A multi-layer ceramic capacitor has a laminate of dielectric layers and internal electrode layers laminated alternately with one another, as well as cover layers formed as the outermost layers at the top and bottom of the laminate in the laminating direction, wherein the dielectric layers are constituted by a sintered compact containing a barium titanate and a silicon compound, and a fresnoite phase having an average grain size of 1 μm or less is present in the dielectric layers.

The demand for smaller electronic components has been strong in recent years in response to the development of more densely mounted electronic circuits for use in mobile phones and other digital electronic devices, and consequently multi-layer ceramic capacitors that constitute these circuits are rapidly becoming smaller in size and larger in capacity.
The capacity of a multi-layer ceramic capacitor is directly proportional to the dielectric constant of the material used for the dielectric layers constituting the capacitor and also to the number of dielectric layers, and inversely proportional to the thickness of one dielectric layer. This means that, to meet the demand for smaller size, the dielectric constant of the material must be raised, thickness of the dielectric layer reduced, and number of dielectric layers increased.
To meet the aforementioned demand for smaller size (such as reducing the thickness of the dielectric layer to 3 μm or less) and larger capacity, attempts have been made to improve the dielectric constant of the dielectric porcelain composition that constitutes the dielectric layers of the multi-layer ceramic capacitor.
Ways to improve the dielectric constant include to bake the materials for secondary constituents beforehand and then add the baked powders to the material for the primary constituent to increase the dispersibility of secondary constituents, as well as to add secondary constituents as individual oxides and then adjust them to specified compositions to achieve a higher dielectric constant (Patent Literatures 1 and 2).
However, these approaches, although leading to a higher dielectric constant, present problems such as causing other characteristics to drop, especially when the composition ratios of secondary constituents are changed for the purpose of improving the dielectric constant. Accordingly, the method of producing desired segregation and thus controlling the solid solution states of added elements is employed to improve the dielectric constant without causing other characteristics to drop.
To meet the demand for smaller size/larger capacity, a greater number of thinner layers must be laminated, as mentioned above, in addition to improving the dielectric constant. In Patent Literature 3, MgTiO3 is added to the dielectric layer-forming material to produce a segregation phase containing Mg and Si so as to improve the dielectric constant, as a way to improve the dielectric constant without causing other characteristics to drop.


There is provided a power semiconductor device including a contact formed in an active region, a trench gate extendedly formed from the first region into a first termination region and formed alternately with the contact, a first conductive well formed between the contact of the active region and the trench gate, a first conductive well extending portion formed in the first termination region and a part of a second termination region, and a first conductive field limiting ring formed in the second termination region and contacting the well extending portion.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a power semiconductor device and a method of manufacturing the same.
2. Description of the Related Art
An insulated gate bipolar transistor (IGBT) is a bipolar transistor of which a gate is formed of metal oxide silicon (MOS) and a p-type collector layer is formed on a rear surface thereof.
Since a related art power metal oxide silicon field effect transistor (MOSFET) was developed, MOSFETs have been used in fields requiring devices having high-speed switching characteristics.
However, since the MOSFET has structural limitations, a bipolar transistor, a thyristor, a gate turn-off thyristor (GTO), and the like have been used in fields requiring high voltage.
Since an IGBT has characteristics such as low forward loss and rapid switching speeds, the use of IGBTs has been expanded into applications in which a bipolar transistor, a metal oxide silicon field effect transistor (MOSFET), and the like cannot be used.
Describing an operating principle of the IGBT, when the IGBT device is turned on, a higher voltage is applied to an anode than to a cathode, and when a higher voltage than a threshold voltage of the device is applied to a gate electrode, a polarity of a surface of a p-type body region disposed below the gate electrode is inverted, and thus an n-type channel is formed.
Electronic current injected into a drift region through a channel induces an injection of hole current from a high-concentration p-type collector layer disposed below the IGBT device, similar to a base current of a bipolar transistor.
A conductivity modulation increasing conductivity in the drift region from tens of times to hundreds of times in response to the high concentration injection of minority carrier is generated.
Unlike the MOSFET, a resistance component is greatly reduced in the drift region due to the conductivity modulation, such that the IGBT may be applied to fields requiring very high voltage.
Current flowing in a cathode is divided into electronic current flowing through a channel and hole current flowing through a junction between a p-type body and an n-type drift region.
Unlike the MOSFET, in terms of a structure of a substrate, the IGBT has a pnp structure between an anode and a cathode, but does not have a diode embedded therein, such that separate diodes need to be connected to each other in an anti-parallel manner.
The IGBT has main characteristics, such as maintenance of blocking voltage, reduction in conduction loss, increase in switching speed, and the like.
With the increased magnitude in voltage required for the IGBT of the related art, there is a need to increase a durability of the device.
However, the reduction in conduction loss and the maintenance of blocking voltage have a tradeoff relationship with each other and the latch-up occurs due to the structure of the device, such that the device may be easily destructive.
That is, a need exists for a development of the IGBT capable of maintaining the blocking voltage, reducing the conduction loss, preventing the occurrence of latch-up.
The Related Art Document below relates to an insulated gate bipolar transistor (IGBT).
However, the invention disclosed in the Related Art Document below does not disclose a buried hole accumulation part as well as the reduction of conduction loss and the prevention of latch-up, and therefore is different from the present invention.
Further, the invention disclosed in the Related Art Document below does not disclose a buried hole accumulation part, and therefore is different from the present invention.

Power semiconductor device and method of manufacturing the same


An image forming apparatus includes: an electrophotographic photoreceptor including a conductive support and a photosensitive layer including an outermost surface layer capable of transporting a charge, the layer being farthest from the conductive support and containing a resin having a crosslinking structure; a charging unit that charges the electrophotographic photoreceptor; a first exposure unit that exposes the electrophotographic photoreceptor to form an electrostatic latent image on the electrophotographic photoreceptor charged; a developing unit that develop the electrostatic latent image with a toner to form a toner image; a transfer unit that transfer the toner image from the electrophotographic photoreceptor to a medium to be transferred; and a second exposure unit that uniformly expose the electrophotographic photoreceptor, the outermost surface layer absorbing exposure light of the second exposure unit and having a maximum absorbance of about 0.05 or less in the entire wavelength range of the exposure light.

(i) Technical Field
The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus to carry out image formation by electrophotographic process including charging, exposing, developing and transferring, and also relates to a process cartridge.
(ii) Related Art
An image forming apparatus of an electrophotographic system generally has constitution and processes as shown below. In the first place, the surface of an electrophotographic photoreceptor (hereinafter sometimes referred to as merely "a photoreceptor") is uniformly charged to a polarity and potential by a charging unit, and then charges on the surface of the photoreceptor after charging are selectively removed by image exposure to thereby form an electrostatic latent image. Subsequently, toner is adhered to the electrostatic latent image to thereby develop the latent image as a toner image by a developing unit, and the toner image is transferred to a medium to be transferred by a transfer unit, and an image formed is discharged.
From advantages that high speed and high quality of printing can be obtained, electrophotographic photoreceptors are widely used in the fields of duplicators and laser beam printers in recent years. As photoreceptors used in these image forming apparatus, organic photoreceptors using organic photoconductive materials inexpensive and having excellent advantages in productivity and discarding are accounting for main streams as compared with photoreceptors using existing inorganic photoconductive materials such as selenium, selenium-tellurium alloy, selenium-arsenic alloy, cadmium sulfide, etc.
As a charging unit of photoreceptors, a corona charging system using corona dischargers has been used. However, in recent years, a contact charging system having advantages such as low ozone and low power has been put to practical use and widely used.
The contact charging system is a system to charge the surface of a photoreceptor by contacting or extremely approaching a conductive charging member as a member for charging to the surface of the photoreceptor, and applying voltage to the charging member. As a method of applying voltage to the charging member, there are a direct current system of applying direct voltage alone, and an alternating current superimposing system of applying alternating voltage to direct voltage by superimposition. However, this contact charging system has advantages that the apparatus can be miniaturized and harmful gas, e.g., ozone, is hardly generated on one hand, deterioration and abrasion of a photoreceptor are liable to occur by direct electric discharge on the surface of the photoreceptor. Further, in the contact charging system, various foreign matters in the image forming apparatus (e.g., metal powders and carrier lumps) are liable to pierce through the photoreceptor or damage the photoreceptor. As a result, when the photoreceptor is repeatedly used for a long period of time, a high electric field is locally applied to the defect part of the photoreceptor as above at contact charging time and electrical pinhole (pinhole leak) is caused, so that a generation of image defect is liable to occur. Further, as a result of the increment of abrasion of the photoreceptor by contact charging, pinhole leak is liable to be accelerated.
Further, in recent years, for obtaining an image of high image quality, the so-called polymerization toners inclining toward spherical as compared with the shapes of pulverized toners have been often used, but as toners approach a spherical shape, the toners are liable to pass through blade cleaner in the removal of toner, so that it is necessary to closely press the blade cleaner against photoreceptor, which is also the cause of acceleration of abrasion of photoreceptors.
As transfer systems, a system of transferring a toner image directly on paper has been a main stream, but since the degree of freedom of the media to be transferred widens, a system of performing transfer with an intermediate transfer medium is extensively used. However, when an intermediate transfer medium is used, similarly to the above case of using a contact charging system, damaging the photoreceptor is liable to occur. For example, various foreign matters present in the image forming apparatus (e.g., metal powders and carrier lumps) get in between the intermediate transfer medium and the photoreceptor or pierce through the photoreceptor. As a result, when the photoreceptor is repeatedly used for a long period of time, pinhole leak as above is caused, so that a generation of image defect is liable to arise.
Concerning the above issues, it is proposed to provide a protective layer on the surface of an electrophotographic photoreceptor to heighten the mechanical strength.
Since an electrophotographic photoreceptor provided with a crosslinked resin layer, as a protective layer, having an charge transporting property has high strength and a rectifying property, blurring of image is restrained and stable images can be obtained for a long period of time, on the other hand a charge transporting property is controlled by the polar groups at crosslinking terminals, so that residual potential is liable to occur, and the thickness of the protective layer of about 2 to 3 μm is generally used. However, with the thickness of from 2 to 3 μm, duration of life can be lengthened as compared with existing electrophotographic photoreceptors not having a protective layer, but it is not said to be sufficient, and thickening of the protective layer is desired for further lengthening duration of life.
On the other hand, thickening of the protective layer results in the increase of residual potential in the photoreceptor. Since charge is accumulated in the photoreceptor and the accumulated quantity is different between the image exposed area and the unexposed area, the residual potential causes unevenness in electrostatic charge between the image exposed area and the unexposed area at the time of charging in the next cycle, as a result the so-called image ghost, that is, a phenomenon that the previous image pattern remains in the next image pattern, is liable to occur. This phenomenon is liable to occur as the thickness of the surface layer increases, in particular very liable to occur when the thickness is 2 μm or more. Further, in the case of color process using a plurality of toners different in colors, electric field of transfer differs according to the thickness of a toner layer, what is called transfer ghost due to image pattern in transfer is liable to occur, and this is an especially serious issue in obtaining high quality color images.
Further, in recent years, the so-called polymerization toners having a uniform particle size have been used for achieving higher image quality. However, the shapes of polymerization toners are approaching spherical as compared with pulverized toners, and in many cases it is necessary to heighten the electric field of transfer as compared with pulverized toners, so that transfer ghost is liable to occur still more. Further, toners nearer to spherical are small in rolling resistance and easily pass through cleaning members such as cleaning blades, so that cleaning failure is liable to be generated. In many cases the pressure of pressing of cleaning blades is set high as compared with the case of pulverized toners for preventing passing through, but as described above, when the blades are closely pressed against the electrophotographic photoreceptor, the friction with the photoreceptor increases, which accelerates abrasion of the photoreceptor and duration of life is liable to shorten.

Image forming apparatus and process cartridge


A device for fracturing calcifications in heart valves includes a stabilizer and an impactor movable towards each other. The impactor includes one or more impactor arms, each of which extends distally from a proximal cap. The impactor further includes one or more lever arms each of which is distally coupled to a lever cap and proximally coupled to a corresponding one of the one or more impactor arms. The lever cap slides on a shaft which extends towards the proximal cap. Proximal movement of the lever cap towards the proximal cap causes the one or more lever arms to deform and to push against the one or more impactor arms and to cause the one or more impactor arms to deform.

PCT Patent Applications PCT/US2010/058810 and PCT/US2012/067812, assigned to the present assignee, describe devices for fracturing calcifications in heart valves. The device includes a catheter that has an expandable stabilizer, an impactor shaft and an internal shaft, all disposed in an external shaft. Expandable impactor arms are mounted on the impactor shaft. The internal shaft is movable to cause the impactor arms to expand outwards and be locked in an expanded shape. An impacting element is movable to cause the impactor arms, while in the expanded shape, to move towards the tissue with sufficient energy so as to fracture a calcification located in tissue which is fixed by the stabilizer in a certain position vis-à-vis the impactor arms. The internal shaft may be lockable relative to the impactor shaft so that the impactor arms are fixed.
A brief description of using these prior art devices is as follows. The catheter may be delivered over a guide-wire through a blood vessel, such as the peripheral artery, using a retrograde approach, through the aortic arch and into the ascending aorta, just above the aortic valve. The external shaft is retracted so that the expandable stabilizer expands and opens up. The stabilizer is used to guide, position and anchor the catheter distal part in the sinuses, just above the valve leaflets. An impactor shaft, including folded impactor arms, is then pushed forward (distally) through the center of the valve into the left ventricle. When pushed forward the impactor arms are folded so that they can easily cross the valve. The internal shaft is then pulled proximally to cause the impactor arms to open (expand) outwards sideways and lock them in the expanded shape. The impactor and internal shafts are manipulated so that the leaflets are "sandwiched" between the stabilizer (which may make contact with the leaflets from the aortic aspect) and the impactor arms (which may make contact with the leaflets from the ventricular aspect, or vice versa). In order to fracture leaflet calcifications, the impactor arms are pulled abruptly towards the leaflet tissue to impact the calcification, with the stabilizer serving as an anvil.

Impactor and stabilizer for fracturing calcifications in heart valves


An organic micro-cavity lasers which can reduce an optical loss and derive the lasing by the electrical pumping is disclosed. The laser of the present invention has a bottom mirror layer formed on a substrate, a bottom electrode formed on the bottom mirror layer, an active layer formed on the bottom electrode, a top electrode formed on a peripheral portion of the active layer and a top mirror layer formed on the active layer except the peripheral portion. Therefore, the laser of the present invention can greatly reduce the optical loss since it has the bottom mirror layer, the active layer and the top mirror layer. Also, the injection of current can sufficiently accomplished because the top electrode having a ring shape is formed at the peripheral portion of the active layer so as to inject the current to the active layer.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an organic micro-cavity laser, and more particularly to an organic micro-cavity laser comprising an active layer made of an organic material.
2. Prior Art of the Invention
An organic laser diode having an active layer composed of an organic material is generally superior to the conventional semiconductor laser diode because the organic laser diode does not have disadvantage such as a lattice mismatching during the epitaxial growth of the semiconductor laser diode. Also, the organic laser diode can be manufactured by a simple process. Furthermore, since the organic laser diode can accomplish the lasing of all the visible lights according to the synthetic process of the organic material as an active layer, the intensive researches for the organic laser diode have been accomplished to utilize as the next generation visible laser diode.
FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view for showing the conventional optical pumping organic micro-cavity laser.
Referring to FIG. 1, the conventional organic micro-cavity laser comprises a bottom mirror layer 102 formed on a substrate 101, an active layer 103 formed on the bottom mirror layer 104 and a top mirror layer 104 formed on the active layer 103. In the conventional organic micro-cavity laser, those layers 102, 103, 104 are vertically piled up so as to accomplish the lasing characteristic by the optical pumping.
The heat is generated in the organic material during the operation of the laser since the electrical conductivity of the organic material is lower than that of the semiconductor. The lasing characteristic of the organic laser may fatally deteriorate by the generated heat. Thus, the configuration as shown in FIG. 1 cannot be applied to an electrical pumped laser diodes which implements the lasing by not the optical pumping but the electrical pumping. However, it has not been developed that the mirror layer composed of an organic material having good electrical conductivity which is suitable for the organic micro-cavity laser. Therefore, the electrical pumping micro-cavity laser has the configuration as shown in FIG. 2. That is, the electrical pumping micro-cavity laser comprises a bottom mirror layer 202 formed on a substrate 201, a transparent bottom electrode 203 formed on the bottom mirror laser 202, an active layer 204 made of an organic material and formed on the bottom electrode 203 and a top electrode 205 formed on the active layer 205. The conventional electrical pumping micro-cavity laser, however, cannot sufficiently reduce the optical loss because the conventional electrical pumping laser does not have a top mirror layer. Also, the conventional electrical pumping micro-cavity laser cannot have good lasing characteristic since the cavity does not have good electrical property.
Considering the above-mentioned problems, it is an object of the present invention to provide an organic micro-cavity having a top mirror layer and an active layer which can efficiently implement current injecting to the active layer so as to minimize the optical loss in a cavity.
To achieve the object of the present invention, there is provided an organic micro-cavity laser comprising a bottom mirror layer formed on a substrate, a bottom electrode formed on the bottom mirror layer, an active layer formed on the bottom electrode, a top electrode having a ring shape formed on a peripheral portion of the active layer and a top mirror layer formed on the active layer except the peripheral portion of the active layer.
Preferably, the bottom and the top mirror layers respectively have multi layer structures composed of distributed Bragg reflectors and the bottom and the top mirror layers are composed of an organic material such as SiOx/TiOx or SiOx/MgOx.
The bottom and the top mirror layers have thickness of xcex/4n wherein xcex means a wavelength and n represents a reflective index.
An uppermost layer of the bottom mirror layer and the bottom electrode have thicknesses of xcex4n, respectively, or thickness of the uppermost layer of the bottom mirror layer and the bottom electrode have a xcex/4n thickness.
The bottom electrode is composed of an indium tin oxide.
The active layer is preferably made of an organic material consisted of a single molecule or a polymer.
According to one preferred embodiment of the present invention, the active layer is a luminescent layer of single layer.
As for another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the active layer comprises a hole transport layer, a luminescent layer formed on the hole transport layer and an electron transport layer formed on the luminescent layer. As for another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the active layer can comprise a first barrier layer formed on the hole transport layer, a luminescent layer formed on the first barrier layer, and a second barrier layer formed on the luminescent layer. At that time, the active layer has a single well structure and the first and the second barrier layers are composed of materials having band gaps larger than a band gap of the luminescent layer.
According to still another embodiment of the present invention, the active layer comprises a hole transport layer, a plurality of barrier layers formed on the hole transport layer, a plurality of luminescent layers respectively formed between the barrier layers and an electron transport layer formed on an uppermost layer of the barrier layers. In this case, the active. layer has a multi well structure.
Preferably, the top electrode is composed of one metal selected from the group consisting of aluminum, calcium, lithium, magnesium and an alloy of those metals and the top electrode has a ring shape.
Therefore, the organic micro-cavity laser of the present invention can greatly reduce the optical loss in the cavity since the laser has the bottom mirror layer, the active layer and the top mirror layer. In addition, the injection of current can be sufficiently accomplished because the top electrode having the ring shape is formed at the peripheral portion of the active layer so as to inject the current to the active layer. Also the organic micro-cavity laser can be lased by the electrical pumping.

Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute


A method executed in a first radio base station located in a first cell is provided for acquiring scheduling information associated with a second radio base station located in a neighboring cell, where the method comprises listening, via an air interface, to scheduling information transmitted, via a downlink control channel, from the second radio base station; decoding the received scheduling information, and providing the decoded scheduling information to an uplink receiver and/or uplink scheduler associated with the radio base station, such that the uplink receiver and/or uplink scheduler will be able to enhance its performance on the basis of the received scheduling information. An arrangement for executing the suggested method is also provided.

In LTE (Long Term Evolution) system uplink transmission, intra-cell inter-UE (User Equipment) interference will not constitute the main limitation factor for cell average throughput, as well as for cell edge throughput, much thanks to the use of SC-FDMA (Single Carrier Frequency Division Multiple Access).
Accordingly, more and more advance receiver algorithms used for LTE uplink performance have been studied. One such algorithm which does not require any modification to neither the UEs, nor the 3GG specifications is referred to as turbo SIC receiver (Up Link Successive Interference Cancellation), which is to be applied for an UL (Uplink) data channel, such as e.g. PUSCH (Physical Uplink Shared Channel), aiming at removing the inter-cell interference impact on the uplink signals. More information on UL SIC can be found in paper "Turbo Receivers for Single User MIMO LTE-A Uplink" by Gilberto Berardinelli et al, Department of Electronic Systems, Allborg University, Denmark, 2009.
There are further prior art available which focus on improving uplink performance based on scheduling information associated with neighboring cells. Once scheduling information of a neighboring cell has been acquired, it can be used for improving the UL reception in three ways, namely 1) Acquire interference information of the strongest interfering sources and use UL SIC to mitigate these interferences. 2) Improve the accuracy of a noise and interference covariance matrix estimation for some commonly used receiver, such as e.g. a MMSE-IRC (Minimum Means Square Error Interference Rejection Combining) receiver, or 3) Improving the channel estimation accuracy, and hence improve the total receiver performance.
FIG. 1 is a simplified illustration of a communications network 100, configured as an LTE network comprising a core network 101, connected to a plurality of eNBs 102a,102b, serving a cell 103a, 103b, respectively, allowing UEs, here represented UE 104, connectivity via communication network 100. In addition, an Operations, Administrations and Maintenance (OAM) 103 is connected to the eNBs.
FIG. 2 is a simplified illustration of a signaling scheme, which illustrates how scheduling information can be distributed between two adjacent cells, such as the ones described in FIG. 1, in order to enable a cell 103b, here referred to as the first cell, to acquire scheduling information originating from a neighboring cell 103a, and use this information to reduce the interference caused by the scheduled UL transmission of the neighboring cell 103a. More specifically, a scheduling decision is made for the neighboring cell 103a, as indicated in step 1:1a, before the scheduling decision is provided to the first cell 103a via any type of arrangement, interconnecting the respective cells, or more specifically the RBSs (Radio Base Stations) or eNBs serving the respective cells.
In step 1:3a the neighboring cell prepares a scheduling command on the basis of the preceding scheduling decision, and in a subsequent step 1:4a the neighboring cell transmits the scheduling command to a UE 104 served by the neighboring cell 103a, which thereby may receive the scheduling command and use it when transmitting in the UL to the neighboring cell 103a, as well as to other adjacent cells, here represented by the first cell 103b, as indicated in a next step 1:5a. Since the first cell 103b is connected to the neighboring cell 103a via a fixed connection, the acquired scheduling decision may be used by the first cell 103b, such that it is taken into consideration when preparing for UL reception at the first cell 103b, as indicated in step 1:1b, executed in another step 1:2b.
In order to enable distribution of scheduling information to adjacent cells there are a number of different approaches available. According to one embodiment, which is based on intra-RBS (Radio Base Station), inter-cell communication, inter-cell information is exchanged via a vendor specific solution. Such an implementation could be executed by backboard, by use of inter process communication, or by communication between software blocks/unit, dependent on the implementation. When applying such a solution, a signal can be combined between different cells or different sectors at the same cell. High hardware requirements at each RBS site and on the total base band processing capacity, will introduce higher processing requirements for the base band processor capacity of the RBS, and hence also higher component and development costs. If the RF (Radio Frequency) system is located in different places for different cells, an optical fiber or any other solution for providing a high capacity transport channel will be required, and in most cases very costly for the operator. A solution supporting different sections in one cell will also require high costs due to the requirement of setting up a high capacity transport channel, e.g. via an optical fiber solution, arranged between the RF system and the RBS, or between different RBS sites.
According to another embodiment, a high-capacity, low delay connection is instead provided between each associated RBS and baseband scheduler. Such a solution will however result in high deployment requirements at rollout for the operator, due to the fact that the operator will need to provide for geographically separated points connected with e.g. optical fiber.
For most operators there will be no backhaul to exchange scheduling information between the RBSs using this type of arrangements, and as a consequence, features, such as UL SIC, as well as other alternative ways of trying to diminish interference which rely on scheduling information of neighboring cells will not be executable at all.

Method and arrangement for acquiring scheduling information


A method of forming a trench MOSFET device includes depositing an epitaxial layer over a substrate, both having the first conductivity type, the epitaxial layer having a lower majority carrier concentration than the substrate, forming a body region of a second conductivity type within an upper portion of the epitaxial layer, etching a trench extending into the epitaxial layer from an upper surface of the epitaxial layer, the trench extending to a greater depth from the upper surface of the epitaxial layer than the body region, forming a doped region of the first conductivity type between a bottom portion of the trench and substrate, the doped region having a majority carrier concentration that is lower than that of the substrate and higher than that of the epitaxial layer, wherein the doped region is diffused and spans 100% of the distance from the trench bottom portion to the substrate, forming an insulating layer lining at least a portion of the trench, forming a conductive region within the trench adjacent the insulating layer and forming a source region of said first conductivity type within an upper portion of the body region and adjacent the trench.

The present invention relates to trench MOSFET devices, and more particularly to trench MOSFET devices with improved on-resistance.
A trench MOSFET (metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistor) is a transistor in which the channel is formed vertically and the gate is formed in a trench extending between the source and drain. The trench, which is lined with a thin insulator layer such as an oxide layer and filled with a conductor such as polysilicon (i.e., polycrystalline silicon), allows less constricted current flow and thereby provides lower values of specific on-resistance. Examples of trench MOSFET transistors are disclosed, for example, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,072,266, 5,541,425, and 5,866,931, the disclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference.
As a specific example, FIG. 1 illustrates half of a hexagonally shaped trench MOSFET structure 21 disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,072,266. The structure includes an n+ substrate 23, upon which is grown a lightly doped n epitaxial layer 25 of a predetermined depth depi. Within the epitaxial layer 25, p body region 27 (p, p+) is provided. In the design shown, the p body region 27 is substantially planar (except in a central region) and typically lays a distance dmin below the top surface of the epitaxial layer. Another layer 28 (n+) overlying most of the p body region 27 serves as source for the device. A series of hexagonally shaped trenches 29 are provided in the epitaxial layer, opening toward the top and having a predetermined depth dtr. The trenches 29 are typically lined with oxide and filled with conductive polysilicon, forming the gate for the MOSFET device. The trenches 29 define cell regions 31 that are also hexagonally shaped in horizontal cross-section. Within the cell region 31, the p body region 27 rises to the top surface of the epitaxial layer and forms an exposed pattern 33 in a horizontal cross section at the top surface of the cell region 31. In the specific design illustrated, the p+ central portion of the p body region 27 extends to a depth dmax below the surface of the epitaxial layer that is greater than the trench depth dtr for the transistor cell so that breakdown voltage is away from the trench surface and into the bulk of the semiconductor material.
A typical MOSFET device includes numerous individual MOSFET cells that are fabricated in parallel within a single chip (i.e., a section of a semiconductor wafer). Hence, the chip shown in FIG. 1 contains numerous hexagonal-shaped cells 31 (portions of five of these cells are illustrated). Cell configurations other than hexagonal configurations are commonly used, including square-shaped configurations. In a design like that shown in FIG. 1, the substrate region 23 acts as a common drain contact for all of the individual MOSFET cells 31. Although not illustrated, all the sources for the MOSFET cells 31 are typically shorted together via a metal source contact that is disposed on top of the n+ source regions 28. An insulating region, such as borophosphosilicate glass (not shown) is typically placed between the polysilicon in the trenches 29 and the metal source contact to prevent the gate regions from being shorted with the source regions. Consequently, to make gate contact, the polysilicon within the trenches 29 is typically extended into a termination region beyond the MOSFET cells 31, where a metal gate contact is provided on the polysilicon. Since the polysilicon gate regions are interconnected with one another via the trenches, this arrangement provides a single gate contact for all the gate regions of the device. As a result of this scheme, even though the chip contains a matrix of individual transistor cells 31, these cells 31 behave as a single large transistor.
Demand persists for trench MOSFET devices having ever-lower on-resistance. One way to decrease on-resistance is to decrease the thickness of the epitaxial layer. As a result, the region of the epitaxial layer lying between the body region and the substrate (see numeral 25 in FIG. 1) is reduced in thickness. Since this region is of relatively high resistivity, the on-resistance of the device is reduced. However, as is known in the art, the risk of breakdown increases as the epitaxial layer becomes thinner, particularly in the termination region, which is more vulnerable to breakdown.

Method of making a trench MOSFET device with improved on-resistance


A medical device for manipulation of material in a tissue includes a sheath, an object engaging unit, and a flexible coupler. The object engaging unit has an operative end and a base. The flexible coupler includes a longitudinal axis and a distal portion; the distal portion is associated with the base of the object engaging unit and is bendable in an arc to various ranges. The flexible coupler confers lateral movement on the object engaging unit thereby permitting manipulation and/or retrieval of material lodged or disposed in heretofore often inaccessible tissue regions. The sheath has a longitudinal axis and a lumen. The object engaging unit is in a collapsed position when it is within the sheath lumen and an expanded position when it is extended beyond the sheath.

Medical devices can be used to manipulate material lodged or disposed in a body opening, cavity, tract, or tissue directly or through an endoscope. One such routinely used medical device has an object engaging unit such as a basket, and a coupler such as a cannula that is traditionally made from an inflexible material such as stainless steel. The coupler is disposed at the base of the object engaging unit and couples the object engaging unit to other components in the medical device. Typically, the object engaging unit and the coupler are moveable relative to an overlaying sheath, from a collapsed position within the sheath to an expanded position in which the object engaging unit and the coupler extend past the distal end of the sheath. In the expanded position, the object engaging unit can be positioned and is operable at least to manipulate material, such as kidney stones, in a tissue.
When the material is lodged or disposed in narrow and/or convoluted regions of tissue, it would be advantageous for the object engaging unit's lateral movement to be unlimited in order to enhance the chance of the material being engaged, captured or retrieved successfully. However, due to the inflexible coupler that is typically joined to an object engaging unit, the lateral flexing motion of the object engaging unit found in standard medical devices is limited. Because the standard object engaging unit cannot easily make discrete lateral movements which are independent in part from the whole coupler, any lateral movement of the object engaging unit per se requires generous operating space within a tissue or body opening. Such a limitation on the movement of an object engaging unit is detrimental to the object engaging unit's ability to operate successfully in narrow and/or convoluted configurations in a tissue or body opening.

Device for manipulating material in a tissue


A fog data agent for a connected car includes a connector configured to couple to an on-board diagnostic port of the connected car, a microprocessor, a wireless communication interface coupled to the microprocessor, a cellular communication interface coupled to the microprocessor, a data storage device coupled to the microprocessor, and logic configured to receive data from the on-board diagnostic port, analyzes the data in real-time, and establish a bi-directional communication channel with a remote server via at least one of the wireless communication interface and the cellular communication interface to transmit a subset of the analyzed data to the remote server in response to the data analysis.

Recent years have witnessed a significant increase of the data volume in many industries, including telecom, social networks, online retail, banking, airline, etc. Many companies, such as social networks and telecom, have been using the data they gather from customers and their connected devices to improve products, services, and marketing. The auto industry, however, has not had the frequent digital touch points with its consumers and falls far behind. Although many contemporary car models offer dashboard screens that allow drivers to manage various in-car functions through a digital interface, the current digital features are non-intuitive, costly, and hard to use, compared to a smartphone interface, for example. It is further observed that most automakers do not have the capability needed to create a content-focused business or maintain it with the speed and flexibility of a true digital provider.
Connected cars, which carry embedded mobile broadband chips and on-board computers, will generate and collect approximately twenty-five gigabytes of data every hour. That's equal to about a dozen HD movies and exceeds the storage capacity of most smartphones today. These data include a wide range of information about the car and its driver: routes, speed, fuel level, gas consumption, status of components and equipment, wear and tear on its components, road conditions, what the driver is listening to, which app the driver is using, what is the trip destination, etc. Vehicles today have about 40 microprocessors and dozens of sensors that collect telematics and driver behavior data, and that data can be analyzed in real-time to keep the vehicle's performance, efficiency, and safety in check. It also provides vital feedback for cities and states about traffic volume and roadway design.


Compounds of the formula ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1 AND R.sup.2 are as defined, useful in the treatment of asthma, rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, bronchitis, chronic obstructive airways diseases, psoriasis, allergic rhinitis, atopic dermatitis, shock, and other inflammatory diseases and for blocking the leucotriene D4 receptor, pharmaceutical compositions containing such compounds and methods of blocking leucotriene D4 receptors using such compositions.

The present invention relates to N-o-tolylsulfonylbenzamide compounds, pharmaceutical compositions comprising such compounds and the use of such compounds as antagonists of leukotriene D4. The compounds of this invention are useful in the treatment of inflammatory diseases.
It is known that arachidonic acid (AA) is metabolized in mammals by two distinct pathways. The metabolism of arachidonic acid by cyclooxygenase enzymes results in the production of prostaglandins and thromboxanes. The other pathway of AA metabolism involves lipoxygenase enzymes and results in the production of a number of oxidative products called leukotrienes. The latter are designated by the LT nomenclature system, and one of the most significant products of the lipoxygenase metabolic pathway is the leukotriene D4. Leukotrienes participate in inflammatory reactions, exhibit chemotactic activities, stimulate lysosomal enzyme release and act as important factors in the immediate hypersensitivity reaction. For example, LTD4 is a potent bronchoconstrictor of the human bronchi.
The biological activity of the leukotrienes indicates that a rational approach to drug therapy to prevent, remove or ameliorate the symptoms of asthma, rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, bronchitis, chronic obstructive airways disease, psoriasis, allergic rhinitis, atopic dermatitis, shock and other inflammatory diseases must focus on either blocking the release of mediators of these conditions or antagonizing their effects. Thus, compounds which inhibit the biological effects of the leukotrienes are considered to be of value in treating such conditions defined above.

Indole carbamates as leukotriene antagonists


Disclosed herein is a dunnage conversion machine for converting stock material to dunnage. The dunnage conversion machine includes a converting station and a drive mechanism positioned downstream of the converting station. The converting station includes a dunnage intake and a shaping member. The intake member includes an opening that constricts stock material as the stock material is pulled into and through the intake. The shaping member is positioned upstream of the intake member. The shaping member manipulates the path of the stock material in a way that causes the stock material to begin to bend or curl prior to being pulled into the intake. The drive mechanism receives the stock material and pulls the stock material over the shaping member.

In the context of paper-based protective packaging, paper sheet is crumpled to produce dunnage. Most commonly, this type of dunnage is created by running a generally continuous strip of paper into a dunnage conversion machine that converts a compact supply of stock material, such as a roll of paper or a fanfold stack of paper, into a lower density dunnage material. The supply of stock material, such as in the case of fanfold paper, is pulled into the conversion machine from a stack that is either continuously formed or formed with discrete section connected together. The continuous strip of crumpled sheet material may be cut into desired lengths to effectively fill void space within a container holding a product. The dunnage material may be produced on an as-needed basis for a packer.
A variety of different types of stock material are used to form the dunnage material. On method of converting stock material into less dense dunnage is by constricting the path of the stock material via a funnel or similar constricting device. Some traditional devices can cause degradation of stock material, such as tearing, as the path compresses the stock material along the constricted portion of the path.


An example of a charging apparatus includes a housing, a first movable member, and a second movable member. The first movable member is configured to be pressed down. The second movable member accommodates a charging terminal in the housing in a reference state, and when the first movable member has been pressed down, causes the charging terminal to protrude through an opening portion provided in the housing, so as to enter a terminal contact state. The first movable member and the second movable member are configured such that an amount of movement of the charging terminal during a period from the reference state to a predetermined intermediate state is smaller than the amount of movement during the same period in a case where the charging terminal moves from the reference state to the terminal contact state by an amount proportional to an amount of pressing down the first movable member.

Conventionally, there is a technique of, in a charging apparatus for charging a portable apparatus such as a portable device, causing a charging terminal to protrude in accordance with the mounting of the portable apparatus on the charging apparatus.
Conventionally, if the portable apparatus has been moved in a shifting manner, the charging terminal may become caught by the portable apparatus. This may make it difficult to mount the portable apparatus on the charging apparatus.
Therefore, the present application discloses a charging apparatus, a charging system, and a method of connecting a charging terminal that further facilitate the mounting of a portable apparatus.
(1)
An example of a charging apparatus according to the present specification charges a portable apparatus. The charging apparatus includes a housing, a first movable member, a charging terminal, and a second movable member.
The first movable member is configured such that at least a part of the first movable member protrudes to an outside of the housing through a first opening portion provided in the housing, and configured to be pressed down by mounting the portable apparatus on the housing. The second movable member is connected to the charging terminal, and accommodates the charging terminal in the housing in a reference state where the first movable member is not pressed down, and when the first movable member has been pressed down, causes the charging terminal to protrude to the outside of the housing through a second opening portion provided in the housing, so as to enter a terminal contact state where the charging terminal can come into contact with a charge-receiving terminal of the portable apparatus.
Here, the first movable member and the second movable member are configured such that an amount of movement of the charging terminal during a period from the reference state to a predetermined intermediate state is smaller than the amount of movement during the same period in a case where the charging terminal moves from the reference state to the terminal contact state by an amount proportional to an amount of pressing down the first movable member.
On the basis of the above configuration (1), during the period from the state where the first movable member is starting to be pressed down to the intermediate state, it is possible to make the amount of protrusion of the charging terminal smaller (than in the case where the amount of movement of the charging terminal is proportional to the amount of pressing down the first movable member). This makes it possible to reduce the possibility that the charging terminal becomes caught by the portable apparatus when the portable apparatus is mounted on the charging apparatus, thereby enabling a user to easily mount the portable apparatus on the charging apparatus.
(2)
The first movable member and the second movable member may be configured such that the amount of movement of the charging terminal per unit amount of pressing down the first movable member is larger in a predetermined second state where the amount of pressing down the first movable member from the reference state is relatively large, than in a predetermined first state where the amount of pressing down the first movable member from the reference state is relatively small.
On the basis of the above configuration (2), in the state where the first movable member is starting to be pressed down, the change in the amount of movement of the charging terminal is small, and in the state where the first movable member is deeply pressed down, the change in the amount of movement of the charging terminal is great. This makes it possible to reduce the possibility that the charging terminal becomes caught in the state where the first movable member is starting to be pressed down, and also possible to cause the charging terminal to protrude sufficiently. This enables the charging apparatus to certainly charge the portable apparatus.
(3)
At least one of the first movable member and the second movable member may be configured to be rotationally movable. In this case, the first movable member moves the second movable member by a first abutment part of the first movable member pressing a second abutment part of the second movable member, the first abutment portion being a portion of the first movable member that abuts the second movable member, the second abutment portion being a portion of the second movable member that abuts the first movable member. Further, the first movable member and the second movable member are configured such that an angular difference between a moving direction of the first abutment part and a moving direction of the second abutment part is smaller in the second state than in the first state.
On the basis of the above configuration (3), the configuration is such that the angular difference in the first state is greater than the angular difference in the second state. This makes it possible to make the change in the amount of movement of the charging terminal smaller in the state where the first movable member is starting to be pressed down, and possible to make the change in the amount of movement of the charging terminal greater in the state where the first movable member is further pressed down. Thus, it is possible to reduce the possibility that the charging terminal becomes caught. This also enables the charging apparatus to certainly charge the portable apparatus.
(4)
The first movable member may be rotatable about a predetermined first shaft. The second movable member may be rotatable about a second shaft generally parallel to the first shaft, In this case, the first movable member moves the second movable member by rotating about the first shaft while changing a position in the first movable member that abuts the second movable member and a direction in which the first movable member presses down the second movable member.
On the basis of the above configuration (4), the two movable members are rotatable so that the rotation of the first movable member causes the second movable member to rotate. This makes it possible to make the change in the amount of movement of the charging terminal smaller in the state where the first movable member is starting to be pressed down, and possible to make the change in the amount of movement of the charging terminal greater in the state where the first movable member is further pressed down. Thus, it is possible to reduce the possibility that the charging terminal becomes caught. This also enables the charging apparatus to certainly charge the portable apparatus.
(5)
The first movable member may include a press-down surface and a first abutment surface. The press-down surface protrudes through the first opening portion in the reference state, and comes into contact with the portable apparatus when the portable apparatus has been mounted on the housing. The first abutment surface is provided on the same side as the press-down surface with respect to the first shaft, and abuts the second movable member. In this case, the second movable member may include an abutment portion and a supporting portion. The abutment portion has at an end portion thereof a second abutment surface configured to abut the first abutment surface. The supporting portion is connected to the abutment portion at one end thereof, and supports the charging terminal at the other end.
On the basis of the above configuration (5), it is possible to easily achieve the above configuration (4).
(6)
The first movable member may be configured to be rotationally movable, and configured such that an amount of rotation of the first movable member per unit amount of pressing down the first movable member is larger in a predetermined second state where the amount of pressing down the first movable member from the reference state is relatively large, than in a predetermined first state where the amount of pressing down the first movable member from the reference state is relatively small.
On the basis of the above configuration (6), the amount of rotation of the first movable member is adjusted in accordance with the pressing down of the portable apparatus. This makes it possible to reduce the possibility that the charging terminal becomes caught.
(7)
The first movable member and the second movable member may be configured such that an amount of movement of the second movable member per unit amount of movement of the first movable member is larger in a predetermined second state where the amount of pressing down the first movable member from the reference state is relatively large, than in a predetermined first state where the amount of pressing down the first movable member from the reference state is relatively small.
On the basis of the above configuration (7), the amount of movement of the second movable member is adjusted in accordance with the movement of the first movable member. This makes it possible to reduce the possibility that the charging terminal becomes caught.
(8)
The charging apparatus may further include a biasing member configured to bias the second movable member so that the second movable member presses the first movable member so as to enter the reference state.
On the basis of the above configuration (8), it is possible to maintain the two movable members in the reference state with one biasing member. This makes it possible to simplify the structure of the charging apparatus.
(9)
The charging apparatus may further include a first biasing member and a second biasing member. The first biasing member biases the first movable member so as to enter the reference state. The second biasing member biases the second movable member so that the charging terminal is accommodated in the housing. In this case, the first movable member is away from the second movable member in the reference state, and moves the second movable member by abutting the second movable member in accordance with the pressing down of the first movable member by a predetermined amount or more.
On the basis of the above configuration (9), it is possible to prevent the first movable member and the second movable member from coming into contact with each other in the reference state. This makes it possible to prevent the charging terminal from moving until the first movable member is pressed down by a predetermined amount. Thus, it is possible to reduce the possibility that the charging terminal becomes caught.
(10)
The first movable member and the second movable member may be configured such that positions in the first movable member that abut the second movable member change discontinuously during a change from the reference state to the terminal contact state.
On the basis of the above configuration (10), it is possible to discontinuously change the proportion of the amount of movement of the charging terminal to the pressing down of the first movable member while the abutment positions change from the reference state to the terminal contact state. This makes it possible to reduce the possibility that the charging terminal becomes caught by the portable apparatus.
(11)
The charging apparatus may further include a rotating member provided such that at least a part of the rotating member protrudes to the outside of the housing through a third opening portion provided on a mounting surface on which the portable apparatus is mounted in the housing, the rotating member being rotatable in a predetermined direction.
On the basis of the above configuration (11), if the portable apparatus is shifted from a correct mounting position when the portable apparatus is connected to the charging apparatus, the rotation of the rotating member corrects the position of the portable apparatus, thereby mounting the portable apparatus. This enables the user to easily mount the portable apparatus at a correct position without accurately positioning the charging apparatus. This makes it possible to certainly charge the portable apparatus.
(12)
The rotating member may be composed of at least two rotating members. In this case, the first movable member may be provided so as to protrude through the first opening portion formed at a position between the two rotating members, and so as not to protrude beyond a line segment connecting extremity portions of the two rotating members.
On the basis of the above configuration (12), if holes corresponding to the rotating members are provided in the portable apparatus at positions corresponding to the rotating members, it is possible to prevent the first movable member from being pressed down by the portable apparatus 2 in the state where the rotating members are not inserted in the holes of the portable apparatus. This makes it possible to reduce the possibility that the charging terminal becomes caught.
(13)
The rotating member may be provided so as to protrude beyond the first movable member with respect to a predetermined reference plane.
On the basis of the above configuration (13), when the portable apparatus is mounted on the charging apparatus, the portable apparatus is likely to come into contact with the rotating member before with the first movable member. This makes it possible to reduce the possibility that the first movable member becomes pressed down in the state where the rotating member is not inserted in the hole of the portable apparatus 2. Thus, it is possible to further reduce the possibility that the charging terminal becomes caught.
It should be noted that on the basis of the above configurations (11) to (13), even if the amount of movement of the charging terminal is proportional to the amount of pressing down the first movable member, it is possible to achieve the effects of the configurations.
In addition, the present specification further discloses an example of a charging system including the charging apparatus and the portable apparatus, according to the above configurations (1) to (13).
It should be noted that in the charging system, the portable apparatus and the charging apparatus may be configured such that the portable apparatus does not move the first movable member in a state where a part of the rotating member is not inserted in the hole of the portable apparatus. This prevents the charging terminal from protruding in the state where the position of the charging terminal of the charging apparatus and the position of the charge-receiving terminal of the portable apparatus do not coincide with each other. This makes it possible to reduce the possibility that the charging terminal comes into contact with (becomes caught by) a portion other than the charge-receiving terminal of the portable apparatus. It should be noted that it is possible to obtain this effect even if the amount of movement of the charging terminal is proportional to the amount of pressing down the first movable member.
In addition, in the charging system, the first movable member and the second movable member may be configured such that the charging terminal is accommodated in the housing in a state where a part of the rotating member is not inserted in the hole of the portable apparatus. This prevents the charging terminal from protruding from the housing in the state where the position of the charging terminal of the charging apparatus and the position of the charge-receiving terminal of the portable apparatus do not coincide with each other. This makes it possible to reduce the possibility that the charging terminal comes into contact with (becomes caught by) a portion other than the charge-receiving terminal of the portable apparatus. It should be noted that it is possible to obtain this effect even if the amount of movement of the charging terminal is proportional to the amount of pressing down the first movable member.
In addition, the present specification discloses an example of a method of connecting a charging terminal of a charging apparatus for charging a portable apparatus to a charge-receiving terminal of the portable apparatus.
On the basis of the charging apparatus, the charging system, and the method of connecting charging terminals, it is possible to mount a portable apparatus on a charging apparatus more easily by reducing the possibility that the charging terminal becomes caught by the portable apparatus.
These and other objects, features, aspects and advantages of the exemplary embodiments will become more apparent from the following detailed description of the exemplary embodiments when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

Charging apparatus, charging system, and method of connecting charging terminal


A surface defect inspection device according to the present invention is provided with an average value calculating means in which an article corresponding to an object to be inspected having a multiplicity of substantially uniformly distributed standard particles deposited thereon is scanned in a main scanning direction as a defect inspection object, detection values of the standard particles at every detecting pixel are obtained based on detection signals obtained from an optical sensor at respective scanning positions while assuming the standard particles as being defects and average values of every detecting pixel with regard to the detection values obtained at the respective scanning positions are calculated, and a shading correction means in which detection values of every detecting pixel obtained when the object to be inspected is inspected are subjected to shading correction for every detecting pixel based on the calculated average values of every detecting pixel.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a surface defect inspection device and a shading correction method therefor, and, more specifically, relates to a method in which shading correction is performed for a line sensor in an extraneous substance detecting optical system in a semiconductor wafer extraneous substance inspection device, in which an extraneous substance is inspected by performing a main scanning on the wafer in the X axis (or Y axis) direction and a subscanning thereon in the Y axis (or X axis) direction, and an inspection device in which a surface defect is inspected after performing shading correction for the line sensor.
2. Background Art
The wafer extraneous substance inspection device, which is a surface defect inspection devices, includes two types: one is an XY scanning type in which a laser beam is irradiated over the surface of a wafer in the X and Y axis directions to scan the surface of the wafer, and the other is a rotary scanning type in which a wafer is rotated and a laser beam is irradiated over the surface of the rotating wafer to scan the surface of the wafer in a spiral or concentric circle shape.
In accordance with an improvement in integration degree for ICs, an improvement in inspection accuracy for a wafer recently has been demanded. Therefore, the wafer extraneous substance inspection device of the XY scanning type tends to be employed for the extraneous substance inspection. However, when the XY scanning type is employed as an in-line extraneous substance inspection device which is brought into a semiconductor manufacturing process to perform extraneous inspection, through-put for the inspection is reduced, and a problem arises that the device tends to be bulky.
As a countermeasure, which eliminates such drawbacks, improves the through-put of the inspection and reduces the size of the device, the present assignee has filed a U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/678,069 in which long and narrow inspection regions are set in the subscanning direction, a main scanning for on-going is performed in a single axial direction with a large scanning width, and another main scanning for returning is performed after turning a wafer by 180.degree..
However, when setting the long and narrow regions in the subscanning direction as explained above in order to improve the through-put in the inspection, CCD sensors covering, for example, about 1,000.about.10,000 pixels are needed for a line sensor (unidimensional image sensor). Moreover, when such long and narrow light receiving elements are used, light receiving sensitivities for respective unit pixels are different and shading (difference in detection level due to difference of detection pixels) is generated in extraneous substance detection signals which prevents a further accurate extraneous substance detection. In particular, in a case that the size of extraneous substances is determined depending on the level of the detection signals, the shading of the optical sensor is a significant problem.
In a conventional shading correction method for light receiving signals from respective pixels in a wafer extraneous substance inspection device using CCD sensors, a wafer having a predetermined standard particle (such as a projection at a predetermined position on a wafer is used as a standard particle) is moved in a main scanning direction to thereby move the predetermined standard particle along the arrangement direction of the CCD sensors and to detect the standard particle therewith. Thereafter, the shading correction is performed so that the detection outputs for the respective pixels assume the same output value. However, in the CCD sensor setting a long and narrow inspection region in the subscanning direction as mentioned above, the main scanning direction does not correspond to the movement of the CCD sensors along the pixel arrangement direction. Moreover, since movement in the subscanning direction which runs along the pixel arrangement direction is effected with a predetermined width, it is impossible to obtain accurate detection values for the respective pixels from the predetermined standard particle over the long distance along the arrangement direction of the CCD sensors.
As a result, since it is impossible to obtain shading correction values for respective detected pixels based on the detection values for the corresponding pixels as in the conventional manner, it is difficult to perform shading correction for the CCD sensors arranged in the subscanning direction in the above mentioned type of devices.

Surface defect inspection device and shading correction method therefor

Hitachi Electronics Engineering Co., Ltd.


An antihypertensive, antianginal, antiarrhythmic and antiglaucomic pharamaceutical preparation consists of an active principle, namely 3-methyl-5-[2-(3-tert.butylamino-2-hydroxypropoxy-phenoxymethyl]-1,2,4-oxa diazole hydrochloride of the following formula: ##STR1## and a pharmaceutically acceptable diluent.

Nowadays, .beta.-adrenoceptor blocking agents are in widespread use in therapy as medicinal agents for the most prevalent cardiovascular diseases such as arterial hypertension, heart ischemia, as well as for the treatment of arrhythmias.
However, despite quite a wide nomenclature of .beta.-adrenoceptor blocking compounds which are in use in medical practice, the search for novel .beta.-adrenoceptor blocking agents is still an actual problem. This is concerned with the fact that the majority of .beta.-adrenoceptor blocking compounds has some disadvantages (their short-term efficacy, inhibiting effect on heart function, ability of giving rise to a number of side-effects of the central nervous system and the like). Of particular interest is the search for novel biologically active compounds having both .beta.- and .alpha.-adrenolytic activities because the presence of .alpha.-adrenoblocking properties may favor the enhancement of their activity as hypotensive agents and the reduction of some disorders such as peripheral blood circulation failures (Raynaud's disease, Charcot's syndrome) which are associated with the indirect vasoconstrictive effect of .beta.-adrenoceptor blocking compounds.
Known in the art is .beta.-adrenoceptor blocking drug, namely propranolol used for prevention and treatment of heart ischemia, angina pectoris of effort, supraventricular arrhythmia, glaucoma and other cardiogenic or non-cardiogenic diseases. /Kay H. B., Angina pectoris, After nitrates and beta-blockers, what next?, Medical Progress, November , 1981 , 47-54; Mc Devitt D. G., Adrenoceptor blocking drugs: clinical pharmacology and therapeutic use, Drugs, 1979, 17, 267-288) .
Propranolol, however, is not suitable for arresting acute hypertensive crisis and has a low efficacy in heavy cases of hypertension, as well as in variable and labile angina pectoris and ominous ventricular arrhythmia. Propranolol may complicate the course of vasospastic cases of angina pectoris due to its indirect coronarocon-strictive effect.
Also known in the art is a medicinal agent, namely labetalol, specified by .beta.- and .alpha.-adrenoceptor blocking properties. /Louis W. J. , Mc. Neil J. J., Drummer O. H., Pharmacology of Combined .alpha.-, .beta.-blockade, Drugs, 1984, 28, suppl. 2,17-33/.
Labetalol, however, is only in use as antihypertensive agent and is not intended for application in heart ischemia, arrhythmias or glaucoma.
A pharmaceutical preparation of the invention with an antihypertensive, antianginal, antiarrhythmic and antiglaucomic effect is novel and it has not been described in literature.

Pharmaceutical preparation of antihypertensive, antianginal, antiarrhythmic and antiglaucomic action

ulitsa Ostrovityanova, 26, korpus 2, kv. 32

Verkhny Mikhailovsky proezd, 10, kv. 155


A peripheral hardware device may be provided for a computing system including a software operating system. The peripheral hardware device may include functional electronics configured to provide functionality for the peripheral hardware device. The peripheral hardware device may also include interface electronics configured to provide communication between the functional electronics and the software operating system, wherein the interface electronics are configured to provide both a virtual network interface and a virtual serial interface with the software operating system. Related computing systems are also discussed.

In the field of computing devices, functionalities previously implemented using general purpose computing systems are now being implemented using new peripheral hardware devices, also referred to as peripheral devices. Standards for connections between peripheral devices include the USB (Universal Serial Bus) standard, the Firewire standard, the PCI (Peripheral Connector Interface) standard, etc. An additional interface is discussed, for example, by P. H. W. Leong, et al., in "Pilchard—A Reconfigurable Computing Platform With Memory Slot Interface," 2001, IEEE, Symposium On Field-Programmable Custom Computing Machines (FCCM). The disclosure of the Leong et al. reference is hereby incorporated herein in its entirety by reference.
Most computing systems run using an operating system, such as a Windows operating system, a Linux operating system, a Unix operating system, an Apple/Macintosh operating system, etc. The different operating systems, however, cannot generally exchange device drivers and/or code that allow a peripheral hardware device to interact with the operating system. Moreover, even if a custom peripheral hardware device is provided with an appropriate device driver for a particular operating system, custom code may still be required within the operating system to allow interaction between the operating system and the peripheral hardware device.

Peripheral hardware devices providing multiple interfaces and related systems and methods

AT&T Delaware Intellectual Property Inc.


A method for forming an optical glass preform from a soot preform is provided. The method includes forming a soot preform, placing the soot preform in a furnace, and applying a vacuum through a centerline hole of the soot preform.

Soot preforms are commonly used in optical fiber manufacturing. The soot preforms may include a single segment, for example, a soot core preform. Alternatively, soot preforms may include two segments, where the first segment is an inner glass core cane, and the second segment is either a soot overclad deposited directly on the glass core cane, or a soot overclad sleeve that is sintered and collapsed on the glass core cane in, for example, a rod-in-soot process. Soot preforms may also include more than two soot segments. For example, a first segment may be a soot core, and additional segments may be soot overclad segments formed using soot-on-soot processes.
Making optical fiber glass preforms that are free of defects, and that can be readily processed, has conventionally been a time consuming process. Slow steps in the process include heating, drying, doping and sintering steps. Soot preforms, such as those described above, may be sintered very slowly in a furnace at approximately atmospheric pressure (for example, about 1.0 atmosphere pressure, absolute) in order to produce a consolidated glass preform that is free of seeds or bubbles. For example, temperature ramp rates during sintering may be less than about 10° C. per minute. While the sintering period can be reduced by using a high permeability sinter gas such as, but not limited to, helium (in contrast to low permeability gases such as, but not limited to, nitrogen, argon and oxygen), the sintering period remains relatively long because in order to ensure that void gas is not trapped in the consolidated glass preform.
As the soot preform is sintered, the pores transition from open pores to closed pores, and sintering rates must be reduced so that gas does not become trapped in the closed pores. Even after the pores have been closed, additional processing steps are often completed to diffuse gas out of the consolidated glass preform. Diffusion of the gas avoids the formation of gas seeds at high temperatures associated with drawing the consolidated glass preforms into optical fiber. Conventionally, diffusion of gas that is dissolved in the glass preform during sintering may be accomplished by placing consolidated glass preforms in holding ovens at temperatures ranging from about 800° C. to about 1,200° C. While the period in a holding oven for interstitial gas to diffuse out of the glass preform increases with increasing glass preform size, it is common for the glass preform to remain in the holding oven for more than about 1.0 hour, and in some instances, for as long as about 100 hours or more. For example, as discussed further below, it may take between about 4.0 hours and about 8.0 hours in a holding oven for interstitial gas to diffuse out of a glass preform having a mass of about 3,000 grams. As a further example, it may take greater than about 50 hours in a holding oven for interstitial gas to diffuse out of a glass preform having a mass of about 45 kilograms.
The combination of the time to perform steps in the making of optical fiber glass preforms results in very long processing times for the optical fiber preforms, which negatively impacts the cost of manufacturing optical fiber.

Method for reducing processing time for optical fiber preforms


A graft (1) which is in the form of an inflatable member adapted to be formed into a predetermined and/or selected shape when deployed in situ by filling with a filler material (6) which can be made rigid in situ and deployed on a balloon catheter (12). The deployment balloon (13) is formed from a non-compliant material.

Abdominal aortic aneurysms and problems in other body lumens have been treated by the use of stent grafts or prostheses of a variety of constructions, but due to their essentially rigid construction, even in a collapsed state, there are problems inserting such grafts into an aorta or other body lumen.


A residual-current circuit breaker includes switching contacts and at least one residual current detector configured to determine a residual current signal. The residual-current circuit breaker is configured to bring about an opening of the switching contacts upon the detection of a residual current greater than a pre-definable tripping current. A first circuit arrangement is configured to inhibit tripping of the residual-current circuit breaker when a residual current occurs that has a duration that is shorter than half a period of a grid frequency of an associated electrical grid.

Residual-current circuit breakers are designed and constructed to trip when a residual current of predefined magnitude occurs, and to separate a downstream sub-grid from an upstream power supply grid by opening breaker contacts, thereby protecting persons from dangerous body currents and equipment from fire. However, residual-current circuit breakers, the tripping conditions whereof depend solely on the magnitude or amplitude of an occurring residual current, have the disadvantage that these trip even with very briefly occurring currents greater than a tripping residual current of the pertinent residual-current circuit breaker, which do not constitute a hazard for persons or equipment, whereby downstream technical installations are unnecessarily disconnected. Not only can costs be thereby incurred due to reduced grid availability, but technical processes can also be compromised.
Residual-current circuit breakers with a so-called G-characteristic or F-characteristic provide considerable help with the aforementioned problem. Residual-current circuit breakers of this kind have brief time delays incorporated into their tripping processes, and only trip if the residual current in question exceeds a particular duration. It has been shown, however, that known types of such residual-current circuit breakers nevertheless trip when residual currents amounting to a half-wave in shape and duration, even though such residual current do not present any hazard whatsoever. Thus it still comes down to unnecessary grid disconnections, compromising technical processes and causing repair and maintenance expenses.


The present invention is directed to a portable stove. The portable stove comprises a body member which contains burners. The portable stove includes shelves which lock into place onto the body member during use and storage. A griddle having a heat dispersement plate is removably mounted to the body member above the burner. Legs are hingedly and slidingly attached to the body member. The legs may be folded to either a standing position or a carrying position. Accordingly, the shelves, griddle and legs may be secured to the stove during storage.

The present invention relates to portable cooking stoves. More particularly, the present invention relates to a portable stove which has wind resistant burners, attached folding legs, detachable shelves, and a heat dispersing griddle.
There are many types of portable cooking stoves on the market. However, some of the existing portable stoves lack durability, are difficult to use, lack wind resistant burners, do not create ideal cooking conditions or are otherwise defectively designed.
One prior art stove is the Dutro DB-60, made by Camp Chef of Logan, Utah. The apparatus is a portable stove having two low pressure burners which emit flames from orifices located on the burner top. Many existing burners are designed similarly, making them highly susceptible to being blown out by wind or breeze, especially when the heat is reduced to a suitable level for ordinary cooking. In order to effectively resist the effects of wind, the burner output must be increased to a level which creates too much heat for normal dutch oven or fry pan cooking. Finally, some existing burners do not adequately distribute heat. Such burners tend to centralize heat onto a cooking surface, creating hot spots which often result in burnt food.
The shelves on many existing portable cooking stoves are also undesirable. They are made from thin materials and do not support a substantial amount of weight. Likewise, the means for attaching those shelves to the stove frequently do not provide much support. Furthermore, attaching shelves to some existing portable stoves is often time consuming.
Third, the griddles designed for use on some existing portable cooking stoves do not properly distribute heat. Nor do the griddles of many existing stoves lock easily and securely into place. It is also difficult to remove hot griddles from many existing portable stoves.
Fourth, the folding legs of some existing portable cooking stoves are also problematic. Perhaps the greatest concern with the folding legs of some existing portable cooking stoves is their lack of stability when the stove is bumped or jarred. In addition, the folding legs of some existing portable cooking stoves are not easily locked securely into place when placed into either a standing position or a carrying position.
Fifth, in order to light many existing outdoor stoves, one must allow fuel to pass through the burner and then place a flame near the burner. Thus, lighting a burner is often difficult and potentially dangerous.
What is needed is an outdoor cooking stove that is easily and safely lit, directs the proper amount of heat onto a cooking surface, spreads the heat evenly onto the cooking surface, continues to operate in a wind or breeze, has sturdy shelves that readily lock securely into place, an easily attachable and detachable griddle which locks into place and which distributes heat evenly along its surface, and attached folding legs which lock into place in both standing and carrying positions.


A display device according to an example embodiment of the present invention includes a display panel configured to display an image, the display panel including a plurality of pixels, a chip on film (COF) coupled to the display panel, the COF comprising a driver, a plurality of COF wires and a plurality of COF pads, and a flexible printed circuit board (FPCB) coupled to the COF, the FPCB including a plurality of FPCB wires and a plurality of FPCB pads, wherein the plurality of COF pads are arranged in two rows, and wherein one or more COF pads of the plurality of COF pads in a first row of the two rows are one or more dummy pads.

1. Field
The present invention relates to a display device.
2. Description of the Related Art
A display device includes a liquid crystal display (LCD), an organic light emitting diode (OLED) display, and the like, and particularly, the organic light emitting diode (OLED) display includes a display substrate providing a display region and a non-display region, and a sealing substrate that faces the display substrate for encapsulation and attached to the substrate by a sealant such as an epoxy. A plurality of light emitting elements coupled in a matrix form between scan lines and data lines constitute pixels located at the display region of the display substrate. The scan lines and the data lines of the display region extend respectively from a scan driver and a data driver located at the non-display region, for processing signals provided from the outside through pads to provide the processed signals to the scan lines and the data lines. The scan driver and the data driver include a driving circuit for processing the signals provided from the outside to generate scan signals and data signals, and are formed in the course of manufacturing the light emitting element or manufactured as a separate integrated circuit chip to be mounted on the display substrate.
In the case where the scan driver and the data driver are manufactured in an integrated circuit chip to be mounted on the display substrate, a drive IC may be mounted on a chip on film (COF) to be coupled to the pad of the display substrate.
One side of the chip on film is coupled to the display substrate, and the other side is coupled to a flexible printed circuit board (FPCB).
The above information disclosed in this Background section is only for enhancement of understanding of the background of the embodiments and therefore it may contain information that does not form the prior art that is known to a person of ordinary skill in the art.


A communicator for field instruments connected to a transmission line for transmitting electric signals from the field instruments to a host instrument. The communicator operates on electric power fed from an external power supply over the transmission line. The external power supply is arranged in the transmission line. Electric current consumed by the transmission line is set to a constant value.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a communicator for field instruments which is connected to a transmission line which connects the field instruments to a host instrument in order to perform communication between the field instruments and the host instrument. The invention also relates to a method of supplying power to the communicator.
2. Description of the Related Art
Instruments known as field instruments have a great variety of sensors incorporated in them, and measure physical quantities, such as pressure, temperature, and flow rate in various plants. They transmit such physical measurements to a host instrument over a transmission line, after having converted the physical quantities into electric signals. The transmission of these electric signals has been standardized. The field instruments output analog current signals of 4-20 mA to the transmission line, and the host instrument receives the analog current signals. The analog signals are transmitted from the field instruments to the host instrument in a one-way communication.
Because of improvements in the technique of manufacturing semiconductor ICs, field instruments incorporating microprocessors have been developed and put into practical use in recent years. The field instrument performs two-way communication in digital signals, rather than one-way communication in analog signals as over the above-mentioned transmission line, and is capable of performing processes such as range setting and self-diagnosis of the field instrument even from a remote place. The field instrument also communicates with a communicator exclusively in digital signals, this communicator being connected to any place along the transmission line. A device of this type is disclosed, for example, in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 59-201535.
In the conventional example mentioned above, as a method of transmitting signals over the transmission line, digital signals are carried on analog signals for simultaneous communication. In addition to this method, there is a method in which analog signals are switched over to digital signals for communication. There is also a method in which communication is performed solely in digital signals.
In these conventional examples, the communicator has a built-in power supply such as a battery, and is constructed so as to operate all the built-in circuits on the electric power fed from the built-in power supply. For this reason, it is required to carry out maintenance, such as replacing or charging the built-in battery, after the built-in battery has been used for a predetermined period.
The above-described conventional art, however, does not take into consideration where the communicator is continuously used for a long period of time for trouble-shooting the field instrument or the like. In other words, there is a problem in that since the service time of the power supply incorporated in the communicator is limited, it is impossible to continuously monitor values, such as output values and internal status of the field instrument for prolonged periods.
Furthermore, the communicator is not always utilized in an instrument room, but may also be connected to any place along the transmission line for outdoor use. In such a case, when the capacity of the built-in power supply runs out during its service, the built-in power supply must be replaced or charged. This leads to a problem in that maintenance, such as replacing or charging the built-in power supply, becomes troublesome.

Communicator for field instruments and method for supplying power to this communicator


Current methodologies for color image halftoning produce prominent halftoning noise. Brightness variations between color dots placed at neighboring locations are a primary cause of color halftone noise. To correct this flaw, an Ink Relocation Postprocess to halftoning algorithms relocates ink drops between neighboring drop locations in order to reduce local brightness variations. Due to the intrinsic blurring side-effect of ink relocation, some enhancement may be desired. Two application-specific enhancement procedures are presented. In the first enhancement, ink relocation is suppressed in areas of fine detail. In the second enhancement, edge sharpening is performed after ink relocation.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to digital image processing and, more particularly, to processing color halftone images.
2. Description of the Related Art
Monochrome halftone algorithms are carefully designed to reduce visible artifacts. Current color halftoning algorithms are usually a Cartesian product of three halftoned monochrome planes corresponding to the color components of the image. See, for example, A. Zakhor, S. Lin and F. Eskafi, "A New Class of B/W and Color Halftoning Algorithms", International Conference on Acoustics, Speech and Signal Processing, 1991.
To produce a good color halftone one has to place colored dots so that the following specifications are optimally met:
(1) The placement pattern is visually unnoticeable. PA1 (2) The local average color is the desired color. PA1 (3) The colors used reduce the notice-ability of the pattern.
The first two design criteria are easily carried over from monochrome algorithms. However, the third cannot be satisfied by a simple Cartesian product generalization of monochrome halftoning.
One of the most dominant factors in producing halftone noise artifacts is the variation in the brightness of the dots. In monochrome halftones (i.e., Black and White), this factor cannot be mitigated. In color halftoning there are however colors that could be rendered using different halftone-color sets (with different brightness variation). To be able to use those specific halftone-colors in the actual rendering the color planes would have to be correlated. Hence a simple Cartesian product generalization of monochrome halftoning will not address this problem.
In U.S. patent aplication Ser. No. 08/641,304, filed Apr. 30, 1996, entitled "Joint Design of Dither Matrices for a Set of Colorants" and assigned to the same entity as this application, Jan Allebach and Qian Lin describe a criterion to use colors selected to reduce the notice-ability of the pattern. In their implementation, they disable the use of certain halftone-colors when rendering some colors. However, their interpretation of the third criterion is only partial and hence their application achieves only part of the possible halftone noise reduction.
Thus, it can be seen that color halftone imaging techniques impose pattern notice-ability limits upon halftone image output devices, and hinder the use of these devices in many applications.
Therefore, there is an unresolved need for a technique that can create better color halftone images by correctly incorporating the third design criterion (i.e., by using colors that reduce the notice-ability of the pattern).


A straight running state is accurately determined using only wheel speed data in any running state. Based upon right and left wheel speed values calculated by a wheel speed calculating mechanism (13) from detection values of right and left wheel speed sensors (11, 12), a wheel speed ratio calculating mechanism (21), a distance calculating mechanism (31), and a distance ratio calculating mechanism (32) respectively calculate a right and left wheel speed ratio, an actual running distance, a linear distance, and a distance ratio of the two distances at every preset checkpoint (CP). A wheel speed ratio change amount evaluating mechanism (24) extracts CPs at times where a change amount of the wheel speed ratio is relatively small as effective CPs, and a determining mechanism (43) determines an effective CP with the smallest distance ratio from among the effective CPs as in a straight running state.

Conventionally, there is a tire air pressure warning device in a dynamic loaded radius system, which utilizes a fact that a tire rolling radius while a vehicle is running is proportional to air pressure in the tire to detect a decrease in tire air pressure based upon the tire rolling radius of each wheel, or more specifically, the difference in rotational speed between right and left wheels, and outputs a warning. In this case, even if both the right and left wheels have a proper pressure with no decrease in air pressure, the turning radii of the right and left wheels of the vehicle differ while the vehicle is turning, wherein a turning radius of the outer turning wheel is larger than that of the inner turning wheel. Therefore, the speed of the outer turning wheel becomes faster than that of the inner turning wheel, and furthermore, the wheel radius of the outer turning side becomes smaller than the wheel radius of the inner turning side due to the load shift of the vehicle while turning. Thus, a correct tire air pressure cannot be detected. Accordingly, an art that determines whether a vehicle is running straight, and determines an air pressure decrease based upon a measurement value during straight running is supposed.
Examples of such art include, for example, an art disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. HEI7-172121, that detects a vehicle turning state inappropriate to an air pressure determination using a steering sensor, and an art disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. HEI8-282222, that uses an average value of the right and left wheel speed ratio within a predetermined period as a reference and determines that the vehicle is turning when a predetermined difference occurs in relation to the average value. However, the former requires other sensors in addition to the wheel speed sensor, such as a steering sensor and depending on the case, a lateral G sensor and yaw rate sensor, which in turn increases cost. Furthermore, in the latter, for example, the average value itself becomes an inappropriate value for indicating an intermediate state between straight running and turning, as can be seen clearly on an oval course or the like where straight running and turning in a fixed direction are repeated, instead of an appropriate value indicating an average value of straight running. Thus, when this value is used as a reference value to determine straight running, the intended effect cannot be obtained.

Straight running judging device for vehicles