The invention concerns a silicone-modified EPDM modified with a freeze release additive of a fatty acid amide and/or optionally, graphite having at least 85% carbon, and compounded and co-extruded onto the surface of elastomeric sponge automotive weatherstripping thereby forming a permanent skin surface on the sponge material. The resulting material has improved and desirable freeze-release and coefficient of friction properties. These improved properties eliminate the need for currently used spray coatings, resulting in manufacturing cost savings and more durable surface.

Material used in the channels surrounding automobile glass needs good abrasion resistance to assure proper sealing of the automotive glass to avoid both leaks and freezing around the glass in cold weather.
Automotive weatherstripping for doors and trunk lids ordinarily uses closed-cell extruded EPDM sponge. A typical compound contains an EPDM polymer with high ENB (ethylidene norbornene) to provide a fast cure rate. EPDM (ethylene-propylene-nonconjugated diene terpolymer) is the industry standard for use as weatherstripping, made by the copolymerization of ethylene, propylene and ethylidene norbornene. Advantages in using this formulation include high molecular weight which imparts good green strength for cross-sectional shape retention.
It is customary for automotive weatherstripping to be coated with silicone or urethane spray to impart a low coefficient of friction surface for easy door closure and freeze release. This is to prevent automobile doors and trunk lids from freezing shut at low temperatures.
The silicone/urethane coating procedure has been problematic for weatherstripping manufacturers because of additional handling operations required, additional manufacturing costs, and inconsistent performance of the coating in actual field service.
The weatherstripping material is subject to extreme wear due to rubbing from repeated opening and closing of doors, windows and trunk lids. This abrasion can result in removal of sprayed coatings and ultimate failure of the weatherstripping material.
Since it is necessary to promote freeze release of automotive weatherstripping this invention accomplishes this and bypasses the need for a sprayed coating by allowing the freeze release properties to be obtained by co-curing the EPDM/Silicone/erucamide onto the surface of the weatherstripping.
A further enhancement of the improved properties results from modification of the silicone-modified EPDM/erucamide with carbon, as certain graphites. The experimental data that follows indicates that the addition of these graphites lowers the coefficient of friction to a level below that specified by automotive manufacturers for weatherstripping.
Improvements to the freeze-release and coefficient of friction properties of weatherstripping have been attempted by changing the composition of the weatherstripping itself. An EPDM silicone blend surpasses EPDM sponge with a low coefficient of friction, greater resistance to surface freezing, and excellent weathering resistance. Silicone-modified EPDM may be used in weatherstripping for automotive doors, trunks, and sunroofs and for continuous and molded automotive sponge. However, this material is not routinely used as a material of construction for general purpose automotive weatherstripping. One reason for this is the higher cost of this material as compared to EPDM sponge.
Other materials which have been used for automotive weatherstripping are silicone sponges, which have been used for higher-temperature resistant automotive sunroof seals and related sponge gasketing requiring a similar type of heat resistance. This material is prohibitively expensive for general automotive weatherstripping use.
The instant invention represents a cost savings by (1) imparting the necessary freeze release and coefficient of friction properties to EPDM sponge by co-curing a thin-skin of the high performance silicone-modified EPDM based material of this invention onto the EPDM sponge; and (2) eliminating the need for sprayed urethane or silicone coatings to impart the needed surface properties to the weatherstripping.
A further advantage of the current invention is that since the improved properties are imparted during cure, they will not erode away as will the commonly used sprayed coatings. A still further advantage of cocuring the freeze release agent over post-manufacture spraying is the environmental advantage gained by eliminating the spraying process. The current invention eliminates the need for organic solvents necessary to dissolve the silicone and urethane.


A microchip is provided, the microchip comprises a block constituting a reaction system, wherein said reaction system includes: a reaction region including biomolecules immobilized therein in form of a spot(s) or a strip(s); a supply flow channel connected to the reaction region for supplying a sample solution; and a recovery flow channel connected to the reaction region for recovering the sample solution which passes through at least a part of the reaction region. Thereby bonds or bindings between the biomolecules or biomacromolecules and the samples can be detected on the microchip using the slight quantity of both the sample and the biomolecules.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a microchip comprising biomolecules such as proteins or nucleic acids, and more particularly to a microreactor comprising a plurality of reaction systems utilizing the microchip.
2. Related Art Statements
Sequencing of human genome has been completed owing of progress in human genome researching. Although the complete sequencing of the human genome is very important achievement of life science, this is only the beginning of further problems. The importance issues of fundamental and applied research have already shifted to investigation of functions of individual genes, i.e. the functions of proteins produced by the individual genes. Investigation of individual gene expression mechanism is very important as well as the investigation of functions. Anyway, to investigate such problems, a technology that many kinds of samples or minute amount of samples can simultaneously analyzed is essential for execution of these investigations.
A microarray i.e. microchip technology has attracted attention as an important technology which makes possible to implement the purposes and is developing rapidly. A photolithography, a mechanical-spotting method, and an inkjet method, etc. as a manufacturing technology of DNA microarrays, have been in practical use (refer to a document "Trends in Biotechnology, 16", 1998, pp. 301-306). In addition, some technologies, that bondings or bindings between a number of proteins and ligands can simultaneously be detected, are going to be developed. The technologies are followings: a microchip technology combining with a mass spectrometry (refer to a document "Mass Spectrometry Reviews, 16", 1997, pp. 1-23); an acrylamide gel pad method (refer to a document "Anal. Biochem., 278", 2000, pp. 123-131); a polyvinylidene difluoride membrane method (refer to a document "Anal. Biochem., 270", 1999, pp. 103-111); and a two-hybrid assay (refer to a document "Nature, 403", 2000, pp. 623-627), etc. As a method applicable to both DNAs and proteins, an electrospray deposition method is disclosed (refer to a document "Anal. Chem. 71", 1999, pp. 3110-3117).
On the other hand, a technology that a variety of chemical reactions are performed on a microchip using minute amount of samples, which is referred to as "Lab-On-Chip" or "Integrated-Chip", is studied for various purposes. A part of the technology has reached a stage of practical use (refer to Japanese documents and a web site "Pharmacia, 36", 2000, pp. 34-38; "Chemical (Kagaku), 54(10)", 1999, pp 14-19; and http://www/calipertech.com/welcome.html, etc.).
In order to know a hybridization condition of a gene (i.e. amount of production of mRNA), hybridization must be detected using a labeling compound such as a fluorescent material. Thereby detecting bonds on the DNA microchip and identification of bonded substances can be performed at the same time. In case of proteins if both a targeted protein or DNA, and a ligand which bonds with that target material are known and antibodies to the substances are available, both detection and identification of a targeted substance can be performed on the proteins microchip at the same time using a conventional enzyme label immunoassay or an fluorescence immunoassay.
However, if functions or structures of either or both a protein and a compound which combines with the protein are unknown, a separate device or technique must be required for detection of bonds or bindings and identification of the substance which is generated by the bonds, respectively. In order to identify a compound(s) which is generated by combination with the protein, after detection of bonds about the compound on the microchip, the compound must be extracted to be analyzed in various tests. For a DNA microchip, when it is desired to investigate factors of regulation of gene expression, similar process is needed.


A camshaft phaser includes a rotor, a stator, a torsional rotor bias spring, and a spring retainer wherein the spring retainer is fixed to either the rotor or stator when the nominal spring preload is reached to retain the nominal spring preload in said phaser. In one embodiment, the rotor has a bore formed therein, and the spring retainer has an arcuate slot coincident with the rotor bore. The spring retainer is rotated past the rotor until a predetermined spring preload is achieved. A retaining feature is installed through the arcuate slot into the rotor bore, thereby biasing the rotor in the predetermined bias position at the predetermined bias spring preload. In another embodiment, the spring retainer is a rotatable cam feature that becomes fixed to the stator after spring adjustment is complete.

Camshaft phasers for varying the timing of valves in internal combustion engines are well known. A typical phaser comprises a rotor attached to a camshaft and a stator driven in time by a sprocket or pulley connected to an engine crankshaft. The phaser is able to vary the rotary position of the rotor with respect to the stator and thus to vary the valve timing imposed by the camshaft with respect to the crankshaft and pistons.
It is known to include a bias spring within a camshaft phaser, disposed functionally between the stator and the rotor, to urge the rotor in a predetermined direction to a predetermined position with respect to the stator when the rotor is not otherwise directed. See, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,276,321 B1. It can also be used to bias camshaft friction torque. Such a predetermined position may be, for example, either fully advanced or fully retarded. Typically, the desired predetermined position is fully retarded for an intake phaser and fully advanced for an exhaust phaser, wherein a locking pin may be activated between the rotor and stator to fix the timing at engine nominal for certain phases of engine operation.
In one example of the prior art, during manufacturing assembly of a phaser, the bias spring is wound by a spring retainer to its design-specified position and a retaining feature is installed to hold the spring in place. The rotor and the spring retainer have matching openings for receiving the retaining feature, for example, a screw or a pop rivet, in a predetermined unique angular relationship between the rotor and the spring retainer. In another example of the prior art, during manufacturing of the phaser, one end of the torsional bias spring is grounded to a fixed feature of the rotor, which may be a cup shaped member extending axially from the rotor, while the other end of the torsional bias spring is grounded to a fixed feature of the stator. The fixed feature of the stator may be a head of a bolt used to fasten the phaser end cover to the stator. The fixed features of the rotor/stator set a predetermined unique relationship between the ends of the torsional bias spring and thus the biasing spring force between the rotor and stator. The intention of such assembly processes is to have the spring wound to a desired and predetermined spring load. However, experience with prior art phasers assembled in such fashion shows that significant and unacceptable variation in spring loading can occur because of variation in spring rate within a population of springs provided for the purpose. Because the rotary action of the rotor requires overcoming the force of the bias spring, the speed of rotor response will vary inversely with the strength of the bias spring: the stronger the spring, the slower the response, especially when the oil control valve is energized. When a phaser is applied, for example, to one bank of a V-style engine, it is calculated that a variation in bias spring load of +/−10% can create a transient valve timing offset between the banks of up to 25%, which is clearly undesirable and unacceptable.
One solution to the problem is to reduce the variability range of spring constants in the population of springs. This solution requires a much higher level of quality control in spring manufacture, resulting in more expensive springs and thus more expensive phasers.
What is needed in the art is a means for installing and retaining any of the springs in the population of springs to a predetermined spring load.
It is a principal object of the present invention to provide a plurality of camshaft phasers having identical loading of their bias springs.

Method and apparatus for setting bias spring load during assembly of a camshaft phaser


A trip manifold assembly is disclosed which includes a manifold body connected to a header shaft. The header shaft passes through a plurality of rotary valves. Each rotary valve is connected to a pressure transmitter. The header shaft comprises two passages including a transmitter input passage and a drain passage. The rotary valves each comprise a through passage. A manifold body provides fluid communication between an input source and the transmitter input passage of the header shaft. The manifold also provides communication between the drain passage of the header shaft and a drain vent. The rotary valves are each independently rotatable between two positions including a transmit position where the through passage of each valve provides communication between the transmitter input passage of the header shaft and their respective pressure transmitters. Each rotary valve is also independent rotatable to a drain position where the through passage of each valve is in communication with the drain passage of the header shaft. Multiple header shafts may be provided in a single manifold assembly and each header shaft can handle more than one input that needs to be monitored.

Emergency tripping systems have long been utilized to shut off industrial turbines in the event certain operating conditions occur. Such tripping systems are commonly designed around certain pressure readings. Those pressure readings, and the maintenance of such pressures within a prescribed range, include a pressure or vacuum reading in the condenser vacuum which is indicative of exhaust pressure, maintenance of oil bearing pressure, the prevention of an increase in the thrust bearing oil pressure and a monitoring of the autostop oil pressure. Often, the autostop oil pressure line may be in communication with a solenoid valve.
Of course, other components may form part of an emergency tripping system such as anticipator trip valves which may be tripped or activated by excessive speed of the turbine. A turbine emergency trip valve may be incorporated along with stop valve bypass trips, auxiliary pilot valve trips, lock out sleeve trips and other emergency trip functions, depending upon the manufacturer. Those skilled in the art and familiar with the turbine designs of Westinghouse and General Electric will be familiar with various trip functions associated with these turbines.
One problem associated with emergency tripping systems for industrial turbines, engines and other similar apparatuses is the cumbersome design of such systems. Specifically, piping must be provided for each pressure sensing function which is then connected to a separate transmitter. Often, it is desirable to use redundant transmitters to monitor each trip function. Specifically, transmitters are prone to failure and require frequent maintenance. Manufacturers therefore often utilize two or three transmitters to monitor one trip function with the criteria that at least two of the transmitters must register an alarm status before a shut down procedure is begun.
With the common use of multiple redundant transmitters or multiple redundant distributed control system (DCS) inputs for each trip function, the piping, wiring and mounting for the various trip functions becomes cumbersome to install and difficult to maintain. Specifically, typical systems include multiple manifolds with custom mounts that are interconnected with extensive quantities of tubing and pipe. Still further, due to the cumbersome design of these systems, there is no easy way to gain access to the transmitters or valves for service and maintenance. Thus, an improved emergency tripping system for turbines and other industrial apparatuses is needed that is less cumbersome, reliable and easy to install and maintain.

Emerson Process Management Power & Water Solutions, Inc.


The present disclosure discloses a method for transmitting data on a bandwidth part, a terminal device, a network device, and a computer storage medium, where the method includes: determining a priority of at least one bandwidth part BWP; and according to the priority of the at least one BWP, performing a signal transmission in at least part of the at least one BWP, or, reporting uplink control information (UCI) corresponding to at least part of the at least one BWP.

In a new radio (NR) system, one carrier can contain up to four bandwidth parts (BWPs), and the network side can dynamically activate some of the BWPs for data transmission or reference signal transmission. Different BWPs can have different allocated bandwidths and be used for data transmission of different service types. For example, one BWP can be used for enhanced mobile broadband (eMBB) data transmission, and another BWP can be used for ultra-reliable low-latency communications (URLLC) data transmission. Because data of different service types has different priorities, the terminal needs to preferentially guarantee the transmission performance of high-priority data. The current protocol cannot distinguish the priorities of different BWPs, and the transmission performance of high-priority data cannot be guaranteed preferentially. Further, if the BWP is activated through downlink control information (DCI), data of which service type is transmitted on a BWP is dynamically scheduled by the network side, and the priority needs to be indicated by the same dynamic signaling, which however is not supported by the current technology.

Method and terminal device for determining priorities of multiple BWPS

GUANGDONG OPPO MOBILE TELECOMMUNICATIONS CORP., LTD.


A new and distinct cultivar of Astilbe plant named ‘Vision Inferno’, characterized by its broadly upright and strong plant habit; strong and healthy foliage; freely and uniformly flowering habit with large dense inflorescences positioned above the foliar plane; flowers that are white and blushed with pink in color; and good garden performance.

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Astilbe plant, botanically known as Astilbe arendsii×Astilbe chinensis and hereinafter referred to by the name 'Vision Inferno'.
The new Astilbe plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Noorden, The Netherlands. The objective of the breeding program was to create new uniform and strong Astilbe plants with attractive leaf and flower coloration.
The new Astilbe plant originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor during the summer of 2005 in Noorden, The Netherlands, of Astilbe arendsii 'Weisse Gloria', not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with Astilbe chinensis 'Vision in Pink', disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 11,860, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Astilbe plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled environment in Noorden, The Netherlands in July, 2006.
Asexual reproduction of the new Astilbe plant by divisions in a controlled environment in Noorden, The Netherlands since 2006, has shown that the unique features of this new Astilbe plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.


There is provided a double-side polishing method for a wafer of sandwiching a wafer held in a carrier between upper and lower turn tables each having a polishing pad attached thereto and simultaneously polishing both surfaces of the wafer while supplying a slurry to a space between the upper and lower turn tables from a plurality of slurry supply holes provided in the upper turn table, wherein a polishing amount at an outer peripheral portion of the wafer to be polished is adjusted and outer peripheral sag of the wafer is suppressed by supplying the slurry in such a manner that an amount of the slurry supplied from the slurry supply holes provided on an outer side relative to the center of rotation of the upper turn table becomes larger than an amount of the slurry supplied from the slurry supply holes provided on an inner side relative to the same at the time of polishing both the surfaces of the wafer. As a result, the double-side polishing method which can suppress occurrence of the outer peripheral sag of the wafer when the wafer is subjected to double-side polishing can be provided.

FIG. 8 is a schematic explanatory drawing showing an example of a conventional double-side polishing apparatus. As shown in FIG. 8, a double-side polishing apparatus 201 is an apparatus which enables rotation and revolution of a carrier 208 meshed between a sun gear 206 and an internal gear 207 by driving rotation of the sun gear 206 and rotates a lower turn table 202 and an upper turn table 203 in opposite directions to simultaneously polish both surfaces of a wafer W by polishing pads 204 attached to the upper and lower turn tables.
Further, a slurry supplying mechanism that supplies to a wafer W a slurry which increases a polishing efficiency for the wafer W and reduces heat generated in the upper and lower turn tables 202 and 203 is provided in the double-side polishing apparatus 201. This slurry supplying mechanism is a mechanism that supplies a slurry to slurry supply holes 205 provided in the upper turn table 203 from a slurry tank 209 through a slurry supply duct 210, powder rings 212, and slurry supply tubes 213 and allows the slurry to flow out from lower end openings of the slurry supply holes 205 toward the wafer W.
According to a conventional technology, both surfaces of a wafer are polished while uniformly supplying the same amount of slurry from each supply hole by using such a double-side polishing apparatus. Further, Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2004-142040 or Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. H11-262862 discloses a double-side polishing method using a double-side polishing apparatus having a different structure adopting, e.g., a compression transport scheme in relation to a slurry supply scheme.
However, in the conventional method or the double-sides polishing method disclosed above, when both surfaces of a wafer are polished, sag frequently occurs at an outer peripheral portion of the wafer after polishing, and a shape of a wafer surface is not flat, resulting in a problem of a quality.


Methods, systems, and products share content between a device and a media delivery device. The media delivery device includes a content sharing application stored in memory and a processor communicating with the memory. The processor sends a presence update message to indicate the media delivery device is active and available to receive content. The processor receives an invite, and the invite requests a session between the media delivery device and the device. The processor sends an accept message to accept the invitation. The processor receives the content and receives a message that terminates the session.

This application generally relates to communications and, more particularly, to sharing content in communications.
Shared video streaming is popular among wireless users. Third generation networks allow two mobile devices (such as camera phones) to stream live video between each one another. The service is sometimes called "see what I see" and establishes a streaming session between the two phones. One person with a mobile phone makes a call, establishes a session, and then takes the camera on that phone and points it. The other person's phone receives the session transmission and displays the received images. Some 3G phones also have the capability to support voice transmission between the users.
One significant problem, however, is screen size. Today's mobile phones have small screens, and these small screens limit the appeal of "see what I see" services. If pictures, movies, and other content could be shared with larger display devices, one service provider believes that more people would utilize "see what I see" services. What is needed, then, is a "see what I see" service that is not limited to the small screen sizes of conventional mobile devices.

Methods, systems, and products for sharing content


A pulse receiving circuit which receives a receiving signal from the outside includes: a template pulse generating circuit which generates a first pulse signal and a second pulse signal having phase different from that of the first pulse signal based on a pulse position timing signal; a first multiplying circuit which multiplies the receiving signal by the first pulse signal and outputs a first multiplication signal; a second multiplying circuit which multiplies the receiving signal by the second pulse signal and outputs a second multiplication signal; a first low band pass filtering circuit which extracts low frequency component from frequency components of the first multiplication signal and outputs a first low frequency signal; a second low band pass filtering circuit which extracts low frequency component from frequency components of the second multiplication signal and outputs a second low frequency signal; and an envelope detection circuit which performs envelope calculation by using the first low frequency signal and the second low frequency signal and outputs a detection signal.

1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates to a pulse receiving circuit and a pulse wireless communication device using ultra-wide band.
2. Related Art
Ultra-wide band (UWB) communication is a communication system which provides data communication by using extremely wide frequency band. Examples of the communication system using UWB signals in a wide band include spectrum diffusion method, orthogonal frequency division multiplex (OFDM), and other known methods, and further include impulse radio (IR) system which uses pulses having extremely short periods. The IR system used in the UWB communication is particularly called UWB-IR. According to the UWB-IR system, modulation and demodulation can be performed not by conventional modulation method but only by time base operation, and improvement over simplification of circuit and reduction of power consumption is expected.
In the pulse communication having large occupation frequency band width, however, the communication is affected by the presence of extremely strong interference signals having narrow band.
For example, according to a pulse receiving device using envelope detection such as rectification detection proposed in JP-A-2005-252740, the structure for achieving rectification detection has a simple circuit and performs low power consumption operation. However, this structure detects all frequency components and therefore requires band pass filter for removing interference signals. In this case, the cost and size increase. The technology disclosed in JP-A-2003-110466 is a method for reducing the effect of interference signals by using diffusion codes instead of the band pass filter. However, pulses having a rate higher than necessary bit rate need to be generated so as to provide the necessary bit rate. In this case, power consumption increases. Furthermore, when a process for removing interference signals is executed by inverse diffusion method in a digitized manner, a multi-bit AD converter needs to be provided to cope with large interference signals. In this case, circuit scale and power consumption increase.
JP-A-2005-39526 discloses a method for executing synchronous detection by using correlation with receiving pulse waveforms.
According to this method, interference waves other than desired pulses can be removed by performing correlation calculation without the need for providing band pass filter. However, highly accurate timing process is required at the time of execution of correlation calculation. For satisfying this requirement, clock source having high accuracy and low jitter is needed. Moreover, a complicated pulse position synchronous circuit is required, which increases power consumption.

Pulse receiving circuit, pulse receiving method and pulse wireless communication device


A method and system for monitoring the statuses of components within a telephony system, especially a cable-based telephony system, and to monitor quality issues within such system. By determining how components with the system are behaving, a network administrator may be able to troubleshoot problems remotely using a known set of problem resolution techniques. Such techniques may be applied stepwise by the administrator or may be automated through computer intervention.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is directed to a method and system for monitoring and managing a telephony system, and, in one embodiment, to a method and system for monitoring and managing a packet-based telephony system.
2. Discussion of the Background
Telephones are used everyday for communicating between remotely located parties. Customers have come to rely on the telephone's presence for emergencies and everyday communications, so customers do not understand when there are problems or outages in phone service. Thus, customers expect that telephony companies will manage their systems to avoid such problems and outages.
A new type of telephone standard, however, is gaining popularity that utilizes telephony over packet-based communications systems (e.g., using packet-based services over a cable modem) and provides a number of new challenges and opportunities in the areas of communications management and monitoring. In such systems, telephony equipment (e.g., equipment compatible with the DOCSIS cable standards) is connected at a customer premises and interacts with termination equipment at a telephony provider's premises. Such customer equipment utilizes digital, packet-switched communications rather that analog, circuit-switched communications (e.g., as used in POTS-style services). In such new systems, call monitoring is really a monitoring of network connections, and the provision of "telephony service" is really the provision of packet routing services.


Data representing ownership of a traditional asset of a first party having a predefined monetary value stored at a first party network node is replicated to a plurality of other party network nodes, including a second party network node, communicably coupled to the first party network node and to one another. Entry of data is received at the first party network node that represents a partition by the first party of the asset of the first party on a non-value axis into at least two non-overlapping assets and a transfer of ownership of one of those two assets to the second party. The data representing the partition of the non-value axis and transfer of ownership of one of the two non-overlapping assets to the second party is replicated to the plurality of other party nodes, including the second party network node.

Currently, potentially problematic issues in transactions may involve, for example, credit mechanisms and legal mechanisms. Assume, for example, a sale of a product or a service in which the vendor will not receive payment immediately but will instead receive payment only after expiration of a certain period of time, such as thirty days. During that thirty-day period, the vendor is exposed to a level of risk that the purchaser will not pay at the end of the thirty-day period.
A typical mechanism for addressing such risk may be a type of interest referred to as a time price differential, by which a vendor may charge more for a product or service for which purchasers are given a period of time in which to pay to compensate for the risk of non-payment. For example, instead of the usual price of $100 for immediate payment, the vendor may charge $101 for a product or service for which purchasers are given a period of time, such as thirty days, to pay in order to compensate for potential losses with respect to such purchasers who eventually do not pay.
Another way in which such risk may currently be addressed is use of a legal mechanism, such as a contract between the vendor and the purchaser that specifies a legal remedy for the vendor if the purchaser fails to pay at the end of the agreed-upon period for payment. Thus, the vendor's legal remedy may be pursued by lawyers employed by the vendor in the event of non-payment by the purchaser. There are potentially direct and indirect costs associated with these currently employed mechanisms, sometimes referred to as friction costs that include, for example, legal fees, bank fees, opportunity costs, tax implications, as well as the time value of money associated with such transactions.
There is a present need for technological solutions that address the problems of these legacy mechanisms and enable a mechanism that reduces or eliminates the friction costs associated with these currently employed transaction mechanisms. The problem to be solved is rooted in technological limitations of the legacy approaches. Improved techniques, and in particular, improved application of technology is needed to address the problems of currently employed mechanisms. More specifically, the technologies applied in the aforementioned legacy approaches fail to achieve the sought-after capabilities of the herein-disclosed techniques for improved distributed database methods and systems.

Distributed database methods and systems


The present invention includes means for processing received data, storage means for storing the data, means for performing an invalidation process on the data stored in the storage means, and means for storing history information about the history of the invalidation process performed.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a data processing apparatus and an image forming apparatus that manage a data deletion history.
2. Description of Related Art
Image forming apparatuses, such as a digital multi-function apparatus that processes electronic data of a document by temporarily storing it in the storage section in the apparatus have been commercialized. A digital multi-function apparatus comprises a scanner unit for reading an image of a document and a printer unit for forming an image on paper, and has a plurality of functions, such as a copy function, facsimile function, scanner function and print function. Such a digital multi-function apparatus proposes the users to improve the operating efficiency and processing ability by positioning it as a data processing apparatus for efficiently processing data inputted from a plurality of interfaces on communication networks. Moreover, in a digital multi-function apparatus, a large-capacity storage device such as a hard disk is installed to enable input of various data and parallel processing of these data, and thus it is possible to receive a plurality of requests for data processing and process the data one after another.
In the storage device such as a hard disk, the data is written and is held temporarily for processing. After finishing the processing, when new data is inputted, the new data is received by deleting the already processed data by overwriting it. In this structure, since the processed data is left as it is in the device until new data is written, there is a problem in terms of data protection. Then, in recent years, in order to solve the problem associated with data remaining in the device, an apparatus that invalidates the processed data by deleting the data by itself was proposed (for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 09-284572).
Thus, in a conventional digital multi-function apparatus, the apparatus automatically deletes the processed data by itself to prevent leakage of information. However, since the processed data is automatically deleted inside the apparatus regardless of the intention of the user, it is difficult for the user to confirm whether the data has been certainly invalidated. In some cases, the digital multi-function apparatus is caused to read and print personal information, and therefore, if the user psychology is taken into consideration, it is preferable to provide information proving that the invalidation process has been certainly performed. However, there is the problem that apparatuses capable of providing such information have not yet been proposed at present.

Data processing apparatus and image forming apparatus for managing a data deletion history


A magneto-resistance device is composed of an anti-ferromagnetic layer (5), a pinned ferromagnetic layer (20), a tunnel insulating layer (9) and a free ferromagnetic layer (21). The pinned ferromagnetic layer (20) is connected to the anti-ferromagnetic layer (5) and has a fixed spontaneous magnetization. The tunnel insulating layer (9) is connected to the pinned ferromagnetic layer (20) and is non-magnetic. The free ferromagnetic layer (21) is connected to the tunnel insulating layer (9) and has a reversible free spontaneous magnetization. The pinned ferromagnetic layer (20) has a first composite magnetic layer (6) to prevent at lest one component of the anti-ferromagnetic layer (5) from diffusing into tunnel insulating layer (9).

In recent years, a magnetic head and MRAM (magnetoresistive Random Access Memory) using a magneto-resistance element to show GMR (Giant Magneto-Resistance) effect have been developed. The magneto-resistance element used in such devices has a structure called spin valve, and includes an anti-ferromagnetic layer/a ferromagnetic layer/a nonmagnetic layer/a ferromagnetic layer. When the nonmagnetic layer is a conductive layer formed of material such as Cu, the structure is called a spin-valve type GMR, and when the nonmagnetic layer is an insulating layer, the structure is called a spin-valve type TMR (Tunnel Magneto-Resistance).
FIG. 1 shows a sectional view of a spin-valve type TMR magneto-resistance device. With reference to FIG. 1, the magneto-resistance device includes a lower layer 124 as an electrode formed on a substrate 101; an anti-ferromagnetic layer 123; a pinned ferromagnetic layer 120; a tunnel insulating layer 122; a free ferromagnetic layer 12; and a surface layer 125. The pinned ferromagnetic layer 120 has a spontaneous magnetization whose magnetization direction is fixed, and the free ferromagnetic layer 121 has a spontaneous magnetization whose magnetization direction can be inverted. In order to firmly fix the direction of the spontaneous magnetization, the pinned ferromagnetic layer 120 is often formed to be connected to the anti-ferromagnetic layer 123. Consequently, the magnetization is firmly fixed to one direction based on an exchange bias from the anti-ferromagnetic layer 123. Exchange interaction that the anti-ferromagnetic layer 123 provides for the pinned ferromagnetic layer 120, firmly fixes the spontaneous magnetization of the pinned ferromagnetic layer 120. The anti-ferromagnetic layer 123 is generally formed of an anti-ferromagnetic material (Mn-based alloy) containing Mn, such as IrMn and PtMn. Also, the free ferromagnetic layer 121 is often formed of a hard ferromagnetic layer 121b formed of a ferromagnetic material having a high spin polarization rate, and a soft ferromagnetic layer 121a formed of a soft ferromagnetic material. Such a structure of the free ferromagnetic layer 121 makes it possible to facilitate the inversion of the spontaneous magnetization of the free ferromagnetic layer, while increasing a magneto-resistance change rate (a MR rate) of the magnetic tunnel junction. In general, the hard ferromagnetic layer 121b is formed of a ferromagnetic material containing Co, such as Co and CoFe. The soft ferromagnetic layer 121a is generally formed of a ferromagnetic material containing Ni (Ni alloy) such as NiFe, which has small magnetization and soft magnetism. The tunnel insulating layer 122 as a nonmagnetic layer is formed as a very thin insulating film to an extent that tunnel current can flow through it. The tunnel insulating layer 122 is generally formed of an insulator such as AlOx. The lower layer 124 and the surface layer 125 function as electrodes of the magneto-resistance elements.
In the TMR element, the current flows in the vertical direction to the film surface. The magnetization direction of the free ferromagnetic layer is rotated to a magnetic field direction by an external magnetic field, and the resistance of the magneto-resistance element is changed depending on a relative magnetization angle between the free ferromagnetic layer and the pinned ferromagnetic layer.
One of the problems in using the TMR element as an MRAM element is a thermal stability. It is necessary for manufacture of the MRAM to use a process of manufacturing a semiconductor device. For example, in a process of forming a wiring line and an insulating film, and in a thermal treatment process in hydrogen atmosphere for improving the performance of a transistor, it is assumed that the temperature of nearly 400° C. is applied to the TMR element. The conventional TMR element has a low heat resistant temperature of 300° C. Therefore, if these processes are applied as they are to the MRAM including the TMR elements, an elements characteristic is deteriorated. One of the reasons of the deterioration is diffusion between layers of the magneto-resistance elements when the high temperature is applied to the magneto-resistance elements.
As described above, when the conventional TMR element is used as the MRAM element, it is always necessary to consider the thermal treatment temperature in the manufacturing process. Therefore, available device structures and manufacturing processes are limited. In this way, it is demanded to improve a thermal resistance of the TMR element in order to achieve a high-performance MRAM with excellent reliability and to reduce a manufacturing cost. The thermal resistance of up to approximately 400° C. is desired.
For example, in Japanese Laid Open Patent Application (JP-P2000-20922A: a first conventional example), the diffusion between the soft ferromagnetic layer and the hard ferromagnetic layer in a free layer is described. A problem pointed out here is the diffusion of Ni contained in the soft ferromagnetic layer into the hard ferromagnetic layer. The diffusion of Ni into the hard ferromagnetic layer deteriorates the characteristic of the magneto-resistance element. In the first conventional example, an oxide film or a nitride film formed of nonmagnetic elements is provided between the hard ferromagnetic layer and the soft ferromagnetic layer to prevent the interdiffusion.
However, when the hard ferromagnetic layer and the soft ferromagnetic layer are separated by such an oxide film and the like, the magnetic coupling is extremely weakened sometimes since direct exchange interaction between the above two layers is lost. Coercive force of the free ferromagnetic layer becomes large even if the diffusion preventing layer is thinned exceedingly. As a result, steepness in magnetization inversion might be lost.
In Applied Physics Letters (Vol. 78, May 7, 2001, pp. 2911-2913) (the second conventional example), Zongzhi Zhang, et al., report a TMR element that shows a high MR ratio even after a thermal treatment at a high temperature, by forming an oxide layer of ferromagnetic elements such as FeOx, CoFeOx, and the like, between the pinned ferromagnetic layer and the tunnel insulating layer. In this method, however, the oxide layer of the ferromagnetic elements decreases the MR ratio and increases the junction resistance. This is because the oxide of the ferromagnetic element, e.g., CoOx, is an anti-ferromagnetic insulator, which functions as a tunnel barrier of undesirable property that causes a leakage current not depending on a spin, and a spin scattering of tunneling electrons. In addition, CoOx, FeOx, and NiOx, as the oxides of Co, Fe, and Ni have high oxide generation free energy and are instable, and are decomposed in a temperature range of 300° C. to 350° C. Therefore, it is difficult to obtain a thermal resistance of near to 400° C.
In Japanese Laid Open Patent Application (JP-P2001-237471A) (a third conventional example), an oxide magnetic layer is inserted in the pinned ferromagnetic layer and the free ferromagnetic layer in a spin valve type GMR element, in order to improve thermal stability of exchange coupling of the pinned ferromagnetic layer, and to increase the MR ratio through increase in resistance of the magnetic layer. An oxide magnetic layer is used such as Fe3O4 and CoFe2O4 containing iron oxide as a main component and they are added with Si, Al, B, N, Y, and La. In such a spin valve type GMR element that electric current flows in a plane, the high resistance of the pinned ferromagnetic layer prevents the distribution of the electric current out of the conductive layer in the spin valve type GMR element other than the nonmagnetic layer, and the MR ratio can be increased. However, in the TMR element in which the electric current flows in the direction perpendicular to the plane and a magnetoresistance effect of the tunneling current is important, the above-mentioned effect of increasing the MR ratio cannot be expected. Oppositely, in the oxide magnetic layer functions as a series resistance that does not contribute to the tunneling magneto-resistance in the TMR element. Therefore, all the element resistances increase, so that S/N (signal-to-noise) ratio is decreased.
In Japanese Laid Open Patent Application (JP-P2002-158381A) (a forth conventional example), a problem is pointed out that Mn diffuses from the anti-ferromagnetic material containing Mn into the pinned ferromagnetic layer. In the fourth conventional example, the pinned ferromagnetic layer is formed from two ferromagnetic layers and an insulating layer or an amorphous magnetic layer (a diffusion preventing layer) that is provided between the above-mentioned ferromagnetic layers. Thus, Mn is prevented from diffusing into the pinned ferromagnetic layer.
However, in such a diffusion prevention layer, the metal ferromagnetic layer is separated by the diffusion preventing layer, which causes the following problems. When the insulating layer formed of oxide is used as the diffusion preventing layer, the resistance of the diffusion preventing layer is also added in series to the tunneling magneto-resistance, and functions as an additional resistance. In this case, the S/N (signal-to-noise) ratio of the output of the TMR element decreases. In addition, when the insulating layer of the oxide of the non-magnetic element is used as the diffusion preventing layer, the magnetic coupling between the two separated ferromagnetic layers is exceedingly weakens even if the diffusion preventing layer becomes thinner. As a result, the magnetization of the pinned ferromagnetic layer is not fixed to one direction. Even in case that the diffusion preventing layer is the insulating layer that contains the oxide of the ferromagnetic element, only Fe3-XO4 (0<x<⅓) indicates the ferromagnetism, which includes (CoFe2) O4 (Co ferrite), Fe3O4 (magnetait), and γ-Fe2O3 (maghematait) having a spinel structure. The other oxides of ferromagnetic elements are an anti-ferromagnetic material or a paramagnetic material. Moreover, even if the diffusion preventing layer is formed of a spinel oxide ferromagnetic substance, there is a problem of the thermal instability that oxygen decouples easily at a high temperature as mentioned above.
Further, the amorphous magnetic layer is in a non-equilibrium state and tends to be changed generally into a more stable state (e.g., through crystallization, including a material of peripheral film) in application of heat. The tendency greatly depends on the material. Therefore, it cannot be always said that the amorphous magnetic layer itself is effective for the diffusion prevention.
As mentioned in the first to fourth conventional examples, in the magneto-resistance element, in which the oxide layer of the non-magnetic element or the oxide layer of the ferromagnetic element is inserted, there are the problems such as the deterioration of MR characteristic, the low thermal stability, the increase of the resistance through the insertion of the oxide layer, the decrease of the S/N (signal-to-noise) ratio due to the increase of the resistance, and the remarkable decrease of the ferromagnetic coupling between the two ferromagnetic layers separated by the oxide layer. Therefore, it has been necessary to prevent the diffusion and solve these problems at the same.
As the result of examining the thermal deterioration mechanism of the MR element in the thermal treatment at approximately 400° C., the inventors of the present invention found that Ni in the free ferromagnetic layer diffuses into the tunnel insulating layer (tunnel barrier) at the high temperature, and the diffusion of Mn in the anti-ferromagnetic layer into the tunnel insulating layer especially cause of the thermal deterioration. Since Ni and Mn diffuse at a relatively low temperature, the deterioration of the tunnel insulating layer due to the diffusion of Ni and Mn is serious.
Therefore, a technique is demanded that diffusion of Ni in the free ferromagnetic layer into the tunnel insulating layer (tunnel barrier) at the high temperature can be prevented without losing the characteristic of the TMR element in a stable state. Further, a technique is demanded that the diffusion of Mn in the anti-ferromagnetic layer into the tunnel insulating layer can be prevented.
In conjunction with the above-mentioned description, a thin film magnetic head is disclosed in Japanese Laid Open Patent Application (JP-A-Showa 62-132211). In this conventional thin film magnetic head, the change in an applied signal magnetic field is detected as a change in the resistance of a ferromagnetic thin film having one-axis magnetic anisotropy. The thin film magnetic head has the ferromagnetic thin film formed between SiO2 films.
Also, a composite bias magneto-resistance effect head is disclosed in Japanese Laid Open Patent Application (JP-A-Heisei 3-268216). In this conventional technique, the composite bias magneto-resistance effect head has a three-layer film of a permalloy thin film as a magneto-resistance effect film formed on substrate, a Nb thin film for shunt bias, and a soft magnetic bias film. A magneto-striction of the permalloy thin film is from +2×10−6 to −2×10−6.
Also, a magneto-resistance element is disclosed in Japanese Laid Open Patent Application (JP-P2002-190631A). In this conventional technique, the magneto-resistance element includes a middle layer and a pair of magnetic layers putting the middle layer therebetween. One of the magnetic layers is a pinned magnetic layer, which is hard to be magnetically inverted against external magnetic field, compared with the other magnetic layer. The pinned magnetic layer is a multi-layered film of at least one non-magnetic layer and magnetic layers putting the non-magnetic substance layer therebetween. The magnetic layers are magnetostatically or anti-ferromagnetically coupled through the non-magnetic substance layer. When the mth magnetic layer (m is an integer more than 0) from a middle layer side is referred to as a magnetic layer m, and the average saturation magnetization and the average film thickness of the magnetic layer m are assumed to be Mm and dm, respectively, 0.5<Mde/Mdo<1 is met, if a total summation of Mm*dm in case that m is an odd number is Mdo, and the total summation of Mm*dm in case that m is an even number is Mde.

Magnetic tunnel magneto-resistance device and magnetic memory using the same


A drive system for an agricultural baler that includes a power take off (PTO) shaft configured for being operably connected in between an agricultural vehicle and the agricultural baler and for supplying motive power to the agricultural baler, a gearbox configured for being mounted on the agricultural baler and connected to the PTO shaft for receiving motive power from the PTO shaft, a pickup drive shaft operably connected to the gearbox and configured for being operably connected to a reel of a pickup unit of the agricultural baler, at least one sensor associated with the pickup drive shaft and configured for sensing a rotational movement of the pickup drive shaft, and an electrical processing circuit operably connected to the at least one sensor. The electrical processing circuit is configured for disconnecting motive power to the reel.

The present invention pertains to agricultural balers and, more specifically, to a drive system for an agricultural baler.
Agricultural harvesting machines, such as balers, are used to consolidate and package crop material so as to facilitate the storage and handling of the crop material for later use. In the case of hay, a mower-conditioner is typically used to cut and condition the crop material for windrow drying in the sun. In the case of straw, an agricultural combine discharges non-grain crop material from the rear of the combine defining the straw (such as wheat or oat straw) which is to be picked up by the baler. The cut crop material is typically raked and dried, and a baler, such as a large square baler or round baler, straddles the windrows and travels along the windrows to pick up the crop material and form it into bales.
A round baler may generally include a frame, supported by wheels, a pickup unit to engage and lift the crop material into the baler, a cutting unit, a main bale chamber for forming a bale, and a wrapping mechanism for wrapping or tying a material around the bale after it has been formed in the main bale chamber. As the baler is towed over a windrow, the pickup unit lifts the crop material into the baler. Then, the crop material may be cut into smaller pieces by the cutting unit. As the crop material enters the main bale chamber, multiple carrier elements, e.g. rollers, chains and slats, and/or belts, will begin to roll a bale of hay within the chamber. These carrier elements are movable so that the chamber can initially contract and subsequently expand to maintain an appropriate amount of pressure on the periphery of the bale. After the bale is formed and wrapped by the wrapping mechanism, the rear of the baler is configured to open for allowing the bale to be discharged onto the field.
The pickup unit of a round baler may include tine bars and multiple tines attached to the tine bars for picking up the crop material from the field. The pickup unit may also include a driveline that is operably connected in between the power take off (PTO) shaft of the tractor, or other agricultural vehicle, and the tine bars. Thus, the driveline transmits the power from the PTO shaft in order to rotate the tine bars and tines attached thereto.
To protect the pickup unit from damage during a torque overload, for example when a foreign object or a sudden and large accumulation of crop material enters the pickup unit, operating power to the pickup unit may be cut off. For instance, a pickup unit of a baler may additionally include a radial pin, shear bolt, or overrunning clutch configuration which operably disconnects the driveline of the pickup unit from the PTO shaft. Generally, once the pickup unit has stopped, the operator must remove the foreign object or jammed crop material. It may be time-consuming and arduous to reset or re-engage power to the pickup unit. For example, replacing shear bolts can be a time-consuming process. Furthermore, various concerns may arise if operating power is undesirably applied to the pickup unit when the operator is still in the midst of cleaning out or resetting the pickup unit. Hence, it may be desirable, and even required by some regulatory standards, to only reengage operating power the pickup unit upon manual intervention by the operator.
What is needed in the art is a cost-effective and efficient drive system for protecting the pickup unit as well as the operator.


A buffer assembly for a gamma-insensitive gas avalanche focal plane array operating in the ultra-violet/visible/infrared energy wavelengths and using a photocathode and an avalanche gas located in a gap between an anode and the photocathode. The buffer assembly functions to eliminate chemical compatibility between the gas composition and the materials of the photocathode. The buffer assembly in the described embodiment is composed of two sections, a first section constructed of glass honeycomb under vacuum and a second section defining a thin barrier film or membrane constructed, for example, of Al and Be, which is attached to and supported by the honeycomb. The honeycomb section, in turn, is supported by and adjacent to the photocathode.

The invention relates to photon detectors, particularly to ultra-violet, visible, and infra-red photon detection, and more particularly to a buffer assembly for a gamma-insensitive sensor which involves the conversion of incident optical photons into photoelectrons and subsequent amplification of these photoelectrons via generation of electron avalanches.
Photon detectors operate by converting photons into electronic signals that can be processed into pulses or images. These include devices such as photodiodes, photomultiplier tubes, vidicons, charged-coupled devices (CCD's) etc. All photon detectors are characterized by their sensitivity to photons as a function of photon energy, their ability to amplify incident photons into large electrical signals proportional to the incident photon intensity (gain), their ability to distinguish fine detail in an image (position resolution), their temporal response to incident photons (time resolution), and their inherent noise level (dark current).
Various types of photon sensing or detection devices and imaging systems using the detected photons are known in the art as exemplified by U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,032,729 issued Jul. 16, 1991 to G. Charpak; 4,853,395 issued Aug. 1, 1989 to R. R. Alfano et al.; 4,687,921 issued Aug. 18, 1987 to H. Kojola; 4,564,753 issued Jan. 14, 1986 to G. VanAller et al.; and 4,070,578 issued Jan. 24, 1978 to J. G. Timothy et al.
Optical sensors operating in ultraviolet, visible, and infra-red wavelength bands have a variety of applications. The current generation of sensors, such as exemplified above, uses various types of semiconductor focal plane arrays to detect the optical photons emitted, for example, by the combustion of fuel for propulsion, such as a various rockets and/or space vehicles. In certain applications, the optical sensors need to be capable of operating in environments, such as nuclear. One of these environments is the gamma flux emitted by fission or generated by neutron capture in the sensor and near-by materials. Ionizing events caused by these gammas, mainly via Compton, photo and pair-produced electrons, in the thin sensitive layers of the focal plane pixels, will blind the sensor once the gamma flux is sufficiently large so as to produce one or more ionizing events in each and every pixel in the time interval during which the pixels integrate the charges produced by optical photons. For certain applications this blinding gamma flux is on the order of 10.sup.8 gammas/cm.sup.2 /sec and higher.
When a single Compton electron traverses the sensitive layer of a semiconductor focal plane array pixel, which is typically 10 microns thick, it will deposit enough energy to produce on the average 10.sup.4 hole-electron pairs. An optical photon, when absorbed in this same layer, will produce only a single hole-electron pair. It is this 10.sup.4 :1 advantage of a Compton electron relative to an optical photon that enables as little as one gamma event to overwhelm the charge deposited on a pixel from all the optical photons collected in a typical sample time.
While the gamma-insensitive optical sensor of above-referenced application Ser. No. 08/011639 satisfied the prior need for an optical sensor capable of operating in a gamma flux environment, using an avalanche gas in contact with the photocathode, whereby the gammas can be rejected or distinguished from the optical photons, the avalanche gases must be chemically compatible with the photocathode materials. Thus, the sensor of the parent application was limited to choice of avalanche gases due to the chemical compatibility limitation. The present invention provides a solution to this chemical compatibility limitation by providing a buffer between the photocathode and the gas.

Buffer for a gamma-insensitive optical sensor with gas and a buffer assembly

The United States of America as represented by the United States Department of Energy


A tester connects with the connector of electrical vehicle service equipment (EVSE). The tester simulates the battery supply of an electric vehicle to test whether the EVSE is properly operating without requiring that the electric vehicle be present. In one embodiment LEDs are employed to indicate whether the EVSE meets specifications. In a second embodiment various measurements of voltage levels and signals are provided to allow for a more detailed analysis of the performance characteristics of the EVSE. Ground fault, proximity sensor, and re-closure tests are also undertaken.

This disclosure relates generally to electric vehicle service equipment (EVSE) employed for charging the battery power supply of an electric vehicle. More particularly, this disclosure relates to devices and methods for installing EVSE in connection with residential installations.
The increased popularity of electric vehicles has been coupled with the increased numbers of installations of EVSE to provide charging terminals. The installation of EVSE typically requires the services of an electrician to ensure that the EVSE is operating properly and that the EVSE installation is safe.
Standards have been adopted by The Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) and various governmental and professional organizations for providing a standard electrical connection and protocol between the land based electrical power supply and the battery charging unit of the electrical vehicle. This is typically implemented in the form of J1772 connectors.
When installing an EVSE, it is necessary to test the unit, to ensure its proper performance, before connecting to an electric vehicle. An installer typically will not have access to an electric vehicle, and it is recommended to use the electric vehicle as a tester. Therefore, there is a need for an EVSE tester that is portable and easy to use that tests all operating and safety functions of a newly installed EVSE. There is also a need for a tester that not only tests the operation and safety functions, but will also display the various performance values when the EVSE fails the "go/no go" requirements.
This disclosure pertains to two such tester devices. The first device is a go/no go tester to simply determine if the EVSE is performing within specifications. The second device is not only used to test the EVSE, but to display the values of each test to better determine the root cause of a failure.

Electric vehicle service equipment tester


According to various embodiments, there is a method of inspecting semiconductor wafers comprising comparing a value for each wafer in a lot of wafers to a mathematical model, where the values include data about at least one feature on the wafers, and where the mathematical model comprises a threshold value corresponding to the at least one feature, and further where values greater than the threshold value comprise an indication of a spin defect. The method can also comprise determining whether any of the values of the wafers in the lot are not greater than the threshold value, grouping into a group (P) those wafers whose values are not greater than the threshold value, and flagging for further inspection those wafers having values greater than the threshold value.

Critical dimensions (CD) of semiconductor devices continue to shrink. With smaller CD comes increased attention to minimizing errors associated with the photolithography processes used to make the devices. Common photolithography errors that are monitored include those from wafer and mask misalignment. Indeed, misalignment of the mask with respect to the wafer causes an element of a device to be formed at an improper position. If the alignment is off by an unacceptable amount, the devices do not function properly.
Another error of photolithography to be monitored is the error associated with photolithographic shot placement. During device processing a single mask may be used multiple times to expose the semiconductor wafer. This is often the case when the pattern of the mask is placed and shot (i.e., exposed) multiple times across the same device or across multiple devices on the same wafer. Improper alignment of the shot placement, however, causes a device or an element of a device to be formed at an improper position. Again, if the alignment is off by an unacceptable amount, an individual device or all of the devices, on a wafer do not function properly.
Unfortunately, however, the methods and devices commonly used to inspect for errors are complicated and are limited to inspecting only a few types of errors that can arise during manufacturing. Accordingly, embodiments of the invention described herein improve the error inspection processes and can inspect semiconductor wafers for additional types of errors that are currently neglected during manufacturing.

Real-time mathematical model for wafer spin defect detection and for misalignment analyses


A self-examination device including (i) a first layer formed of two sheets of material connected to form a plurality of enclosures encapsulating fluid therein and (ii) a second layer composed of a sheet of material opposing the first layer and attached to the first layer along a first portion to form a cavity between the first and second layers. The second layer is unattached to the first layer along a second portion to form an opening to the cavity to receive at least a portion of a hand to enable a person to perform a self-examination via the enclosures of the first layer.

1. Technical Field of the Invention
The principles of the present invention are generally directed to a self-examination device, and more particularly, but not by way of limitation, to a self-examination device that includes multiple enclosures having lubricating fluid at the finger locations to enhance effectiveness for detecting abnormalities in the human anatomy.
2. Description of Related Art
Breast cancer is one of the leading causes of death in women. Early detection of the cancer is one of the most important ways for treating the disease. Typically, breast cancer is detected when lumps formed in the breast are detected. The lumps can be detected by X-ray radio photography (mammography). However, women generally receive mammograms once a year after the age of forty. While the frequency of once a year for having a mammogram is beneficial, breast cancer not detected by a mammogram may develop rapidly between mammograms. A fast developing cancer may advance to a stage that requires more advanced treatment within the one-year period between mammograms.
Because having a mammogram at a frequency of one-year may not be often enough for some breast cancers, women are encouraged to perform self-examinations of their breasts to feel for lumps. Self-examinations of the breasts may result in a higher rate of early detection of lumps or other abnormality that is or may lead to breast cancer.
There are a number of techniques for a self-examination of the breast to be performed, including standing and lying while wet and dry. Generally, a self-examination in the bath and shower with water and soap is recommended, but creams may be used outside of the bath or shower. However, while these techniques are recommended, women often fail to perform the self-examinations or fail to perform the self-examination correctly for a variety of reasons. In the case where women simply fail to perform the breast self-examination, the leading reasons include embarrassment, lack of skill, forgetfulness, religious beliefs, etc. In the case of women not performing the breast self-examination correctly, the leading reasons include poor technique, dry skin, positioning, lack of sensitivity, etc.
To assist women in remembering to perform breast self-examinations and assisting to perform better quality and more thorough breast self-examinations, self-examination devices have been developed. These self-examination devices include pads and mittens.
A self-examination pad is typically configured as two sheets of material having a circular shape and sealed about the perimeter to form an enclosure having a lubricant contained or encapsulated therein. The size of the pad is typically six inches or more (i.e., about the size of a hand) in diameter. The sheets of materials are typically formed of soft, pliable, elastic, and smooth material. Elastomers, either natural or synthetic, are suitable for use as the sheets of material that have been deemed to satisfy the requirements for a self-examination device as understood in the art. The lubricant has traditionally been soapy water, silicon, or any other fluid that is capable of operating as a lubricant to enable the two sheets forming the pad to slide in relation to one another when being pressed together during the self-examination. As understood in the art, the pad is used by being pressed between the breast or other part of the human anatomy (e.g., testicle) and fingers. The sheet that is pressed against the skin remains fixed in place in relation to the skin while the sheet being pressed by the fingers remains fixed in relation to the fingers, but slides in relation to the other sheet, thereby making it easier for a person to feel for lumps in the breast, for example, rather than artifacts on the skin.
A self-examination mitten is generally constructed in a similar manner as the self-examination pad with the exception of having an added sheet of material connected to a pad to form a pocket or cavity so as to enable a person to insert a hand into the mitt to engage the hand. However, in both the case of the pad and mitt, the fluid contained in the enclosure tends to flow to the bottom of the enclosure (i.e., near a person's wrist) due to gravity, thereby making the self-examination devices more difficult to use because the lubricant flows to areas of the enclosure that are not being rubbed together during the self-examination.


A valve for dispensing fluid to and from a container. The valve includes a housing defining a flow passage extending longitudinally therethrough. A poppet member is telescopically mounted in the flow passage of the housing and is telescopically movable between an open position and a closed position. The poppet member has a proximal end portion that includes a second retaining structure that cooperates with a first retaining structure of the housing to provide a snap fit connection for retaining the poppet member in the housing. The snap fit connection allows the poppet member to be mounted in the housing by inserting the poppet member through a front end of the housing member.

Disposable containers are routinely used in commercial and industrial applications to transport and dispense a variety of fluids such as food products, cleaning solutions, detergents, and other products. Some containers are constructed of semi-rigid plastic while others are constructed of flexible plastic and are often supported within a protective box.
It is common for such containers to be equipped with valve structures that facilitate dispensing fluids to or from the containers. The valve structures are preferably designed to be quickly coupling with exterior coupling members. Additionally, because the valves are typically disposable, cost is an important factor that must be considered in designing the valves.
Known valves typically include outer closures or housings that define longitudinal flow paths extending therethrough. Poppet members are generally telescopically mounted within the housings and are telescopically moveable between open and closed positions. Conventional poppet members typically include face seals for forming a seal with the housing. The poppet members are typically mounted in the housings by inserting the poppet members through the back sides of the housings and then using separate retaining members or collars to retain the poppet members within the housings. Consequently, a conventional valve typically has at least three separate parts which include the housing, the poppet member, and the retaining collar.
What is needed is a more cost effective valve. What is also needed is a valve having a minimal number of parts. Furthermore, what is needed is a valve that can be assembled rapidly. Moreover, what is needed is a valve assembly method that is conducive for automation.

Valve and method for assembling the same


The present disclosure describes structures and methods for a via structure for three-dimensional integrated circuit (IC) packaging. The via structure includes a middle portion that extends through a planar structure and a first end and a second end each connected to the middle portion and on a different side of the planar structure. One or more of the first end and the second end includes one or more of a plurality of vias and a pseudo metal layer.

The semiconductor integrated circuit (IC) industry has experienced exponential growth. In three-dimensional (3D) IC packaging, through-silicon vias (TSVs) can be used to connect ICs/components on opposite sides of a silicon wafer substrate/die (or any suitable planar structure). A TSV is an electrical connection that passes/extends through the silicon wafer substrate/die and connects devices/structures (e.g., metal interconnects) on the opposite sides of the silicon wafer substrate/die.
3D IC packaging can be modeled in IC design tools (e.g., electronic design automation tools (EDA) tools). Design rules applied by the IC design tools can be used to determine whether connection patterns between a TSV and another device/structure (e.g., a metal interconnect) are acceptable. For example, a design rule check (DRC) and/or layout versus schematic (LVS) check can be performed on a circuit layout that includes the TSV to check if any violations to the design rules have been detected. When no violations are detected, the circuit layout can be converted to a corresponding graphic database system (GDS) file for tape-out.

Through-silicon vias in integrated circuit packaging

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.


Method for dewatering, pressure testing, hydrotreating, suppressing methane hydrate formation and suppressing solution freezing point in pipeline operations have been disclosed, where the solution used in the operations includes an effective amount of a metal formate salt. The metal formate salt solutions have a low viscosity, have a high density, have a low metals corrosivity, are non-volatile, have a low solubility in hydrocarbons, are readily biodegradable, have a low toxicity, are non-hazardous, have a low environmental impact, have a freezing point depression property forming water/formate eutectic point mixtures, and have a water-structuring and water activity modification property.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method and a use of an aqueous, metal ion formate salt composition for reducing a residual water film on an interior of a pipeline during pipeline dewatering operations, which may involve the use of a pig or a plurality of pigs, for pipeline pressure testing operations, for freezing pointing suppression for sub-freezing temperature pipeline testing operations, i.e., operation at temperatures below 0° C.
More particularly, the present invention relates to a method and a use of an aqueous metal ion formate salt composition for pipeline operations. The method includes the step of contacting an interior of a pipeline with an effective amount of an aqueous metal ion formate salt composition, where the effective amount is sufficient to reduce substantially all or part of a residual water film from the interior of the pipeline during a dewatering operation. The metal ion formate salt composition includes a concentration of metal ion formate salt sufficient to dilute a water concentration of a residual film in a pipeline formed during a dewatering operation, where the dewatering operation may involve the use of a pig or multiple pigs. The present invention also relates to a method and a use of an aqueous metal ion formate salt composition in pipeline pressure testing operations. In sub-freezing point operations, the composition includes an amount of the metal ion formate salt sufficient to suppress a freezing point of fluid during repair and/or pressure testing operations to a desired temperature below a freezing point of ordinary water. The present invention also relates to a method and a use of an aqueous metal ion formate salt composition in all other sub-freezing temperature operations, including wet hydrocarbon transmission in sub-freezing temperature environments.
2. Description of the Related Art
Large volumes of methanol and glycol are routinely injected into gas transport pipelines to inhibit the formation of gas hydrates. These chemicals are derived from hydrocarbons and pose a potential environmental risk for the user. Companies commonly apply conditioning agents such as these for pipeline pre-commissioning operations.
Thermodynamic gas hydrate inhibitors are widely used for a number of applications. They essentially reduce the equilibrium temperature of hydrate formation by acting on the chemical potential of water in the aqueous phase. Chemicals such as methanol and glycol which fall into this category are generally dosed at relatively high concentrations (10-15% w/w) in the aqueous phase. Methanol is, on mass basis the most efficient of the conventional thermodynamic hydrate inhibitors. It is cheap and readily available, but it is a volatile chemical and losses of the inhibitor to the hydrocarbon phase can be considerable. In addition, the handling of methanol is complicated by its toxicity and flammability. While ethylene glycols are far less flammable, and their losses in the hydrocarbon phase are lower, they possess similar toxicity issues.
Despite the widespread use of brines in drilling fluids as gas hydrate inhibitors they are rarely used in pipelines. This is because conventional brines are corrosive, prone to crystallization and generally less effective than either methanol or glycol.
Pipelines that are used for transportation of hydrocarbon gases should be free of water. There are various reasons for this including: (1) prevention of hydrate formation, (1) prevention or reduction of corrosion, and (3) meeting gas sale specifications. Newly constructed pipelines are typically hydrotested; it is, therefore, necessary to dewater and condition the pipeline. This often involves the use of "conditioning" chemicals such as ethylene glycol or other similar glycols or methanol. These chemicals present the industry with certain toxicity problems, which prevents them from being discharged into marine environments. Further, methanol presents another problem; it is highly flammable in air.
Thus, there is a need in the art for an improved system and method for dewatering and conditioning pipelines and for a new fluid for use in repair and pressure testing at temperatures below the freezing point of pure water, which are environmentally friendly and have similar thermodynamic hydrate inhibition properties and similar freezing point suppressant properties compared to methanol and glycols.

Composition and method for pipeline conditioning and freezing point suppression


A narrow band molecular fluorine laser system includes an oscillator and an amplifier, wherein the oscillator produces a 157 nm beam having a linewidth less than 1 pm and the amplifier increases the power of the beam above a predetermined amount, such as more than one or several Watts. The oscillator includes a discharge chamber filled with a laser gas including molecular fluorine and a buffer gas, electrodes within the discharge chamber connected to a discharge circuit for energizing the molecular fluorine, and a resonator including the discharge chamber for generating a laser beam having a wavelength around 157 nm. Line-narrowing optics are included intra- and/or extra-resonator for reducing the linewidth of the laser beam to less than 1 pm. The amplifier may be the same or a different discharge chamber, and optical and/or electronic delays may be used for timing pulses from the oscillator to reach the amplifier at a maximum in the discharge current of the amplifier.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a molecular fluorine laser system including line-narrowing elements and method for generating a VUV laser beam having a spectral linewidth of less than substantially 1 pm.
2. Description of the Related Art
Vacuum-UV microlithography takes advantage of the short wavelength of the molecular fluorine laser (157.6 nm), which allows the formation of structures of 0.1 xcexcm or below by photolithographic exposure on semiconductor substrates. TFT annealing and micro-machining applications may also be performed advantageously at this wavelength.
Given the limited choice of high quality optical materials available in this wavelength range for manufacturing imaging lenses, requirements of minimal chromatic aberrations restrict spectral linewidths of the laser source for refractive and partially achromatic imaging systems to below 1 pm. The expectation is that spectral linewidths be between 0.1 pm and 0.2 pm, and perhaps even below 0.1 pm in the future. Conventional molecular fluorine lasers emit VUV beams having spectral linewidths of greater than 1 pm.
A disadvantage of narrowing of spectral linewidth in a laser is that it commonly leads to a significant decrease of efficiency and output power. Therefore, it is recognized in the present invention that to achieve a desired high throughput for 157 nm wafer steppers or wafer scanners, it would be advantageous to have a line-narrowed molecular fluorine laser emitting an output beam of less than 1 pm, with a high output power that averages anywhere from several watts to more than 10 watts.
It is therefore a first object of the present invention to provide a VUV laser system having a narrow linewidth, i.e., less than substantially 1 pm for producing small structures on silicon wafers.
It is a second object of the invention to provide a VUV laser having a linewidth of 1 pm or less which exhibits sufficient output power, i.e., at least several Watts, to allow high throughput for VUV lithography applications at 157 nm.
Methods and apparatuses are provided in accord with the above objects, such as a narrow band molecular fluorine laser system including an oscillator and an amplifier, wherein the oscillator produces a 157 nm beam having a linewidth less than 1 pm and the amplifier increases the power of the beam above a predetermined amount, such as more than one or several Watts. The oscillator includes a discharge chamber filled with a laser gas including molecular fluorine and a buffer gas, electrodes within the discharge chamber connected to a discharge circuit for energizing the molecular fluorine, and a resonator including the discharge chamber and line-narrowing optics for generating the laser beam having a wavelength around 157 nm and a linewidth less than 1 pm.
The amplifier preferably comprises a discharge chamber filled with a laser gas including molecular fluorine and a buffer gas, electrodes connected to the same or a similar discharge circuit, e.g., using an electrical delay circuit, for energizing the molecular fluorine. The amplifier discharge is timed to be at or near a maximum in discharge current when the pulse from the oscillator reaches the amplifier discharge chamber.
The line-narrowing optics preferably include one or more etalons tuned for maximum transmissivity of a selected portion of the spectral distribution of the beam, and for relatively low transmissivity of outer portions of the spectral distribution of the beam. A prism beam expander is preferably provided before the etalohs for expanding the beam incident on the etalon or etalons. Two etalons may be used and tuned such that only a single interference order is selected.
The line-narrowing optics may further include a grating for selecting a single interference order of the etalon or etalons corresponding to the selected portion of the spectral distribution of the beam. The resonator further preferably includes an aperture within the resonator, and particularly between the discharge chamber and the beam expander. A second aperture may be provided on the other side of the discharge chamber.
The line-narrowing optics may include no etalon. For example, the line optics may instead include only a beam expander and a diffraction grating. The beam expander preferably includes two, three or four VUV transparent prisms before the grating. The grating preferably has a highly reflective surface for serving as a resonator reflector in addition to its role of dispersing the beam.
The line-narrowing optics may include an etalon output coupler tuned for maximum reflectivity of a selected portion of the spectral distribution of the beam, and for relatively low reflectivity of outer portions of the spectral distribution of the beam. This system would also include optics such as a grating, dispersive prism or etalon, preferably following a beam expander, for selecting a single interference order of the etalon output coupler. The resonator would preferably have one or more apertures for reducing stray light and divergence within the resonator.
In any of above configurations including a grating, a highly reflective mirror may be disposed after the grating such that the grating and HR mirror form a Littman configuration. Alternatively, the grating may serve to retroreflect as well as to dispserse the beam in a Littrow configuration. A transmission grating or grism may also be used.
The buffer gas preferably includes neon and/or helium for pressurizing the gas mixture sufficiently to increase the output energy for a given input energy and to increase the energy stability, gas and tube lifetime, and/or pulse duration. The laser system further preferably includes a gas supply system for transferring molecular fluorine into discharge chamber and thereby replenishing the molecular fluorine, therein, and a processor cooperating with the gas supply system to control the molecular fluorine concentration within the discharge chamber to maintain the molecular fluorine concentration within a predetermined range of optimum performance of the laser.
The laser system may also include a spectral filter between the oscillator and the amplifier for further narrowing the linewidth of the output beam of the oscillator. The spectral filter may include an etalon or etalons following a beam expander. Alternatively, the spectral filter may include a grating for dispersing and narrowing the beam. In the grating embodiment, the spectral filter may include a lens focusing the beam through a slit and onto a collimating optic prior to impinging upon the beam expander-grating combination.

Molecular fluorine laser with spectral linewidth of less than 1 pm


Disclosed is a self-construction system of a wireless sensor network, and a method for self-construction of a wireless sensor network using the same. Also disclosed is a method for self-construction of a cluster tree structure-based wireless sensor network (WSN). The present invention can connect devices distributed densely in a wide area to a network while maintaining the advantages of a conventional tree-structured network, such as the reduction of time required for network construction, traffic by the exchange of control command messages, and a load for a routing path search, and thus can provide a WSN having an improved self-construction performance.

In recent years, since a micro electro mechanical system (MEMS) based sensor technique, a low-power analog and digital electronic technique, a low-power RF design technique, and the like have been rapidly developed, a network technique using comparatively low-cost, low-power type wireless sensors have been actively developed.
Since self-construction in wireless sensor networks (hereinafter, referred to as WSN) as a very important technique for construction of a large-scale network comprising a large number of sub systems can be generally used for improving network extensibility and dynamically adapting to a change in environmental condition, it plays a very important role in a communication system.
Cluster-based self-construction in the WSN segments an entire network by the cluster unit to present a networkbased structure for easy control and uses a hierarchical approach that divides an entire WSN into cluster classes, and respective sensor nodes form one cluster around one cluster head and segment the entire network by the cluster unit. A cluster head of each cluster serves to route data which are acquired, collected, and merged in each cluster, to a cluster head of another cluster or a base station.
The process of self-construction of the WSN generally comprises three steps, that is, a network structure determination step of determining the construction of the network, a network connection step of connecting devices and extending the network according to the determined network structure, and a data transmission step in which the connected devices transmit and receive signals to and from each other. When the devices of the WSN access to the network, they are granted with their own unique addresses to recognize each other by the address, data transmission and reception between intra-cluster devices comprising one parent device and a plurality of child devices are performed within the same superframe duration, and devices which are far from each other transmit and receive data through multi-hops due to limitation of a transmission distance of the device. Therefore, a unique address is allocated to each device for self-construction of a large-scale WSN, the superframe duration used by each cluster is independently allocated in order to prevent cluster-to-cluster interference, and it is essential to search for a routing path for multi-hop transmission.
A balanced-tree based WSN self-construction process of Zigbee which is a representative WSN system can be described in what follows. First, the network structure determination step makes a coordinator that controls the entire network construct a balanced-tree based network according to a maximum network depth, the maximum number of child devices, the maximum number of child routers, and the like. Thereafter, in the network connection step, each device determines all routers within a communication range as a parent candidate group, and selects a router in which a network depth is smallest among the routers as a parent, and as a result, a full function device requests subscription as a router and a reduced function device requests subscription as an end device. The router assigned as the parent determines whether to accept the device that requests the subscription by itself in consideration of the maximum number of child devices and the maximum number of child routers and thereafter, directly allocates addresses to the devices exploiting a balanced-tree structure, establishing the parent and child relationship. In this case, to determine the balanced-tree structure, each parent device transmits a beacon signal containing parameters including the maximum network depth, the maximum number of child devices, the maximum number of child routers, allowing the child devices to share the balanced-tree structure.
When a specific device cannot make a subscription to any of all neighboring routers, it recognizes network subscription failure and becomes an orphan device, and when the full function device cannot make subscription to the network as a router, it re-tries to make subscription to the network as an end device.
Finally, devices connected to the network can transmit data by means of hierarchical routing associated with the balanced-tree structure in the data transmission step.
Zigbee can make self-construction of a balanced-tree based WSN while providing advantages of using reduced time and traffic for exchange of control command messages in the network construction, and requiring no additional search for routing path in a tree based hierarchical routing, but it may have problems in that the network depth is limited due to a characteristic of a balanced-tree in which the size of the tree structure is exponentially increased according to the network depth and the number of useless addresses is increased as the formed WSN is enlarged because the balanced-tree structure is determined without considering operating environments. Further, since the full function device that can the router or the end device requests subscription as a router until subscription of the full function device is rejected by all neighboring parent candidates, the routers are concentrated at the vicinity of the coordinator, and as a result, it is difficult to extend the network far even though the network depth is increased. Moreover, since a channel is saturated and thus the clusters cannot have an independent superframe when the density of devices is high due to a constraint condition in which an entire network uses a single channel, connectivity of the network is significantly degraded due to cluster-to-cluster interference.

Self-construction system of wireless sensor network and method for self-construction of wireless sensor network using the same


The present invention is a high velocity pneumatic and water device for excavating a work area. The device comprises a "T" shaped tubular body that is connected to an external source of high velocity air and water mix. At the top end of the device exists a valve and regulator assembly for individually adjustably controlling the amount of air and water which is delivered to the ports of three separate manifolds contained within the device. Through this adjustable control the device can deliver varying amounts of motive force to a surface and thereby be used to excavate a wide range of materials.

This invention relates to a portable hand held pneumatic and water power excavator. This device is comprised of a "T" shaped tubular body, having a bottom inlet means. It is controlled by a valve and regulator system which activates air outlet ports connected to manifolds at the bottom and the top end of the device.
The source of energy to operate this device is an external high velocity air compressor with a water source or a "power washer".
This power excavator has the capability to dislodge various materials, break them down into smaller pieces and by a suction method, remove them from the desired work area.
A search of the prior history reveals several patents related to this topic.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,140,759 invented by Thomas Artzberger, titled "PNEUMATIC DEVICE FOR EXCAVATING AND REMOVING MATERIAL", has a drawback in as to re-direct the air flow from pulverizing to suction, you have to manually stop the process you are performing and physically adjust a setting at the bottom end of the device. This takes time and is inconvenient to do. You also cannot simultaneously perform a dislodging and removal operation which aids in speeding up the removal process. Also, this device does not use water as part of the excavating process to help break down the material to be removed. It also lacks an air system on the top end to increase suction and to help keep the ejection chute clear of debris being removed.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,991,321 also invented by Thomas Artzberger and titled "PNEUMATIC DEVICE FOR EXCAVATING AND REMOVING MATERIAL". The main drawback to this invention is that the nozzle for disbursing air is in the center of the suction tube, thus partially blocking matter being sucked up to remove it from the excavation area.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,936,031 invented by Aubrey Briggs and Richard Nathenson is very clumsy and bulky and limited to use because of its size. It is also connected to a trailer with hydraulic cylinders and hoses. This greatly limits its use and adaptability.

Portable hand held pneumatic and water power excavator