A water-based composition for treating copper or copper alloy surface for lead-free soldering, the composition comprising a compound represented by general formula (1):

In recent years, surface mount technology with high density has been widely adopted. Such surface mount technologies are classified, among others, into double-sided surface mount technology in which chip type parts are joined with use of solder paste, and hybrid mount technology which is a combination of surface mount technology of chip type parts using solder paste and through-hole mount technology of discrete parts. In either mount process, a printed wiring board is subjected to two or more soldering steps, and thus it is exposed to high temperatures resulting in a severe thermal history.
Oxide film formation is accelerated by heating the surface of copper or copper alloys constituting the circuit part of a printed wiring board, and thus the surface of the circuit part cannot maintain good solderability.
In order to protect the copper circuit part of the printed wiring board from air oxidation, a chemical layer is generally formed on the surface of the circuit part using a surface treating agent. It is necessary, however, that good solderability be maintained by preventing the chemical layer from degenerating (i.e., being degraded) to protect the copper circuit part even after the copper circuit part has a thermal history of multiple cycles.
Tin-lead alloy eutectic solders have been conventionally used for mounting electronic components to a printed wiring board, etc. In recent years, however, concerns have developed that the lead contained in the solder alloy adversely affects the human body, and thus the use of lead-free solder is desired.
Accordingly, various lead-free solders are being considered. For example, lead-free solders have been suggested in which one or more metals, such as silver, zinc, bismuth, indium, antimony, copper, etc., are added to a base metal of tin.
The conventionally used tin-lead eutectic solder is excellent in wettability on the surface of substrate, particularly copper, and thus strongly adheres to copper, resulting in high reliability. In contrast, lead-free solder is inferior to the conventionally used tin-lead solder in wettability on a copper surface, and thus exhibits poor solderability and low bonding strength due to voids and other bonding defects.
Therefore, when using lead-free solder, it is necessary to select a solder alloy with superior solderability and a flux which is suitable for use with lead-free solder. A surface treatment agent for use in preventing oxidation on the surface of copper or a copper alloy is also required to have functions for improving the wettability and solderability of the lead-free solder.
Many lead-free solders have a high melting point, and a soldering temperature that is about 20 to about 50° C. higher than that of the conventionally used tin-lead eutectic solder. Thus, the surface treatment agent for use in the process of soldering with lead-free solder should have the characteristic of being able to form a chemical layer with excellent heat resistance.
Many imidazole compounds, such as 2-alkylimidazole, 2-arylimidazole, 2-alkylbenzimidazole, 2-arylbenzimidazole, 2-aralkylbenzimidazole compounds, etc., have been considered as active ingredients for a surface treatment agent. All of these imidazole compounds, however, have been considered for use with a tin-lead eutectic solder, and thus give insufficient wettability, resulting in inadequate solderability when used for use in the process of soldering with lead-free solder.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,498,301 and 5,560,785 and EP 0627499 A1, for example, propose a surface treatment agent containing as an active ingredient an imidazole compound having an aryl group at the 2- and 4-positions of an imidazole ring and represented by general formula (A),
wherein R is hydrogen or methyl; R1 and R2 are hydrogen, lower alkyl or halogen; and R3 and R4 are hydrogen, lower alkyl, halogen, lower alkoxy, di-lower alkylamino, cyano or nitro. These references disclose in Example 10 a surface treatment agent containing 2-(2,4-dichlorophenyl)-4-phenyl-5-methylimidazole as an active ingredient, and disclose that tests for solder wettability and spreadability of a solder paste were carried out using said surface treatment agent.
However, the solder used in these tests was a tin-lead eutectic solder, and the references are totally silent as to whether solder wettability is improved and good solderability is attained when lead-free solder is used.
Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 7-243053 discloses 2,4-diphenylimidazole and 2,4-diphenyl-5-methylimidazole as a surface treatment agent for copper and copper alloys. It is also disclosed in Examples thereof that 2,4-diphenylimidazole and 2,4-diphenyl-5-methylimidazole are used as a surface treatment agent for copper and copper alloys, particularly for improving the solder wettability and solder flow-up rate of a solder paste containing lead.
This publication also discloses a process for synthesizing 2,4-diphenylimidazole as illustrated by the following reaction scheme (1):
wherein X is chlorine or bromine, and additionally a process for synthesizing 2,4-diphenyl-5-methylimidazole as illustrated by the following reaction scheme (2):

U.S. Pat. No. 5,498,301 (p. 4) and EP 0627499 A1 (p. 5) corresponding to Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 7-243053 suggest that 2-phenyl-4-(dichlorophenyl)imidazole and 2-phenyl-4-(dichlorophenyl)-5-methylimidazole in which hydrogen atoms of phenyl at the 4-position are substituted with two chlorine atoms are useful as a surface treatment agent for copper, in particular as a treatment agent for improving the solder wettability and solder flow-up rate of a solder paste containing lead. Further, these references suggest a process for producing an imidazole compound having one or more substituents at each phenyl group of the 2- and 4-positions by the following reaction schemes (3) and (4).
wherein R1 and R2 are hydrogen, lower alkyl or halogen; and R3 and R4 are hydrogen, lower alkyl, halogen, lower alkoxy, di-lower alkylamino or nitro.
wherein R1a and R2a are hydrogen, lower alkyl or halogen; and R3a and R4a are hydrogen, lower alkyl, halogen, lower alkoxy, di-lower alkylamino or nitro.
Neither U.S. Pat. No. 5,498,301 nor EP 0627499 A1, however, disclose that 2-phenyl-4-(dichlorophenyl)imidazole and 2-phenyl-4-(dichlorophenyl)-5-methylimidazole were actually synthesized. No CAS Registry Number is given to these compounds either.
Especially, the reaction scheme (4) seemingly suggests that 2-phenyl-4-(dichlorophenyl)-5-methylimidazole compounds having a methyl group at the 5-position can be synthesized from benzaldehyde, 1-(dichlorophenyl)-1,2-propanedione compound and ammonium acetate. Actually, however, while benzaldehyde and ammonium acetate are readily available as industrial chemicals, said 1-(dichlorophenyl)-1,2-propanedione compound is not commercially available as an industrial chemical or as a reagent, and thus cannot be obtained unless synthesized,
A process for synthesizing 1-phenyl-1,2-propanedione compounds is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,107,210. The inventors attempted to synthesize 1-(2,4-dichlorophenyl)-1,2-propanedione and 1-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-1,2-propanedione according to the disclosed process. However, the desired products could not be isolated since the reaction was complicated and an appropriate purification method could not be found in either case. Thus, 2-phenyl-4-(dichlorophenyl)-5-methylimidazole compounds have not yet been successfully synthesized based on the reaction scheme (4).
The above-described U.S. Pat. No. 5,498,301 (the left column, line 27, page 4, and Example 10 in the right column, page 7), U.S. Pat. No. 5,560,785 (left column, line 24, page 4, and Example 10 in the left column, page 7) and EP 0627499 A1 (first line, page 6, and Example 10 on page 10) disclose using 2-(2,4-dichlorophenyl)-4-phenyl-5-methylimidazole as a surface treatment agent for copper.
However, other imidazole compounds in which phenyl at the 2-position is substituted with two chlorine atoms are not known.

Abstract: wherein R1 is hydrogen or methyl, and either R2 and R3 represent chlorine and R4 and R5 represent hydrogen, or R2 and R3 represent hydrogen and R4 and R5 represent chlorine.


A videogame services platform may include a streaming component that streams audio and video of gameplay performed on a first client device. The platform may identify content present in the stream and provide notification, to a broadcaster portal, that content present in the stream is available for purchase. An identifier of the content may be mapped to a stock keeping unit for a product containing the content. The product may be acquired using the stock keeping unit. The second client device may be updated to make the content available and authorized for use in gameplay on the second client device.

Videogame streaming has become a prevalent aspect of the videogame industry. Typically, videogame streaming involves the broadcast of the video and audio components of a videogame to a potentially large number of viewers. In some cases, the gamer who broadcasts his or her gameplay does so in conjunction with an additional audio and video stream of the gamer, who may offer commentary on the game as it is played. In some cases, the gamer is also notable, for example due to his or her reputation or skill in the game being broadcast.

Game publisher and broadcaster integration platform


A method of signaling an intra prediction mode used to encode a current block in an encoded video bitstream using at least one processor includes generating a first most probable mode (MPM) list corresponding to a zero reference line of the current block, wherein the first MPM list includes a plurality of angular intra prediction modes; generating a second MPM list corresponding to one or more non-zero reference lines of the current block, wherein the second MPM list includes the plurality of angular intra prediction modes; signaling a reference line index indicating a reference line used to encode the current block from among the zero reference line and the one or more non-zero reference lines; and signaling an intra mode index indicating the intra prediction mode within the first MPM list or the second MPM list.

ITU-T VCEG (Q6/16) and ISO/IEC MPEG (JTC 1/SC 29/WG 11) published the H.265/HEVC (High Efficiency Video Coding) standard in 2013 (version 1) 2014 (version 2) 2015 (version 3) and 2016 (version 4) [1]. In 2015, these two standard organizations jointly formed the JVET (Joint Video Exploration Team) to explore the potential of developing the next video coding standard beyond HEVC In October 2017, they issued the Joint Call for Proposals on Video Compression with Capability beyond HEVC (CfP). By Feb. 15, 2018, total 22 CfP responses on standard dynamic range (SDR), 12 CfP responses on high dynamic range (HDR), and 12 CfP responses on 360 video categories were submitted, respectively. In April 2018, all received CfP responses were evaluated in the 122 MPEG/10th JVET meeting. As a result of this meeting, JVET formally launched the standardization process of next-generation video coding beyond HEVC. The new standard was named Versatile Video Coding (VVC), and JVET was renamed as Joint Video Expert Team.
The intra prediction modes used in HEVC are illustrated in FIG. 1. In HEVC, there are total 35 intra prediction modes, among which mode 10 is horizontal mode, mode 26 is vertical mode, and mode 2, mode 18 and mode 34 are diagonal modes. The intra prediction modes are signalled by three most probable modes (MPMs) and 32 remaining modes.
To code an intra mode, a most probable mode (MPM) list of size 3 is built based on the intra modes of the neighboring blocks. this MPM list will be referred to as the MPM list or primary MPM list. If intra mode is not from the MPM list, a flag is signalled to indicate whether intra mode belongs to the selected modes.
An example of the MPM list generation process for HEVC is shown is follows:                If (leftIntraDir==aboveIntraDir && leftIntraDir>DC_IDX)                    MPM [0]=leftIntraDir;            MPM [1]=((leftIntraDir+offset) % mod)+2;            MPM [2]=((leftIntraDir−1) % mod)+2;                        Else if (leftIntraDir==aboveIntraDir)                    MPM [0]=PLANAR_IDX;            MPM [1]=DC_IDX;            MPM [2]=VER_IDX;                        Else if (leftIntraDir !=aboveIntraDir)                    MPM [0]=leftIntraDir;            MPM [1]=aboveIntraDir;            If (leftIntraDir>0 && aboveIntraDir>0)                            MPM [2]=PLANAR_IDX;                                    Else                            MPM [2]=(leftIntraDir+aboveIntraDir)<2 ? VER_IDX: DC_IDX;
Here, leftIntraDir is used to indicate the mode in left block and aboveIntraDir is used to indicate the mode in the above block. If left or block is currently not available, leftIntraDir or aboveIntraDir will be to DC_IDX. In addition, variable "offset" and "mod" are the constant values, which are set to 29 and 32 respectively.

Simplified most probable mode list generation scheme


A high frequency module includes a transmission power amplifier, a bump electrode connected to a principal surface of the transmission power amplifier and having an elongated shape in a plan view of the principal surface, and a mounting board on which the transmission power amplifier is mounted, wherein the mounting board includes a via conductor having an elongated shape in the plan view, the length direction of the bump electrode and the length direction of the via conductor are aligned in the plan view, and the bump electrode and the via conductor are connected in an overlapping area where the bump electrode and the via conductor overlap at least partially in the plan view, and the overlapping area is an area elongated in the length direction.

The present disclosure relates to high frequency modules and communication devices. In mobile communication devices such as cellular phones and the like, particularly, with the development of multi-banding, it is necessary to densely mount circuit elements that form a high frequency front-end circuit. When densely mounting the circuit elements, a heat dissipation measure for an amplifier circuit and a passive element, through which a high frequency signal output from the amplifier circuit passes, becomes important.
Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2010-267944 (Hereinafter, referred to as Patent Document 1) discloses a power amplifier module including a semiconductor chip including a power amplifier circuit and a wiring board on which the semiconductor chip is mounted. A bump electrode connected to a source of the semiconductor chip has a so-called elongated shape in which a plurality of ball bumps is connected in an elongated manner. According to this configuration, the power amplifier module enables to dissipate heat generated at the power amplifier circuit from the bump electrode connected to the source to a backside terminal of the wiring board via a plurality of source vias (VH1S-VH3S) formed in the wiring board.

High frequency module and communication device


Methods for reducing side-effects of feeding an individual are provided. The methods comprise administering to the individual a composition comprising an amount of bovine milk providing 1.0 to 1.2 grams of protein per 100 available kilocalories and an amount of a bovine whey material providing 1.0 to 1.2 grams of protein per 100 available kilocalories, said bovine whey material having an alpha-lactalbumin content of 28% to 40% and a beta-lactoglobulin content of 8% to 33% of total protein.

Human milk is the preferred means for feeding the newborn human infant for the first four to six months of life. Infant formulas have been developed to replace or to supplement human milk when breast-feeding is inadequate, unsuccessful, or when a mother chooses not to breast feed. Attempts of improving infant formula composition have focused on more closely simulating the composition of breast milk.
Bovine milk has been used in infant formulas for over eighty years. However, the protein systems of human milk and cow's milk differ substantially, both quantitatively and qualitatively. Prominent quantitative differences include a lower total protein content of human milk (11 g/L) compared to cow's milk (33 g/L) and a difference in the ratio of whey proteins to caseins, which is 18:82 in bovine milk and 60:40 in human milk.
Attention in this area has focused on the notable qualitative differences between bovine milk and human milk, in their amounts of individual whey proteins, specifically alpha-lactalbumin and beta-lactoglobulin. Alpha-lactalbumin, a protein found in the milk of all mammals, is a major protein in human milk. Beta-lactoglobulin is absent from human milk. The protein content of bovine whey contains about 50% to 55% of beta-lactoglobulin and about 18% of alpha-lactalbumin. The ratio of beta-lactoglobulin to alpha-lactalbumin in bovine whey ranges between 2.5:1 and 4:1. Furthermore, it is known that the elimination or removal of beta-lactoglobulin in bovine milk increases the total amount of alpha-lactalbumin from 18% to 40% of bovine whey proteins, de Wit, J. N., "Nutritional and Functional Characteristics of Whey Proteins in Food Products", Journal of Dairy Science 81: 597-608 (1998).
Beta-lactoglobulin is particularly rich in the essential amino acids valine and threonine. Alpha-Lactalbumin is particularly rich in the essential amino acids tryptophan, lysine and cystine compared to other bovine milk proteins, Jarvenpaa, A. L., N. C. Raiha, et al., "Milk protein quantity and quality in the term infant. I. Metabolic responses and effects on growth", Pediatrics 70(2): 214-20 (1982). As a consequence of the differing amounts of the specific whey proteins in bovine milk and human milk and the amino acid compositions of these proteins, bovine milk and human milk differ substantially in their amino acid profiles, Rudloff, S. and C. Kunz, "Protein and nonprotein nitrogen components in human milk, bovine milk, and infant formula: quantitative and qualitative aspects in infant nutrition", J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr 24(3): 328-44 (1997). This difference remains in infant formulas made with bovine whey in which the composition of the specific whey protein is not modified.
As noted above, the elimination or reduction of beta-lactoglobulin in cow's milk-based infant formula increases the content of alpha-lactalbumin. Such a change would subsequently increase the levels of the essential amino acids cystine, tryptophan, tyrosine and phenylalanine and reduce the level of the essential amino acid threonine to levels that more closely resemble those in human milk. Therefore, an improved amino acid composition would permit a reduction in the total protein content of an infant formula.
DeWit, de Wit, J. N., "Nutritional and Functional Characteristics of Whey Proteins in Food Products", Journal of Dairy Science 81: 597-608 (1998), describe research activities focused on the fine-tuning of both milk protein and amino acid composition and specifically on enriching bovine milk with alpha-lactalbumin, beta-casein and lactoferrin to achieve the optimal nutritional composition, particularly with respect to the amino acid composition thereof. A nutritional composition is proposed which comprises beta-lactoglobulin-depleted whey proteins, beta-casein and lactoferrin in desalted bovine milk permeate. It is postulated that such a preparation will have a protein composition more closely approaching that of human milk than existing infant formulas.
Dairy technology has focused on whey protein fractionation processes to selectively remove substantially all the beta-lactoglobulin from whey or to isolate enriched alpha-lactalbumin fractions substantially free of beta-lactoglobulin, for use in foods, including infant formula. U.S. Pat. No. 5,455,331 describes a process using undefatted ultrafiltered whey to produce a material with a high alpha-lactalbumin content and, on a total precipitable protein basis, less than 5% of beta-lactoglobulin. The process involves heat precipitation of alpha-lactalbumin in undefatted ultrafiltered cheese whey at a pH of 4.2. The alpha-lactalbumin-rich precipitate is clarified, washed, neutralized, ultrafiltered and spray dried to yield a whey fraction, the protein therein being predominantly alpha-lactalbumin, substantially depleted of beta-lactoglobulin and including the lipid-containing components in the whey.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,420,249 discloses the use of defatted whey and calcium-binding resin to prepare whey for separation and a preferred alpha-lactalbumin fraction comprising at least 60% of the protein as alpha-lactalbumin and at most 10% of the protein as beta-lactoglobulin. They describe an alpha-lactalbumin-enriched fraction containing 13% of the protein as beta-lactoglobulin. However, this fraction contained 74% of the protein as alpha-lactalbumin, with a beta-lactoglobulin to alpha-lactalbumin ratio of 1:6. Other alpha-lactalbumin-enriched fractions had beta-lactoglobulin to alpha-lactalbumin ratios of 1:4 to 1:7.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,436,020 describes an infant formula devoid of untreated cows' milk protein which is made with a material consisting of delactosed and deionized whey permeate as a source of non-protein nitrogen combined with a fractionated whey ultrafiltered to remove casein glycomacropeptides and fat. U.S. Pat. No. 5,169,666 describes treating bovine milk to eliminate or substantially reduce the alpha-s-casein and to reduce the beta-lactoglobulin level to 4% or less as a percentage of the protein, in order to make a 'humanized' bovine milk material for infant feeding.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Methods for reducing adverse effects of feeding formula to infants


[Problem]

In recent years, in a sensor chip of a CMOS (Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor) image sensor, a ToF (Time of Flight) sensor, a fluorescence detection sensor or the like, it is demanded to perform control at a high speed. For example, in a sensor chip for which such high speed driving as exceeds a modulation frequency of 1 MHz is demanded, it is necessary to control pulses of a control signal on the order of sub microseconds or 10 nanoseconds.
For example, PTL 1 discloses a ToF sensor that outputs measurement information at random such that signal processing for tracking an object measured in a three-dimensional image can be carried out immediately.

Sensor chip, electronic equipment, and apparatus

Abstract: [Problem]

Abstract: The present disclosure proposes a technology that makes it possible to further reduce the influence of an error arising from a resolution of processing relating to measurement of the distance.

Abstract: [Solving Means]

Abstract: A sensor chip is provided which includes a light reception section configured to receive light projected from a light source and reflected by an imaging target to detect, for each given detection period, a reception light amount of the reflected light within the given period, a measurement section configured to measure a distance to the imaging object based on the reception light amount, and a control section configured to apply at least one of a first delay amount or a second delay amount, whose resolutions relating to control are different from each other, to control of a first timing at which the light reception section is to detect the reception light amount thereby to control a relative time difference between the first timing and a second timing at which the light source is to project light with a resolution finer than the resolutions of the first delay amount and the second delay amount in response to the first delay amount and the second delay amount.

Sony Semiconductor Solutions Corporation


After a first scan in a forward direction, conveying corresponding to one nozzle block is performed, and then in a second scan in a backward direction, printing of a “printing area 1,” which is a unit area, is completed. Then after completion of printing of the unit area, conveying corresponding to 14 nozzle blocks is performed. Then by reciprocal third and fourth scans, printing of a “printing area 2” is completed in a likewise manner. Subsequently, two scans in a reciprocal manner are performed in a likewise manner to perform printing of each unit area. In any unit area, printing time intervals between scans are such that, at a same position in a scan direction, the time interval is the same. Consequently, differences in density between unit areas that are adjacent in a conveying direction of a printing medium, that is, between-band unevenness becomes more difficult to recognize.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an inkjet printing apparatus and an inkjet printing method, and specifically relates to a configuration for reducing density unevenness that occurs when printing is performed by reciprocal, bidirectional scanning.
2. Description of the Related Art
Personal computers, word processors, and other office automation devices have come to be used widely in recent years, and various printing apparatuses are provided for printing out information processed by such devices. As a trend of such printing apparatuses, high image quality and high speed are being demanded, and various techniques for these purposes are provided.
High Quality Image Printing Technologies
As an example of a high image quality technology, a so-called multi-scan method is known. With this method, scanning of a print head is performed a plurality of times on a same region and in the plurality of scans, different ink ejection ports are set to be used to perform printing.
In a case of performing printing using a print head that is provided with a plurality of printing elements, such as ink ejection ports, etc., a quality of a printed image is largely dependent on a precision of the print head. In a print head manufacturing process, for example, fluctuations may arise in shapes of the ejection ports of the print head or in a set position of an ejection heater for generating energy for ejection. Such fluctuations become apparent as slight differences in ejection amount, ejection direction, and other ejection characteristics among the plurality of ejection ports in the print head and, cause density unevenness in an image finally formed to decrease the grade of the image.
FIGS. 1A to 1C and FIGS. 2A to 2C are diagrams for explaining specific examples of the above-described degradation of the image. In FIG. 1A, a reference sign 101 schematically denotes a print head, and for simplification of description, this is illustrated as having eight ink ejection ports 102. A reference sign 103 denotes ink droplets ejected from the respective ejection ports 102, and normally, it is assumed that ink is ejected at a substantially same ejection amount and in a same ejection direction as shown in the figure. By such ejection, dots of a substantially same size are formed on a paper surface as shown in FIG. 1B and a uniform image without density unevenness as a printing image as a whole is obtained (see FIG. 1C).
However, as mentioned above, in actuality, there are fluctuations in the respective ejection characteristics of the plurality of ejection ports in many cases. As a result, fluctuations may occur in the sizes and directions of ink droplets ejected from the respective ejection ports as shown in FIG. 2A. Consequently, dots that differ in position and size may be formed as shown in FIG. 2B. In this case, a blank portion, in which an area factor of 100% is not attained, or oppositely, a portion, in which dots are overlapped more than necessary, may arise in a cyclical manner and a white streak or black streak may form as shown in a central portion of the figure. An image formed with a set of dots having such state has a density distribution in an ejection port array direction such as shown in FIG. 2C and this is consequently perceived as density unevenness.
A multi-scan method resolves such a problem of density unevenness to improve the image quality. FIGS. 3A to 3C and FIGS. 4A to 4C are diagrams for explaining this method. In the multi-scan method, a plurality of scans, that is, in the example shown in FIG. 3A, two scans of a print head are performed to complete printing of a predetermined area (in the examples shown in these figures, a 100% duty printing of forming dots respectively in all pixels in the predetermined are). More specifically, an area (corresponding to four pixels) of half the area shown in FIG. 1B or the like is completed by two scans (herein after, also referred to as "two passes") between which a printing medium is conveyed by an amount corresponding to the area corresponding to four pixels. In this case, eight ink ejection ports 202 of a head 201 are divided into a group of four upper ejection ports and a group of four lower ejection ports. In addition to the above, the dots formed by the ink ejected from a single ejection port in a single scan are thinned, for example, by half in a scan direction array by using a mask. A remaining half of the dots are then formed in a second scan using a mask that complements the aforementioned mask to complete printing of the area corresponding to four pixels. FIGS. 4A to 4C are diagrams of an example of a mask and a dot pattern formed using the mask. The mask and the dot pattern shown in these drawings are of a checker pattern, which is the simplest pattern according to which dots can be formed vertically and horizontally in each pixel. The printing is completed by a first scan (FIG. 4A or 4C), by which the checker pattern is printed in a unit print area (corresponding to four pixels in the present case), and a second scan (FIG. 4B) of printing a complementary checker pattern.
With the above-described multi-scan method, even when the print head having the ejection characteristics shown in FIG. 2A is used, the influence of the ejection characteristics of the respective ejection ports can be reduced to ½ and the printed image becomes as shown in FIG. 3B. White streaks or black streaks can thereby be made less conspicuous. Consequently as shown in FIG. 3C, the density unevenness also is decreased in comparison to the case shown in FIG. 2C.
High Speed Printing Technologies
At the same time, a bidirectional printing is known as an example of a high speed printing technology. This printing method is a method in which, in a serial type printing apparatus, after performing printing by a forward direction scan of a print head, conveying a paper by a predetermined amount is performed, and a printing scan is also performed in a subsequent movement of the print head in a backward direction. With this printing method, in comparison to unidirectional printing, in which printing is performed in the forward direction scan but printing is not performed in the returning movement of the print head in the backward direction, double the printing speed or the throughput, by simple calculation, can be achieved.
The bidirectional printing can be used in both so-called one-pass printing, in which printing of a scan area having a length corresponding to an ejection port arrangement width of a print head is completed in a single scan of the print head, and the above-described multi-scan printing, in which printing of the scan area is completed with a plurality of scans between which a paper conveyance is performed. Thus by performing bidirectional printing with use of the multi-scan method, both high quality image printing and high speed printing can be realized.
However, it is also known that when bidirectional printing is performed with use of the multi-scan method, density unevenness (time interval unevenness) occurs due to a difference of a time intervals in the plurality of scans, between positions in a scan area.
FIG. 5 is a diagram for illustrating the time interval unevenness and shows an example where printing is completed in two scans (passes) in opposite directions to each other. In FIG. 5, when focusing attention on left and right end regions of a printing medium, a region in which a second printing is performed immediately after a first printing, and a region in which, after a first printing, a second printing is performed on elapse of a scan time corresponding substantially to two scans of forward or backward scan, appear alternately. As a result, at the left end region, a printing area 1 has high image density and a printing area 2 has low image density, and this density difference appears alternately. At the right end region, the printing area 1 has low image density and the printing area 2 has high in image density, and as in the left end, this density difference appears alternately. Also in each printing area, the density varies along a scan direction. For example, in the printing area 1, a left end side is high in density and the density decreases toward the right end side.
The above described phenomenon occurs due to differences in a time during which a precedently landing ink droplet permeates into an interior of a printing medium and becomes adsorbed into paper fibers or an ink receiving layer, etc., and then landing of a subsequent ink droplet is performed. If there is sufficient time for adsorption of the precedently landing ink into the paper fibers or the ink receiving layer, the subsequently landing ink droplet permeates gradually in a direction of gravity while seeking a portion into which it can become adsorbed comparatively smoothly. On the other hand, if there is not enough time for the precedently landing ink to become adsorbed into the paper fibers or the ink receiving layer, the subsequently landing ink droplet joins the precedently landing ink and permeates gradually in the gravity direction as a single aggregate of ink droplets. In the latter case, the precedently landing ink joins the subsequently landing ink before becoming adequately adsorbed by near a paper surface and becomes adsorbed at a lower portion. Consequently, the image density becomes comparatively low. In a case where printing of a secondary color is performed, the density unevenness appears as a color unevenness corresponding to the scan time intervals.
FIGS. 6A and 6B are diagrams for illustrating an occurrence of density unevenness in accordance with such ejection time intervals of ink droplets. A case where the ejection time interval of two ink droplets is long is illustrated in FIG. 6A, and a case where the ejection time interval of two ink droplets is short is illustrated in FIG. 6B. In FIG. 6A, a precedently ejected ink droplet lands on a printing medium and permeates and becomes fixed in an interior of the printing medium. After fixing takes place over a comparatively long time, a subsequently ejected ink droplet lands, permeates so as to get into under the precedently ejected ink, and becomes fixed below the precedently ejected ink. On the other hand, in the case shown in FIG. 6B, the precedently ejected ink droplet lands the printing medium and permeates into the interior of the printing medium. In this case, since the time until the subsequent ink droplet lands is short, the subsequently ejected ink droplet lands while the precedently ejected ink droplet is in the process of becoming fixed. Therefore, the unfixed ink of the precedently ejected ink droplet and the subsequently ejected ink droplet thus permeate as a single body of ink and becomes fixed finally. As result, the precedently ejected ink droplet is pushed downward by the subsequently ejected ink, the extent of permeation becomes lower below the paper surface and the density thus becomes lower. That is, as shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B, the depth of permeation of the precedently ejected ink droplet, in other words, the fixing position of the precedently ejected ink droplet differs, and the higher this position, the higher the image density. That is, the longer the time interval, the higher the density.
As explained above, in accordance with the difference in time intervals between a plurality of times of printing for performing printing on one region, a density difference occurs between the left end and the right end regions of a unit area for which printing is completed in the plurality of times of scan. Also as shown in FIG. 5, when such unit areas are adjacent to each other, regions of different density become adjacent alternately and this becomes recognized as a density unevenness (herein after, also referred to as "between-band unevenness"). In particular, the density difference is large and the between-band unevenness can be recognized conspicuously at the left and right end regions of the unit area.
As a technology for suppressing such time interval unevenness caused by the time difference of printing, there is a technology described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2003-34021. In this document is described a switching of a printing mode from bidirectional printing to unidirectional printing when a possibility of occurrence of density unevenness is high. Specifically, a printing area is divided into a plurality of areas in a main scan direction, and numbers of dots of black ink and color ink to be applied to each area are counted. When there are areas, in which threshold values are exceed for both black and color inks, the number of such areas is counted, and when this number of areas is no less than a predetermined number, it is deemed that the possibility of occurrence of time interval unevenness is high and switching to unidirectional printing is performed. The time interval unevenness that occurs at opposite end regions of a printed image can thus be suppressed. It is also described in the document that a width of printed image data, that is, a width of a range in which a print head scans is detected and when the width is small, it is deemed that a degree of time interval unevenness is small and switching to unidirectional printing is avoided even when the number of areas is no less than the predetermined number.
As another technology for suppressing time interval unevenness, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2005-144868 describes that by making the number of passes of multi-scan increased when a printing width is long, the time interval unevenness between bands can be made inconspicuous. It is also described in the same document that the time interval unevenness can be made less recognizable by making the time interval unevenness be repeated at a high frequency. It is also described that when the printing width is long, the time interval unevenness can be reduced by raising a scan speed of a print head to shorten time intervals among multiple passes or by switching to unidirectional printing to make a printing time in each band the same.
However, in the case where switching to unidirectional printing is performed when the possibility of occurrence of density unevenness is high as described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2003-34021 and Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2005-144868, the significance of bidirectional printing, which is employed to achieve high speed of printing, becomes lost. Further, increasing the number of passes of multi-scan leads to lowering of an overall throughput. The change of scan speed requires a change of printing resolution.
Conventional methods of resolving time interval unevenness thus accompany comparatively large changes in printing operation or process details and cause various problems such as those mentioned above.

Inkjet printing apparatus and inkjet printing method


Disclosed are systems, methods and computer program products for detection of spam in raster images. In one example embodiment, a method comprises identifying objects in the raster image; tracing contours of identified objects; computing, angles of inclination of tangents at plurality of points on an object contour; determining, based on the computed angles of inclination, one or more attributes of the object contour, including lengths of line segments of the contour, angles between the line segments, lengths of arcs the contour and radii of curvature of the arcs; generating object signatures containing one or more attributes of the object contours; comparing object signatures of the image with known spam image signatures; and determining that the image contains spam if the number of object signatures that are substantially similar to the known spam image signatures exceeds a predetermined threshold.

Identification of spam in email messages received over a communications'network becomes an extremely pressing problem with ever increasing popularity of unsolicited email-based product and service advertising. There are many different technical solutions for identifying spam in the ordinary text messages, but the task of identifying spam is much more difficult in the case of text spam embedded in an image as well as spam images, such as images of unsolicited products, services, etc. Identification of image-based spam is difficult because spam detection system must first identify the text in the image and then determine whether this text can be classified as spam. In case there is no text in the image, the detection system must identify the image itself as spam. Known approaches for identify spam in images have a number of shortcomings, such as slow execution attributed to the complexity of the algorithm and to a large number of errors during detection of spam. Accordingly, there is a need for a more efficient and effective mechanism for detection of spam in images.

System and method for identifying spam in rasterized images


An articulated support stick for supporting a weapon or other device, includes a handle for grasping by a user, a cradle connected to the handle for receiving and supporting the weapon or other device, a leg for supporting the handle while directing a portion of the weight of the weapon or other device along the leg, and an articulated joint assembly connected between the handle and the leg so that the handle can be manipulated by the user about mutually orthogonal axes with respect to the leg to thereby adjust the cradle portion and thus a position of the weapon or other device while preserving the user's strength.

This invention relates generally to supports for steadying weapons during aiming, and more particularly to an articulated shooting stick for crossbows, rifles, shotguns and other weapons.
Crossbows, rifles, shotguns, and other weapons are heavy in nature. With their centers of mass located away from the shooter's body, they are typically difficult to hold steady and manipulate during aiming for consistent shot placement. The same holds true for cameras binoculars, telescopes, and other devices. This problem is exacerbated when hunting with crossbows or when the user must maintain a position for a long period of time until the prey is properly oriented and at an appropriate distance for photographing, observing, shooting, and so on.
The prior art includes a plurality of apparatuses for steadying portable devices which are to be aimed by a user. For example, tripods are commonly used to steady cameras or telescopes. In many situations, tripods function admirably for this purpose. However, although many tripods are portable, setting a tripod up and taking it down often takes too much time for the user, can be difficult to transport efficiently, and may be too bulky to set up in a tree stand. Some prior art solutions suggest relieving some of this bulkiness by providing a support stick that rest against a user at one end and support a crossbow, firearm or other device at the other end. Such devices are typically inflexible, in that there is no mechanism for allowing precise positioning and control of the crossbow, firearm, or other device with the user's fine motor control. Thus, when it is desirous to take aim at potential game or a distant target, and follow the target as it moves within the field of view and possibly closer to and/or further away from the user, prior art support sticks fall short.
Moreover, when using a crossbow for example, the safety of the user may become compromised due to the orientation of the crossbow stock and the fingers of the user during firing. The crossbow stock naturally forces the user to orient his or her fingers upwards, which may interfere with the crossbow string during release of the bolt and lead to serious injury.
It would therefore be desirous to provide a support stick that overcomes at least one or more disadvantages of the prior art. It would further be desirous to provide a allows a user to hold a weapon or other device in an aiming stance while preserving the user's strength and allowing the user to fine tune a potential shot or image by manipulating the support stick with the user's fine motor control.

Articulated support stick for weapons and other devices


An electric power steering apparatus includes a worm gear mechanism for transmitting the torque generated by an electric motor to a steered road wheel of the vehicle. The worm gear mechanism has a worm gear made of metal and a worm wheel formed of plastic material and meshing with the worm gear. The worm gear has a tooth profile including a dedendum part formed in an involute shape and an addendum part formed in a circular arc shape with a center located on a line of action.

Electric power steering apparatus of the type concerned are known and used heretofore. In one such known apparatus, which is disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-open Publication (JP-A) No. 2005-16617, a proposal has been made to enhance the wear durability of a worm gear mechanism by improving the lubricating performance using a worm gear and a worm wheel gear having a tooth form or profile in a special form, which is different from an involute form and can retain most part of a lubricating agent (grease) on tooth surfaces within the tooth width of the worm wheel gear. Due to the specially shaped tooth form employed, the worm gear and worm wheel gear are relatively uneasy to manufacture and require a relatively high manufacturing cost.
In general, the worm gear and the worm wheel gear have two or three gear teeth working together on a working line. Not all the working points where the worm gear teeth and the worm wheel gear teeth are meshing together does lie on the pitch circle of the worm wheel gear. At one working point, the addendum of the worm gear tooth and the dedendum of the worm wheel gear tooth are working. In this instance, the working point is offset from the pitch circle toward the dedendum of the worm wheel gear and, hence, the load is concentrated at the dedendum of the worm wheel gear. This demands adequate consideration of the wear durability of the gear teeth.
Furthermore, as for the worm gear, since the working point is offset from the pitch circle toward its addendum side, the lead angle is smaller than that achieved in the case where the working point lies on the pitch circle. The small worm gear lead angle reduces the worm gear transfer efficiency and reversing efficiency, which gives a negative influence on the steering feel.
In the worm gear mechanisms, in order to ensure smooth meshing and low-noise operation, it may be considered that the worm gear is made of metal and the worm wheel gear is formed of a synthetic resin material. In this case, however, since the stiffness of the plastic worm wheel gear is relatively low, the worm wheel gear is likely to cause a creep strain due to heat generated during working together with the worm gear. Accordingly, a consideration should be made to the durability of the worm wheel gear.

Electric power steering apparatus equipped with worm gear mechanism


The present invention is a process for the production of isophorone having improved color and color stability. Crude isophorone is selectively hydrogenated to remove color forming impurities. The product isophorone will have an APHA color of about 10 or less.

Isophorone is an industrial solvent prepared by aldol condensation of acetone. The reaction is carried out in a homogenous media with an alkali hydroxide catalyst or in a heterogeneous media with a mixed oxide catalyst derived from oxides of magnesium and aluminum, or calcium and aluminum. Freshly distilled isophorone has a APHA color of 20-30 as measured by ASTM Standard Test Method for Color of Clear Liquids (Platinum-Cobalt Scale)! but degrades with time to APHA values of 100 or higher. Further it is found that the color deterioration accelerates when the product is stored at elevated temperatures.
Some of the by products made during the synthesis of isophorone have boiling points which are very close to isophorone and therefore are not easily removed by simple distillation. Some of these compounds are responsible for giving the isophorone product a distinct yellow color which may be undesirable.
There are several techniques known in the art to remove color from isophorone. U.S. Pat. No. 2,204,956 discloses a process for purifying ketones. The process includes the addition of ammonia followed by distillation. U.S. Pat. No. 2,968,677 discloses a method of treating colored isophorone with an aromatic sulfonic acid and distilling the isophorone from the mixture. U.S. Pat. No. 4,059,632 discloses the discolorization of isophorone by treatment with phosphoric acid for at least seven hours at 130.degree.-190.degree. C. U.S. Pat. No. 4,248,673 describes a method of treating crude isophorone with acid exchange resins followed by neutralization with excess alkaline reagent and washing to remove the salts formed, and followed by fractionation to purify the isophorone. U.S. Pat. No. 4,434,301 describes a method which comprises contacting crude isophorone with a strong caustic aqueous solution at a temperature of about 140.degree.-200.degree. C. for about for about 1-2 hours, washing the treated isophorone with water and then recovering decolorized isophorone by fractional distillation.
All the above prior art methods require treatment with acidic or basic reagents which necessitate a washing/neutralization stage before the treated isophorone can be distilled. They are also very capital intensive processes which require holding tanks for treatment followed by washing tanks and the need for disposal of the neutralized effluent. Also, all the above methods lead to loss of isophorone yield to products which are not useful.
It is the object of the present invention to produce substantially color free isophorone by a method which is much less capital intensive.
It is also an object of the present invention to produce isophorone which not only has superior color, but superior color stability.

Process for making isophorone with improved color and color stability


A CMOS device and a method for forming the same is provided so as to overcome the problem of boron penetration through the thin gate oxide of P-channel devices. Silicon is implanted into the polysilicon gate electrode of the PMOS device functioning as a diffusion barrier for preventing boron penetration through the thin gate oxide and into the semiconductor substrate. As a result, the reliability of the CMOS device will be enhanced.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to advanced CMOS technology and more particularly, it relates to a method for fabricating advanced CMOS integrated circuits so as to prevent boron penetration through thin gate oxide of P-channel devices.
2. Description of the Prior Art
As is generally well-known in the art of CMOS technology, a CMOS (complementary metal-oxide semiconductor) device is formed of an N-channel MOS device and a P-channel MOS device. In order to increase the speed of the CMOS devices, there has existed in the micro-electronics industry over the last two decades an aggressive scaling-down of the channel length dimensions. However, as the channel length reduction occurs, the gate oxide thickness has to be likewise reduced down so as to avoid short channel effects.
Thus, there has been proposed heretofore of using a p.sup.+ -type polycrystalline silicon (poly-Si) gate so as to provide a surface channel feature in P-channel MOS devices in advanced CMOS structures. This is due to the fact that it is known that surface-channel P-channel MOS devices with p.sup.+ -type poly-Si gates can improve short-channel and sub-threshold I-V characteristics and produce better controllability of the threshold voltage. Typically, BF.sub.2.sup.+ ions are implanted simultaneously with the forming of the p.sup.+ poly-Si gate and a p.sup.+ -n shallow junction. The presence of fluorine ions during the BF.sub.2 implantation enhances the diffusion of boron ions. As a result, there will be a penetration of boron ions through the thin gate oxide (on the order of 20-50 .ANG.) which introduces boron ions to the underlying silicon substrate. Boron penetration results unfortunately in degrading the reliability of the devices, such as positive shifts in the threshold voltage, increased sub-threshold swing, and increased electron trapping.
Accordingly, the problem of boron penetration through the thin gate oxide due to scaling-down has become one of the major concerns for advanced CMOS technology. There are known in the art of various techniques which have been used for suppressing boron penetration. One such method is the use of nitrogen implantation into the p.sup.+ poly-Si gate. Another known method in the prior art is utilizing of an amorphous silicon gate. Also, still another known method involves the use of a stacked amorphous silicon/poly-Si gate. However, all of these aforementioned approaches suffer from the disadvantage of increasing the complexity of the conventional CMOS fabrication process. This is because of the different deposition process required for the poly as well as different etching processes needed to remove the poly.
In view of the foregoing, there still exists a method for fabricating advanced CMOS integrated circuits so as to prevent boron penetration through the thin gate oxide of P-channel devices, which require only minimal modification to the conventional CMOS fabrication process.

Preventing boron penetration through thin gate oxide of P-channel devices in advanced CMOS technology


A hand-held automatic refractometer comprises a completely fluid-sealed housing enclosing a wireless transmitter for transmitting digital measurement data to a remote computer having a corresponding receiver connected thereto. The refractometer housing protects the internal components, including the transmitter, from damage caused by test fluids and cleaning fluids.

The present invention relates generally to refractometers for measuring refractive index of a substance, and more particularly to an automatic refractometer that includes a completely fluid-sealed housing for easy cleaning without sacrificing the capability to download measurement data to a computer.
Refractometers are widely used for quality control in industry for measuring sugar concentrations (Brix scale) of fruits, fruit juices, soft drinks and other food products; measuring concentrations of water soluble cutting fluids and other lubricants; testing the freeze point of propylene glycol and ethylene glycol antifreeze solutions; measuring the boiling point and percent water content of brake fluids; testing salinity of sea water; and for other refractive-index based measurements. Because refractometers come into contact with the above-mentioned fluids both during testing and as a natural consequence of being stored in industrial environments, they require frequent cleaning. It is therefore desirable to protect internal optics and electronics (in the case of automatic refractometers) from exposure to harmful test fluids and cleaning fluids.
While many automatic refractometers on the market today are substantially fluid-sealed, they suffer the drawback that a connection port for connecting a data cable to the instrument for downloading digital measurement data to a computer is exposed to test samples, environmental fluids, and cleaning fluids. Therefore, neatness during use and care during cleaning are required to prevent damage to the connection port. In non-automatic refractometers and refractometers without data downloading capability, completely fluid-sealed housings are known.
Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to improve an automatic refractometer of a type that provides digital measurement data by enclosing the refractometer components in a completely fluid-sealed housing, without destroying the refractometer""s capability to download measurement data to a computer.
To meet this object, a refractometer of the present invention is provided with a completely fluid-sealed housing, and a wireless transmitter is among the components enclosed within the housing. Digital measurement data are thereby transmitted as optical pulse signals through a communication window in the housing to a corresponding receiver connected to a computer. In a preferred embodiment, infra-red signal transmission is in accordance with IrDA (Infrared Data Association) hardware standards.
The housing includes an upper housing portion having a sample well opening and a display panel recess, a display/button panel fitted to reside in the display panel recess, a sample well received in the sample well opening, a lower housing portion including a window recess and a battery opening, the aforementioned communication window fitted to reside in the window recess, and a battery cover threadably attached to the lower housing portion to cover the battery opening. Fluid sealing O-rings are provided at connections between the upper and lower housing portions, between the sample well and the upper housing portion, and between the battery cover and the lower housing portion.

Fluid-sealed refractometer having data transmission means


A light emitting element structure includes a light emitting unit configured to emit light; a package unit configured to cover the light emitting unit; a transparent light guide structure arranged on the package unit; and a first anti-reflection film arranged on the transparent light guide structure, wherein a thickness of the first anti-reflection film is an odd multiple of λ/4n, λ is a wavelength of light passing through the package unit from the light emitting unit, and n is a refractive index of the first anti-reflection film.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a light emitting element structure, and more particularly, to a light emitting element structure capable of increasing light extraction efficiency and light divergence angle.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Since light emitting diodes (LEDs) have advantages of long service life, small size and low power consumption, the light emitting diodes are widely used in various kinds of illumination devices and display devices. Generally, a light emitting diode structure usually comprises a light emitting unit and a package unit. The light emitting unit is a light emitting diode die for emitting light. The package unit covers the light emitting unit, and may comprise wavelength conversion particles for converting a wavelength of light emitted from the light emitting unit.
However, in the light emitting diode structure of the prior art, a difference between a refractive index of the package unit and a refractive index of air is large, such that partial light emitted from the light emitting unit is totally reflected by an interface between the package unit and air. Therefore, the light emitting diode structure of the prior art has lower light extraction efficiency. Moreover, the light emitting diode structure of the prior art also has a smaller light divergence angle, so as to decrease illumination efficiency of the light emitting diode structure.


An inductive electric energy transmission circuit includes: an oscillating circuit; a push-pull circuit including a first switching transistor and a second switching transistor that are configured to alternate a current flow through the oscillating circuit. The circuit arrangement also includes, a control circuit including first and second control transistors configured to control the first and second switching transistors; and a frequency generator configured to generate an output signal, wherein the output signal is adapted to drive the control transistors.

Devices for transmitting electric energy, such as electrical circuits, are known in the art. For example, DE 38 42 465 A1 discloses a switching controller for a d.c.-d.c. conversion which comprises an electronic switch and a series-resonant circuit (rather than an inductor). The switching controller oscillates with the resonant frequency of the series-resonant circuit and therefore has a particularly high efficiency if the electronic switch switches in the zero crossings of the current. The electronic switch is realized with two complimentary switching transistors that are controlled in antiphase. The control of the switching transistors is realized with a feedback circuit and input stages for the switching transistors that are not described in detail.
As another example, DE 40 15 455 A1 discloses a control circuit for an inverted rectifier that comprises a push-pull output stage with complementary transistors. The control of the transistors is realized with two electrically coupled control signals of mutually shifted potential. The connecting and disconnecting control signal edges are shifted by means of a delay circuit such that the initially switched-on transistor is switched off before the still switched-off transistor is switched on. This results in a relatively complex control circuit.

Inductive transmission of electric energy


Systems, devices and methods are described including using a Human Interface Device (HID) source device to configure a HID sink device to provide interface data such as multi-touch data. The HID source device may enable a data module in the HID sink device to generate the interface data. After receiving the interface data the HID source device may generate output data and provide the output data to the HID sink device.

Recently developed, display interface schemes, such as the DisplayPort® (DP) display interface protocol or standard (see. e.g., DisplayPort® Version 1.2 (December 2009)), are designed to replace older standards such as Video Graphics Array (VGA) and Digital Video Interface (DVI), and rely on packetized data transmission similar to other data communication protocols such as Ethernet, USB, and PCI Express. For example, DP supports both external (e.g., box-to-box) and internal (e.g., laptop display panel) display connections, and unlike DVI and Low-voltage Differential, Signaling (LVDS) standards where differential pairs transmit pixel data and a clock signal, the DP protocol is based on the transmission of small data packets with an embedded clock. The use of data packets also allows interface standards such as DP to be extensible by permitting additional features to be added without significant changes to the interface itself. Embedded DisplayPort® (eDP) is a companion standard (see, e.g., Embedded DisplayPort® Version 1.3 (February 2011)) to the DP standard and provides a standardized display panel interface for internal connections (e.g., between a graphics processor and a notebook display panel) and is designed to replace the LVDS standard.


In an arrangement including a remote control device and at least a first electronic device, the remote control device includes a first memory for storing a set of code data for controlling a further electronic device, the first memory being connected to an input of a signal generator for supplying the code data to the input, the signal generator generating, on the basis of the code data, control signals for controlling the further electronic device, and transmitting these control signals to the further electronic device. The first electronic device includes a data input for receiving data from the remote control device, and the remote control device includes a code data output unit connected to the first memory. The code data output unit has a further input for receiving an upload signal and reads, under control of the upload signal, at least a subset of the set of code data from the first memory. The code data output unit transmits the subset of code data burst-wise to the data input of the first electronic device, and first electronic device includes a second memory for storing a received subset of code data.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to an arrangement including a remote control device and at least a first electronic device, said remote control device having a first memory for storing a set of code data for controlling a further electronic device, the first memory being connected to an input of a signal generator for supplying said code data to said input, the signal generator being adapted to generate, on the basis of said code data, control signals for controlling said further electronic device, and to transmit said control signals to said further electronic device, said first electronic device having a data input arranged to receive data from said remote control device.
2. Description of the Related Art
Such arrangements are generally known from audio and video apparatuses. In the known arrangements, the remote control device has a first memory which is loaded with code data retrieved from, for example, a smart card. Once the code data has been retrieved from the smart card and loaded into the first memory, the smart card may be disposed of. To control the further electronic device, the user presses or touches a key of the remote control device, which causes the code data assigned to the selected key to be retrieved from the first memory. The retrieved code data is supplied to the signal generator, which generates a control signal based on the retrieved code data. The generated signal is then transmitted to the electronic device to control the latter.
A drawback of the known arrangement is that the generation of a backup of the code data is rather laborious. A user who wishes to generate a backup version of the code data is obliged to retrieve them one by one from the first memory by, each time, pressing or touching the assigned key. Such an operation is time-consuming and there is a fair chance that the user will omit to press certain keys, which results in an incomplete backup. Moreover, it is the control signal and not the code data as such that is transmitted.

Arrangement including a remote control device and a first electronic device


Although a lamina cribrosa is deformed in glaucoma, in a method in a related art, a thickness of retinal layer or choroid is measured and a deformation of the lamina cribrosa is not detected. When glaucoma is diagnosed, it is desirable to analyze a shape of the lamina cribrosa and present its analysis result at a high visibility. An image processing apparatus is provided that comprises: an image obtaining unit that obtains a tomographic image of a subject's eye; an extracting unit that extracts a lamina cribrosa from the tomographic image; and a display control unit that controls a display means to display a display form showing a shape of the extracted lamina cribrosa.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus, an image processing method, and a program for, in particular, processing a tomographic image of a subject's eye (i.e. an eye to be examined).
2. Description of the Related Art
A tomographic imaging apparatus such as an OCT (Optical Coherence Tomography) apparatus can three-dimensionally observe a state in a retinal layer of an eye. In recent years, the tomographic imaging apparatus has been highlighted because it is useful to perform more accurately a diagnosis of a disease. As a form of the OCT, there is a TD-OCT (Time Domain OCT) in which a light source with a wide bandwidth and a Michelson interferometer are used. The TD-OCT is constructed in such a manner that by scanning a delay of a reference arm, interference light with backward scattered light of a signal arm is measured and information of depth decomposition is obtained. However, it is difficult to obtain a high-speed image using TD-OCT because a plurality of A-scans have to be combined to give a B-scan, a plurality of which have to be combined to give the 3-D tomographic image, and this consecutive scanning process takes time. Therefore, as a method of obtaining an image at a higher speed, an SD-OCT (Spectral Domain OCT) has been known as an OCT for obtaining an interferogram by a spectroscope by using a light source with a wide bandwidth. In this method, Fourier transforms are used to interpret images that can be taken all at once rather than as individual scans, thus saving time over the TD-OCT. An SS-OCT (Swept Source OCT) is a method of measuring a spectral interference using a photodetector of a single light channel and using a high-speed wavelength sweep light source as a light source.
In this instance, if a form change of a retina in a tomographic image can be measured, a degree of progress of a disease such as glaucoma or the like and a degree of recovery after a treatment can be quantitatively diagnosed. In order to quantitatively measure such form changes of the retina, such a technique that boundaries among layers of the retina are detected from a tomographic image by using a computer and a thickness of layer is measured has been disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2008-073099A. A technique for measuring a thickness of choroid (coat membrane) has also been disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2011-072716 for the purpose of diagnosing early glaucoma.

Image processing apparatus, image processing method, and program


A method is provided for fabricating a semiconductor device having a gate-all-around architecture. A substrate is produced so as to include an active central region with an active main surface surrounded by an insulating peripheral region with an insulating main surface. The active main surface and the insulating main surface are coextensive and constitute a main surface of the substrate. A fist layer of Ge or an SiGe alloy is formed on the active main surface, and a silicon layer is formed on the first layer and on the insulating main surface. The silicon layer and the first layer are masked and etched in order to form a stack on the active main surface, and the first layer is removed so that the silicon layer of the stack forms a bridge structure over the active main surface. The bridge structure defines a tunnel with a corresponding part of the active main surface. A thin layer of a dielectric material that does not fill the tunnel is formed on the external and internal surfaces of the bridge structure and on the side walls. A conducting material is deposited so as to cover the bridge structure and fill the tunnel, and the conducting material is masked and etched in order to form a gate-all-around region for the semiconductor device. Also provided is a semiconductor device having a gate-all-around architecture.

This application is based upon and claims priority from prior French Patent Application No. 99-12406, filed Oct. 5, 1999, the entire disclosure of which is herein incorporated by reference.
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to electronic devices, and more specifically to a semiconductor device such as a transistor that has a gate-all-around (GAA) gate architecture.
2. Description of Related Art
Semiconductor devices having a xe2x80x9cgate-all-aroundxe2x80x9d (GAA) gate architecture are particularly desired because of GAA""s extraordinary properties in terms of performance and the suppression of short-channel effects. These advantageous properties are due to the fact that in GAA architecture the thin silicon film constituting the channel of the device is surrounded by the gate and is exclusively controlled by the gate. Thus, the influence of the drain field is removed so the short-channel effects are eliminated. The volume inversion in the silicon film, or at least the effect of two parallel channels in thicker films, results in a very significant gain in performance for a given silicon area.
Such a GAA gate architecture is described in documents such as xe2x80x9cA new scaling methodology for the 0.1-0.025 xcexcm MOSFETxe2x80x9d by C. Fiegna, H. Iwai, T. Wada, T. Saito, E. Sangiorgi, and B. Ricco, Symp. VLSI Techn. Dig., 1993, pages 33-34; xe2x80x9cComparative Study of Advanced MOSFET Concepts,xe2x80x9d IEEE Trans. Electron Devices, Vol. 43, No. 10, 1996, pages 1742-1753; and xe2x80x9cDevice Design Considerations for Double-Gate, Ground-Plane and Single-Gated Ultra-Thin SOI MOSFETs at the 25 nm Channel Length Generation,xe2x80x9d Int, Electron Devices Meet. Tech. Dig., 1998, pages 407-410.
Despite the advantages afforded by the GAA gate architecture, a viable realization of a GAA device has not been achieved at the present time. Vertical GAA architecture structures, such as those described by T. Mizuno et al. (Symposium on VLSI Technology, 1998, pages 23-24) and M. Terauchi et al. (T. Electro Devices, December 1997, pages 2303-2305), come up against technological problems and the limitations imposed by the photolithographic etching steps. To benefit from a GAA architecture, very thin films on the order of 10 nm are required, which in terms of vertical orientation corresponds to the resolution of the photolithographic etching of the gate.
A horizontal orientation GAA structure has also been proposed, but the feasibility and the quality of epitaxy progressing in a tunnel made of dielectric material, as proposed by H-S. P. Wong et al. (UDM Techn. Digest, 1997, pages 427-430), do not appear to be reliable.
In view of these drawbacks, it is an object of the present invention to overcome the above-mentioned drawbacks and to provide a simple and reliable process for fabricating a semiconductor device (e.g., a transistor) having a GAA gate architecture.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a process for fabricating a semiconductor device having a GAA gate architecture through a succession of simple steps that allow well-controlled, reproducible, and extremely thin (e.g., 1-20 nm) silicon (channel) layers to be produced.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a process for fabricating a semiconductor device having a GAA gate architecture in which the need for aggressive photolithography is eliminated.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a process for fabricating a semiconductor device having a GAA gate architecture in which low junction capacitances (junction on insulator) are realized.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a gate-all-around semiconductor device with a substrate having an active central region made of semiconductor material surrounded by an insulating peripheral region made of dielectric material.
One embodiment of the present invention provides a method for fabricating a semiconductor device having a gate-all-around architecture. According to the method, a substrate is produced so as to include an active central region semiconductor material surrounded by an insulating peripheral region of dielectric material. The central region has an active main surface and the peripheral region has an insulating main surface. Further, the active main surface and the insulating main surface are coextensive and constitute a main surface of the substrate. A first layer of monocrysta)ine Ge or an SiGe alloy is formed on the active main surface, and a silicon layer is formed on the first layer and on the insulating main surface. The silicon layer and the first layer are masked and etched in order to form a stack on the active main surface, and the first layer is removed so that the monocrystalbine silicon layer of the stack forms a bridge structure over the active main surface. The bridge structure has side walls, an external surface, and an internal surface that defining a tunnel with a conesponding part of the active imain surface. A thin layer of a dielectric material that does not fill the tunnel is formed on the external and internal surfaces of the bridge structure and on the side walls. A conducting material is deposited so as to cover the bridge structure and fill the tunnel, and the conducting material is masked and etched in order to form a gate-all-around region for the semiconductor device. In a preferred method, selective epitaxy is used to form the first layer, non-selective epitaxy is used to form the silicon layer, and selective etching is used to remove the first layer.
Another embodiment of the present invention provides a semiconductor device that includes a substrate, a bridge structure on a main surface of the substrate, and a gate region. The substrate includes an active central region of semiconductor material surrounded by an insulating peripheral region of dielectric material, with the central region having an active main surface and the peripheral region having an insulating main surface. The active main surface and the insulating main surface are coextensive and constitute the main surface of the substrate. Further, the bridge structure consists of silicon and has two opposed lateral polycrystalline parts that rest on opposed parts of the insulating peripheral region. The two opposed lateral polycrystalline parts are joined together by a thin central monocrystalline part that is spaced above the active region of the substrate, and the gate region surrounds at least a portion of the thin central part of the bridge structure. In one preferred embodiment, the thickness of the thin central monocrystalline part of the bridge is from 1 to 50 nm, and the thin central monocrystailine part is spaced from the main surface of the active central region of the substrate by a height of from 1 to 50 nm.
Other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description. It should be understood, however, that the detailed deseption and specific examples, while indicating preferred embodiment of the present invention, are given by Way of illustration only and various modifications may naturally be performed without deviating from the present invention.

Gate-all-around semiconductor device and process for fabricating the same


Access to secure data through a portable computing system is provided only when a timer within the system is running. The timer is reset with the portable system connected to a base system, either directly, as by a cable, or indirectly, as through a telephone network. In an initialization process, the portable and base systems exchange data, such as public cryptographic keys, which are later used to confirm that the portable system is connected to the same base system. In one embodiment, the initialization process also includes storing a password transmitted from the portable system within the base system, with this password later being required within the reset process.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to preventing a loss of data through the surreptitious use of lost computing system, and, more particularly, to a method for verifying that a computing system is still under the control of a person authorized to use it before allowing access to certain data and functions.
2. Summary of the Background Information
As personal computers become lighter in weight and smaller in size, increasing numbers of computer users rely on a desktop computer for use in the office and a portable computer for use in other locations, such as at home or while traveling. In many instances, the portable computer, as well as the desktop computer, is used to generate or otherwise use sensitive data protected by cryptographic methods, with a number of techniques of encryption and decryption having been developed to provide secure communications between computing systems. Of particular significance is the development of asymmetrical encryption algorithms, in which the key used to decrypt a message cannot be reasonably determined from the key used to encrypt the message, and the development of public key cryptography, in which a first computing system stores a public key, which is made available to a second computing system sending a message to the first computing system, and a private key, which is held within the first computing system itself. A message encrypted with the public key is decrypted with the private key, and a message encrypted with the private key is decrypted with the public key.
For example, a message to be sent in a secure form is encrypted by the second system using the public key of the first system, is transmitted in encrypted form to the first system, and is decrypted within the first system using the private key of the first system. While the private key decrypts a message encrypted by the public key, due to asymmetry of the algorithm, the private key cannot be deduced from the public key.
Alternately, these cryptographic algorithms can be used to verify the identity of a computing system sending a message, with the message being encrypted, for example, by the second system using its own private key. The message is then decrypted within the first system using the public key of the second system. This method forms a part of the process normally known as providing a digital signature.
Both software and hardware solutions for protecting sensitive data are becoming increasingly effective in both desktop and portable systems. For example, both desktop and laptop systems including security chips are now available. A security chip includes a cryptographic processor and secure storage for storing a number of cryptographic keys and key pairs. In a system having a security chip, at least the private keys are stored securely, in a memory that can be accessed only by the cryptographic processor. Cryptographic processes using these keys are carried out only within the cryptographic processor. Passwords may also be stored in such secure storage.
Nevertheless, the main advantage of the portable computer, its light weight and small size, becomes it major liability in terms of data security, as it can be easily stolen or otherwise lost. Furthermore, a person who comes into possession of a stolen computer can begin a leisurely process of learning the secrets it holds and the secrets it can access. For example, a number of methods can be used to locate passwords stored within a computer. Thus, what is needed is a method to prevent at least certain types of operation of a computer which has become lost or stolen.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,691,928 and 5,935,244 describe methods of securing the use of portable computers by allowing them to be fully functional only when they are connected to a detachable device. In U.S. Pat. No. 5,691,928, the detachable device is a security module removably coupled to the main chassis of the portable computer and containing circuitry for enabling decryption of encrypted data stored within the portable computer and for coupling the source of electrical power to the data processing and volatile storage circuitry only with the security module coupled to the main chassis of the portable computer. In U.S. Pat. No. 5,935,244, the detachable device is an input/output (I/O) device that functions as a conventional computer interface when docked to the portable computer. Problems with these methods arise from the fact that the rightful user of the portable computer often has a need to use the full features of his system in a remote location. If he carries a removable device, such as the security module along with the computer, there is a risk that the removable device may become lost or stolen with the computer. If he leaves the removable device behind in his office, he will not be able to use important features of his portable computer while he is gone. Thus, what is needed is a means for periodically verifying that the rightful user is in possession of the portable computer before certain features can be enabled, with such verification being possible whether the portable computer is in its home office or in a remote location, and with such verification not depending on a removable module that can be stolen with the portable computer.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,574,786 describes a personal computing system storing a privileged access password, a tamper detection switch for detecting opening of a normally closed enclosure, and a movement monitoring switch. When the movement monitoring switch detects movement of the system while the switch is enabled, and when the tamper detection switch detects opening of the enclosure, power-up of the system is prevented until the privileged access password (or a power-on password) is successfully entered into the system by a user. For a portable system, which by nature is often carried around, the mechanics using a power-on password after the system is moved place a burden on the legitimate system user. Therefore, what I needed is a method for determining if the portable system is being operated by this user, regardless of whether it has been moved.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,125,446 describes a method and system for enabling and disabling automatic encryption engines or algorithms using a Global Positioning System for verification of the country or locale of system operation, in order to assure compliance with federal encryption and export status. While this method provides for such compliance, what is needed is a method for verifying that the legitimate system user is in possession of a portable computing system.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,889,866 describes a method and apparatus for controlling access to a detachably connectable computer device using encryption. The method and apparatus include a connector for coupling the device to a computer, an input device, such as a keyboard, for receiving a password from a user, encrypting logic within the detachably connectable device for encrypting the password, and, also within the detachably connectable device, comparing logic for comparing the received password with a key. The key is determined by encrypting a user-assigned password and storing it as the key. Further included is circuitry for determining whether the received password corresponds to the key, and circuitry for sending an enable signal to configuration logic of the detachably connector computer device, upon a determination that the received password corresponds to the key. In the absence of such a determination, critical functions of the device, such as functions allowing access to data, remain disabled. This method prevents the use of the detachably connectable device by someone not knowing the password.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,552,776 describes a security system, using microprocessor control, non-volatile memory, and a real-time clock for controlling access to computing devices, such as data storage devices, microprocessors, and peripheral boards, which may be fixed to, or removable from, a computing system.
Thus, while the methods of U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,889,866 and 5,552,776 prevent the surreptitious use of a device that must be connected to a computing system to operate, what is needed is a method for protecting a separate computing system, which can otherwise function independently from a particular computing system, from such use.

System and apparatus for limiting access to secure data through a portable computer to a time set with the portable computer connected to a base computer


An anode active material including: a core having a molybdenum-based material; and a coating layer formed on at least a portion of a surface of the core, wherein the coating layer comprises at least one material selected from the group consisting of molybdenum oxynitride and molybdenum nitride, a method of preparing the same, and an anode and a lithium battery.

1. Field
An aspect of the present invention relates to anode active materials, methods of preparing the same, anodes including the anode active materials, and lithium batteries including the anodes.
2. Description of the Related Art
Non-aqueous electrolytic secondary batteries including an anode containing a lithium-based compound are used in a wide range of applications due to their high voltage and high energy density. Electric vehicles, such as a hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) or a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV), need to be charged with a large amount of electricity and discharge a large amount of electricity, and are used for a long period of time. Thus, they require a lithium battery having high capacity and excellent lifetime characteristics.
Metallic lithium has been often studied for use as an anode material due to its high battery capacity. However, metallic lithium is unstable and highly reactive, and thus, sensitive to heat or impacts, and thus, is explosive. An anode including metallic lithium may have a great amount of dendrite lithium at its surface during charging, and thus, may have a low charge/discharge efficiency or may be short-circuited with respect to a cathode.
An anode form of a carbonaceous material operates in a rocking-chair manner in which lithium ions existing in an electrolytic solution are intercalated into or deintercalated from between crystalline surfaces of the carbonaceous material, thereby performing oxidization/reduction reactions. A carbonaceous anode is porous, and thus, is resistant to volumetric expansion during charging or discharging, and thus, stable. However, the porous structure also attributes to a low battery capacity of the carbonaceous anode. For example, graphite having high crystallinity has a theoretical capacity of 372 mAh/g when used in LiC6. The theoretical capacity described above is about 10% of a theoretical capacity of metallic lithium, that is, 3860 mAh/g. In addition, since the flat voltage of the carbonaceous anode is about 0 V with respect to metallic lithium, metallic lithium may precipitate at the surface of the carbonaceous anode.
Meanwhile, molybdenum-based oxide anodes (MoO2 or the like) have a relatively low charge and discharge voltage (about 1.5 V vs. lithium (Li)), and high electrical capacity per unit volume and high electrical capacity per unit weight. However, molybdenum-based oxide electrodes undergo a large volume change during charging and discharging, and thus, lifetime characteristics thereof are deteriorated.

Anode active material, method of preparing the same, anode including the anode active material, and lithium battery including the anode


Anthracene compounds and organic electroluminescent devices employing the same. Anthracene compounds can serve as host materials for an blue organic electroluminescent device. Furthermore, the anthracene compounds can also serve as hole transport layer materials or electron transport layer materials for organic electroluminescent devices, by way of the silyl phenyl group thereof.

The invention relates to an anthracene compound and, more particularly, to an anthracene compound with two silyl-phenyl groups, serving as electroluminescent material for an organic electroluminescent device.
Recently, with the development and wide application of electronic products, such as mobile phones, PDA, and notebook computers, there has been increasing demand for flat display elements which consume less electric power and occupy less space. Organic electroluminescent devices are self-emitting, and highly luminous, with wider viewing angle, faster response speed, and simpler fabrication, making them the industry display of choice.
A typical organic electroluminescent device is known as a sandwich structured element and comprises an anode layer and a cathode layer, separated by organic electroluminescent layers. Electrons propelled from the cathode layer and holes propelled from the anode layer, create an electric field inducing a potential difference, such that the electrons and holes move and centralize in the organic electroluminescent layers, resulting in luminescence through recombination thereof.
Anthracene compounds have been widely used in materials of organic electroluminescent layers. U.S. Pat. No. 6,465,115 discloses an anthracene derivative used as hole transport layer material having the structure:
wherein R1, R2, R3, and R4 are each independently C1-24 alkyl group, C5-20 aryl group, or C5-20 heteroaryl group.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,534,199 discloses an anthracene derivative used as a light-emitting layer material having the structure:

U.S. Pat. No. 6,310,231 discloses an aryl silane having the structure:

However, these and other conventionally used compounds present considerable complexity of fabrication and low electroluminescent luminescent efficiency used in organic electroluminescent devices. Further improvements in organic electroluminescent compound are required in a variety of flat panel display applications.

Anthracene compounds and organic electroluminescent device employing the same


The invention relates to a method of treatment of bodies of water such as recreational pools, spas and hot tubs with maintenance doses of water treatment chemicals to achieve consistent sanitization and aesthetically pleasing levels of properties such as turbidity. The amount of the maintenance doses is based on the volume of water to be treated in order to achieve hygienic and clear water. The method can be automated for accurate, consistent and safe treatment of water such as found in swimming pools, spas or hot tubs.

Recreational pools such as swimming pools, spas and hot tubs provide a great deal of pleasure and comfort. The extent of comfort depends on the quality of the water. In order to assure comfort and safety to users of these pools, it is important that the water be treated properly so that it is aesthetically pleasing in terms of taste, color, turbidity and odor. Proper treatment also is important so that the water has proper pH, and is environmentally safe as well as effectively free of pathogens and chemicals which may cause illness.
Conventional methods of treatment of water in recreational pools utilize water treatment chemicals such as oxidizers, sanitizers, algicides and pH buffers. Typically, the chemicals are measured and manually added to the water as part of an overall water maintenance program. In such a program, various water quality parameters are measured at regular intervals. When a parameter is not acceptable, an appropriate amount of water treatment chemical is measured and manually added to the water. In so doing, the user is undesirably exposed to the concentrated chemical.
Mixtures of chemicals also have been added to recreational pool water. Addition of mixtures of chemicals to promote water clarity is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,501,802. This patent discloses a mixture that includes polyhexamethylene biguanide sanitizer, persulfate salt oxidizers and chelating agents. U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,514,287 and 5,478,482 disclose a composition and a method for controlling microbial growth in recirculating water systems. The composition includes a soluble boron contributor, a halogen/boron sanitizer/algicide, and an oxidizing clarifier which includes a chlorine compound, a non-halogen oxidizer, and a boron source.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,846,979 discloses an algicide composition for treating swimming pools and spas. The algicide composition includes an alkali metal, alkaline earth metal or ammonium bromide and an oxidizer.
A popular sanitizer for water treatment is based on the polymeric biguanide described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,014,676. Use of polymeric guanides such as BAQUACIL® Sanitizer and Algistat sold by Avecia Inc. is popular because they do not cause eye irritation that is common with use of chlorine.
Water treated with BAQUACIL® Sanitizer and Algistat also can be treated with a separate algicide to combat algae. Oxidizers such as those which include hydrogen peroxide as the active component also may be added to the treated water to oxidize organic compounds in the water to promote clarity. An example of such an oxidizer is BAQUACIL® Shock and Oxidizer (from Avecia Inc.). BAQUACIL® Shock and Oxidizer is an aqueous solution that includes 27.5% hydrogen peroxide.
Consumers typically treat water found in pools, spas and hot tubs with chemicals such as sanitizers, oxidizers and algicides. Due to complexities such as the differing times specified for dosing various water treatment chemicals, difficulties in accurately measuring dosages, exposure to chemicals as well as cost of chemicals, consumers tend to avoid treating the water until problems such as haze and algae build-up occur.
A need therefore exists for a method that avoids these complexities and enables ready treatment of water such as that found in recreational pools.