A system for the insertion of microthreads in transmitted data is provided. The system includes a digital content system providing carrier data, such as sampled audio data. A microthread insertion system coupled to the digital content system generates a composite data sequence that includes the carrier data and microthread data, such as broadcast verification data. The microthread data is camouflaged using the carrier data, such as by including in the audio signal in a manner that allows it to be detected but which does not noticeably affect the audio signal for listeners.

Systems for identifying, verifying, or authenticating transmitted data are known in the art. Such systems allow a transmitted data signal, also known as carrier data, to be marked with a verification code sequence identifying the owner, time of production, title, or other suitable data. The verification code sequence is used to identify the carrier data so as to verify performance of the carrier data, determine the source of the carrier data, or perform other suitable functions.
One significant drawback with such systems when used for lossy data (such as audio data), is that a user must manually input the verification code sequences into the carrier data. For example, the verification code sequence must be manually inserted into the carrier data, or it is possible that the verification code sequence will be noticeable when the carrier data is converted back to an audio signal. In order to perform this manual insertion, an operator must map the data stream and select areas where the insertion is believed to be acceptable. This map must then be provided to the receiver in order to decode the received carrier data and locate the inserted verification code sequences.
In the case of lossless digital data transmission, such as data that is transmitted in accordance with a standard protocol such as TCP/IP, it is possible to insert verification data at predetermined locations, which can then be extracted without a noticeable effect on quality. Nevertheless, once these locations have been determined, unauthorized individuals can remove the verification data so as to obscure the source of the data.

System and method for insertion and retrieval of microthreads in transmitted data


A rolling mill control system and method includes use of sensors located between rolling mill stands to directly measure metal sheet or plate flatness, thickness profile, position, and the camber of the rolls in the mill. A feedback loop control system adjusts or adapts rolling mill control mechanisms to control the rolling process.

Hot rolling is a metal forming process in which thick stock, strips, or plate are passed through a pair of rolls to reduce the thickness of the stock, strips, or plate. During processing, the rolls of the mill and the metal sheet or plate passing through the rolls heat up due to the pressure and friction of rolling, metal deformation, and/or because the metal sheet or plate entering the rolling mill is hot. The resulting heat causes expansion of the rolling mill rolls, which affects the thickness profile, flatness and quality of the processed metal sheet or plate.
A number of mechanisms and methods are employed to compensate for the distortion of the work rolls in a rolling mill due to temperature and pressure. For example, rolling mills may be equipped with various systems to heat and cool the work rolls and/or backup rolls of a mill to achieve the required thermal camber. Many rolling mills are also equipped with jacking mechanisms to apply pressure to work rolls chocks and/or backup rolls chocks to bend the rolls during processing to produce metal sheet or plate with improved flatness and thickness profile consistency. Work rolls and/or backup rolls may be ground with distorted profiles that are intentionally not perfectly cylindrical to compensate for the distortion that occurs during rolling. Other, more expensive systems, such as deformable backup rolls, which can dynamically change the roll camber, or continuous variable crown (CVC) work and/or intermediate rolls that may shift along their rotation axis to change the geometry of the work roll gap may be used to compensate for changes to work roll camber during use.
The above mentioned rolling mill control mechanisms only provide adequate compensation for work roll thermal camber, and the resultant flatness and thickness profile consistency of the processed metal sheet or plate, if an operator or controller has adequate information on the conditions of the work rolls, such as operating conditions like rolling load and bending forces, the processed metal sheet or plate, or any combination thereof. Today, rolling mills are operated with a limited number of sensors and thermal models to attempt to predict rolling mill conditions and adjust them to achieve the best possible flatness and consistency of thickness profile across the face of the metal sheet or plate. However, models combined with measurements of the flatness and thickness profile of the metal sheet or plate as it enters or leaves a multi-stand rolling mill do not provide adequate information to allow the rolling mill and its associated control mechanisms to fully compensate for work roll thermal camber in real time. Specifically, thermal models are often inaccurate and may not represent actual rolling mill conditions. Measurements of the flatness and thickness profile of the metal sheet or plate as it exits a multi-stand rolling mill have too much delay to quickly and effectively adjust rolling mill control mechanisms in response to changing process and material parameters. Furthermore, in a multi-stand rolling mill, these measurements alone do not indicate which rolling stands require adjustment to achieve the desired thickness profile.

Method and apparatus for controlling metal strip profile during rolling with direct measurement of process parameters


A single-crystal manufacturing apparatus for manufacturing a single crystal ingot according to the Czochralski method including: a crucible that contains a raw material melt; a heater having a cylindrical heat generating portion that surrounds the crucible; a main chamber that accommodates the heater; a heater electrode that supports the heater and supplies current to the heater; and a heat insulating plate provided below the cylindrical heat generating portion of the heater, wherein the heat insulating plate is fixed to and supported by the heater electrode through an insulating stationary member, and an insulating support member is provided on an upper surface of the heat insulating plate at a position at which the insulating support member faces a lower end of the cylindrical heat generating portion. Provided is a single-crystal manufacturing apparatus that can inhibit heater deformation and prevent deterioration of heat efficiency.

As substrates for use in fabrication of very highly integrated semiconductor devices, mirror-polished silicon wafers are mainly used. These silicon wafers are produced by growing a silicon single crystal ingot according to the CZ method (the Czochralski method) and machining the grown single crystal ingot into wafers. In single crystal manufacture by the CZ method, the increasing size of apparatus and its furnace parts has been brought about by the increasing diameter of silicon wafers to reduce fabrication cost of semiconductor devices.
In the CZ method, a polycrystalline raw material charged in a quartz crucible is heated with a cylindrical graphite heater, and a single crystal is grown from the resulting silicon melt. The increasing size of crucibles and the like accompanying the increasing diameter of single crystal ingots being grown as above has increased also the size of heaters that surround and heat the crucibles. This makes a problem in that an electric discharge occurs due to contact with other components caused by heater deformation such as deflection. The weight of a larger heater may cause the deformation. Particularly, in the MCZ method (the magnetic field applied Czochralski method), Lorentz force in a magnetic field may also cause the deformation, and this cannot be ignored. To prevent the heater deformation, a method of providing auxiliary electrodes other than heater electrodes to support the heater has been used (See Patent Document 1).


A primary transfer device includes a primary transfer roll that is capable of being engaged with and disengaged from an intermediate transfer member to which a developer image is primarily transferred; and a setting-changing unit that changes a setting of pressure of the primary transfer roll to the intermediate transfer member in accordance with kind of a recording medium to which the developer image is secondarily transferred, wherein the setting-changing unit has an irregular medium transfer mode for a case where the recording medium to which the developer image is a recording medium having irregularities formed on a surface thereof, and an ordinary transfer mode for a case where the recording medium is a recording medium other than the recording medium having the irregularities, wherein a pressure set in the irregular medium transfer mode is smaller than that set in the ordinary transfer mode.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to a primary transfer device and an image forming apparatus provided with the same.
2. Related Art
Usually, as a color image forming apparatus such as a color copying machine or a color printer to which an electro-photographic system is applied, an image forming apparatus of what is called an intermediate transfer system has been known that includes a plurality of image forming units corresponding to colors such as yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C) and black (K). In this image forming apparatus, toner images of the respective colors sequentially formed on photosensitive drums of the image forming units are temporarily primarily transferred in multiple forms to an intermediate transfer member by primary transfer devices respectively opposed to the photosensitive drum. Then, the toner images of the respective colors multiply transferred to the intermediate transfer member are secondarily transferred together to a recording medium by a secondary transfer device. After that, the toner images are heated, pressed and fixed to the recording medium to form a color image. In the primary transfer device in the image forming apparatus using such an intermediate transfer member, primary transfer rolls are respectively arranged so as to be opposed to the photosensitive drums through, for instance, an intermediate transfer belt as an endless type intermediate transfer member to form a primary transfer part, and a pressure contact force and an electrostatic force are allowed to act on the primary transfer part to transfer the toner images formed on the photosensitive drums to the intermediate transfer.

Primary transfer device and image forming apparatus having the same


The invention comprises a method to operate a direct-injection engine operative at various air/fuel ratios. The method comprises monitoring in-cylinder pressure, along with a corresponding engine crank position to periodically to determine instantaneous in-cylinder pressure states corresponding to the engine crank position during compression and expansion. Pressure ratios are determined based upon the instantaneous in-cylinder pressure states. A combustion heat release is determined based upon the pressure ratios. An aspect of the invention comprises extending the operation to diesel, diesel premixed and to HCCI engines.

The statements in this section merely provide background information related to the present disclosure and may not constitute prior art.
A variety of intrusive and non-intrusive pressure sensing means are known for sensing pressure within an internal combustion engine cylinder when the engine is motoring and when the engine is firing.
Various aspects of internal combustion engine controls are known which rely on in-cylinder pressure measurements, particularly location of peak pressure (LPP), indicated mean effective pressure (IMEP) calibration and absolute peak pressure.
Known pressure ratio management (PRM) methods provide timing and cylinder charge control using constant property assumptions applicable to operating ranges of conventional spark ignited engines. The methods as relate to conventional spark ignited engines are based on constant property assumptions and computations of the ratio of fired to motored pressure during each engine cycle. From this, combustion timing can be estimated along with a parameter related to cylinder charge strength.
Compression-ignition engines and other engine control schemes operate over broad engine conditions, and effective control, including fuel control, fuel tailoring, charge ignition timing control, exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) control, is necessary to meet operator demands for performance and fuel economy and comply with emissions requirements. Furthermore, there is much variability, including that related to: components, e.g., fuel injectors; systems, e.g., fuel line and pressures; operating conditions, e.g., ambient pressures and temperatures; and, fuels, e.g., cetane number and alcohol content. The variability affects heat release and work output from individual cylinders, resulting in non-optimal performance of the engine. Any change in the engine performance is apparent in cylinder pressure ratios.
Referring now to FIG. 1, there is provided a graphical depiction of measured cylinder pressure ratio plotted based upon crank angle for varying operating conditions, specifically air/fuel ratios. The pressure ratio after expansion depends upon the work removed and heat loss of the engine. The graph indicates that engine operating conditions affect engine combustion and heat release, which can be indicated by a cylinder pressure ratio. The pressure ratio immediately after a heat release depends upon temperature and fuel/air equivalence ratio, phi, whereas the pressure ratio determined after expansion depends upon the work removed during expansion and heat loss through cylinder walls. An accurate and effective method to determine pressure ratio in an individual cylinder may be useable by an engine control system to improve engine control over a wide range of cylinder charge temperatures and compositions that can be found in operation of HCCI and diesel engines.
What is described herein comprises a method to monitor engine operation to determine engine heat release and combustion phasing, especially adapted for varying operating conditions that are related to compression ignition engines and homogeneous charge compression ignition (HCCI) engines having a wide range of cylinder charge temperatures and compositions.

Method for internal combustion engine control using pressure ratios


An illuminated toy pail includes a translucent pail body, a handle attached to the pail body, and a retainer affixed to the interior of the pail body which is effective for holding a chemical light stick within the interior of the pail body. The bottom of the retainer includes a press-fit flange which is press fit into a pre-formed hole in the bottom wall of the pail body, and the top of the retainer includes a vertical bore which releasably receives and holds the light stick in a vertical orientation within the interior of the pail. The activated chemical light sticks can be easily inserted into the pail to illuminate the pail, thereby providing both novelty and safety aspects to the pail. When used, for example, in a Halloween, pumpkin-shaped pail body, the light causes the translucent pail body to glow as if a candle were lighted inside the pumpkin, provides a small amount of light to illuminate the ground below, and provides a highly visible, lighted safety indicator for passing vehicles.

The instant invention relates to toy pails and buckets which are primarily utilized during holidays, such as Halloween, for collecting candy, and more particularly to a toy pail which is illuminated for both novelty and safety purposes.
Toy pails and buckets having a Halloween, or other holiday, theme are well known in the novelty toy arts. For example, many different manufacturers produce pumpkin shaped pails which children utilize to carry candy during their Halloween trick or treat travels.
The instant invention provides an illuminated toy pail comprising a translucent plastic pail body, a carrying handle attached to the pail body, and a retainer affixed to the interior of the pail body for releasably holding a light source within the interior of the pail body. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the light preferably comprises a chemical light stick which produces a soft glowing light, and the retainer comprises a cup-shaped body which is affixed to the bottom wall of the pail body. The retainer includes a press-fit flange which is press fit into a pre-formed hole in the bottom wall of the pail body, and further includes an upwardly open vertically disposed bore which releasably receives and holds the chemical light stick in a vertical orientation within the interior of the pail. The activated chemical light stick is inserted into bore in the retainer to illuminate the pail body, thereby providing both novelty and safety aspects to the pail. When used in a Halloween, pumpkin-shaped pail body, the light causes the translucent pail body to glow as if a candle were lighted inside the pumpkin, provides a small amount of light to illuminate the ground below, and provides a lighted safety indicator for passing vehicles.
Accordingly, among the objects of the instant invention are: the provision of an illuminated toy pail; the provision of a retainer element for a light source which is releasably mounted within the interior of a pail body; and the provision of an illuminated toy pail including a retainer for retaining a chemical light stick within the interior of the pail.
Other objects, features and advantages of the invention shall become apparent as the description thereof proceeds when considered in connection with the accompanying illustrative drawings.


A multi-purpose non-problem-specific hardware-based framework for the execution of a genetic algorithm (GA) accelerates the execution speed of a GA through the implementation of hardware-based non-problem-specific functions of population memory, first and second chromosome registers, crossover module, mutation operator, and survival comparator. The non-problem-specific aspect of the hardware-based framework turns problem-specific without changing the contents of the framework once a problem-specific fitness function circuit is included for evaluating chromosomal data representing a potential problem solution. The hardware-based framework is thus applicable to a variety of problem-specific aspects of the problem-specific fitness function circuit.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a general-purpose genetic algorithm machine for executing genetic algorithms and more particularly to a hardware framework for accelerating the execution speed of a genetic algorithm. The present invention is also directed to a method for producing the general-purpose genetic algorithm machine and further to a method for executing a genetic algorithm.
2. Description of the Related Art
FIG. 25 shows a conceptual diagram of a conventional genetic algorithm.
Generic algorithms (hereinafter referred to by the initials, GA) were introduced in 1975 by John Holland as a method for finding an optimum solution to complicated problems. (John H. Holland, "Adaptation in Natural and Artificial Systems," University of Michigan Press, 1975; Second edition: MIT Press, 1992.) For example, the GA is a useful method for finding optimum solutions to the Traveling Salesman Problem described by Grefenstette. In the GA, an emulated chromosomal data structure is initially designed to represent a candidate or trial solution. A plurality of n-bit chromosomes of that data structure are then randomly generated. A plurality of generated chromosomes are registered in groups or populations. A plurality of parent chromosomes are selected from this population of generated chromosomes according to a given algorithm. Each generated chromosome is assigned a unique problem-specific fitness which differs from other chromosomes in the population identifying a solution quality of the chromosome. The problem-specific fitness is expressed by a fitness value. Chromosomes are selected from the population of chromosomes in proportion to their fitness values with more-fit chromosomes having higher probability of being selected. When a pair of parent chromosomes are selected from the population, the parent chromosomes are combined with a probabilistically generated cutpoint. In the case of having no cutpoint generated, either of the parent chromosomes is simply copied to provide a new chromosome as a child chromosome. Thus, a child chromosome is created and outputted. The child chromosome therefore contains portions of each parent or the whole portion of a parent. The child chromosome is then mutated. The mutation is performed with a low probability. The mutation is performed through inversion of a bit in the child chromosome. A mutated child chromosome is then evaluated to be assigned its fitness value. An evaluated child chromosome along with its fitness value is stored as a member of the next generation in the population.
After repeated iteration of this process, the general fitness of chromosomes in the population improves. Thus, a solution to the problem emerges in the population. A solution to the problem is acquired with highly fit chromosomes concentrated in the population.
A major disadvantage of the conventional GA is that the GA is extremely slow in its execution speed when emulated by software on a conventional general-purpose computer.
Some proposals have been addressed for accelerating the processing speed of a GA. Graham, et al. has proposed a hardware implementation of the GA using the Splash 2 machine (Paul Graham and Brent Nelson, "A Hardware Genetic Algorithm for the Traveling Salesman Problem on Splash 2" Field-Programmable Logic and Applications, ed. W. More and W. Luk, pp. 352-361, Springer, Oxford, 1995). A similar attempt of hardware implementation of a GA to accelerate the execution speed of the GA has been proposed by Sitkoff et al. (Nathan Sitkoff, Mike Wazlowski, Aaron Smith, and Harvey Silverman, "Implementing a Genetic Algorithm on a Parallel Custom Computing Machine, " Proceedings of IEEE Workshop on FPGAs for Custom Computing Machines, pp. 180-187, 1995).
These attempts of the hardware implementation of a GA, however, ended in limited success with the speedup factors of roughly 10 times. One reason for their limited gains is copying the original GA proposed by Holland to be implemented on hardware. The original GA into the hardware implementation has thus inefficiencies introduced therein.
Another reason that greater speed gains are not realized is the underlying hardware architecture being used to implement the GA. Graham, et al. employs the Splash 2 machine which is a reconfigurable computer designed to support linear systolic data such as SIMD (single instruction, multiple data) and MIMD (multiple instruction, multiple data).
Sitkoff, et al. employs the Armstrong 3 machine which is a loosely-coupled MIMD multicomputer with reconfigurable computing capabilities. They achieved only limited gains because they implemented GAs in machines whose hardware architectures are not designed originally or particularly to implement the GAs. This can prevent the execution speed of GAs from achieving satisfactory gains.
Thus, a major drawback of conventional machines is the slow execution speed of a GA when emulated by software on conventional general-purpose computers.
A hardware-based implementation of a GA has been addressed for offsetting the drawback but only with a limited success in its execution speed.

Genetic algorithm machine and its production method, and method for executing a genetic algorithm


Waveform data are stored in advance together with reference position information indicative of reference positions, in the waveform data, corresponding to reference timing, such as beat timing, and correction position information indicative of correction positions in the waveform data that are different from the reference positions. The reference timing is advanced when the waveform data are reproduced. In response to arrival of the reference timing, a deviation between a reproduction position of the currently reproduced waveform data and the reference position is evaluated. When the reproduction position arrives at the correction position, the reproduction position is corrected according to the evaluated deviation. Namely, whereas measurement of the deviation, relative to the reference timing, of the currently reproduced waveform data is performed on the basis of the reference position, correction of the current reproduction position of the waveform data for compensating for the measured deviation is performed at the correction position.

The present invention relates generally to automatic performance techniques for reproducing tones of music (melody or accompaniment) using audio waveform data, and more particularly to a technique for reproducing an automatic performance using audio waveform data and an automatic performance based on control data, such as MIDI data, in synchronism with each other.
There have heretofore been known automatic performance apparatus which prestore an accompaniment pattern data representative of an arpeggio pattern, bass pattern, rhythm pattern and the like of a predetermined unit length, such as a length of four measures, and which perform an automatic performance of tones on the basis of such a prestored accompaniment pattern data. As the accompaniment pattern data, tone waveform signals obtained by sampling an actual musical instrument performance, human voices, natural sounds, etc. (hereinafter referred to also as "audio waveform data") separately for each of performance parts, such as a chord accompaniment part, bass part and rhythm part, are used in some case, and tone control signals defined in accordance with a predetermined standard (i.e., tone generating control data, such as MIDI data defined in accordance with the MIDI standard) are used in another case. Note that, in this specification, the term "tone" is used to refer to not only a musical sound but also a voice or any other sound.
In the case where control data, such as MIDI data, are used as the accompaniment pattern data, the automatic performance apparatus can generate tones at a desired performance tempo, without causing any tone pitch change, by changing a readout speed or rate of event data (more specifically, note events, such as note-on and note-off events). Namely, the automatic performance apparatus can change the performance tempo by change readout timing of the individual event data included in the MIDI data. The tones do not change in pitch because information like note numbers (tone pitch information) of the event data remain the same despite the change in the readout timing of the individual event data.
It is also known that, in the case where audio waveform data are used as the accompaniment pattern data, on the other hand, the automatic performance apparatus can generate tones at a desired performance tempo, without causing any tone pitch change, by performing time stretch control. In this specification, the term "time stretch control" is used to refer to "compressing audio waveform data on the time axis" (time-axial compression) and/or "stretching audio waveform data on the time axis" (time-axial stretch).
Sometimes, a user wants to create a part of the accompaniment pattern data with MIDI data and create another part of the accompaniment pattern data with audio waveform data. When tones are to be reproduced by use of accompaniment pattern data comprising a mixture of the MIDI data and audio waveform data, a performance tempo of the MIDI data (event readout tempo) may sometimes be designated to a tempo different from an original tempo of the audio waveform data (i.e., tempo at which the audio waveform data were recorded). In such a case, a time difference or deviation would occur between tones reproduced on the basis of the MIDI data and tones reproduced on the basis of the audio waveform data. Thus, the audio waveform data are subjected to the above-mentioned time stretch control such that they are stretched or compressed on the time axis to coincide with or match the performance tempo of the MIDI data. However, because errors tend to occur in arithmetic operations performed in the time stretch control, a reproduced tempo of the audio waveform data still cannot accurately match the designated performance tempo (i.e., performance tempo of the MIDI data), so that there would still occur a slight timing difference or deviation between the tones generated on the basis of the audio waveform data and the tones generated on the basis of the MIDI data. Such a time difference or deviation is problematic in that it is accumulated (or piles up) with the passage of time, as a result of which disharmony between the tones would become unignorable to such a degree as to give an auditorily-unnatural impression.
In order to address the aforementioned prior art problem, a more sophisticated technique has been proposed, which is constructed to output tones generated on the basis of audio waveform data and tones generated on the basis of MIDI data in synchronism with each other. For example, a reproduction apparatus disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-open Publication No. 2001-312277 is constructed to change, for each predetermined period (e.g., each measure, beat or 1/16 beat), a reproduction position of audio waveform data at each periodic time point, occurring every such predetermined period, to a predetermined position associated in advance with the predetermined period, in order to allow the reproduction position of audio waveform data to match the reproduction position of corresponding MIDI data every such predetermined period. In this manner, the reproduction position of the audio waveform data is corrected every predetermined period so that the tones generated on the basis of the audio waveform data and the tones generated on the basis of the MIDI data do not greatly differ in time or timing, with the passage of time, to such a degree as to cause disharmony between the tones.
However, in the reproduction apparatus disclosed in the No. 2001-312277 publication, the control for correcting the reproduction position of the audio waveform data is performed merely uniformly each time the predetermined period arrives with no consideration whatsoever of a degree of a reproduction timing deviation per such predetermined period and a waveform state at the corrected reproduction position (more specifically, state of connection of waveforms before and after the reproduction position). Therefore, sound quality of the tones tend to deteriorate to such a degree as to cause an unignorable auditorily-uncomfortable feeling.

Automatic performance technique using audio waveform data


A gate-to-source voltage (Vgs) replication circuit includes a diode-connected NMOS transistor coupled to a current source to draw a drain-to-source current therethrough. The generated Vgs is imposed across a source-to-gate junction of a PMOS transistor. A second PMOS transistor is coupled in series with the first PMOS transistor such that the source-to-gate voltage (Vsg) of the second PMOS transistor replicates the Vgs of the NMOS circuit. The second PMOS transistor is coupled as a source follower to bias other NMOS transistors.

In some applications, transistors may be "biased" to operate in a particular fashion. For example, a field effect transistor (FET) may be biased by having a "bias voltage" applied between two device terminals of the FET. Prior art bias circuits may apply a constant gate-to-source voltage (Vgs) between gate and source terminals of a transistor.
Transistor characteristics may vary due to manufacturing variations and/or operating conditions. For example, a transistor's threshold voltage (Vth) may change due to temperature or power supply voltage variations.

Vgs replication apparatus, method, and system


The present invention is directed to a cover device for more hygienic handling of a lid for a container. In general, the cover device fits over the lid and releasably grips the outer surface of the lid. The cover device includes a seating member for sealing an opening in the lid. The cover device may also have paper and/or electronic advertisements. Electronic advertisements are displayed on an LED system in the cover device, and the LED system may transmit and receive wireless data.

Takeout beverages such as coffee and coffee drinks, tea and tea drinks, soft drinks, smoothies, milkshakes, other frozen beverages and other beverages are commonly sold in disposable containers (cups) with plastic lids. Frequently, the server, the customer of a self-service beverage, or other operator manually places the lid on the cup before or after the cup is filled with the beverage. The operator must press around the entire circumference of the lid to ensure that the lid is sealed to the cup to avoid spills. Accidental spills may result if the operator fails to seal around the entire lid. This manual handling can also be unhygienic, especially when the operator touches the inner surface of the lid, which contacts the beverage in the cup, or a drinking opening, which is a part of the lid that is intended to be drunk from without a straw. These beverages are often not consumed upon purchase, or may be consumed slowly and a warm beverage in the cup may decrease in temperature, and a cool beverage in the cup may increase in temperature.
Some establishments that serve beverages attempt to protect the outer surface of the lid from contamination by placing the stack of disposable lids so that the inner surface of the lid is facing up. However, this "upside down" technique allows the inner surface, which contacts the beverage in the cup, to be exposed to possible contamination. This technique also does not prevent. the operator from touching the drinking opening when sealing the lid to the cup.
Additionally, disposable cups are common in public and offer a visible medium for communication.


A particle beam therapeutic apparatus can ensure the uniformity of dose distribution by overlapping the desired loci of the irradiation of a particle beam a reduced number of times. A flow of a particle beam transported so as to be irradiated to a diseased part is caused to deflect in two mutually orthogonal directions perpendicular to the direction of travel of the particle beam. The irradiation position of the particle beam is scanned, upon each period, in a manner to return to a position of irradiation located at the start of the period, whereby a plurality of loci drawn within one period are overlapped with one another thereby to irradiate a desired planned dose to the diseased part. The particle beam can be interrupted only at the end of the period.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a particle beam therapeutic apparatus capable of irradiating a planned dose by repeating the irradiation of a particle beam onto a diseased part.
2. Description of the Related Art
As a process of forming the irradiation field of a particle beam in a conventional particle beam therapeutic apparatus, there have been known a single painting method of performing irradiation over an entire diseased part by moving the position of irradiation of a particle beam each time a desired planned dose at a desired position is reached (see, for example, a first patent document: Japanese patent application laid-open No. 2002-191709) and a repainting method of irradiating a desired planned dose by scanning the position of irradiation of a particle beam in an amount of dose equal to one severalth of a desired planned dose so as to trace a predetermined track or locus with respect to a target area in such manner that the tracks or loci of the particle beam thus irradiated are repeatedly overlapped one another (see, for example, a first non-patent document: Masataka Komori, et al, "Optimization of Spiral-Wobbler System for Heavy-Ion Radiotherapy", "Japanese Journal of Applied Physics", 2004, Vol. 43, No. 9A, pp. 6463-6467).
As a track or locus employed in the repainting method, there are a circular track drawn by the point of a rotating vector with a fixed magnitude as in a wobbler method, and a spiral track drawn by the point of a rotating vector whose magnitude is modulated according to a function of the square root of time as in a spiral wobbler method.
In this spiral wobbler method, spiral tracks or loci are drawn so as to raise the uniformity of dose distribution as compared with the wobbler method. In this case, in order to scan the position of irradiation of the particle beam by applying magnetic fields to the particle beam in two axis directions (hereinafter referred to as an X-axis direction and a Y-axis direction) orthogonal to the direction of travel of the particle beam, excitation currents IX, IY obtained from the following expressions (1) through (4) are supplied to two electromagnets to be magnetized in orthogonal directions. The magnitude of the X-axis exciting current IX changes according to the product of a value that varies from 0 to 0 passing through a maximum value in a spiral period TS and a value that varies according to a sine function of a wobbler angular velocity ω. Also, the magnitude of the Y-axis exciting current IY changes according to the product of a value that varies from 0 to 0 passing through a maximum value in the spiral period TS and a value that varies according to a cosine function of the wobbler angular velocity ω.
                              I          X                =                  A                                                              2                                                  (                                      t                    -                                          nT                      S                                                        )                                                            T                S                                                                    sin                                      (                                                ω                                                                                t                                +                                  ϕ                  0                                            )                                                          (        1        )                                          where                                                                          nT            S                          ≤        t        <                              (                          n              +              0.5                        )                                          T            S                                                                                I          X                =                  A                                                              2                                                  {                                                                                (                                                  n                          +                          1                                                )                                                                                T                        S                                                              -                    t                                    }                                                            T                S                                                                    sin                                      (                                                ω                                                                                t                                +                                  ϕ                  0                                            )                                                          (        2        )                                          where                                                                          (                          n              +              0.5                        )                                          T            s                          ≤        t        <                              (                          n              +              1                        )                                          T            S                                                                                I          Y                =                  A                                                              2                                                  (                                      t                    -                                          nT                      S                                                        )                                                            T                S                                                                    cos                                      (                                                ω                                                                                t                                +                                  ϕ                  0                                            )                                                          (        3        )                                          where                                                                          nT            s                          ≤        t        <                              (                          n              +              0.5                        )                                          T            S                                                                                I          Y                =                  A                                                              2                                                  {                                                                                (                                                  n                          +                          1                                                )                                                                                T                        S                                                              -                    t                                    }                                                            T                S                                                                    cos                                      (                                                ω                                                                                t                                +                                  ϕ                  0                                            )                                                          (        4        )                                          where                                                                          (                          n              +              0.5                        )                                          T            s                          ≤        t        <                              (                          n              +              1                        )                                          T            S
However, in the spiral wobbler method, a planned dose is irradiated by overlapping the spiral track or locus drawn in each spiral period TS one over another a desired number or frequency of spiral periods, and the position of each spiral locus thus overlapped is decided by the phase of a corresponding spiral period at its start time point. Accordingly, in order to ensure the uniformity of dose distribution, it is necessary to make the phase of each overlapped spiral locus at the start time point of each spiral period vary in a uniform manner. However, the phase of each spiral locus (hereinafter referred to as a spiral phase) φ at the spiral period start time point is obtained from the following expression (5), so it is uniquely decided by the spiral period TS, the wobbler angular velocity ω, an initial spiral phase φ0, and the number or frequency of spiral periods n.Φ=nωTS+φ0  (5)
Thus, since each spiral phase φ is decided beforehand by the phase φ0, the spiral period TS and the wobbler angular velocity ω at the start time point of a treatment, and hence in order to ensure the desired uniformity, a very large number of spiral loci to be overlapped are employed so that they can be regarded as statistically at random. For example, the above-mentioned first non-patent document, one or more seconds are spent so as to ensure the uniformity of the dose distribution. In this manner, the conventional spiral wobbler method involves a problem that it is necessary to perform irradiation in such a manner that a lot of spiral loci are overlapped each other.
In addition, each spiral phase φ is uniquely decided by the spiral period TS and the wobbler angular velocity ω, so the wobbler angular velocity ω capable of ensuring the uniformity of the dose distribution when the spiral period TS is changed is limited, thus posing a problem that a constraint arises in the selection of the spiral period TS and the wobbler angular velocity ω.
Moreover, since it is necessary to keep one continuous irradiation for one second or more, a particle beam is generally generated from a synchrotron type particle accelerator, which periodically iterates acceleration and deceleration, e.g., a periodic operation is carried out in a period of two seconds, so that the particle beam thus generated is supplied to a particle beam irradiation part at a time between the acceleration and deceleration. Thus, in order to shorten the entire irradiation time, the time to supply the particle beam is decreased as much as possible so as to operate the accelerator in an efficient manner. However, when the time to supply the particle beam is hundreds of milliseconds, the supply of the particle beam is interrupted at a time during one spiral period, thus posing a problem that there is no guarantee for which the uniformity of dose distribution in each operation period of the accelerator is ensured.
Accordingly, there is another problem that when it is intended to prevent the interruption of the supply of the particle beam during the spiral period by increasing the time to supply the particle beam, there arises a constraint in the operation period of the accelerator such as the inability to shorten the supply time of the particle beam.
Further, in a respiration synchronized operation in which the irradiation of the particle beam is turned on and off according to respiration when irradiation is performed on internal organs that are caused to move or deform in accordance with the respiration or breathing of a patient, the supply of the particle beam is interrupted during the spiral period TS, thus causing a problem that there is no guarantee for which the uniformity of the dose distribution is ensured.
Furthermore, when the spiral wobbler method is applied to a layer-stacking conformal irradiation method in which irradiation on a patient is performed by dividing an exposure or irradiation area of the patient into a plurality of subareas or layers in the direction of depth thereof, a planned dose for each of the subareas or layers thus divided becomes smaller, so the number or frequency of spiral periods (hereinafter also referred to as a spiral number or frequency) is decreased, resulting in a problem that a spiral frequency required to ensure the uniformity of dose distribution can not be reached.
Besides, since the number or frequency of spiral periods is necessary to be equal to or more than a predetermined number of times, there is a further problem that when the dose rate is raised, the number or frequency of spiral periods required falls below the predetermined frequency, so the uniformity of dose distribution can not be ensured, and it is necessary to increase the exposure or irradiation time.


The present invention relates to novel peptides, pharmaceutical compositions containing them, methods for preparing the compounds, use of the compounds for preparing medicaments for treating vasomotor disturbances, in particular the peripheral vasomotor effects known as hot flushes or hot flashes, and to a method of treating vasomotor disturbances.

A "hot flush" is a sudden transient sensation ranging from warmth to intense heat and typically accompanied by flushing and perspiration. It is the classic sign of the menopause and the predominant complaint of menopausal women. Epidemiological studies report that the majority of menopausal women experience hot flushes, although with large variation in frequency and intensity (Treatment of the Postmenopausal Woman, Basic and Clinical Aspects, Raven Press 1994, ed. R. A. Lobo).
A positive correlation between plasma levels of calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) and frequency of hot flushes in women has recently been reported (Chen et al., 1993, Lancet (342) 49), in accordance with the potent vasodilatory effect of CGRP (Brain et al., 1985, Nature, (313) 54-56).
Recently, a novel heptadeca peptide, nociceptin, was discovered (Meunier et al., 1995, Nature (377) 532-535, Reinscheid et al., 1995, Science (270) 792-794).
Nociceptin and analogues thereof have been disclosed in WO 97/07212 and in WO 97/07208. These peptides and inhibitors thereof are said to be useful for antagonising physiologic effects of an opioid in an animal, and for treating/preventing a disease related to: hyperalgesia, neuroendocrine secretion, stress, locomotor activity, anxiety, instinctive behaviour, decreasing of learning, memory, curiosity, attention and/or sensory perception.


Session Initiation Protocol (SIP), a protocol used in VoIP (Voice over IP) communications, enables a caller to send a SIP message to a callee with his/her UserID concealed from the callee, which in turn, prevents A SIP server from making an attempt to manage the caller. If the same IP Telephone address is used whenever the IP call is made, a third party may guess the IP address easily during conversation. The SIP message sent by the caller is converted and conversion tables are managed by the SIP server. The IP Telephone modifies its IP address for each IP call. Thus, the caller can make a call to the callee with his/her UserID concealed from the callee using the SIP server with a message conversion function and communications carriers having SIP servers installed to manage the callers using their conversion tables. It is difficult to any malicious third party to guess the IP Telephone address, because the IP Telephone address is modified for each call.

The present invention relates to a calling method for use when a caller makes a call to a callee in a one-to-one communication mode on the Internet.
Non-patent documents listed below are referred to in the following description:
[Non-patent document 1]
IETF RFC3261
[Non-patent document 2]
IETF RFC2327
[Non-patent document 3]
IETF RFC1889
In recent years, there has been a tendency to integrate exchange-based telephone communications networks into IP networks as part of a rapid advance in IP network technology. Telephone communications carriers have a plan to transfer data under voice (hereafter, simply referred to as DUV) on their own IP networks through Voice over IP (hereafter, simply referred to as VoIP). VoIP consists of two protocols, one protocol controlling call signaling and sessions and the other protocol controlling DUV transfer. The Internet Engineering Task Force (hereafter, simply referred to as IETF) created the specifications of a Session Initiation Protocol (hereafter, simply referred to as SIP), which is designated in IETF RFC3261, defining the method for call signaling and sessions. For example, the Session Description Protocol (SDP), IETF RFC2327, is applicable to the description of a session, including an agreement on a codec and transfer rate to be internally used in SIP.
Although no specific DUV protocol is defined in SIP, a Real-time Transport Protocol (RTP), which is designated in RFC1889, is commonly used.
According to IETF RFC3261, SIP is a protocol wherein a SIP message, consisting of a SIP Start Line, a SIP message header, and a SIP message body, is sent/received between two calling parties via a SIP server to establish agreement concerning the call signaling mode on the callee side, the voice, the image protocol and the bit rate to be used during conversation. Generally, the SIP Start Line describes the behavior of the message originator, the SIP message header describes the telephone number of a callee, the SIP server to be passed, and the Call-ID (call origination administration number), and the SIP message body describes the proposed voice, image protocol, and bit rate to be used during conversation.
Now, a procedure will be described briefly ranging from the start to the end of a two-party conversation through use of SIP, as described in IETF RFC3261, and the problems which arise with use of the procedure will be explained.
FIG. 1 is a network diagram illustrating a two-party conversation carried out through use of SIP. FIG. 2 is a sequence diagram illustrating the flow of a two-party conversation through use of SIP.
In FIG. 1, UserA, who belongs to a domain 3-1 and has an IP Telephone 2-1, makes a call to UserB, who belongs to a domain 3-3 and has an IP Telephone 2-2, via SIP servers 1-1 to 1-3.
First. UserA sends a Start Line INVITE and a SIP message for UserB to the SIP server A1-1 to establish a call with UserB (11). The SIP server A1-1, when receiving the INVITE message, adds a VIA header to its message header and transfers the SIP message to the SIP server B1-2. At that time, it also sends the SIP message containing a Start Line 100Trying to the IP Telephone 2-1, which is the callee (destination) of the message (12). The SIP servers B1-2 and C1-3, when receiving the SIP message, take the same actions and transfer the message to the UserB's IP Telephone 2-2.
The IP Telephone 2-2, when receiving the SIP message, sends a Start Line 180Ringing and a SIP message for UserA to the SIP server C1-3 (13) to sound a ringing tone on the UserB side. The SIP message containing a Start Line 180Ringing terminates at the IP Telephone 2-1 via the SIP server.
The IP Telephone 2-2, when UserB picks up the telephone receiver, sends a Start Line 200OK and a SIP message for UserA (14), which in turn, terminates at the IP Telephone 2-1 via the SIP server. The IP Telephone 2-1 sends back an acknowledge (ACK) signal in response to the message (15), and, when the ACK is received, a voice packet passes through a main signal path, enabling the two parties to initiate a conversation between them (16).
At the end of the conversation, UserA's IP Telephone 2-1 sends a Start Line BYE and a SIP message for UserB (17), which in turn, terminates at the IP Telephone 2-2 via the SIP server. In response to the message, the IP Telephone 2-2 sends back the ACK to the IP Telephone 2-1 via the SIP server (18). When the ACK is received, the conversation ends.
SIP is a protocol for sending and receiving SIP messages between a caller and a callee. A UserID and its DomainID are described in the headers, "From" specifying the caller contained in the message header, "To" specifying the callee, and Via specifying the SIP servers to be passed (proxy mode), because such information can be delivered as it is when the callee sends it back. To establish a session with the callee through SIP, the caller describes the IP address of his/her own terminal or an assigned DomainID in the headers.
With regard to VoIP, a protocol which informs the callee of no UserID (e.g. telephone number or UserID) of the caller, a mode has been proposed in IETF RFC3261 whereby the caller terminal creates a random UserID, registers the random UserID and the IP address of the terminal in the SIP server, and originates a call with the random UserID designated as the caller. Through this protocol, the whole procedure for making a Caller Anonymous Call is performed on the caller side.
If the IETF-supported communication mode, in which the caller makes a Caller Anonymous Call with his/her UserID concealed, is used in the SIP system, only the random UserID is registered in the SIP server. For this reason, the caller would make a Caller Anonymous Call not only to the callee, but also to the SIP server at the same time. The SIP server is difficult to control, and it is difficult to manage calls because it cannot guess the real UserID from the UserID registered in it. In the IP telephone services provided by communications carriers and others, user management is required, for example, caller identification, service permission/denial determination, and talk time management.
If a malicious third party intercepts a SIP message, he/she can identify the caller, the caller's SIP-URL, and the assigned DomainID as described in the SIP message, causing mischief, such as nuisance calls.
In addition, if the malicious third party knows the IP address of the IP Telephone, he/she can transfer a vast amount of packets to the IP Telephone after the end of conversation, making an attack, for example, DOS (Denial of Service), thereby disturbing processing on the equipment at a high possibility.

Message conversion server and IP telephone


The present invention enables a flexible system for representing relationships among computing resources, assigning them strengths, and versioning them over time. One advantage is that all of the various ways that these entities are named in the real world can be normalized into a common model of identifiers (IDs) and types such that universal manipulations by class are possible without losing the capability to present the resulting information back with the original entity names or even with multiple equivalent names.

Companies, educators, government agencies and other organizations frequently want to track statistics about usage of computing resources. Some of these computing resources are physical entities (e.g., people, computers, etc.), some are logical entities (e.g., categories, documents, e-mail conversations, etc.) and some are synthetic computed relationship derived by summarizing other relationships as a class and computing a relationship.
In many existing systems it is difficult to determine relationships and affinities between such diverse data sources, therefore, the resources are often not exploited. In addition, it can be costly and time consuming to analyze the amount of data generated in a knowledge management system.
Another drawback of existing systems is that they do not provide for evolution of determined relationships and affinities over time. Once a relationship or affinity is reported, there often exists no way to ensure that the relationship has not changed or become stale. Other drawbacks also exist.

System and method for implementing a metrics engine for tracking relationships over time

International Business Machines Corporation


A rotary baler having a variable size baling chamber for the formation of a cylindrical bale. The baler is configured to measure diameter and the shape of the bale. To measure the shape of the bale, the baler is provided with at least one sensor arranged to generate information regarding the diameter of a bale formed in the baling chamber. The sensor is a non-contacting sensor and is arranged to detect the position of the outer surface of the bale or the surface of an endless conveying element located about the bale.

1. Field of Invention
The invention generally relates a rotary baler having a variable sized baling chamber. More particularly, the invention relates to such a rotary baler that further includes means for measuring the diameter and shape of a cylindrical bale, and at least one sensor configured to collect information regarding the diameter of a bale formed in the baling chamber.
2. Related Technology
Mechanical arrangements for detecting the size or the symmetry of a bale produced in a rotary baler have been proposed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,433,533 and FR No. 2 579 063 A. These references disclose two rolls that roll on belts that enclose the baling chamber. The position or the symmetry of the rolls is mechanically displayed to the operator of the tractor towing the rotary baler, as taught in FR 2 579 063 A, or is used for the automatic steering of the baler, as in U.S. Pat. No. 4,433,533.
EP 0 634 094 A teaches that the compact height of the bale can be detected using a spring in contact with the side flanks of the bale. This information is converted to an electrical signal using a potentiometer.
Other mechanical arrangements detect the size of the bale at a single measurement point. According to EP 0 287 156 A, the position of the tensioning pulley of the belt is mechanically transmitted to a micro-switch operating magnetically. As taught in EP 0 296 709 A, the position of the tensioning pulley is detected using a potentiometer. Additionally, DE 44 42 479 A discloses that the position of a movable sprocket during the formation of the bale can be detected using an optical sensor.
As a result of the dust generated, the mechanical components of the baler are likely to malfunction. Furthermore, only a single measurement point is available along the width of the bale, so that no reliable information is generated regarding the distribution of the diameter of the bale over its width.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,850,271 describes a rotary baler capable of measuring the diameter of the bale and then subsequently displaying this information. As disclosed, the measuring configuration includes three sensors positioned along the width of the baling chamber, each of which detects the tension in the belts of the baling chamber by use of a spring-loaded mechanism. The mechanism moves potentiometers that are connected to the display arrangement by means of a signal processor. An additional potentiometer detects the position of a tensioning arm of the belts. Relying on the three measurement values of the tension of the belts, the operator can detect the shape and any possible irregularities in the diameter of the bale and perform corresponding steering countermeasures in case that these are still possible. The detection of the diameter with respect to the position of the tensioning arm permits a determination of only the maximum diameter, while the information detected by the tension of the belts regarding the shape of the bale is relatively inexact. The reason for the imprecision is attributed to the fact that the tension of the belts is a function of not only the local dimension of the bale, but is also affected by bearing friction and mechanical properties that vary over the width of the bale, particularly the elasticity of the harvested crop. The mechanical elements of the sensors are exposed to a relatively dusty environment, become contaminated after a relatively short time and then the sensors operating capability is diminished.
DE 38 11 649 C proposes using multiple sensors distributed across the width of the flow of harvested crop, upstream of the baling chamber in a rotary baler, to determine the distribution of the harvested crop. These multiple sensors can also be used for an automatic sideways shifting of the baler and/or of the flow of the harvested crop. The sensors may operate in a non-contacting manner, for example, as capacity sensors or on the basis of light or ultrasonics. In each case, the harvested crop is detected before the baling process begins. The actual size of the bale is not detected.
Consequently, there is need to provide rotary baler capable of measuring the diameter and the shape of a cylindrical bale that is improved over the state of the art.


A fuel additive composition, fuel comprising said additive, and methods of use thereof are provided. The fuel additive composition comprises a synergistic combination of a hydrocarbyl-substituted succinimide dispersant and a compound of the following formula:

It is widely known that electrostatic charges can be frictionally transferred between two dissimilar, nonconductive materials. When this occurs, the electrostatic charge thus created appears at the surfaces of the contacting materials. The magnitude of the generated charge is dependent upon the nature of and, more particularly, the respective conductivity of each material. For example, electrostatic charging occurs when water settles through a hydrocarbon solution. This situation greatly interests the petroleum industry, for when such charges are built up in or around flammable liquids, their eventual discharge can lead to incendiary sparking, and perhaps to a serious fire or explosion.
While incendiary sparking is a problem in the petroleum industry, the potential for fire and explosion is probably at its greatest during product handling, transfer and transportation. For example, static charges are known to accumulate in solvents and fuels when they flow through piping, especially when these liquids flow through high surface area or "fine" filters and other process controls, such as is common during tank truck filling. Countermeasures designed to prevent accumulation of electrostatic charges on a container being filled and to prevent sparks by conducting the container to ground can be employed, such as container grounding (i.e. "earthing") and bonding. But it has been recognized that these measures are inadequate to deal successfully with all of the electrostatic hazards presented by hydrocarbon fuels.
Alone, grounding and bonding are not sufficient to prevent electrostatic build-up in low conductivity, volatile organic liquids such as distillate fuels like diesel, gasoline, jet fuel, turbine fuels, and kerosene. Similarly, grounding and bonding do not prevent static charge accumulation in relatively clean (i.e., contaminant free) light hydrocarbon oils such as organic solvents and cleaning fluids. This is because the conductivity of these organics is so low that a static charge moves very slowly through these liquids and can take a considerable time to reach the surface of a grounded, conductive container. Until this occurs, a high surface-voltage potential can be achieved, which can create an incendiary spark, thereby causing ignition or explosion.
One can directly attack the source of the increased hazard presented by these low conductivity organic liquids by increasing the conductivity of the liquid with additives. The increased conductivity of the liquid will substantially reduce the time necessary for any charges that exist in the liquid to be conducted away by the grounded inside surface of the container. Various compositions are known for use as additives to increase the electrical conductivity of these liquids.
For example, in the past, halogen-containing additives introduced into fuels have played a significant role in achieving improved conductivity properties in fuels. While these halogen-containing additives are effective as conductivity agents, in certain situations, some halogen-containing hydrocarbon compounds have been linked to human and animal health risks, as well as environmental degradation. Legislative enactments, including the 1990 amendment to "The Clean Air Act" in the United States, signal a trend away from the continued permissible use in media of halogen-containing compounds. Even where the use of halogen-containing additives is still permitted, stringent regulations often govern the use, storage and, in particular, the disposal of and/or treatment of waste streams containing these compositions. Accordingly, a need exists to find fuel additives that improve the conductivity of fuel without posing negative risks to humans, animals, and the environment.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Conductivity-improving additives for fuel

Abstract: and tautomers and enantiomers thereof, wherein R3 is a hydrocarbyl group having a number average molecular weight ranging from about 100 to about 5000, and wherein the weight ratio of (a) to (b) ranges from about 5:1 to about 1:5. The fuel additive composition is present in fuel in an amount sufficient to improve the conductivity properties of the fuel.


A semiconductor device includes contact plugs formed in contact holes defined in an interlayer dielectric. Upper portions of the contact plugs are etched. A first barrier layer is formed on a surface of the interlayer dielectric including the contact plugs. A second barrier layer is formed on the first barrier layer over the interlayer dielectric. The second barrier layer has lower compatibility with a metallic material than the first barrier layer. A first metal layer is formed over the first and second barrier layers. The first metal layer, the first barrier layer and the second barrier layer are then patterned.

The present invention relates to a method for forming a metal line in a semiconductor device, and more particularly, to a method for forming a metal line in a semiconductor device, which can easily apply a material for a contact plug into a contact hole.
A semiconductor device includes a plurality of memory cells and a plurality of transistors which are connected with one another by junction areas, contact plugs and metal lines.
Contact plugs transmit the voltages, provided thereto mainly through metal lines, to the gates or the source or drain areas of transistors. For example, in the case where a contact plug is formed between two transistors, the contact plug is formed over a junction area (a source or drain area). The contact plug transmits the voltage, provided thereto through a metal line, to the junction area (the source or drain area). If a transistor is activated, a channel is formed, and the voltage provided to the junction area (the source or drain area) is transmitted through the channel to another transistor.
The contact plug formed over the junction area (the source or drain area) does not contact the gate. An insulation layer is formed between the gate and the contact plug to isolate the contact plug from the gate.
A conventional method for forming a contact plug is described below.
An insulation layer is an oxide-based layer formed on a semiconductor substrate to insulate a transistor formed on the semiconductor substrate. A first insulation layer pattern, in which an area to be defined with a contact hole is open, is formed on the insulation layer. By implementing an etching process using the first insulation layer pattern, the exposed portion of the insulation layer is removed, and a contact hole is defined. The contact hole is filled with a metal layer to form a contact plug. However, an overhang phenomenon, in which the metal layer is quickly formed at the upper end of the contact hole (i.e., at the upper edge of the insulation layer), is likely to occur. If the overhang phenomenon occurs, voids can be formed in the contact plug because the upper end of the contact hole may be closed before the contact hole is completely filled with the metal layer.
If voids are formed in the contact plug, H2O2 used during a subsequent planarization process can leak into the voids, causing damage to the metal layer. Thus, the electrical characteristics of a semiconductor device can be degraded.

Method for forming a metal line in a semiconductor device


A semiconductor memory device includes: a laminated body which has a floating-gate-forming groove and includes a semiconductor support layer, an impurity diffusion layer, an ion-implantation-damage protection film, and an interlayer insulating film; a floating-gate-insulating film; a floating gate disposed on the floating-gate-insulating film so as to be buried in the floating-gate-forming groove; a control-gate-insulating film disposed on a surface area of the floating gate; and a control gate disposed on the control-gate-insulating film above the floating gate, wherein the floating-gate-insulating film contacts with the semiconductor support layer at the bottom of the floating-gate-forming groove, the floating-gate-insulating film contacts with the impurity diffusion layer, the ion-implantation-damage protection film, and the interlayer insulating film at the side wall of the floating-gate-forming groove.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a semiconductor memory device such as a nonvolatile semiconductor memory and a method of manufacturing a semiconductor memory device.
2. Description of the Related Art
The nonvolatile semiconductor memory is able to retain stored data without requiring electricity, and is used as a memory in a low power-consumption device such as a mobile device. Recently, an Oxide-Nitride-Oxide (ONO) structure having a silicon nitride film capable of storing electric charge and a floating gate structure having a polysilicon are widely used as the nonvolatile semiconductor memory. The ONO structure is disclosed in, for example, the Japanese Patent Application Kokai (Laid-Open) Publication No. 2002-280464 (referred to as Patent Document 1). The floating gate structure is disclosed in, for example, the Japanese Patent Application Kokai (Laid-Open) Publication No. 2002-33405 (referred to as Patent Document 2).and the Japanese Patent Application Kokai (Laid-Open) Publication No. 10-189917 (referred to as Patent Document 3).
In the nonvolatile semiconductor memory having the floating gate structure disclosed in Patent Document 2, the floating gates and the control gates are laminated via the silicon oxide layers on the semiconductor substrate, on which impurity diffusion regions serving as bit lines are formed.
In the nonvolatile semiconductor memory having the floating gate structure disclosed in Patent Document 3, the grooves are formed on the semiconductor substrate, and the floating gates are formed in the grooves. Impurity ions are implanted into parts of the semiconductor substrate, in which the floating gates are not formed in the grooves, so that the impurity diffusion regions serving as bit lines are formed.
However, in the nonvolatile semiconductor memory disclosed in Patent Document 2, the floating gate and the control gate are formed on the semiconductor substrate, and therefore the height of the memory cell region, in which the gates are formed, becomes higher than the surrounding transistor regions. If the height of the memory cell region increases, the difference in height between the memory cell region and the transistor region increases, with the result that it becomes difficult to obtain finer cells.
In the nonvolatile semiconductor memory disclosed in Patent Document 3, the floating gate is buried in the groove, and therefore the difference in height between the memory cell region and the transistor region can be reduced. However, impurity ions are implanted into a bottom surface of the groove from right above, and implanted into a side surface of the groove in an oblique direction. Therefore, if the width of the groove is reduced for obtaining finer cells, the impurity ions are blocked by the surface to the semiconductor substrate. Therefore, the impurity ions are not implanted into a part of the side surface close to the bottom surface. As a result, the resistance of the impurity diffusion region serving as a bit line increases, so that it becomes difficult to obtain finer cells.

Semiconductor memory device and method of manufacturing the same


A memory controller provided on a multiprocessor system has a scoreboard used to manage the progress of memory access operations (the operating state of access instructions) and reduces the overhead in executing synchronization at a high level of execution priority. The scoreboard holds synchronization flags set in response to the acceptance of synchronization as well as the operation codes and addresses of the accepted access instructions. The memory controller sets a synchronization flag at the time when it has accepted a synchronizing instruction from the processor, and then resets the synchronization flag after the execution of the synchronizing operation has been completed.

This invention relates to a memory controller and a memory control method that are applied to a multiprocessor system, and more particularly to a memory controller and a memory control method that synchronize the data stored by a memory bank method.
Multiprocessor systems have been provided with a memory controller that manages and controls the memory-bank-type shared main memory and that executes access instructions (including data and addresses) in an out-of-order manner or a weak-order manner.
The memory controller has not only the function of independently controlling each bank memory corresponding to an independent memory area but also the function of replacing weak-order synchronization with strong-order synchronization temporarily. The methods related to such synchronizing operation are roughly divided as follows.
A first method is such that a buffer memory with a first-in, first-out (FIFO) function is used for address operation and the access instructions issued from the processors are executed in the order in which the address operations have been accepted. In this method, it is assumed that the system has the address bus separated from the data bus. Here, the address operation means the operation of the address bus.
A second method is such that a management table, called a scoreboard, that manages the progress of operation (the operating state of access instructions) in units of an independent control range of memory (bank memory units). With the method, once a synchronizing operation has been executed, the acceptance of an address operation is refused until the preceding operation has been completed. Namely, the synchronizing process is assured by retrying the synchronizing operation.
Because the second method shortens the latency in a read operation (read access operation) executed after a write operation (memory write access operation) and increases the memory use efficiency as compared with the first method, it improves the throughput of the system in actual operation.
These methods, however, have the following problems. The first method assures the execution of a synchronizing operation by using a buffer memory with an FIFO function for address operation. On the system, however, data operations (the operation of the data bus) are not always executed in the order of address operations. Therefore, the incompletion of the data operations causes a state where all of the FIFO buffer for address operation has been used, so that a state where the acceptance of an address operation is refused (retried) is liable to take place. In addition, the first method has an disadvantage in that when the data transfer for the preceding write operation has not been finished, all of the subsequent read operations cannot be executed, resulting in a larger latency in the read operation.
The second method manages the state of operations by the use of a management table, so that it can perform a memory access operation in an out-of-order manner or a weak order manner. But once the operations have been synchronized, the subsequent operations (or the operations satisfying the synchronizing conditions) cannot be executed until the preceding operation has been completed, leading to the problem of increasing the overhead of the system in the synchronizing process.

Memory controller and memory control system


A parallel-processing hydrocarbon (HC) migration and accumulation methodology is applied to basin data to determine migration pathways and traps for high-resolution petroleum system modeling. HC is determined in parallel to have been expelled in source rocks associated with a plurality of grid cells divided into one or more subdomains. Potential trap peaks are identified within the plurality of grid cells. An invasion percolation (IP) process is performed until the HC stops migrating upon arrival to the plurality of trap peaks. A determination is made as to whether the grid cells containing HC contains an excess volume of HC. An accumulation process is performed to model the filling of the HC at a trap associated with the identified potential trap peaks. The trap boundary cell list is updated in parallel together with an HC potential value. Trap filling terminates when excess HC is depleted or a spill point is reached.

Basin modeling/simulation, also known as petroleum system modeling/simulation, tracks the evolution of a sedimentary basin and its fluid content over geologic time scales of hundreds of millions of years by digitizing basin models and simulating interrelated processes associated with a basin. In recent years, it has become an important tool for the exploration geoscientists to predict types and presence of hydrocarbon (HC) fluids and to assess geologic risk before drilling exploratory wells to retrieve the HC fluids. A basin simulator often includes numerical modules to compute: 1) back-stripping and compaction; 2) pressure calculation; 3) heat flow analysis and kinetics; 4) petroleum generation, adsorption, and expulsion; 5) HC fluid phase behavior; and 6) HC migration and entrapments. Recently, invasion percolation (IP) has become a popular method to model secondary HC migration. Current commercial releases of basin modeling software have an IP method implemented only for serial computation, which is sufficiently fast for basin models up to a threshold of a few million cells. However, this threshold is an undesirable limitation for large-scale basin simulations where a fine-grid modeling of HC migration is desired.

Parallel-processing of invasion percolation for large-scale, high-resolution simulation of secondary hydrocarbon migration


An optical signal is converted by a light-receiving element into a photoelectric current. The photoelectric current is converted by a preamplifier into a positive phase voltage and the opposite phase voltage. The peaks of the positive phase output and opposite phase output are sensed and held by a first and second peak sensing circuits. The median between the output of the second peak sensing circuit and the positive phase output of the preamplifier is determined by a first median output circuit. The median between the output of the first peak sensing circuit and the opposite phase output of the preamplifier is determined by a second median output circuit. A level comparison circuit compares the outputs of the first and second median output circuits and produces a signal voltage with a constant amplitude within a specific input voltage range, thereby producing a reception signal. This helps alleviate duty fluctuations and the deterioration of the reception sensitivity resulting from the dark current of the light-receiving element or fluctuations in the output offset voltage of the preamplifier.

This invention relates to a burst compatible digital signal receiver circuit used in the field of optical communications, including optical subscriber systems, optical LANs, and optical interconnections.
Two-mode differential transfer impedance amplifiers have been used as the automatic threshold control (ATC) circuit in a conventional burst signal compatible digital signal receiver circuit. The configuration and operation of the two-mode differential transfer impedance amplifier has been disclosed concretely in U.S. Pat. No. 5,025,456.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram of the two-mode differential transfer impedance amplifier. The amplifier comprises a photodiode (light-receiving element) PD, a differential input/output amplifier OP, a peak sensing circuit PDC, and feedback resistors Rf1 and Ff2.
The optical signal Pin projected on the photodiode PD is converted into photoelectric current, which is supplied to the (+) input terminal of the differential input/output amplifier OP. The differential input/output amplifier OP amplifies the level difference between the photoelectric current Iin from the photodiode PD and the threshold value supplied to the (-) input terminal. The inverting output of the amplifier is fed back to the (+) input terminal of the amplifier OP via the feedback resistor Rf1. The noninverting output is supplied to the peak sensing circuit PDC.
The peak sensing circuit PDC senses the peak of the noninverting output of the amplifier OP. The sense output is supplied as the threshold value to the (-) input terminal of the amplifier OP via the feedback resistor Rf2.
Namely, the two-mode differential transfer impedance amplifier outputs such a waveform as always has the output voltage in the middle of the pulse width when there is no signal input, by making the transfer impedance of each of the second and later bits in the burst signal twice as large as that of the first bit in the burst signal.
The aforementioned burst signal compatible digital signal receiver circuit, however, has the following problem: because the operating point of the preamplifier fluctuates as a result of fluctuations in the dark current of the light-receiving element or fluctuations in the output offset voltage of the preamplifier, the duty and reception sensitivity of the identification circuit with a fixed threshold value deteriorate.
There has been another problem: when the marking rate of the input signal has fluctuated, or when the same symbols have continued, the output of the peak sensing circuit PDC fluctuates, resulting in the deterioration of the duty and reception sensitivity.


A user input device including a ring-shaped scroll wheel for use with a computing device is provided. The user input device includes a housing and a scroll wheel assembly coupled to the housing. The scroll wheel assembly includes a scroll wheel having a ring-shaped body and a scroll wheel support structure. The body of the scroll wheel may include a surface including an outer circumferential surface and an inner circumferential surface that bounds a hollow interior. The scroll wheel may be configured to extend through an opening of the housing. The scroll wheel support structure may include a frame and a plurality of supports mounted to the frame and contacting the surface of the scroll wheel. The plurality of supports may be configured to rotatably secure the scroll wheel to the scroll wheel support structure.

A scroll wheel may be provided on a computer mouse to enable the user to enter a scrolling input, which may be used in application programs, for example, to scroll through documents. Prior scroll wheels are generally solid circular wheels with a hub positioned at the center. These prior scroll wheels are rotatably mounted to a mouse body by an axle extending through a center hub of the scroll wheel. The center hub, axle, and associated support structure for the scroll wheel occupy valuable space inside the mouse, and their shape are accommodated by the mouse body, resulting in a relatively standardized appearance, including height profile, among many prior computer mouse designs.

User input device with ring-shaped scroll wheel


A current-collecting composite plate for a fuel cell configured with unit cells according to the present invention, which comprises: an insulator layer; and a plurality of pairs of conductor layers, the conductor layers being bonded to the insulator layer to be spaced apart from each other by a predetermined distance, each pair being used for adjacently disposed anode and cathode electrodes for a different one of the unit cells by sandwiching an electrolyte assembly therebetween. And, each conductor layer includes: a first conductor layer of a corrosion resistant metal treated with an electrically conductive surface treatment; a second conductor layer of a metal with low electrical resistivity; a through-hole penetrating the first conductor layer and the insulator layer; and a connecting portion formed of the second conductor layer for connecting the unit cells.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to current-collecting thin composite plates for fabricating compact fuel cell stacks and to fuel cells fabricated using such a composite plate. In particular, the present invention relates to current-collecting composite plates for fuel cells with excellent corrosion resistance, excellent durability and low internal resistance and to fuel cells with a high power generation efficiency fabricated using such a composite plate.
2. Description of Related Art
Fuel cells have high conversion efficiency because they directly convert chemical energy into electrical energy. Also, they do not burn a fuel containing nitrogen (N), sulfur (S), etc. and therefore are environmentally friendly because they emit less air pollutants (such as NOx and SOx) Examples of such fuel cells include polymer electrolyte fuel cells (PEFCs), phosphoric acid fuel cells (PAFCs), molten carbonate fuel cells (MCFCs) and solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs). Among these, PEFCs are expected to be widely used in the future as power sources for automobiles, homes, mobile devices, uninterruptible power supply systems, etc.
FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration showing a mechanism of power generation in a fuel cell using methanol as a liquid fuel. This type of a fuel cell is called a direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC). As shown in FIG. 1, in a DMFC 71, a mixture of methanol fuel and water is supplied to a fuel electrode 72 where it produces hydrogen ions and carbon dioxide (CO2) gas with the aid of a catalyst. The hydrogen ions migrate through a polymer electrolyte membrane 73 to a counter electrode as an oxidant electrode. Then, on an air electrode (oxidant electrode) 74, electrons generated by the ionization, oxygen as an oxidant and the hydrogen ions react to produce water. These sequential reactions allow generation of electric power, whereby electrical energy can be taken out from the fuel cell.
The liquid fuel and air (oxidant gas) are each supplied to the corresponding electrode via a passage comprising a channel which allows the respective substances to pass through. These passages also function to vent water and gases generated during power generation.
FIG. 2 is a schematic illustration showing a cross-sectional view of a conventional DMFC unit cell 81. It includes: an MEA 82 (comprising: a solid polymer electrolyte membrane 84; a fuel electrode 83 provided on one surface of the membrane 84; and an air electrode (oxidant electrode) 85 provided on the other surface of the membrane 84); a metal bipolar plate 87 facing the fuel electrode 83 of the MEA 82 and having multiple fuel passage conduits 86 on the side facing the MEA 82; a metal bipolar plate 89 facing the air electrode 85 of the MEA 82 and having multiple air (oxidant gas) passage conduits 88 on the side facing the MEA 82; and a gasket 90 provided between the bipolar plates 87 and 89 for sealing the perimeter of the MEA 82. Typically, a plurality of such fuel cells 81 are stacked in order to increase the power output. A bipolar plate is sometimes also called a "separator".
FIG. 3 is a schematic illustration showing a stack structure of a conventional fuel cell 91 using current-collecting plates (bipolar plates) 92. In the conventional fuel cell 91, the fuel electrode (i.e., anode, shown as "−" in FIG. 3) and the air electrode (i.e., cathode, shown as "+" in FIG. 3) are disposed alternately, i.e., in series.
DMFCs are expected to be used for compact sized mobile devices, which use a secondary battery at present, because it can take out electrical energy by using methanol as a liquid fuel, and it has been practically used in some areas. On the other hand, recently, PEFC using hydrogen gas as a fuel has been intensively investigated to be used for automobiles. In the PEFC, to supply hydrogen gas, a reformer is used to produce hydrogen containing gas from, e.g., methanol or natural gas.
In contrast, the DMFC has a possibility that its cell system can be considerably downsized because it is capable of taking out hydrogen ions directly from methanol. However, since the DMFC has a lower output density than the PEFC using hydrogen gas as a fuel, the application of DMFC is limited to devices with low electric power consumption at present. In the DMFC, other liquid fuels than methanol such as dimethylether can be used, and the practical use of each liquid fuel has been studied (see, e.g., JP-A-2002-175817).
The above JP-A-2002-175817 discloses a fuel cell of DMFC that a passage is formed to exhaust carbon dioxide (CO2) gas produced during the power generation on its fuel electrode side so that an equipment for gas-liquid separation becomes unnecessary, whereby the DMFC system can be simplified and be downsized. However, turning again to FIG. 3, the fuel cell stack 91 as a conventional fuel cell has a disadvantage in that the fuel and oxidant need to be separately supplied to respective ones of adjacent unit cells (respective opposite surfaces of a bipolar plate) to prevent mixing of the two fluids, thereby potentially making the configuration of the fuel and oxidant supply and exhaust lines more complicated.
JP-A-2006-31963 discloses a membrane-electrode-assembly (MEA) module and a fuel cell aimed at downsizing a DMFC and simplifying a DMFC system. FIG. 4 is a schematic illustration showing a perspective view in which a conventional compact fuel cell is being assembled in a portable terminal; FIG. 5 is a schematic illustration showing a cross-sectional view of a structure of the conventional compact fuel cell shown in FIG. 4; and FIG. 6 is a schematic illustration showing an expanded perspective view of the conventional compact fuel cell shown in FIG. 4. As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, in the MEA module 111, a current-collecting plate 113 with a film is folded around supporting rods 112 provided along valley lines v to tightly sandwich the MEAs between adjacent portions of the plate 113.
Such an MEA module is accommodated in a casing 115 having a fuel tank 114 to assemble a fuel cell 101 (shown in FIG. 5), which is then incorporated into a portable terminal P as shown in FIG. 4. The above JP-A-2006-31963 says that the MEA module may be applicable not only to DMFCs but also to PEFCs.
However, the technologies of the compact fuel cell described above do not offer a solution concerning corrosion resistance, durability; and internal resistance of the current-collecting plate. In the fuel cell stack 91 shown in FIG. 3, the current-collecting plate 92 is called the "bipolar plate", which functions to collect and carry current as well as functioning to separate the flowing of the fuel and oxidant gases along respective opposite surfaces thereof. Materials usable in such current-collecting plates 92 (bipolar plates) are being extensively studied for PEFC and DMFC applications.
For example, there is a proposed technique in which a base of dense carbon or stainless steel is plated with a 0.01 to 0.06 μm thick noble metal (e.g., JP-A-2001-93538). Also, another technique is described in which a cladding material of a corrosion resistant Ti-based metal is further covered with a contact layer having good electrical conductivity and good corrosion resistance (e.g., JP-A-2004-158437).
Generally, a fuel cell using a bipolar plate (current-collecting plate) formed of a SUS without surface treatment has a problem because constituent metals of the SUS can dissolve into the ambient environment and degrade the properties of the catalysts and electrode membrane of the fuel cell, thereby resulting in an extremely shortened service life. Also, when a SUS or a Ti-based cladding material is used for a fuel cell bipolar plate, the surface oxide film formed on such a metallic material can increase the electrical contact resistance and therefore increase the internal resistance of the fuel cell. As a result, some sort of electrically conductive surface treatment is needed.
In order to obtain a thin and compact fuel cell stack, the material used for the current-collecting plate is practically limited to metallic materials. Thus, the fuel cell stack 101 as shown in FIG. 4 also has similar problems of what core metal to employ and what optimum surface treatment to apply. On the other hand, the current-collecting plate 113 of the fuel cell stack 101 is configured so that the multiple unit cells are interconnected by surface wiring lines. Thus, the current-collecting plate 113 using a corrosion resistant metallic core (such as Ti and SUS) treated with an electrically conductive surface treatment still has a problem since the corrosion resistant metallic core has a relatively high electrical resistivity, and thereby the internal resistance of the plate 113 is prone to increase with increasing the current path length.

Current-collecting composite plate for fuel cell and fuel cell fabricated using same