An integrated device is provided that includes a non-volatile memory having an addressing parallelism and a data parallelism, and a communication interface for interfacing the memory with an external bus. The external bus has a transfer parallelism lower than the addressing parallelism and the data parallelism. The communication interface includes control means for executing multiple reading operations and/or multiple writing operations on the memory according to different modalities in response to corresponding command codes received from the external bus. Also provided is a method of operating such an integrated device.

In many applications it is important to employ integrated devices that are capable of interacting with other electronic apparatuses (for example, a microprocessor that needs to read the data stored in a non-volatile memory).
Referring in particular to the field of memories, different communication protocols have been proposed with respective bus architectures for the communication. Particular attention has been addressed to protocols that allow operating with a low number of signals so as to limit the corresponding number of pins of the integrated device, and thus the cost and size thereof. An example of such protocols is the Low Pin Count (LPC) protocol that provides a communication bus having a reduced number of signal lines for transferring address codes (for accessing memory locations), data (such as words to be read from the memory or to be written into the same) and command codes (for executing a reading or writing operation on the memory), as well as timing and enabling signals. A bus compliant with the LPC standard exploits a time division multiplexing scheme which permits a transfer parallelism typically lower than the transfer parallelism of the memories, which have a plurality of signal lines for the transfer of both the data and the addresses depending on the sizes of the words and of the memory (in terms of number of locations), respectively.
The known integrated devices that are compliant with the LPC standard comprise a communication interface operatively coupled to the memory. Such an interface allows the external electronic apparatus to execute reading and writing operations within a memory location selected by the corresponding address.
A drawback of such integrated devices is the fact that the communication interface reduces the access and transfer rate (because of the address and data multiplexing). Furthermore, the known communication interfaces are not very flexible; this makes it rather complex to employ the integrated devices in some specific applications.
Further, the known integrated devices do not allow the exploitation at their best of the performance of the respective memories, for example, in applications requiring the repetition of consecutive reading or writing operations.

Integrated device with multiple reading and/or writing commands


A wireless communication device 100 acquires a pilot channel before an assigned slot when the wireless communication device is operating in the slotted mode of a CDMA system. The wireless communication device comprises a searcher receiver 107 that determines the short-term average pilot strength of active and neighbor pilot channels. Finger receivers 107 determine the long-term average pilot strength of the active and neighbor pilot channels. A logic and control circuit 113 assigns the finger receivers to the pilot channels according to their short-term average pilot strength, determines if the long-term average pilot strength of a neighbor channel is greater than the active pilot channel's pilot strength, and determines to hand off to the neighbor pilot channel with the greater long-term average pilot strength. Moreover, an early detection correlation length can be dynamically adjusted according to the pilot strength of the active pilot channel to shorten the pilot acquisition process.

In cellular telephones systems, the communication from the base station to the mobile station, such as a handheld radiotelephone, is carried out over a forward channel; and, conversely, the communication from the mobile station to the base station is carried out over a reverse channel. Under the Interim Standard IS-95-A, which has been adopted by the Telecommunications Industry Association for implementing CDMA, pages are sent from the base station to a mobile station over a forward channel referred to as a paging channel. The page informs the mobile station that a call has been placed to it.
IS-95-A provides for a slotted mode feature, which allows a mobile station to operate in a reduced power mode. That is, the paging channel is divided into 80 millisecond (ms) intervals called paging channel slots, and each mobile station operating in the slotted mode is assigned a specific slot in which they monitor the paging channel. The assigned slot is periodic-called a slot cycle. Because the mobile station only needs to monitor the paging channel during its assigned slot, at all other times of the slot cycle the mobile station can "sleep," that is, go into the reduced power mode by, for example, turning off its radio frequency (RF) portion. To monitor the next periodic slot, the mobile station must "wake up" from its sleep in time to monitor the paging channel at the assigned slot.
The cellular system comprises a number of base stations scattered over a geographic area, and the mobile station can move throughout the area. Before the mobile station can monitor the paging channel after waking, it must first determine from which base station it will monitor the paging channel, preferably the base station that provides the strongest channel signal. In the CDMA system according to IS-95-A, each base station continuously transmits a pilot channel signal. The pilot signal transmitted by each base station has the same spreading code but with a different code phase offset. Phase offset allows the pilot signals to be distinguished from one another, which in turn allows the base stations to be distinguished. IS-95 defines the spreading code as a PN sequence having a period 2.sup.15 chips, and phase offset as a multiple of 64 chips relative a zero offset pilot PN sequence.
In a static environment, the mobile station stays within the coverage of the base station it was monitoring before going to sleep (called an "active pilot"), and, when it wakes up, will most likely acquire the same pilot signal it monitored before going to sleep. In a dynamic environment, the mobile station may not be in the coverage of the base station it was monitoring before sleeping, and a handoff to another base station may be necessary before the paging channel can be monitored. The pilot channel acquisition--whether of the active pilot or of another base station--must occur before the assigned slot is to be monitored so that the mobile station does not miss any pages and, consequently, not miss any calls.
A need therefore exists for a method of and apparatus for acquiring a pilot channel prior to the arrival of the assigned slot when the mobile station is operating in the slotted mode of a CDMA system.

Method of and apparatus for pilot channel acquisition


An improved flow control irrigation device automatically stops the flow of water to an area when that area has received a predetermined quantity of water and then redirects the water to another area. The device includes a chamber, a carriage assembly, and a two-step valve which is actuated by the carriage assembly. The two-step valve first reduces the static pressure within the chamber and then fully opens an outlet to direct the flow of water to another area. The device also includes internal fluid dampers to protect the device from damage as the carriage assembly and two-step valve are moved from an irrigating position to a bypass position. The irrigation device also includes a pressure release element which facilitates resetting the device to once again deliver water to an area adjacent to the device.

Irrigation systems have been used for many years to provide plants and trees with water at various times during their growing cycle. For example, it has been common practice to provide plants and trees with water by means of irrigation ditches, hoses, sprayers, pipes and other types of apparatus. However, in certain situations such as in orchards where the terrain is uneven, water will run from the high ground to the low. In such cases, the low lying trees may receive more water than those on higher ground.
In other cases where the cost of water is relatively high it is desirable to control the amount of water provided for each area and to avoid wasting water by providing additional water to some plants in order to adequately water others leaving the water on for too long a period.
The above problems have been overcome to a degree by irrigation systems having a plurality of valves with each valve connected by means of pipes to a pressurized source of water. Such systems are disclosed in my earlier U.S. Pat. No. 5,213,130 entitled "Irrigation System" and which is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference. As disclosed therein, an irrigation system includes one or more valve assemblies which are connected in series to a pressurized source of water. Each valve assembly includes a cylindrical housing, a ball valve, an inlet and two outlets with one outlet generally opposite from the inlet in a lower portion of the housing. The other outlet is disposed in an upper portion of the housing and is adapted to direct water to an area of ground for irrigation. A pit and a float are associated with each valve assembly and arranged so that some of the irrigation water will flow into the pit and raise the float. The float is connected to spring biasing means and when the float reaches a predetermined level the ball valve will spring upwardly to close the upper outlet and redirect the water to another assembly. Water pressure will then maintain the valve in that position until it is manually reset.
A further development for an improved system of the aforementioned type is disclosed in another of my U.S. Pat. No. 5,174,499. In the system disclosed therein, the amount of water to be delivered to a given area is independent of any changes in water pressure. For example, an irrigation system in accordance with that invention includes means for storing a force such as a compression spring which is sufficient to overcome a force against the ball-shaped gate member due to the flow of water. Therefore, when the float reaches a predetermined height, the force in the spring is released to thereby direct the flow of water through the second outlet. In such systems, the opening of one outlet and closure of a second is solely dependent on the position of the float, i.e. the water level within a pit.
A more recent development in flow controlled irrigation systems is disclosed in my U.S. Pat. No. 5,176,163 entitled "Flow Controlled Irrigation System". As disclosed therein, a flow controlled irrigation system automatically stops the flow of water to an area when that area has received a predetermined quantity of water and then redirects the water to another area. The system includes an upwardly extending gate member which defines a pair of passages therein. A first of the passages directs water to an area to be irrigated while the second causes the water flow to bypass the area. A flow control member activates the gate member when a predetermined volume of water flows through a meter.
It is now believed that there is a significant commercial market for an improved device for use in systems such as those disclosed in my earlier patents. Such devices allow an individual to preselect a quantity of water to be supplied to a given area and to activate the mechanism automatically when the quantity of water passes through a valve. The improved irrigation devices in accordance with the present invention also offers a number of advantages over my earlier disclosed devices. For example, such systems include pressure release means which facilitate redirecting the flow of water from one area to another, are durable, minimize damage due to abuses in resetting the valve, require less force to reset the valve and minimizes the likelihood of a valve sticking due to the pressure from the water flow.

Irrigation device having a two-step valve assembly


A tamper resistant pipe coupling is formed of segments connected end to end using fasteners. The segments have bearing pads at each end, each bearing pad surrounded by a shield wall. The shield walls and the bearing pads form a well that receives the fasteners and provides defense against tampering. The well is filled with a potting material, such as refractory cement, to cover the fasteners and provide additional protection. Formations are provided on the bearing pad and shield wall to ensure positive mechanical engagement between the coupling and the potting layer. The shield wall and bearing pad may be integrally formed with the coupling segments or a separate component.

Pipe lines carrying water, oil, or mineral slurries which run on the earth's surface through remote areas where there is scant protection available can easily be the target of vandalism. Under such conditions flanged pipe lines may be vandalized merely for the scrap or resale value of the bolts and nuts which join the flanges. Pipe lines having mechanical couplings joining the pipe elements are also potentially vulnerable to such predation due to the exposed threaded fasteners used to assemble the mechanical couplings. For large diameter pipe lines the fasteners alone can provide what is regarded as significant scrap or resale value under such circumstances.
Removal of the fasteners holding the segments of a pipe line together can cause economic disruption until the pipe line is repaired and made operational. There is clearly a need for mechanical couplings which are resistant to tampering to help avoid or mitigate this potential problem.

Method of making a tamper resistant coupling


Provided is a method for safely and selectively producing a substrate culture product including a large amount of a desired degrading enzyme. A method for producing a substrate culture product used for feedstuff includes inoculating filamentous fungi bred so that a target degrading enzyme is produced by self-cloning in high productivity on a substrate, and producing the substrate culture product having functionality by ventilating the substrate to carry out solid culture.

A technique in which specific fungi are inoculated on a substrate such as brown rice and cultured and the cultured product is used for feedstuff of animals has been known.
Patent Literature 1 describes that an Aspergillus oryzae-IK-05074 strain is inoculated on brown rice and solid-cultured and the solid-cultured product is mixed in feedstuff to be ingested to chickens. It is described in Patent Literature 1 that the ingestion of the solid-cultured product to animals allows proliferation of disease-causing bacteria and coccidia in the intestine in the animals to be reduced and infectious disease to be prevented. It is said that the above-described fungi have excellent ability to produce acid resistant a-amylase.

Method for producing substrate culture product and substrate culture product


In order to provide a film having excellent heat resistance, thermal dimensional stability, and mechanical properties, in particular, a film capable of satisfying required properties, e.g., higher strength in accordance with the reduction in thickness of a base film, improved thermal dimensional stability and mechanical properties in a use environment, and higher heat resistance and improved thermal dimensional stability in accordance with the needs for miniaturization and more functionality in electrical and electronic areas, a thermoplastic resin is allowed to contain transition metal oxide particles, and is formed into a biaxially oriented thermoplastic resin film, wherein the melting point of the film is allowed to become higher than the melting point of the thermoplastic resin to be used. Preferably, the difference between a peak temperature (melting point T1) of the heat of fusion in the first run of the measurement of the biaxially oriented thermoplastic resin film with a differential scanning calorimeter (DSC) and a peak temperature (melting point T2) of the heat of fusion in the second run is allowed to satisfy the following Formula.2° C.≦T1-T2≦30° C.

Plastic films are used in areas of magnetic recording, agriculture, packaging, building materials, and the like, in which demand is great, because of advantages in properties, e.g., the strength, the durability, the transparency, the flexibility, and impartation of surface properties. Most of all, biaxially oriented polyester films are used in various areas because of excellent mechanical properties, thermal properties, electrical properties, and chemical resistance. In particular, the usefulness for magnetic recording media is far ahead of other films. However, the dimensional stability and the heat resistance of the polyester film are inadequate depending on uses and, therefore, there is a limitation of application to various industrial material films. For example, in the magnetic recording medium use, reduction in thickness and higher density recording are pursued for miniaturization and long-duration recording, and requirements for higher strength and improvement of form stability and thermal dimensional stability in a use environment of a base film have become even more intensified. In the circuit material use and the like, requirements for films having highly balanced heat resistance, thermal dimensional stability, mechanical strength, chemical resistance, and the like have been intensified in accordance with the needs for miniaturization and more functionality in electrical and electronic areas.
Research was previously conducted on methods in which polyesters were allowed to contain particles and, thereby, fibers and resin moldings were allowed to have high strength. As a result, a method in which fibers have been allowed to contain metal oxide fine particles having particle diameters of 100 nm or less and, thereby, the strength and the dimensional stability of the fibers have been improved (Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 1-192820), a method in which a metal complex coordinated with glycols has been added to a polyester-based resin by polymerization, the metal has been reduced to an element, and fine particles of a metal, e.g., palladium, have been finely dispersed into a polymer so as to allow a resin molding to have a high modulus of elasticity (Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 10-298409), and the like have been proposed. However, there is no example in which these technologies are applied to films and, in contrast to the present invention, it was not an object to raise the melting point of the film, and to improve the heat resistance and the thermal dimensional stability of the film.
Research was conducted on methods in which biaxially oriented polyester films were allowed to contain particles. Examples of methods include a method in which particles having particle diameters of less than 300 nm of oxides of fifth and sixth period elements in the periodic table of elements (Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 3-115437 and the like) are contained in a film. It is a primary object of those proposed methods to form a film surface and improve the scratch resistance, and it is not an object to improve the heat resistance, the thermal dimensional stability, and the mechanical properties of the film.
It would therefore be advantageous to provide a high-quality biaxially oriented thermoplastic resin film having excellent heat resistance, thermal dimensional stability, and mechanical properties. In particular, it would be advantageous to provide a biaxially oriented thermoplastic resin film which significantly improves practical properties which have been taken seriously in various uses. Example of properties to be improved include the running durability in the magnetic recording medium use, the flatness and the warp during processing in the circuit material use, the heat resistance in the capacitor use, shift of printing in the ribbon use, and shift of a circuit in the card use.

Biaxially oriented thermoplastic resin film

Abstract: Alternatively, the plane orientation factor of the biaxially oriented thermoplastic resin film containing the transition metal oxide particles is controlled at 0.120 or more and less than 0.280.


A method of removing a hard mask is provided. Gate stacks are patterned on a substrate, where the gate stacks include a polysilicon layer and the hard mask deposited over the polysilicon layer. A dielectric layer is deposited on the substrate and on the patterned gate stacks. A first portion of the dielectric layer is planarized by chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) to remove a topography of the dielectric layer. The hard mask and a second portion of the dielectric layer are removed by the CMP.

The semiconductor integrated circuit (IC) industry has experienced rapid growth. Technological advances in IC manufacturing and design have produced generations of ICs where each generation has smaller and more complex circuits than the previous generation. Such advances have increased the complexity and challenges of fabricating the ICs. In IC fabrication or processing, a hard mask is used to protect against loss of unintended materials on a substrate during an etching process. To pattern gate structures including a polysilicon layer, a hard mask is deposited over the poly silicon layer to prevent against loss of the poly silicon layer during the etching process. The hard mask is removed after processing (e.g., processing that may include, for example, a patterning etch, an implantation, wet cleaning, etc.) to allow the polysilicon layer to either become polycide (for a poly silicon gate) or to be replaced by another conductive metal (for a replacement gate).

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited


A disk storage device includes a head part for writing data to a storage disk inserted into the device and for reading data from the disk, an eject member which is operated when a disk cartridge containing the disk is ejected, a turntable for rotating and driving the disk thereon to perform data recording and reproducing with the head part, a holder for holding the disk cartridge containing the disk, the holder placing the disk at a read/write position on the turntable when the disk cartridge is inserted, a slider which is disconnected from a latch lever when the disk cartridge is inserted and is moved in a direction parallel to the direction of insertion of the disk cartridge so as to place the disk at the read/write position on the turntable, and a movement mechanism for moving the holder and the disk cartridge from the read/write position of the turntable to an insertion position in response to a movement of the slider in the direction opposite to the first direction when the eject member is operated. In this device, the eject member is mounted flat on an upper portion of a frame of the disk storage device which portion is parallel to a surface of the turntable, the eject member having an operation part which is operated by applying an external force thereto, and a transfer part connected to an end portion of the slider.

(1) Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to disk storage devices, and more particularly to a disk storage device for writing data to a storage disk and reading data from the storage disk, the disk storage device having a mechanism for making the disk storage device portable and thin.
(2) Description of the Prior Art
FIG. 1 shows a conventional disk storage device 50 for recording data on a magnetic disk and reproducing data from the magnetic disk. In this disk storage device 50, a flexible magnetic disk accommodated in a disk cartridge is inserted into the disk storage device through an insertion opening 51 in a front frame surface 53 in a direction indicated by an arrow A in FIG. 1. The magnetic disk is placed at a read/write position on a turntable within the disk storage device, so that data is written to and read from the magnetic disk by means of a magnetic head part.
In the disk storage device 50 shown in FIG. 1, there are provided a holder for holding the disk cartridge and mounting the disk at the read/write position, a turntable for driving the magnetic disk to perform the data reading and writing, and a slider which is disconnected from a latch lever when the disk cartridge is loaded, and which is moved to place the disk of the disk cartridge at the read/write position on the turntable. When the slider is moved in cooperation with the disk cartridge, the holder is moved toward the turntable so that the magnetic disk in the holder is placed at the read/write position on the turntable.
On the front frame surface 53, an end portion of an eject member 52 is provided below the insertion opening 51. This eject member 52 is connected at the other end thereof to the slider inside the disk storage device 50. When the end portion of the eject member 52 is depressed in the direction A by a user, the slider is moved with the eject member 52, so that the holder and the disk cartridge therein are detached from the read/write position of the turntable in conjunction with the slider. At the same time, an eject lever provided therein serves to eject the disk cartridge from the holder in a direction opposite to the direction A so that the magnetic disk is unloaded from the disk storage device.
The conventional disk storage device described above is usually placed on a surface of a table when it is used. However, the end portion of the eject member is located near the surface of the table, and the disk cartridge is ejected while the eject member is operated. The user may encounter a difficulty in that the disk cartridge is not smoothly ejected from the disk storage device, since the disk cartridge may interfere with the user finger upon depression of the eject member. Also, in the conventional disk storage device, it is necessary that the end surface of the eject member protrudes from the front frame surface of the disk storage device. The eject member may be erroneously depressed due to the mounting location thereof, and the disk cartridge is ejected even when the disk storage device is operating. If the disk cartridge is erroneously ejected while data is being written to the disk, valuable data stored in the disk may be damaged.
Therefore, in the case of the conventional disk storage device, there is a problem in that the user cannot easily and stably operate the disk storage device due to the location and construction of the eject member. Also, it is necessary that the end surface of the eject member has a certain surface area enough for the users to easily operate. However, in the conventional disk storage device, there is a tradeoff between the ease of use and the design of a mechanism for making the disk storage device portable and thin.


An image input device photoelectrically reads a document and outputs digital data. This image reader includes a first voltage generating circuit for generating a first voltage for setting an upper limit of contrast, a second voltage generating circuit for generating a second voltage for setting a lower limit of contrast, and an A/D converter for converting an input analog signal to a digital signal in accordance with the first and second voltages. At least one of the voltages generated by the first voltage generating circuit and second voltage generating circuit is variable. Also disclosed is an image reader including a dark voltage memory circuit, storing dark voltages corresponding to color signals R, G and B, a first switching circuit sequentially switching the output of the dark voltage memory circuit and outputting a selected dark voltage, a second switching circuit adapted to synchronously output a selected color signal corresponding to the selected dark voltage, and a differential amplifier subtracting the selected dark voltage from said selected color signal.

An image reader which reads a printed image and converts it to an electric signal is known. Such a device is provided with a contrast adjusting function with which the user may freely control contrast to obtain the optimum picture according to the original. Thus, as illustrated in FIG. 6, color signals R, G and B from an image sensor 1 are amplified by amplifying circuits 2, 3 and 4 and sequentially switched by a selection circuit 11 which is supplied with a switching signal from a device not shown.
Referring to FIG. 7, which is a specific embodiment of FIG. 6, the image sensor 1 outputs color signals R, G and B which are then independently amplified by amplifiers 2 to 4.
Taking the R signal as an example, FIG. 10(a) shows the waveform of the output signal from the amplifier 2 which is obtained when the picture elements of the image sensor 1 are sequentially scanned. In the image sensor 1, the plural picture elements in the first scanning area and those in the last scanning area constitute unused areas which are not used in the reading of a document. Thus, the areas T1 and T3 in FIG. 10(a) represent unused picture elements and the area T2, exclusive of these areas, represents effective picture elements exposed to light. As seen from FIG. 10(a), the output voltage of the area not exposed to light is a dark voltage, which is lower than the output voltage of the effective picture elements. Representative of this dark voltage, a predetermined value, for example a value found by averaging, is memorized by a sample hold circuit 5 in response to a timing signal from a circuit not shown, and the signal shown in FIG. 10(b) is output. The output signal of the sample hold circuit 5 and the output signal of the amplifier 2 are differentially amplified in a different amplification circuit 8. As a result, a signal available on subtraction of the dark voltage from the R signal is finally output as shown in FIG. 10(c).
The same applies to G and B signals, as shown in FIG. 7. Thus, the dark voltages of the respective color signals are memorized in sample hold circuits 6, 7, respectively, and subtracted from the color signals in differential amplification circuits 9, 10. The differential amplification circuit 8 comprises a differential amplifier 8a and resistors 8b through 8e, differential amplification circuit 9 comprises a differential amplifier 9a and resistors 9b through 9e, and differential amplification circuits 10 comprises a differential amplifier 10a and resistors 10b through 10e.
The output signals from the differential amplification circuits 8 through 10 are fed to a selection circuit 11, from which they are output in synchronism with selection signals supplied from a circuit not shown and converted to digital signals by and A/D converter 17.
The analog signal output of the selection circuit 11 is amplified by an amplifying circuit 12 with a gain predetermined according to a variable resistor 13 and converted to a digital signal in bits from a most significant bit (MSB) to a least significant bit (LSB) by the A/D converter 17. This digital signal corresponds to the levels of reference voltages H and L from a reference voltage generator 14 and amplifiers 15 and 16.
The contrast of the digital signal is determined by the variable resistor 13 and is increased as the gain of the amplifier 12 is increased. FIG. 8 shows the waveforms at respective stages in the circuit illustrated in FIG. 6. The illustrated example represents the case in which a red document is read. Here, only the R signal component of FIG. 8(a) is generated, with the G signal component of FIG. 8(b) and B signal component of FIG. 8(c) being absent. FIG. 8(d) shows the output signals of the selection circuit 11, indicating the sequential selection of the R, G and B signals, but only the R signal is output. FIGS. 8(e) and (f) show signals after gain adjustment. FIG. 8(e) represents the waveform pattern with contrast reduced by decreasing the amplification factor and FIG. 8(f) represents the pattern with contrast enhanced by increasing the amplification factor.
The above conventional image reader, in which the amplifier 12 deals with picture signals of large amplitude, is disadvantageous in that it requires a large throughput rate and is, therefore, expensive, and unless this requirement of large throughput rate is satisfied, the waveform is blunted as shown in FIG. 8(f), with the result that high fidelity color reproduction cannot be accomplished. Moreover, a variable resistor for contrast adjustment must be disposed at the periphery of a casing as shown in FIG. 9 so that the user may easily have access to it. This entails an undue routing of the signal as indicated by the bold line and, hence, degradation of picture quality. Conversely if priority is given to picture quality, the variable resistor will be limited in accessibility and exterior design.

Image reader with adjustable contrast range


A process for the preparation of ethanolamines comprising reacting a water-ammonia solution with ethylene oxide to form an effluent reaction mixture comprising unreacted ammonia, water and ethanolamines. This effluent reaction mixture is then subjected to a succession of steps to, inter alia, separate the ethanolamines.

Ethanolamines were first synthesized in a laboratory setting in 1860 when the pioneering Alsatian chemist Charles-Adolphe Wurtz heated ethylene chlorohydrin with aqueous ammonia in a closed tube. While never commercially interesting during the nineteenth century, ethanolamines were nonetheless enough of a technical curiosity that they attracted considerable technical interest. For example, the great German chemist Ludwig Knorr significantly improved upon Wurtz's work when in 1897 he successfully separated ethanolamines into their mono-, di- and triethanolamine component parts, as well as made other contributions to their synthesis.
Despite process improvements and continued laboratory interest, ethanolamines only attracted substantial commercial development after 1945. At this time, the significant increase in the industrial production of ethylene oxide was also leading to considerable interest in ethylene oxide derivatives. Ironically, this commercial movement from ethylene oxide to ethanolamines recapitulated the history of the synthesis of the chemicals as Wurtz's synthesis of ethanolamines in 1860 was largely the result of his trying to figure out what he could make with a new chemical he had discovered just the year before—ethylene oxide.
In the post-war years, significant process improvements were subsequently made as a result of the burgeoning interest in ethanolamines, which had proven to be extremely versatile intermediates in a wide variety of chemical products such as emulsifiers, surfactants, and agrichemicals, as well as many others. Examples of such improvement can be seen in, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 2,196,554 to Guinot which discloses an aqueous process with an improved heat integration and efficiency scheme for the concentration of ethanolamines in the process backend. Another example is GB Patent No. 760,215 to Lowe et al., which discloses that by controlling the molar ratios at which ammonia and ethylene oxide are mixed, then a higher content of di- or tri-ethanolamine may be obtained. Alternatively, GB Patent No. 1 529 193 to Gleich discloses that a higher di- or tri-ethanolamine content may be obtained by recycling di- or tri-ethanolamine to the reactor.
Given that the conversion of reactants to products is nearly complete in an ethanolamines process and the fact that the process has developed into a mature technology by process improvements such as those mentioned above, wringing out additional improvements or competitive technical advantages in ethanolamines technology has proved difficult. Opportunities for process improvement in ethanolamines reside mainly in product quality and thermal and utility efficiency. For example, reducing the amount of water used in the process would significantly improve the utility efficiency and process economics, since this means less water must be removed later in the process. Water content can only be reduced, without negatively affecting product quality, by maintaining lower temperatures. Product quality is related to temperature because higher temperatures in an ethanolamines process often lead to discoloration of the ethanolamines product. Thus, there has been a considerable effort to reduce the ratio of water to ammonia used in the process.
However, attempts to achieve an economically desirable ratio of water to ammonia have proved largely unsuccessful as doing this often leads to excess pressures in the bottom of the absorber (since as the ratio of water to ammonia in a solution decreases, the vapor pressure in the solution increases). If the absorber backpressures the rest of the recycle and recovery sections this can require that the temperatures in the bottom of the stripping column and evaporator columns be increased, which can in turn result in a loss of product quality. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,119,670 notes that the high temperatures required for ammonia stripping often results in a discolored alkanolamines product. U.S. Pat. No. 4,335,181 discloses a process for decreasing the water to ammonia ratio, but expresses concern that in doing so the temperature in the bottom of the stripping column should be no greater than 150° C.
Accordingly, there is a continuing need in the art for an ethanolamine manufacturing process with the improved process economics and efficiency of operating at high ammonia to water ratios and that also produces quality, on-spec product.


The present invention provides a medical or sanitary adhesive tape comprising a support composed of a laminate structure of a first layer containing a thermoplastic elastomer and a second layer comprising a plastic film or nonwoven fabric, and an adhesive layer formed at least one surface of said support. The adhesive tape possesses advantages that is endowed with properties of both softness and elasticity, gentle to the skin and excellent in handling and processing characteristics.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to adhesive tapes for medical or sanitary use and the like; and, more particularly, to adhesive tapes which can be advantageously used as fastener fixing tapes for paper diapers or as non-slip tapes for sanitary napkins, etc.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Adhesive tapes for medical or sanitary use, etc. are used in contact with the human body. Therefore, feeling and softness are to prevent redness, rash, lacerated wound, etc. to the skin.
In response to such demand, various improvements have been made on tape supports. For example, there is known an adhesive tape using as a tape support a film composed of a mixture of one or more members selected from ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer, polyethylene or ethylene-propylene copolymer and polypropylene (Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 63-112704).
However, such a tape still causes redness, though occurrence of rashes or lacerated wounds is improved. In addition, since processing characteristics upon preparation are also taken into account, the tape


A transfer system includes an energy meter, a transfer switch, an automatic disconnect device, and a detector. The energy meter includes an input structured to receive a first power source, and a power output. The transfer switch includes a first input electrically connected to the power output of the energy meter, a second input, an output, and a mechanism structured to transfer one of the first and second inputs to the output of the transfer switch. The automatic disconnect device includes a first input structured to receive a second power source, a second input, an output, and a mechanism structured to electrically connect or disconnect the first input and the output of the automatic disconnect device responsive to the second input. The detector is structured to detect presence of the energy meter and output a corresponding signal to the second input of the automatic disconnect device.

1. Field
The disclosed concept pertains generally to transfer switches and, more particularly, to transfer systems for a first power source and a second power source. The disclosed concept also pertains to an automatic disconnect system for an energy meter. The disclosed concept further pertains to methods of disconnecting power to a transfer switch.
2. Background Information
Today, more and more residential, commercial and industrial sites are employing a form of alternate (e.g., without limitation, secondary; tertiary; back up; emergency) power source to protect against primary (e.g., without limitation, utility) power source outages. When such an alternate power source (e.g., without limitation, generator; uninterruptible power supply (UPS); solar power source; wind power source) is employed, a placard, which identifies the location of the alternate power source disconnect, can be placed at the utility meter per Articles 700.8, 701.9, and 702.8 of the National Electric Code. However, this placard does not always get properly placed, if it is placed at all. This presents a potential safety issue for fire fighters, other emergency personnel, electricians and the like.
If the placard is not in place and the utility meter is pulled due to, for example, fire or work requirements, then personnel may think that the load is de-energized. However, when the meter is pulled, the installed alternate power source will act as if a normal power outage has occurred and, therefore, power the load. This may present a hazard to the personnel.
There is room for improvement in transfer systems for a first power source and a second power source.
There is also room for improvement in methods of disconnecting power to a transfer switch.

Automatic disconnect system, transfer system and method


A dual LCD device includes a liquid crystal panel having a liquid crystal layer interposed between a first substrate and a second substrate, first and second polarizing plates attached to opposing surfaces of the liquid crystal panel, a first front light unit attached to a front side of the liquid crystal panel, and a second front light unit attached to a rear side of the liquid crystal panel.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a liquid crystal display (LCD) device and a method of fabricating an LCD device, and more particularly, to an LCD device having dual light units and a method of fabricating an LCD device having dual light units.
2. Description of the Related Art
In general, LCD devices are flat panel display device having a relatively small size, slim profile, and low power consumption. Accordingly, LCD devices are commonly used in mobile computers, such as notebook computers, office automation machines, and audio/video machines.
The LCD device displays images by manipulating transmission of light through a liquid crystal material by controlling an electric field induced to the liquid crystal material. the LCD device does not necessarily emit the light by itself, but makes use of an external light source. Thus technique is in contrast to other display devices, such as electro-luminescence (EL) devices, cathode ray tube (CRT) devices, and light emitting diode (LED) devices, which emit light on their own.
In general, the LCD devices can be classified into two different categories: transmission LCD devices and reflective LCD devices. The transmission LCD devices include a liquid crystal panel having a liquid crystal layer interposed between two substrates. In addition, the transmission LCD devices include a back light unit that supplies the light to the liquid crystal panel. However, it is difficult to manufacture transmission LCD devices having thin profiles and that are light weight due to the volume and the weight of the back light unit. In addition, the back light unit requires large amounts of electrical power.
Conversely, the reflective LCD devices are not separately provided with light sources, but display images depending on natural (ambient) light conditions. Thus, since the reflective LCD devices do not require any additional light sources, the reflective LCD devices consume small amounts of electrical power and can be widely employed in mobile display devices, such as electronic notes and personal digital assistants (PDA). However, when the ambient light is not sufficient, i.e. at night, a brightness level of the reflective LCD devices is lowered, whereby the information displayed cannot be read. Thus, to overcome this problem, a method of displaying images under dark conditions includes installing a front light unit in the reflective LCD devices.
FIG. 1 is a perspective schematic diagram of a reflective LCD device using a front light unit according to the related art, and FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view of the reflective LCD device of FIG. 1 using a front light unit according to the related art. In FIGS. 1 and 2, an active LCD 100 includes a reflective liquid crystal panel 120 and a front light unit 110 positioned on the reflective liquid crystal panel 120 to provide light. The reflective liquid crystal panel 120 is provided with a first substrate 121 and a second substrate 122, wherein a diffusing reflective electrode 123 is formed on the second substrate 122. The diffusing reflective electrode 123 reflects ambient light supplied from an upper surface of the reflective liquid crystal panel 120 or reflects incident light emitted from the front light unit 110.
The front light unit 110 includes a light source 111, a light guide plate 112, and a reflective mirror 113, wherein the light source 111 generates light. The light guide plate 112 projects the light onto a display surface of the reflective liquid crystal panel 120. The reflective mirror 113 reflects the light generated from the light source 111 to the light guide plate 112.
In FIG. 2, the upper surface of the light guide plate 112 is formed having a prismatic configuration such that the light supplied from the light source 111 is reflected by an upper surface and a lower surface of the light guide plate 112. Then, the light supplied to the light guide plate 112 is supplied along a direction perpendicular to the reflective liquid crystal panel 120 positioned below the light guide plate 112. Next, the light supplied vertically to the reflective liquid crystal panel 120 is reflected by a reflective electrode 123 of the reflective liquid crystal panel 120, and travels upward over the light guide plate 110, thereby displaying an image.

Liquid crystal display device using dual light unit and method of fabricating the same


A method, system, and computer-readable medium is described for automatically identifying incongruous item packages, such as to detect incongruities in the items that are included as contents of the item packages and/or to identify incongruities in the packaging used for the item packages. In some situations, the automatic identification of incongruous packages includes initially automatically learning appropriate values for parameters of items (e.g., item weights and/or dimensions) based on automatically measured parameters of packages including those items. Those item values can then be used to estimate corresponding parameter values of sealed packages that contain those items, and to further identify incongruous item packages whose measured parameter values do not correspond to the estimated values for those parameters. This abstract is provided to comply with rules requiring an abstract, and it is not intended to be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims.

Many companies package groups of items together for a variety of purposes, such as e-commerce and mail-order companies that package items (e.g., books, CDs, apparel, food, etc.) to be shipped to fulfill orders from customers. A common concern with such packages, referred to herein as "item packages," involves ensuring the accuracy of the items included in the contents of such packages. Such content accuracy is not only very important for customer retention and goodwill purposes, but also for inventory control, tracking purposes, and the costs associated with inaccurate item contents (e.g., handling customer support calls and item returns for packages shipped to customers). A related problem involves ensuring that appropriate packaging materials are used for such item packages, both to minimize costs and to protect the item contents.
These problems with ensuring the accuracy of item package contents and the use of appropriate packaging materials are made even more difficult in situations in which a company has a very large number of diverse items that may be included in package contents, when the available items can frequently change (e.g., to add new items that become available, as well as to remove discontinued items or items that are otherwise unavailable), when some or all of the available items are provided by third-parties (e.g., third-party sellers), and when the items themselves may change over time (e.g., due to a change in the packaging of a particular item and/or changes in the item itself).
One technique that can be used to attempt to address such problems involves manual review of all packages after the package preparation process is complete. However, such manual review is practical only when the item contents of the packages can be directly observed by the person performing the review, such as when the packages are unsealed and open and/or the packaging material that is used is transparent. Moreover, even in those circumstances, such manual review is extremely costly and does not ensure that manually verified open packages do not have subsequent changes to the package contents. Furthermore, manual review techniques are prone to errors.
A similar technique to manual review involves tracking the items as they are added to packages as part of the package preparation process, whether performed manually (e.g., via checklists) or automatically (e.g., by scanning bar codes or other identifying information for the items as they are placed in the package). However, such item tracking efforts are also subject to error, and similarly share the problem of ensuring that subsequent changes to package contents do not occur after item tracking is completed. Moreover, even if manual review or item tracking techniques were able to accurately verify the identity of the items in a package's contents as being accurate, such techniques would not typically identify problems that may occur with a particular item in the package contents (e.g., a manufacturing problem with the item, such as a book that is missing a number of pages or a sealed CD case that is missing the actual CD).
Another related technique that has been used in the past is to selectively sample and check a small number of sealed packages that are otherwise ready to be shipped, such as by opening the packages and verifying their item contents. However, such package sampling merely provides an estimate of an overall error rate with the packages rather than identifying and correcting problems with individual packages.
Other prior art systems use weight as part of an automated process for tracking or checking purposes. For example, some prior art systems attempt to verify that an individual item is complete as it is being prepared, such as to weigh a bottle being filled with a liquid to ensure that it has a particular quantity of the liquid or to weigh an item that includes a number of individual pieces to ensure that the quantity of pieces included is correct (e.g., that a medicine bottle has the correct number of pills). Other systems weigh items as part of automated checkout systems, such as at grocery stores. However, such techniques do not weigh completed multi-item packages to ensure that the package contents include the items intended to be included, nor do they consider non-weight parameters of the items. Furthermore, such techniques typically require that all the weights of all the items that could be in the packages be known and available at the time of checking.
More generally, none of these prior techniques automatically handle situations with large numbers of items that can frequently change, nor do they handle variations and changes to individual items in an automated manner. Thus, it would be beneficial to provide techniques for automatically ensuring the accuracy of item package contents and the appropriateness of packaging for such item packages, particularly in environments with changing items.

Automatically identifying incongruous item packages


A test display panel is configured for application to a lighting test, and includes a plurality of reference voltage input terminals and a plurality of sub-pixels. The reference voltage input terminals are in a one-to-one correspondence to the sub-pixels. The display panel further includes a reference voltage supply circuit and a plurality of reference voltage lines. The sub-pixels include a plurality of first sub-pixels, second sub-pixels, and third sub-pixels having different colors. The reference voltage lines include a first reference voltage line, a second reference voltage line, and a third reference voltage line, each corresponding to respective sub-pixels. The reference voltage supply circuit is configured to provide reference voltages to the plurality of reference voltage lines in a time division manner. The reference voltage lines are electrically coupled to respective reference voltage input terminals of the sub-pixels.

Pentile is a way to reduce the number of sub-pixels by sharing sub-pixels by adjacent pixels, so as to achieve high-resolution simulation with low resolution. In the related art, reference voltage input terminals respectively corresponding to all the sub-pixels are coupled to one reference voltage line.
In the Pentile pixel structure, a data voltage is supplied to red sub-pixels R and blue sub-pixels B by the same data line, and then a major RC delay will be caused due to excessive switch impedance in a CELL TEST, whereby a single-color lighting cannot be achieved in the CELL TEST state.

Test display panel, driving method thereof and forming method thereof

CHENGDU BOE OPTOELECTRONICS TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.


A ferroelectric based capacitor structure and method for making the same. The capacitor includes a bottom electrode having a layer of Pt in contact with a first layer of an ohmic material. The capacitor dielectric is constructed from a layer of lead zirconium titanate doped with an element having an oxidation state greater than +4. The top electrode of the capacitor is constructed from a second layer of ohmic material in contact with a layer of Pt. The preferred ohmic material is LSCO; although RuO.sub.2 may also be utilized. The capacitor is preferably constructed over the drain of an FET such that the bottom electrode of the capacitor is connected to the drain of the FET. The resulting capacitor structure has both low imprint and low fatigue.

Computer memories may be conveniently classified in terms of whether or not the memory retains the information stored therein when power is removed from the memory. Conventional DRAMs and SRAMs are examples of memories that lose their contents when power is removed. EEPROM and flash RAM are examples of non-volatile memories. The cost of non-volatile memories per bit remains sufficiently high to discourage their use in many applications. In addition, the underlying memory structures may only be written a relatively small number of times compared to volatile memories. For example, an EEPROM memory cell can only be written approximately 10.sup.4 times. In addition, the time required to write data into an EEPROM is much longer than that required to write volatile memories. Hence, EEPROM cells have a relatively limited class of applications.
One class of non-volatile memory that holds the potential for providing increased write cycles and faster writes is based on ferroelectric capacitors. These capacitors have a ferroelectric dielectric which may be polarized in one of two directions. The direction of polarization is used to store information, a "1" corresponding to one direction of polarization and a "0" corresponding to the other direction of polarization. The polarization of the dielectric is maintained when power is removed from the system, thus providing non-volatile operation.
The direction of the polarization may be sensed by applying a potential sufficient to switch the polarization across the capacitor. For the purposes of this discussion, assume that the applied potential difference is such that it would switch the dielectric to the polarization state corresponding to a "1". If the capacitor was polarized such that it stored a "1" prior to the application of the read potential, the polarization will not be altered by the read voltage. However, if the capacitor was polarized such that it stored a "0" prior to the application of the read potential, the polarization direction will switch. This switching will give rise to a current that flows from one plate of the capacitor to the other. A sense amplifier measures the current that flows in response to the read potential to determine the state of the capacitor. Once the capacitor has been read, the data must be rewritten in the capacitor if the read potential caused the state of the capacitor to switch.
A ferroelectric capacitor is normally constructed by depositing a layer of the ferroelectric material on a bottom electrode and then depositing a top electrode on the ferroelectric layer. Ferroelectric layers based on PZT are well known to those skilled in the art. These materials are heated to relatively high temperatures after deposition to provide a perovskite structure having the desired ferroelectric properties. After the annealing process, the dielectric film consists of a large number of domains. Each individual domain has a spontaneous polarization equivalent to that of a mono-domain single crystal of the perovskite material. At the end of the deposition process, domains are randomly oriented.
While this type of memory has been known to the art for some time, commercial realizations of this type of memory have been limited because of two problems, commonly referred to as "imprint" and "fatigue". Imprint is the tendency of a ferroelectric capacitor to exhibit a shift of its hysteresis curve along the voltage axis in either the positive or negative direction depending on the data stored therein. This tendency can lead to a logic state failure for either of two reasons. First, after a sufficient shift, both logic states appear the same to a sense amplifier. Second, the coercive voltage becomes too large to be switched by the available programming voltage. When either case is encountered, a memory cell based on the capacitor becomes useless.
Fatigue is decrease in the magnitude of the remanent polarization of the dielectric layer with the number of times the direction of polarization is changed. Since the amount of charge displaced when the capacitor is switched is related to the remanent polarization, the capacitor finally reaches a point at which there is insufficient charge displaced to detect. At this point, a memory cell based on the capacitor also becomes useless.
Broadly, it is the object of the present invention to provide an improved ferroelectric capacitor for use in memory devices and the like.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a ferroelectric capacitor that exhibits reduced imprint compared to prior art ferroelectric capacitors.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a ferroelectric capacitor that exhibits less fatigue than prior art ferroelectric capacitors.
These and other objects of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description of the invention and the accompanying drawings.

Ferroelectric based capacitor for use in memory systems and method for fabricating the same


The present invention is a method and apparatus for mechanically bonding a polymer to a convex surface of a substrate to provide intimate contact therebetween for improved energy transport between a transducer on one side of the substrate and a chemical bath on the other. The polymer seals the surface of the substrate from the chemical bath and may have a low adhesion to the substrate. A thin film of the polymer is brought under a tensile stress to provide intimate physical contact with most of the area of the convex surface. In one embodiment, the tensile stress is achieved by providing polymer as a liquid on the convex surface and then cooling to take advantage of differential thermal contraction between the polymer and the substrate to achieve the tensile stress in the polymer.

Sonic energy is used in semiconductor fabrication to enhance wet chemical processing. The efficient transfer of energy between energy source and liquid chemical bath is limited, however, where the transducer must be protected from aggressive chemicals. Significant energy losses occur at interfaces, particularly where there is an air gap.
Some prior art systems have had a sonic transducer bonded to a metallic plate which in turn is mounted to an outside wall of a chemically inert polymeric vessel. The transducer can be bonded firmly to the metal plate and the plate provides means for removing heat from the transducer, improving its reliability. But this structure has not been adequate to provide efficient delivery of sonic energy to the chemical bath where it is desired to form vessel walls from a flourocarbon polymer, such as teflon, for which there is no good adhesive between metal plate and polymer wall. The inability to provide intimate bonding at this interface has limited the use of such polymers for tank walls.
To counter this problem, other systems have sealed sonic transducers in a polymeric protective coating and placed them inside the processing vessel. However, this solution exposed the polymer coating, transducers and their electrical connections to the sometimes corrosive properties of the processing liquid. Polymer coating or seal failures have sometimes led to the contamination of semiconductor wafers in the chemical bath or to failure of the transducers or their mountings.
Because the thermal expansion coefficient of polymers is usually much larger than that of the transducers and substrates, where there is heating of the transducer or substrate, differential thermal expansion increases the gap between transducer or substrate and the coating, reducing the efficiency of energy transfer. This in turn increases the local temperature, exacerbating the problem and lowering transducer reliability. The thermal expansion not only degrades coupling of energy between transducer and processing fluid, it also can cause stress cracks and leaks through the polymer.
The air gap problem is best illustrated for an immersion heater type transducer that has a polymer coating. If an air gap develops between heater and coating the flow of heat out of the heater will be reduced, and so the temperature of the heater will increase. Portions of the polymer coating still contacting the heater will also get hotter. Since the polymer coating typically has a much larger thermal expansion coefficient than the heater, the polymer coating is likely to further expand away from the heater. In this case the heater will continue to increase in temperature, and ultimately the polymer will melt at the few points of contact.
A better solution is needed that provides a high level of coupling between transducers and their polymeric protective coats and a high level of transmission through the protective coats to the processing liquid chemical bath without introducing the risk of seal failures, and this solution is provided by the following invention.

International Business Machines Corporation


An EHT power supply, for example for a cathode ray tube, having a voltage multiplier of a multi-stage Cockroft-Walton type, in which the capacitors of each stage are formed by layers of conducting material juxtaposed on either side of a layer of dielectric material, the layers of dielectric material forming an integral part of the mechanical structure of the multiplier and physically supporting the rectifier diodes of the multiplier. In one embodiment of the invention, the multiplier is formed as a closely-spaced stack in which each stage comprises a separate layer of dielectric material, and in another embodiment the capacitors of the AC side of the multiplier are formed on one layer of material and the capacitors of the DC side of the multiplier are formed on another layer, the two layers being disposable on opposite sides of the neck of a cathode ray tube with the successive stages being longitudinally disposed along the neck.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to EHT power supplies suitable, for example, though not exclusively, for cathode ray tubes (CRTs) and in particular for miniature CRTs. Another potential application is for insulation testers and the like, in which small size and low stored charge are an advantage.
2. Discussion of the Prior Art
Such a power supply conventionally includes an oscillator, running at a frequency between, typically, 20 kHz and 50 kHz, a step-up transformer and a multiplier. One known type of multiplier suitable for this application consists of several rectifier stages cascaded together. Such a circuit is known as a Cockroft-Walton multiplier.
For CRT applications where the size and weight of the CRT and its associated power supplies are to be kept to a minimum, for example in the case of helmet-mounted CRT displays for use by aircrew, there is an advantage to be gained by raising the operating frequency of the oscillator to around 1 MHz so that smaller components (particularly for the capacitors in the Cockroft-Walton multiplier) may be used.
However, operating at such high frequencies incurs certain problems. In particular, the high voltage ceramic capacitors normally used in Cockroft-Walton multipliers are too lossy when operating in this frequency region and polyester capacitors of standard design have marginal performance with regard to their voltage rating.

The Secretary of State for Defence in Her Britannic Majesty's Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland


A spreadsheet program providing the combination of spreadsheet and database tools, and enabling users to develop an application environment that can use all resources in the spreadsheet storage area. The spreadsheet program comprises three storage areas: a spreadsheet data structure; a set of database files in a storage area, and a video display system. The spreadsheet data structure is divided into two sets of cells that can be operated through three different environments. The first environment contains the tools of a spreadsheet environment, and the first set of cells can be operated through the first environment. This is most appropriate for scratchpad uses. The second environment contains the tools of a spreadsheet environment and contains a special command that can define commands for the third environment. This is appropriate to develop formulas for an application, and the application's environment of operation. The second environment also contains the tools necessary to define special environments for the integrated operation of spreadsheet and database tools. Said integrated operation coordinates dynamic screen video operations of the information in the spreadsheet and database storage areas. The second set of cells (for the development and use of an application) can be operated through the second or third environments. Several environments for the integrated operation of spreadsheet and database tools can exist in this invention. The software enables users to develop and use full database applications such as integrated accounting packages, within spreadsheet environments.

The invention relates to the field of enhancements for spreadsheet software instruments. More specifically the invention relates to an improved environment and data interface for spreadsheet and database instruments.
Heretofore three kinds of instruments had been involved with a similar idea as that dealt with in the invention: multitasking environments (A), database systems (B) and database tools for spreadsheet instruments (C).
A. Referring to MULTITASKING ENVIRONMENTS, the DESKVIEW.TM. multitasking environment, by Quarterdeck Office Systems, and the MICROSOFT WINDOWS.TM. graphical user interface and multitasking environment, by Microsoft Corporation, allow applications such as spreadsheets and database programs to transfer information from one to another by data exchange services. But this communication between processes is slow and limited to information displayed in the video screen.
B. Referring to relational DATABASE SYSTEMS, some of these let the user build entry tables that are similar in appearance to spreadsheet tables. The FOXBASE+.TM. and the FOXPRO.TM. programmable database file managers, by Fox Software Inc., call them browse tables. There are also other systems, such as the ADVANCED REVELATION.TM. programmable database file manager, by Revelation Technologies Inc., that let the user write small programs to perform field calculations that involve formulas and numerical operations. The LOTUS/DBMS.TM. spreadsheet/database integrative program, by Lotus Development Corporation, is one such relational database systems. A publication in the LOTUS.TM. industry-specific magazine, by Lotus Development Corporation, April 1988, page 5, says that the LOTUS/DBMS.TM. spreadsheet/database integrative program, by Lotus Development Corporation, "will share a common menu structure and programming capability with Lotus Development's forthcoming graphical spreadsheet" (referring to the LOTUS 1-2-3/G.TM. spreadsheet program, by Lotus Development Corporation). "This means, for example, that (the user) will be able to move data between the database and the spreadsheet without reformatting or converting." "[Besides] An add-in product will allow you to use LOTUS 1-2-3.TM. Releases 2 and 3 with the LOTUS/DBMS.TM. server. This will enable users of Microsoft's DOS 3.0.TM. operating system and OS/2.TM. operating system to share information, using the familiar LOTUS 1-2-3.TM. interface."
However, browse tables of relational database systems are not spreadsheet tables. In a browse table the user may define a formula and place its computed results in a field that is added to all the records. Thus, the same formula is repeatedly applied to all records. Except for the ADVANCED REVELATION.TM. programmable database file manager, by Revelation Technologies Inc., the formula's arguments may only be fields of the same record that holds the result of the calculation.
Most relational database instruments provide procedural languages for the development of applications. These languages allow the user to perform calculations with diverse structures, and write the results back to fields located anywhere in the records. But the combination of the procedural language and the data interface for indexed files causes the programming and interpretation of calculations to be cumbersome.
The LOTUS/DBMS.TM. spreadsheet/database integrative program, by Lotus Development Corporation, is an example of a standalone relational database instrument that operates as described above. Compatibility with the LOTUS 1-2-3.TM. spreadsheet program, by Lotus Development Corporation, is limited to menu structure and programming language. The LOTUS/DBMS.TM. spreadsheet/database integrative program, by Lotus Development Corporation, has offered an add-in product that allows the use of LOTUS 1-2-3 RELEASE 2.0.TM. and LOTUS 1-2-3 RELEASE 3.0.TM. with the LOTUS/DBMS.TM. spreadsheet/database integrative program, by Lotus Development Corporation. But it is very probable that this new product operates like all database add-ins for the LOTUS 1-2-3.TM. spreadsheet program, by Lotus Development Corporation. Database add-ins are very similar to the @BASE.TM. spreadsheet add-in for database management, by Personics Corporation, a database tool for a spreadsheet program described in the following section.
C. The ideas used by DATABASE TOOLS FOR SPREADSHEET PROGRAMS are the most similar prior-art references to the invention.
The @BASE.TM. spreadsheet add-in for database management, by Personics Corporation, may be considered the pioneer among the LOTUS 1-2-3.TM. add-in product family. It has kept a leadership position in the market and a series of enhanced versions have updated its capabilities.
The @BASE.TM. spreadsheet add-in for database management is a database add-in for the LOTUS 1-2-3.TM. spreadsheet program that mimics most commands in the DBASE III.TM. database file manager, by Ashton Tate Corporation. The manufacturer refers to it as "a full-feature relational database add-in for LOTUS 1-2-3.TM.." Personics advertises the product with the slogan: "@BASE.TM. turns LOTUS 1-2-3.TM. into a powerful front-end for database applications."
In the @BASE.TM. spreadsheet add-in for database management it is possible to set up dynamic links that import updated information from the DBASE III.TM. database file manager records every time a worksheet is recalculated. Records can be entered or examined either in a form view, where each record occupies a separate screen, or in the usual one-record-to-a-line format.
Besides the indexing feature, the @BASE.TM. spreadsheet add-in for database management's OPTION PAC.TM., by Personics Corporation, can perform file join operations to create relational databases and operating computed fields. Also it may sort a database without rearranging the records on the disk, and automatically keeps files in the correct sorting order during record entry or updating.
The @BASE.TM. spreadsheet add-in for database management comprises two sets of elements in its operational structure: a functional replicate of the DBASE III.TM. database file manager's set of commands, and a set of @functions for read and write operations.
Any DBASE III.TM.-compatible command may be issued from within the LOTUS 1-2-3.TM. spreadsheet program, by Lotus Development Corporation. But the @BASE.TM. spreadsheet add-in for database management and the LOTUS 1-2-3.TM. spreadsheet program have completely independent video screens and communication links between files and data. Thus, operating the @BASE.TM. spreadsheet add-in for database management's independent compatible format files is functionally equivalent to suspending execution of the LOTUS 1-2-3.TM. spreadsheet program, and activating the DBASE III.TM. database file manager. The user may go back to the LOTUS 1-2-3.TM. spreadsheet program when finished using the DBASE III.TM. tools. This clears the video overlay of the add-in application, and allows the user to return to the LOTUS 1-2-3.TM.'s previous condition.
A set of @functions allow the user to read and write the contents of single fields in database files and single cells in the LOTUS 1-2-3.TM. spreadsheet environment. These functions perform like standard screen input and output operations in the DBASE III.TM. database file manager. Yet database and spreadsheet instruments operate independently from one another.
With the invention, the user can generate coordinated video operations, to look and operate simultaneously at a combination of the spreadsheet and the database files contents. This is not possible in the @BASE.TM. spreadsheet add-in for database management.
By means of the invention, the user needs only design the structure and contents of database files and spreadsheet formulas. The screen simultaneously displays actual spreadsheet information and a dynamic database browse view. Yet, the program performs all read and write functions automatically, so the user is unaware of them. Thus, it is necessary for the user to distinguish between the database and the spreadsheet data.
In the @BASE.TM. spreadsheet add-in for database management, the user has to program each individual read and write operation to and from the database files. These operations and functions may be directly written in data cells or as the LOTUS 1-2-3.TM. spreadsheet program's macro commands. Yet an average programmer would consider this an extensive and complicated programming task. The execution of these operations would be significantly slow, due to the large number of commands and to a sub-optimal execution schedule for read and write operations.
The ORACLE DATABASE ADD-IN FOR 1-2-3.TM. spreadsheet add-in for database management, by Oracle Systems Corp., is a product whose basic concept is similar to the @BASE.TM. spreadsheet add-in for database management. However, this product also allows the user to type SQL statements directly into the worksheet. These statements can be stored in LOTUS 1-2-3.TM. worksheet cells as LOTUS 1-2-3.TM. @functions. Function @SQL(range) executes the SQL statement in "range." These SQL statements may operate directly with database tables.
However, video operations in the environments of LOTUS 1-2-3.TM. and the ORACLE DATABASE ADD-IN FOR 1-2-3.TM. spreadsheet add-in are totally isolated, as in the @BASE.TM. spreadsheet add-in for database management. With the invention, the user can generate coordinated video operations, to look and operate simultaneously at a combination of the spreadsheet and the database files contents, as was described before.
SQL statements accelerate programming for the operation of database files, but they cannot control those read and write operations that effect information transfer between spreadsheet and database instruments. Users of the ORACLE DATABASE ADD-IN FOR 1-2-3.TM. spreadsheet add-in would have to do extensive programming automatic read/write operations in the invention. Therefore, the same limitations described for the @BASE.TM. spreadsheet add-in for database management, by Personics Corporation, apply to this product.
The INFORMIX DATASHEET ADD-IN.TM. spreadsheet add-in for database management, by Informix Software Inc., develops essentially the same idea and data procedures as the @BASE.TM. spreadsheet add-in for database management, by Personics Corporation, but is based in a different database file format. It uses "query by example" techniques. There are other important implementations of database add-in spreadsheet tools, such as @DB123.TM. , which are not described here. These present similar characteristics and limitations as those products described here.
As mentioned in preceding paragraphs, the invention presents a spreadsheet environment optimally suited for the integrated operation of database files. Such an environment cannot be developed using an add-in product such as any of those described here. This type of product is designed with a different orientation. It provides the user expanded spreadsheet operations, by adding @functions and superimposing alternative menus and video structures in particular modes of the spreadsheet environment. These capabilities in an existent spreadsheet product do not suffice for the implementation of the invention.
Recent spreadsheet programs, like the MICROSOFT EXCEL.TM. spreadsheet program, by Microsoft Corporation, the SUPERCALC.TM. spreadsheet program, by Computer Associates International Inc., and the LOTUS 1-2-3 release 2.2.TM. and the LOTUS 1-2-3 release 3.1.TM. spreadsheet programs, by Lotus Development Corporation, also contain database features. As an example of their characteristics, four products will be discussed here: the QUATTRO PRO.TM. spreadsheet program, by Borland International, the VP-PLANNER PLUS.TM. spreadsheet program, by Paperback Software International, the LOTUS SYMPHONY.TM. integrated spreadsheet/database manager/word processing program, by Lotus Development Corporation, and the UNIPLEX SPREADSHEET.TM. program by Uniplex Information Systems.
The QUATTRO PRO.TM. spreadsheet program, by Borland International, is a spreadsheet program that implements database instruments similar to those described in the previous add-in database instruments. The same limitations described for the @BASE.TM. spreadsheet add-in for database management, by Personics Corporation, apply to this product. Also, this product does not allow the user to write information directly to a database file. Besides, the user may read data from a database file, but needs to convert it to a spreadsheet format to operate on it.
The VP-PLANNER PLUS.TM. spreadsheet program, by Paperback Software International, is a spreadsheet program that implements the read, write, query and sort operations of the previous database instruments. This product also implements a multidimensional database option, which lets the user create a database with up to five fields. By choosing two of these fields to act as vertical and horizontal coordinates, the user can view a crosstab table automatically. However, this multidimensional database file is really a spreadsheet data storage file of a fixed format. Thus, the same limitations described for the @BASE.TM. spreadsheet add-in for database management, by Personics Corporation, apply to this product.
The LOTUS SYMPHONY.TM. integrated spreadsheet/database manager/word processing program, by Lotus Development Corporation, integrates spreadsheet, database and word processing environments. Yet this product stores database information in spreadsheet cells. So, the nature of its query, sort and other database operations is very similar to operations in LOTUS 1-2-3.TM. and other spreadsheet programs. The same limitations described for the @BASE.TM. spreadsheet add-in for database management, by Personics Corporation, apply to this product.
The UNIPLEX SPREADSHEET.TM. program by Uniplex Information Systems, is a spreadsheet program based in the UNIX.TM. operating system, by AT&T. It supports "embedded calls to the database using SQL," according to the commercial documentation. The UNIPLEX SPREADSHEET.TM. program by Uniplex Information Systems, is part of the UNIPLEX ADVANCED OFFICE SYSTEM.TM. also by Uniplex Information Systems, integrating several application programs. However, all these products can only exchange information through a compatible format for file storage. Like most integrated software systems, the UNIPLEX SPREADSHEET.TM. program only allows video integration of independent modules through the window capability of the base operating systems. The same limitations described for the @BASE.TM. spreadsheet add-in for database management, by Personics Corporation, and for multitasking environments such as the DESKVIEW.TM. multitasking environment, by Quarterdeck Office Systems, and the MICROSOFT WINDOWS.TM. graphical user interface and multitasking environment, by Microsoft Corporation, apply to this product.
Two particular products also merit mention as relevant prior-art references to the invention: (D) the REFLEX PLUS.TM. spreadsheet analysis tool, by Borland International, and (D) the RONSTADT'S FINANCIALS.TM. financial forecasting system, by Lord Publishing Inc.
D. The REFLEX PLUS.TM. spreadsheet analysis tool, by Borland International, is a database program that adds special features for the analysis of information. The user may define several ways of displaying the data, or database "views."
For example, one possible "view," called table-mode, can mimic some operations in a spreadsheet program. This corresponds to the "browse" mode in other database programs. It allows the user to examine all the database information as in a spreadsheet table.
Table-mode operations act only on the structure and contents of a single flat database file. In table-mode, any formula is evaluated on all records of the underlying database. This is functionally equivalent to the operation of computed fields in other database programs. The user interface for the development, modification and recalculation of formulas in table-mode imitates some characteristics of spreadsheet programs.
The REFLEX PLUS.TM. spreadsheet analysis tool is a flat database program with a powerful customized interface for data analysis. Yet its functionality is still limited to that of a database program, which naturally lacks the flexibility of spreadsheet operations. Thus the restrictions mentioned for relational databases apply to this program as well.
E. The RONSTADT'S FINANCIALS.TM. financial forecasting system, by Lord Publishing Inc., is a software tool for developing financial models (by Lord Publishing, Inc.; One Apple Hill, Natick, Mass. 01760; 508-651-9955).
The visual operation and the user interface of the RONSTADT'S FINANCIALS.TM. financial forecasting system are similar to the operation of the invention's database interface. Also, the RONSTADT'S FINANCIALS.TM. financial forecasting system allows the definition of formulas as in a spreadsheet, but the user is restricted to write them in a single column. This instrument is not a spreadsheet program.
Formula evaluation in the RONSTADT'S FINANCIALS.TM. financial forecasting system parallels a Copy command in a spreadsheet, executed over the entire worksheet. The user of the RONSTADT'S FINANCIALS.TM. financial forecasting system loads a column of formulas and an entire set of database records into memory. The screen displays records as a columns of data. Then the column of formulas operates repeatedly on successive data columns.
As indicated before the RONSTADT'S FINANCIALS.TM. financial forecasting system is not a spreadsheet program. Therefore, it lacks the flexibility and efficiency of the spreadsheet operations that the invention allows. It is restricted by the columnar evaluation of formulas.
The RONSTADT'S FINANCIALS.TM. financial forecasting system does not allow the operation of external database files, because it operates exclusively on the database file that is loaded completely into memory. The invention, on the other hand, operates directly with database files' contents.
The RONSTADT'S FINANCIALS.TM. financial forecasting system was designed exclusively for the calculation of financial projections. Therefore, it is limited to working with data columns that represent single periods in time. The invention, being an enhancement to a spreadsheet instrument, does not have this restriction, since it can be used to develop all kinds of applications.
F. SPREADSHEET COMPILERS also merit mention as relevant prior-art references. Two examples of these are the BALER.TM. spreadsheet compiler, by Baler Software Corporation, and the KING JAGUAR.TM. spreadsheet compiler, by Sheng Laboratories Inc.
These instruments allow the user to compile or convert a worksheet into a closed (unmodifiable) application. The worksheet may be developed with any spreadsheet program, such as the LOTUS 1-2-3.TM. spreadsheet program. The result is a standalone program that uses context-sensitive help screens, data validation, special macros, and pull-down menus. These instruments do not allow the modification of formulas after compilation, nor the creation of new formulas. Therefore, the finished application loses the flexibility of the spreadsheet.
The invention allows the user all the features mentioned above WITHIN an active modifiable spreadsheet. The invention enables the user to continue to work with the spreadsheet, modify formulas and screens, and do additional transformations on the data. Also, all existing spreadsheet compilers do not contain the capability to access external database files.
The cited PRIOR-ART references are important because the invention provides the benefits of integrating their main characteristics. Like database add-ins, the invention is a spreadsheet enhancement. Yet, it is the only spreadsheet enhancement that implements options for full environment definition and automatic read and write operations between database and spreadsheet structures. The RONSTADT'S FINANCIALS.TM. financial forecasting system, by Lord Publishing Inc., and the REFLEX PLUS.TM. spreadsheet analysis tool, by Borland International, store their information in database structures similarly to the invention. Also, the RONSTADT'S FINANCIALS.TM. financial forecasting system allows formula operation on database structures. Yet, the invention integrates these concepts in spreadsheet instruments. Spreadsheet compilers implement options for full environment definition, but the invention does so while keeping the interactive nature of a full spreadsheet environment.
Thus, as stated before, the invention allows users to interactively develop new environments to program and use finished applications, and to use database files for the storage of information operated in the spreadsheet program. Prior art references do not implement interactive creation of spreadsheet environments.
Accordingly, the following paragraphs describe several objects and advantages of the invention.
The invention expands the power of spreadsheet programs without placing any limitations on their basic operations. All applications developed for spreadsheet environments are a primary subject of the invention. Of particular interest are applications whose data structures benefit from the added support of database files.
The invention integrates the operation of spreadsheet and database instruments in an environment that provides an "automatic" collaborative scheme. It allows the coordination of video screens, data storage, spreadsheet operations and database features. The combination does not confuse the user by presenting a multitude of options. This gives more flexibility and power to the spreadsheet than all 3-D and "@BASE-like" schemes used in other products.
The invention enables the user to develop spreadsheet application environments. This will enable users to develop small, practical and modifiable applications for tasks such as the analysis of financial and accounting statements and market reports. Finished applications may provide specific database features. Also, they may have data validation capabilities, context-sensitive help texts and distinctive screen displays.
The invention's synergistic approach allows users to develop spreadsheet applications traditionally executed with database instruments, such as integrated accounting packages and inventory analysis.
By using the invention, users can develop small, practical and modifiable applications for the analysis of financial and accounting statements, market demand, and other business problems. These types of applications will benefit from the invention, because they require relational database storage and access techniques, and complex analytical computations.
For example, a simple financial model can be developed by using only one col.sub.-- prog window and one flat database file. In this application, each record in the database file corresponds to one period. Also, all formulas are developed in the col.sub.-- prog window. The implementation of a large-scale financial model may use separate database files to store credit information, accounting data, market demand analysis, etc. It would take approximately three man-years to implement this model with prior-art tools. In the invention's environment, the development of the model takes between three and six months.
Therefore, the invention represents cost reductions in the development of many types of large and complicated data-analysis applications. The resulting applications are as flexible as spreadsheet programs, and modifiable by the user.
Another example is inventory planning. The invention enables the user to design an application containing past history of sales, inventory levels, prices and other criteria for each product and/or product group. The user may easily classify products according to their sales/inventory level indexes. The application allows the user to prepare sales forecasts and recommend new orders for each product and/or product group. This is accomplished by one or more associated database files. Each file may contain, among other data, information regarding individual products, product groups, demand forecasts, and future orders for manufacturing and/or raw materials.
Another example is a fully integrated accounting system. The invention allows the creation of such a system in a spreadsheet-database environment. The scratchpad section allows the user the additional opportunity of performing spreadsheet operations on data generated by reports. This information is stored in a relational structure of database files associated to several col.sub.-- prog windows.
Database files being used by the invention may contain special operational codes. These codes can control the operation of specific database fields or spreadsheet cells. In a particular example, operational codes allow the results of a financial application to be calculated and expressed in different currencies. This may be done without changing the formulas in the spreadsheet environment. Thus, operational codes expand the power and flexibility of the invention's programmability.
The invention has the functionality of the combination of a spreadsheet compiler and a spreadsheet program. A user can develop applications in a spreadsheet format. Then the user may define tools for the application (menu options, help screens, data validation routines, etc.) that enable other users to operate the application.
The invention overcomes weaknesses that proved the downfall of spreadsheet prepackaged applications. These applications for spreadsheet programs, or "templates," reached their sales peak before the arrival of the LOTUS 1-2-3.TM. spreadsheet program. According to some experts, their popularity wanned gradually due to their failure to make the spreadsheet program easier to use. (See chapter 3 of: Entrepreneurial Finance--Taking Control of Your Financial Decision Making, by Dr. Robert Ronstadt; Lord Publishing, Natick, Mass., 1988. Also see: Mark Chussil, "Computer-Based Planning: A PC Survival Guide," The Journal of Business Strategy, January/February, 1988, pp. 38-42.)
Users of the invention are able to interactively modify an application developed using the invention. The user who developed it can limit the number and quality of the modifications available to other users. Thus, any other user can build new routines for any application, that conform to specific needs. These routines involve adding formulas that cannot damage the primitive application.
The invention can operate as the software equivalent of a hardware parallel processor for several Turing machines. Additionally, some tools of the invention can make it operate more efficiently than a the parallel Turing machines. Any computation or recognition problem for which there is a known informal algorithm can be handled by a Turing machine. Therefore, the invention can handle and solve all sorts of programming problems.
Templates developed for spreadsheet programs do not execute as efficiently as other programming means currently available. However, spreadsheet programming is now popular due to the interactive nature of its operation. Also, at a medium range of time, faster mass-memory devices will be available. Then, multidimensional database structures coupled with spreadsheet program tools will make the invention more attractive. Execution of applications programmed with the invention will be more efficient.
This combination of concepts is an important ramification of the long-term application of the invention. During the next ten years, a large portion of software development and research will focus on the creation of tools for power-easy programming and the easy use of applications. Hardware storage devices will change. Database files will probably be stored in dynamic memory, bubble memory and other hardware structures. This will result in faster data operations.
The storage and processing of the three elements of the invention (database structures, spreadsheet structures and video system structures) will be important in terms of their relative structures or topologies. The invention may represent a future direction for research. The user will have more power to develop and operate data structures. Also, the user will be able to control the corresponding three levels of the development process for products, tools and applications.
Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent in the consideration of the drawings and ensuing description.

Point and shoot interface for linking database records to spreadsheets whereby data of a record is automatically reformatted and loaded upon issuance of a recalculation command