An apparatus for separating at least two discrete volumes of a composite liquid into at least a first component and a second component comprises a centrifuge, with a rotor having a rotation axis comprising at least two separation cells, each for containing a separation bag containing a volume of composite liquid; and first balancing elements for balancing the rotor when the respective weights of the at least two separation bags in the at least two separation cells are different.

The apparatus and a method of the invention are particularly appropriate for the separation of biological fluids comprising an aqueous component and one or more cellular components. For example, potential uses of the invention include: extracting a plasma component and a cellular component (including platelets, white blood cells, and red blood cells) from a volume of whole blood, the cellular component being subsequently filtered so as to remove platelets and white blood cells from the red blood cells; extracting a plasma component, in which a substantial amount of platelets is suspended, and a red blood cell component from a volume of whole blood, the white blood cells being subsequently removed by filtration from the platelet component and the red blood cell component; extracting a plasma component, a platelet component, and a red blood cell component from a volume of whole blood, the white blood cells being subsequently removed by filtration from the platelet component and the red blood cell component.
An apparatus for processing blood components is known from document WO 03/089027. This apparatus comprises a centrifuge adapted to cooperate with an annular separation bag connected to at least one product bag, e.g. a platelet component bag.
The centrifuge includes a rotor having a turntable for supporting the separation bag, and a central compartment for containing the product bag connected to the separation bag; and a squeezing system for squeezing the separation bag and causing the transfer of a separated component (e.g. platelets suspended in plasma) from the separation bag into the product bag.
With this apparatus, a single discrete volume of blood is processed at once.
An object of the present invention is to design a separation apparatus that can process at once at least two discrete volumes of a composite liquid, in particular discrete volumes that may be not the same, and with the proportions of the various components of the composite liquid that may vary from one discrete volume to another one.
According to the invention, a method for separating at least two discrete volumes of a composite liquid into at least a first component and a second component comprises enclosing in at least two separation cells mounted on a rotor at least two separation bags containing two discrete volumes of a composite liquid respectively; storing in a container included in the rotor at least two first satellite bags connected to the at least two separation bags respectively; rotating the rotor; and transferring a volume of hydraulic liquid into at least two interconnected expandable hydraulic chambers located in the at least two separation cells respectively, whereby the hydraulic liquid gets distributed under centrifugation forces in the at least two interconnected hydraulic chambers so as to substantially balance the rotor.
Other features of the method according to the invention are as follows: transferring a volume of hydraulic liquid into the at least two interconnected hydraulic chambers comprises transferring a predetermined volume of hydraulic liquid; transferring a volume of hydraulic liquid into the at least two interconnected hydraulic chambers comprises pumping hydraulic liquid into the at least two interconnected hydraulic chambers; transferring a volume of hydraulic liquid into the at least two interconnected hydraulic chambers comprises connecting a source of hydraulic liquid to the at least two interconnected hydraulic chambers so that a rotation of the rotor causes hydraulic liquid to be transferred from the source of hydraulic liquid into the at least two interconnected hydraulic chambers; rotating the rotor comprises rotating the rotor at a sedimentation speed at which the at least first and a second components sediment in each of the separation bags.
The method further comprises: transferring a first separated component from the at least two separation bags into the at least two first satellite bags connected thereto respectively; and balancing any unbalance of the rotor caused by the transfer of the first separated component into the at least two first satellite bags. Balancing any unbalance of the rotor caused by the transfer of the first separated component into the at least two first satellite component bags comprises respectively storing the at least two first satellite bags in the container against at least two interconnected flexible pouches containing a volume of a liquid secured to a wall of the container, whereby the at least two first satellite bags press against the at least two pouches under centrifugation forces and distribute the volume of liquid in the at least two pouches so as to balance the rotor. Transferring a first separated component from the at least two separation bags into the at least two first satellite bags connected thereto respectively comprises: squeezing the at least two separation bags within the at least two separation cells so as to cause a transfer of at least one fraction of the first component into the at least two first satellite bags connected thereto; detecting a characteristic of a component at a first determined location in each separation bag; stopping transferring the at least one fraction of the first component from each separation bag into the first satellite bag connected thereto, upon detection of the characteristic of a component at the first determined location. The method further comprises changing a speed of the rotor after detecting a characteristic of a component at the first determined location in the separation bag in which such detection occurs last. The method further comprises changing a speed of the rotor after a predetermined period of time after detecting a characteristic of a component at the first determined location in one of the at least two separation bags.
The method further comprises: transferring a second separated component from the at least two separation bags into at least two second satellite bags connected thereto respectively; and balancing any unbalance of the rotor caused by the transfer of the second separated component into the at least two second satellite bags. Balancing any unbalance of the rotor caused by the transfer of the second separated component into the at least two second satellite component bags comprises respectively storing the at least two second satellite bags in the container against the at least two interconnected flexible pouches containing a volume of a liquid secured to a wall of the container, whereby the at least two second satellite bags press against the at least two pouches under centrifugation forces and distribute the volume of liquid in the at least two pouches so as to balance the rotor. Transferring a second separated component from the at least two separation bags into the at least two second satellite bags connected thereto respectively comprises: squeezing one of the at least two separation bags within one of the at least two separation cells so as to cause a transfer of the second component into the second satellite bag connected thereto; detecting a characteristic of a component at a second determined location in either the squeezed separation bag or a tube connecting the squeezed separation bag to a second satellite bag; stopping squeezing the squeezed separation bag upon detection of the characteristic of a component at the second determined location; and successively repeating the above steps with each separation bag of the at least two separation bags.
The method further comprises stopping rotating the rotor after detecting a characteristic of a component at the second determined location in the separation bag or the tube connected thereto in which such detection occurs last.
The method further comprises stopping rotating the rotor after a predetermined period of time after detecting a characteristic of a component at the second determined location in one of the at least two separation bags or the tube connected thereto.
According to the invention, an apparatus for separating at least two discrete volumes of a composite liquid into at least a first component and a second component comprises a centrifuge comprises: a rotor having a rotation axis, comprising at least two separation cells, each for containing a separation bag containing a volume of composite liquid; and a first balancing means for balancing the rotor when the respective weights of the at least two separation bags in the at least two separation cells are different, comprising: at least two expandable hydraulic chambers within the at least two separation cells respectively, and the at least two hydraulic chambers are fluidly interconnected; a source of hydraulic liquid fluidly connected to the at least two hydraulic chambers; and a liquid transferring means for transferring a volume of hydraulic liquid from the hydraulic liquid source into the at least two interconnected hydraulic chambers so as to substantially balance the rotor when two separation bags respectively contained in the at least two different separation cells have different weights.
Other features of the apparatus according to the invention are as follows: The apparatus according further comprises a control unit programmed for causing the liquid transferring means to transfer a predetermined volume of hydraulic liquid from the hydraulic liquid source into the at least two interconnected hydraulic chambers, and the predetermined volume of hydraulic liquid is selected so as to substantially balance the rotor whatever the weights of two separation bags respectively contained in the at least two different separation cells.
The liquid transferring means comprises a pumping means for pumping a volume of hydraulic fluid into the at least two interconnected hydraulic chambers.
The source of hydraulic liquid is fixed with respect to the rotor and is fluidly connected to the at least two hydraulic chambers through a rotary seal.
The liquid transferring means comprises a motor for driving the rotor in rotation and the source of hydraulic liquid is fixed with respect to the rotor, below the at least two separation cells, and is fluidly connected to the hydraulic chambers through a rotary seal, whereby a rotation of the rotor causes the volume of hydraulic liquid to be transferred from the hydraulic liquid source into the hydraulic chambers.
The first balancing means further comprises a valve fitted on a conduit between the source of hydraulic liquid and the rotary seal, for controlling a transfer into the hydraulic chambers of a predetermined volume of hydraulic liquid for balancing the rotor.
The at least two hydraulic chambers are interconnected by a circular conduit centered on the rotation axis, and the circular conduit is connected to each hydraulic chamber to an area thereof that is closer to a periphery of the rotor than to the rotation axis.
The liquid transferring means comprises a motor for driving the rotor in rotation, and the source of hydraulic liquid comprises a reservoir for hydraulic liquid that is mounted on the rotor and is so designed and fluidly connected to the at least two hydraulic chambers that a rotation of the rotor causes a transfer of hydraulic liquid from the reservoir into the at least two hydraulic chambers.
The reservoir comprises a housing defining an internal volume that is symmetrical with respect to the rotation axis and a circular inner area that is the farthest to the rotation axis, and the at least two hydraulic chambers are in fluid communication with this circular area of the reservoir.
The apparatus further comprises: a storage means included in the rotor for storing at least two satellite bags respectively connected to at least two separation bags contained in the at least two separation cells; and a component transferring means for transferring at least one separated component from each separation bag into a satellite bag connected thereto.
The component transferring means comprises a pumping means for pumping hydraulic liquid from the source of hydraulic liquid into the at least two interconnected hydraulic chambers so as to squeeze the at least two separation bags within the at least two separation cells and to cause a component separated therein to flow into a satellite bag connected to each separation bag.
The source of hydraulic liquid is fixed with respect to the rotor, below the at least two separation cells, and is fluidly connected to the at least two hydraulic chambers through a rotary seal, and the component transferring means comprises: a motor for driving the rotor in rotation; and at least one valve member associated with each separation cell for selectively allowing or blocking a flow of fluid between a separation bag and a satellite bag, whereby a rotation of the rotor causes hydraulic liquid to be transferred from the hydraulic liquid source into the at least two hydraulic chambers and to squeeze the at least two separation bags within the at least two separation cells, which causes a component separated in a separation bag to flow into a satellite bag connected thereto when the valve member for allowing or blocking a flow of fluid between the separation bag and the satellite bag is open.
The source of hydraulic liquid comprises a reservoir for hydraulic liquid that is mounted on the rotor and is fluidly connected to the at least two hydraulic chambers, and the component transferring means comprises: a motor for driving the rotor in rotation; and at least one valve member associated with each separation cell for selectively allowing or blocking a flow of fluid between a separation bag and a satellite bag, whereby a rotation of the rotor causes hydraulic liquid to be transferred from the reservoir into the at least two hydraulic chambers and to squeeze the at least two separation bags within the at least two separation cells, which causes a component separated in a separation bag to flow into a satellite bag connected thereto when the valve member for allowing or blocking a flow of fluid between the separation bag and the satellite bag is open.
The apparatus further comprises a second balancing means for balancing the rotor when the at least two satellite bags stored in the storing means cause an unbalance of the rotor.
The storage means comprises a central container around which the at least two separation cells are symmetrically arranged with respect to the rotation axis; and
The second balancing means comprises at least two interconnected flexible pouches partially filled with a liquid, and the pouches are arranged against a wall of the central container so that the at least one satellite bag connected to each separation bag presses onto a pouch during centrifugation.
The storage means comprises a central container around which the at least two separation cells are symmetrically arranged with respect to the rotation axis; and the second balancing means comprises a cylindrical flexible pouch partially filled with a liquid lining a wall of the central container so that the at least one satellite bag connected to each separation bag presses onto the pouch during centrifugation.
The storage means comprises one container associated with each separation cell, the container being located between the separation cell and the rotation axis; and the second balancing means comprises one flexible pouch partially filled with a liquid arranged against a wall of each container so that a satellite bag stored in the container presses onto a pouch during centrifugation, and a flexible pouch in one container is fluidly interconnected with a pouch in another container.
The apparatus further comprises: a storage means included in the rotor for storing at least two first satellite bags respectively connected to at least two separation bags contained in the at least two separation cells; and at least one valve member associated with each separation cell for selectively allowing or blocking a flow of fluid between a separation bag and a first satellite bag, and the at least one valve member is mounted on the rotor so as to be between the associated separation cell and the storage means, with respect to the rotation axis.
The apparatus further comprises: a storage means included in the rotor for storing at least two first satellite bags respectively connected to at least two separation bags contained in the at least two separation cells; and at least one valve member associated with each separation cell for selectively allowing or blocking a flow of fluid between a separation bag and a first satellite bag, and the at least one valve member is mounted on the rotor so that the storage means is between the at least one valve member and the associated separation cell, with respect to the rotation axis.
The apparatus further comprises at least one sensor associated with each separation cell for generating information related to a characteristic of a component separated in a separation bag within the separation cell.
The at least one sensor is mounted on the rotor so as to detect a characteristic of a component in a separation bag contained in the associated separation cell.
The at least one sensor is mounted on the rotor so as to detect a characteristic of a component in a tube connected to a separation bag contained in the associated separation cell.
Each separation cell comprises a substantially closed cavity having a longitudinal axis intersecting the rotation axis of the rotor and comprises a portion closer to the rotation axis of the rotor that is defined by four walls converging towards the longitudinal axis of the cavity.
The longitudinal axis of the cavity of each separation cell intersects the rotation axis of the rotor at an acute angle.
Each separation cell comprises a cavity having a bottom wall, an upper wall and a lower wall, and the hydraulic chamber is underneath a membrane that is lining at least part of either the upper wall or the lower wall of the cavity.
Each separation cell comprises a cavity having a bottom wall, an upper wall, and a lower wall, and the hydraulic chamber comprising a flexible pouch that rests at least on part the lower wall.
The density of the hydraulic liquid is so selected as to be higher than the density of the component having the highest density.
Each separation cell comprises a cavity having a bottom wall, an upper wall, and lower wall, and the hydraulic chamber is defined by an elastic socket that is secured to the separation cell so as to extend between the upper wall and the lower wall.
The density of the hydraulic liquid is so selected as to be between the density of a first component and the density of a second component.
Each separation cell comprises a securing means for securing an upper edge of a separation bag so that the upper edge is the portion of the separation bag that is the closest to the rotation axis.
The apparatus further comprises: at least one sensor associated with each separation cell for generating information related to a characteristic of a component separated in a separation bag within the separation cell; a memory unit for storing at least one change in rotation speed of the rotor; and a control unit programmed: for receiving from the memory the at least one change in rotation speed, and information generated by the at least one sensor associated with each separation cell; and for causing the at least one change in rotation speed in view of information generated by one of the at least one sensor associated with each of the at least two separation cells.
The control unit is programmed for causing the at least one change of rotation speed in view of information generated by the first of the at least one sensor associated with the at least two separation cells that detects a characteristic of a component separated in a separation bag within a separation cell.
The control unit is programmed for causing the at least one change of rotation speed in view of information generated by the last of the at least one sensor associated with the at least two separation cells that detects a characteristic of a component separated in a separation bag within a separation cell.
The apparatus further comprises at least one valve member associated with each separation cell for selectively allowing or blocking a flow of fluid between a separation bag within the separation cell and a satellite bag connected thereto, and the control unit is further programmed for causing at least once in a separation process the at least one valve member associated with a separation cell to block a flow of fluid between a separation bag within the separation cell and a satellite bag connected thereto following a detection of the characteristic of a separated component by the at least one sensor associated with the same separation cell.
The apparatus further comprises at least one valve member associated with each separation cell for selectively allowing or blocking a flow of fluid between a separation bag within the separation cell and a satellite bag connected thereto, and the control unit is further programmed for causing at least once in a separation process the at least one valve member associated with a separation cell to allow a flow of fluid between a separation bag within the separation cell and a satellite bag connected thereto following a detection of the characteristic of a separated component by the at least one sensor associated with another separation cell.
The apparatus further comprises at least one valve member associated with each separation cell for selectively allowing or blocking a flow of fluid between a separation bag within the separation cell and a satellite bag connected thereto, and the control unit is further programmed for: causing the rotor to rotate at a sedimentation speed for separating a least two components in at least two separation bags contained in the at least two separation cell respectively; causing the least one valve member associated with each separation cell to allow a flow of fluid between each separation bag and the satellite bag connected thereto; causing the component transferring means to transfer at least a portion of a separated component from each of the at least two separation bags into the satellite bag connected thereto; causing the least one valve member associated with each separation cell to block a flow of fluid between the separation bag within the separation cell and the satellite bag connected thereto, when the sensor associated with the separation cell detects the characteristic of a separated component.
The control unit is further programmed for: causing the component transferring means to stop transferring a separated component from the at least two separation bags into the satellite bags connected thereto when one sensor associated with one of the at least two the separation cells detects the characteristic of a separated component; causing the component transferring means to transfer a separated component from the at least two separation bags into the satellite bags connected thereto, after the valve member associated with the separation cell associated with the sensor that has detected the characteristic of a separated component has blocked a flow of fluid between the separation bag and the satellite bag connected thereto.
The at least one sensor comprises a first sensor for detecting a characteristic of a separated component in a separation bag within a separation cell; the least one valve member comprises a first valve member for allowing or blocking a flow of fluid between a separation bag and a first satellite bag connected thereto; the control unit is further programmed for controlling an actuation of the first valve member in view of information from the first sensor.
The at least one sensor comprises a second sensor for detecting a characteristic of a separated component in a tube connecting a separation bag to a second satellite bag; the least one valve member comprises a second valve member for allowing or blocking a flow of fluid between a separation bag and a second satellite bag connected thereto; the control unit is further programmed for controlling an actuation of a second valve member in view of information from the second sensor.
According to the invention, a set of bags for separating at least two discrete volumes of a composite liquid into at least a first component and a second component comprises: a collection and separation bag having a median axis, a top and a bottom, for cooperating with a centrifuge so that the median axis of the collection and separation bag substantially intersects the rotation axis, the bottom is the farthest from the rotation axis and the top is the closest to the rotation axis, and the top of the separation bag comprises two edges converging towards a tip located on the median axis; a collection tube having a first end connected to the collection and separation bag; and at least two satellite bags connected to the top of the collection and separation bag, and at least one satellite bag in which a component is to be transferred during a rotation of the centrifuge, is connected to the tip of the collection and separation bag.
Other features of the set of bags according to the invention are as follows: the set of bags further comprises: a first flexible tube having a first end connected to a first satellite bag; a valve section for engaging a first pinch valve of the centrifuge; a second flexible tube having: a first end connected to a second satellite bag; a valve section for engaging a second pinch valve of the centrifuge; and a three-way connector having: an inlet channel for connection to the collection and separation bag; a first outlet channel connected to a second end of the first tube, and a second outlet channel connected to a second end of the second tube, and the three-way connector is so shaped as to allow a section of either one of the first outlet channel and the first tube and a section of either one of the second outlet channel and the second tube to be the closest to the rotation axis when the first valve section is engaged in the first pinch valve and the second valve section is engaged in the second pinch valve.
The section of either one of the first outlet channel and the first tube and the section of either one of the second outlet channel and the second tube that are the closest to the rotation axis when the first valve section is engaged in the first pinch valve and the second valve section is engaged in the second pinch valve, coincide at a meeting point of the first outlet channel and the second outlet channel.
The first outlet channel and the second outlet channel are substantially aligned and the inlet channel is perpendicular thereto.
The section of either one of the first outlet channel and the first tube that is the closest to the rotation axis when the first valve section is engaged in the first pinch valve and the second valve section is engaged in the second pinch valve comprises a section of the first tube between the three way connector and the first valve section, and the section of either one of the second outlet channel and the second tube that is the closest to the rotation axis when the first valve section is engaged in the first pinch valve and the second valve section is engaged in the second pinch valve comprises a section of the second tube between the three way connector and the second valve section.
An angle between the first outlet channel and the inlet channel is between 90 degrees and 180 degrees, and an angle between the second outlet channel and the inlet channel is between 90 degrees and 180 degrees.
The inlet channel, the first outlet channel, and the second outlet channel join in a central location.
The first outlet channel connects to the inlet channel at a first location and the second outlet channel connects to the inlet channel at a second location, the first location being closer to the rotation axis than the second location when the first valve section is engaged in the first pinch valve and the second valve section is engaged in the second pinch valve.
The bag set further comprises a third tube having a first end connected to the tip of the collection and separation bag and a second end connected to the inlet channel. The third tube comprises a detection section for engaging a cell detector of the centrifuge. The bag set further comprises a breakable stopper connected to the third tube.
The bag set is for the separation of whole blood into a plasma component, a platelet component and a red blood cell component, and the first satellite bag is for collecting the plasma component and the second satellite bag is for collecting the platelet component.
The bag set further comprises: a third satellite bag for collecting red blood cells; a third tube having: a first section having a first end connected to the top of the collection and separation bag; and a second section having a second end connected to the third satellite bag; and a leuko-reduction filter having an inlet connected to a second end of the first section of the third tube and an outlet connected to a first end of the second section of the third tube.
The bag set further comprises a needle connected to a second end of the collection tube.
Other features and advantages of the invention will appear from the following description and accompanying drawings, which are to be considered exemplary only.

Apparatus for separating discrete volumes of a composite liquid with balancing elements


A multi-domain LCD device is disclosed, which includes a plurality of gate and data lines crossing one another on the first substrate, for defining a plurality of pixel regions. A pixel electrode is formed within the pixel region, the pixel electrode having an electric field induction window for dividing the pixel region into a plurality of domains. An auxiliary electrode is formed on the different layer from the pixel electrode, and beneath the edge of the pixel electrode. A common electrode is formed on a second substrate having a black matrix film and a color filter film. A circle type dielectric structure is formed on the common electrode in the plurality of domains, thereby obtaining wide viewing angle and high aperture ratio.

1.Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a liquid crystal display (LCD) device, and more particularly, to a multi-domain LCD device in which a liquid crystal is diversely driven by an auxiliary electrode.
In general, an LCD device is provided with lower and upper substrates facing each other at a predetermined distance, and a liquid crystal layer formed between the lower and upper substrates.
There are several types of LCD devices including a vertical alignment mode LCD device, which uses a negative liquid crystal of a negative dielectric anisotropy. In a state where voltage is not applied, a longitudinal direction of a liquid crystal molecule is arranged perpendicular to an alignment layer. When the voltage is applied, the longitudinal direction of the liquid crystal molecule is twisted to the alignment layer due to an electric field. In this respect, transmissivity of light is controlled in the LCD device, thereby displaying an image.
In order to obtain a wide viewing angle, the vertical alignment mode LCD device includes a side electrode and a rib/slit on the substrate. That is, the liquid crystal molecules are arranged at a desired direction by deteriorating the electric field applied to the liquid crystal layer (for example, a patterned vertical alignment (PVA) mode and a multi-domain vertical alignment (MVA) mode). The explanation for the above modes follows with reference to the accompanying drawings.
FIG. 1A is a sectional view showing a unit pixel of a related art LCD device in which a liquid crystal is driven by a auxiliary electrode.
The related art LCD device includes first and second substrates (not shown), a plurality of gate and data lines (not shown), a thin film transistor (not shown), a pixel electrode 1, a passivation film 3, a side electrode 5, a black matrix film (not shown), a color filter film 7, a common electrode 9 and a liquid crystal layer (not shown).
The plurality of gate lines are formed on the substrate to cross the plurality of data lines, thereby defining a plurality of pixel regions. Then, the thin film transistor (TFT) formed at the pixel region includes a gate electrode, a gate insulating layer, a semiconductor layer, an ohmic contact layer and source/drain electrodes. The pixel electrode 1 is formed at the pixel region to connect to the TFT, and the passivation layer 3 is formed on an entire surface of the first substrate including the pixel electrode 1. Next, the side electrode 5 is formed on the passivation layer 3 to overlap with the pixel electrode 1, and the black matrix film is formed on the second substrate to prevent light from leaking in the gate line, the data line and the TFT. Then, a color filter film 7 is formed on the black matrix film, and the common electrode having an open region 8 is formed on the color filter film. The liquid crystal layer is formed between the first and second substrates.
In the related art LCD device having the aforementioned structure, the electric field is applied to the liquid crystal layer. At this time, the electric field is deteriorated by function of the open region 8 within the common electrode 9 and the side electrode 5 around the pixel electrode 1.
Accordingly, the liquid crystal molecules are arranged in the desired direction by dielectric energy of the fringe electric field, so that the liquid crystal molecules of the unit pixel are driven in various directions, thereby obtaining multi-domain effect.
However, in order to form the side electrode 5 on the pixel electrode, it is additionally required to form the passivation film 3, to pattern the side electrode 5, and to form the open region 8 in the common electrode 9 in the related art LCD device.
Also, if the width of the open region 8 is narrow, a lot of time is spent to arrange the liquid crystal molecules stably since the electric field for dividing the pixel region into a plurality of domains is slightly deteriorated.
Accordingly, an LCD device has been proposed in Korean Application P1999-7633 filed on Apr. 9, 1999 in which the auxiliary electrode is formed on the same layer with the gate line to simplify the manufacturing process steps, and a dielectric structure is formed on the common electrode without forming the open region on the common electrode.
FIG. 1B is a sectional view showing an LCD device of the Korean Application P1999-7633 (U.S. application Ser. No. 09/327,283).
Referring to FIG. 1B, the LCD device includes first and second substrates (not shown), a plurality of gate and data lines (not shown), a pixel electrode 1, a common side electrode 5, a black matrix film (not shown), a common electrode 9, a dielectric structure 6 and a liquid crystal layer (not shown).
The plurality of gate lines are formed on the first substrate to cross the plurality of data lines, thereby defining a plurality of pixel regions. Then, the pixel electrode 1 having an electric field induction window 2 is formed in the pixel region, and the common side electrode 5 is formed on the same layer with the gate line, and is overlapped with an edge of the pixel electrode 1. After that, the passivation film 4 is formed beneath the pixel electrode 1, and the black matrix film (not shown) is formed on the second substrate. The color filter film 7 is formed on the black matrix film, and the common electrode 9 is formed on the color filter film 7. Next, the dielectric structure 6 is formed on the common electrode, and the liquid crystal layer (not shown) is formed between the first and second substrates.
However, in the aforementioned LCD device, the electric field is deteriorated and becomes unstable in regions of the dielectric structure 6 and the electric field induction window 2, so that it is difficult to obtain a stable texture, and a residual image generates on the display panel.

Multi-domain liquid crystal display device


A method and terminal for enabling a login, and a method for establishing a session with a specific object, are discussed. According to an embodiment, the method includes: if a first client logs in to the service server using user authentication information and then a second client requests a login to the service server, checking whether the first client is logged out from the service server; and if the checking step indicates that the first client is logged out from the service server, enabling the second client to be logged in to the service server.

1. Field of the Invention
This document relates to a method for enabling a mobile communication terminal to provide a login for a specific service and to establish a session with a specific object, and relates to a mobile terminal for automatically performing a login operation.
2. Description of the Related Art
With a combination of a mobile communication service and an internet service, a user could search for various internet information and e-mail messages and use various multimedia contents such as music and image, by accessing a wireless internet through a mobile communication terminal with built-in Wireless Application Protocol (WAP)/Mobile Explorer (ME) browser while moving.
Peer-to-Peer (P2P) communication such as an instant messenger (hereafter, referred to as "IM"), which has been used by a wired internet connection, has been also provided to the mobile communication terminal via a wireless internet network.
However, in order to provide the wireless internet connection or perform the P2P communication, a session between a user agent (typically, a wireless communication terminal) and a peer (typically, a server) should be established. Specially, a specific server requests authentication in order to access a specific service through a user login prior to establishing the session.
When the wireless communication terminal has logged in to the specific server using user authentication information, if another client requests a login using the same authentication information (i.e., the same user ID) as the wireless communication terminal the wireless communication terminal is forced to log-out and the process ends.
Accordingly, there is a need to effectively enable a re-login whenever the user of the mobile communication terminal accesses the server's service, if another client is logged out.

Method for enabling login and establishing session for wireless communication terminal


A molded insulating collar for an insulating housing of a circuit breaker has a plurality of depending tabs which are received in grooves in the housing and provided with cooperating snap-fit structures within the housing to enable the collar to be sub-assembled to a circuit breaker. Collars are removable and replaceable in the field.

This invention relates to electric circuit breakers of the type having an externally accessible operator for manual operation between ON and OFF conditions More particularly, the invention relates to molded insulating housings of such circuit breakers, and still more particularly to a snap-in attachable collar for said housing which surrounds the operator and which may be selectively interchangeable with other collars having peculiar shapes to function as guards for the operator.
Circuit breakers of the aforedescribed type commonly have operators of a toggle lever or rocker type extending through a forward wall of a housing. A raised collar portion commonly surrounds the operator to project through an opening in a panel to which the circuit breaker may be mounted. Alternatively, the collar may project through a hole in a cover plate of an enclosure in which the circuit breaker is mounted.
It has been known to provide the collar with upstanding lateral walls which are coextensive with the operator to guard against unintentional contact with the operator, which contact might cause accidental operation of the circuit breaker. The lateral walls may extend forward at one or the other side of center of operator movement to function as a guard in one or the other operative positions of the circuit breaker operator, or the walls may extend forward over the full length of movement of the operator to function as a full guard in both operative positions of the operator. The particular type of collar and lateral walls of the collar are molded integrally with the housing of the circuit breaker. Accordingly, the appropriate collar or guard configuration must be determined at the time of specifying the equipment for the job. Later determinations to provide a different type of collar or guard require the complete circuit breaker to be replaced.

Circuit breaker having a snap-in attachable collar


An acceleration sensor includes a seismic mass which is suspended on springs above a substrate and is deflectable in a direction perpendicular to a surface of the substrate. In order to reduce deflections of the seismic mass along the surface of the substrate because of interference accelerations, which lead to a falsification of the measurements of the deflection of the seismic mass perpendicular to the surface of the substrate, the springs include two bending bars which are interconnected via crosspieces.

An acceleration sensor includes a seismic mass which is suspended on springs above a substrate, and is deflectable in a direction perpendicular to a surface of the substrate.
The deflection of the seismic mass in a direction perpendicular to the substrate because of an acceleration is detected by an electrode provided below the seismic mass on the substrate. Due to interference accelerations, the seismic mass is able to be deflected not only in a direction perpendicular to the surface of the substrate, but also along the surface of the substrate. Because of inaccuracies when manufacturing the springs, an interference acceleration along the surface of the substrate can also lead to a deflection perpendicular to the substrate surface, the measurement of the acceleration perpendicular to the surface of the substrate thereby being falsified. Especially because of vibrations, the seismic mass of the acceleration sensor can be induced to oscillate with a natural frequency along the surface of the substrate, these oscillations then falsifying the measurement of the acceleration perpendicular to the surface of the substrate. In this context, the natural frequency of the oscillations along the surface of the substrate is a function of the stiffness of the springs along the surface of the substrate.
In each case, the springs are made of an elongated, flexible element. The stiffness of the springs along the surface of the substrate can be increased by enlarging the cross-section of the flexible elements. However, the stiffness of the springs perpendicular to the surface of the substrate thereby increases at the same time. The sensitivity of the acceleration sensor to deflections in the z-direction decreases correspondingly.


A brush holder (10) for a motor and having a plate-shaped base body (11) having an opening (13) for passing the motor rotor (30) therethrough, at least one brush receptacle (14) in which a carbon brush (15) is displaceably received, and an electronics can (12) projecting from the plate-shaped base body (11), closed at its side (21) adjacent to an axis (A) defined by the base body opening (13), and having an inner chamber (22) in which at least a portion of components of control electronics is received.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a brush holder for a motor and including a plate-shaped base body having an opening for passing the motor rotor therethrough, at least one brush receptacle in which a carbon brush is displaceably received, and supporting electronic components of an electronics.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Brush holders of the type described above are used, e.g., in universal motors and have at least one carbon brush receptacle formed as a carbon brush container that forms a guide for the carbon brush and is arranged sidewise of a brush holder opening. The rotor of the universal or electric motor can extend through the opening and carries a commutator that is contacted by the carbon brush located in the brush receptacle.
In most universal motors, the brush holder and appropriate control electronics are separated from each other. However, in contemporary universal motors, it is desirable, e.g., to monitor the rotational speed of the rotor with a rotational speed sensor.
British Patent Publication GB 2,356,979 A discloses a brush holder that has not only a carbon brush receptacle for the carbon brushes but also serves as a board for different electrical motor-controlling components such as, e.g., an electric switch and resistances. The electrical control components contact electrically strip conducting lines provided on the brush holder. On the brush holder, there is further provided a heat sink for the motor control components.
The drawback of the brush holder disclosed in GB 2,356,979 consists in that the electrical control components are not protected from penetration of dust and particles which are produced, e.g., as a result of wear of the carbon brushes.
Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a brush holder in which the drawbacks of the known brush holder are eliminated.


A dynamically adjustable call pacing system computes the average time a call spends on hold. An Average Hold Time is computed and dynamically updated by monitoring the number of current calls on hold and the amount of time by which current calls on hold exceed the average time on hold. Before adjusting the line activation time which controls the frequency at which idle telephone lines are released to a call initiator, the call pacing system determines the sum of the adjustments which have been previously made to the line activation time, and uses this sum to minimize large fluctuations in Average Hold Times.

Automated telephone systems are not extensively used to both place and receive telephone calls. For example, airline reservation systems and banks may utilize the inbound or call receiving features of the automated telephone system, while marketing groups and credit collection departments will utilize the outbound calling features of the system.
Users of the outbound or call dialing feature of an automated telephone system desire to optimize system performance and ensure that all available operators constantly have a call to answer, while simultaneously ensuring than an answered call will not be inconvenienced or lost due to being placed on hold for an extended period of time. Additionally, users of such systems know that a percentage of the calls dialed will not be answered. Consequently, more calls are dialed then there are operators or agents.
The most basic prior art call pacing systems, therefore, simply maintain a predetermined ratio of lines dialing to operators on duty. This ratio is generally displayed to a supervisor who must constantly monitor and adjust the ratio based upon the length of operator-to-client connect time, a higher number of answered calls, and the number of operators available. Accordingly, this method has proven to be a very non-uniform, manual call pacing system.
Current call pacing systems typically monitor historical call hold activity. Monitoring the historical call hold activity includes monitoring the percentage of calls that were placed on hold. That is, the number of calls that were put on hold out of all the calls that were answered. Based on the percent on hold, the supervisor or the system reduces the call dialing pace.
Prior art systems which monitor only historical call hold activity do not, however, account for and monitor the amount of time a current call is spending on hold. Neither do they account for customer hold discomfort. For example, it is far worse to have a low percentage of callers kept on hold for 20 seconds then for a high percentage of calls to be kept on hold for only 2 seconds. In addition, merely accounting for the average amount of time that previously answered calls spent on hold, also called On Hold Time Average, does not account for current calls on hold, as well as for the fact that many minutes pass from the time an adjustment is made in the dialing frequency to the time that results are seen as a change in on hold time average. Accordingly, large fluctuations in dialing frequency result in numerous idle operators if calls are paced too slowly, and a dramatically increased on hold time averages and many lost calls if calls are paced too quickly.
Further, an additional problem facing all systems is that the on hold time average will fluctuate from user-to-user, site-to-site and campaign-to-campaign and thus, must be constantly monitored and manually updated.

Dynamically adjustable call pacing system


A system and corresponding method for generating electric power from a rotating tire's mechanical energy concerns a piezoelectric power generation device associated with a power harvesting and conditioning module. The piezoelectric structure is preferably mounted within a tire structure such that electric charge is generated therein as the wheel assembly moves along a ground surface. The electrodes of the piezoelectric structure are coupled to a power harvesting and conditioning module that rectifies the resultant electric current from the piezoelectric structure, conditions and stores it in a multi-stage energy storage device, preferably a plurality of capacitors. A regulated voltage source is provided from the energy stored in the power generation device and can be used to selectively power various electronics systems integrated within a tire or wheel assembly. An example of an integrated tire electronics system for use with the disclosed power generation device corresponds to a tire monitoring system that wirelessly transmits such information as tire pressure, temperature and identification variables to a remote receiver location.

The incorporation of electronic devices with pneumatic tire structures yields many practical advantages. Tire electronics may include sensors and other components for obtaining information regarding various physical parameters of a tire, such as temperature, pressure, number of tire revolutions, vehicle speed, number of rotations at speed, temperature at speed and other physical and operational parameters as well as manufacturing information such as name of manufacturer, manufacturing location, date of manufacture, etc. Such performance information may become useful in tire monitoring and warning systems, and may even potentially be employed with feedback systems to regulate proper tire pressure levels. For example, differences in tire rotational speed on the same vehicle may be indicative of under or over inflation as the diameter of a tire will change slightly with inflation pressure.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,749,984 (Frey et al.) discloses a tire monitoring system and method that is capable of determining such information as tire deflection, tire speed, and number of tire revolutions. Another example of a tire electronics system can be found in U.S. Pat. No. 4,510,484 (Snyder), which concerns an abnormal tire condition warning system. U.S. Pat. No. 4,862,486 (Wing et al.) also relates to tire electronics, and more particularly discloses an exemplary revolution counter for use in conjunction with automotive and truck tires.
Yet another potential capability offered by electronics systems integrated with tire structures corresponds to asset tracking and performance characterization for commercial vehicular applications. Commercial truck fleets, aviation crafts and earthmover/mining vehicles are all viable industries that could utilize the benefits of tire electronic systems and related information transmission. Tire sensors can determine the distance each tire in a vehicle has traveled and thus aid in maintenance planning for such commercial systems. Vehicle location and performance can be optimized for more expensive applications such as those concerning earth-mining equipment. Entire fleets of vehicles could be tracked using RF tag transmission, exemplary aspects of which are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,457,447 (Ghaem et al.).
Such integrated tire electronics systems have conventionally been powered by a variety of techniques and different power generation systems. Examples of mechanical features for generating energy from tire movement are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,061,200 (Thompson) and U.S. Pat. No. 3,760,351 (Thomas). Such examples provide bulky complex systems that are generally not preferred for incorporation with modern tire applications. Yet another option for powering tire electronics systems is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,510,484 (Snyder), which concerns a piezoelectric reed power supply symmetrically configured about a radiating centerline of a tire.
Another typical solution for powering tire electronics systems corresponds to the use of a non-rechargeable battery, which inherently provides an inconvenience to the tire user since proper electronics system operation is dependent on periodic battery replacement. Conventional batteries also often contain heavy metals that are not environmentally friendly and which present disposal concerns, especially when employed in significant quantities. Still further, batteries tend to deplete their energy storage quite rapidly when powering electronic applications characterized by complex levels of functionality. Battery storage depletion is especially prevalent in electronic systems that transmit information over a relatively far distance such as from truck wheel locations to a receiver in the truck cabin. Even when batteries are used in electronics systems that transmit from wheel locations to a closer receiver location, information is then typically relayed via hard-wire transmission medium from the RF receiver location to the vehicle cab thus requiring the installation of additional and often-expensive communications hardware in a vehicle.
Yet another known method for deriving power for tire monitoring systems relates to scavenging RF beam power with an interrogation antenna in close proximity to a tire and integrated electronic features. Energy that is radiated from the antenna is scavenged to power the electronics, which must often be very specialized ultra-low-power electronics limited to within a few microwatts. Interrogation antennas employed in conjunction with beam-powered electronics must typically be placed in relatively close proximity (within about two feet) to each wheel well due to limited transmission ranges. This typically requires multiple interrogation antennas per vehicle, thus adding to potential equipment costs. Each antenna is also quite susceptible to damage from road hazards, and thus for many reasons may not be the most desirable solution for powering certain tire electronic applications.
In accordance with the present subject matter, it is appreciated that certain advantages of piezoelectric materials have long been recognized. However, such technology is constantly improving, thus potentially affording applications that utilize piezoelectric materials with improved operating capabilities. Examples of relatively new advances in piezoelectric technology are provided in U.S. Pat. No. 5,869,189 (Hagood, IV et al.) and U.S. Pat. No. 6,048,622 (Hagood IV et al.), directed to composites for structural control. The presently disclosed technology concerns further advances in piezoelectric technology such that a piezoelectric power generating device can be combined with a power conversion arrangement and together can be integrated with a tire or wheel assembly for purposes of energy harvesting.
The disclosures of all of the foregoing United States patents are hereby fully incorporated into this application for all purposes by reference thereto. While various tire electronics systems and power generation and conversion systems have been developed, no design has emerged that generally encompasses all of the desired characteristics as hereafter presented in accordance with the subject technology.

Power conversion from piezoelectric source with multi-stage storage


Disclosed is a process of electrically coupling the gate electrodes of an N-type transistor and a P-type transistor without causing substantial cross diffusion of P-type dopants into the N-type gate electrode and N-type dopants into the P-type gate electrode. This is possible because some or all annealing and diffusion steps are performed while the N-type and P-type gate electrodes are physically isolated from one another. Also disclosed is a Silicide as Diffusion Source process in which dopant atoms implanted in silicide regions diffuses out of the silicide regions and into the substrate to form source and drain diffusions. During this diffusion step adjacent N-type and P-type gate electrodes remain unconnected to prevent cross diffusion. Then, these two electrodes are electrically connected by a local interconnect. The local interconnection is a conductive path formed at about the level of the polysilicon (i.e., below a first metallization layer and above a substrate) and between two adjacent gate electrodes. In one case it is a tungsten plug formed in the space between an N-type polysilicon gate and a P-type polysilicon gate. In another case, it is a titanium nitride layer connecting the N-type and P-type polysilicon gates.

1. The Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to semiconductor devices and methods for their construction. More particularly, the present invention generally relates to forming a local interconnect between adjacent transistors of a semiconductor device. More specifically, the present invention relates to processes for forming a local interconnect that provides an electrical connection between polysilicon gate electrodes of adjacent N-type and P-type transistors in a CMOS device. The invention also relates to semiconductor devices formed by employing such local interconnect processes.
2. The Background Art
Low resistance, shallow junction formation is one of the major challenges for scaling of MOS devices to submicron dimensions. Silicide layers are conventionally formed over source, drain, and gate regions to form low resistance contacts. The silicide is typically formed over the source or drain regions on the single crystal silicon substrate or on the polysilicon gate by reacting the silicon with a refractory metal such as titanium, cobalt, nickel and tungsten. In a typical commercial process, the silicide is formed after the source and drain regions have been implanted and annealed.
A number of different methods exist to implement the SALICIDE process. A conventional process is illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2, 3 and 4. FIG. 1 is a cross sectional view of a partially fabricated transistor after up to the spacer etching. The partially fabricated device includes polysilicon gate electrode 8 and gate oxide 4 which are straddled by spacers 6a and 6b on silicon substrate 2. Implanted P-type or N-type source and drain xe2x80x9ctip regionxe2x80x9d diffusions 7 and 9 have also been formed. In some processes these are referred to as xe2x80x9clightly doped drainxe2x80x9d regions.
FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view of a partially fabricated transistor after source and drain diffusion formation and ion implantation. P+or N+ion implantation may take place during the formation of source region 10 and drain region 12. In some situations source and drain regions will be formed in a single implant step. In many conventional fabrication schemes, well known to those skilled in the art, the source and drain regions are formed in a two step process, with implants being formed before and after spacer formation (as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2).
FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view of a partially fabricated transistor after dopant activation anneal. Typically, a high temperature annealing step is required to remove ion-implantation induced damage to the silicon substrate. During this high temperature annealing some limited diffusion of dopant through the silicon substrate 2 also occurs.
FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view of a partially fabricated transistor after silicidation. Silicide layers 14, 18 and 16 have been formed over source 10, polysilicon gate electrode 8 and drain 12 respectively. Thus, in typical conventional processes the silicide layer is formed after the source and drain regions have been implanted and annealed.
A number of problems with the conventional process have become increasingly critical with decreasing device size. Ion implantation induced damage of the silicon substrate requires high temperature annealing that causes dopant redistribution which significantly degrades the performance of smaller devices. More importantly, as device size decreases the thickness of the silicide layer must correspondingly decrease to preserve p-n junction integrity. Unfortunately, precise control of silicide layer thickness is often unattainable. Silicide layers must not grow beyond the edge of the source or drain region in the substrate. A silicide layer that grows beyond the edge of the source or drain region could become large enough to consume most or all of the source and drain regions thus destroying the p-n junction necessary for proper device functioning.
Silicide layer thickness has not been a significant problem in semiconductor fabrication until device sizes decreased below 0.25 xcexcm. For example, in a 0.18 xcexcm transistor (i.e., the channel region of an MOS transistor is 0.18 microns) the depth of the source and drain diffusions is only about 0.1 xcexcm. In such devices, the depth of the silicide layer must remain below about 300 xc3x85, a thickness that can be exceedingly difficult to reproducibly attain.
The Silicide as Diffusion Source (SADS) process offers a solution to the problems associated with the conventional process described above (F. C. Shone et al., Tech. Dig. IEDM, 407, 1985; R. Liu et al., Tech Dig. IEDM, 58, 1986; Q. F. Wang et al., IEEE Trans. Elec. Dev., 2486, 1992; J. Y. Tsai et al., MRS Symp., 245, 1995; C. Chu et al., Tech. Dig. IEDM, 245, 1990). In the SADS process, which is depicted in FIGS. 7A, 8A, 9A and 10A, silicide is formed on the source, drain, and polysilicon gate regions prior to formation of source and drain diffusions (See FIG. 8A). Then dopant atoms are implanted into the silicide at the locations where the source and drain diffusions are to be formed and the silicide located over the polysilicon gate electrode. (See FIG. 9A). After annealing, the dopant atoms residing in the silicide layers over the location of the incipient source and drain diffusions, diffuse into the silicon substrate to form source and drain diffusion regions (See FIG. 10A). Similarly, the dopant atoms residing in the silicide over the polysilicon gate electrode diffuse into the gate to form a doped polysilicon gate region (See FIG. 10A).
Formation of the source and drain diffusion after silicide formation ensures that the p-n junction is not consumed by the silicide layer since these diffusion regions grow away from the silicide layer. Furthermore, ion implantation directly into the silicide layer ensures that any resultant damage is largely confined within the silicide layer which is typically annealed at much lower temperatures than the silicon substrate. Therefore, dopant redistribution during annealing is not a significant problem when SADS process is used.
However, while the SADS process initially appeared promising, it has not become a viable commercial process because of at least one significant difficulty. In CMOS processes, N-type and P-type transistors are commonly coupled via a common gate input. Thus, adjacent N-type and P-type transistors typically share a polysilicon strip as their gate electrodes. As shown in FIG. 5 (top view of a partially fabricated CMOS structure) a common gate strip 5 is shared by an N-type transistor having source and drain diffusions 1a and 1b and a P-type transistor having source and drain diffusions 3a and 3b. In P-type devices, the gate electrode is typically doped with a P-type dopant such as boron. In N-type devices, the opposite is true; the gate electrode is doped with an N-type dopants such as phosphorus or arsenic.
The annealing step employed to form the source and drain regions in the SADS process also causes the N-type and P-type dopants in polysilicon gate strip 5 to laterally diffuse as shown. This is especially problematic because dopant atoms have relatively high diffusion coefficients in polysilicon. Therefore, during the annealing step N-type dopants rapidly diffuse into the PMOS gate electrode and P-type dopants rapidly diffuse into NMOS gate electrode. An N-type device with substantial concentrations of P-type dopants in its gate electrode cannot function properly. Similarly, a P-type device with substantial concentrations of N-type dopants in its gate electrode also cannot function properly. Therefore, the SADS process has not been found acceptable for commercial CMOS applications.
In any event it has become apparent that as device size shrinks improved methods for low resistance, shallow junctions are necessary. What is needed therefore is a process which solves the problem of dopant cross diffusion which occurs in polysilicon gates of CMOS devices when using the SADS process to form p-n junctions.
The present invention addresses this need by performing some or all annealing and diffusion steps while the two gate electrodes that are to be electrically connected are physically isolated from one another. Thus, the possibility of dopant cross diffusion across a common polysilicon strip is avoided. A local interconnection provides the necessary electrical connection between the two gate electrodes. The local interconnection is a conductive path formed at about the level of the polysilicon (i.e., below a first metallization layer and above a substrate) and between two adjacent gate electrodes. Some specific examples of local interconnections will be described below. In one case it is a tungsten plug formed in the space between an N-type polysilicon gate electrode and a P-type polysilicon gate electrode. In another case, a titanium nitride layer connects the N-type and P-type polysilicon gate electrodes.
One aspect of the invention provides a method for forming a CMOS structure having a first transistor coupled to a second transistor by a common gate contact on a partially fabricated electronic device. The method may be characterized as including the following sequence: (a) forming a first gate electrode on the first transistor and a second gate electrode on the second transistor; (b) providing dopant ions of a first conductivity to the first gate electrode and dopant ions of a second conductivity to the second gate electrode; and (c) forming a local interconnection electrically connecting the first gate electrode and the second gate electrode. As mentioned, the local interconnection is provided beneath a first metallization layer. In addition, it should retard diffusion of dopant atoms between the first and second gate electrodes during subsequent process steps.
Preferably, the first and second gate electrodes are formed as physically unconnected polysilicon structures by appropriately patterning a polysilicon layer, Typically, a step of annealing the CMOS structure is performed before forming the local interconnection. Because the two gate electrodes are physically unconnected during this anneal, dopant atoms will not diffuse between the first gate electrode and the second gate electrode.
In a preferred aspect of the invention, the above method is applied within a SADS process. In this aspect, the invention may be characterized as the following sequence: (a) patterning a polysilicon layer to provide a first gate electrode over a first transistor and a second gate electrode over a second transistor (preferably these gate electrodes are physically unconnected at this point); (b) forming a first silicide layer over first source and drain regions of the first transistor and a second silicide layer over second source and drain regions of the second transistor; (c) implanting dopant ions of a first conductivity into the first silicide layer and of a second conductivity into the second silicide layer; and (d) annealing to provide first source and drain diffusions that extend beyond the first silicide layer and second source and drain diffusions that extend beyond the second silicide layer without dopant ion diffusion between the first gate electrode and the second gate electrode; and (e) forming a local interconnection electrically connecting the first gate electrode and the second gate electrode.
As mentioned, SADS processes are particularly beneficial when forming devices of very small dimensions. Preferably, the source and drain diffusions are not more than about 0.1 xcexcm thick and the silicide layers are not more than about 30 nm thick.
Conventional materials may be employed in the processes of this invention. For example, the silicide layers preferably include at least one of CoSi2, TiSi2, NiSi2 and WSi2. The local interconnection may include titanium nitride, tungsten, aluminum, copper, titanium silicide, tungsten-nickel, titanium, nickel silicide or other suitable conductive material.
Yet another aspect of the invention provides a semiconductor device that may be characterized as including the following features: (a) a first transistor with a first gate electrode; (b) a second transistor with a second gate electrode; and (c) a local interconnection electrically coupling the first gate electrode to the second gate electrode. To be particularly useful, the first and second transistors should be of different types. For example, the first transistor may be an N-type transistor while the second transistor is a P-type transistor. Such N-type and P-type transistors coupled through their gate electrodes often form at least a portion of an inverter circuit.
Preferably, the CMOS structure will include thin silicide layers (e.g., not more than about 30 nm thick) over the source and drain diffusions of the two transistors. Thus, even with very thin source and drain diffusions (e.g., not more than about 0.1 xcexcm thick), source and drain diffusions will extend beyond the silicide layers. Such dimensions will typically be encountered in transistors having channel dimensions of less than about 0.2 xcexcm.
The local interconnects in the CMOS structures of this invention preferably have the structures described above with regard to the method aspects of this invention. It is also worth noting that the local interconnects are preferably formed on a trench type transistor isolation region between the first and second transistors.
These and other features and advantages of the invention will be described in more detail below with reference to the following drawings.

Local interconnection process for preventing dopant cross diffusion in shared gate electrodes


A photovoltaic building structure comprises a number of interlockable building panels having photovoltaic generator devices supported thereupon. The photovoltaic devices may be attached to the panels by a vacuum lamination process in which a flexible, air impermeable membrane covers a stack of layers being laminated to the panel. Evacuation of air from between the membrane and panel causes the lamination stack to be compressed against the panel, and a pressure and/or heat activatable adhesive is employed to adhere the various layers to the panel. Installation of the panels is in accord with standard building techniques, and the presence of the photovoltaic generators does not change the mechanical characteristics of the panels.

Photovoltaic energy is becoming an ever more significant source of electrical power. This is due in part to the growing concern over problems of pollution, safety and scarcity associated with conventional sources of power such as fossil fuels and nuclear energy; and also because of recent advances in technology which have made possible the manufacture of lightweight, large area, low cost photovoltaic devices based upon thin film semiconductor materials.
The power generated by a photovoltaic device is proportional to the illumination incident thereupon, and if relatively large amounts of power are to be generated, fairly large collection areas are required. The roof and upper story areas of building structures are well illuminated, and are generally not productively used. For some time now it has been known to place photovoltaic devices onto the upper portions of buildings, and U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,232,518 and 5,092,939 both disclose particularly configured roofing members having photovoltaic devices affixed thereto. As disclosed in both of these patents, photovoltaic devices are affixed to building panel members during their fabrication, and as is specifically disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,092,939, the photovoltaic devices are laminated to sheet metal stock by a roller based lamination process, and this stock is subsequently bent into an appropriate shape to provide a batten and seam roofing panel.
While the roller based lamination process disclosed in the foregoing is of significant utility, it is not always practical to employ a lamination process of the type disclosed therein. Furthermore, it is often desirable to attach a photovoltaic device to a commercially available, preformed panel. For example, a particular building application may require use of a specific manufacturer's preformed architectural panel either because that panel has already been rated and approved by appropriate agencies, or because it has been specified by a consumer, or because a particular product is already in inventory. Therefore, there is a need for a preformed architectural panel of conventional, commercially accepted design, which further includes a photovoltaic generating element thereupon.
Preformed architectural panels typically include a number of structural features defined thereupon such as raised, bent or otherwise configured connector flanges, reinforcement ribs, interlocks or the like. In other instances, the preformed architectural panel may include a concave or convex central portion onto which a photovoltaic device is to be attached. The presence of such structural features makes the use of a pressure roll lamination process difficult, if not impossible, to implement on preformed panels. Therefore, it will be appreciated that there is also a need for a process whereby photovoltaic devices, particularly large area photovoltaic devices, may be laminated onto relatively large, preformed architectural panels. Often, it will be desirable that the lamination be carried out at a construction site, and in some particular instances, there is a need for a method for laminating photovoltaic devices onto architectural panels which are already affixed to a building structure. In some instances, photovoltaic generating devices may be simply affixed to panels by adhesive or the like; but in other instances, pressure and/or heat must be used to assure a tight bond.
Vacuum lamination processes have been employed in the prior art for the attachment of photovoltaic devices to supporting substrates. However, previous vacuum lamination processes have all required relatively large and complicated lamination systems. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,450,034 discloses a vacuum lamination system for use with relatively large work pieces. The system includes a large area framework made from metal I-beam members. It is relatively heavy and expensive, and is not readily adaptable for use at a construction site. Furthermore, the system cannot be employed to laminate photovoltaic devices to a portion of a standing building. Another lamination system is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,421,589. The system described therein is only capable of accommodating modest sized panels, and comprises a large, precise apparatus not amenable to on site use. Other vacuum lamination processes are shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,382,833; 4,287,382; 4,210,462; 4,184,903 and 5,238,519 as well as in Japanese Patent 1,024,426.
All of the foregoing prior art systems require extensive hardware for supporting a substrate during a lamination process. In addition, the systems are not adaptable for laminating onto nonplanar substrates such as architectural panels having upstanding seams, interlocks and the like. Furthermore, none of the disclosed systems can be operated to laminate a photovoltaic device onto a curved substrate.
It will thus be understood that there is also a need for a lamination method which can be employed to affix photovoltaic devices to architectural building panels, including panels with nonplanar surfaces. The present invention provides for building panels of conventional design, having photovoltaic devices attached thereto, as well as a lamination method which can be advantageously used for their fabrication. The method of the present invention requires minimal hardware and actually uses a portion of the building panel as a part of the lamination system itself. The method of the present invention can be utilized in an on-site application and on standing building structures. These and other advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the drawings, discussion and description which follows.

Power generating building panels and methods for their manufacture


A new bicycle with improved pedaling efficiency for allowing a length of crank arms to change during pedaling. The inventive device includes a pair of crank shafts secured to opposing ends of an existing sprocket shaft of a bicycle. Each of the crank shafts have an elongated slot extending a length thereof. Each of the crank shafts have a sliding bearing coupled with upper free ends thereof. Each of the sliding bearings have a roller disposed on a rear surface thereof. The rollers are coupled with a pair of circular races. The circular races each have a circular track for receiving the rollers therein. The circular races are coupled with the existing sprocket shafts of the bicycle. A pair of pedals are secured within the elongated slots of the pair of crank shafts. The pair of pedals have interior shaft portions secured to the sliding bearings.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to bicycle pedals and more particularly pertains to a new bicycle with improved pedaling efficiency for allowing a length of crank arms to change during pedaling.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The use of bicycle pedals is known in the prior art. More specifically, bicycle pedals heretofore devised and utilized are known to consist basically of familiar, expected and obvious structural configurations, notwithstanding the myriad of designs encompassed by the crowded prior art which have been developed for the fulfillment of countless objectives and requirements.
Known prior art bicycle pedals include U.S. Pat. No. 4,125,839 to Berclaz et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,095,772 to Fortson; U.S. Pat. No. 4,960,013 to Sander; U.S. Pat. No. 4,519,271 to Chattin; U.S. Pat. No. 610,175 to Flindall; Patent No. EP 0 166 843 to Carnielli; and Patent No. WO 89/09157 A1 to Paek.
While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objectives and requirements, the aforementioned patents do not disclose a new bicycle with improved pedaling efficiency. The inventive device includes a pair of crank shafts secured to opposing ends of an existing sprocket shaft of a bicycle. Each of the crank shafts have an elongated slot extending a length thereof. Each of the crank shafts have a sliding bearing coupled with upper free ends thereof. Each of the sliding bearings have a roller disposed on a rear surface thereof. The rollers are coupled with a pair of circular races. The circular races each have a circular track for receiving the rollers therein. The circular races are coupled with the existing sprocket shafts of the bicycle. A pair of pedals are secured within the elongated slots of the pair of crank shafts. The pair of pedals have interior shaft portions secured to the sliding bearings.
In these respects, the bicycle with improved pedaling efficiency according to the present invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in so doing provides an apparatus primarily developed for the purpose of allowing a length of crank arms to change during pedaling.


An apparatus and method for providing a three-dimensional graphic user interface includes a control module which creates a three-dimensional interface space having a predetermined plane and an axis perpendicular to the plane, and a plurality of objects presented in the space, and a user interface module which presents a plurality of object groups including the plurality of objects in the space, and moves an object group including a selected object among the plurality of presented object groups along the axis.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a three-dimensional graphic user interface, and an apparatus and method of providing the same. In particular, the present invention relates to a three-dimensional graphic user interface that can increase visual effects and intuitively represent importance of information, and an apparatus and method of providing the same.
2. Description of the Related Art
In general, digital apparatuses use a graphic user interface (GUI) in order to allow convenient use and to rapidly and intuitively transfer information to a user. The user moves a pointer using a pointing device, such as a keypad, a keyboard, or a mouse, and selects an object indicated by the pointer, thereby instructing a desired operation to the digital apparatuses.
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a GUI that is supported by a related art personal computer (PC) operating system.
As shown in FIG. 1, the related art user interfaces (UI) are two-dimensional, planar, and static UIs. Accordingly, since the forms of information to be displayed by the UIs are document-oriented, it is not enough to satisfy sensitivity of a user, and there is a limit to visually and effectively provide information. In addition, objects to be provided by the related art GUIs include three-dimensional objects, but these three-dimensional objects do not vary from a two-dimensional concept. For this reason, the objects are three-dimensionally viewed, but the merits of the three-dimensional objects are not utilized in view of a method of using the objects.
The GUI of the PC operating system is not suitable for all digital apparatuses. For example, in the case of an apparatus that provides multimedia contents, the existing UIs have limits on their ability to satisfy the sensitivity of the user and to provide entertainment functions. In order to solve the above problems, various techniques (for example, a technique disclosed in Korean Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2000-061224, entitled "Method of Displaying Menu Picture of Video Apparatus") have been suggested, but the above problems have not been solved yet.

Three-dimensional graphic user interface, and apparatus and method of providing the same


A semiconductor device which, in spite of the existence of a dummy active region, eliminates the need for a larger chip area and improves the surface flatness of the semiconductor substrate. In the process of manufacturing it, a thick gate insulating film for a high voltage MISFET is formed over an n-type buried layer as an active region and a resistance element IR of an internal circuit is formed over the gate insulating film. Since the thick gate insulating film lies between the n-type buried layer and the resistance element IR, the coupling capacitance produced between the substrate (n-type buried layer) and the resistance element IR is reduced.

The present invention relates to a semiconductor device and a technique of manufacturing the same and more particularly to a technique which is useful for a semiconductor device having a high voltage MISFET and a resistance element over a semiconductor substrate and a technique of manufacturing the same.
As a technique of electrically isolating neighboring semiconductor elements, the STI (Shallow Trench Isolation) technique has been known where a trench is made in an element isolating region of a semiconductor substrate and an insulating film is buried in it. In order to make such an element isolating trench, first the semiconductor substrate is etched to make a trench and then a silicon oxide film whose thickness is larger than the depth of the trench is deposited on the substrate. Then, the silicon oxide film portion protruding from the trench is removed by chemical mechanical polishing, so that some of the silicon oxide film is left inside the trench and the trench surface is flattened.
The size of a semiconductor element is optimized according to its purpose or functionality and in fact, various semiconductor elements of different sizes are mounted on a semiconductor substrate. For example, it is common that a MISFET which operates at high supply voltage (hereinafter called a high voltage MISFET) is larger than a MISFET which operates at low supply voltage (hereinafter called a low voltage MISFET) and also the gate insulating film of the former is thicker than that of the latter. Furthermore, generally speaking, passive elements such as resistance elements and capacitors are larger than low voltage MISFETs. In addition, since integrated circuits vary in integration density of semiconductor elements according to the purpose or functionality, it is common that some areas of an actual semiconductor substrate are densely dotted with semiconductor elements and other areas of it are sparsely dotted with semiconductor elements.
On the other hand, the size of a semiconductor element isolating trench is determined by the semiconductor element size and density. This means that in an actual semiconductor substrate, there are element isolating trenches of different sizes and some areas are densely dotted with element isolating trenches and other areas are sparsely dotted with element isolating trenches.
However, in the conventional process of making element isolating trenches, the following problem arises: when plural trenches of different sizes are made in a semiconductor substrate and then a silicon oxide film is deposited on them and their surfaces are polished by chemical mechanical polishing, the surface of the buried silicon oxide film may become concave particularly in a large trench, like a dish (this phenomenon is called dishing).
If such dishing should occur on a silicon oxide film in an element isolating trench, when a thin film is deposited on the semiconductor substrate at a later step, the surface flatness of the thin film deteriorates in the area above the element isolating trench. For this reason, at a next step where a photoresist film is formed over the thin film and an exposure is made, the exposure light focus range may decrease in the area above the element isolating trench, resulting in a decline in resist pattern accuracy.
As a solution to this problem, the following technique has been proposed and being applied to actual semiconductor product manufacturing processes: many small dummy active regions are made in a matrix pattern in a large element isolating region where dishing might occur considerably, in order to decrease the actual area of element isolating trenches in this region and thereby prevent dishing of the silicon oxide film.
One of the conventional techniques of making dummy active regions in a large element isolating region is described in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2002-158278. This document discloses a technique which improves the surface flatness of the silicon oxide film and reduces the amount of data for making a photo mask for dummy active region formation by making two types of dummy active regions of different sizes in an element isolating region.
Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2002-261244 points out a problem that when a resistance element made up of a polycrystal silicon film is formed over an element isolating trench, the resistance element's width, thickness and sectional shape are different between the central part and peripheral parts of the trench due to dishing of the silicon oxide film. As a solution to this problem, the document discloses a technique which arranges dummy active regions in the vicinities of regions where resistance elements are to be formed and partitions the silicon oxide film as needed to prevent dishing.

Semiconductor device and a method of manufacturing the same


A device may receive an initial set of network parameter values, associated with cells of a cellular network, that are measured or calculated based on communications associated with the cells of the cellular network. The device may determine a set of feature values, associated with the cells of the cellular network, using the initial set of network parameter values. The device may cluster the cells of the cellular network into a first group of clusters using a first clustering technique, and may cluster the cells of the cellular network into a second group of clusters using a second clustering technique. The device may cluster the cells of the cellular network into a final group of clusters based on the first group of clusters and the second group of clusters, and may output information associated with the final group of clusters of the cells of the cellular network.

A cellular network may refer to a communications network where the last link to an end user device is a wireless link. The cellular network may be distributed over geographic regions referred to as cells, where each cell is served by at least one fixed-location transceiver, sometimes referred to as a base station. The base station may provide the cell with network coverage, which may be used for transmission of voice traffic, data traffic, or other traffic. In a cellular network, different cells may use different sets of radio frequencies from neighboring cells to avoid interference and provide guaranteed bandwidth within each cell. When joined together, these cells may provide radio coverage over a wide geographic area. This enables a large number of portable transceivers (e.g., mobile phones) to communicate with one other and/or with other devices in the network even if some of the transceivers move from one cell to another while communicating.

Cellular network cell clustering and prediction based on network traffic patterns


A liquid dispensing unit for a toilet bowl comprises a first container containing a first, liquid formulation, a second container containing a second formulation, which may be a solid tablet. The liquid from container flows onto a delivery surface from where it is washed into the toilet bowl by the flush water. Some flush water also washes over the second formulation to take components into solution and deliver them into the toilet bowl through aperture. The constituents of the two formulations are thus kept separate until they enter the toilet bowl. The second formulation may also be a liquid.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to lavatory cleansing devices for delivering fragrance and cleansing products to a lavatory bowl. The invention is particularly concerned with devices delivering a liquid product such as a perfume, surfactant or disinfectant, particularly in the form of a solution, dispersion or suspension, together with a bleach, or other relatively aggressive product such as a limescale remover, and for delivering it to a toilet bowl under the action of water used to flush the toilet bowl.
2. Description of the Prior Art
It has been known for a long time to provide so-called toilet automatics in the form of a solid or semi-solid product, a 'rim block', to be mounted within the inner rim of a water closet bowl where the flushing water will wash over the product and so dissolve or erode it to release active constituents into the water flow. Blocks may also be placed on top of the cistern in Japanese style systems where water from a tap flows over the block and then into the cistern, and also may be placed within the cistern below the water level, where they slowly release constituents into the water.
These products have long been used to deliver a surfactant, a perfume and a dye to the toilet bowl. The surfactant provides a cleaning action, while the dye and perfume provide a visual and olfactory indication to the user that some cleansing effect is being achieved. Much effort has also been put into formulating rim blocks which will also deliver a bleaching agent, such as sodium dichloroisocyanurate, to the toilet bowl and these have been successfully developed and marketed by the present applicants.
Different considerations apply when formulating products which dose the water in the cistern and products which dose directly into the toilet bowl. With a solid block, the block will be completely immersed in water when used in the cistern, but will be exposed only intermittently to flush water when used in the toilet bowl.
Many different mechanisms have been proposed for dosing solid or liquid formulations into the cistern, making use of movement of water in the cistern. For dosing directly into the toilet bowl, the long used system has been a solid block which is housed in a cage suspended in the path of the flush water as it enters the bowl.
More recently, products have been developed for dosing a liquid toilet freshening product directly into the toilet bowl, in a similar manner to rim blocks, providing a so-called liquid rim product. For example, EP-A-0 538 957 describes a device that can be mounted on the inner rim of a water closet bowl to dose a liquid freshening product into the flushing water. In this device, the liquid product is dosed into the water flow from a porous substrate, forming a delivery plate which is disposed in the path of the flushing water. The porous substrate is supplied with the liquid product from a container disposed above the substrate, a mouth at the bottom of the container has a liquid permeable plug which opens onto the upper surface of the substrate.
EP-A-0 785 315 describes a development of the device discussed above. The same basic principle of delivering a liquid product into a flow of water from a porous substrate is employed. However, liquid product from the container is deposited onto the upper surface of the substrate via a regulating channel. The liquid is metered into the channel through an orifice and a separate opening allowing air into the interior of the container is provided. The sizes of the metering orifice and the air opening are related to the viscosity of the liquid being dosed.
WO 99/66139 and WO 99/66140 describe numerous variations of the liquid rim product, including different styles of delivery plate in place of the porous plate of EP-A-0 538 957, while WO 00/42261 describes a design which uses a grooved plate.
All of the above systems use the same basic idea of delivering liquid directly from the container's mouth onto the delivery plate.
Further developments of the liquid rim system are described in co-pending applications Nos. GB 0026832.6 and WO 01/32995 which are incorporated herein by reference.
EP-A-775 741 describes a liquid formulation suitable for use in liquid rim products. This formulation comprises perfume, anionic or non-ionic surfactant, evaporation regulator and a solvent. EP-A-775 741 also mentions that a bleaching or disinfecting agent, such as hypochlorite, peroxide or isocyanurate can be incorporated in the liquid formulation but no actual formulation is described.
A problem with bleach formulations, whether of the liquid or solid type, is that the bleach can have an adverse effect on other constituents in the formulation and on the delivery device itself, particularly where it is desirable to use a transparent container so that the user can see the color of the formulation, and can also see when the supply is nearly exhausted and a refill is required. For example, good quality perfumes are not compatible with bleaches. Typically, PVC and PET are used for moulding liquid rim devices, but high density polyethylene or polypropylene would be preferred materials for a bleach system.


A detection apparatus for detecting the position of a boundary between a first part and a second part of a subject, includes a pixel extraction unit for extracting a plurality of candidate pixels acting as candidates for a pixel situated on the boundary on the basis of image data of a first section crossing the first part and the second part, and a pixel specification unit for specifying the pixel situated on the boundary from within the plurality of candidate pixels by using an identifier which has been prepared by using an algorithm of machine learning.

The present invention relates to a detection device for detecting the position of a boundary between a first part and a second part of a subject, a magnetic resonance device to which that detection device has been applied, a detection method of detecting the position of a boundary between a first part and a second part of a subject, and a program used for detecting the position of a boundary between a first part and a second part of a subject.
As a method of imaging a part which moves with respiration of a subject, a method of using a navigator sequence for acquiring a respiratory signal of the subject is known (see Patent Document 1).
[Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2011-193884

Image-based detection of the boundary between a first part and a second part