A head suspension assembly includes a load beam, a flexure and a constraint structure for limiting range of motion of the flexure tongue. The constraint structure directly engages a free end of the flexure tongue to restrict the range of motion of the free end of the flexure tongue. This constraint structure is on the disk-confronting surface of the load beam to overlap the proximal end of the flexure tongue. The constraint structure may be formed in one piece with a proximal extension of the flexure.. A method for manufacturing a head suspension assembly of the type including a load beam and a flexure, includes a step of incorporating into the suspension assembly a constraint structure for directly engaging the free end of the flexure tongue to restrict the range of motion of the flexure tongue. Preferably, the method includes shaping the constraint structure from the flexure itself, and bending the constraint structure, so that the distal limit of the constraint extends directly over and is spaced from the free end of the tongue, between the tongue and its associated disk surface.

Standard head suspension assemblies (HSAs) include, as component elements, a base plate, a load beam, a gimballing flexure and a head slider. The base plate is attached to a proximal end of the load beam, and is configured for mounting the load beam to an actuator arm of a disk drive. The flexure is positioned on a distal end of the load beam.
A style of flexure, sometimes referred to as a "T-type" or a Watrous gimballing flexure, generally includes a pair of outer flexible arms about a central aperture with a cross piece extending across and connecting the arms at a distal end of the flexure. A flexure tongue is joined to the cross piece, offset toward the attached head slider, and extends from the cross piece into the aperture. A free end of the tongue is centrally located between the flexible arms. Mounted to the free end of the flexure tongue is a head slider. The head slider must be mounted to the flexure tongue so that the head slider is in a predetermined (e.g., planar and parallel) relationship to the confronting disk surface.
Hutchinson Technology Inc. (HTI), assignee of the present invention, makes commercially available a suspension assembly, identified as the Type 13, which uses a style of flexure described above as a "T-type" or Watrous flexure. The Type 13 flexure, as is conventional with a "T-type" or Watrous flexure, is attached to a distal end of the head slider. When the disk drive using this style of flexure is moved, as in shipping or handling, or is subjected to high shock impacts, as in jarring or dropping, the head slider leaves the disk under a high "G" shock load. Recent testing has shown that, during an initial shock impact to the disk drive, the read-write head remains relatively stable with the suspension during movement away from the disk. Upon returning to the disk from this initial impact, the head strikes the disk at a relatively flat angle. When the suspension and the head rebound after this first excursion away from and .back to the disk, the suspension pulls away from the disk, pulling away the head at the end by which the head is attached to the slider. The suspension and the head are thus disoriented or dislocated from their pre-set parallel planar synchronization. The head now strikes the disk at a sharp angle upon returning to the disk surface. This sharp angle striking continues on future excursions of the suspension and head away from and back to the disk surface. These repeated sudden impacts at a sharp angle continue to damage the disk, the head slider, and/or the flexure.
It is thus desirable to reduce or eliminate the possibility of damage to the flexure, to the head slider, or to the disk by constraining or limiting the range of motion, particularly vertical motion, of the flexure relative to the load beam. Certain devices have previously been proposed to limit the range of flexure motion.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,939,611, Connolly, issued Jul. 3, 1990 and entitled VERTICAL DISPLACEMENT LIMIT STOP IN A DISK DRIVE FOR PREVENTING DISK SURFACE DAMAGE, describes a member on a comb structure of either a rotary or linear actuator for limiting vertical displacement of an arm with a confronting disk surface, such as when the disk drive is being handled for removal, installation or transportation. These vertical displacement stops are located outside of tracks recorded on the disk, so that they do not interfere with the function of any disk drive parts during periods of normal operation. However, this displacement stop is designed for use only during non-operational periods and does not provide protection to limit flexure motion when the disk drive is in normal operation.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,724,500, Dalziel, issued Feb. 9, 1988 and entitled MECHANISM FOR PREVENTING SHOCK DAMAGE TO HEAD SLIDER ASSEMBLIES AND DISKS IN RIGID DISK DRIVE, describes an elongated constraint element positioned on the side of the load beam opposite the flexure, in association with a pair of wing elements attached to shoulder extensions of the head slider. The constraint element and the wing elements, together with the specially configured head slider, serve to limit the range of motion, both vertical and rotational, of the flexure tongue. The Dalziel structure is rather complicated, adding significantly to the weight, height and difficulty of manufacture and assembly of the suspension.
Accordingly, there continues to be a need to limit the range of motion of the flexure tongue and the attached head slider relative to the load beam under both operational and non-operational drive modes, without unduly adding to the structure of the suspension assembly.

Method of making a flexure vertical motion stop


A method of inhibiting gas hydrate formation in downhole fluids, including providing a downhole fluid and mixing the downhole fluid with an aqueous gas thermodynamic hydrate inhibitor formulation to form a downhole fluid mixture. A concentration of lithium chloride in the downhole fluid mixture is at least about 1 wt % and a density of the downhole fluid mixture is in a range of about 1.08 to 1.3 gm/cm3 at a downhole temperature of about 50° F. or less and a downhole differential pressure of about 500 psi or higher. An aqueous gas thermodynamic hydrate inhibitor formulation and oil and gas well drilling system including such a formulation are also disclosed.

Gas hydrates are non-stoichiometric crystalline solids formed by water molecules in the presence of gaseous or volatile liquid molecules at suitable combinations of low temperatures and high pressures. The inhibition of hydrates in the oil and gas industry has traditionally been accomplished by adding thermodynamic hydrate inhibitors (THIs) such as methanol and ethylene glycol. THIs are additives that change the hydrate's thermodynamic forming conditions, thus preventing hydrate growth under normal hydrate forming conditions encountered in oil and gas drilling. High concentrations of THIs (e.g., about 10-50% by weight of the water present) are often needed to be effective.
Unfortunately, such concentrations have a number of different drawbacks. For example, such concentrations lead to higher densities and negative effects on rheology when high ethylene glycol concentrations are used. Additionally, high concentrations of the THIs are not environmental friendly (e.g. MeOH), as well as the THIs can be costly to both use and recover.
What is needed in the art is a new formulation of THIs that does not experience the drawbacks of prior art THI formulations.


A memory device includes a memory unit comprising a substrate supporting mobile charge carriers. Insulative features formed on the substrate surface define first and second substrate areas on either side of the insulative features areas being connected by an elongate channel defined by the insulative features. The memory unit is switchable between first and second states in which the channel respectively provides a first conductance and a second, different conductance between the first and second areas at a predetermined potential difference between said first and second. A write circuit is arranged to apply a first potential difference across the first and second areas for changing the memory unit to the first state, and a second, different potential difference for changing the memory unit to the second state. A read circuit is arranged to apply the predetermined potential difference across the first and second areas for reading the state.

The present invention relates to a memory device, to methods and apparatus for writing to and reading from the memory, and to associated methods of manufacture. Particularly embodiments of the present invention are suitable for, but not limited to, use as a memory for a computer.
A memory is a device used to store information for subsequent retrieval. The memory may be associated with a computer, or a device including a computational unit e.g. a mobile phone. Information is typically stored in digital form as sequences of bits.
Memory devices can be permanently connected to computational devices, or can be separate devices (e.g. secure digital flash memory) arranged to be removably connected to computational devices. Memory devices are now incorporated within a range of media e.g. many banking cards now incorporate a memory device, for storage of the PIN (personal identification number) of the user, on the card.
There is an ongoing desire within the electronics industry for miniaturisation of electronic/electrical circuits, including memory devices. Known techniques for making integrated circuits of micrometer dimensions commonly involve multiple steps comprising overlying and aligning different shapes and patterns (e.g. photolithographic techniques), with subsequent diffusion and implantation steps. However, miniaturisation of such steps (to manufacture devices of sub-micrometer dimensions e.g. nanometre dimensions) is problematic for a number of reasons, including the precise alignment of the apparatus required between each of the different steps. This leads to a relatively large increase in cost of the fabrication equipment utilised to manufacture such miniaturised devices.
Additionally, as semiconductor device dimensions rapidly reduce to the nanometre scale, physical phenomena arise that can have undesirable effects upon the operation of the miniaturised conventional semiconductor devices. For example, a single-electron transistor (SET) has been found to be extremely sensitive to fluctuating background charges. A single charged impurity in the close vicinity of a SET can seriously influence its operation. Thus, the performance of existing electronic devices can deteriorate, upon miniaturisation, unless a high degree of control of surface physical and chemical properties can be realised.
It is an aim of embodiments of the present invention to address one or more problems of the prior art, whether referred to herein or otherwise. It is an aim of particular embodiments of the present invention to provide a memory device that is relatively simple (and hence cheap) to manufacture.


In an automobile rear windowpane antenna apparatus including a defogger disposed on a rear windowpane plate at a lower portion thereof an antenna pattern is disposed above the defogger on the rear windowpane plate at an upper portion thereof and is disposed so as to extend between near a right end edge of a window frame and near a left end edge thereof. A feeding point is disposed inside the antenna pattern.

This invention relates to an automobile rear windowpane antenna apparatus disposed on a rear windowpane plate of a vehicle and, in particular, to an AM/FM windowpane antenna pattern structure.
The rear windowpane plate is enclosed with a substantially rectangular window edge. That is, the window edge consists of an upper end edge, a lower end edge, a right end edge, and a left end edge. Inasmuch as the right end edge and the left end edge extend in a vertical direction, they are called a pair of rear pillars. In other words, the rear windowpane plate comprises the pair of rear pillars at both ends laterally.
The rear windowpane plate is enclosed with a substantially rectangular window edge. That is, the widow edge consists of an upper end edge, a lower end edge, a right end edge, and a left end edge. Inasmuch as the right end edge and the left end edge extend in a vertical direction, they are called a pair of rear pillars. In other words, the rear windowpane plate comprises the pair of rear pillars at both ends laterally.
The fog preventing apparatus (the defogger) is disposed on the rear windowpane plate at a lower portion thereof. The defogger comprises a plurality of heater lines extending in a horizontal direction and a pair of bus bars which is disposed close proximity to the above-mentioned pair of rear pillars to feed the plurality of heater lines with power. The pair of bus bars extends in the vertical direction. One of the pair of bus bars is connected to a DC power source while another thereof is grounded.
Various automobile rear windowpane antenna apparatuses of the type are already proposed previously. By way of illustration, Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. H11-261321 (JP-A-11-261321) discloses an automobile rear windowpane antenna apparatus comprising an antenna conductor (an antenna pattern) and a feeding point which are disposed above the defogger at an upper portion of the rear windowpane plate. The antenna conductor is for receiving an AM broadcasting band and an FM broadcasting band. The antenna conductor comprises a substantially horizontal element and a loop-shaped element. The loop-shaped element is disposed between the substantially horizontal element and the defogger. The substantially horizontal element and the loop-shaped element are connected to a feeding point.
In the automobile rear windowpane antenna apparatus disclosed in JP-A-11-261321, the feeding point is disposed between either of the pair of rear pillars and the antenna conductor (the antenna pattern).
Other Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publications are similar in structure to JP-A-11-261321. For example, in an automobile rear windowpane antenna apparatus disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2001-168623 (JP-A-2001-168623), a feeding point is disposed close proximity to a right-upper side portion of a rear windowpane plate when seeing from the inside of the vehicles or the outside of the vehicles. In addition, in an automobile rear windowpane antenna apparatus disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2003-168908 (JP-A 2003-168908), a feeding point is also disposed between either of a pair of rear pillars and an antenna conductor (an antenna pattern).
However, if the feeding point is disposed between either of the pair of rear pillars and the antenna conductor (the antenna pattern), the antenna conductor (the antenna pattern) has a smaller effective area. As a result, the conventional automobile rear windowpane antenna apparatuses are disadvantageous in that it is difficult to make a gain thereof large.

AM/FM windowpane antenna pattern structure wherein feeding point is disposed thereinside


A communications system allows individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing or speech disabled to use computers and other web devices to connect to an Internet Portal in order to place a call. The system relays communications between a first device and a second device utilizing a third device as an intermediary where the second device is a telephone on a plain old telephone system network and the communications between the first device and third device involves the Internet. The system includes a first input and output communication device coupled to a network and is configured to send and receive communication messages, a server device that receives a session request from the first input and output communication device and sends a call to a call distribution device, a second input and output communication device coupled to a plain old telephone system, and a third input and communicating with the first input and output communication device using a chat room interface.

Various technologies have been developed to enable hearing-impaired individuals to communicate using telephone communication systems. For example, text telephones, such as Telecommunication Devices for the Deaf (TDD), enable deaf, hard of hearing, speech-impaired individuals to communicate over the telephone with hearing and speaking parties using conventional telephones. In TDD systems, the hearing-impaired person typically uses a telephone teletype keyboard or TTY, a specially equipped device with a keyboard, to type messages and a text display for presenting responses to the caller.
TDD devices typically require a Weitbrecht/Baudot-compatible modem. In general, a computer cannot communicate directly to TDD because each uses a different coding system to transmit messages over telephone lines. Modems and software are available that can be installed on a computer that allow the computer to communicate directly with a Baudot modem and a TDD. However, such configurations do not solve the need of a hearing-impaired person being able to call anyone at anytime.
Telecommunication relay services or dual party relay services enable deaf, hard of hearing, speech-impaired individuals to employ text telephones for engaging in a communication session over a telephone network with a person who has a conventional voice telephone. Relay services involve a hearing-impaired individual using a keyboard to communicate and a display device to understand what is being said by the other party. The hearing person hears what is being said and uses his voice to communicate. A relay operator acts as the interface in this situation. The relay operator relays information from one communication protocol to another. For example, the relay operator types what the hearing person says and sends the text to the hearing-impaired person. The relay operator reads aloud text messages from the hearing-impaired person so that the hearing person can hear the message.
There is a need for an improved relay system. Further, there is a need to improve telephone relay conversations by enabling the relay operator to use computerize chat interfaces to communicate with the hearing-impaired individual. Even further, there is a need to utilize Internet technologies to enable IP based Internet relay services.

Internet protocol (IP) relay system and method


An analyzing apparatus and method generates a laser beam at a target. The Raman scattered photons from the target are collected and used to generate a Raman spectrum indicative of the composition of materials associated with the target, such as components of chemical or biological weapons. In one embodiment, a laser beam is generated with two streams of photons, the photons of one beam being entangled with the photons of the other beam. One stream is then directed at the target and only the other beam is analyzed to obtain said Raman spectrum. Alternatively, the scattered photons from the second beam are also analyzed and the results are correlated for greater efficiency and accuracy.

1. Field of Invention
The present invention describes a system and method for detecting chemical and or biological weapon components. The preferred embodiment is accomplished by creating two separate beams, consisting of monochromatic, coherent, polarized, quantum state entangled, exclusive or nearly exclusive co-incident photons. Then directing one beam, the probe beam, at a person or object, and analyzing the resulting conventional Raman backscatter spectrum while simultaneously directing the other beam, the detector beam, at a remote detector in order to analyze the changes in the quantum state characteristics of the entangled photons.
2. Background of the Invention
Various methodologies exist for detector technologies, for both chemical warfare and biological warfare agents. Currently, detector technology for both chemical warfare and biological warfare agents is strongest in terms of "detect to respond" or "detect to react" rather than "detect to warn." Most only respond when the threat is directly present. Alerting civilians, first responders or troops to the immediate danger of agent exposure is often the only goal of a detector. More sophisticated or additional instrumentation further refines the nature and concentration of the danger. The efficacy of these instruments to detect and alert of imminent danger play an important part in security issues in a multitude of potential forums. One of the most challenging aspect for chemical and biological agent identification is quickly extracting the agent of interest from the other chemicals in the environment. In this aspect, however, these detector methods are often ineffective, have long standing delays in data analysis, constantly need replacement, are easily damaged or destroyed by exposure to analytes they are supposed to detect. The currently deployed detection systems require multiple platforms for detecting various biological and or chemical agents. This is complicated, expensive undertaking.
Of course, the process of screening of individuals and their belongings for potentially dangerous components is a laborious and uncertain process. Boredom and complacency at checkpoints from constant repetitive searching, along with the constant pressure to keep the line moving, can lead to breakdowns in security. For this reason, technologies capable of scanning large volumes of people from a distance have been investigated with great interest.
The accurate and specific determination for existence of chemical or biological compounds on a human subject or their belongings, without performing an invasive procedure, has several advantages. These advantages include deterring the creation, transportation or use of potentially life threatening devices, higher levels of security to individuals in large public areas, such as, airports, train stations, sports arenas and government and military facilities, and faster, safer, less invasive screening procedures. These advantages encourage usage in areas that were previously unable to be monitored, such as train and bus terminals, and increased vigilance at facilities already being monitored.
Current methodologies for screening detection are primitive at best. They are really nothing more than moving a complex laboratory out into the "field". Representative examples of biological weapon detection techniques include:
Culturing or literally growing a colony of microbes on a nutrient containing surface (Petri-dish) and observing it with the eye or through a microscope. This is still the "gold standard" for identification of microbiological species.
Immunoassay-based detectors mimic the human body's natural immune system. Genetic-Based Detectors are another method, DNA or RNA isolated from a sample is exposed to nucleic acid sequences, or oligonucleotides, which correspond to a suspected biological agent.
Point Detectors directly examine potential biological agent-containing samples. Examples are:
Aerosol Particle Sizers (APS) in which particles are drawn through an orifice into a steady high-speed air flow.
Mass Spectrometry is another method to characterize potential Biological or chemical agents of interest by fragmenting them into progressively smaller charged pieces ending with constituent amino acid or protein pieces.
Surface Acoustical Wave Sensors are based on piezoelectric materials (those that produce an electrical current when subjected to pressure or mechanical stress) coated with antibodies or complimentary nucleic acid sequences.
Colorimetric Sensors are based on a visible color change and are, consider the fastest, cheapest, lightest and easiest type of detector to use.
Electrochemical or chemiresistor detectors, use the way electrical current changes in response to an interaction with a CW agent.
Ion mobility spectrometry (IMS) or plasma chromatography relies on small differences in the velocity of ions along a cylindrical tube, a "drift tube", across which a constant electric field is applied.
Mass Spectrometry combined with gas chromatography is the most sensitive and most reliable technique.
Flame photometric detection (FPD), is another method where a sample is ignited in a (very small) hydrogen flame.
Photoionization detector (PID) systems use ultraviolet (UV) light to ionize (remove the most loosely held electrons) from a vapor or gas.
Isotopic Neutron Spectroscopy is a non-destructive method for the evaluation of an agent in a sealed container.
Portable Isotopic Neutron Spectroscopy System (PINS) is employed in the field to differentiate traditional munitions from those containing CW agents.
Acoustic Resonance Spectroscopy (ARS) and Swept Frequency Acoustic Interferometry (SFAI). The two related techniques, rely on the fundamental difference in the speed of sound through a solid versus a liquid.
In contrast to point detectors there is another method called Remote or Standoff Detection. The primary goal with this methodology is to create a platform which allows for both monitoring and surveillance of potential biological and chemical agents at a distance. This is similar to Cloud Recognition for weather reporting which use of Doppler radar. LIDAR is another common tool used for cloud detection and recognition and is based on the same physical principles as radar, except instead of bouncing longer wavelength radio waves off a target, higher energy light waves are used. This technology has been adapted by the U.S. Army's Long-Range Biological Standoff Detection System (LR-BSDS) which uses LIDAR-based technology to detect aerosol clouds from long distances. The Short-Range Biological Standoff Detection System (SR-BSDS) combines infrared (IR) LIDAR with ultraviolet light reflectance (UV).
Another technique unlike many discussed above is Raman Backscattering or Raman Spectroscopy. This technique can be used for scanning both objects and individuals. The underlying science involves the way in which light scatters off any surface. That is to say, when light of any wavelength impinges on a surface (or molecule), most of the scattered photons are elastically (or Rayleigh) scattered. That means that they leave with the same frequency (or wavelength) as the incident radiation. In contrast to this there is a small fraction of the scattered light (less than one in a thousand incident photons) that is inelastically (or Raman) scattered at frequencies that differ from the incident frequency by a value determined by the molecular vibrations of the sample. Raman scattering creates a discrete molecular spectrum at frequencies corresponding to the incident frequency plus or minus the molecular vibrational frequency. A Raman spectrum is thus a plot of the intensity of scattered light as a function of frequency (or wavelength). By convention, Raman spectra are shown on an orthogonal graph with the wave numbers (reciprocal centimeters) along the horizontal axis and the abscissa representing intensity or energy.
Raman spectra have long been used to determine the structure of inorganic and biological molecules, including the composition of complex multicomponent samples. Raman spectroscopy is considered to have many advantages as an analytical technique. Most strikingly, it provides vibrational spectra that act as a molecular fingerprint containing, unique, highly reproducible, detailed features, thereby providing the possibility of highly selective determinations.
In comparing Raman scattering verses other forms of analysis, the Raman approach is advantageous for several reasons:
(1) Solid, liquid and gas states can be analyzed
(2) Aqueous solutions present no special problems
(3) No special pre-scanning preparation of the sample is necessary
(4) The low frequency region is easily obtained.
(5) The device can be made inexpensive lightweight and portable
(6) Scanning can be completely non invasive and clandestine
(7) Scanning distance can be varied from centimeters to kilometers.
Several previous inventors have recognized the potential for using Raman scattering as a non-invasive (NI) sensor for scanning individuals. U.S. Pat. No. 6,574,501 discusses assessing blood brain barrier dynamics or measuring selected substances or toxins in a subject by analyzing Raman spectrum signals of selected regions in aqueous fluid of the eye. U.S. Pat. No. 5,553,616 discloses the use of Raman scattering with excitation in the near infrared (780 nm) and an artificial neural network for measuring blood glucose. WO 92/10131 discusses the application of stimulated Raman spectroscopy for detecting the presence of glucose. U.S. Pat. No. 6,070,093, describes a noninvasive glucose sensor that combines Raman measurements with complementary non-invasive techniques in order to enhance the sensitivity and selectivity of the measurement.
Other previous inventors have recognized the potential for using Raman scattering for non-invasively scanning of objects. U.S. Pat. No. 6,608,677 discloses the use of a Mini-lidar sensor for the remote stand-off sensing of chemical/biological substances and method for sensing same. U.S. Pat. No. 6,593,582 discloses a Portable digital lidar system, which in part could use raman backscattering. U.S. Pat. No. 4,802,761 dicusses Optical-fiber raman spectroscopy used for remote in-situ environmental analysis.
Still other previous inventors have recognized the potential for using entangled photons for scanning of objects. U.S. Pat. No. 5,796,477 discloses an entangled-photon microscope, for WF fluorescence microscopy.
A major challenge for all of the Raman techniques to date has been to collect spectral information with sufficiently high signal-to-noise ratios to discriminate weak analyte signals from the underlying background noise.
Existing non-invasive in vivo Raman measurements are hindered by a number of factors, including notoriously low quantum efficiency. In other words, very few inelastic scattering events occur in comparison to the number of elastic scattering events. Conventionally, in non-resonance Raman spectroscopy in order to double the efficiency of Raman scattering it is necessary to square the photon density. Unfortunately this can damage the sample. Therefore it is necessary to perform scans at either long integration times or high power densities to achieve acceptable signal-to-noise (S/N) ratios.
Other forms of Raman scattering like, resonance and surface enhancement or the combination of both can significantly improve the sensitivity and selectivity of Raman measurements. However, these enhancements are not generally applicable to all analytes or to all samples, especially in living, breathing, moving targets. Furthermore relating band intensities to analyte concentrations under such circumstances requires careful calibration procedures, which is obviously not helpful in high volume screening applications.

Method and apparatus for detecting chemical and biological weapon components using Raman spectrum


Methods of producing a semiconductor package using dual-sided thermal compression bonding includes providing a substrate having an upper surface and a lower surface. A first device having a first surface and a second surface can be provided along with a second device having a third surface and a fourth surface. The first surface of the first device can be coupled to the upper surface of the substrate while the third surface of the second device can be coupled to the lower surface of the substrate, the coupling occurring simultaneously to produce the semiconductor package.

Flip chip packages include a semiconductor die mounted onto a package substrate with the active side of the die facing the substrate. Flip chip technology is gaining increasing interest in semiconductor packaging by virtue of compelling advantages in miniaturization and electrical performance over conventional wire bonding technology. However, challenges remain in the areas of infrastructure, manufacturing cost and design.

Methods of manufacturing flip chip semiconductor packages using double-sided thermal compression bonding


A sorption cooling apparatus for cooling a thermally insulated cooling container 1, with a sorber container 5 containing a sorber material 7 which, during a sorption phase, sorbs a working fluid which evaporates in an evaporator 2 that is disposed in the interior chamber of cooling container 1 and with a valve 4 between sorber container 5 and evaporator 2, which valve can be shut off and which can stop the flow of the working fluid steam, with an evaporator blower 12 being disposed along evaporator 2, which evaporator blower passes an air stream over the evaporator, and with a sorber blower 10 being disposed along sorber container 5, which sorber blower can circulate air around the container containing the sorbent material.

Adsorption devices are apparatuses in which a solid sorbent material sorbs a second material, the working fluid, that boils at a lower temperature in the form of steam while liberating heat (sorption phase). In the course of this process, the working fluid evaporates in an evaporator while absorbing heat. After the sorbent material is saturated, it can be desorbed by means of heat input (desorption phase). In the course of this process, the working fluid evaporates from the adsorbing agent. The working fluid steam can be recondensed and can subsequently evaporate again in the evaporator.
Adsorption apparatuses for cooling with solid sorbent materials are known from EP 0 368 111 and from DE-OS 34 25 419. Sorber containers filled with sorbent materials draw off the working fluid steam which develops in an evaporator and sorb it while liberating heat. This heat of sorption must be eliminated from the sorbent materials with which the sorber container is filled. The cooling apparatuses can be used for cooling food and for keeping it warm in thermally insulated boxes.
The sorption cooling system known from EP 0 368 111 comprises a portable cooling unit and a stationary charging station that can be separated from said cooling unit. The cooling unit comprises a sorption container filled with a solid sorbent material and an evaporator which contains a liquid working material and a heat exchanger that is embedded therein. The evaporator and the sorption container are connected to each other by means of a steam line that can be shut off. Liquid media which are cooled to the temperature level desired by the temperature-controlled opening and shutting off of the shut-off device flow through a heat exchanger that is embedded in the evaporator. Once the sorbent material is saturated with the working fluid, it can be heated in the charging station. The steam draining from the working fluid is recondensed in the evaporator. The heat of condensation is dissipated by cooling water which must flow through the embedded heat exchanger.
The problem to be solved by the present invention is to make available a cooling container with an adsorption cooling apparatus which cools the container content over a relatively long period of time to a low temperature level without an external energy source and the cooling energy of which can be charged at a later time and can subsequently be stored without loss for a random length of time.

Cooling container with an adsorption cooling apparatus


An electron gun comprising a cathode having an electron emitting surface and whose planar shape is circular; a heater; an anode being arranged to oppose the cathode; and a heat resistant member. The anode applies a positive potential relative to the cathode to extract electrons in a predetermined direction. The cathode has, in a central portion thereof, a through hole along a central axis of the cathode. The heat resistant member has a first portion to close the through hole and a second portion being positioned between the cathode and the heater.

In the electron beam generating apparatus, Linac, TWT, and Klystron as applications for using electron beams, as shown in FIG. 7, an electron gun 101 to emit thermions by using a heater 105 to heat a cathode 102 in which a thermionic emission substance is splayed onto, coated onto, or impregnated into a metal base body is provided. The related-art electron gun 101 emits electrons in a predetermined orientation and, moreover, to focus the electron beams, it is used by applying, to an anode 103 and a Wehnelt 104, a positive electric potential relative to the cathode 102. In addition to the diode configuration shown in FIG. 7, as shown in FIG. 8, a method can also be provided for controlling the electron flow rate by applying a positive control voltage relative to the cathode with a grid 106 being arranged to provide a triode.
Either of the cases in FIG. 7 and FIG. 8 can be applied in an application in which electrons can be utilized directly, for example, with electrons being emitted from the electron gun 101 and the emitted electron beams being focused in a predetermined orientation by an electric field or magnetic field or in which they can be utilized indirectly in generating X rays with the energy at the time electrons are made to collide with a target, and, moreover, it can be applied in an application to accelerate electrons by a high-frequency electric field to increase energy, such as in Linac, to obtain higher energy or to accelerate/delay the electron flow and velocity modulated by a high-frequency electric field, such as in TWT or Klystron.
In either of the above-described application cases, not all of the emitted electron beams are transmitted to the following section (for example, Linac, TWT or the like), but reflection certainly occurs, so that some thereof return back to the electron gun 101 side (see WO2016/029065A1). Moreover, collision of electrons causes secondary electrons to be produced, which may advance to the electron gun 101 side. Furthermore, ions receiving energy from the electrons may also return back to the electron gun 101. In either of the cases, the energy that the electrons, the secondary electrons, or the ions have often causes damage to the grid 106 and the cathode 102 due to an overheating or shock when they collide with the grid 106 and the cathode 102. Therefore, the electron gun often reaches, in a short time before it goes through the original exhaustion life, the state such that emission decreases or arcing occurs.
The technique described in JP2010-053443A relates to a deposition apparatus comprising a plasma generating apparatus, wherein the deposition apparatus is designed such that electrons, secondary electrons, and ions are incident on the electron return back electrode to be returned back by providing an electron return back electrode. However, in a case of an electron gun for use in Linac or TWT, electrons or ions return linearly in a direction being opposite to the direction of the emitted electron beams, and therefore it is impossible to collect electrons or ions due to such a structure or position of the electrodes.
Moreover, a method is known for preventing back bombardment (a phenomenon in which only some electrons in electrons being emitted from a cathode and being in an accelerating phase obtain energy from a high-frequency electric field to return to and collide with the cathode) to a cathode, as a structure called a hollow cathode with a through hole having a diameter of between 1.8 and 2.2 mm being formed at the center of the cathode, to avoid a temperature rise of the cathode due to return back of some of the electrons being emitted from the cathode, secondary electrons and iones being produced by the electrons colliding in the next connected application, to the cathode (see CN202633200U).


A visual field examination system measures the visual field of an eye. Quantitative information of a 3D retinal layer structure is acquired by detecting a range in which a peak of a retinal reflectance distribution obtained by OCT scanning is lost. A position of the fovea of the eye fundus is identified based on the acquired information. A location of a range in which the peak of the retinal reflectance distribution is lost is specified in a 2D fundus image based on the position of the fovea, and the specified location is marked on a region of the 2D fundus image. A position of the marked region is detected, and a visual inspection field region is generated based on the detection. Visual field examination points of the visual inspection field region are presented to the eye through a visual field dome for carrying out visual field examination of the eye.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to a visual field examination system that is configured using an OCT fundus device, a perimeter and a fundus image-capturing device such as a fundus camera.
2. Background Art
A perimeter having a manual or automatic measurement mode is a conventionally known device for measuring the visual field of an eye under examination. In eye diseases such as glaucoma, for example, symptoms such as constriction of visual field or scotoma are known to take place, and a perimeter is used in the diagnosis of diseases of this type.
This type of perimeter is adapted so that an illumination spot is projected as a stimulus onto a visual field dome having a hemispherical projection surface, and the projection position of the stimulus either is manually controlled or is automatically controlled in accordance with a predetermined program to record a response from the subject at respective projection positions.
If an abnormal position in the retina of an eye under examination can be identified using a two-dimensional fundus image obtained from fundus photography by a fundus camera, it would presumably be useful in diagnosis. Information obtained by comparison with not only the structure but also the function of the retina is believed to be useful in the diagnosis of glaucoma, and accordingly there have been proposed examination systems capable of combining both a fundus image and a measurement result obtained by a perimeter.
At present, there are also known devices such as an OCT (Optical Coherence Tomography) capable of measuring the layer thickness of the retina of an eye under examination. Incorporating the information (hereinafter referred to as an "OCT image", especially for images) which relates to the three-dimensional structure of the retina obtained by this type of device would presumably make even more highly accurate diagnosis of the retina possible.
For example, Patent Document 1 discloses an ophthalmologic information processing device in which light is projected onto the fundus, and light reflected therefrom is detected to acquire a three-dimensional image indicative of the morphology of the retina of an eye under examination on the basis of a detection result using OCT technology in order to calculate the layer thickness of the retina from the three-dimensional image, the information of the retinal layer thickness being compared with the result of a visual field examination carried out in advance, thereby obtaining ophthalmologic information.
Patent Document 2 discloses an ophthalmologic examination system in which a two-dimensional fundus image is combined with a measurement result obtained by a perimeter. In the perimeter of Patent Document 2, a stimulus is presented in a position which lies on a separately captured fundus image and corresponds to a predetermined examination position within a coordinate system of a visual field dome, and the visual field is measured according to a visual response from the subject.


This invention involves a method of creating a hydroelectric turbine system that is capable of producing electricity while sustaining a majority of the fluid flow or hydraulic pressure within the pipe line or pipe network driving the system. The system's objective is to shave as little pressure as possible from an enclosed pipe system that requires pressure to operate and function properly. More particularly, this invention relates to a hydroelectric turbine generator system wherein the system is specially designed and configured with an unique impeller and fluted turbine housing that enable a generator device to produce a particular amount of electric current and voltage, while yet minimizing flow restriction and pressure loss to the fluid pressure driving the system.

Various turbine-generator designs have been utilized to produce electric power for many years and are well documented. A typical turbine generator system is an electrical generator device that converts kinetic energy derived from a fluid flowing under pressure to electrical energy usually using electromagnetic induction. Though there are a multitude of different designs that describe various types of hydroelectric turbine systems that serve different applications, they all share a single objective. That is, they seek to produce as much electric energy as possible utilizing as much available hydraulic flow and pressure as possible. Maximum efficiency is characterized, in these designs, by achieving high levels of electrical production using all available fluid flow and particularly pressure from a supply source. None, if any, considers the condition of the fluid material once it has left the surface of the final blade or impeller vane that serves to drive a generator shaft.
A traditional turbine-generator system consists of a turbine impeller, impeller housing, and a generator or alternator device which are coupled via a shaft. The turbine is used to convert momentum from a fluid stream into rotary motion. The shaft transmits the motion to the generator rotor, which typically contains permanent magnets or coil windings around each of its poles. Power is generated by flow under pressure that comes into contact with an impeller or a multiple blade type device that turns a common shaft.
There are different types of impeller designs and are generally considered reaction, cross flow or impulse types. They develop kinetic energy by the drive force supplied by a concentrated stream or jet of fluid which is deflected off cups or paddles tangentially or axially across an impeller such as in a Pelton, Turgo, Banki, Kaplan or Francis turbine designs. The water's potential energy is converted to kinetic energy with a nozzle or restrictive orifice in some cases. The high speed water jet is then directed onto the turbine blades which deflect or reverse the flow such as is characteristic of the popular Turgo turbine design. The Francis turbine is also a common design used in many large applications such as dams and flowing rivers where piping is used to convey water down flumes to develop head pressure that drives this reaction type turbine, which means that the working fluid changes pressure as it moves through the turbine, surrendering its energy. A casement or housing is needed to contain the water source or intake flow and is called an inlet scroll. The impeller is located between the high pressure fluid supply source and the low pressure water exit located just after the impeller.
The Francis turbine's volute or inlet scroll is spiral shaped. Guide vanes direct the water tangentially to the runner. This radial flow acts on the runner vanes, causing the runner to spin. The guide vanes or wicket gate may be adjustable to allow efficient turbine operation for a range of water flow conditions. The impeller is an inward flow design and moves the fluid through the runner as its spinning radius decreases, further acting on the secondary runner blades or vanes.
Virtually, all hydroelectric turbine generator designs share a common objective of producing as much electric energy as possible and prefer maximum flow under high pressure to achieve that goal. Efficient designs are built upon the premise of extracting as much energy as possible from the fluid flow under pressure driving the system and are not, typically, concerned with the state of the flow once it has been discharged from the impeller. That is, the primary objective is energy production and not sustained downstream pressure. Such designs achieve higher flow velocity by increasing head pressure using several means and equate efficiency to the design if it uses all available pressure to produce electricity. A common turbine design modifies inlet flow by attempting to concentrate it prior to its contact with the impeller. This is accomplished by the use of nozzles or channeling flow down into a smaller orifice, chamber or pipe size diameter like a flute type structure to increase the flows pressure right before it contacts the turbine. Such restriction increases flow velocity or speed across the impeller's veins or blades and turns the generator faster to produce more power, but subsequently sacrifices downstream pressure in the process.
However, there are numerous other uses or applications that would benefit substantially from hydroelectric turbine power if it could be utilized, but can not at this time because of the restrictive nature or pressure differential characteristics. A product has not been developed, to this point that specifically addresses the needs of such applications or markets where electricity is use to power various electronic devices.
Fluid flow conveyance systems like piped irrigation or large volume water, oil or gas transfer and especially ones that are remotely located or difficult to access with conventional power are best managed using processor driven control systems that incorporate sensor input and communication capability. Applicable electronic control technologies that enable various levels of monitoring and management control of remotely located pipe lines require electricity. Such systems are usually supplied by metered utility power, wind or solar power which can be difficult to impossible or impractical to implement. Therefore, furnishing power to electronic control and/or communication systems, lighting etc. using energy derived from the same pipe lines the system is managing, or in close proximity to, would provide an ideal power alternative.
Solar and wind electrical generation are good renewable energy alternative sources but have several disadvantages. From an aesthetic stand point they are not attractive for urban and suburban use and can be susceptible to vandalism because of the high profile installation requirements of both systems. Both require that they be placed sufficiently high above grade level in order to effectively capture and produce energy, which make them a good target for vandals. Furthermore, in remote locations like rural environments, they are even more susceptible to theft and vandalism, again because of their high profile nature necessary to produce power. Solar and wind generating systems can be very expensive to purchase and do not guaranty a regular supply of energy. They are dependant upon favorable weather conditions, which can present enormous problems to mission critical systems that might depend on them for power.
What is needed then is a hydroelectric turbine generator system that is designed to extract a particular amount of energy from a fluid flowing under pressure yet is able to sustain most of or a majority of the inlet pressure downstream of the turbine device. Such a system would allow the production of electric power to implement important electronic components or other electrical equipment and still permit the continued operation of the fluid transfer system by sustaining its required operating pressure.
It is therefore, the purpose of this invention to provide a method that addresses the need for generating electric power using an inline turbine-generator system, which generally consists of a reaction type axial impeller, turbine housing and an electric generator device. This invention's method provides a hydroelectric turbine system that is able to generate a particular amount of electric power by converting energy from fluid flowing under pressure through a pipe, that subsequently drives the impeller connected to a shaft that turns a generator device that produces electricity, and systematically sustains a majority of the upstream inlet pressure downstream of the turbine housing's discharge end. Furthermore, and critical to this invention's method, is the expeditious manner in which fluid is conveyed through the system by maintaining as much flow velocity as possible.
Since the design objective of this invention is to produce enough energy to power, for example a control system, solenoid valves and/or an electrical storage means like batteries or capacitors that supply the system when generated power is not available. However, when supplying a charge to batteries, more is always better to assure the maximum amount is saved and stored. Creating a sufficient amount of voltage and current, or even more, does not require significant pressure or pressure loss to the hydraulic system due to the efficiency of the inventions turbine design. This turbine design can produce over ten amperes of power depending upon the generator or alternator device used in conjunction with the system and the impeller vane height and length, and is enough to supply a charge to a battery and an electronic system's requirement. Surplus hydraulic pressure is subsequently used so that very little, if any, is wasted.

Method for creating a low fluid pressure differential electrical generating system


When a position deviation of more than 1/2 pitch of ejection port pitch is generated by a difference in thermal expansion between ejection ports of a low temperature line head and ejection ports of high temperature line head, a dummy data is inserted in part of ejection data arrangement, so that ejection data inherent in the arrangement is shifted by one ejection port unit to be assigned to other ejection ports This reduces position deviation between dots formed by individual heads according to the data to less than 1/2 pitch.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a printing apparatus, and more specifically to a registration adjustment of a full-line head in which printing elements such as ink ejection ports and the like are arranged corresponding to a width of a paper which is fed.
2. Description of Prior Art
As an example of a printing apparatus using a plurality of full-line heads of this kind, a full-color page printer is known which is equipped with heads for respectively ejecting four color inks of black, cyan, magenta, and yellow by utilizing generation of bubbles by heat energy (hereinafter referred to as thermal line head). An example of a structure thereof will be described below.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a control arrangement of a full-color printer equipped with a thermal ink jet line head, hereinafter referred to as a thermal line head for each ink of black, cyan, magenta, and yellow having ink ejection ports in a density of 600 dpi over a range of about 8 inches corresponding to a paper width when, for example, an A4-sized print paper is used to be fed in the longitudinal direction thereof.
In the FIG., a reference numeral 1 denotes a CPU for executing operation control of the entire apparatus and data processing, a reference numeral 2 denotes a ROM for storing control programs of the CPU 1, fonts, and various data for processing, a reference numeral 3 denotes a RAM for used as a work area for processing of CPU 1 such as temporary storage of various data, a reference numeral 4 denotes a data receiving unit for making communication control with external devices (not shown) such as a host computer to receive data from the external devices, a reference numeral 5 denotes a DMA/RAM controller for performing DMA transfer of data from the data receiving portion 4 to the RAM 3, performing DMA transferring of image data stored in the RAM 3 to a line head controller 9, and controlling access of the RAM 3 by the CPU 1, and a reference numeral 6 denotes a non-volatile memory such as an EEPROM for storing parameters specific to the printer. Reference numerals 7K, 7C, 7M, and 7Y respectively denote thermal line heads for individually ejecting black (K), cyan (C), magenta (M), and yellow (Y) inks to a printing medium such as printing paper to print an image, reference numerals 8K, 8C, 8M, an 8Y denote line head drivers for individually driving the thermal line heads 7K, 7C, 7M, and 7Y, and a reference numeral 9 denotes the line head controller for performing image data transferring to the individual line head drivers 8K, 8C, 8M, an 8Y, generating of heat pulse signals, and the like according to control signals from the CPU 1.
A line feed motor driver 10 and a line feed motor 11 driven by the driver 10 perform rotation drive of a feed roller (not shown) according to control signals supplied from the CPU 1, thereby performing movement of the printing medium in a sub-scanning direction, that is, paper feed.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing details of the line head controller 9 and the line head driver 8. For simplicity, the FIG. shows only an arrangement for one color of ink.
In the line head controller 9 shown in FIG. 2, a reference numeral 91 denotes a heat pulse generation portion for generating pulses for driving the thermal line head in synchronization with the drive of the line feed motor, a reference numeral 92 denotes an image data latch for receiving image data stored in the RAM 3 through the DMA/RAM controller 5 (see FIG. 4), a reference numeral 93 denotes a parallel/serial converter for, to data from the image data latch 92, adding offset data relating to a beginning ejection port, that is, offset data from a reference ejection port to an end most ejection port whose data showing "ejection" in the ejection port row of the thermal line head, and thereafter performing parallel/serial conversion to serially transmit a serial data to the line head driver 8, and a reference numeral 94 denotes an offset setting register for setting the offset data relating to the beginning ejection port. On the other hand, in the line head driver 8, a reference numeral 81 denotes a serial/parallel converter for performing serial/parallel conversion for the serial data, a reference numeral 82 denotes a gate for performing OR operation between an output of the serial/parallel converter 81 and heat pulse from the heat pulse generation portion 91, and a reference numeral 83 denotes a transistor array for respectively supplying an electric current to an electro-thermal conversion element of the thermal line head according to an output of the gate 82.
Next, a control procedure in the above prior art arrangement will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2.
First, data inputted through the data receiving unit 4 is temporarily stored in the RAM 3 through the DMA/RAM controller 5, and an analysis of command, image data, character code is made by the CPU 1 according to a program stored in the ROM 2. The data stored in the RAM 3 is then converted into ejection data by the CPU 1, and sequentially stored in the RAM 3. When development of the ejection data in the RAM for one page is completed or a print instruction is inputted from the host computer as the external devices, the line feed motor 11 is driven by the line feed motor driver 10 and, at the same time, the eject data stored in the RAM 3 is transferred to the serial/parallel converter 81 of the line head driver 8 through the DMA/RAM controller 5 and the parallel/serial converter 93 of the thermal line head control unit 9. When the transfer of ejection data of one line is completed and the line feed motor rotates at a predetermined amount, a heat pulse signal is sent from the heat pulse generation portion 91 of the line head controller 9 to the gate 82 of the line head driver 8, which switching drives the transistor array unit 83 to cause the electro-thermal conversion element of the corresponding ejection port of the thermal line head to generate heat energy, and the ink is ejected from the ejection port by bubbles produced thereby.
The four thermal line heads 7K, 7C, 7M, and 7Y are arranged in the sub-scanning direction which is a feed direction of the printing paper. Therefore, it is necessary that the ejection data is transferred at a timing according to the distance between the individual thermal line heads in the sub-scanning direction with respect to the individual thermal line heads so that a plurality of ink dots is overlappedly formed at the same position on the paper. For example, when the spacing in the sub-scanning direction between the individual ejection ports of the individual thermal line heads is 1 inch and the resolution of dots formed in the sub-scanning direction is 600 dpi, if yellow and magenta are to be overlapped at a position to make red, yellow is first ejected to form a dot, and after the printing paper is fed by 1 inch in the sub-scanning direction, the magenta ink ejected to form an overlapped dot. In other words, the ejection data when ejecting magenta ink at the same time of ejecting the yellow ink must be data of 600 dots (600 rasters) before.
Next, a registration adjustment in the above prior art arrangement will be described.
A registration adjustment is a procedure for reducing a deviation of deposited position of ink droplets ejected by different thermal line heads to a small value or zero, and includes an adjustment in the sub-scanning direction and an adjustment in the main scanning direction which is the arrangement direction of the ejection ports. In general, when the deviation is not less than 1/2 the dot diameter, the image quality may be degraded.
A cause of generation of deviation in the sub-scanning direction is a mounting error of the thermal line head or feeds fluctuation of printing medium. The deviation in the subscanning direction is adjusted by providing an adjustment mechanism in the mounting unit or by making ejection timing of each thermal line head variable.
On the other hand, the cause of deviation in the main scanning direction is mainly a mounting error of the thermal line head, and the deviation can be adjusted by providing an adjustment mechanism in the mounting unit to adjust a portion of the ejection port of individual heads. Further, when the printable width of the individual thermal line heads, that is, the arrangement width of the ejection ports is longer than a width required for printing, as shown in FIG. 3, an offset can be adjusted for each head with respect to the beginning ejection port, thereby correcting a mounting error between individual thermal line heads to reduce deviation of registration.
As described above, in the full-color page printer equipped with the plurality of thermal line heads, it is necessary to position the dots of individual colors as exact as possible. In the case of printing with a resolution of 600 dpi in the main scanning direction shown in the above prior art example, since a width allocated to 1 dot, that is, a dot pitch, is about 42 .mu.m, if the dot position is deviated by more than 21 .mu.m or a half of the dot pitch, the image quality is degraded.
Incidentally, an exact adjustment of relative positions of the individual thermal line heads can be performed relatively easily at a delivery from the factory. However, in a normal operation environment, temperature of the thermal line head may be changed due to a change in ambient temperature or printing operation. When thermal expansion occurs in various parts of the head due to the temperature change, the following problems may be caused. For example, in the case that a base plate of the thermal line head is made of aluminum, since the thermal expansion coefficient of aluminum is about 2.times.10.sup.-5 /.degree. C., the head length is increased at a rate of about 4 .mu.m/.degree. C. in a printer for A4-sized paper. In this case, if the individual thermal line heads are at the same temperature, since the relative positions in the main scanning direction are not changed, no problem occurs in the print quality. However, if there is a temperature difference of more than 5.2.degree. C., the above described position deviation tolerance of 21 .mu.m that can maintain the print quality is exceeded, resulting in considerable degradation in image quality.
On the other hand, it is very difficult to keep the individual thermal line heads within such a narrow temperature range, and in order to achieve this, a large scale temperature control apparatus must be provided, which may lead to an increase in cost.

Printing apparatus in which registration adjustment between a plurality of print heads is performed


An inductive position sensor uses three parallel inductors, each of which has an axial core that is an independent magnetic structure. A first support couples first and second inductors and separate them by a fixed distance. A second support coupled to a third inductor disposed between the first and second inductors. The first support and second support are configured for relative movement as distance changes from the third inductor to each of the first and second inductors. An oscillating current is supplied to the first and second inductors. A device measures a phase component of a source voltage generating the oscillating current and a phase component of voltage induced in the third inductor when the oscillating current is supplied to the first and second inductors such that the phase component of the voltage induced overlaps the phase component of the source voltage.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is directed to position sensors, and more particularly to an inductive position and tilt sensor using three parallel inductors coupled to drive and measurement devices to achieve null point compensation.
2. Description of Related Art
A variety of position sensors are known in the art. Examples include capacitance-based position sensors, laser-based position sensors, eddy-current sensing position sensors, and linear displacement transducer-based position sensors. While each type of position sensor has its advantages, each also presents disadvantages for some applications. For example, the size of capacitors can make their use impractical when the position sensor must be small in size. The same is true for linear displacement transducers. The complexity and/or cost of laser-based sensors and eddy-current-based sensors can negate their advantages in a number of applications.

The United States of America as Represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration


Certain example embodiments disclosed herein include an adaptive current limiter comprising a variable reference voltage generator which is coupled to a power source via two input nodes and which develops a voltage step with exponential decay in response to, for example, a transient over-voltage condition, with the output of the variable reference voltage generator supplying a reference voltage to a comparator which compares the reference voltage to a voltage derived from a sensing resistor and, upon detecting an over-voltage condition, signals to a circuit breaker that the circuit should be broken or modified.

Example embodiments disclosed herein pertain to current limiters, i.e. circuit breakers. More particularly, example embodiments disclosed herein pertain to current limiters in an environment which may induce transient surges.
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram wherein a prior art telecommunications power card 2 is depicted. The purpose of telecommunications power card 2 is to provide constant voltage to a load that is connected to it.
On the exterior of the card, common node 4 and negative VIN node 6 are disposed to connect to a voltage source providing, for example, −48 volts. The term "node" refers to any equipotential point in an electrical device, either at a terminus, or not at a terminus. Voltage sources of −48 volts are widely used in telecommunications applications; nearly all telephone central offices are powered from −48 volt sources wherein the "hot" side of the supply is negative with respect to ground.
Hot swap controller 8 is disposed on prior art telecommunications power card 2, and is coupled to positive ground node 4 and negative VIN node 6 from which it derives approximately −48 volts when connected to an active power source providing −48 volts. Hot swapping (also known as hot plugging) is the ability to add, remove and replace components of a system while the system is powered. In the context of telecommunications applications, the hot swapping of power sources, such as batteries or power supplies, is commonly performed.
Capacitor 10 is electrically coupled to hot swap controller 8 at nodes 12 and 14. Increases of voltage correspondingly store excess charge in the capacitor, thus moderating the change in output voltage and current induced by a transient power event.
Since it is desirable to provide less than the −48V input for a load that is coupled to telecommunications power card 2, (e.g. +3.3 volts), a DC to DC converter 16 is provided on telecommunications power card 2 and is electrically coupled to hot swap controller 8 at nodes 12 and 14. Thus, capacitor 10 and DC to DC converter 16 are arranged in parallel fashion. DC to DC converter 16 is a load with respect to the power output of hot swap controller 8.
In electrical engineering, a DC to DC converter is a circuit which converts a source of direct current from one voltage to another. A DC to DC converter may serve to isolate an input power source (i.e. hot swap controller 8 from the load connected to the output of the DC to DC converter at common node 18 and VOUT node 20. DC to DC converters are commercially available as blocks or modules from Datel, Power Trends, Integrated Power Designs, or others.
FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram which depicts one form of a current limiter 22 of the prior art. Current limiter 22 is coupled to common node 4 and negative VIN node 6. These nodes provide power to the current limiter 22 which in turn provides power to the other components of hot swap controller 8 via VOUT node 24 and common node 4. Current source 26 is coupled to common node 4, and provides a constant reference current. It is comprised of voltage reference source 28, resistor R1, amplifier 30, and transistor 32 which are arranged in a well known configuration to provide constant current I1 based on the reference voltage provided by voltage reference source 28. Note that in FIG. 2, voltages are referred to −VIN at node 6.
Resistor R2 is coupled to current source 26 at node 34 and to negative VIN node 6. The constant current provided by current source 26 flows through resistor R2 producing reference voltage V1 across resistor R2 such that:V1=I1·R2
Resistor RSENSE is coupled to negative VIN node 6 and to pass transistor 36 which acts as a circuit breaker at node 38. When the circuit is not broken by pass transistor 36, current flows between negative VIN node 6 and VOUT node 24. The purpose of resistor RSENSE is to sense the current I2 flowing between negative VIN node 6 and VOUT node 24 and produce a voltage VSENSE at node 38 such that:VSENSE=I2·RSENSE
Comparator 40 is coupled to node 34 and to node 38 such that it compares voltage VSENSE to voltage V1. The output of comparator 40 is coupled to latch 42 indicating when the circuit should be broken or modified. During normal operation, VSENSE is less than V1, so comparator 40 signals that the circuit should not be broken. When VSENSE exceeds V1, comparator 40 signals that the circuit should be broken or modified in some way.
Constant current I1 is only a small fraction of the current limit. R2 can be chosen to produce the reference voltage corresponding to the desired limit for current I2 as sensed by resistor RSENSE. Since the resistance value of R2 is multiplied by constant current I1, higher reference voltages can be achieved by increasing the resistance value of R2.
Latch 42 is coupled to the output of comparator 40 and to pass transistor 36. When comparator 40 signals that the circuit should be broken, latch 42 propogates the signal to pass transistor 36, breaking the circuit. Latch 42 maintains the signal to break the circuit until receiving a reset signal via reset node 44. As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, there are many alternatives to Latch 42 for various applications.
FIG. 3 is a graph depicting a constant-current threshold current limiter of the prior art. In FIG. 3, the vertical axis indicates current level and the horizontal axis indicates time increasing from left to right. The dashed line labeled ICB represents a constant-current threshold in common use. When this threshold is exceeded, it is an indication that the circuit breaker must interrupt current flow between the power source and the load. The solid line in FIG. 3 depicts an example of a current level which is initially constant. At a certain point in time, the current level suddenly surges to a dramatically higher level, which is above the constant current limit.
Since the current level exceeds the constant-current threshold, the circuit is broken. In some cases, this is undesirable. For example, if an additional power source is brought online, the voltage of the combined power sources may suddenly increase. Since a smoothing capacitor is typically coupled in parallel with the power supply and the load, the capacitor begins charging to the new voltage. The transient increase in current caused by the capacitor charging to the new voltage causes the circuit to break prematurely. Although the current surge may be relatively brief, and the current level decays exponentially as the capacitor approaches the new voltage, it can cause premature circuit breakage because the design of the prior art constant-current threshold circuit breaker is unforgiving.
One approach to this problem is to provide a current limiter which is temporarily disabled, for a fixed amount of time, to allow for a transient surge. This approach has the disadvantage that it does not protect the load from a damaging current surge such as that induced by a lightning strike or other dramatic power event. What is needed is a current limiter which is continuously online in order to protect the load, but which handles the transient surge caused by bringing a new or additional power source online; the prior art fails to properly address this problem
These and other limitations of the prior art will become apparent to those of skill in the art upon a reading of the following descriptions and a study of the several figures of the drawing.

Input-voltage-rate-of-change-dependent current-limit set point for hot-swap controllers


A method is provided for efficiently managing the connection of processor modules and input/output interface modules at a drastically reduced cost. A management server searches IFT and ST tables after receiving an instruction from the system management server to connect an input/output interface module to a processor, creates a condition list requested by the input/output interface module, and selects an input/output interface matching the condition list JL from an unassigned input/output interface module management table UNT. The management server next instructs the input/output interface switch to connect the processor with the selected input/output interface. The management server instructs the input/output device management server and the network management server to setup a connection utilizing the selected input/output interface, and rewrites the tables UNT and SPT.

Modular computer systems and so-called modular servers are known as backbone servers, and they are used for business backbone systems, for example. These modular servers are a combination of a network, a server, and a storage device, etc.
The modular server is made up of multiple CPUs (processors), a network, multiple I/O (input/output interface) modules, and an I/O switch, as well as management server modules, that are installable in an enclosure, such as a rack.
The management server controls the I/O switches based on a management table. The management server changes the combination of multiple CPUs and multiple I/O modules as needed by means of the I/O switch. The management table, for example, is made up of an I/O switch management table which identifies the I/O connection status with the CPU, and a table showing the configuration of the I/O and input/output device connected to the CPU.
The structure of a modular computer system, for example, is disclosed in JP-A No. 229967/2002 (Patent document 1)
Technology for system management by batch processing using management tables to connect I/O devices with multiple computers in a modular computer system, for example, is disclosed in JP-A No. 328093/1999 (Patent document 2).
[Patent document 1] JP-A No. 229967/2002
[Patent document 2] JP-A No. 328093/1999
However, the connection technology utilizing management tables in the above-mentioned type of modular computer systems were found to possess the following problems according to the present inventors.
Namely, when the management server is in the process of assigning an as yet unassigned I/O to a particular CPU, as requested by the system management software (policy), the only available information in the management table is the type of I/O connected to the I/O switch. The management server therefore cannot decide which unassigned I/O to select in order to connect to the requested I/O device.
Moreover, when the system management software (policy) requests the management server to connect, to a particular CPU, an I/O device having a configuration that is identical to that CPU, the management server is capable of detecting an I/O that is unassigned to the CPU, based on the management table.
However, the management table contains no information on what input/output devices are connected to each I/O and no information such as the input/output device specifications. The management server therefore cannot decide which detected I/O to select in order to connect to an input/output device with the same configuration.
Therefore, the process of making connections in a modular computer system must be performed by administrators, such as system service personnel, who make the connections manually, and this creates the problem of a drastic increase in man-hours and cost.

Method of managing I/O interface modules in a computer system


For resistance-welding workpieces of metal, an electrode is pressed against superposed regions of the workpieces and an electric current is supplied to the superposed regions to heat the same due to an electric resistance of the workpieces. The electrode has a body having a tip end for pressed engagement with one of the workpieces, and a matrix of tapered teeth disposed on the tip end of the body except for a center of the tip end. The teeth define recesses therebetween. One of the recesses is positioned at the center of the tip end, and the teeth are progressively higher from an outer circumferential edge of the tip end toward the center thereof.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an electrode for use in resistance welding of metal plates such as of aluminum alloy, a method of manufacturing the electrode, and a method of resistance-welding workpieces using the electrode.
2. Description of Background Art
As is well known in the art, resistance welding denotes welding processes in which desired regions of metal plates (workpieces) are inserted in superposed relationship between confronting electrodes, and an electric current is supplied to the regions of the metal plates between the electrodes, so that the regions are heated by the electric resistance of the metal plates and welded together. In the case where relatively soft metal plate such as aluminum alloy plates are to be welded by utilizing resistance welding, it is customary to employ electrodes having convex hemispherical tip ends to prevent the metal plates from being deformed or cracked around the welded regions.
In the resistance welding, the electric current flowing from one of the electrodes to metal plates to be welded should preferably be distributed uniformly in a suitable range around the center of the tip end of the electrode. However, the electric current which actually flows tends to concentrate in a limited area (which may not necessarily be the center of the electrode) within the surface of the electrode which is held against the metal plate. In the limited area, fused materials are liable to be attached to the electrodes and the metal plates, or the electrodes and the metal plates tend to stick together. Therefore, if the same electrodes are used, then the number of times that the metal plates can continuously be welded by the electrodes is low, the electrodes have a short service life, and the weld beam on the metal plates does not appear sightly. Another problem is that the electrodes are apt to be worn quickly and damaged in the limited area. When the current concentrates in the limited area of the electrode which is not the center of the electrode, the nugget formed in the welded area of the metal plates is not positioned in a location corresponding to the center of the electrode, and hence no desired weld quality is obtained.
The above problems appear to arise for the following reasons:
Generally, metal plates such as aluminum alloy plates have irregular oxide films formed on their surfaces, and the oxide films serve as an electric resistance to any electric current flowing therethrough. When the electrodes are pressed against the metal plates and supply an electric current to the metal plates, the electric current flowing from one of the electrodes to the metal plates concentrates in a region where the oxide film is relatively thin between the electrode and the metal plate. Thus, the temperature of such a region excessively rises. As a result, the aluminum alloy is diffused from the metal plate into the electrode, alloying the electrode with the aluminum alloy. As the electrodes are used to weld the metal plates at more and more spots, an insulative material such as MgO, Al.sub.2 O.sub.3, or the like is attached to the electrode, or the electrodes and the metal plates stick together. Since the region in which the current concentrates may not necessarily be at the center of the electrode, the nugget produced in the welded region of the metal plates may be positioned not at the center of the electrode.
A microscopic observation of the surfaces of the electrodes and the metal plates generally shows that they have an irregular distribution of minute projections or surface irregularities. When the electrodes are pressed against the metal plates, they are initially held against each other through the minute projections on the surfaces thereof. In the welding process, the welding current concentrates on the small regions where the electrodes and the metal plates are held against each other through the minute projections. Therefore, the temperature of those regions goes excessively high. As a consequence, fused materials of the electrodes and the metal plates are deposited on those small regions. Also since the region in which the current concentrates may not necessarily be at the center of the electrode, the nugget produced by the welded region of the metal plates may be positioned not at the center of the electrode.
To eliminate the above drawbacks, there has been proposed a welding electrode having a surface to be held against a metal plate, which surface is shaped to uniformly destruct an oxide film on the metal plate when it is pressed by the electrode. When the electrode is pressed against the metal plate for welding the latter, the oxide film on the metal plate which is engaged by the electrode is broken off, allowing the electrode to contact a non-oxidized surface of the metal plate in an increased area. Consequently, inasmuch as the current is supplied uniformly from a wide surface area of the electrode and prevented from concentrate in a local region, the service life of the electrode is increased, and a good welding quality is achieved.
Japanese Laid-open patent publication No. 58-159986 discloses one such welding electrode which has a plurality of concentric annular grooves or a spiral groove of triangular or trapezoidal cross section defined in a tip surface thereof which is to be held against a metal plate to be welded. This publication also states the formation of waffle-like grooves in a welding electrode, but does not contain any detailed description of such grooves. The welding electrode with annular grooves or a spiral groove has annular ridges or a spiral ridge having a sharp crest. According to the publication, when the electrode is pressed against a metal plate to weld the latter, since the annular ridges or the spiral ridge destructs any oxide film on the metal plate, the area in which the electrode is held against a non-oxidized surface of the metal plate is increased for effective welding operation.
With the concentric annular grooves or the spiral groove on the electrode, however, the annular ridges or the spiral ridge becomes progressively smaller toward the center of the electrode. Particularly in an initial stage of welding operation, therefore, the welding current is likely to concentrate on a highly localized portion at the center of the electrode. The welding electrode disclosed in the above publication is therefore not effective to solve the above problems.
The concentric annular grooves or the spiral groove is relatively shallow and can easily be filled with fused materials or other deposits. When the annular grooves or the spiral groove is filled with fused materials or other deposits, the welding quality is lowered, and the welded region has irregular mechanical strengths. Any materials attached to or deposited on the tip of the electrode, they cannot easily be removed by a wire brush or the like because they are trapped in the grooves. Since the annular grooves or the spiral groove is formed in the electrode tip by an engine lathe, it is time-consuming to remachine the electrode to reconstruct the annular grooves or the spiral groove.
Japanese laid-open patent publication No. 62-156085 shows a welding electrode having surface irregularities that are formed by shot blasting. According to this publication, the surface irregularities are effective for increasing the service life of the electrode, so that the same electrode may be used to weld workpieces successively a number of times. Because the surface irregularities are formed by shot blasting, however, it is difficult to form convexities of uniform size on the electrode surface. As the surface irregularities are relatively small, when the electrode is used to weld metal plates such as aluminum alloy plates, impurities produced when the metal plates are welded are deposited quickly in the concavities, allowing the electrode to stick easily to the metal plate. Accordingly, the service life of the electrode cannot be increased as expected.


An antireflective hardmask composition includes an organic solvent, and at least one polymer represented by Formulae A, B or C:

1. Field of the Invention
Embodiments relate to a polymer having antireflective properties, a hardmask composition including the same, a process for forming a patterned material layer, and an associated device.
2. Description of the Related Art
Antireflective coating (ARC) materials may be incorporated in an imaging layer used during a lithographic process, in order to minimize reflectivity between the imaging layer and a target material layer during fabrication of a device. However, where the imaging layer incorporating ARC materials and the target material layer have similar compositions, the imaging layer may exhibit poor etch selectivity, such that portions of the imaging layer may be consumed during etching of the target material layer. Accordingly, a hardmask may be included as an intermediate layer, the hardmask being disposed between the imaging layer and the target material layer. The hardmask may receive a pattern from the overlying imaging layer, and may be used to transfer the pattern to the underlying material layer. However, there is a need for hardmask materials that exhibit antireflective properties.

Polymer having antireflective properties, hardmask composition including the same, process for forming a patterned material layer, and associated device

Abstract: In Formulae A and B, the fluorene group is unsubstituted or substituted, in Formula C, the naphthalene group is unsubstituted or substituted, n is at least 1 and is less than about 750, m is at least 1, and m+n is less than about 750, G is an aromatic ring-containing group having an alkoxy group, and R1 is methylene or includes a non-fluorene-containing aryl linking group.


A lithographic apparatus includes an illumination system for conditioning a radiation beam. A support structure supports a patterning device, which is capable of imparting the radiation beam with a pattern in its cross-section to form a patterned radiation beam. A substrate table holds a substrate. A projection system projects the patterned radiation beam onto a target portion of the substrate. A motion control system includes a controller having a transfer function. The controller controls a position of the support structure and or the substrate table along a series of positions. The transfer function consists of a sum of a plurality of positional transfer functions, each determined in one of the positions, and each multiplied by a weighing function.

A lithographic apparatus is a machine that applies a desired pattern onto a substrate, usually onto a target portion of the substrate. A lithographic apparatus can be used, for example, in the manufacture of integrated circuits (ICS). In that circumstance, a patterning device, which is alternatively referred to as a mask or a reticule, may be used to generate a circuit pattern to be formed on an individual layer of the IC. This pattern can be transferred onto a target portion (e.g. Including part of, one, or several dies) on a substrate (e.g. a silicon wafer). Transfer of the pattern is typically via imaging onto a layer of radiation-sensitive material (resist) provided on the substrate. In general, a single substrate will contain a network of adjacent target portions that are successively patterned. Conventional lithographic apparatus include so-called steppers, in which each target portion is irradiated by exposing an entire pattern onto the target portion at once, and so-called scanners, in which each target portion is irradiated by scanning the pattern through a radiation beam in a given direction (the "scanning"-direction) while synchronously scanning the substrate parallel or anti-parallel to this direction. It is also possible to transfer the pattern from the patterning device to the substrate by imprinting the pattern onto the substrate.
In a lithographic apparatus, high-precision motion control systems may be found for performing the stepping and scanning operations. In such a motion control system, motion controllers are used to control actuators which, e.g., move a mask table or reticule stage RS, or a substrate table or wafer stage WS in several degrees of freedom.
An objective in designing such motion controllers is to guarantee robustness of the associated motion system, and to obtain a high bandwidth. In particular, it is desirable to guarantee robustness for variations of the system which arise from position dependent dynamics, from variations of mechanical properties of materials used, such as stiffness or damping properties, and from the mass of the object moved, which may be influenced by different reticles or wafers having different masses and being connected thereto. As an example, it is desirable that the motion controller be robust for all positions of the object moved, taking into account that the point on an object, such as a support structure or substrate table, where a position thereof is measured changes during a scan, e.g. as a result of mechanical eigen frequencies of the object.
However, since the motion controller should be stable for all of these variations in different positions of the object, the bandwidth of the motion system may be limited. A limited bandwidth of the motion control system limits the settling time and the throughput of the lithographic apparatus.

Lithographic apparatus and device manufacturing method


An interferometric tracking device is disclosed. A first grating is optically coupled to a second grading such that the second grating is rotationally offset from the first grating. Imaging optics are adapted to image light passing through the first and second gratings onto a focal plane array. A plurality of wedge plates are optically disposed between the imaging optics and the second grating, such that the wedge plates generate a plurality of spots on the FPA when light from a point source is incident upon the first grating.

1. Field of the Invention
The field of the present invention is optical tracking devices, particularly optical tracking devices that are used to determine the axial direction of an incoming beam of light.
2. Background
Optical tracking is a general purpose tool that can be used as an enabling technology in a broad range of applications. One example is determining the axial direction of a laser beam. For example, a suitably accurate optical tracker could be incorporated into a surface scanning device which, by sending out a laser beam towards a surface with unknown orientation and measuring the reflected beam's axial direction, determines the surface orientation with respect to the scanning device.
Optical tracking devices can be used aboard stationary or moving platforms to determine their position or orientation with respect to one or more light sources. Stellar tracking devices, commonly known in the art as a star sensor or a star tracker, are excellent examples of an application which permits the tracking of spacecraft orientation with respect to a known star field. Star trackers are critical components for space-based systems, regardless of whether such systems are purposed for terrestrial-based duties, e.g., detection, tracking, discrimination, or communication systems, or for non-terrestrial observations. The accuracy with which any of these duties may be performed from a space-based platform depends upon the accuracy of the position and orientation information available to the platform, and such information is most easily obtained from the tracking of stars (especially when used with a good GPS receiver).
A traditional star tracker images a star field using a controlled blur of star images to facilitate accurate pixel interpolation. Usually, each blurred star image resolves to an area of between 2×2 to 6×6 pixels on the image plane, and those pixels are processed to determine a local centroid for each star. Additional pixels around the resolved area are also frequently processed to provide data that may be used to correct for gradients in the background glow due to stray light. The typical centroid accuracy of traditional state of the art star trackers is 1/10th to 1/50th of a pixel. When a 2K×2K FPA is used to image a 20° field of view, the centroiding accuracy limits the directional accuracy to about 1-2 arcseconds. In order to improve on this accuracy, smaller fields of view are frequently used. However, a smaller field of view decreases the number of reliable star sources available for tracking and slows down the required measurement rate. The decreased field of view also reduces the slew rate capabilities of a star tracker, with the slew rate of currently available star trackers being no more than 1 deg/sec, and some being one or two orders of magnitude less. Moreover, the blurring technique used in such traditional star trackers makes the tracker highly dependent upon the spectral color of light emitted from stars. This results in star trackers that are less sensitive to certain stars, thereby limiting the number of stars useable for tracking purposes.
Traditional star tracking centroiding accuracy can be improved with high resolution FPA's. However, as the resolution of the FPA increases, so do the weight, volume, and power consumption of the star tracker. Moreover, with higher resolution FPAs, substantially more data must be processed, which leads to a greater weight for the star tracker and greater power being consumed by the processor tasked with crunching the data. Also, higher resolution FPAs tend to be more susceptible to radiation damage, with some of the most accurate star trackers currently available being damaged by as little as 15 krad to 20 krad of radiation exposure.