An image reading apparatus that is connectable with one or more image forming apparatuses and able to configure a copy system together with the image forming apparatuses connected thereto, comprises an instruction receiving unit that receives an instruction to shift to a copy mode; and an instruction transmitting unit that transmits a releasing instruction to release a power saving state to at least one of the image forming apparatuses, when the instruction receiving unit receives the instruction to shift to the copy mode.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image reading apparatus and a control method for an image forming apparatus, and particularly relates to an image reading apparatus which is able to configure a copy system together with an image forming apparatus connected thereto, and a method of controlling an image forming apparatus from the image reading apparatus connected thereto.
2. Description of the Related Arts
In recent years, there have been provided a variety of image reading apparatuses such as scanners and image forming apparatuses such as printers, spanning from expensive and sophisticated apparatuses to inexpensive and non-sophisticated apparatuses.
Accordingly, in addition to a typical way of connecting these the image reading apparatus and image forming apparatus to an information processing apparatus such as a personal computer, there has been an increased number of cases in which an image reading apparatus is directly connected to an image forming apparatus to use them as a copy system.
Referring to a flowchart in FIG. 5 illustrating the operation of a conventional image reading apparatus, the conventional image reading apparatus operated as a part of a copy system will now be described.
Upon receiving from a user a mode shift instruction to shift to the copy mode (YES in step 501), the image reading apparatus presents a list of image forming apparatuses which are selectable as an output destination, from among the image forming apparatuses connected to the image reading apparatus (step 502).
Upon one of the image forming apparatuses being selected as the output destination by the user (YES in step 503), the image reading apparatus transmits, to the selected image forming apparatus, a return instruction to instruct the same to return from the power saving state (step 504).
Upon receiving from the user an instruction to execute copying (YES in step 505), the image reading apparatus reads an original document to generate image data (step 506), and transmits the generated image data to the selected image forming apparatus (step 507) to complete the processing.
Therefore, in such conventional copy system, in general, an image forming apparatus has to be designated first, and then the image reading apparatus releases the power saving state of the designated image forming apparatus.
An example of techniques to control the power saving state of the image forming apparatus is described in Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2000-94794.
However, in the conventional copy system, as described above, an image forming apparatus has to be designated as an output destination by a user before releasing the power saving state of the image forming apparatus. Therefore, even after giving an instruction to perform copying, the user is unable to obtain output until the image forming apparatus becomes ready to operate. Such copy system cannot be considered user-friendly.

Image reading apparatus and control method for image forming apparatus for reducing operator wait time


The invention relates to a clock signal synchronizing method, and to a clock signal synchronizing device for synchronizing clock signals. In particular the device and method synchronizes a clock signal used internally in a memory chip with a clock signal input externally into the memory chip.

With semiconductor devices, in particular with memory devices such as DRAMS (DRAM=Dynamic Random Access Memory or dynamic read-write memory, respectively)—based e.g. on CMOS technology—so-called clock signals are used for coordinating the processing or advancing, respectively, of the data with respect to time.
In the case of conventional semiconductor devices, an individual clock signal—that is applied at an individual line—is, in general, used (i.e. a so-called "single-ended" clock signal).
The data may then be advanced e.g. at the rising clock edge of the individual clock signal (or, alternatively, e.g. at the falling clock edge of the individual clock signal).
Furthermore, so called DDR devices, in particular DDR-DRAMs (DDR-DRAM=Double Data Rate-DRAM or DRAM with double data rate, respectively), are already known in prior art.
In the case of DDR devices—instead of one individual clock signal applied at an individual line ("single-ended clock signal)—two differential, oppositely-inverse clock signals applied on two separate lines are used.
Whenever e.g. the first clock signal of the two clock signals changes from a state "logically high" (e.g. a high voltage level) to a state "logically low" (e.g. a low voltage level), the second clock signal changes—substantially simultaneously—its state from "logically low" to "logically high" (e.g. from a low to a high voltage level).
Vice versa, whenever the first clock signal changes from a state "logically low" (e.g. a low voltage level) to a state "logically high" (e.g. a high voltage level), the second clock signal (again substantially simultaneously) changes its state from "logically high" to "logically low" (e.g. from a high voltage level to a low voltage level).
In DDR devices, the data are, in general, advanced both at the rising edge of the first clock signal and at the rising edge of the second clock signal (or both at the falling edge of the first clock signal and at the falling edge of the second clock signal, respectively).
Thus, advancing of the data in a DDR device is performed more frequently or more quickly, respectively (in particular twice as frequent or twice as quick, respectively) than with corresponding, conventional devices with an individual or "single-ended" clock signal, i.e., the data rate is higher, in particular twice as high, as with corresponding, conventional devices.
The clock signal used—internally—in the device for coordinating the processing or advancing, respectively, of the data with respect to time ("DQS signal or "data strobe" signal, respectively) (or—when differential, oppositely-inverse clock signals are used—the internal clock signal DQS and the clock signal BDQS that is oppositely-inverse to the clock signal DQS) must be synchronous to a clock signal ("CLK signal or "clock" signal, respectively) input externally into the device (or synchronous to the differential clock signals CLK, BCLK input externally into the device, respectively).
The external clock signal(s) CLK, BCLK is/are generated by an appropriate clock signal generator connected with the device.
For synchronizing the internally generated clock signal DQS or the internally generated clock signals DQS, BDQS, respectively, with the external clock signal(s) CLK, BCLK, a clock signal synchronizing device, e.g. a DLL circuit (DLL=Delay-Locked-Loop) is used. Such a circuit is, for instance, known from EP 964 517.
A clock signal synchronizing device may, for instance, include a first delay module into which the external clock signal(s) CLK, BCLK is/are input, and which charges the input external clock signal(s) CLK, BCLK—as a function of a control signal output by a phase comparator—with a variable control time tvar that is adjustable by the control signal.
The signal(s) output by the first delay module may be used—internally—in the device for coordinating the processing or advancing, respectively, of the data with respect to time (i.e. as—internal—clock signal(s) DQS or BDQS, respectively).
The signal DQS output by the first delay module is supplied to a second delay module that charges the input signal DQS with a—fixed—delay time tconst corresponding approximately to the sum of the signal delays caused by the receiver(s) ("receiver delay"), the respective data path ("data path delay"), and the off-chip driver(s) ("OCD delay").
The signal output by the second delay module (FB signal or "feedback signal", respectively) is supplied to the above-mentioned phase comparator; there, the phasing of the FB signal is compared to that of the CLK signal that has also been input into the phase comparator. Depending on whether the phase of the FB signal hurries ahead or runs after that of the CLK signal, the phase comparator outputs—as a control signal for the above-mentioned first delay module—an incrementing signal (INC signal) or a decrementing signal (DEC signal), which result in that the delay tvar of the CLK signal effected by the first delay module is—in the case of an INC signal—increased, or—in the case of a DEC signal—decreased, so that the CLK signal and the FB signal are finally synchronized, i.e. the clock signal synchronizing device is "locked".
In the locked state of the clock signal synchronizing device, a filter—connected between the phase comparator and the first delay module—may be activated, which forwards the INC or DEC signal to the first signal delay module only when for a particular number of successive clocks—e.g. defined by the clock signals CLK, BCLK—(e.g. 16 successive clocks) one and the same signal is output by the phase comparator (e.g. for 16 successive clocks an INC signal, or for 16 successive clocks a DEC signal).
By that—in the locked state of the clock signal synchronizing device—jitter in the clock signal DQS output by the clock signal synchronizing device may be avoided, while—from time to time (namely, when the INC or DEC signal is forwarded from the filter to the first signal delay module)—resynchronizing of the clock signal DQS with respect to the clock signal CLK can nevertheless be ensured.
However, e.g. when—during the locked state of the clock signal synchronizing device—the frequency of the CLK signal changes, it may take a relatively long time until the CLK signal and the DQS signal are synchronized again.

Clock signal synchronizing device, and clock signal synchronizing method


Novel detergent molecules and methods for producing such detergent molecules by dimerizing and alkoxylating butadiene with one or more reactant alkanol selected from the group consisting of a primary alkanol and an α, ω-diol, hydrogenating the alkoxydimerization product to produce a hydrogenation product selected from the group consisting of primarily 1-alkoxy substituted 2-octene and primarily 1-hydroxy-alkoxyoctane, and hydroxylating the 1-alkoxy substituted 2-octene to produce primarily 1-hydroxy-9-alkoxy nonanes.

Detergent alcohols generally have been made by oligomerizing ethylene to produce olefins having a desired number of carbon atoms, and then producing a primary detergent range alcohol from the resulting olefins. The detergent range alcohols are produced by a number of commercial processes, such as by oxo or hydroformylation of long chain olefins. Unfortunately, ethylene is a relatively expensive starting material. In addition, preparation of long chain olefins by olefin oligomerization is not amenable to fine tuning to produce only those olefins or alcohols demanded by clients.
Methods for producing a controllable slate of detergent molecules are needed which do not necessarily rely on ethylene as a starting material.

Process for producing detergent molecules comprising an ether linkage from butadiene


A water purification device mounted within a housing adapted to be positioned on an existing water cooler/dispenser has a valve control member extending from the base of the housing and is positionable within the water reservoir of the dispenser to control the release of purified water from the device to the reservoir. The device includes a feedwater tank into which supply water is fed, either automatically, or manually. The feedwater tank, when the water is above a minimal level, feeds water to an anti-backflow control housing which communicates the water from the feedwater tank to the bottom of a boiler which is maintained at the same level as the water in the feedwater tank without the use of a float within the boiler. The anti-backflow housing includes a check valve in the form of a ball that prevents the backflow of heated water from the boiler into the feedwater tank. The boiler is connected to condenser coils for condensing vaporized water from the boiler to form distilled water which is directed through a carbon filter to a distillate storage tank where the purified water is stored until required by the water cooler/dispenser. Controls are provided for the device.

This invention generally relates to a portable water purifier for purifying and storing drinking water, and more particularly to a purifier positionable on an existing conventional water cooling and dispensing unit.
Concern over drinking water purity and taste have prompted alternative sources of supply other than that supplied by processed tap water. This concern has been fueled by widely publicized reports of water pollution and by tap water often containing large amounts of water treatment chemicals, minerals and other matter.
One attempt to deal with this problem is the increased use of bottled waters. Sales of bottled waters which have increased substantially in recent years generally consists of a single serving to a one gallon container sold in retail establishments, and of larger containers, e.g., 5 gallon containers, sold for use with water cooler dispensers. Bottled cool water dispensers are extremely popular for both residential and commercial use because cold drinking water may be dispensed from generally a three to five gallon bottle without the need for plumbing. However, such bottled waters are expensive, and changing and storing large heavy and cumbersome bottles is burdensome.
Several problems with the quality of bottled waters also have been discovered and publicized recently. At the present time, bottled waters are not subject to the same governmental regulation and scrutiny as tap water. Under these circumstances, the consumer can never be sure of the source or quality of the purchased water. Actually, some bottled waters are merely bottled tap water. Even bottled water from other sources is subject to contamination from the source, during processing, or from the bottle itself.
Bottled waters can readily become contaminated by airborne bacteria and viruses during the dispensing operation by the introduction of ambient air drawn inside the bottle as the water is dispensed. Further, the stagnant storage of bottled water allows bacteria to grow unchecked. A recent study has shown counts as high as 300,000 bacteria per milliliter from some bottled water. Discoveries of dangerous chemicals and extremely high levels of bacteria in bottled waters has led many to the conclusion that bottled water may be no more pure, or sometimes even less pure, than ordinary tap water. Such problems with tap and bottled water have revealed a need and desire for water treatment at the point of use.
Several point of use treatment alternatives exist to tap and bottled water and are well known in the art. One such alternative is the use of carbon filtration. Carbon filters use activated charcoal to remove impurities consisting mostly of organic compounds and to improve the taste of water. Carbon filters, however, are generally ineffective in removing most inorganic compounds such as lead and arsenic.
Another alternative known in the art is the use of reverse osmosis to treat the water. Reverse osmosis units use a sediment prefilter. These units however, have a tendency to become clogged by high levels of hardness minerals and thus are not feasible for some geographic locations. Other problems with reverse osmosis include the waste of approximately 80% of the feedwater, the great expense of replacement membranes and the requirement of pressurized water feed lines and water drain lines which eliminates portability.
Another alternative point of use water treatment method is distillation. Distillation devices purify water by boiling water to generate steam, and then condense the steam to form water free from such contaminants. The contaminants having a vaporization temperature higher than that of water remain in the boiling pot, while solvents which have a boiling point lower than water may be separated from the steam by venting before condensation. The distillation process is more effective in removing impurities than reverse osmosis and does not have the problem of water waste.
Distillation devices may be portable, without the need for pressurized feed lines and drain lines or non-portable which require feed lines to supply water. Distillation alone, however, is relatively ineffective in removing volatile chemicals such as benzene and chlorine.
Existing portable distillers and most non-portable devices have failed to adequately deal with the problem of scale deposits in, and cleaning of, the boiling pot, as for example, the portable distillation device shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,342,623 which has no provision to inhibit scale build-up. Other prior art portable distillation devices have a removable boiling pot, but require partial disassembly of the unit for removal of the boiling pot. Additionally, the known distillation units include a float valve within the boiling pot or tank, such as U.S. Pat. No. 4,943,353 which is thus exposed to the build-up of scale. When excessive scale deposits occur failure of the float valve may result which may cause an overheating situation and a system failure.
Distillation units in the prior art are of the type wherein the water is distilled and captured for subsequent use, such as illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 4,342,623; of the type wherein uncooled water may be dispensed as illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 4,622,102; or of the type wherein the distillation unit is coupled with refrigeration such as illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 3,055,810. As aforesaid, bottled water dispensers are extremely popular. It would thus be advantageous to replace the water bottles of such containers with a less expensive and purer water source such as an efficient distillation unit.


A mattress cover comprising a top panel for fitting in overlaying relationship to the top surface of a mattress with the top panel having corner pockets secured to each of the corners thereof. Each of the corner pockets comprise first and second pocket portions with the first pocket portion having a general trapezoidal shape and with the second pocket portion having a generally triangular-shaped configuration. The upper edge of the first pocket portion is secured to the top panel and the side edges of the second pocket portion are secured to the bottom edge of the first pocket portion. An elastic member is secured to the side portions and the bottom portion of the first and second portions, respectively.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a mattress cover and more particularly to a mattress cover having corner pockets for receiving the corners of a mattress.
2. Description of the Related Art
Mattress covers have been employed for many years to be positioned between the upper surface of a mattress and a bottom sheet to not only pad the mattress, but also to provide protection thereto. Many different types of mattress pads have been provided in an effort to provide a mattress cover which is easily secured to the mattress and which remains in place during use. Although many types of prior art mattresses have been previously provided, many of the mattress pads are complicated in design and therefore are quite expensive to manufacture. Further, the prior art mattress pads are not believed to be able to accommodate mattresses of varying thicknesses.


A Wavelength Division Multiplexing (WDM) transceiver includes a Wavelength Multiplexer/Demultiplexer (WM/D) having a plurality of inputs (N) and N Amplified Light Emitting (ALED) devices, each ALED device transmitting a wideband optical signal to and receiving an optical signal from a different one of the N inputs of the WM/D transceiver. During transmission, the WM/D selects different wavelengths from ALED signals at each of the N inputs and multiplexes them together into a combined signal at its output. During receiving, the WM/D demultiplexes different wavelengths from a signal received at its output and sends the different wavelengths to each of the N inputs. A WDM system is formed using two WDM transceivers which are connected over an optical link and which alternately transmit and receive signals.

The complexity and cost of local access networks can be significantly decreased by using the dual capability of semiconductor light sources to both emit and detect light. Based on this property, a very simple full-duplex communication system can be realized with a single fiber connected at both ends to a single optical device, which operates as a transceiver, transmitting and photodetecting alternatively, in the so called "ping-pong" mode. A local access network based on this principle has been recently reported by T. Kurosaki, et al, "Dynamic Properties of 1.3 .mu.m Semi-insulating BH Light-Emission-and-Detection (LEAD)-diode for Subscriber TCM Transmission Systems", Elec. Letters, vol. 31, February 1995, pp. 189-191. That system uses a laser transmitter in a Time-Division Multiplex (TDM) arrangement with a star coupler to multiplex a plurality of links together in the same fiber. Undesirably, because of the multiplexing technique used, each link must be modulated at a relatively high bit rate to transmit signals in assigned time slots and consequently the power budget and required receiver sensitivity must be increased accordingly. In addition, TDM imposes very stringent synchronization requirements between the upstream links. What is needed is a simple local access network based on the "ping-pong" mode having none of the above problems.

Full-duplex wavelength division multiplexing system using single-device transceivers


A quick-release socket adapter includes a hollow elongated casing having a front end for holding a socket and a rear end for coupling to a ratchet socket wrench, a spring, a stop rod inserted into the casing and forced by the spring to push a steel ball partially out of a transverse hole on the front end of the casing to lock the socket being mounted on the front end of the casing, and a release control rod inserted through a transverse through hole on the casing and moved to lock/unlock the stop rod, the release control rod having a smoothly curved peripheral notch on the middle which receives a rounded head of the stop rod, enabling the steel ball to be forced out of the transverse bole on the front end of the casing into engagement with the socket being mounted on the front end of the casing.

The present invention relates to a socket adapter for coupling a socket to a ratchet socket wrench, and more particularly to a quick-release socket adapter which enables the loaded socket to be quickly released.
A variety of ratchet socket wrenches have been disclosed for grasping and turning bolts, nuts, etc., and have appeared on the market. FIG. 1 shows a conventional ratchet socket wrench for this purpose. When in use, the socket is coupled to the polygonal driving shaft of the ratchet socket wrench and secured thereto by a steel on in a radial hole on the polygonal driving shaft. When not in use, the socket is directly removed from the polygonal driving shaft of the ratchet socket wrench by force. FIG. 2 shows another structure of conventional ratchet socket wrench. This structure of ratchet socket wrench has a release button controlled to release the steel ball from the socket being coupled to the polygonal driving shaft of the ratchet socket wrench. FIGS. 3 and 4 show two socket adapters used for coupling a socket to a ratchet socket wrench. These two socket adapters commonly have a polygonal front end for holding a socket, and a steel ball moved in and out of a radial hole on the polygonal front end to lock the socket mounted on the polygonal front end. When not in use, the user must employ much effort to remove the loaded socket from the polygonal front end of the adapter. FIGS. 5, 6 and 7 show a socket adapter which enables the user to dismount the loaded socket with less effort. This structure of socket adapter comprises a longitudinal hole, a radial hole perpendicularly extended from the longitudinal hole to the periphery of the polygonal front end thereof, a rear coupling end for coupling to a ratchet socket wrench, a steel ball moved in and out of the radial hole for locking socket being mounted on the polygonal front end, a transverse hole intersecting the longitudinal hole, a stop rod inserted into the longitudinal hole, the stop rod having hooked portion at one end and a sliding way adjacent to the hooked portion, a spring mounted inside the longitudinal hole and stopped against one end of the stop rod, and a release control rod inserted into the transverse hole, the release control rod having a retaining portion for engagement with the hooked portion of the stop rod. The spring imparts a forward pressure to the stop rod, causing the hooked portion of the stop rod to be engaged with the retaining portion of the release control rod. When engaged, the steel ball is partially forced out of the radial hole to lock the loaded socket. When the release control rod is depressed, the stop rod is forced backwards to compress the spring, and to release the steel ball from the loaded socket, enabling the loaded socket to be removed from the polygonal front end of the adapter. This structure of socket adapter still has drawbacks. Because the location of the release control rod is near the polygonal front end and far away from the rear coupling end of the adapter, the user just holds the ratchet socket wrench with one hand and operate the release control rod with the other hand when unlocking the loaded socket. Another drawback of this structure of socket adapter is its complicated structure. Because the procedure of processing the retaining portion on the release control rod and the hooked portion and sliding way on the stop rod is complicated, the manufacturing cost of this structure of socket adapter is high.
It is one object of the present invention to provide a quick-release socket adapter for coupling a socket to a ratchet socket wrench which enables the loaded socket to be quickly released from the socket adapter. It is another object of the present invention to provide a quick-release socket adapter which can be conveniently operated with one hand to release the loaded socket. It is still another object of the present invention to provide a quick-release socket adapter which is inexpensive to manufacture. To achieve these and other objects of the present invention, three is provided a socket adapter comprised of a hollow elongated casing, the casing having a cylindrical base, a polygonal front end at one end of the cylindrical base for holding a socket, and a coupling portion at an opposite end of the cylindrical base for coupling to a ratchet socket wrench, a spring mounted inside the coupling portion of the casing, a stop rod inserted into the casing and forced by the spring to push a steel ball partially out of a transverse hole on the polygonal front end of the casing to lock the socket being mounted on the polygonal front end of the casing, and a release control rod inserted through a transverse through hole on the coupling portion of the casing and moved to lock/unlock the stop rod, the release control rod having a smoothly curved peripheral notch on the middle which receives a rounded head of the stop rod, enabling the steel ball to be forced out of the transverse hole on the polygonal front end of the casing into engagement with the socket being mounted on the polygonal front end of the casing.

Quick-release socket adapter for a ratchet socket wrench


According to the invention, a hollow silica bar (2) is produced with a thick wall and high geometrical precision, the bar is then cleaned and an oven (24) is used able to heat the silica to its melting temperature and with respect to which the bar is moved so as to embody an external thermic glazing of the bar, an internal vapor phase depositing a vitreous coating in this bar by making circulate inside it a mixture of suitable gaseous constituents, this coating being intended for the subsequent formation of the core of the optical fibers, and an area contraction of the bar, the various temperatures of the bar required to embody these operations being obtained by varying the temperature of the oven or speed of the bar with respect to the oven.

Existing methods to produce preforms for optical fibers are divided into two categories:
"external" methods making use of flame hydrolysis techniques, and
"internal" methods making use of a vapor phase oxidation reaction.
These existing internal methods use an internal vapor phase deposit inside a thin-walled silica tube (such as a tube with dimensions of 19.times.25, that is a tube whose internal diameter is 19 mm and external diameter is 25 mm) and have at least one of the following drawbacks:
optical fibers embodied from preforms obtained by these methods are relatively costly,
these optical fibers do not have extremely accurate geometrical characteristics, which in particular impairs the development of methods for connecting optical fibers, these methods being simple and less expensive to implement.
In particular, there exists a method frequently used for the production of preforms for optical fibers.
This method, known as a "modified chemical vapor deposition" method or MCVD, consists of coating the internal face of a thin-walled silica tube (conventionally a tube with dimensions of 19.times.25) with a suitable vitreous coating by means of a vapor phase oxidation reaction.
The tube and the vitreous coating formed inside this tube are slightly thick owing to the heating device used for attaining a sufficient and localized temperature for the oxidation reaction.
This heating device is a welding torch which actually has two drawbacks.
One first drawback is the difficulty of heating the inside of the tube through the dielectric of this tube by the heating device in question, whereas in order to deposit a good quality vitreous film, it is necessary to attain a sufficient temperature inside the tube without at the same time inducing an area contraction or collapse of the tube prejudicable to the proper laying of the deposit at this stage of the MCVD method.
One second drawback resides in the fact that the silica outside the tube evaporates when in contact with the flame of the welding torch when implementing the MCVD method.
So as to slightly mitigate these drawbacks and increase the capacity of a preform obtained by this MCVD method, an internal counter-pressure is generally used, which prevents any premature subsidence of the tube and thus makes it possible:
to use tubes whose internal diameter is slightly larger than the one indicated earlier and is, for example, 26 mm, hence a larger tube section for a given dielectric thickness
and/or depositing an internal vitreous film whose thickness is slightly larger that the admissible thicknesses with the "ordinary" MCVD method mentioned above.
Despite these improvements, the MCVD method can only be implemented with thin-walled tubes.
Another known technique to increase the capacity of the produced preform and thus lower the production cost of optical fibers from this preform consist of:
treating a first tube by the MCVD method and of then carrying out the operation for contracting or collapsing the area of this first tube and then attaching a second silica tube to this first tube and then of simultaneously contracting the area of the two tubes.
This other known technique nevertheless remains one delicate to implement and is relatively limited by the thickness of the deposit in the first tube.
There is also another technique which, after collapsing the area of the tube containing the internal deposit, consists of "recharging" the bar obtained, for example with the aid of a plasma torch able to produce by direct fusion vitrified silica via the projection of grains of natural silica, or is able to embody a deposit of films of synthetic pure silica or doped by fluorine.
Apart from the fact that such operations do not always improve efficiency as they involve tool changes, they are generally cumbersome to implement and still have the drawback of starting with a thin-walled tube, a tube which is generally produced by extrusion or ingot drawing systems whose geometrical precision is relatively slight.
The same limitations appear when other heating means are used through the thin-walled tube.
This applies particularly to the PCVD method ("Plasma Chemical Vapor Deposition") using a plasma generated by a microwave cavity, the only difference being the capacity (allowed by the fact that the depositing takes place at a lower temperature than in the MCVD method) for embodying extremely thin vitreous films and doping more easily these films with fluroine, the combination of these two effects opening more possibilities for embodying accurate and varied optical index profiles.
The document FR-A-2 600 also describes another method for producing a preform for optical fibers.
This other known method has the advantage of starting with pierced high precision wide bars.
However, it does have the disadvantage of embodying the internal deposit with the aid of a plasma column maintained by a direct wave injected with the aid of a ultrahigh frequency coupler connected to a microwave generator.
In fact, if the injection of this direct wave and obtaining of the plasma column, whose length may be modulated by modulating the electric power of the microwave generator used, are advantageous as they are relatively independent of the thickness of the dielectric of the pierced bar, it still remains difficult to obtain:
a correct longitudinal regularity for the deposition of thin films similar to those obtained by the PCVD method, and
a suitable longitudinal regularity of the desired optical index for these films.
Moreover, the length of the deposit is limited by the length of the plasma column which itself is linked to the power of the generator.
Thus, this other known method does have drawbacks, namely:
obtaining a deposit whose geometrical regularity is relatively poor and an optical index profile whose regularity is also relatively poor, which unfortunately is opposed to the advantage of starting with high-precision pierced bars, and
obtaining preforms whose capacity is relatively highly limited, which affects the economic advantage of the method.

Method for producing optical fiber preforms and device to implement said method

France Telecom Etablissement Autonome de Droit Public


A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device includes subjecting a semiconductor wafer, which includes a copper layer formed above a semiconductor substrate and covered with an insulating film, to a dry etching using a fluorocarbon gas to partially remove the insulating film, thereby at least partially exposing a surface of the copper layer. The copper layer, the surface of which is at least partially exposed is subjected to a nitrogen plasma treatment. The semiconductor wafer having the nitrogen plasma-treated copper layer is exposed to atmosphere, and then the semiconductor wafer is subjected to a surface treatment.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device.
2. Description of the Related Art
In recent years, a damascene method has been used as a wiring technique for a semiconductor device in order to simplify the wiring process and to improve the yield and reliability of wiring. Further, copper has been used as a wiring material in order to reduce the resistance of the wiring.
For example, to form a multilayer copper wiring on a semiconductor substrate, a wiring groove is first formed in an interlayer insulating film formed on the semiconductor substrate. Then, the wiring groove is filled to form a copper wiring material layer. The copper wiring material layer is then planarized by chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) to form a first copper damascene wiring layer. Then, a barrier/etch stop insulating layer is deposited, covering the first copper damascene wiring layer. A second interlayer insulating film is then formed on the barrier/etch stop insulating film. Then, a photolithography technique, a dry etching technique, and an ashing technique are used to sequentially form a via hole which penetrates the second interlayer insulating film to expose the barrier/etch stop insulating film and a trench where a second copper damascene wiring layer is formed. The barrier/etch stop insulating film is removed by dry etching using a fluorocarbon gas, to expose a surface of the first copper damascene wiring layer. Subsequently, a copper wiring layer is deposited in the via hole and trench to form an interconnection plug and a second copper damascene wiring layer. Such a method of forming a copper damascene wiring layer is described in, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,323,121 B1.
After the barrier/etch stop insulating film has been removed by the dry etching using the fluorocarbon gas and before copper is deposited, a surface of a semiconductor wafer is often cleaned by, for example, a wet treatment. To conduct such a surface treatment, the semiconductor wafer is taken out of the dry etching apparatus after the dry etching has been finished, and transferred to a surface treatment step. Accordingly, when the semiconductor wafer is taken out of the dry etching apparatus, the exposed surface of the copper damascene wiring layer of the semiconductor wafer is exposed to the atmosphere.
As is well known in the art, copper metal is a material that is unlikely to form such a stable and dense oxide film on its surface, which may act as a protective film protecting the layer from corrosion. Thus, when the surface of the copper damascene wiring layer is exposed to the atmosphere, corrosion occurs, and the corrosion reaction is difficult to stop. Moreover, in the dry etching using the fluorocarbon etching gas, overetching is usually carried out, so that the copper damascene layer is exposed to the plasma of the fluorocarbon etching gas. As a result, fluorocarbon deposits are accumulated on the copper damascene wiring layer to attach fluorine to the copper surface. In the presence of a halogen such as fluorine which has a high electronegativity, the corrosion reaction (oxidation reaction) of the copper is expected to progress further rapidly due to reaction with moisture in the atmosphere.
The copper oxide resulting from the corrosion increases the volume of the copper damascene wiring layer, while reducing the metal copper in the copper damascene wiring layer. Consequently, when copper or tungsten is buried, defective burial or contact may result, causing the copper damascene wiring layer to be deformed. Further, when the copper oxide is subsequently removed by a cleaning treatment, a void may be created, which may remain as it is even after the burial of a buried wiring material, thus resulting in a defective contact. This may open the electric circuit or increase the resistance of the contact. These phenomena reduce the yield or reliability of the device.
There may be another cause of the contact of fluorine with the copper damascene wiring layer different from the fluorocarbon deposits on the surface of the copper damascene wiring layer. That is, when the barrier/etch stop insulating film on the copper damascene wiring layer is partially removed by the dry etching using the fluorocarbon gas, the fluorocarbon deposits adhere to the entire surface of the interlayer insulating film formed on the barrier/etch stop insulating film. When the interlayer insulating film is exposed to the atmosphere, fluorine is released from its surface. The fluorine may re-adhere to the copper damascene wiring layer to corrode the copper. Further, if the interlayer insulating film formed on the barrier/etch stop insulating film is formed of fluorine-containing silicon dioxide in particular, fluorine may also desorb from the film to further accelerate the corrosion.

Method of manufacturing semiconductor device


A mount assembly for mounting a cabin attendant seat to a support structure may comprise a first strap configured to plastically deform in response to a deflection of the support structure. The first strap may comprise a first perforation, a second perforation, and a third perforation located between the first perforation and the second perforation. The perforations may be configured to allow the strap to plastically deform.

Cabin attendant seats are used for flight attendant safety and comfort during taxi, takeoff, landing, and inflight rest periods. Cabin attendant seats may be mounted to an aircraft partition. Aircraft partitions are generally flexible, particularly when subjected to a large dynamic load, like those generated during a crash or rejected take-off. Such events may cause the partition structure to flex and/or bend, thereby imparting increased loads onto its mating components. For example, a 16 g (i.e., sixteen times the force of gravity) dynamic event, may lead to a failure of either the partition structure or its mating components.

Flexible wall mount for aircraft cabin seat


A method for realizing virtual multi-channel by spectrum analysis is disclosed. The low-frequency-effect sound data is obtained by averaging sound data of left and right channels in the two-channel sound source and filtering the average by a first low pass filter. The central channel sound data is obtained by averaging sound data of the left and the right channels in the two-channel sound source and filtering the average by a second low pass filter. The surround right and left sound data is obtained by copying sound data of the left and the right channels in the two-channel sound source, respectively.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method for realizing virtual multi-channel output and, more particularly, to a method for converting a two-channel output into six-channel output on a personal computer by spectrum analysis.
2. Description of Related Art
Over the several decades, there has been a considerable growth in computer technology. As a result, more functions are incorporated into a computer. For example, a multi-channel output is made possible on a computer. A data format of a six-channel sound source is illustrated in FIG. 1. As shown, labels "L", "R", "C", "LFE", "S.L", and "S.R" represent sound sources of left channel, right channel, central channel, low-frequency-effect channel, surround left channel, and surround right channel respectively. A six-channel output from a computer is made possible by running a program in which a decoding of data of six-channel sound source by means of a decoder is performed.
A data format of a two-channel sound source is illustrated in FIG. 2 in which characters "L" and "R" represent left and right channels respectively. Also, it is possible of converting the data format shown in FIG. 2 into that shown in FIG. 1, as illustrated in FIG. 3. As shown, 0s are written into "C", "LFE", "S.L", and "S.R" fields while "L" and "R" fields are maintained the same as that of the two-channel sound source. This means that the central channel, the low-frequency-effect channel, the left surround channel, and the right surround channel of the computer are mute with only the left and right channels being enabled. In other words, channels other than the left and front right channels are wasted in a computer having a six-channel configuration if the sound source consists of only the left and right channels. This is not desirable.
Therefore, it is desirable to provide a novel method of realizing multi-channel output from a computer by spectrum analysis so as to mitigate and/or obviate the aforementioned problems.

Method for realizing virtual multi-channel output by spectrum analysis


A gene that regulates the increase and decrease of the particle-bearing number (including glumous flowers, fruits, and seeds) of plants was successfully isolated and identified by a linkage analysis. In addition, breeding methods that utilize this gene to increase the particle-bearing number (including glumous flowers, fruits, and seeds) of plants were also discovered. The present invention is useful in fields such as breeding of improved plant varieties.

As the world population continues to show explosive growth, arable land is rapidly decreasing due to environmental pollution, global warming, and desertification, and chronic food shortage persists mainly in developing countries. Furthermore, the present grain production growth rate of 1.0% is low compared to the annual global population growth rate of 1.4%; furthermore, in the year 2025, when the world population is predicted to exceed eight billion, grain requirements will increase by 50%, further accelerating food shortage. In order to break this serious situation, not only political and economic measures, but also scientific grain breeding strategies that will increase the amount of grain production are necessary. This serious condition can no longer be avoided by conventional breeding, using cross-fertilization and selection techniques alone, and studies on grain plant type aimed at increasing yield, as well as specific and efficient grain breeding are necessary.
When concern was raised on world food crisis in the 1960's, short-culm high-yielding rice called miracle rice was cultivated at the International Rice Research Institute (Philippines), and short-culm high-yielding wheat was cultivated at the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (Mexico). World food crisis was avoided due to the rapid spread of both of these varieties. This is the so-called "Green Revolution". Both varieties showed twice the yield of conventional varieties, and this high-yielding character was caused by a short-culm plant type called a semi-dwarf. However, while application of nitrogenous fertilizers is necessary when aiming for a high yield, this simultaneously induces elongation of the plant, and lodging of the elongated grain by rain and wind dramatically decreases yield. On the other hand, even when fertilizers are applied, short-culm varieties allow an increased yield without succulent growth. That is, both short-culm varieties that contributed to the "Green Revolution" dramatically increased the yield by acquiring lodging resistance. At present, semi-dwarfism of grains greatly contributes to increased yield, but since many grain varieties already utilize semi-dwarf genes, further increase in yield using this technique cannot be expected, and development of grain production technologies that utilize new techniques is necessary.
Rice is utilized as food by 50% of the world's human population. In particular, for those living in Asia, its cultivation characteristics match the highly humid monsoon climate, and not only has it been the source of energy for a long time as the staple diet, but it has also been well established in life and culture. Accordingly, breeding has been carried out in many places, and it has been improved to have characteristics that are convenient for use by humankind. Furthermore, with the recent determination of the genomic nucleotide sequence of rice, tools for molecular genetics are being put into place, and development of new breeding technology using genomic genetics is expected.
To date, various attempts have been made to increase the yield of grains (plants); however, there are no reports of isolation and identification of genes relating to the increase and decrease of the number of flowers and seeds (glumous flowers) that are directly responsible for increase in yield. In addition to the conventional semi-dwarfing of grains, if techniques to regulate the increase and decrease in the number of flowers and seeds (glumous flowers) are developed, further increase in grain yield can be expected.

Genes for increasing grain yield and uses thereof


A card printer comprises a print platen, a first support, a printhead, and a biasing component. The first support is moveable, relative to the platen, between print and withdrawn positions. The printhead is moveably mounted to the first support for movement between a forward position and a floating position relative to the first support. The biasing component is configured to apply a biasing force to bias the printhead toward the forward position.

The present invention generally relates to a card printer, such as an identification card printer. Some aspects of the present invention relate to reverse-image identification card printers.
Reverse-image identification card printers generally utilize an intermediate transfer film or ribbon on which an image is printed by a printhead. The printhead is typically a thermal printhead that operates to heat different colored dye panels of a thermal print ribbon to transfer the colored dye from the print ribbon to a panel of transfer film and form the image thereon. The printed image on the transfer film is then registered with a card or other substrate and the image is transferred to a surface of the card from the transfer film.
Such reverse-image identification card printers are complicated devices and improvements are in continuous demand. For example, there is a continuous demand for improved reliability and improved print quality. Additionally, there are demands for improving the process by which the print and transfer ribbons are loaded. Finally, there are demands to make the printers more compact.


A remote control method and system employ remote controller (10) which is adapted for use with an entertainment system of a type including a display (222) as well as providing functions such as Internet access or other functions requiring a keyboard and/or a mouse. The remote controller includes a folding housing and may be operated in a closed or opened configuration. A first set of control inputs (12) are provided on the outer surface of the housing. The housing may be opened, thereby doubling the surface area of the remote controller, to expose a keyboard (56). One or more wireless transmitters are operable with the housing in either of two configurations oriented at 90 degrees to each other and controlled by the first set of control inputs and the keyboard. The remote controller may be conveniently held in one hand of a user when in the folded or closed position and conveniently rested on the lap of the user or a support surface when in the opened position and used as a keyboard.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to remote control systems for controlling entertainment systems, such as multimedia systems, Internet access systems and browsers, and related methods.
2. Description of the Prior Art and Related Information
Remote control systems are ubiquitous in entertainment systems and multimedia systems of a wide variety, including TVs, game systems, VCRs and many other well-known entertainment devices. At the same time, the need has arisen for providing computer related control capabilities in the living room along with the control of the more conventional entertainment devices typically present in the living room. For example, combined PC and TV systems have been introduced which integrate the capabilities of the personal computer with the television. Also, set top Internet access devices have been introduced which integrate Internet access capabilities with conventional televisions. The ability to provide full control of a PC or an Internet browser typically requires the use of a keyboard as well as a mouse. A conventional remote control is therefore inadequate for control of such combined entertainment systems.
Wireless keyboards have been introduced to meet this need which allow the user of a combined PC and TV system or a user of a TV Internet access device to control such systems more conveniently. Such wireless keyboards may often include an integrated mouse or other pointing device to provide full control of the PC or Internet functions. Also, wireless keyboards specifically designed for combined PC and TV or TV and Internet device control have been designed with function keys which may be used for control of the TV to provide complete control in a single remote device.
Although such wireless keyboard control devices can provide full control capabilities the wireless keyboards are typically similar in size to a conventional keyboard and are thus somewhat cumbersome for use in living room environment. To substantially reduce the size of the keyboard however, would result in the keys being too small for easy use, particularly in a dimly lit environment such as a living room. Also, the multiple functions provided by such a wireless keyboard adapted for control of both a PC or Internet access device and a TV require a larger keyboard layout. This relatively large size of a wireless keyboard also makes balancing the keyboard on the lap of the user somewhat difficult. Also, such wireless keyboards are somewhat obtrusive when not being used, whether when the TV/PC is not being used or when a TV program or video is being viewed. For this reason, a user of such a combined entertainment system incorporating a TV/PC or TV/Internet device will want to also have a hand held remote control to avoid having to use a cumbersome wireless keyboard at all times. This approach is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,675,390 which describes the use of two remote controls, one a hand-held remote control and the other a wireless keyboard to control a PC/TV entertainment system. This of course does not solve the problem of the obtrusive nature of the wireless keyboard in the living room during the times when it is not being used.
Accordingly, the addition of PC and/or Internet access capabilities to the conventional TV based entertainment system has introduced the problem of controlling such systems with a convenient yet full function remote control system.

Remote control method using remote control device with keyboard


The phase difference of two periodic input signals having essentially the same frequency are measured in, for example, a communication system, in an accurate way with a high resolution and utilizing digital components. A high resolution digital phase detector which can be included in a phase locked loop comprises an oscillator providing a clock signal having a high frequency that is not an integer multiple of the frequency of the input signals. The clock signal is provided to a clock signal input of a counter, and the periodic signals are fed to the start and stop terminals of the counter. Output terminals of the counter are directly connected to inputs of a digital low-pass filter in which an average value calculation is carried out of the integer values of the output of the counter. Because of the small frequency deviation from the integer multiple value, a slow sliding of the oscillator phase compared to the phase of the input signals is achieved, such that all possible integer values on the output of the counter are run through. A very accurate calculation of the phase position is achieved by the average value calculation of these integer values in the low-pass filter. In a complete phase-locked loop, a voltage controlled oscillator provides one of the input signals to the counter through a divider circuit.

The general need for measuring phase differences between two signals is very old, in particular within the telecommunication area. The problem is usually solved by means of a phase comparator, for example included in a phase-locked loop or PLL. Such a circuit normally comprises a phase comparator PD having input terminals connected to receive the signals the phase of which is to be compared, a loop filter PI, a voltage controlled oscillator VCO and a divider circuit N.sub.D, see FIG. 1. The loop filter is often of PI-type, that is it comprises both a proportional part (P) and an integrating part (I). Prior phase comparators were almost always analog or "semianalog". These phase comparators provide as an output signal an analog voltage proportional to the phase difference. A very common type of a semianalog phase comparator is the sawtooth comparator. It comprises an SR-flip-flop triggered at edges of the incoming signals and a low-pass filter. An edge of one of the incoming signals sets the flip-flop in a one position and an edge of the other signal resets the flip-flop. The output square wave is low-pass filtered in for example a simple RC-circuit. The phase position becomes proportional to the output voltage within the phase difference of 0-2.pi.. As regarded over a larger phase interval, the relation between the output voltage and the input phase will have the configuration of a sawtooth, from which the name is derived. A phase-locked circuit having a sawtooth comparator is described in the article "Properties and design of the Phase-controlled oscillator with a sawtooth comparator", Byrne, C. J., (1962), The Bell System Technical Journal, page 599.
Nowadays phase comparators which are constructed entirely of digital circuits are used more and more often. A digital phase comparator provides as an output signal a digital numerical value which is proportional to the phase difference, the digital value being for example an 8-bit word. There exist several reasons for using digital phase comparators. Since phase-locked circuits have very small band widths (<1 Hz), it is difficult or impossible to use analog filters for performing a signal processing which may often be required before the signal is provided to the voltage controlled oscillator VCO. The problem can be solved by providing an AD-converter connected to the output terminal of the analog phase comparator but this solution may be costly, space consuming and sensitive to interference. In a telephone station, also a PLL can be geometrically or geographically distributed; for instance the VCO can be located on one board, the loop filter in a microprocessor on another board and the phase comparator on a third board. In such a distributed PLL of course the signals have to be communicated digitally.
There are several ways of constructing digital phase comparators but a common, prior digital phase comparator, see FIG. 2, comprises an oscillator, or is in any case connected for receiving an available high frequency clock signal, and comprises further a counter. The oscillator is coupled to the counter. Definite edges of the input signals, the phases of which are to be compared, are used, and the edge of one of the signals starts the counter and the edge of the other signal stops the counter. When the counter is stopped, the digital numerical value stored therein constitutes an estimate of the phase difference. Before the next start of the counter it is reset. The loop filter in a PLL requires a numerical value typically 1 to 10 times per second and the input signals to the phase comparator then have significantly higher frequencies, for instance 64 kHz. Then the PLL can command a phase measurement at the time when the loop filter needs a numerical value or the phase comparator can also measure the phase in the same rate as the input frequency, for example at 64 kHz, and the loop filter circuit then takes the last measured value at the time when a value is required.
Digital phase comparators are e.g. disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,972,160 and the published European patent application EP-A2 0 585 806.


A float for a barrier for a waterway, a waterway barrier including the float, and a method for forming the waterway barrier are provided. The float includes a caseless float body which is formed of a single, homogeneous material. The material may be a high density urethane or a functional equivalent.

Contemporary barriers for waterways come in a variety of forms and perform in a variety of applications. For example, these barriers may be used in wildlife barrier applications to reduce/prevent wildlife such as fish from entering a given area of a waterway, e.g. the entrance of a hydroelectric dam or the like. As another example, such barriers are often times used as debris collection devices for collecting debris and cordoning the same to a specific area in the waterway. As yet another example, these barriers may be used in safety applications and thereby restrict access by boats, swimmers, etc. to a given area of a waterway.
While such barriers may come in many forms, they primarily consist of a number of elongated floats which are connected to one another in a row. These floats may include a variety of hardware integrated therewith for connecting the floats to one another, attaching underwater netting or barrier devices, attaching signage or upright fencing devices, etc. As a result, it is desirable that the floats be of a robust construction capable of being exposed to the elements for extended periods of time and capable of supporting the loading and structures mounted thereto.
Despite being of a robust construction as mentioned above, the floats of such barriers must be buoyant. To achieve this, contemporary waterway barrier floats are of a multi-component, multi-material construction. Indeed, they employ a hollow outer casing which is formed of a strong plastics material which provides the required degree of strength for the float. Inside this hollow outer casing is a low density urethane material used as a float body, which is desirable for its buoyancy capabilities and its light weight due to its low density construction.
FIG. 1 illustrates an example of such a known float 10 for a barrier of a waterway. As described above when discussing such known floats, the same incorporates an outer casing 12. Outer casing 12 contains a float body 14 within an interior space 16 formed by outer casing 12. In the illustrated view, a portion of casing 12 is cut away to expose float body 14 and interior space 16. Float 10 also typically includes some form of mounting hardware 28 which may be used to connect float 10 to an external device such as another float 10, netting, barriers, fencing, signage, etc. Float 10 is generally an elongate member having first and second ends 22, 24, and extends along a longitudinal axis 26. While illustrated as taking on a cylindrical shape, float 10 may take on a variety of other shapes.
Unfortunately, the above multi-component, multi-material construction of such floats has several drawbacks. First, the manufacture itself is a multi-stage process. It requires the manufacture of the hollow outer casing in a separate step from the manufacture of the internal float body. It also requires a separate step of attaching or forming any mounting hardware on the float. This step is typically done after the casing and float body are made and assembled.
Further, the outer casing of contemporary floats can become damaged inadvertently or intentionally, leaving the underlying float body exposed. Because the float body is formed from a low density urethane material, it is not nearly as robust as the hard outer casing. This low density urethane material may quickly become damaged from exposure to the elements, collisions, etc. Further, the low density urethane material is typically not the same color as the hard outer casing which itself is typically a bright orange or other safety oriented color. As such, once the hard outer casing is completely or partially obliterated, the underlying float body is much harder to see.
Accordingly, there is a need in the art for a float and a waterway barrier incorporating such a float which overcomes the above deficiencies. The invention provides as much. The invention provides the same. These and other advantages of the invention, as well as additional inventive features, will be apparent from the description of the invention provided herein.

Caseless float for waterway barrier incorporating same


A portable work and storage container includes a container frame, an enclosure arrangement and a wall panel affixing arrangement. The container frame includes a ceiling frame, a floor frame and four vertical corner posts spacedly extended between the ceiling frame and the floor frame. The wall panel affixing arrangement includes a plurality of wall adjusters and a plurality of wall lockers, wherein every two of the wall adjusters are adjustably extended to bias against two outer side rims of the wall structure respectively for applying a pushing force so as to ensure the wall panels of each of the wall structure are coupled with each other side-by-side. The wall lockers are adjustably engaged with top rims of the wall structures respectively to lock up the wall structures between the ceiling frame and the floor frame so as to securely retain the wall.

1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates to a container, and more particularly to a portable work and storage container comprising a wall panel affixing arrangement which is capable of securely affix wall structures to respective container frames for enhancing the overall structural strength and stability of the container.
2. Description of Related Arts
Referring to FIG. 1A to FIG. 1B of the drawings, a conventional container usually comprises a container frame 10P, a plurality of enclosing panels 20P, and a panel fastening arrangement 30P. The container frame 10P usually comprises a plurality of supporting members 11P spacedly erected and supported to form a substantially rectangular enclosing skeleton of the container frame 10P. The enclosing panels 20P are affixed, through the panel fastening arrangement 30P, to the supporting members 11P so as to define a container cavity within the enclosing panels 20P, wherein the container cavity is adapted to support a wide range of activities such as being a temporary office, a storage room, and the likes. As shown in FIG. 1A and FIG. 1B of the drawings, each of the supporting members 11P is connected with one or more adjacent supporting members 11P to form the substantially rectangular structure for fastening the enclosing panels 20P.
Conventionally, each of the supporting members 11P has two member panels 111P integrally and perpendicularly extended from each other to define an L-shaped cross section of the corresponding supporting member 11P forming an engaging cavity 112P as the space between the two member panels 111P, wherein the corresponding enclosing panel 20P is arranged to fasten with the supporting member 11P at the engaging cavity 112P.
The panel fastening arrangement 30P contains a plurality of elongated engaging grooves 31P formed along side edges of the enclosing panels 20P, and comprises a plurality of L-shaped connecting members 32P affixed in the engaging cavities 112P of the supporting members 11P respectively, wherein each of the connecting members 32P has an engaging portion 321P adapted to insert into the elongated engaging groove 31P formed on the corresponding enclosing panel 20P so as to detachably connect the enclosing panel 20P with the corresponding supporting member(s) 11P. As shown in FIG. 1B of the drawings, each of the L-shaped connecting members 32P is affixed to the corresponding member panel 111P of the corresponding supporting member 11P through a conventional connector 33P, such as a screw.
Moreover, for each two enclosing panels 20P which are directly connected with each other for say, forming the sidewall or ceiling of the container, each of those enclosing panels 20P has an L-shaped inner side edge arranged to be biased against the inner side edge of the adjacent enclosing panel 20P for connecting the two enclosing panel 20P in a side-by-side manner.
Notwithstanding its usefulness, there are several disadvantages for the above-mentioned conventional container. First, the engagement between the enclosing panels 20P and the supporting members 11P are usually not strong and secure enough so that the enclosing panels 20P may have unwanted displacement with respective to the corresponding supporting member(s) 11P. This unwanted displacement usually takes the form of severe vibration, up-and-down movement and/or forward and backward movement with respective to the supporting member(s) 11P. When the magnitude of the displacement is too great, the enclosing panels 20P concerned is subject to a great magnitude of stress and susceptible to be broken.
Second, since there is substantial unwanted movement on the part of the enclosing panels 20P, the biasing force exerted to keep the two enclosing panels 20P together for the purpose of forming a gapless sidewall or ceiling of the container may not be adequate. As such, users of the conventional container may have to insert some sorts of "junk materials" (such as metallic, wooden or paper residuals) at two sides of the enclosing panels 20P to fill any gap between the supporting member 11P and the corresponding enclosing panel 20P (especially the gaps formed in the elongated engaging groove 31P).

Wall panel affixing arrangement for portable work and storage container


To reduce current noise by reducing the current peak value and the current rise slope, a data driver includes a delay unit and a plurality of output circuits. The delay unit sequentially delays a control signal and outputs delay control signals. The output circuits start outputting in response to the delay control signals. The delay unit generates the delay control signals to be output to the output circuits.

The present invention relates to a data driver, a display panel driving device, and a display device.
There is known a liquid crystal display (LCD) panel of active matrix type. This liquid crystal display panel includes scan (gate) lines arranged in parallel in the row direction, data lines arranged in parallel in the column direction, pixels placed at the intersections of the scan and data lines, and an active element (for example, thin film transistor (TFT)) provided in each pixel. When the active element is a TFT, the scan line is coupled to the gate electrode. Then, the data line is coupled to the drain electrode. One end of the liquid crystal capacitance, which is an equivalent capacitive load, is coupled to the source electrode. The other end of the liquid crystal capacitance is coupled to a common electrode line. A gate driver (scan line driving circuit) is coupled to the scan line, and a data driver (data line driving circuit) is coupled to the data line.
In the liquid crystal display panel, the scan lines are scanned in order from the top to the bottom by the gate driver, in order to apply a voltage to the liquid crystal capacitance from the data driver through the active element provided in each pixel. The data driver includes an output amplifier to apply the voltage to a plurality of data lines. The output amplifier includes a plurality of amplifier circuits. In the liquid crystal display panel, the alignment of liquid crystal molecules varies according to the voltage applied to the liquid crystal capacitance from the outputs of the amplifier circuits. Thus, the transmittance of light varies accordingly.
Recently the performance of the liquid crystal display panel has been improved, and a low power consumption, low noise, and high speed data driver is required to reduce the voltage of the circuit power supply. However, the low voltage of the circuit power supply can easily lead to an operation failure due to electrical noise. Thus, it is necessary to establish a circuit design by taking into account the importance of the noise problem. In particular, the data driver has a low voltage part including a logic unit and an interface unit, as well as a high voltage part including an amplifier circuit for driving the data line of the liquid crystal display panel. Thus, it is necessary for the data driver to reduce strong noise generated in the operation of the amplifier circuit, in order to prevent incorrect operation in the low voltage part.
As an example of the related art, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2010-176083 (corresponding to US patent publication No. 2010/0194731(A1)) discloses a (data) driver and a display device. FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a data driver disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2010-176083. The data driver includes an amplifier circuit drive unit 138 and a plurality of amplifier circuits 136-1 to 136-N. The amplifier circuit drive unit 138 outputs control signals CTR1 and CTR2 to the amplifier circuits 136-1 to 136-N. Each of the amplifier circuits 136-1 to 136-N outputs an output gradation voltage to a data line of a display unit (liquid crystal display panel) in response to the control signals CTR1 and CTR2. The amplifier circuit drive unit 138 includes a control circuit 140 and delay units 141, 142, and 143. The control circuit 140 outputs the control signal CTR1 to the delay unit 141. The control circuit 140 also outputs the control signal CTR2, which is the control signal CTR1 delayed by the delay unit 142, to the delay unit 143. The delay unit 141 sequentially delays the control signal CTR1, and outputs it to a first group of amplifier circuits 136-1 to 136-(N/2) that are one-half of the amplifier circuits. The delay unit 143 sequentially delays the control signal CTR2, and outputs it to a second group of amplifier circuits 136-((N/2)+1) to 136-N) that are the other half of the amplifier circuits.
FIG. 2 is a timing chart showing waveforms of control signals input to the amplifier circuits 136-1 to 136-N from an amplifier circuit drive unit 88. The control circuit 140 outputs the control signal CTR1 as a control signal. The delay unit 141 outputs the control signal CTR1 in order with a uniform delay to the first group of the amplifier circuits 136-1 to 136-(N/2). The delay unit 143 outputs the control signal CTR2, which is the control signal CTR1 delayed by an arbitrary amount by the delay unit 142, to the second group of the amplifier circuits 136-((N/2)+1) to 136-N in order with a uniform delay.

Data driver, display panel driving device, and display device


The invention relates to an apparatus and a method to clean enclosed spaces. The apparatus consists of an inlet-pipe (1) for cleaning-medium, equipped with thread (10) on outside where a vertical displacement nut (12) is located, which moves vertically when the drive-shaft (6), which is directly connected to a cleaning-medium distributor (18) and, indirectly to a shielding-pipe (8) and nozzle-arms (15, 21), is rotated by a motor (3). The upper nozzle-arms (21) and the vertical displacement nut (12) are interconnected through vertical displacement arms (14) so that the nozzle-arms move vertically and circularly in concert with the vertical displacement nut (12) when the motor rotates the drive-shaft (6). The method relates to cleaning of various enclosed spaces with different cleaning media and is effective for cleaning enclosed spaces such as storage tanks.

At present, there is an increased demand for the cleanliness of storage tanks and other containers storing goods such as fuel oil, fish oil and beverages of various types e.g. beer, soda-drinks or milk. The apparatus commercially available for cleaning storage tanks place considerable requirements to the type of space to be washed and cleaned. In the case of storage tanks, the size, position of openings and the presence of columns inside the tank can limit the utility of the apparatus. In many cases, apparatus specific for certain kinds of tanks have to be constructed. In most cases the apparatus operate at high pressure thus making them expensive and bulky. Furthermore, the high pressure involved increases the the risk of explosion in the case of tanks storing explosive and/or inflammable materials.

Apparatus and a method for cleaning enclosed spaces


A process for forming a contact hole opening, featuring the use in situ dry etching, and photoresist removal procedures, used to define the desired contact hole opening; in an overlying hard mask layer, in the dielectric layer, and in an underlying insulator stop layer, has been developed. The process features the initial definition of the contact hole opening, in an overlying hard mask insulator layer, accomplished in a chamber of a dry etch tool, followed by removal of an overlying, contact hole defining photoresist shape, performed in situ, in the same dry etch chamber. The contact hole opening is then transferred to the dielectric layer via a selective dry etch procedure, performed in situ, in the dry etch chamber, using the overlying hard mask insulator layer as an etch mask. A final dry etch procedure is then performed in situ, in the same dry etch chamber, to form the contact hole opening in the underlying insulator stop layer, with the final dry etch procedure also resulting in the removal of the exposed hard mask insulator layer, thus creating the desired contact hole opening in a dielectric layer, and in the underlying insulator stop layer.

(1) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to methods used to fabricate semiconductor devices, and more specifically to a method used to form a borderless contact hole to an underlying conductive region
(2) Description of Prior Art
The trend to micro-minituriaztion, or the ability to fabricate semiconductor devices with features smaller than 0.50 micrometers, has presented difficulties when attempting to form narrow diameter, deep contact holes in a dielectric layer, to expose underlying conductive regions. The use of photoresist as a mask for etching of a thick dielectric layer presents selectivity concerns in regards to a fast removal etch rate of the photoresist, in the dielectric layer etching ambient, therefore not allowing only the photoresist shape to be used as the etch mask. Increasing the thickness of the photoresist mask to accommodate the non-selectivity of the etch ambient only reduces the resolution needed to define deep, narrow diameter openings. The use of a hard mask layer, with increased etch rate selectivity to the material being etched, results in additional process cost as a result of the ex-situ removal of the photoresist shape, performed after the photoresist shape had been used to define the desired opening in the hard mask layer. In addition, ex situ removal of the hard mask layer, also results in unwanted additional process cost.
This invention will describe a process for defining a narrow diameter, contact hole opening, in a thick dielectric layer, featuring in situ removal of the defining photoresist shape, after transferring the desired contact hole shape to a hard mask insulator layer. The present invention will then teach a process in which the desired contact hole opening is in situ formed in the thick dielectric layer, followed by an in situ procedure which defines the desired opening in a bottom insulator stop layer, while removing the hard mask insulator layer from the top surface of the thick dielectric layer. This completely in situ, dry etch procedure, allows the attainment of a borderless contact to be realized. Prior art such as Chiang et al, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,922,515, describe a process for forming a deep contact hole in a dielectric layer, using a hard mask layer, however that prior art does not teach the complete in situ, selective dry etch procedure, described in the present invention featuring in situ removal of the hard mask insulator layer during definition of the contact hole opening in a bottom insulator stop layer.
It is an object of this invention to define a narrow diameter, deep contact hole opening, in a dielectric layer, using an in situ, dry etching procedure.
It is another object of this invention to initially define the desired contact hole opening in a hard mask insulator layer, using a photoresist shape as an etch mask, followed by the in situ removal of the defining photoresist shape.
It is still another object of this invention to use the hard mask as a etch mask to in situ define the desired contact hole opening in a dielectric layer, with the selective, in situ dry etching procedure terminating on an underlying stop layer.
It is still yet another object of this invention to in situ define a borderless contact hole opening in the stop layer, again using the hard mask insulator layer as an etch mask, exposing an underlying conductive region, and resulting in the in situ removal of the hard mask insulator layer from the top surface of the dielectric layer.
In accordance with the present invention an in situ, dry etch procedure, used to form a borderless contact hole opening in a dielectric layer, is described. After defining a desired contact hole opening in an overlying hard mask insulator layer, via a dry etching cycle using a photoresist shape as an etch mask, the photoresist shape is in situ removed. Another in situ, dry etch cycle is next used to selectively transfer the contact hole opening, defined in the overlying hard mask insulator layer, to a thick dielectric layer, with the selective dry etching procedure terminating at the appearance of an underlying insulator stop layer. Finally another in situ dry etching cycle is used to define the desired contact hole opening in the underlying insulator stop layer, exposing a portion of the top surface of a conductive region, resulting in a borderless contact hole opening. The dry etching cycle used for the opening of the insulator stop layer also results in the in situ removal of the exposed hard mask insulator layer.

In situ dry etching procedure to form a borderless contact hole

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company


A surface-mounted type antenna which facilitates the realization of the widening of the frequency band, and a communication device including it. In this antenna, the strong electric-field regions of a power supplied first radiation electrode and a power non-supplied second radiation electrode are disposed adjacent to each other with a spacing therebetween, and simultaneously the high current regions of these radiation electrodes are disposed adjacent to each other with a spacing therebetween. By variably adjusting the quantity of the electric-field coupling between the strong electric-field regions of the first radiation electrode and the second radiation electrode, and by variably adjusting the quantity of the magnetic-field coupling between the high current regions of these radiation electrodes, both the quantities of the electric-field coupling and the magnetic-field coupling are set to conditions suited for the dual resonance. A superior dual resonance is thereby achieved.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a surface-mounted type antenna incorporated in a communication device such as a portable telephone, and to a method for adjusting and setting the dual-resonance frequency thereof. The present invention further relates to a communication device including the surface-mounted type antenna.
2. Description of the Related Art
FIG. 17 shows an example of a surface-mounted type antenna. The surface-mounted type antenna 1 shown in FIG. 17 is formed by juxtaposing a power supplied first radiation electrode 3 and a second radiation electrode 4 to which power is not directly supplied on a dielectric substrate 2 having a rectangular parallelepiped shape, with a space (slit) S therebetween. One end side of the first radiation electrode 3 is connected to a power supply portion (power supply terminal) 5, and the other end side thereof constitutes an open end 3a. One end side of the second radiation electrode 4 is connected to a short-circuit portion (ground short-circuit terminal) 6, and the other end side thereof constitutes an open end 4a.
By connecting the power supply portion 5 to a signal supply source 7 and directly supplying a signal from the signal supply source 7 to the first radiation electrode 3 via the power supply portion 5, and by supplying the signal which has been supplied to the first radiation electrode 3 to the second radiation electrode 4 by an electromagnetic coupling, the first radiation electrode 3 and the second radiation electrode 4 each resonate, thereby performing an antenna operation (operation of signal transmission/reception).
In a surface-mounted type antenna 1 as shown in FIG. 17, by bringing the resonance frequencies of the first radiation electrode 3 and the second radiation electrode 4 close to each other and by causing the resonance waves of the first radiation electrode 3 and the second radiation electrode 4 to create a dual resonance, a widening of the frequency band of signal transmission/reception can be achieved.
A surface-mounted type antenna 1 as described above is required to be miniaturized. In order to achieve the miniaturization thereof, the spacing between the first radiation electrode 3 and the second radiation electrode 4 is narrowed as an inevitable consequence. As a result, the electromagnetic coupling between the first radiation electrode 3 and the second radiation electrode 4 strengthens. This makes it difficult to stably achieve a desired dual-resonance state which allows a required antenna characteristic condition such as the widening of the frequency band to obtained. In order to solve this problem and to stably achieve a desired dual-resonance state, it is necessary to control the electromagnetic coupling between the first radiation electrode 3 and the second radiation electrode 4.
In the surface-mounted type antenna 1 shown in FIG. 17, by adjusting the width of the uniform-width space S between the first radiation electrode 3 and the second radiation electrode 4, the electromagnetic coupling between the first radiation electrode 3 and the second radiation electrode 4 is controlled. However, the control of the electromagnetic coupling using the uniform-width space S is very difficult to execute, and provides a limited degree of flexibility in the design.
The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problem, and aims to provide a surface-mounted type antenna which allows the miniaturization thereof and which is capable of easily meeting a required antenna characteristic condition, and to provide a method for adjusting and setting the dual resonance thereof, as well as a communication device including the surface-mounted type antenna.
In order to achieve the above-described object, the present invention, in a first aspect, provides a method for adjusting and setting the dual-resonance frequency of a surface-mounted type antenna which includes a dielectric substrate, a first radiation electrode to which power is supplied being formed on the top surface opposed to the mounting bottom-surface of the dielectric substrate, and a second radiation electrode which is juxtaposed with the first radiation electrode on the dielectric substrate with a space therebetween. This method comprises arranging the first radiation electrode and the second radiation electrode so that the strong electric-field regions of the first radiation electrode and the second radiation electrode wherein the electric fields of these radiation electrodes are each the strongest, are adjacent to each other, and so that the-strong electric-field regions of these radiation electrodes thereby come into an electric-field coupling, simultaneously arranging the first radiation electrode and the second radiation electrode so that the high current regions of the first radiation electrode and the second radiation electrode wherein the currents of these radiation electrodes are each highest, are adjacent to each other, and so that the high current regions of these radiation electrodes thereby come into a magnetic-field coupling, variably adjusting each of the quantity of the electric-field coupling between the strong electric-field regions of the first radiation electrode and the second radiation electrode, and the quantity of the magnetic-field coupling between the high current regions of the first radiation electrode and the second radiation electrode, and setting the reflection loss of the dual resonance of the first radiation electrode and the second radiation electrode to a low value not higher than a predetermined value within the range of the set frequency, by adjusting both the quantities of the electric-field coupling and the magnetic-field coupling.
In the method for adjusting and setting the dual-resonance frequency of a surface-mounted type antenna in accordance with the first aspect of the present invention, preferably, the quantity of the electric-field coupling between the strong electric-field regions of the first radiation electrode and the second radiation electrode is variably adjusted, by making variable the spacing between the strong electric-field regions of the first radiation electrode and the second radiation electrode.
Also, in this method in accordance with the first aspect, it is preferable that the first radiation electrode be provided with a capacitance between the open end thereof which is the strong electric-field region thereof on one end side thereof and ground, that a power supply terminal or a ground short-circuit terminal be connected to the high current region thereof on the other end side thereof, while the second radiation electrode be provided with a capacitance between the open end thereof which is the strong electric-field region thereof on one end side thereof and ground, that a ground short-circuit terminal be connected to the high current region thereof on the other end side thereof, and the quantity of the electric-field coupling between the strong electric-field regions of the first radiation electrode and the second radiation electrode be relatively variably adjusted, by variably adjusting the capacitance between the open end of the first radiation electrode and ground, and the capacitance between the open end of the second radiation electrode and ground.
Furthermore, in the method in accordance with the first aspect, it is preferable that the dielectric substrate be formed as a rectangular parallelepiped, and that the capacitive coupling portion between the open end of the strong electric-field region of the first radiation electrode and ground thereof and the capacitive coupling portion between the open end of the strong electric-field region of the second radiation electrode and ground thereof be each formed on mutually different surfaces of the dielectric substrate.
Moreover, in the method in accordance with the first aspect, preferably, the quantity of the magnetic-field coupling between the high current regions of the first radiation electrode and the second radiation electrode is variably adjusted, by making variable the spacing between the high current regions of these radiation electrodes.
Also, in the method in accordance with the first aspect, it is preferable that a conductive pattern be formed which is branched off from the power supply terminal or the ground short-circuit terminal of the first radiation electrode, and which is connected to ground, that a pattern for an inductance component addition be interposed in this conductive pattern, that a current path be formed which leads from the high current region of the first radiation electrode to the high current region of the second radiation electrode via the conductive pattern, ground, and the ground short-circuit terminal of the second radiation electrode, and that the quantity of the magnetic-field coupling between the high current regions of the first radiation electrode and the second radiation electrode be equivalently variably adjusted, by making variable the magnitude of the inductance component of the pattern for inductance component addition.
Furthermore, in the method in accordance with the first aspect, it is preferable that the power supply terminal or the ground short-circuit terminal of the first radiation electrode and the ground short-circuit terminal of the second radiation electrode be juxtaposed with a spacing therebetween, that the power supply terminal or the ground short-circuit terminal of the first radiation electrode, and the ground short-circuit terminal of the second radiation electrode be short-circuited, by utilizing the pattern for inductance component addition, and that the quantity of the magnetic-field coupling between the high current regions of the first radiation electrode and the second radiation electrode be equivalently variably adjusted, by making variable the magnitude of the inductance component of the pattern for inductance component addition.
Moreover, in the method in accordance with the first aspect, preferably, the pattern for inductance component addition is made to also perform the function of an electrode pattern which constitutes a matching circuit.
In accordance with a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a surface-mounted type antenna comprising a dielectric substrate, a first radiation electrode to which power is applied formed on the surface of the dielectric substrate, and a second radiation electrode which is disposed adjacent to the first radiation electrode on the dielectric substrate with a spacing therebetween. In this surface-mounted type antenna, the strong electric-field regions of the first radiation electrode and the second radiation electrode wherein each of the electric fields of these radiation electrodes is the strongest, are disposed adjacent to each other with a spacing therebetween, the high current regions of the first radiation electrode and the second radiation electrode wherein each of the currents of these radiation electrodes is the highest, are disposed adjacent to each other with a spacing therebetween, and the space between the first radiation electrode and the second radiation electrode diverges from the high current region side to the strong electric-field region side.
Furthermore, in this method in accordance with the second aspect, preferably, a power supply terminal or a ground short-circuit terminal is connected to the high current region of the first radiation electrode, a ground short-circuit terminal is connected to the high current region of the second radiation electrode, the power supply terminal or the ground short-circuit terminal of the first radiation electrode and the ground short-circuit terminal of the second radiation electrode are juxtaposed with a spacing therebetween. It is further preferable that a pattern for inductance component addition which short-circuits the power supply terminal or the ground short-circuit terminal of the power supply radiation electrode and the ground short-circuit terminal of the second radiation electrode, be formed, that the magnitude of the inductance component of the pattern for inductance component addition be set to a value such as to allow the return loss characteristics in the dual resonance of the first radiation electrode and the second radiation electrode to be obtained, the return loss characteristics meeting a predetermined antenna characteristic condition, and that the resonance frequency of the first radiation electrode is lower than that of the second radiation electrode, in the frequency band of dual resonance.
The present invention provides, in a third aspect, a communication device equipped with a surface-mounted type antenna produced by adjusting and setting the dual-resonance frequency using a method for adjusting and setting the dual-resonance frequency of a surface-mounted type antenna, in accordance with the first aspect, or a communication device equipped with a surface-mounted type antenna in accordance with the second aspect.
In the present invention having the above-described features, the first radiation electrode and the second radiation electrode are arranged so that the strong electric-field regions of the first radiation electrode and the second radiation electrode are disposed adjacent to each other with a spacing therebetween, and are simultaneously arranged so that the high current regions of the first radiation electrode and the second radiation electrode are disposed adjacent to each other with a spacing therebetween.
Meanwhile, the present inventors discovered, during our research and development carried out on the surface-mounted type antenna, that the quantity of the electric-field coupling between the strong electric-field regions of the first radiation electrode and the second radiation electrode, and the quantity of the magnetic-field coupling between the high current regions of these radiation electrodes must both be in conditions suited for dual resonance, in order to achieve a dual-resonance state of the first radiation electrode and the second radiation electrode, the dual-resonance condition allowing an improvement in the antenna characteristics, such as the widening of the frequency band.
In the present invention, as described above, when disposing the strong electric-field regions of the first radiation electrode and the second radiation electrode so as to be adjacent to each other with a spacing therebetween, simultaneously disposing the high current regions of these radiation electrodes so as to be adjacent to each other with a spacing therebetween, and thereupon adjusting and setting the surface-mounted type antenna, each of the quantity of the electric-field coupling between the strong electric-field regions and the quantity of the magnetic-field coupling between the high current regions is variably adjusted, and both the quantities of the electric-field coupling and the magnetic-field coupling are set to conditions which allow return loss (reflection loss) characteristics in the dual resonance of the first radiation electrode and the second radiation electrode to be achieved, the return loss characteristics meeting a predetermined antenna characteristic condition such as the widening of the frequency band. In other words, the reflection loss in the dual resonance of the first radiation electrode and the second radiation electrode are set to a low value not higher than a predetermined value within the range of the set frequency. This allows a surface-mounted type antenna having required antenna characteristics to be obtained easily and in a short time.
The above and other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will be clear from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments of the invention in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

Surface-mounted antenna, method for adjusting and setting dual-resonance frequency thereof, and communication device including the surface-mounted type antenna