A method of repairing a defect in a liquid crystal display panel is provided. The method comprises: providing an array substrate, a plurality of pixel regions over the array substrate, and at least one of the pixel regions comprising a transistor, a pixel electrode, a storage capacitor having an upper electrode and a bottom electrode, a defect positioned in the storage capacitor; performing a cutting process to divide the pixel electrode into a first portion and a second portion not connecting to each other, wherein said first portion of said pixel electrode is corresponding to the storage capacitor having said defect; and electrically connecting the second portion of the pixel electrode to one of the scan lines.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a liquid crystal display panel and repairing method thereof, and more particularly, to a method able to repair bright dot defect or other pixel defect problem in an array substrate of a liquid crystal display panel.
2. Description of the Prior Art
A conventional liquid crystal display (LCD) panel normally includes a thin film transistor array substrate (array substrate), a color filter substrate (CF substrate) having a common electrode thereon disposed over the array substrate, and a liquid crystal layer interposed there between. Please refer to FIGS. 1-2. FIGS. 1-2 are schematic diagrams illustrating an array substrate of a conventional LCD panel, where FIG. 1 is a top view of a portion of the array substrate, and FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the array substrate shown in FIG. 1 along the line PP′. As shown in FIG. 1-2, the conventional array substrate 10 includes a plurality of scan lines 12, a plurality of data lines 14, a plurality of pixel regions 16 defined by the scan lines 12 and the data lines 14, and a plurality of common lines 20 arranged in alternately with the scan lines 12. Each pixel region 16 has at least a thin film transistor 18 and a pixel electrode 22 corresponding to the thin film transistor 18. The pixel electrode 22 is disposed facing the common electrode of the CF substrate (not shown), in which the liquid crystal is interposed between the pixel electrode 22 and the common electrode. In addition, the overlapping region of the pixel electrode 22 and the common line 20 form a storage capacitor on common line (Cst on common). Each thin film transistor 18 serves as a switch in each pixel region 16. In the displaying operation, the common electrode of the CF substrate is usually receiving a common voltage. Following, a particular pixel region is selected through a corresponding scan line 12 receiving a scan signal and then the pixel electrode 22 of the pixel region 16 is written into a pixel voltage via a corresponding data line 14 receiving a data signal. Sequentially, the voltage difference between the pixel electrode 16 and common electrode makes the liquid crystal rotate to a predetermined direction to control the illumination out from the CF substrate and then a display is achieved.
The storage capacitor assists the pixel region 16 to operate normally, however, any processing defects or particles occurring in the storage capacitor may lead to malfunction of the storage capacitor. For instance, if a particle 24 unexpectedly falls into the storage capacitor region, the particle 24 may lead to a short-circuitry between the pixel electrode 22 and the common line 20. In such a case, the voltage of the pixel electrode 22 will be identical to the voltage of the common line 20. Since the common line 20 and the common electrode of the CF substrate usually have the same voltage, the voltage of the pixel electrode 22 and the voltage of the common electrode of the CF substrate will be identical. This fails the pixel region 16. Furthermore, if the LCD is a normally white (NW) type LCD, back light will pass through the liquid crystal layer and cause a bright dot defect because no voltage difference exists between the pixel electrode 22 and the common electrode. In addition to the particles, other defects such as a dielectric layer loss or a common line loss that makes the pixel electrode 22 and the common line 20 short-circuited will also cause the bright dot defect in an NW type LCD.
Accordingly, there is a need to provide a simply and effective repairing method of the pixel to solve the display problems due to particles or other defects.

Liquid crystal display panel and repairing method thereof


An electronic apparatus is provided. The electronic apparatus include: a memory unit which downloads a CAS client from a server and stores the CAS client, a communication unit which receives a message to change a storage location of the CAS client from the server, and a controller which changes a storage location of the CAS client and stores the storage location according to the message received from the server. The method includes downloading a CAS client from a server and storing the CAS client in a memory; receiving from the server a message to change a storage location of the CAS client; changing a storage location of the CAS client, and storing the changed storage location according to the message received from the server.

1. Field
Methods and apparatuses consistent with exemplary embodiments relate to an electronic apparatus, a conditional access system (hereinafter, referred to as a 'CAS'), and a control method thereof. More particularly, the exemplary embodiments relate to an electronic apparatus which can be provided with a CAS client in a downloading method, a CAS, and a method of controlling the apparatus.
2. Description of the Related Art
A conditional access system (hereinafter, referred to as a 'CAS') refers to a control system in which a system providing broadcast contents, such as cable, broadcast contents to only a subscriber who subscribes to a cable broadcast.
In order to provide a paid broadcast service, most of the current digital cable broadcasts use a cable card of a smart card format or a personal computer memory card international association (PCMCIA) card format according to how a conditional access (CA) is applied. However, since a related-art CAS distributes CAS software (or a CAS client image) offline through the smart card or the PCMCIA card, a predetermined time is required to re-issue a card when the CAS has a defect, and thus it is difficult to swiftly deal with the defect. Also, a problem exists in that an additional cost is incurred for the reissue of smart card.
In order to overcome the above disadvantages, interactive cable communication network-based downloadable conditional access system (DCAS) technology has been developed in recent years and developing the DCAS technology is an issue. The DCAS technology is not a technology in which a CAS provider installs selected CAS software in a smart card or a PCMCIA card and provides a paid broadcast service as in the related-art. The DCAS technology is a technology in which a security module for installing CAS software is mounted in a set-top box so that the CAS software is easily updated through an interactive cable communication network when the CAS software has a defect or when the CAS software needs to be version-updated. The DCAS may be called an exchangeable conditional access system (XCAS) in some situations.
However, since DCAS technology downloads the CAS software into a memory area of a set-top box and uses it, there is a problem that the corresponding memory area may be hacked and an illegally copied set-top box may be manufactured.

Electronic apparatus, conditional access system, and control method thereof


Disclosed is a wireless monitoring system for a coal-gangue mixing ratio based on a non-Hermite technology, including a signal generation monitoring device, an excitation coil, a receiving coil and a parallel plate capacitor. The signal generation monitoring device is connected with the excitation coil; the receiving coil is connected with the parallel plate capacitor to form an LC resonance system; the receiving coil is placed in parallel with the excitation coil, and the axis of the receiving coil and the axis of the excitation coil are on a same horizontal line; the signal generation monitoring device is used to generate a pulse current and collect reflected signals; the excitation coil excites an initial magnetic field based on the generated pulse current, and the LC resonance circuit performs an electromagnetic field induction to generate an induced magnetic field, and feeds back the reflected signals to the signal generation monitoring device.

Mechanized top coal caving mining technology has advantages of a high yield and a high efficiency. However, gangue falls in a process of coal caving. If there are too many gangues, closing a coal caving port seriously affects a quality of the coal mining. However, closing the coal caving port just after the gangue falls may result in a waste of coal resources. Therefore, an identification of a dynamic coal-gangue mixing degree in the process of the coal caving becomes the key technology of automatic coal caving and determines a best time to close the coal caving port. Nowadays, this technology only depends on naked eyes and experiences of skilled workers, and may give a big error judgment because of a heavy smoke and dust and a weak light in the process of the coal caving.

Wireless monitoring system for coal-gangue mixing ratio based on non-Hermite technology


An inverting apparatus and a control method thereof are provided. The inverting apparatus includes an inverting circuit, a detection circuit, and a control circuit. The control circuit is coupled to the inverting circuit and the detection circuit and configured to provide a control signal to control the inverting circuit so as to adjust a voltage value of an input voltage into a command voltage represented by the control signal. The control circuit calculates a voltage difference between the detected input voltage and the command voltage so as to determine whether the voltage difference is greater than a preset value. When determining that the voltage difference is greater than the preset value, the control circuit sets the voltage value of the command voltage as the voltage value of the current input voltage.

Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a power conversion technique, and more particularly, to an inverting apparatus and a control method thereof.
Description of Related Art
In order to reduce the consumption of fossil fuels, applications of renewable energy have been vigorously developed for the power systems nowadays. The applications may include, for example, a photovoltaic module that generates power by solar energy, a wind power generation module that generates power by wind power, a hydroelectric power generation module that generates power by water flow or other renewable energy generation modules. However, since power is generated from natural resources for all of aforementioned renewable energy generation modules, their output power performance/output capability may be changed dramatically by influences from the environment.
For instance, take a DC current generation apparatus using the photovoltaic module (e.g., solar panel) as an example, variation of external conditions (e.g., weather conditions, a condition where the solar panel is sheltered or other possible conditions) is the major reason that changes the power performance/output capability of a DC power generated by the photovoltaic module.
Because most of the DC power generation apparatuses constituted by the renewable energy generation modules have an issue of unstable output capability, when these DC power generation apparatuses are applied in AC power systems, designs for an inverting apparatus of back-end must be adjusted in response to said issue. Otherwise, if the inverting apparatus of back-end fails to instantly respond to the changes in the power performance of the DC power generation apparatus of front-end (e.g., when a difference between an input voltage and a command voltage is too large), it often results in a system outage caused by the input voltage of the inverting apparatus which fails to follow the overly large command voltage.

Control method of inverting apparatus for achieving MPPT and inverting apparatus thereof


A device for detecting a secondary battery of an uninterruptible power system contains: a main battery module and at least one sub battery module. The main battery module includes a first power storage unit, a first detection unit, a first processing unit, a communication unit, and a first data transmission unit. The first power storage unit includes multiple first battery assemblies connected in series, and a respective first battery assembly has at least one secondary battery. The first detection unit includes multiple first detectors. The first data transmission unit includes a first one-way transmit port and a first two-way transmit port. The sub battery module includes a second power storage unit, a second detection unit, a second processing unit, and a second data transmission unit. The second power storage unit includes multiple second battery assemblies connected in series. The second detection unit includes multiple second detectors.

Uninterruptible power systems (UPS) are widely used in various fields such as mobile phone base stations, ATM automatic teller machines, medical life-sustaining equipment or monitoring equipment. The UPS is comprised of at least one secondary battery so as to supply power to a variety of equipment, when mains network is failed, thus avoiding damage or loss because of power failure.
However, it is not easy to maintain the at least one secondary battery of the UPS usually to cause the USP cannot work when the power failure happens. For example, the mobile phone base stations are arranged everywhere, and it is difficult to deploy corresponding maintenance personnel near each base station. Once a certain base station has a power failure and the UPS of the base station cannot supply power, maintenance teams in various regions send personnel for maintenance, and the journey is time-consuming, which makes it difficult to resolve base station communication interruptions as quickly as possible.
In order to avoid the occurrence of the aforementioned problem, maintenance personnel can be dispatched to various equipment locations equipped with the UPS on a regular or irregular basis. Batteries are tested and replaced with weak or damaged secondary batteries based on the test results. However, this inspection mode consumes a lot of maintenance labor.
The present invention has arisen to mitigate and/or obviate the afore-described disadvantages.

Device and method for detecting secondary battery of uninterruptible power system


A wind turbine generator that can eliminate the penetration of rainwater and prevent the occurrence of failure is provided. The wind turbine generator includes: a plurality of wind-turbine rotor blades for receiving wind power; a rotor head to which the plurality of wind-turbine rotor blades are attached, the rotor head being rotated and driven by the wind power received by the plurality of wind-turbine rotor blades; a head capsule for covering the rotor head; a blade-side disc portion that extends from each wind-turbine rotor blade radially outward of the wind-turbine rotor blade and is inclined toward the head capsule; a cylindrical portion that is disposed substantially coaxial with each wind-turbine rotor blade and extends from the head capsule toward the tip of the wind-turbine rotor blade; a capsule-side disc portion extending radially outward from each cylindrical portion; and a bent portion that extends radially outward from the outer circumferential edge of each capsule-side disc portion and is inclined toward the tip of the wind-turbine rotor blade.

In recent years, wind turbine generators using wind power are attracting attention as apparatuses for generating power using clean energy (for example, refer to Patent Document 1).
As an example of the above-described wind turbine generators, a wind turbine generator including a plurality of wind-turbine rotor blades rotated by wind power and a rotor head to which the wind-turbine rotor blades are attached is known.
The wind-turbine rotor blades include fixed-pitch-type wind-turbine rotor blades that are fixed to the rotor head and have a fixed pitch and variable-pitch-type wind-turbine rotor blades whose pitch is varied according to the wind speed. The type is selected according to the conditions of use.
Variable-pitch-type wind-turbine rotor blades typically have gaps between a head capsule for covering the rotor head and the wind-turbine rotor blades to change the pitch.
Patent Document 1: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application, Publication No. 2007-32420


Nozzle segments are secured to a retention ring against circumferential rotation by anti-rotation pins extending generally axially between the outer bands of the nozzle segments and the retention ring. Retention plate segments overlie the ends of the pins, preventing axial removal thereof. To remove a selected nozzle segment, inner diameter retention plate segments and selected retention plate segments are removed, the latter exposing the ends of the pins for axial withdrawal. Upon removal of a predetermined number of pins, the nozzle segments adjacent the selected segment are displaced away from the latter segment to open a gap between the selected segment and adjacent segments whereby the selected segment can be removed in an axial direction.

The present invention relates to apparatus and methods for removing and installing a selected nozzle segment relative to a nozzle retention ring of a gas turbine and particularly relates to axially oriented anti-rotation pins for preventing circumferential movement of the nozzle segments and enabling removal and insertion of the anti-rotation pins in an axial direction to facilitate removal and installation of a selected nozzle segment without removal of the casing.
In gas turbines, the nozzle stages are typically formed by an annular array of nozzle segments spaced circumferentially one from the other about the axis of the turbine. For example, in the first stage of the turbine, the nozzle segments, each including outer and inner bands with one or more nozzle vanes extending therebetween, are secured to annular outer and inner retention rings, respectively. In prior gas turbines, anti-rotation pins typically extend radially between the outer retention ring and an outwardly projecting flange on the outer band of each segment. These radially oriented prior anti-rotation pins encounter space limitations which prevent removal of certain of the pins when performing turbine maintenance in situ. For example, at the horizontal joint, the case is very close to the retention ring and the anti-rotation pin cannot be removed, leaving the nozzle segments essentially non-removable. As a consequence, maintenance and testing operations have been found to be laborious and costly. Therefore, there is a need to generally improve the capability for removing and installing nozzle segments to facilitate maintenance and testing operations.

Apparatus and methods for removing and installing a selected nozzle segment of a gas turbine in an axial direction


Input MPEG coded image data is input through a buffer to a variable length decoding unit where it is subject to variable length decoding. The quantized DCT coefficients are output to an inverse quantization unit, while the motion vectors are output to a motion compensation prediction unit. The quantized DCT coefficients are inversely quantized at the inverse quantization unit to generate DCT coefficients. The DCT coefficients have values of the items of frequencies higher than the desired frequency limit converted to 0 at the DCT coefficient conversion unit whereby the motion data found at the format conversion unit is added at the adder and the result input as the original image data to the format conversion unit. The pixels are thinned at the format conversion unit to generate a compressed image which is then displayed on a display unit.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image decoding apparatus for reading and decoding image data coded by the MPEG-1 or other coding system using DCT and recorded for example on a video CD or the like, an image decoding process, and an image reproduction apparatus for displaying the decoded image data on a display device.
2. Description of the Related Art
In the compression and coding of an image, orthogonal transformation is performed so as to reduce redundancy. In this, discrete cosine transformation (DCT) is made wide use of as one method of orthogonal transformation exhibiting the best coding efficiency for the JPEG (color stationary image band compression and coding system of the Joint Photographic Image Coding Experts Group), the MPEG (motion picture coding system of the Motion Picture Coding Experts Group), the H.261 (motion picture compression and coding system for television telephones and television conferences standardized by the ITU-T), and other various coding systems.
The DCT in the MPEG-1 is defined by equation 1. ##EQU1## where, x, y are coordinates in pixel space and are integers of 0 to 7,
u, v are coordinates (orders) in frequency space and are integers of 0 to 7, PA1 g(x,y) is the pixel value at the coordinate (x,y), and PA1 f(u,v) is a coefficient (amplitude) of the spatial frequency (u,v).
The original image for transformation is divided into macro blocks of 8.times.8 pixels, then each macro block is subjected to DCT to obtain coefficients for each of the combinations of the horizontal 0th to 7th and vertical 0th to 7th spatial frequencies.
In the MPEG-1, the DCT coefficient f is quantized, subjected to variable length coding, and converted to one-dimensional information in order from the low frequency component, whereby an MPEG-1 bit stream is generated.
The decoding apparatus for decoding image data coded by such MPEG will be explained next referring to FIG. 1.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram of the configuration of a standard MPEG decoding apparatus 30.
The MPEG coded data input to a decoding apparatus 30 is subjected to variable length decoding at a variable length decoding unit (VLD) 31. The quantization information and the quantized DCT coefficients are input to an inverse quantization unit (Q.sup.-1) 32, while the motion vectors are input to a motion compensation prediction unit (MC) 35. The quantized DCT coefficient is subjected to inverse quantization at the inverse quantization unit 32 based on the quantization information and is further subjected to inverse DCT at an inverse DCT unit (DCT.sup.-1) to restore the spatial image data. This spatial image data is added with the motion compensation prediction data output from a motion compensation prediction unit 25 at an adder 34 to generate the original image data. When this image data is an I-picture or P-picture, it is stored in a frame memory (FRM) 36. Further, the motion compensation prediction unit 35 generates motion compensation prediction data based on the motion vector input from a variable length decoding unit 31 based on the image stored in the frame memory 36 and outputs it to the adder 34.
Due to these advances in the technology for compression and coding of image data, it has become possible to record long hours of motion picture data on a disk or other recording medium. As an example of use of the MPEG-1, a video CD etc. have been commercialized.
Further, due to these advances in image processing technology, to enable selection of any image data program, the screen may be divided for example into four or nine sections and a plurality of index images be displayed there or the individual images may be compressed to enable two programs to be simultaneously watched and other various methods of displaying images may be used.
When processing such image data, however, there are sometimes restrictions on the bands of the image data to be processed. In such a case, one generally used method is to use a digital filter for computations among pixels to remove the high frequency component of the spatial frequencies of the image. However, a two-dimensional digital filter for performing processing on image data is comprised of a multiplier, an adder, a plurality of registers, a ROM, delay elements, etc. and therefore there is the problem of a larger circuit size. In particular, in a decoding apparatus of the MPEG etc., since the circuit becomes larger in size, there is a demand for making the circuit simpler. Therefore, further use of digital filters cannot be said to be suitable. Further, the above processing of image data is not preferable in terms of the processing time since high speed processing is sought in many cases.
As cases where limitation of the band of the image data is necessary in this way, mention may be made of the case, explained previously, when compressing image data and displaying it on a screen.
For example, when a compression rate of 1/K (K is an integer) is sufficient, one row is extracted for every K number of rows of the original image and one column for every K number of columns so as to comprise a compressed image. This method is extremely simple in processing and can be realized at a high speed with a simple circuit.
In this method, however, the spatial frequency of the image generated expands into the high frequency side and moire-like noise occurs in the compressed image.
For example, in the case of generating a 1/2 compressed image such as shown in FIG. 2B by extracting the image for every other column from the image with two columns of white pixels and black pixels mixed alternately as shown in FIG. 2A, the white and black repetitive cycle in the image of FIG. 2A becomes 4 pixels, but is 2 pixels in the image of FIG. 2B. By compressing in 1/2 in the horizontal direction, the horizontal spatial frequency of the image becomes double.
That is, when the image is compressed without limiting the band of the spatial frequency, the relationship between the maximum spatial frequency fmax-s of the image compressed by the compression rate k (1/K) and the maximum spatial frequency fmax-o of the original image becomes the relationship shown in equation 2 and the band of the compressed image enlarges considerably to the high frequency side: EQU fmax-s=fmax-o/k (2)
Further, when the spatial frequency of the compressed image exceeds the spatial frequency displayable by the display device, noise is caused in the image.
Accordingly, in such a case, a demand has arisen to cause sufficient attenuation of the frequency component exceeding the limit of the display device.

Image decoding apparatus and process thereof and image reproduction apparatus


A bioreactor control system comprises a batch server for controlling a bioreactor system in response to a recipe, a batch software system for generating a control sequence for the bioreactor system via the batch server for implementing the recipe, and a recipe conversion system that inputs the recipe into the batch software system. Preferably, the recipe conversion system reads a word processor file containing the recipe and interprets styles applied to text in the word processor file as indicating equipment and phases of the recipe to the recipe conversion system. Generally, the bioreactor system includes one or more bioreactors and additional hardware to perform the upstream and downstream processing. The document properties of the word processor file containing the recipe are applied as header information for the recipe input into the batch software system. This system solves a problem associated with traditional batching software systems, in which the authoring of recipes on the systems can be relatively arcane. Here, the recipe can be authored on a common word processor.

Bioreactor systems are used to produce biochemically active substances derived from organisms. Bioreactors are commonly tank systems including pumps, agitation systems, air distribution systems and sensors. Traditionally, bioreactors were designed as stationary reusable tanks or containers. More recently, disposable bioreactors, which may utilize plastic sterile bags, are becoming increasingly common. Disposable, single-use manufacturing systems can be assembled from component pieces (e.g. tubing, filters, bags, fittings, connectors, sensors, etc) into disposable assemblies. Component pieces and portable assembly capabilities provide advantages such as flexibility to rapidly change the configuration of the assembly. Bioreactor systems commonly include additional hardware to perform the upstream and downstream processing.
Exemplary downstream processing includes: harvest/clarification, chromatography, and ultrafiltration/diafiltration (UF/DF). When a bioreactor is ready to be harvested, the contents are often clarified. In one example, a peristaltic pump is used to transfer the contents of the bioreactor through a depth filter system and a disposable capsule filter to remove large molecules with high molecular weight from cells, cell debris, colloids and particles. Chromatography is a physical method of separation in which the components to be separated are distributed between two phases, one of which is stationary while the other (mobile) moves in a defined direction. Chromatography involves a product to be separated (purified) over a stationary support (resin). The molecules in the product will have different interactions (capture, purification, and polishing) with the stationary support leading to separation of similar molecules. Examples of liquid chromatography are Affinity, Hydrophobic Interaction "HIC", and Ion-Exchange. UF/DF (Tangential Flow Filtration) steps are used to clarify, reduce batch volumes (concentration) and exchange buffers (diafiltration) for efficient column operation or final formulation. In Tangential Flow Filtration (TFF), the fluid is pumped tangentially along the surface of the membrane. An applied pressure (transmembrane pressure) serves to force a portion of the fluid through the membrane to the filtrate side. Particulates and macromolecules that are too large to pass through the membrane pores are retained but do not build up at the surface of the membrane. Instead, they are swept along by the tangential flow.
Exemplary upstream processing includes the processing associated with buffer and media preparation. Preparation of the bioreactor usually begins with the preparation of the inoculum which proceeds in scale-up steps until enough inoculum is made to aseptically inoculate the final, sterile, media-filled bioreactor.
Manufacturing Execution System (MES) software is used to provide real-time access to plant activities that include equipment, labor, orders and inventory. A MES integrates the data with enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems to enable control over the factory floor and supply chain.
Batching software systems are typically one component of the MES that are used to specify batching processes for bioreactor systems, including the upstream and downstream processing. The batching software systems are also used to create and manage recipes and execute them automatically on the bioreactor systems. The batching software also facilitates validation of recipes and configuration of the physical equipment. During the execution of the recipes, the batching software systems further usually collect detailed electronic batch data about the processes and generate detailed reports. Examples of batching software include InBatch by WONDERWARE®, PI System by OSISOFT®, PROFICY® Batch Execution by General Electric Company, SIMATIC PCS 7® process control system by Siemens, and FACTORY TALK® by Rockwell Automation, Inc.

Batch authoring tool and bioreactor control system


One or more deployable thermal panels (24, 28, 70) are actively controlled throughout the orbit of a satellite (20) to provide thermal dissipation. Adjusting the incident angle between the panel (24, 28, 70) and the sun and controlling the flow of fluid through optional flexible heat pipes loads and unloads heat to provide thermal stability for components (62) which have special thermal requirements. An optional antenna panel (70) on a nadir side (64) of the satellite (20) offers an antenna side (74) on one surface and a thermal radiating side (72) on an opposing surface. In addition, thermal panel movements are controlled (96) to provide counter-disturbance torques (140).

Unnecessarily large satellites cause inefficient use of launch vehicle and satellite facilities and inefficient power management. Moreover, lack of integration among satellite systems leads to undesirable complexity. Thus, excessive payload space and power are consumed by many large, overly complex and redundant systems.
Conventional satellite thermal control systems use a satellite body panel as a primary radiative surface for the satellite. However, body panel size increases as thermal control demands increase, and increased body panel size leads to undesirably large satellites.
A trend in space vehicles, and satellites in particular, is to include an increasing multitude of diverse, complex, non-integrated systems, such as attitude control, payload, propulsion, and the like. This increasing multitude of equipment has increasing cooling requirements. Thus, using body panel size to provide cooling often causes the satellite body or bus to be undesirably large. Since launch cost depends largely on bus size, a significant portion of launch costs are due to thermal control requirements.
The use of a deployable thermal panel can increase a satellite's radiative surface area without needlessly increasing bus size. However, mere deployment of a thermal panel may yield marginal thermal performance. In particular, thermal dissipation during certain orbit positions and at certain times of the year may be undesirably poor. In fact, during some orbit positions, a conventional deployable thermal panel may produce effects opposite of those desired.
Attitude control systems control space vehicle attitude and respond to attitude errors. One cause of attitude error is disturbance torque. Disturbance torques have components about the windmill, overturning, and pitch axes, and cause attitude error which reduces the level of service provided by a satellite. For example, when attitude error of a communications satellite is not corrected, the satellite often compensates for the resultant antenna misalignment by consuming excessive power to transmit communications at higher power. In addition, disturbances due to solar, magnetic, or gravitational influences acting upon momentum wheels cause nutation, a cyclical form of attitude error which recurs at a nutation frequency throughout a satellite's orbit.
Conventional methods of damping disturbance torques involve the use of tanks or magnetic bars on-board the satellite body to slowly absorb the disturbance. However, attitude is not accurately maintained and power is wasted because the solar panels remain improperly oriented with respect to the sun. Propulsion thrusters and momentum wheels are also used to counteract disturbance torques; however, these devices have considerable mass and consume power.
Solar sailing is also used to counter disturbance torques. Unfortunately, conventional solar sailing involves positioning solar panels out of their optimum solar tracking position for as long as six orbital hours at a time. This results in cosine power loss, especially during the solstice periods of the year. Holding the solar panels away from their optimum tracking position also causes significant build-up of secular momentum and excessive variation of cyclical momentum.
Accordingly, what is needed is an actively controlled thermal panel which improves performance of a space vehicle's thermal and other systems.

Actively controlled thermal panel and method therefor


A low pressure duct configured to channel a gas within a structure includes a tubular body formed from a polymer foam material, and a first plurality of strands adhered to a surface of the tubular body along a plurality of paths. The plurality of paths includes a first set of paths oriented longitudinally along the tubular body. The first set of paths are spaced apart from each other around a circumference of the tubular body. The plurality of paths also includes a second set of paths oriented circumferentially around the tubular body. The second set of paths are spaced apart longitudinally along the tubular body.

In some known structures, polymer foam ducts are used to convey low pressure gases for various purposes. For example, but not by way of limitation, in some known aircraft and spacecraft, polymer foam ducts are used to convey low pressure purge gases and/or ventilation gases to desired locations within the structure. Moreover, at least some known polymer foam ducts are supported within the structure by rings formed from a thermoplastic material and spaced apart along the duct.
Known methods of reinforcing ducts against cracking are limited in that the reinforcement means typically reduces the benefits sought from the use of the ducts, such as low weight and low cost. In many applications, some amount of cracking can be accommodated.

Crack-resistant polymer foam ducts and method of installing same


A computer includes a motherboard with a signal receiving port and a switch circuit. The switch circuit includes a force sensing module and a transistor. The transistor includes a first terminal connected to the force sensing module, a second terminal connected to a power source, and a third terminal connected to the signal receiving port. When there is a pressure applied to the force sensing module, the force sensing module outputs a first driving signal to turn on the transistor and enables the computer to maintain its current power on or off state. When there is no pressure applied to the force sensing module, the force sensing module outputs a second driving signal to turn off the transistor and switches on or off the computer.

1. Technical Field
The present disclosure relates to a computer with a force sensing resistor.
2. Description of Related Art
A computer may be turned on or off by pressing a power button installed on a front panel of the computer. The power button may include a movable portion and a resilient member. The movable portion can be pressed by users to turn on or off the computer. The resilient member is able to urge the movable portion to return to its original position. However, the power button has a complicate mechanical structure, which may occupy much space of the computer.
Therefore, there is room for improvement within the art.


A children's night and day clock has different appearances during the day and the night. Change is actuated by an alarm mechanism (9) which is linked to mechanically interdependent display elements (54, 56, 58) so that, at a preset time, they undergo a change in their mechanical positional relationship between the expression of night or sleeping time and day or waking time. Push button (18) is depressed to actuate the transition from day to night time. It lowers a lever (16; 116) which is then held in a loaded position against the urging of a spring (22; 122) by means of a latch (24; 180). When the clock reaches the present time, the latch is released and the clock reverts from the night configuration to the day configuration. Thereafter it remains in the day configuration until reset.

The conventional alarm clock brings to the attention a pre-determined point in time by means of an audible alarm, but it does not differentiate between the time before and after the sounding of the alarm in a way that children, who are unable to read the time displayed on a clock, can relate to. A cuckoo clock indicates certain times by visual signals, but these are transient. For a child unable to read a clock, the cuckoo signal would probably convey no useful information and, when the signal was not being produced the clock would certainly be wholly uninformative.


A wet etching method of removing silicon from a substrate includes depositing a layer comprising silicon in elemental form over a substrate. The layer is exposed to an aqueous liquid etching solution comprising a hydroxide and a fluoride, and having a pH of at least 10, under conditions and for a period of time effective to etch the elemental silicon from the substrate. Wet etching can be employed in methods of forming trench isolation, and in other methods. Other aspects and implementations are contemplated.

Integrated circuitry is typically fabricated on and within semiconductor substrates, for example relative to bulk semiconductor substrates and in semiconductor-on-insulator substrates. One exemplary technique for isolating different areas of circuitry includes the fabrication of trench isolation within the substrate, for example a bulk monocrystalline silicon substrate. For example, trenches are etched within a bulk semiconductor substrate, and thereafter filled with an insulative silicon dioxide material.
Another technique of forming trench isolation initially fills the trenches with polycrystalline silicon. Such might be doped with one or more conductivity enhancing impurities, or might be undoped. Regardless, the deposited polysilicon is typically planarized back and then wet etched to recess it within the respective trenches. Thereafter, an insulative material such as silicon dioxide is deposited to fill the remaining volume of the trenches.
One exemplary technique for wet etching the polysilicon to recess it relative to the trenches is to use an aqueous liquid etching solution, having a pH of about 12.0 to 14.0, comprising tetramethyl ammonium hydroxide. Unfortunately, uniformity in the etch in the amount of polysilicon removed from trench to trench is less than desirable, typically being on the order of a 10% to 30% difference among the trenches, and substantially independent of the location of the trenches on the substrate. Accordingly, the recess etch back using such an etching solution is not very controllable or predictable.
The invention was directed to overcoming problems and issues as described above, although such is in no way so limited. The invention is only limited by the accompanying claims as literally worded, without interpretative or limiting reference to the specification, and in accordance with the doctrine of equivalents.

Wet etching method of removing silicon from a substrate and method of forming trench isolation


A ratcheting tool driver has a handle and a ratcheting body that includes a plurality of recesses for receiving a plurality of pawls having teeth formed thereon. A cover is axially secured to the ratcheting body and rotates relative to the body over a limited distance. The cover is formed so that it interacts with the plurality of pawls, which are operatively received in the body recesses so that they engage and disengage teeth formed on a socket ring. The socket ring contains a plurality of teeth on its outer circumference, is received in an axial bore formed in the ratcheting body, and operatively engages the pawl teeth.

The present invention relates to drivers for interchangeable driver bits and, in particular, to drivers of the ratcheting type.
Ratcheting drivers are well known, as are drivers with interchangeable bits. Conventional ratchet mechanisms for ratcheting screwdrivers, for example, have pawls that extend in the axial direction defined by the screwdriver shaft and that have narrow extensions engageable with teeth of a gear provided on the shaft. The pawls are pushed into and out of engagement with the gear by a control member that is usually slidable in the axial direction. Such ratchet mechanisms occupy a significant proportion of the overall length of the screwdriver.
One type of ratcheting driver for interchangeable bits is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,777,852. That patent discloses a ratcheting arrangement wherein a ratchet body is press-fitted into a recess in one end of a handle and a cap telescopes over the body for rotation with respect thereto. The force transmission from the cap to the pawl assembly is indirect and involves a multi-part assembly.


A microfluidic device with a vertical injection aperture is provided. The microfluidic device comprises a separation channel, an injection aperture disposed adjacent to and in fluid communication with the separation channel. The microfluidic device further comprises a semi-permeable filter disposed adjacent to the injection aperture, wherein the filter is configured to preconcentrate a sample in the injection aperture to form a preconcentrated sample plug during an injection operation, and wherein the sample plug flows downwardly from the injection aperture to the separation channel during an electrophoresis operation.

The invention relates generally to microfluidic devices and more particularly to a system and method for sample injection onto a microfluidic capillary electrophoresis channel.
Electrophoretic separation of bio-molecules is very important in modern biology and biotechnology applications such as DNA sequencing, protein molecular weight determination and genetic mapping. Electrophoresis is a process by which individual molecular species are separated in a conductive medium (such as a liquid solution or a cross-linked polymer) by applying an electric field. The charged molecules migrate through the solution and separate into distinct bands due to their mobility difference through the media. The rates are influenced by factors such as a viscosity of the solution, a mass and charge of the molecules, and a strength and duration of the electric field.
An increase in a voltage gradient (V/cm) applied to the electrophoretic device results in a corresponding decrease in the time needed to perform the separation. However, increasing the voltage gradient is governed by certain constraints. For example, increasing the voltage gradient beyond a certain point may result in an increase in joule heating which would in turn alter the properties of the medium in which the molecules are being separated. The change of the medium properties leads to an increase in sample diffusion and thus degraded the separation resolution. In order to overcome the above limitations, electrophoresis can be performed in a capillary or miniaturized channel. The large surface-area-to-volume ratio of the electrophoretic devices offers efficient dissipation of Joule heat, allowing higher electric field to be used, thus resulting in the shorter analysis time and better separation efficiency.
Microfluidic devices are small compact devices that perform chemical and physical operations such as capillary electrophoresis with microscale sample volumes. These devices often have the benefits of fast reactions, rapid detection, small reagent consumption, ease of automation and simple transfer between reaction vessels. Microfluidic devices are commonly referred to as "lab-on-a-chip."
Typically in microfluidic devices, sample volumes used are very low, thus making it difficult to detect analytes of low concentration. Often, a "preconcentration" step is incorporated into the microfluidic device to increase the sample analyte concentration. However, the typical concentration techniques are not applicable to microfluidic devices due to the small sample size capacity of the device. In addition, concentrating the analyte of interest may also lead to contaminating the analytes, which can interfere with the downstream analysis. For example, in electrokinetic injection, a high concentration of contaminating salt ions will decrease the amount of the charged analyte that is loaded onto the analysis channel.
In field-amplified sample stacking, the sample is dissolved in a low ionic conductivity solution, which in turn contacts a high ionic conductivity solution in the channel, and an electric field causes the sample salts (or ions) to flow into the high ionic conductivity solution, thereby increasing the sample analyte concentration in the low ionic conductivity solution. However, the sample preconcentration may still be insufficient for high optical detection sensitivity.
In filtered sample stacking, the sample flows into a filter such as a porous polymer plug with a pore size that allows small molecules to pass through but blocks larger molecules (such as proteins or DNA). The sample is preconcentrated upstream of the filter. However, the filter is often formed in the channel using complex and cumbersome manufacturing techniques. Furthermore, the filter is permanently attached to the channel, and therefore the microfluidic device must be discarded if the filter clogs, tears or otherwise deteriorates.
Therefore, there is a need for a microfluidic device that provides sample preconcentration, minimizes the effect of concentrating small molecule contaminants, and reproducibly loads a small sample volume onto an analysis channel in a convenient and cost-effective manner.

Microfluidic device with vertical injection aperture


A removable, reusable support stand for generally planar objects such as photographs, cards, signs, compact disc jewel cases or the like is disclosed, which includes a flat card stock formed into a generally triangular shape with a first fold across the base; a slit from fold line to the center of the base of the triangle forming two flaps or attachment tabs that are covered with an adhesive material and are folded along a fold line to expose the adhesive; and is folded along a line from the apex of the triangle to the top of the slit; and which may then be affixed to the back of the generally planar object to be displayed. The stand can generally be removed and repositioned, or affixed to another object to be displayed.

Presently known display support stands generally fall into four categories: (1) frames into which the items to be displayed are inserted; (2) easels onto which the items to be displayed are placed; (3) combined placards with integral stands; and (4) foldable rectangular permanent support stands.
Examples of the first category are U.S. Pat. No. 2,061,294 to Stephenson; U.S. Pat. No. 6,460,280 to Haines-Woon; U.S. Pat. No. 5,279,692 to Best; and U.S. Pat. No. 8,074,385 to Wagner. These types of stands are bulky, complicated, and expensive to produce, frequently costing more than the value of the item to be supported and displayed, and are generally manufactured to display only flat objects of a single specific size, such as photographs of a single size.
Examples of the second category include U.S. Pat. No. 4,199,126 to Komendowski, and U.S. Pat. No. 8,100,376 to Ye. This category of support stand is typically comprised of multiple parts, is bulky and expensive to produce, and is not easily foldable flat for shipping and storage.
An example of the third category is U.S. Pat. No. 5,056,250 to Weissleder. This type of stand is not easily used to display successive objects of different sizes and, due to the use of a curvature in the easel, is not adequately strong to support heavier objects, nor is it easily stored in a generally flat configuration for shipment or when not in use.
Examples of the fourth category include U.S. Pat. No. 5,092,555 to Best, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,211,791, also to Best. The '555 patent discloses a support stand formed from a rectangular piece of card stock, requires use of transparent laminate sheets affixed to the front and back of a photograph to be displayed, and does not teach use of the support stand for supporting items other than photographs. Due to use of rectangular support means and use of the laminates, Best '555 can be costly to manufacture.
Best '791 teaches alternate embodiments of a support stand. The first embodiment, like Best '555, requires the use of transparent laminate sheets affixed to the front and back sides of a photograph to be displayed. Essentially, both the Best '555 patent and the first embodiment taught in Best '791 teach constructing a do-it-yourself picture frame. The second Best '791 embodiment teaches collapsing part of the support stand, while still attached to the photograph, to make it flatten against the rear of the photograph for storage or mailing, and then bending it back into place. Such collapsing and bending tends to weaken an essential structural element of the support.
Both the Best '555 and '791 patents teach use of a permanent adhesive for attaching the stand to either the rear laminate sheet or directly to the back of the photograph being displayed. Therefore, attempts to remove any of the Best support stands can damage either the laminate backing or the item being displayed.


Disclosed herein is a latch circuit including a switching circuit for switching output/non-output of an externally inputted external signal based on a predetermined control signal, a state retaining circuit for inputting a signal outputted from the switching circuit as an input signal, and retaining the state of the logical level of an output signal that is outputted based on the input signal, and a clear circuit for changing the logical level of the input signal to a clear level based on a clear signal.

1. Field
The embodiments discussed herein are directed to a latch circuit having a clear function capable of clearing an output signal without being depended on by an externally inputted external signal, a flip-flop circuit including the latch circuit, and a logic circuit.
2. Description of the Related Art
FIG. 1 shows a circuit configuration of a conventional D flip-flop (DFF) circuit 101. As shown in FIG. 1, the DFF circuit 101 includes: a master circuit 110 disposed on the input-side and which constitutes a D latch circuit; and a slave circuit 112 disposed on the output-side and which constitutes a D latch circuit. The master circuit 110 has an input terminal connected to an input section 102 to which an external signal D is externally inputted and an output terminal connected to the input terminal of the slave circuit 112. The output terminal of the slave circuit 112 is connected to an output section 104 from which an output signal Q is outputted.
The master circuit 110 includes: a gated inverter circuit 103 whose input terminal is connected to the input section 102; and a state retaining circuit 106 whose input terminal is connected to the output terminal of the gated inverter circuit 103 and whose output terminal becomes the output terminal of the master circuit 110. The gated inverter circuit 103 is arranged so that output/non-output of a first inversion signal whose phase is inverted by 180 degrees with respect to the external signal D is switchable based on clock signals CLK, CLKX as control signals.
The state retaining circuit 106 includes an inverter circuit 105 and a gated inverter circuit 107. The first inversion signal is inputted from the gated inverter circuit 103 to the inverter circuit 105. In addition, the inverter circuit 105 is arranged to output a second inversion signal whose phase is inverted by 180 degrees with respect to the first inversion signal to the gated inverter circuit 107 and the slave circuit 112. The gated inverter circuit 107 is arranged so that output/non-output of a third inversion signal whose phase is inverted by 180 degrees with respect to the second inversion signal is switchable based on the clock signals CLK, CLKX.
The gated inverter circuit 107 operates so as to non-output/output the third inversion signal in synchronization with the output/non-output of the gated inverter circuit 103. Therefore, when the gated inverter circuit 103 is in a non-output state, the gated inverter circuit 107 connects a signal retaining path linking the input and output terminals of the inverter circuit 105. As a result, a latch loop is formed by the inverter circuit 105 and the gated inverter circuit 107 within the state retaining circuit 106. The first inversion signal inputted to the inverter circuit 105 and the third inversion signal outputted by the gated inverter circuit 107 are in phase with each other. Therefore, the state retaining circuit 106 continues to retain the state of the logical level of the second inversion signal as long as the latch loop is formed and the gated inverter circuit 103 is in a non-output state.
As shown in FIG. 1, the configuration of the slave circuit 112 is similar to that of the master circuit 110. The slave circuit 112 includes a gated inverter circuit 109 and a state retaining circuit 108. The gated inverter circuit 109 corresponds to the gated inverter circuit 103 of the master circuit 110, while the state retaining circuit 108 corresponds to the state retaining circuit 106 of the master circuit 110. The state retaining circuit 108 includes an inverter circuit 111 and a gated inverter circuit 113. The inverter circuit 111 corresponds to the inverter circuit 105 of the state retaining circuit 106. The gated inverter circuit 113 corresponds to the gated inverter circuit 107 of the state retaining circuit 106.
The second inversion signal outputted from the master circuit 110 is inputted to the gated inverter circuit 109. The inverter circuit 111 outputs a fourth inversion signal whose phase is inverted by 180 degrees with respect to the second inversion signal to the output section 104. The fourth inversion signal becomes the output signal Q.
FIG. 2 shows a circuit configuration of a conventional clear function-added DFF circuit 201. As shown in FIG. 2, the clear function-added DFF circuit 201 includes NOR circuits 115 and 117, having one of the respective terminals thereof connected to a clear input section 116 to which a clear signal CLR is inputted, in place of the inverter circuits 105 and 111 of the DFF circuit 101. When a high-level clear signal CLR is inputted, the clear function-added DFF circuit 201 is able to clear an output signal Q to a low level without being depended on by the logical level of an external signal D.
FIG. 3 shows a circuit configuration of a conventional clear function-added D latch circuit 301. As shown in FIG. 3, the clear function-added D latch circuit 301 includes: a gated inverter circuit 121 whose input terminal is connected to an input section 102 to which an external signal D is inputted; and a state retaining circuit 130 whose input terminal is connected to an output terminal of the gated inverter circuit 121 and whose output terminal is connected to an output section 104 from which an output signal Q is outputted. The state retaining circuit 130 includes a NOR circuit 123 having: one input terminal to which a clear signal CLR is inputted; another input terminal to which the output signal of the gated inverter circuit 121 is inputted; and an output terminal that becomes the output terminal of the state retaining circuit 130. The state retaining circuit 130 further includes a gated inverter circuit 125 having: an input terminal connected to the output terminal of the NOR circuit 123; and an output terminal connected to the input terminal of the NOR circuit 123.
The gated inverter circuit 121 includes p-type complimentary metal-oxide semiconductors (PMOSFETs) 131, 133 and n-type MOSFETs (NMOSFETs) 135, 137 connected in series between a power supply terminal to which a power supply voltage VDD is applied and a ground terminal that becomes a reference potential VSS. The external signal D is respectively inputted to gate terminals of the PMOSFET 131 and the NMOSFET 137. A clock signal CLK is inputted to a gate terminal of the PMOSFET 133. A clock signal CLKX is inputted to a gate terminal of the NMOSFET 135.
The NOR circuit 123 includes: PMOSFETs 141, 143 and an NMOSFET 145 connected in series between the power supply terminal and the ground terminal; and an NMOSFET 147 connected in parallel with the NMOSFET 145. The output signal of the gated inverter circuit 121 is respectively inputted to gate terminals of the PMOSFET 143 and the NMOSFET 145. The clear signal CLR is respectively inputted to gate terminals of the PMOSFET 141 and the NMOSFET 147.
The gated inverter circuit 125 includes PMOSFETs 151, 153 and NMOSFETs 155, 157 connected in series between the power supply terminal and the ground terminal. The output signal of the NOR circuit 123 is respectively inputted to gate terminals of the PMOSFET 151 and the NMOSFET 157. The clock signal CLKX is inputted to a gate terminal of the PMOSFET 153 while the clock signal CLK is inputted to a gate terminal of the NMOSFET 155.
At the clear function-added D latch circuit 301, when a high-level clear signal CLR is inputted, the PMOSFET 141 changes to an off-state and disconnects the connection between the power supply terminal and the output terminal of the NOR circuit 123, and the NMOSFET 147 changes to an on-state and connects the output terminal of the NOR circuit 123 with the ground terminal. As a result, the output signal Q is cleared to a low level without being depended on by the logical level of the external signal D.
FIG. 4 shows another circuit configuration of a conventional clear function-added DFF circuit 201. The clear function-added DFF circuit 201 shown in FIG. 4 includes: transfer gate circuits 161, 171 in place of the gated inverter circuits 103, 109 of the clear function-added DFF circuit 201 shown in FIG. 2; and NAND circuits 163, 173 respectively having one input terminal to which a clear signal CLR is inputted in place of the NOR circuits 115, 117. Furthermore, the clear function-added DFF circuit 201 shown in FIG. 4 includes: a transfer gate circuit 165 and an inverter circuit 167 in place of the gated inverter circuit 107 of the clear function-added DFF circuit 201 shown in FIG. 2; and a transfer gate circuit 175 and an inverter circuit 177 in place of the gated inverter circuit 113.
As shown in FIG. 4, output terminals of the NAND circuits 163, 173 are respectively connected to the input terminals of the inverter circuits 167, 177. Output terminals of the inverter circuits 167, 177 are respectively connected to input terminals of the transfer gate circuits 165, 175. Output terminals of the transfer gate circuits 165, 175 are respectively connected to the other input terminals of the NAND circuits 163, 173.
At the clear function-added DFF circuit 201, when a low-level clear signal CLR is inputted, the output signals of the NAND circuits 163, 173 assume a constant high logical level. As a result, the output signal Q may be cleared to a high level regardless of the logical level of the external signal D.
FIG. 5 shows another circuit configuration of a conventional clear function-added D latch circuit 301. The clear function-added D latch circuit 301 shown in FIG. 5 includes: a transfer gate circuit 181 in place of the gated inverter circuit 121 of the clear function-added D latch circuit 301 shown in FIG. 3; and a NAND circuit 183 having one input terminal to which a clear signal CLR is inputted in place of the NOR circuit 123. In addition, the clear function-added D latch circuit 301 shown in FIG. 5 includes a transfer gate circuit 185 and an inverter circuit 187 in place of the gated inverter circuit 125 of the clear function-added D latch circuit 301 shown in FIG. 3.
The transfer gate circuit 181 includes a PMOSFET 191 and an NMOSFET 193 connected in parallel. A clock signal CLK is inputted to the gate terminal of the PMOSFET 191, while a clock signal CLKX is inputted to the gate terminal of the NMOSFET 193. Source terminals of the PMOSFET 191 and the NMOSFET 193 are connected to each other, and an external signal D is inputted thereto. Drain terminals of the PMOSFET 191 and the NMOSFET 193 are connected to each other, and an output signal is outputted therefrom.
The NAND circuit 183 includes: a PMOSFET 213 and NMOSFETs 215, 217 connected in series between the power supply terminal and the ground terminal; and a PMOSFET 211 connected in parallel with the PMOSFET 213. The output signal of the transfer gate circuit 181 is respectively inputted to gate terminals of the PMOSFET 213 and the NMOSFET 215. The clear signal CLR is respectively inputted to gate terminals of the PMOSFET 211 and the NMOSFET 217.
The inverter circuit 187 includes a PMOSFET 221 and an NMOSFET 223 connected in series between the power supply terminal and the ground terminal. The output signal of the NAND circuit 183 is inputted to gate terminals of the PMOSFET 221 and the NMOSFET 223. An inversion signal is outputted from drain terminals of the PMOSFET 221 and the NMOSFET 223.
The transfer gate circuit 185 includes a PMOSFET 195 and an NMOSFET 197 connected in parallel. A clock signal CLKX is inputted to a gate terminal of the PMOSFET 195. A clock signal CLK is inputted to a gate terminal of the NMOSFET 197. Source terminals of the PMOSFET 195 and the NMOSFET 197 are mutually connected and are connected to the output terminal of the inverter circuit 187, while drain terminals thereof are mutually connected and are connected to the other input terminal of the NAND circuit 183.
At the clear function-added D latch circuit 301, when a low-level clear signal CLR is inputted, the NMOSFET 217 changes to an off-state and disconnects the connection between the ground terminal and the output terminal of the NOR circuit 123, and the PMOSFET 211 changes to an on-state and connects the output terminal of the NOR circuit 123 with the power supply terminal. As a result, an output signal Q is cleared to a high level without being depended on by the logical level of an external signal D.

Latch circuit, flip-flop circuit including the same, and logic circuit


To improve performance, reliability and lifetime of a plasma-containing electro-optic display device, at least the cathode electrodes have hollows or wells within which plasma discharge occurs. This reduces the tendency of the electrode material to be sputter deposited on the walls of the device. In addition, cathode emission is improved by incorporating emitter materials into the electrodes, either by alloying or by surface coatings.

This invention relates to plasma display panels and plasma-addressed electro-optic display panels, such as plasma-addressed liquid crystal (PALC) display panels.
In a plasma display device, the electro-optic medium is a plasma-producing gas. That is, such a display device utilizes the visible radiation emitted from the glow discharge of a plasma to form the display, while a PALC display device utilizes the plasma as a switch to apply data voltages to pixels of a separate electro-optic medium, generally a liquid crystal (LC) material. Visible radiation provided by backlighting is modulated by the pixels in accordance with the data voltages to form the display. In both types of devices, the glow discharge or ignition is achieved by the application of a voltage applied across cathode and anode electrodes in a plasma chamber. Herein, the term "plasma-containing display device" is used to refer generically to both plasma and PALC display devices.
PALC display devices comprise, typically, a sandwich of: a first substrate having deposited on it parallel transparent column electrodes, commonly referred to as "ITO" columns or electrodes since indium-tin oxides are typically used, on which is deposited a color filter layer; a second substrate comprising parallel sealed plasma channels corresponding to rows of the display crossing all of the ITO columns each of which is filled with a low pressure ionizable gas, such as helium, and containing spaced cathode and anode electrodes along the channel for ionizing the gas to create a plasma, which channels are closed off by a thin transparent insulator; and an electro-optic material, such as a liquid crystal (LC) material, located between the substrates. The structure behaves like an active matrix liquid crystal display in which the thin film transistor switches at each pixel are replaced by a plasma channel acting as a row switch and capable of selectively addressing a row of LC pixel elements. In operation, successive lines of data signals representing an image to be displayed are sampled at column positions and the sampled data voltages are respectively applied to the ITO columns. All but one of the row plasma channels are in the de-ionized or non-conducting state. The plasma of the one ionized selected channel is conducting and, in effect, establishes a reference potential on the adjacent side of a row of pixels of the LC layer, causing each LC pixel to charge up to the applied column potential of the data signal. The ionized channel is turned off, isolating the LC pixel charge and storing the data voltage for a frame period. When the next row of data appears on the ITO columns, only the succeeding plasma channel row is ionized to store the data voltages in the succeeding row of LC pixels, and so on. As is well known, the attenuation of each LC pixel to backlight or incident light is a function of the stored voltage across the pixel. A more detailed description is unnecessary because the construction, fabrication, and operation of such PALC devices have been described in detail in the following publication, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference: Buzak et al., "A 16-Inch Full Color Plasma Addressed Liquid Crystal Display", Digest of Tech. Papers, 1993 SID Int. Symp., Soc. for Info. Displ. pp. 883-886.
One of the main difficulties encountered in such displays is cathode sputtering due to heavy ion bombardment during activation of the plasma. Such sputtering leads to deposition of the cathode electrode material on the inside walls of the display, thus reducing transmission and efficacy of the display.
In addition, the ideal plasma channel would allow a short plasma formation time at low voltages; a stable data setup and capture time; and a short plasma decay time.
The present state of the art uses Cr/Cu/Cr electrodes coated with a layer of LaB.sub.6 or GdB.sub.6, and a gas fill of pure helium in the plasma channels. With this arrangement, the plasma can be switched on within 3.mu.s by applying 350V between the anode and the cathode electrodes within the plasma channel. While such switching time is acceptable, the plasma remains in a conductive state much longer (18 82 s) than is required. This results in degradation of the signal on the LC pixel and does not allow time for the use of crosstalk reduction techniques. This can be improved by using gas mixtures that have more suitable decay times such as He--Ne. However, the electrode sputtering during the plasma state worsens with this and other gas mixtures and the lifetime of the display panel degrades. Moreover, the ignition voltage required (350V) leads to significant sputtering of electrode material.

Hollow cathodes with an I-beam or C-beam cross section for a plasma display device


A method for inhibiting silica scale formation in aqueous systems using selected low molecular weight (meth)acrylic or maleic acid based copolymers or terpolymers, magnesium ion alone, or the selected copolymers and terpolymers with aluminum ion or magnesium ion, or polyacrylic or polymaleic acid with aluminum ion or magnesium ion.

Silica is one of major fouling problems in many processes using water. Silica is difficult to deal with because it can assume many low solubility chemical forms depending on the conditions. Below about pH 7 for example, monomeric silica tends to polymerize to form oligomeric or colloidal silica. At higher pH's particularly above about pH 9.5, silica can form monomeric silicate ion. Since conversion can be slow, all of these forms may exist at any one time depending on the history of the system. Furthermore, the silicate ion can react with polyvalent cations like magnesium and calcium commonly present in process waters to produce salts with very limited solubility. Thus it is common for a mixture of many forms to be present: monomeric, oligomeric and colloidal silica; magnesium silicate, calcium silicate and other silicate salts. In describing this complex system, it is common practice to refer to the mixture merely as silica or as silica and silicate. Herein these terms are used interchangeably.
A further complication in controlling silica and silicate fouling is that colloidal silica tends to be more soluble as temperature is raised while polyvalent metal salts of the silicate ion tends to be less soluble with increasing temperature.
Two possible mechanisms for controlling silica or silicate salts from fouling or depositing on a surface during a process are: 1) inhibiting precipitation of the material from the process water, and 2) dispersing the material once it has formed in the bulk water to prevent it from attaching to surfaces. The exact mechanism by which a specific scale inhibitor functions, however, is not well understood. The additives of this invention may be operating by either or both of these routes.
Processes that would likely benefit from a material that could inhibit the deposition of silica or silicate salts from water are, for example: cooling water, boiler water, geothermal process to generate electricity or for heating, and sugar (particularly cane and beet) processing. In each of these processes, heat is transferred to or from the water. In three of these processes, cooling water, boiler water and sugar processing, heat is added to the water and evaporation of some of the water takes place. As the water is evaporated the silica (or silicates) will concentrate. If the silica concentration exceeds its solubility, it can deposit to form either a vitreous coating or an adherent scale that can normally be removed only by laborious mechanical or chemical cleaning. In geothermal processes, hot water laden with silica or silicates is used to heat homes or factories or is converted to steam to drive a turbine and generate electricity. At some point in each of the above four processes, heat is extracted from the water, making any dissolved silicate less soluble and thus likely to deposit on surfaces.
The current practice in each of these four processes is to mechanically limit the amount of silica or silicates that build up in the water so that the catastrophic consequences of deposition of these compounds does not occur. For example in cooling water, the accepted practice is to limit the amount of silica or silicates to about 180 ppm, expressed as SiO.sub.2. In addition, deposition of CaCO.sub.3 (which can act as a nucleating agent for silica or silicates to deposit upon) is controlled by well known inhibitors such as phosphonates or polymers such as polyacrylic acid or polymaleic acid. Reportedly, the current best available polymer for control of silica or silicates in cooling water is polymaleic acid of about 1000-1300 weight average molecular weight. Because the silica is limited to 180 ppm and because in many arid areas of the U.S. and other parts of the world make-up water may contain from 50-90 ppm silica, cooling water can only be concentrated 2 to 3 times before the risk of silica or silicate deposition becomes too great. A polymer that would enable greater re-use or cycling of this silica-limited cooling water would be a great benefit to these areas.
Similarly in boiler water, the American Society of Mechanical Engineers recommends that silica be limited to certain levels depending on the operating pressure of the boiler. For example, in low pressure boilers (less than 300 psig) the amount of silica, as SiO.sub.2, should be kept below 150 ppm. As the pressure is raised, the level of silica that can be tolerated in the recirculating boiler water becomes progressively less. A polymer that would enable boilers to operate at higher cycles of concentration, particularly low pressure boilers where silica volatilization is not a great concern, would allow more energy-efficient use of the heated water.
In sugar production, especially cane sugar where silica levels are highest, the sugar evaporators are cleaned after about 2-3 months to prevent excessive deposition of silica. The cleaning normally involves a vigorous mechanical brushing with harsh chemicals to remove the silica and other salts. An inhibitor that could extend the length of the sugar evaporation processing between cleanings or that would make the cleaning less ardous would extend the life of the evaporators and increase their output during a season.
Geothermal process presently control the temperature drop as a means of preventing the deposition of silica on equipment surfaces. An inhibitor that limits silica deposition would allow the temperature drop in this process to be greater, and allow more efficient use of the heat in the geothermally produced water.
In addition to preventing fouling of surfaces with silica or silicates, an inhibitor or dispersant for this foulant would allow the use of higher levels of silica/silicates for corrosion control. In potable water, silicates are added to the water to prevent "red water" from corrosion of water mains made of ferrous metals. In cooling water, an inhibitor has long been sought after that would enable silica to be used as an a non-toxic corrosion inhibitor.
In enhanced oil recovery, silicates are added to the drive fluid to help move the oil through the formation. An effective silica-inhibitor would prevent the formation from being clogged with metal ion silicates, thus allowing the efficient recovery of the oil from the underground formation.
Other processes that have need of a silica or silicate inhibitor or dispersant are detergent applications such as laundering, cleaning and dishwashing. In laundering, the silica inhibitor would prevent incrusation or stiffening of the fabric by neutral silicates in the water or by silicates added to the detergent formulation as builders. An inhibitor would have the added benefit of preventing deposition of the silica or silicates on surfaces of the washing machine, such as heating elements and plumbing. In dishwashing, silicates are also added as builders and can produce scale and incrustation analogous to laundering.
(Meth)acrylic acid and maleic acid based polymers have long been used in water treatment. Co- and ter-polymers of (meth)acrylic acid with 2-acrylamido-2-methyl propane sulfonic acid (AMPS) in particular have been proposed for inhibiting sulfate, carbonate and phosphate scale as well as for other treatments like removing rust. For example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,332,904; 3,692,673; 3,709,815; 3,709,816; 3,928,196; 3,806,367 and 3,898,037 are directed to using AMPS containing polymers. GB No. 2,082,600 proposes an acrylic acid/AMPS/acrylamide polymer and WO No. 83/02607 and WO No. 83/02608 are directed to (meth)acrylic acid/AMPS copolymers as inhibitors of these scales.
In addition U.S. Pat. No. 4,711,725 disclosed the use of terpolymers of (meth)acrylic acid/AMPS/substituted acrylamides for inhibiting the precipitation of calcium phosphate.
The inhibition of silica and silicate scaling specifically has also been addressed in several publications. U.S. Pat. No. 4,029,577 is directed to the use of acrylic acid/hydroxylated lower alkyl acrylate copolymers to control a spectrum of scale imparting precipitates including magnesium and calcium silicates. U.S. Pat. No. 4,499,002 discloses (meth)acrylic/(meth)acrylamide/alkoxylated primary alcohol ester of (meth)acrylic acid for the same purpose. Japanese Patent Disclosures 61-107997 and 61-107998 are directed to polyacrylamide and selected (meth)acrylic acid copolymers to control silica scale.
The term copolymer is widely employed in publications, but not always with the same meaning, sometimes referring to a polymer from only two monomers and other times to a polymer from two or more. To avoid ambiguity, the term copolymer as used herein is defined as a polymer being derived from only two monomers and a terpolymer is a polymer derived from three or more monomers.
Despite the large number of publications in the area of scale inhibitors, none provide an effective method to control the troublesome silica and silicate scale. Limiting the level of silica introduced or allowed to accumulate in the aqueous system is still the primary method of dealing with the problem.
It is, therefore, an objective of this invention to provide a method that effectively inhibits silica depositions in aqueous systems.
It is an objective to provide a chemical method using additives to replace the mechanical techniques of dealing with silica scaling by limiting the concentration of silica allowed to build-up in the system or by the labor intensive removal of silica deposits.


In accordance with embodiments, there are provided mechanisms and methods for providing simplified form filling in an on-demand service in a database system. These mechanisms and methods can enable embodiments to provide users with an efficient form wizard for filling electronic forms. The ability of embodiments to provide a form wizard can enable users to efficiently accomplish the rapid filling of multiple forms without the need to scroll through the electronic forms and entering the same information repeatedly.

The subject matter discussed in the background section should not be assumed to be prior art merely as a result of its mention in the background section. Similarly, a problem mentioned in the background section or associated with the subject matter of the background section should not be assumed to have been previously recognized in the prior art. The subject matter in the background section merely represents different approaches, which in and of themselves may also be inventions.
In conventional sales application database systems, users access their data resources in one logical database. A user of such a conventional system typically retrieves data from and stores data on the system using the user's own systems. A user system might remotely access one of a plurality of server systems that might in turn access the database system. Data retrieval from the system might include the issuance of a query from the user system to the database system. The database system might process the request for information received in the query and send to the user system information relevant to the request. A user might enter data to be stored on the database system using the user's own systems. The efficient submittal, rapid retrieval, and subsequent delivery of this information to the user system have been and continue to be a goal of administrators of database systems.
Unfortunately, electronic form filling in conventional database systems can be time consuming and error prone. Electronic forms often contain mandatory fields requiring a user to input data on each occasion the electronic form is filled. Having to repeatedly fill in electronic forms manually with the same information is inefficient and prone to error.
Accordingly, it is desirable to provide techniques for enabling simplified form filling in an on-demand service in a database system in a manner that improves user efficiency and reduces errors.

Method and system for providing simplified form filling in an on-demand service


An optical disc apparatus which records and reproduces an information signal from an optical disc having land and groove tracks, whose width ratio being set to be 1 or to be a value close thereto, is capable of detecting a moving direction of a beam spot in a random access mode, by applying a four-division or six-division optical sensor, segmented by division lines tilted by 45.degree..+-.25.degree. from the track tangential direction, wherein two output signals having a phase difference of about 90.degree. are produced and the moving direction is detected.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to optical disc apparatuses and more particularly, to an optical disc apparatus which, when an optical disc is subjected to a random access operation to record/reproduce an information signal to/from a land/groove track on the optical disc, performs counting operation of the number of tracks and also performs discriminating operation between inner and outer peripheries of the optical disc.
2. Description of the Related Art
There has been rapidly studied and developed an external storage which has both of the high-speed accessibility of a magnetic disc for computer use and the large memory capacity of an optical disc. Optical disc apparatuses will be positively destined to lead the next generation.
FIG. 7 shows an exemplary arrangement of a paior art optical disc apparatus which includes a laser light source 51, a collimator lens 52, a composite prism 57, an objective lens 58, a convex lens 60, a beam splitter 61, an RF optical sensor 62, a two-division optical sensor 63, and amplifiers 64 and 65. The composite prism 57 has a wedge part 53, a polarization beam splitter part 54, a 45-degree mirror part 55, and a 1/4 wavelength plate 56.
Explanation will be made as to the operation of the above optical disc apparatus. A light beam emitted from the laser light source 51 is collimated by the collimator lens 52; then passed through the wedge part 53, polarization beam splitter part 54, 45-degree mirror part 55 and 1/4 wavelength plate 56 in this order; and then directed to the objective lens 58 to be focused on an optical disc 59. The light beam reflected by the optical disc 59 goes back to the 1/4 wavelength plate 56, where the reflected light beam is subjected to a circular polarization of rotation of a direction opposite to the incident light beam to the optical disc 59 to be converted to a linear polarization beam perpendicular to the incident beam, reflected by the 45-degree mirror part 55, and then directed into the polarization beam splitter part 54.
The incident light beam is called S wave for the polarization beam splitter part 54, where the incident light beam is deflected by an angle of 90 degrees, focused by the convex lens 60, partly reflected by the beam splitter 61, and then directed to the RF optical sensor 62; whereas, the remaining light beam is passed through the beam splitter 61, and then received by the two-division optical sensor 63 whose division line is parallel to a track tangential direction of the optical disc 59, so that the two-division optical sensor 63 generates a tracking error signal based on a so-called push-pull method. The RF optical sensor 62 detects an RF signal on the basis of 90-degree deflected light wave. Two electric signals delivered from two sensing elements A and B in the two-division optical sensor 63 are amplified by the amplifiers 64 and 65, and then output therefrom as output signals T.sub.A and T.sub.B.
FIGS. 8(A), 8(B), 8(C) and 8(D) show a relation between tracks of the optical disc 59 and a beam for explaining a way for counting tracks in a prior art land/groove optical disc. In detail, FIG. 8(A) shows a cross-sectional view of a part of the optical disc 59, in which L denotes a land and G denotes a groove. FIG. 8(B) shows a configuration of the beam focused on the land (L)/groove (G) with respect to the two sensing elements A and B of the two-element optical sensor 63. That is, the two-element optical sensor 63 is positioned so that the division line of the two-division optical sensor 63 is parallel to the track tangential direction 70 of the optical disc 59.
In FIG. 8(B), a white part 71 denotes the land (L) on the optical disc 59 and a hatched part 72 denotes the groove (G) on the optical disc 59. It is assumed in the drawing that the output signals T.sub.A and T.sub.B from the two sensing elements A and B in the two-division optical sensor 63 are arranged so that, for convenience of explanation, the output levels thereof are made large when the focused beam comes to the land part while are made small when the beam comes to the groove part. Then, in FIG. 8(B), when the focused beam moves transversely across the tracks toward a rightward direction in a random access mode, the output signal T.sub.A from one sensing element A is as shown by 73 in FIG. 8(C), while the output signal T.sub.B from the other sensing element B is shown by 74 in FIG. 8(D).
In the random access mode of the optical disc apparatus, a tracking error signal generated based on the output signals T.sub.A and T.sub.B varies whenever the light beam transverses each track. Thus, the optical disc apparatus, by counting the tracking error signal, can judge the number of tracks to reach on a target track and an optical head therein can move the focused light beam to the target track at a high speed.
According to the prior art optical disc apparatus mentioned above, when a width ratio of the optical disc between the land and groove is set to be 1:1 or to be a value close thereto for high density recording with respect to a disc radial direction and when the tracking error signal is detected by the two-division optical sensor 63, the two output signals T.sub.A and T.sub.B from the two sensing elements become to have a phase difference of about 180 degrees as shown by 73 and 74 in FIG. 8(C) and 8(D) in the random access mode. For the sake of the phase relationship, the prior art optical disc apparatus has a problem that the apparatus cannot judge on the basis of such a resultant tracking error signal whether the focused beam is moving toward the inner peripheral side of the optical disc or toward the outer peripheral side thereof, which results in that, even when the apparatus counts the tracking error signal, the apparatus cannot judge a distance to the target track.

Optical disc apparatus with sensing circuitry to judge a movement direction of a beam spot


A present MEMS device includes: a semiconductor substrate in which a trench is formed; a functional element that is provided in the trench of the semiconductor substrate and includes a connection electrode; a structural member that forms a cavity surrounding the functional element; a lid portion that includes a conductive member electrically connected to the connection electrode and covers the cavity; an insulating layer that covers the main surface of the semiconductor substrate provided with the lid portion and a semiconductor circuit element; a first electrode that penetrates the insulating layer and is electrically connected to the conductive member; a second electrode that penetrates the insulating layer and is electrically connected to the semiconductor circuit element; and wiring that is provided on a surface of the insulating layer and brings the first electrode and the second electrode into electrical connection to each other.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to, for example, a MEMS (Micro Electro Mechanical Systems) device in which a functional element, such as a resonator, a sensor and an actuator, and/or an electronic circuit are integrated on one substrate, and a method of manufacturing such a MEMS device.
2. Related Art
For example, in a MEMS device that includes a resonator with capacitance as a functional element, the resonator is airtightly sealed, in a vacuum state, in a cavity formed in a substrate. Also, even in the case of a functional element that does not require airtight vacuum seal, the functional element is airtightly sealed in a cavity so as to prevent the influences of dust, moisture, and the like.
Traditionally, in a case where such a functional element and a semiconductor circuit element are integrated on one semiconductor substrate, a cavity is formed by providing the functional element on the semiconductor substrate and surrounding the functional element with an insulating film and the like. Therefore, the cavity obstructs formation of wiring on the semiconductor substrate via an insulating layer.
In such a MEMS device, a special process, such as wire bonding or TSV (Through Silicon Via), is used to electrically connect the functional element to the semiconductor circuit element. In an alternative case where connection can be realized using a standard semiconductor wafer process, an enormous restriction is imposed on routing of wiring for electrically connecting the functional element to the semiconductor circuit element. As a result, electrical connection between the functional element and the semiconductor circuit element becomes complicated, thereby triggering a decrease in a degree of freedom of design of the MEMS device and an increase in cost.
As a related technique, JP-A-2008-100325 (paragraphs 0004 to 0006, FIG. 8) discloses a MEMS and semiconductor composite circuit that realizes a structure which facilitates planarization of a layer structure provided on a semiconductor substrate, and which is resistant to the inter-influences between an element structure of a semiconductor element portion and a MEMS structural member. In this MEMS and semiconductor composite circuit, a MEMS trench structure and a boundary trench structure are formed in a surface layer portion of a semiconductor substrate. The MEMS trench structure is composed of a surface recessed portion for achieving element isolation for a MEMS structural member with respect to the semiconductor substrate, and an insulating member installed inside the surface recessed portion. The boundary trench structure is composed of a surface groove that is provided in an element boundary portion for achieving element isolation for a semiconductor element portion, and an insulating member installed inside the surface groove. A surface of the insulating member in the MEMS trench structure is constructed to be lower than a substrate surface of the semiconductor substrate, and the MEMS structural member is formed on the surface of the insulating member.
On the other hand, JP-T-2009-516346 (abstract, claim 9, FIG. 1) discloses an electronic device that has a MEMS element in a cavity. This electronic device has a substrate of a semiconductor material with a first side and an opposite second side, and a MEMS element which is provided with a fixed electrode and a movable electrode. The movable electrode is formed in a closed cavity and is movable towards and from the fixed electrode between a first gapped position and a second position. The cavity is opened through etching holes in the substrate that are exposed on the second side of the substrate, the electrodes are coupled to contact pads on the first side, and a resin layer is present between the electrodes of the MEMS element and the contact pads. The substrate is provided with a packaging portion on the second side through which the etching holes extend, and the cavity is at least partially present between the movable electrode and the packaging portion.
JP-A-2008-100325 (paragraphs 0004 to 0006, FIG. 8) and JP-T-2009-516346 (abstract, claim 9, FIG. 1) are examples of related art.
JP-A-2008-100325 (paragraphs 0004 to 0006, FIG. 8) and JP-T-2009-516346 (abstract, claim 9, FIG. 1) disclose formation of a MEMS trench structure and a cavity in a semiconductor substrate, and provision of a MEMS element in the cavity. However, as the MEMS element extends in a region that is higher than a main surface of the substrate, a part of the cavity surrounding the MEMS element is formed in the region that is higher than the main surface of the substrate, thereby obstructing formation of wiring on the substrate via an insulating layer.

MEMS device and method of manufacturing the same