Thermal printers provide for operation at a relatively fast printing speed without the need for ink. The thermal printers include a print head having a print face which typically consists of arrays of numerous heating elements. However, the heating elements may become worn after extended periods of use, making it necessary to periodically replace the print head. Traditionally, removal of a failed print head requires major disassembly of the printer. Therefore, quick and easy replacement of the thermal print head is desirable.
To address this issue, thermal printer manufacturers have attempted to differentiate themselves from their competitors by providing features that simplify a thermal print head replacement process. For example, manufacturers have introduced thermal printers with separate carriage assemblies including fastening structures wherein the carriages may be detached from the printer. However, although these carriage assemblies may simplify the thermal print head replacement process, these carriage assemblies considerably increase the size and cost of the print head component of their respective thermal printers.
In addition, tools are often required to remove the thermal print head from the thermal printer. The application of tools to the confined spaces of the thermal printer is a delicate task requiring precision from the user. This ultimately requires a large input of time and effort by the user to replace the thermal print head. Therefore, what is needed is a simpler and less expensive feature for a thermal printer which is used to replace the thermal print head quickly and easily without the use of tools.
In addition, it is highly desirable to have more than one component supplier for a component as critical as the thermal print head. The availability of a plurality of suppliers ensures that a continuous supply of print heads may be had and that competition among suppliers will ensure a low cost product. However, a problem arises in that the different suppliers may supply print heads having differing dimensions; this is especially true of intra-vendor variances in the vertical distance between a print line of the print head and the a cable connector of a print head. Therefore, what is needed is a print head mounting apparatus which can accommodate print heads having a wide range of dimensions.

Toolless thermal print head mounting apparatus

International Business Machines Corporation


In accordance with some embodiments, software transactional memory may be used for both managed and unmanaged environments. If a cache line is resident in a cache and this is not the first time that the cache line has been read since the last write, then the data may be read directly from the cache line, improving performance. Otherwise, a normal read may be utilized to read the information. Similarly, write performance can be accelerated in some instances to improve performance.

This relates to computer systems with transactional memory.
Transactional memory (TM) eliminates many of the problems associated with locks and enables developers to compose multi-threaded applications safely. TM constructs (in the form of an atomic block, or transaction) have been added to new or existing languages. TM is a concurrency control mechanism for controlling access to shared memory in concurrent computing. Software transactional memory (STM) is a transactional memory implemented in software.

Hardware acceleration of strongly atomic software transactional memory


A gimbal joint includes a gimbal ring, a first fitting pivotally connected to the gimbal ring such that the first fitting pivots about a first axis, and a second fitting pivotally connected to the gimbal ring such that the second fitting pivots about a second axis substantially orthogonal to the first axis. The gimbal ring further includes a separable sealing element having a cylindrical portion with a first rounded end and a second rounded end. The gimbal ring, the first fitting, the second fitting, and the separable sealing element define a fluid pathway.

Flexible joints for tension piping systems are known in the art. In one known application, such flexible joints are used in aircraft duct systems, such as compressor bleed air and anti-icing lines. Ball and socket joints provide flexibility while transmitting an axial tension load. Gimbal joints having an internal gimbal ring or an external gimbal ring are also known.


To provide a method of and an apparatus for electron beam exposure convenient to be applied to the hybrid exposure of a pattern with ultra-fine design rules, a method of electron beam exposure according to an embodiment of the invention comprises: a primary field dividing step (S2) for dividing a second pattern to be drawn into a plurality of fields having a size whereon an electron beam can be radiated with negligible biasing distortion; a primary fitting step for performing a fitting process (S3) for each of the plurality of fields, wherein cubic compensation equations are adjusted to fit compensation values with the optical distortion, and a fitting error after compensation being calculated; a primary field dividing step for performing a field dividing process (S5) for each of the plurality of fields whereof the fitting error is larger than a predetermined allowable range, wherein a concerning field is divided into a pair of sub fields and the fitting process is performed for each of the sub fields; and a sub field dividing step for repeating the field dividing process for each of the sub fields, the fitting error thereof larger than the predetermined allowable range and a size thereof larger than a predetermine minimum size.

The present invention relates to electron beam exposure, and more particularly to that for drawing such a pattern as an IC (Integrated Circuit) directly on a semiconductor wafer.
Micro-miniaturization and high density integration of semiconductor IC chips have been remarkably progressed in recent years, and ultra-fine design rules are applied now.
Formerly, optical exposure is used for pattern printing in most mass-production lines of IC chips. However, a spotlight is now on the electron beam exposure, which has high resolution and needs no reticle, for processing the ultra-fine pattern difficult to be printed with the optical exposure. In order to male use of the high productivity of the optical exposure as well as the high resolution of the electron beam exposure, a hybrid technology is pursued to apply the optical exposure to patterns having larger design rules and the electron beam exposure to those having ultra-fine design rules.
FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating configuration of a conventional example of the electron beam exposure system.
The apparatus of FIG. 4 has a main body 1 comprising an electron gun 11 for generating an electron beam 10 which is accelerated with an electric field impressed by an acceleration supply 16, an electron barrel 12 including various electrodes such as electromagnetic lenses and apertures taking charge of control of the electron beam 10, that is, converging, blanking, positioning or intensity control thereof, for example, and a material chamber 13 including a wafer table whereon a wafer 20 is placed for drawing, and an X-Y stage 15 for controlling position of the wafer table. The main body 1 are sucked into vacuum by vacuum pumps 4A to 4C and installed on an anti-vibration table 5.
A computer 3B is provided for controlling the X-Y stage 15 and the electron beam 10 through the electrodes of the barrel 12 to expose a pattern on the wafer 20 according to pattern data supplied from a data storage 2B, making use of preset drawing parameters.
In the following paragraphs, field dividing and superimpose procedure of the hybrid technology according to the conventional system of FIG. 4 is described.
When biasing angle of the electron beam becomes larger than a limit, biasing distortion becomes not negligible degrading the drawing precision, in the electron beam exposure. Therefore, there is a limitation of the drawing area, which is called a field, where the electron beam can be shifted for pattern drawing within negligible biasing distortion. The size of the field is, generally, smaller than a desired chip size, and so, the electron beam exposure of a chip pattern is performed field by field, dividing the chip pattern into a plurality of fields each having a certain size.
As for the field dividing procedure, a method is disclosed in a Japanese patent application laid open as a Provisional Publication No. 219617/'91, wherein drawing data are divided into data of a plurality of sub fields, length of a side thereof being 1/N of a side of a maximum allowable field of the apparatus, N being a positive integer more than one. When high resolution is required, the electron beam exposure is performed each by each of the sub fields in the prior art, while it is performed on several sub fields not more than N.times.N sub fields, namely, the maximum allowable field, at once, where comparatively low resolution is allowed.
Another method is disclosed in a Japanese Patent Publication No. 15139/'96, wherein a small field size is applied for drawing a small pattern with sufficient preciseness and a large field size is applied for drawing a large pattern for maintaining throughput performance.
Now the superimpose procedure in the hybrid technology is described in connection with prior examples disclosed in Japanese patent applications laid open as Provisional Publications No. 186331/'82 and No. 057216/'87.
In the prior art of the Provisional Publication No. 186331/'82, reference marks for distortion measuring are provided on a reticle used for the optical exposure. By detecting the reference marks printed on a wafer, distortion amount of the printed pattern is measured by the electron beam exposure system, which is added to a positioning signal of the electron beam for superimposing fine patterns. Thus, a hybrid exposure is performed in this prior art.
In the prior art of the Provisional Publication No. 057216/'87, a compensation signal is prepared from distortion values beforehand measured of the optical exposure system according to kind of the pattern to be superimposed, that is, according to difference between a reticle pattern and a mask pattern.
However, in the hybrid technology wherein new patterns are superimposed by the electron beam exposure on a first pattern already printed by the optical exposure, the biasing distortion, previously mentioned, of the electron beam is derived in each field in addition to the optical distortion of the first pattern which is spread over its chip size. Furthermore, amount and variation, or differential of the optical distortion depend on position of each field relative to the chip size. Therefore, when design rule dimension become ultra-fine, it becomes very difficult to superimpose the electron beam pattern on the first pattern printed by the optical exposure with sufficient preciseness and sufficient efficiency, according to the hybrid technology of the prior arts wherein the size of the sub field or the small field is predetermined uniformly, even when the optical distortion can be measured exactly.

Method of electron beam exposure for superimposing second pattern over existing pattern


A lead frame is prepared which has a plurality of leads whose inner lead portions are coupled to a support member and a notch formed across the bottom surface of each inner lead portion near at its front portion on the support member side. After an LSI chip is adhered to the support member, pads on the chip are connected via bonding wires to corresponding inner leads of the plurality of leads. The chip and inner lead portions are buried in an insulating layer made of resin or the like as protective coating. Each inner lead portion is cut with a cutting device such as laser beam at the notch position to separate the inner lead portion from the support member. Thereafter, the separated assembly unit is accommodated in a package made of resin or the like, and the outer leads are cut and shaped. For an assembly method of a semiconductor device including a wire bonding process, bonding defects to be caused by deformed leads can be reduced.

a) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a lead frame and the manufacture of semiconductor devices, and more particularly to a method of manufacture a lead frame and a semiconductor device capable of improving process yield.
b) Description of the Related Art
Lead frames used for the assembly of LSI devices such as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10 have been proposed heretofore.
A lead frame 10 is formed by punching a lead frame material plate made of, for example, alloy 42 (Fe alloy containing 42% Ni). A support member (die stage) 12 for supporting a semiconductor chip is suspended from an outer frame 11 by tie bars (suspension pins) 14a to 14d. A number of leads 16 supported by the outer frame 11 and dam bars 15 are disposed around the support member 12, front tips of the leads 16 being spaced apart from the support member 12.
A lead frame 10 is generally of a long strip of a lead frame material plate, and a plurality of (e.g., five) assembly units each having the support member 12 and leads 16 such as shown in FIG. 9 are placed side by side. Near at the side edges (upper and lower edges as viewed in FIG. 9) of the lead frame along its longitudinal direction, positioning holes 10a and 10b are formed for positioning the lead frame when it is mounted on a jig. As shown in FIG. 10, each lead 16 has an inner lead 16x and an outer lead 16y. The inner lead is a portion of the lead which is covered with molding resin, and the outer lead is a portion of the lead which is exposed at the outer area of the molding resin region. The dam bar 15 coupling together the outer leads is removed through punching or the like after the molding process.
With reference to FIGS. 11 to 13, an example of conventional assembly methods will be described. At the process illustrated in FIG. 11, an LSI chip 18 is adhered to the support member 12 with Ag paste or the like. In this case, bonding pads formed on the LSI chip 18 are on the top surface opposite to the adhesion surface. The adhesion state of the LSI chip is also shown in FIGS. 9 and 10. Thereafter, a plurality of bonding pads on the LSI chip 18 are connected by bonding wires 20A and 20B to corresponding inner leads of the leads 16A and 16B which are illustratively shown among a number of leads 16.
At the process illustrated in FIG. 12, the chip 18, bonding wires 20A and 20B, and inner leads of the leads 16A and 16B are hermetically scaled with resin 22. A broken line 22S shown in FIG. 10 indicates a contour of the resin 22.
At the next process illustrated in FIG. 13, the outer lead of each lead is solder plated when necessary, and thereafter each outer lead is cut to separate the respective leads and the assembly unit covered with the resin 22 from the lead frame 10. After the outer leads are cut, the leads 16A and 16B are shaped as shown in FIG. 13 which is a side view of an LSI device formed after the lead plating process, lead cutting process, lead shaping process, and the like.
In another conventional method already proposed, a lead frame in the form of a reel of tape is used for assembling discrete components such as transistors, the processes of chip adhesion, wire bonding, and resin molding are collectively performed, and thereafter the processes of lead plating, lead cutting, and lead shaping are sequentially and separately performed.
With the conventional technique described with FIGS. 9 to 13, each lead is supported, as shown in FIG. 10, only at its outer lead to the dam bar and outer frame of the lead frame, and the inner lead is not fixed positively except that it is connected to the outer lead. If an external force is applied, for example, to the front tip of the inner lead 16x while the lead frame is transported from one process to another, the inner lead becomes likely to bend or curve. This deformation of the inner lead 16x may often result in bonding defects of the bonding wires 20A and 20B.
As the mold 22 flows in the cavity of a molding machine during the resin molding process after wire bonding, the wires 20A and 20B become likely to be displaced from proper positions (wire sweep-away). This wire sweep-away may cause broken wires and/or wire short.
The assembly processes such as chip adhesion, wire bonding, and resin molding are performed separately. It is therefore necessary to transport a lead frame from one process to another, which lowers production efficiency. As described above, in order to improve the production efficiency, a continuous assembly method has been proposed in which a lead frame in the form of a reel of tape is used to collectively perform a plurality of assembly processes.
However, a lead frame in the form of a reel of tape is required to be wound around a reel. Therefore, the inner lead 16x is likely to be deformed and bonding defects may possibly occur. This continuous assembly method cannot be adopted therefore unless some countermeasure is taken into consideration.

Lead frame with increased strength and manufacture of semiconductor device


A process for obtaining trehalose by growing a fungus of the genus Pleurotus in a liquid or solid medium and purifying the trehalose produced by the fungus.

Trehalose is a disaccharide consisting of two glucose units and has a sweet taste.
Trehalose has been used as a preservative, a stabilizer, a cell activity-retaining agent, a moisture-retaining agent, a cold-resistant agent, and an anti-freezing agent in industries as diverse as foods, cosmetics, and pharmaceuticals. Also, as a non-reducing sugar, trehalose does not react with amino groups and therefore does not cause undesirable browning and deterioration of organic substances. Thus, it is an attractive sweetener for certain foods.
Several methods of producing trehalose have been established, including those based on extraction, fermentation, culturing, and enzymatic conversion. For example, two enzymes, maltooligosyl trehalose synthase and maltooligosyl trehalose trehalohydrolase, have been used to convert maltooligosaccharides to trehalose (Maruta et al., Biosci Biotech Biochem 59:1829-1834 1995!). As another example, the genus Brevibacterium has been used to produce trehalose in a fermentation process (Tsuchida et al., European Patent No. 0555540A1 1993!).


A bulletproof vest includes a vest body, the vest body having a plurality of locating pads at front and back panels thereof and a plurality of fabric fastening strips respectively extended from the locating pads for securing things to the locating pads, a plurality of detachable ammunition pouches respectively fastened to the locating pads of the vest body by hook and loop materials, the detachable ammunition pouches each having a plurality of insertion slots for the insertion of the fabric fastening strips, a pistol holster detachably fastened to one locating pad at the front panel of the vest body by hook and loop materials to hold a pistol, and a radio transceiver holder detachably fastened to one locating pad at the back panel of the vest body by hook and loop materials to hold a radio transceiver.

The present invention relates to a bulletproof vest, and more particularly to such a bulletproof vest which has a plurality of locating pads and retaining tapes for holding ammunition pouches, pistol holster, radio transceiver, name tag, etc., by means of hook and loop materials.
A bulletproof jacket is made so that a bullet cannot go through. Conventional bulletproof jackets are simply designed to protect the user against bullets, and have no holder means for holding things such as ammunition pouches, pistol, radio transceiver, etc. It is difficult for a policeman or solder to carry a lot of equipment when wearing a bulletproof jacket.

Vest having locating pads with fastening strips for attaching accessories thereto


A container with an application tool includes a main body having a storage part for storing liquid substances and a neck part having a communicating port connected with the storage part; an application tool head axially movably connected to the neck part; a valve seat connected to the back end of application tool head; a partitioning wall partitioning the communicating port in the neck part; a valve body protruding forward from the partitioning wall having a lead-out hole; and an O-ring elastic member forming a water tight connection between a surface that supports the elastic member on the partitioning wall and the application tool head; wherein the elastic member urges the application tool head to separate the valve seat from the valve body; and the elastic member elastically deforms so that the valve seat contacts the valve body when the application tool head is pressed backward.

An example of a conventional container with an application tool is disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 3-33303. When this container is not being used, a cap is attached to the main body of the container, whereby the brush holder and brush case are pushed backward by the urging force of a spring in a joint, and the valve seat is pressed to the distal end of the valve body. The outflow of the cosmetic substance from the cartridge body to the coating body is thereby inhibited. When the container is being used, the cap is removed from the main body, whereby the brush holder and brush case are pushed forward by the urging force of the spring, and the valve seat is released from the valve body. The cosmetic substance thereby flows out of the cartridge body to the coating body.
In this container, an O-ring is also placed between the coupling body and the brush case for the purpose of ensuring that the space between the coupling body and the brush case is watertight.


An adjustable voltage controlled oscillator has an input for receiving a voltage signal and an integrator coupled to the input for generating a ramp signal. The circuit also includes an adjustable current supply coupled to an output of the integrator for supplying an adjustable amount of current. A comparator compares the ramp signal with a predetermined voltage. The circuit further includes an output for generating a frequency output as a function of the comparison, wherein the circuit is calibratible by adjusting current generated by the adjustable current supply.

The present invention generally relates to a voltage controlled oscillator circuit and, more particularly, to an adjustable voltage controlled oscillator circuit, such as is employed in a mass air flow meter, for converting a voltage input to a frequency output.
Referring to FIG. 1, an air flow meter 10 is shown positioned at the output of an air cleaner 12 and at the intake side of a throttle 14 for measuring the amount of air passing into an internal combustion engine 16, such as for use in an automotive vehicle. The air flow meter generates a voltage signal proportional to the mass air flow. The internal combustion engine 16 is generally controlled by an engine control unit (ECU) 18. The air flow meter 10 includes a voltage controlled oscillator (VCO) circuit 20 for converting the voltage generated internally by the air flow meter 12 to a frequency signal f for processing by the ECU 18. Accordingly, the air flow meter 10, with VCO circuit 20, allows for measurement of the amount of air passing into the internal combustion engine 16 to allow the ECU 18 to control the amount of fuel being injected so as to regulate the air-to-fuel ratio in the combustion chamber.
A conventional voltage controlled oscillator circuit 20 for use in the air flow meter 10 is illustrated in FIG. 2. The VCO circuit 20 includes an operational amplifier 28 having a negative terminal (xe2x88x92) coupled to a voltage input VB via a series of multiple external resistors, identified herein by resistor 24. The positive terminal (+) of the operational amplifier 28 is coupled to reference voltage input VREF. A capacitor 30 is coupled between the output 26 and the negative terminal of amplifier 28. The operational amplifier 28, resistor 24, and capacitor 30 form an integrator that generates a ramp voltage, identified as RAMP. In addition, the conventional VCO circuit 20 includes a comparator 32 that compares the output 26 of amplifier 28 to +1 volt, and provides an output to an inverter 34. The inverter output is connected to the enable input of a oneshot monostable multivibrator circuit 36 which, in turn, generates a frequency output signal f at output 44. The oneshot circuit 36 is coupled to capacitor 40 and resistor 38, both of which are coupled to ground. The negative terminal of the amplifier 28 is further coupled to a current source 46 via switch 42.
The current through the resistor 24 is referred to herein as IIN. When the ramp voltage is below one volt, the comparator output is low. When the ramp voltage is above one volt, the comparator output is high. The comparator output is applied through the inverter 34 to the oneshot circuit 30. The oneshot circuit 36 generates a positive pulse when the input thereto asserts a positive signal. When the output frequency signal at output 44 is high, the current IS generated by current source 46 is applied to the negative terminal of the amplifier 28, thereby causing the output 26 of the amplifier 28 to ramp with a positive slope. The negative slope of ramp signal increases with increased input voltage VB to change the frequency output.
One example of the ramp voltage (RAMP) at amplifier output 26 and output frequency signal 44 generated by the conventional VCO circuit 20 is illustrated in FIG. 3. The ramp voltage decreases in amplitude on negative slope 52 until output signal 44 is pulsed high. This occurs when the ramp voltage crosses below one volt at which time the current source IS is applied to the negative terminal of the amplifier 28, and ramp voltage begins to ramp up on positive slope 50. The positive slope 50 of the ramp voltage is maintained until the output signal 44 asserts low. At that point, the ramp voltage slopes negative again and one period T of oscillation is complete.
The oscillation period (T=1/f) generally is inversely proportional to the input current IIN, and is proportional to the capacitor 40 in the oneshot circuit 36. The VCO circuit 20 is generally stable, with two elements primarily factoring into the frequency equation: the external input resistor 24; and the external oneshot capacitor 40. However, the conventional VCO circuit 20 suffers from a number of drawbacks that limit overall accuracy and linearity. First, the operational amplifier 28 has a finite bandwidth and slew rate. There exists a rapid change in the ramp voltage when the oneshot pulse is asserted and de-asserted. This generally causes errors in the ramp voltage and is a source of overshoot 48 and rounding errors. These errors generally result in non-linearity in the voltage-to-frequency relationship. Secondly, the rapid changes in the amplifier output generally require significant current from a regulated voltage supply. This increases the complexity of the regulator design and increases the regulator output noise. Third, the oscillator frequency typically can only be modified by adjusting the value of the external resistor 24 or the value of reference voltage VREF which is typically generated by an external voltage source and a resistor divider network. The standard approach for adjusting an external resistor has been to perform laser trimming which is generally expensive and is implemented when the device is not under flow. This requires an independent measurement and trim process in the manufacturing flow which are costly and limit accuracy of the overall response. Finally, the VCO circuit output is not at a fixed duty cycle. This requires the response time of the engine control unit monitoring the frequency to be as fast as the narrowest pulse possible out of the VCO circuit, rather than half of the minimum. This can be a problem, particularly at high input voltages VB.
Accordingly, it is therefore desirable to provide for a voltage controlled oscillator circuit with reduced error signals. It is also desirable to provide for a voltage controlled oscillator circuit that can be easily adjusted without requiring laser trimming. It is further desired to provide for a voltage controlled oscillator circuit that reduces the amount of current supply required from the regulated supply. Yet, it is further desirable to provide for a voltage controlled oscillator circuit having a fifty percent duty cycle.
The present invention provides for an adjustable voltage controlled oscillator circuit for converting a voltage to a frequency. The voltage controlled oscillator comprises an input for receiving a voltage input signal, an integrator coupled to the input for receiving the voltage input signal and generating a ramp signal. According to one aspect of the present invention, the circuit also includes an adjustable current supply coupled to the integrator for supplying an adjustable amount of current. A comparator compares the ramp signal with a predetermined voltage. The circuit further includes an output for generating a frequency output signal as a function of the comparison, wherein the oscillator circuit is calibratible by adjusting current generated by the adjustable current supply. According to another aspect of the present invention, a first current source supplies current to the input of the integrator, and a second current source supplies current to the output of the integrator.
These and other features, advantages and objects of the present invention will be further understood and appreciated by those skilled in the art by reference to the following specification, claims and appended drawings.

Adjustable voltage controlled oscillator


A real-time compensation apparatus and method for a digital TV that can update the present time without addition of a non-volatile memory or RTC. The apparatus includes a first control section for controlling a power supply of a system, updating a time by dividing a system clock, and outputting a reserved recording signal according to comparison result of the present time with a user's reserved recording time; and a second control section for transmitting the reserved recording information stored in a flash memory and the present time to the first control section if the power supply is off, and outputting a load control signal so that output of video and audio is performed according to the signal outputted from the first control section according to the user's reserved recording time. The apparatus and method can reduce the loss of the real-time function such as the user's reserved recording by updating the present time without addition of any separate device even if the power supply is resumed due to the power failure and so on, and thus improve the reliability of the product.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a television receiver, and more particularly, to a real-time compensation apparatus and method for a digital television receiver that determines a system time when the power supply is resumed, and controls the system according to the determined time.
2. Background of the Related Art
Generally, a television receiver (TV) that displays images by restoring broadcasting signals, which have been compressed into digital signals, through a decoder built in or outside the receiver is called a digital TV.
According to such a digital TV, since the whole process is digitally processed, any radio wave interference as in an analog TV does not occur, and a high picture quality and tone quality on the same level with a compact disc can be achieved. Also, since the bandwidth is effectively used in the digital TV, broadcasting channels more than those in the analog type TV can be secured in the same frequency band, and in theory, up to 100 TV broadcasting channels can be operated for each country.
Meanwhile, methods of effectively using the power supply in an electronic appliance such as the digital TV have been sought. Specifically, to solve the above-described problems, the conventional digital TV uses separate processors for input of keys, input through a remote control unit (RCU), and control of the power supply part. Also, the digital TV uses a real-time clock (RTC) for the present time and reservation information that uses a backup power supply, or uses a non-volatile memory such as E2PROM.
The digital TV performs a reserved recording in a manner that if a predetermined time elapses in a state that the digital TV is turned on, a video cassette recorder (VCR) that is an external appliance performs the recording in association with only an MPEG signal part of the digital TV, and if a user's program reservation time coincides with the present time, it performs the reserved recording function.
Hereinafter, the construction of the conventional digital TV will be explained with reference to the accompanying drawings.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating the construction of the conventional digital TV, and FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating the construction of the recording part of the digital TV.
The conventional digital TV for compensating for the real-time and reservation information includes two parts, i.e., a control part 10 and a driving part 20. The control part 10 comprises a remote control unit (RCU) input section 11, key input section 12, ROM 13, RAM 14, real-time clock (RTC) 16 for the real-time compensation, and first control section 17 in charge of controlling the power supply and operation according to the RCU input or key input. The driving part 20 comprises a second control section 21 for controlling a digital audio/video (A/V) output and a load 22, flash memory 24 and DRAM 23 for storing control signals from the second control section 21 or control signals from the control part.
In the conventional digital TV as constructed above, the first control section 17 receives a signal through the remote control unit (RCU) input section 11 and a key signal through the keypad 12, and transmits the signals to the second control section (i.e., CPU) 12 through a communication protocol. Also, the first control section 17 applies a reset signal 40 to the second control section 21 when the power is on.
The second control section 21 controls the load 22 so that the video and audio output is performed according to a signal self-produced and processed by the user's input signal and an MPEG signal transferred through a tuner that is one of controlled load devices.
Then, the second control section 21 stores the determined present time in the flash memory 24 using the user's input signal, signal processed according to the MPEG signal, and time date table (TDT)/TOT.
In the digital TV, the information on the presently broadcast programs is provided to the user using an event information table (EIT), and the time information can be obtained using the time date table (TDT) broadcast in synchronization with the EIT.
When the power is off, the first control section 17 updates the present time by using the RTC 16 or dividing the system clock, and compares the reserved time stored in the flash memory 24 with the present time. If the present time coincides with the reserved time, the first control section 17 turns on the power of the second control section to perform the reserved recording.
In performing the reserved recording, as shown in FIG. 2, the second control section 500 sends the MPEG signal of the tuner that is one of the controlled load devices to an MPEG decoder 510, so that the MPEG decoder 510 divides the MPEG signal into video and audio signals. If the reserved time according to the reservation signal elapses, a signal selection section 520 selects the channel signal desired by the user among the separated channel signals, and sends the selected channel signal to a SCART 530. The SCART 530 sends to a VCR 540 the video and audio signals of the selected channel, and a control signal for commanding the recording.
However, if the power of the second control section 21 is off, the information on the present time cannot be continuously updated. Consequently, the second control section 21 should be separately provided with the real time clock (RTC) having a backup power or a non-volatile memory that can store the reservation information of the user.
As described above, according to the conventional digital TV, the present time can be updated using the RTC having the self-backup power, but in case that the present time is updated by dividing the system clock without using the RTC, or the power supply is resumed due to the power failure or other reasons, there is no way to update the present time.

Real-time compensation apparatus and method for digital television receiver


Noninvasive in vivo real time analyte measurement uses a multitude of sensors binding reversibly to the analyte whereby the response of the sensors to a noninvasive stimulus is altered by their bound versus unbound state. The stimulus and responses are electromagnetic, magnetic or any other suitable forms. The sensors are bound to a blood component providing transport through the body fluids and sensor elimination. A sensor is constructed from proteins or as a nanodevice. A noninvasive device generates the stimulus, senses the responses, determines the measurement, and controls a medication infusion pump. A non-contact device is used for population screening, and one form of such a device is a nuclear magnetic resonance imager. Measurement in fluids other than blood uses a blood component flowing out of blood and into the desired fluid.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to devices and methods for monitoring of analytes that may be found in body fluids, and more particularly to an apparatus and method for continuous noninvasive monitoring and measurement of analytes found in vascular and extravascular body fluid pools including interstitial, lymph and cerebral spinal fluids.
2. General Background and State of the Art
It is desirable to have a method for measuring or monitoring the levels of analytes present in the body fluids in a noninvasive manner. By noninvasive is meant a manner that does not require breaking the skin of the subject to obtain a measurement. Breaking the skin, or otherwise invading the body of the subject, can require a skilled medical technician to perform the procedure in order not to introduce bacteria or other complications. A noninvasive manner that does not require a technician, cannot introduce bacteria, and that can be performed simply by the subject is much preferred.
It is furthermore desirable to provide a device and method to continuously, or nearly continuously, monitor the levels of the analyte. Intermittent body fluid sampling may not detect transient changes in the analyte while continuous monitoring can.
Examples of desirable analyte measurements for such a device and method include:                blood: glucose        blood: hormones        blood: therapeutic drugs        blood: cocaine        blood: HIV antibodies        interstitial and lymph fluid: cancer precursors        cerebral spinal fluid: Alzheimer precursors        blood: creatinine to monitor kidney function for dialysis        blood: bilirubin, AST, ALD, alkaline phosphatase to monitor liver function in cirrhosis
Given that diabetes is predicted to become an international epidemic due to changes in the eating habits of the world population and increasingly sedentary lifestyles, noninvasive glucose measurement is of particular interest. Most of the long term affects of diabetes are due to untreated hyperglycemia and currently there is not an effective noninvasive continuous glucose measurement method available. Diabetics are left to painfully sample their blood many times each day in order to determine glucose concentration and adjust their insulin dosage accordingly. The present invention provides a method and apparatus for continuous noninvasive blood glucose monitoring.
Given the critical nature of glucose monitoring, there are a number of known devices in the field for noninvasive optical scanning of a body part followed by data analysis to infer glucose concentration. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,675,030 to Ciurczak, et al. discloses a multi-spectral scanner to view a body part and infer the glucose concentration using a mathematical model correlated to the subject using invasive samples.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,236,047 to Malin, et al. discloses a method that illuminates the body part with various optical energies and determines analyte concentration by analyzing the reflected radiation.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,181,957 to Lambert, et al. discloses a method using an optical beam imaged on the eye and determines glucose concentration by analyzing the reflected radiation.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,124,134 to Stark discloses a device that irradiates the body with electromagnetic radiation and determines glucose concentration by analyzing the resulting spectrum.
The basis of the Ciurczak, et al., Malin, Lambert, et al., and Stark inventions is the assumption that the analyte to be measured, or its normal blood compounds, substantially influence the reflected or transmitted portion of electromagnetic radiation.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,681,127 to March discloses a contact lens having a binding site for the analyte and an analyte competitor for the same site. The competitor is fluorescent when in the unbound state.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,344,438 to Schultz discloses a method that includes inserting a capsule having receptors into the blood stream. The concentration of the analyte is determined by the fluorescence of a competitor for the same site.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,197,928 to Tsien, et al. discloses a fluorescent binding protein manufactured within a cell by modifying its DNA sequence to detect analytes.
The basis of the March, Schultz, and Tsien inventions is the provision of a binding site that changes its measurable optical characteristics when bound to the desired analyte.

Apparatus and method for noninvasive monitoring of analytes in body fluids