A plasma etching apparatus includes a processing chamber in which a specimen is subjected to plasma processing, a specimen holder for holding the specimen, the specimen holder including a temperature controller for controlling temperatures at at least 2 positions of the specimen, at least two gas supply sources for supplying processing gases, at least two gas inlets for introducing the processing gases into the processing chamber, a regulator for independently controlling the compositions or the flow rates of the processing gases introduced from the at least two gas inlets and the temperatures controlled with at least two temperature controllers in the specimen holder, and an electromagnetic wave supply unit for sending an electromagnetic wave into the processing chamber, wherein the compositions or the flow rates of the processing gases introduced from the gas inlets and the temperature controlled with the temperature controllers in the specimen holder are independently controlled.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a plasma etching apparatus for processing a semiconductor substrate, such as a semiconductor wafer, and to a plasma etching method using the plasma etching apparatus.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventionally, a plasma etching apparatus utilizing reactive plasma has been used to process a semiconductor substrate, such as a semiconductor wafer, in a manufacturing process of a semiconductor device.
As an example of the plasma etching, etching for forming a polysilicon (poly-Si) gate electrode of a metal oxide semiconductor (MOS) transistor (hereinafter referred to as gate etching) is described below with reference to FIGS. 7A to 7C. As illustrated in FIG. 7A, a specimen 1 before etching is composed of a silicon (Si) substrate 2, a silicon dioxide (SiO2) film 3, a polysilicon film 4, an antireflection coating (also referred to as bottom anti-reflective coating: BARC) 5, and a photoresist mask 6, from the bottom. The gate etching involves a BARC etching process and a polysilicon etching process. In the gate etching, the polysilicon film 4 in an area not covered with the photoresist mask 6 or the antireflection coating 5 is removed by exposing the specimen 1 to reactive plasma.
In the BARC etching process, the antireflection coating 5 in an area not covered with the photoresist mask 6 is removed by exposing the specimen 1 to reactive plasma. After the BARC etching process, an antireflection coating 5′ remains under the photoresist mask 6, as illustrated in FIG. 7B. In the polysilicon etching process, as in the BARC etching process, the polysilicon film 4 in an area not covered with the photoresist mask 6 and the antireflection coating 5′ is removed. After the polysilicon etching process, as illustrated in FIG. 7C, a gate electrode 7 is formed on the silicon dioxide film 3 under the photoresist mask 6 and the antireflection coating 5′.
The gate width 9 of the gate electrode 7 has a large influence on the performance of an electronic device and is therefore strictly controlled as the most critical dimension (CD). A value calculated by subtracting the width of a mask before etching from the width of a film after etching is referred to as "CD shift." The CD shift is an important indicator to determine the quality of etching. Thus, a target CD shift is defined before etching. In the BARC etching process, the CD shift is calculated by subtracting the width 8 of the photoresist mask 6 from the width 8′ of the antireflection coating 5. Similarly, in the polysilicon etching process, the CD shift is calculated by subtracting the width 8′ of the antireflection coating 5 from the gate width 9. The CD shift of the gate etching is calculated by subtracting the width 8 of the photoresist mask 6 from the gate width 9.
A conventional plasma etching apparatus for the gate etching is described below with reference to FIG. 8. The conventional plasma etching apparatus includes a processing chamber 26 composed of a processing chamber lid 22 and a showerhead plate 24 on a processing chamber wall 20, and a specimen holder 28 in the processing chamber 26. A specimen 1 is placed on the specimen holder 28. A processing gas 36 is introduced into a space 32 between the processing chamber lid 22 and the showerhead plate 24 through an inlet 30 provided in the upper portion of the processing chamber wall 20. The processing gas 36 is then introduced into the processing chamber 26 through a lot of gas inlet holes 34 provided in the showerhead plate 24 and generates plasma 38. A plasma etching process is performed by exposing the specimen 1 to the plasma 38. The processing gas 36 and volatile substances produced during plasma etching are eliminated from an exhaust port 40. The exhaust port 40 is connected to a vacuum pump (not shown). The internal pressure of the processing chamber 26 is reduced to about 0.5 to about 1 Pa with the vacuum pump.
While the gate etching is performed with such a plasma etching apparatus, an increase in the size of the specimen 1 makes it difficult to achieve in-plane uniformity of the etch rate over a wider area of the specimen 1, the CD shift of the gate etching, and the shape of the gate electrode 7. Furthermore, recent finer design of a semiconductor device requires stricter control of the CD shift.
Deposition of a reaction product on the sidewall of a gate electrode is described below as a factor having an influence on the CD shift. Conventionally, a gas mixture, for example, of chlorine (Cl2), hydrogen bromide (HBr), and oxygen (O2) has been used in the gate etching. These gases are present in a plasma state during etching, serving as etchants for the polysilicon film 4. During etching, chlorine (Cl), hydrogen (H), bromine (Br), and oxygen (O) ions or radicals generated by the dissociation of chlorine, hydrogen bromide, and oxygen molecules in the processing gas 36 react with silicon from the polysilicon film 4 to produce reaction products. The ions are attracted to the specimen 1 owing to a high-frequency wave applied to the specimen 1 and perform anisotropic etching, thus providing a gate having a vertically well-defined desired shape. Although volatile substances in the resulting reaction products are eliminated from the exhaust port 40, nonvolatile substances are deposited on the polysilicon film 4 or the photoresist mask 6. Among the nonvolatile substances, nonvolatile reaction products deposited on the sidewall of the gate electrode 7 act as a protective film of the sidewall against etching by an etchant radical, such as chlorine. Thus, when a small amount of nonvolatile reaction products are deposited on the sidewall of the gate electrode 7, isotropic etching due to radicals often proceeds on the sidewall of the gate electrode 7, decreasing the gate width 9 after etching. On the other hand, when a large amount of nonvolatile reaction products are deposited on the sidewall of the gate electrode 7, the gate width 9 after etching often increases because they act as an etching mask.
Accordingly, the concentration of reaction products has a large influence on the gate width 9. A nonuniform distribution of reaction products in the vicinity of the surface of the specimen 1 may cause in-plane nonuniformity of the CD shift of the specimen 1. For example, while a central portion of the specimen 1 has silicon to be etched around the central portion, the perimeter of the specimen 1 has no silicon to be etched outside the perimeter. Thus, even when the etch rate is uniform on surface of the specimen 1, the concentration of reaction products containing silicon derived from the polysilicon film 4 is high in the central portion and low in an outer portion. This can also cause in-plane nonuniformity of the CD shift.
Furthermore, in-plane nonuniformity of an etchant, such as a chlorine radical or ion or a bromine radical or ion, in the vicinity of the surface of the specimen can cause in-plane nonuniformity of the etch rate, which can in turn cause in-plane nonuniformity of the CD shift. In addition, when a silicon-based reaction product produced in etching using chlorine or bromine is chemically combined with oxygen, the product is more easily deposited on the sidewall of the gate electrode 7. Thus, in-plane nonuniformity of the oxygen content may cause in-plane nonuniformity of the CD shift. Similarly, when a processing gas containing carbon, such as carbon tetrafluoride (CF4), is used, the resulting carbonaceous reaction product is more easily deposited on the sidewall of the gate electrode 7. Thus, in-plane nonuniformity of the concentration of the carbonaceous reaction product may cause in-plane nonuniformity of the CD shift.
As described above, nonuniform distribution of a reaction product or an etchant on the surface of the specimen 1 may cause in-plane nonuniformity of the CD shift. To improve in-plane uniformity of the CD shift, the inventors have focused attention on the importance of controlling the distribution of a reaction product in the vicinity of the surface of a specimen and the composition of a processing gas. Thus, the inventors proposed a technique in which gases having different compositions are introduced from a plurality of gas inlets (see, for example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2005-056914). However, this technique does not refer to individual control in a plurality of etching steps constituting the etching process. Furthermore, this technique is insufficient to reduce nonuniformity of the CD shift caused by variations in the surface density.
The amount of reaction product deposited on the sidewall of the polysilicon film 4 (that is, the side wall of the gate electrode 7 during etching), which is one of factors having an influence on the gate width 9, varies with the temperature of the specimen 1 during etching. This is because the sticking coefficient of a reaction product to the sidewall of the gate electrode 7 increases with decreasing temperature. Thus, the temperature distribution on the surface of the specimen 1 has an influence on the in-plane distribution of the CD shift. Japanese Patent Application No. 2005-028804 discloses a technique in which in-plane uniformity of the gate width 9 is improved by controlling the surface temperature distribution of the holder 28 of the specimen 1 to control the in-plane temperature distribution of the specimen 1. Thus, this technique can improve the in-plane uniformity of the gate width 9. However, there is a demand for a further improvement in uniformity of the CD shift caused by variations in the surface density.
The following is a description of nonuniformity of the CD shift caused by variations in the surface density. The photoresist mask 6 is not always uniformly formed on the surface of the specimen 1. For example, components of the photoresist mask 6 are close to each other in some portion. In other words, the photoresist mask 6 is formed densely in some portion (hereinafter referred to as dense portion). In contrast, components of the photoresist mask 6 are far from each other in another portion. In other words, the photoresist mask 6 is formed sparsely in another portion (hereinafter referred to as nondense portion). The amount of polysilicon to be etched is smaller in the dense portion than in the nondense portion. Thus, in the dense portion, a smaller amount of reaction product containing silicon derived from the polysilicon film 4 is produced; therefore a smaller amount of reaction product is deposited on the sidewall of the gate electrode 7. Hence, even when the nondense portion has the same photoresist mask width 8 as the dense portion, the nondense portion may have a larger CD shift and a larger gate width 9 than the dense portion. However, when the distance between adjacent components of the photoresist mask 6 is very small in the dense portion, the amount of radical etchant entering the space between the adjacent components is smaller than that in the nondense portion. Thus, the dense portion may have a larger CD shift than the nondense portion. Furthermore, when a processing gas has a high deposition power, the amount of deposits on the sidewall of the gate electrode 7 resulting from the processing gas is smaller in the dense portion. Thus, the dense portion may have a smaller CD shift than the nondense portion. The variations in the surface density also reduce in-plane uniformity of the CD shift and should therefore be decreased.
In general, a specimen composed of a plurality of films needs a plurality of etching steps and nonoperating steps between the etching steps. In nonoperating steps, plasma discharge is stopped to eliminate a processing gas. This is because the etching conditions vary greatly with the film type. Thus, the target CD shift cannot be achieved by a continuous plasma discharge throughout the steps. However, the nonoperating steps decrease the throughput.

Plasma etching apparatus and plasma etching method


A photo-patternable composition for forming an organic insulating film which includes (i) a functional group-containing monomer, (ii) an initiator generating an acid or a radical upon light irradiation, and (iii) an organic or inorganic polymer. Further disclosed is a method for forming a pattern of an organic insulating film using the composition. Since an organic insulating film can be simply patterned without involving any photoresist process, the overall procedure is simplified and eventually an organic thin film transistor with high charge carrier mobility can be fabricated by all wet processes.

This non-provisional application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(a) on Korean Patent Application No. 2004-46177 filed on Jun. 21, 2004, which is herein expressly incorporated by reference, and on Korean Patent Application No. 2005-47107 filed on Jun. 2, 2005, which is herein expressly incorporated by reference.
1. Field of the Invention
The embodiments of the present invention relate to a composition for forming an organic insulating film and a method for forming a pattern of an organic insulating film using the composition. More particularly, the embodiments of the present invention relate to a photo-patternable composition for forming an organic insulating film which comprises: (i) a functional group-containing monomer; (ii) an initiator generating an acid or a radical upon light irradiation; and (iii) an organic or inorganic polymer, and a method for forming a pattern of an organic insulating film using the composition.
2. Description of the Related Art
Since polyacetylenes as conjugated organic polymers exhibiting semiconductor characteristics were developed, organic semiconductors have been actively investigated as novel electrical and electronic materials in a wide variety of applications, e.g., functional electronic and optical devices and various synthetic processes, because of easy molding into fibers and films, superior flexibility, high conductivity and low manufacturing costs.
Among devices fabricated using these electrically conductive polymers, research on organic thin film transistors fabricated using organic materials as semiconductor active layers has been conducted since the 1980's. In this connection, a number of studies are now being actively undertaken around the world. Organic thin film transistors are substantially identical to silicon (Si) thin film transistors in terms of their structure, but have a great difference in that organic materials are used as semiconductor materials instead of silicon. In addition, such organic thin film transistors have advantages in that they can be fabricated by printing processes at ambient pressure, and further by roll-to-roll processes using plastic substrates, instead of conventional silicon processes, such as plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition (CVD), making organic thin film transistors economically advantageous over silicon thin film transistors.
Organic thin film transistors are expected to be useful for driving devices of active displays and plastic chips for use in smart cards and inventory tags, and are comparable to α-Si thin film transistors in terms of their performance. The performance of organic thin film transistors is dependent on the degree of crystallization of organic active layers, charge characteristics at the interfaces between substrates and organic active layers, carrier injection ability into the interfaces between source/drain electrodes and organic active layers.
There have been a number of trials to improve the performance of organic thin film transistors. Particularly, in an attempt to decrease a threshold voltage, insulators having a high dielectric constant, for example, ferroelectric insulators, such as BaxSr1-xTiO3 (barium strontium titanate (BST)), Ta2O5, Y2O3, TiO2, etc., and inorganic insulators, such as PbZrxTi1-xO3 (PZT), Bi4Ti3O12, BaMgF4, SrBi2(Ta1-xNBx)2O9, Ba(Zr1-xTix)O3 (BZT), BaTiO3, SrTiO3, Bi4Ti3O12, etc., have been used as materials for inorganic insulating films (U.S. Pat. No. 5,946,551). However, these inorganic oxide materials do not have a significant advantage over conventional silicon materials in terms of processing.
As materials for organic insulating films, polyimide, benzocyclobutene (BCB), photoacryl, and the like have been used (U.S. Pat. No. 6,232,157). However, since these organic insulating films exhibit unsatisfactory device characteristics over inorganic insulating films, they are unsuitable to replace inorganic insulating films.
In addition, Infineon Technology attempted to improve the chemical resistance of an organic insulating film in a subsequent process by mixing polyvinylphenol (PVP) with polymelamine-co-formaldehyde. However, this attempt is limited in its application to plastic substrates since a temperature as high as 200° C. is required to crosslink the PVP (Journal of Applied Physics 2003, 93, 2977 & Journal of Applied Physics 2002, 81, 289).
On the other hand, in order to apply organic thin film transistors to the display devices, it is necessary to form patterns of organic insulating films for the interconnection of electrodes. Photolithography has typically been employed to form patterns of organic insulating films. For photolithography, organic insulating films must satisfy the following additional requirements. That is, the organic insulating films must be compatible with photoresists. In addition, the organic insulating films must have superior thermal resistance and etch resistance to the photoresists so as not to be influenced by heating and etching during photolithography. Furthermore, the organic insulating films must have sufficient chemical resistance against a photoresist stripper to avoid the influence of the stripper when being exposed.
In the choice of suitable compositions for forming organic insulating films, the above-mentioned requirements should be taken into consideration. Accordingly, the compositions are very limited in their use. The choice of unsuitable compositions inevitably causes poor electrical properties and makes the fabrication of organic thin film transistors by all wet processes difficult. Thus, there exists a need in the art for a method for forming a pattern of an organic insulating film in a simple manner without the use of a photoresist.
In this connection, J. Vac. Sci. Technol. B, Vol. 14, No. 6, November/December 1996 describes a method for transferring a pattern by coating a resist on a substrate, imprinting the resist by molding, demolding, and removing the remaining resist by etching. However, this method has the limitation that it is not applicable to organic thin film transistors.
Microelectronic Engineering, 67-68 (2003), 845-852 discloses a method for forming a pattern of source/drain electrodes by forming a SiO2 insulating film on a Si substrate, forming metal electrodes on the insulating film by deposition, coating a polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) resist on the electrodes, followed by molding and etching. However, the application of this method is limited to patterns of source/drain electrodes.

Composition for forming organic insulating film and method for forming pattern of organic insulating film using the same


A disposable absorbent article with one or more side flaps or wings, having at least one corrugated region, is disclosed. The corrugated region includes a corrugated material having a multiplicity of ridges and recesses, a release material opposed to the corrugated material, and a multiplicity of glue strips between the corrugated material and the release material. The glue strips are attached to the crests of the ridges of the corrugated material. Also, methods of fabricating a composite material including the corrugated region are also disclosed.

Disposable absorbent articles with wings refer herein to personal care articles for absorbing bodily discharges. Typically, the articles having wings include catamenial napkins for absorbing menses (as well as other vaginal exudates), panty liners, adult incontinence pads for absorbing urine, and the like. These wings have been used to provide certain functions including integrating the article with the panties of a wearer for proper positioning of the article on the body of the wearer and preventing panties from "staining" by excretions when the article fails to prevent leakage. However, the panties containing an article with its wings wrapped around the crotch area of the panties can cause certain bodily discomfort to the wearer, caused by changes in the width and shape in the crotch area of the panties, often affected by the wrapped wings. Another cause of the bodily discomfort can result from the panties loosing elastic capability to stretch and contrast in response to bodily movements of the wearer.
FIG. 1 shows a photograph of a conventional wing 2 of a disposable absorbent article, wrapped or folded around a panty edge 3 of the panties 6 in the crotch area 7. It can be seen that the folded edge 5 of the conventional wing 2 does not follow the curvature 8 of the panty edge 3, thus, creating a distance 9 between the edge 3 and the folded edge 5, changing the width and the shape of the crotch area of the panties containing a feminine article with folded wings. It can be also seen that there are wrinkles 4 in the folded conventional wing 2, also capable of contributing to the bodily discomfort of a wearer.
Furthermore, the folded edge 5 of the conventional wing 2 of FIG. 1, typically tends to resist to stretching or contraction when the panty edge 3, often having elastic properties, stretches or contracts during wear of the panties 6 by a wearer. This deficiency of the conventional wing 2 to accommodate the elastic capability of the panty edge 3, can also contribute to bodily discomfort of a wearer.
Therefore, it would be beneficial to provide a disposable absorbent article with wings, which, during folding by a wearer around the edges of the panties, are capable of conforming to the curvature of the edges to improve bodily comfort of the wearer. Furthermore, it would be beneficial to provide a feminine hygiene article with wings, which, during wear by a wearer, are capable to stretch or contract to accommodate stretching or contracting of the elastic edges of the panties. And finally, it would be beneficial to provide a method for manufacturing a material for the wings capable of providing the above benefits.

Disposable absorbent articles with wings having corrugated regions and methods of manufacturing thereof


A system includes a cover segment set configured to mount in first and second grooves circumferentially along a blade mounting region of a turbine rotor. The cover segment set includes a seal segment and a cover segment. The seal segment has a seal body with a lock feature, wherein the seal segment is configured to mount circumferentially along the second groove. The cover segment includes first and second lips extending along first and second circumferential portions of a cover body. The first and second lips are at an offset from one another. The first lip is configured to mount circumferentially along the first groove, the second lip is configured to mount circumferentially along the second groove adjacent the seal segment, and the second lip includes a mating lock feature configured to couple with the lock feature of the seal body.

The subject matter disclosed herein relates to gas turbine engines, and more specifically, to covering a blade mounting region of compressor or turbine blades.
In general, gas turbine engines combust a mixture of compressed air and fuel to produce hot combustion gases. The combustion gases may flow through one or more turbine stages to generate power for a load and/or a compressor. Each turbine stage may include multiple turbine blades with cover plates disposed circumferentially around a rotor. Unfortunately, any bolts, screws, pins or other fasteners used to secure the cover plates to the turbine blades are susceptible to inadvertently falling into the gas turbine engine during maintenance. For example, certain maintenance procedures involve removing cover plates to access turbine blades or various components of the turbine. Such procedures generally include removing the fasteners that secure the cover plates to the rotor. Therefore, the more cover plate fasteners employed, the greater the possibility that these fasteners will be dropped into the turbine during or after removal. If fasteners fall into inaccessible areas of the turbine, further disassembly may be necessary to remove the parts, thereby delaying turbine operation and increasing maintenance costs.

System and method for covering a blade mounting region of turbine blades


A capacitor includes a dielectric material that is formed of anodic metal oxide; a pair of substantially comb-shaped surface electrodes formed on the same principal surface of the dielectric material; and plural substantially columnar internal electrodes whose one ends are connected to the respective comb-shaped portions of the pair of the surface electrodes and whose other ends extend in the thickness direction of the dielectric material.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a capacitor and a method of manufacturing the same, and particularly to enhancement of capacity density, simplification of a manufacturing process and reduction of ESL (Equivalent Series Inductance).
2. Description of the Related Art
Al electrolytic capacitors and laminated ceramic capacitors are known as capacitors which are broadly used at present. The Al electrolytic capacitors have a problem that liquid leak, etc. occurs due to use of electrolytic liquid, etc. Furthermore, the laminated ceramic capacitors require a burning step, and thus it induces thermal shrinkage between an electrode and a dielectric member, etc. For example, as a technique of implementing a compact and large-capacitance capacitor is known a method of manufacturing laminated electrical parts shown in JP-A-9-45577, and a capacitor and a method of manufacturing the same disclosed in JP-T-2006-512787, for example.
JP-A-9-45577 discloses a method of manufacturing laminated electrical parts having a structure that plural internal electrodes are disposed so as to confront one another through a ceramic layer. Specifically, this method comprises a step of forming metal film on a substrate, trimming the metal film by photolithography to form a predetermined electrode pattern serving as an internal electrode, and a step of forming ceramic material serving as a functional element portion in a pore portion of the electrode pattern by a dry plating method. Furthermore, JP-T-2006-512787 discloses the following capacitor. Specifically, the capacitor comprises a first electrode that is formed in a semiconductor substrate, contains a first via and a metal layer connected to the first via and is electrically connected to a first area of the semiconductor substrate, a second electrode that is formed in the semiconductor substrate, contains a second via and a metal layer connected to the second via and is electrically connected to a second area of the semiconductor substrate, and a dielectric material having a high dielectric constant disposed between the first electrode and the second electrode.
However, the background art described above has the following problems. First, in the technique disclosed in JP-A-9-45577, the electrode is formed by etching the metal film formed on the substrate. Therefore, it is difficult to increase the aspect ratio in the z direction (thickness direction). Furthermore, in the technique disclosed in JP-T-2006-512787, it is also difficult to increase the aspect ratio in the z direction because the electrode is also formed by etching. As described above, in the electrode forming technique using etching, it is difficult to increase the aspect ratio in the z direction of the electrode portion in order to increase the area defining the capacitance.

Capacitor structure to enhance capacitive density and reduce equivalent series inductance


An image acquisition apparatus includes an optical system having such distortion aberration characteristics as a central region is expanded and a peripheral region is compressed. An imaging element converts a subject image formed image data. A first memory stores filter factors which are used for interrupting a spatial frequency exceeding a Nyquist frequency of the image data. A second memory stores parameters which define an outer edge of a Nyquist image region. A filter factor setting circuit judges whether each pixel position of the image data is included in the Nyquist image region based on the parameter, and reads the filter factors from the first memory when each pixel position is included. A filter circuit executes filter processing with respect to the image data in accordance with the read filter factors. A distortion correcting circuit corrects the distortion aberration characteristics with respect to the image data.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image acquisition apparatus.
2. Description of the Related Art
In image acquisition apparatuses such as a digital video camera or a digital still camera, there has been widely utilized a zoom function which changes a focal distance of a lens in accordance with a distance to a subject to be shot or a size occupied in a field angle and performs zooming without restraint. Usually, the zoom function is roughly classified into optical zooming which is realized by mechanically moving a lens and electronic zooming which utilizes a part of an image output from an imaging element and interpolating new pixels between pixels to perform zooming in and thins out pixels to effect zooming out. Although electronic zooming can be inexpensively realized with a small size since it does not require a driving portion, it is inferior in an image quality as compared with optical zooming.
On the other hand, in Jpn. Pat. Appln. KOKAI Publication No. 1998-233950, a fixed focal distance image input optical system having a function of compressing a peripheral region of an input image and a light receiving element which receives an incident subject image through the fixed focal distance image input optical system and mainly has a uniform pixel density are provided, and an image including a distortion due to compression in the fixed focal distance image input optical system is subjected to correcting conversion, thereby realizing a zoomed image having a resolution equivalent to that of optical zooming in an operating region. According to the technique described in Jpn. Pat. Appln. KOKAI Publication No. 1998-233950, deterioration in image quality in a peripheral region of both a wide-angle image and a telephoto image is unavoidable, but acquisition of an image which is less deteriorated in a central region thereof can be expected.


A digital camera which converts a picked-up optical image of an object into digital image data comprises a memory card slot part and a disk drive part. Digital image data can be transferred between a memory attached to the memory card slot part and a small disk inserted into the disk drive part.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a digital camera and a control method thereof in which a still image or a motion picture of a picked-up object is converted into digital image data and recorded on a portable recording medium attached to a main body.
2. Description of the Related Art
As is well known, a conventional digital camera as described above is constructed such that a memory card including, for example, a semiconductor memory and the like is attached to a memory card slot part provided in the main body of the camera to record digital image data.
Meanwhile, in recent years, for example, developments have been made in the technique of recording/reproducing digital data on/from a small disk having a diameter of about 1 inch, which has a portability substantially equivalent to a memory card, by means of magnetism, light, magneto-optics, or the like.
Therefore, in a digital camera, a disk drive part for driving a small disk is mounted on its main body, so that digital image data can be recorded on a small disk.
However, the digital camera as described above is still being developed. It has been strongly required that improvements should be made in various areas so as to comply sufficiently with the needs of users.
Two types of digital cameras are known. The first type uses a memory card as portable recording medium. The second type uses a small disk as portable recording medium.
Data cannot be transferred from the camera of the first type, directly to the camera of the second type. Nor can data be transferred to the camera of the second type, directly to the camera of the first type.
Therefore, in the case of performing a simple edit operation or the like for transferring digital image data between a memory card and a small disk, it is necessary to use an optional editing system using a PC (Personal Computer).
That is, by using this editing system, it is possible to carry out the operation of reading the necessary data from one recording medium, storing it, and writing the stored data into another recording medium.
However, if even simple editing cannot be carried out unless an optional editing system is used, it will be inconvenient for a user. A problem hence arises in that the camera is not suitable for practical use.
Note that known techniques concerning an electronic camera for recording image data obtained by picking up an image onto a recording medium are disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent Application KOKAI Publication No. 5-91452 and Japanese Patent Application KOKAI Publication No. 10-233989.
However, the former reference discloses a technique in which image data obtained by picking up an image is stored into either an internal memory or an external memory in accordance with a selection made by a memory selection switch.
Meanwhile, the latter reference discloses a technique in which still image data and moving picture data are respectively stored in dedicated memories. Thus, neither of the references includes a description concerning countermeasures against problems as described above.

Digital camera accommodating different portable recording media and control method thereof


A thermoforming apparatus including a pallet for use with a thermoforming machine that thermoforms a plastic billet into a usable form, the pallet including a billet support surface for supporting thereon a billet, and a gripper mounted on the pallet and arranged for movement between a first position, wherein the gripper does not grip a billet placed on the billet support surface, and a second position, wherein the gripper grips the billet placed on the billet support surface.

A typical thermoforming machine includes a series of stages that transform thermoplastic material (e.g., polypropylene, polyvinyl chloride, polystyrene and others) into finished containers by means of heat and pressure. The finished containers are typically used to hold food, and may be formed into a variety of sizes and shapes depending on the thermoforming process.
Thermoplastic materials may be fed into a thermoforming machine in the form of a continuous sheet or as individually cut blanks or billets. When the input materials are individual thermoplastic billets, the process is called scrapless thermoforming because the finished containers need not be cut from the sheet after forming, reducing the amount of scrap material. In scrapless thermoforming, a billet feeding unit is typically used to load individual billets onto a conveying device in the machine.
Prior to being formed into containers, the billets must be heated to the desired temperature. The desired temperature depends on the structure of the machine being used as well as the desired properties of the end product. For example, containers may be formed while the thermoplastic material is below the crystalline melt point of the material, this being known as solid-phase pressure forming. Other methods involve heating the material to its melting point prior to forming, this being known as melt-phase thermoforming.
A conventional scrapless thermoforming machine has several stages used to create formed containers. First, the billets are loaded into the machine. Second, an oven is used to heat the billets to the desired temperature. Third, a form station or form press utilizes air pressure and vacuum to form the individual containers. After exiting the form press, the formed containers are removed from the machine at an unloading station. Other stations may be added to the thermoforming machine as desired, such as a pre-heating oven prior to entry into the main oven. A conveyor is typically used to transport the billets through the various stations.
Whether the containers are formed utilizing solid-phase forming or melt-phase forming, a problem that must be addressed involves the deformation of the thermoplastic material as it is heated. Because the billets are typically supported in a horizontal fashion with only peripheral supports beneath each billet due to the configuration of the form press, the billets tend to sag or droop between the supports when heated. In some cases, the billets may entirely fall out of their supports when heated due to the material deformation.
The thermoforming art has tried many methods of preventing material deformation from adversely impacting the thermoforming process. One method involves minimizing the size of the billets. This method prevents the formation of larger containers. Another method is to utilize round billets such that the resultant uniform deformation allows the support to retain the billet during heating. This method precludes the forming of containers having a non-uniform cross-section, such as rectangular or oval containers. Yet another method of addressing the deformation issue is to utilize a ring placed on top of the billet to strengthen the frictional grip on the billet during heating. This method presents additional manufacturing challenges with respect to how to efficiently place individual rings on top of each billet during the loading process.
An example of a prior art frame for holding a billet is U.S. Pat. No. 6,896,506 to Jordan, which describes a thermoforming machine that includes a loading station configured to load a thermoplastic billet onto a frame. The frame has an outer ring and a billet support blade defining a channel therebetween. The billet support blade engages the billet to maintain the billet on the frame during heating of the billet. A heating apparatus is configured to heat the billet and a forming station is configured to form the billet into a container.


A copyholder stand having an L-shaped freestanding copy rest with an upright support panel. The inner face of the panel is provided for engaging and supporting upright copy for study or review. A slide clip is slidably receivable over an upper or side edge of the panel for adjustably engaging copy against the inner face of the panel with applied pressure. The legs of the clip are biased to apply pressure toward each other for engaging copy against the support panel. The front arm or arms of the clip provide one or more reference lines for indexing copy indicia. The base of the clip is also provided with an L-shaped overhang that extends over the inner face of the copyholder panel with a distal portion of the overhang extending inwardly for engagement of outer edges of copy resting on the copyholder stand so that the clip overhang will adjustably retain copy on the copy rest.

The present invention pertains generally to copyholders and more particularly to universal copyholders for retaining common side edge bound books, flop over top bound books and papers in general on a rest for hands-off viewing or copy work.
Copyholders presently available on the market include a freestanding rest for supporting papers or a book and additionally usually include a clip mechanism on the back for retaining flipped over pages of a top bound book to maintain the book open to a desired portion of text. However, no adequate means is provided for also retaining the pages of the more common side edge bound book open to a desired portion of text.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a universal copyholder for holding all types of copy, including the capability of holding a side edge bound book open to a desired portion of text in a unique and convenient manner.


An ultrasound system includes an ultrasound probe configured for sensing and transmitting ultrasound signals. The ultrasound system further includes an optical conduit configured for coupling a light source and an optical detector in an optical path. The optical conduit includes electro-optic modulators configured for modulating optical signals on the optical conduit with at least one of the electrical signals configured to generate corresponding optically modulated analog signals on the optical conduit. In one example, the electro-optic modulators comprise electro-optic polymer modulators.

The invention relates generally to ultrasound systems, and more specifically to a method and system for design of an ultrasound probe using fiber optics.
Conventional ultrasound scanners comprise an ultrasound probe for transmitting ultrasound signals to an area to be examined as well as for receiving scattered waves. The ultrasound probe usually comprises several transducer elements that are configured for sensing the backscattered waves.
The transducer elements convert the backscattered waves to corresponding electrical signals. The electrical signals are transmitted to a processing unit where the electrical signals are processed to generate a corresponding image of the area that was scanned.
Typically, the electrical signals are transferred to the processing unit by cables. While designing the ultrasound probe, it is desirable to maintain the diameter of the probe cable at a size that is maneuverable by an operator.
It is often desirable to obtain a high resolution for the image generated by the ultrasound system. One way to increase the resolution is to increase the number of transducer elements in the ultrasound probe. One problem with increasing the number of transducer elements is the increase in the cable diameter. An increase in the cable diameter results in restrictive maneuverability of the ultrasound probe.
Another problem with conventional ultrasound system is the short cable length. In order it maintain signal integrity, the length of the cable is limited. Thus, the mobility of the ultrasound scanner is restricted to a large extent.
In addition, the transducer elements, when operating, generate substantial amounts of heat. The heat generated may cause inconvenience to an operator who is using the ultrasound probe.
It is therefore desirable to increase sensitivity of the ultrasound probe while maintaining the diameter of the probe and also maintain the probe temperature at a desired level. It is also desirable to increase the length of the probe cable to provide better mobility.


A medical practitioner creates a prescription using a handheld portable device. The device uses a plurality of interactive screens that display information such as lists of drugs. The medical practitioner enters patient information and selects from the list the desired drug to be prescribed. The device gives the practitioner access to a drug database that may be limited by the drugs prescribable by the medical practitioner. Once a prescription is created, the practitioner can select a drug dispensing location and communicate the prescription to this location. The drug database and the drug dispensing locations may be stored in a removable memory.

A point of care such as a doctor's office typically lies some distance from a drug dispensing location such as a pharmacy. A patient typically receives a prescription at the doctor's office and then travels to the pharmacy where the prescription is filled. Presently, a doctor creates a prescription by learning of the patient's symptoms, diagnosing the aliment, and then choosing drugs that will cure the aliment, or control its symptoms. Typically, a doctor hand writes a prescription. Frequently a pharmacist misinterprets the doctor's handwriting and the wrong drug is dispensed to the patient. Consumption of an improper drug can lead to patient illness and sometimes death. According to the 1999 Institute of Medicine Report, there were about one million serious medication errors per year in the United States because of illegible handwriting on prescriptions, misplaced decimal points, and missed drug interactions and allergies. Thus, there is a need to create prescriptions that are legible and accurate. There is also a need to communicate the prescription directly to the pharmacy.

Apparatus for and method of creating and transmitting a prescription to a drug dispensing location


Provided are an impurity-element removing method for selectively removing magnesium from a nickel-containing solution, and a method for producing high-purity nickel sulfate using the impurity-element removing method. The production method includes a production process in the production method of producing high-purity nickel sulfate from a nickel-containing solution, and the nickel-containing solution in the production process is subjected to an impurity-element removal treatment that includes: a hydroxylation step of adding an alkali hydroxide to the nickel-containing solution in the production process to form a hydroxylated slurry; a carbonation step of adding an alkali carbonate to the hydroxylated slurry to form a carbonated slurry, and recovering nickel component from the solution; a solid-liquid separation step for the slurry thus obtained; and a neutralization step of subjecting a solution after reaction obtained by solid-liquid separation to a neutralization, and recovering an impurity element included in the nickel-containing solution in the production process.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a production process for efficiently removing magnesium from a solution containing nickel and producing high-purity nickel sulfate, in particular, the invention can be applied to a treatment for an in-process intermediate product solution that is generated during a nickel hydrometallurgical process.
2. Description of the Related Art
A method for industrially producing nickel sulfate typically obtains a nickel sulfate solution, or nickel sulfate crystals by evaporation and crystallization or the like, through processes of dissolving a raw material in an acid solution and then removing impurities.
In the production method, the process of removing impurities may be carried out by various methods depending on the impurities included in the raw material. The removal process first carries out a solution purification process of forming a neutralized precipitate containing a portion of impurities and a residual liquid after separation using a neutralizing agent, and then carries out a solvent extraction process of extracting the residual liquid after separation using a conventional organic solvent to further perform a removal treatment of impurity elements.
Particularly, as a method for efficiently separating nickel and cobalt when cobalt is included in the raw material, a solvent extraction method using phosphonic acid or phosphinic acid has been widely known.
Regarding the phosphonic acid or phosphinic acid used in such a solvent extraction method, 2-ethylhexylphosphonic acid mono-2-ethylhexyl ester and di(2,4,4-trimethylpentyl)phosphinic acid are capable of satisfactory extraction and separation of nickel and cobalt and are thus suitable.
Furthermore, the solvent extraction using phosphonic acid and phosphinic acid is dependent on a pH of the solution, and the extraction efficiency is increased when the pH is increased. Also, since the extraction-related pH-dependency varies with elements, cobalt and other impurity elements are extracted into an organic solvent by utilizing this characteristic.
That is, impurity elements are divided into an organic phase by setting the pH to a value lower than pH at which nickel is extracted, and thus nickel remains in the aqueous phase, and as a result, a nickel solution after impurities have been removed can be obtained.
Furthermore, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 10-310437, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 10-30135 and Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-307270 disclose methods in which nickel is extracted in advance into an organic solvent under high pH conditions, this organic solvent containing extracted nickel is brought into contact with a nickel solution containing impurities, thereby an exchange reaction occurs by which elements that are more easily extracted than nickel are transferred to the organic phase, while nickel in the organic solvent is transferred to the aqueous phase side, and thus impurities in the nickel solution are removed.
These methods are effective as methods for preventing impurity elements such as Na included in a pH adjusting agent, from being incorporated into a nickel solution and contaminating a manufactured product.
However, among impurity elements, magnesium in the solution exhibits a reaction behavior similar to that of nickel, and therefore, it has been difficult to selectively remove magnesium from a nickel solution even if a solution purification process or a solvent extraction process was used in a process for producing nickel sulfate as described above.
For that reason, when a solution containing a small amount of nickel that is discharged from a solvent extraction process or a solution purification process (magnesium is also included in this solution) is recycled within the system, magnesium that remains unremoved also recurs, as is the case of nickel. Therefore, magnesium is accumulated in the system, and this has been a cause for an increase in the magnesium level in manufactured products.
Under such circumstances, an object of the present invention is to provide a removal method of an impurity element for selectively removing magnesium from a solution containing nickel, and a method for producing high-purity nickel sulfate by incorporating the removal method of an impurity element into a process of the production method.

Method for producing high-purity nickel sulfate and method for removing impurity element from solution containing nickel


A pulse generation circuit, for outputting a pulse signal at an output terminal, comprises a PMOS, an NMOS and a logic circuit. The PMOS has a source coupled to a first reference voltage level, a drain coupled to the output terminal, and a gate coupled to a first gate control signal. The NMOS has a source coupled to a second reference voltage level, a drain coupled to the output terminal, and a gate coupled to a second gate control signal. The logic circuit generates the first gate control signal according to a control signal and a first logic signal, relating to the second gate control signal and a delay signal of the second gate control signal, and generates the second gate control signal according to the control signal and a second logic signal, relating to the first gate control signal and a delay signal of the first control signal.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a DC (Direct Current) voltage generation circuit and a pulse generation circuit thereof, especially to a DC voltage generation circuit and a pulse generation circuit thereof that prevent short current from occurring.
2. Description of Related Art
Please refer to FIG. 1, illustrating a circuit of a conventional switching regulator. The switching regulator 100 comprises a PMOS 110 and an NMOS 120, connecting in series between a DC voltage level Vcc and ground. The PMOS 110 has its source coupled to the DC voltage level Vcc and its drain coupled to the node LX, and the NMOS 120 has its source coupled to ground and its drain coupled to the node LX. The on/off state of the PMOS 110 is controlled by the gate control signal PG. When the gate control signal PG is at low level the PMOS 110 is on, and when the gate control signal PG is at high level the PMOS 110 is off. The on/off state of the NMOS 120 is controlled by the gate control signal NG. When the gate control signal NG is at high level the NMOS 120 is on, and when the gate control signal NG is at low level the NMOS 120 is off. The gate control signal PG and the gate control signal NG become a delay signal PD and a delay signal ND after passing through a delay unit 142 and a delay unit 132 respectively. The delay signal ND is inverted by a NOT gate 134 before being input to a NAND gate 136, which receives a control signal CTRL at its other terminal and outputs the gate control signal PG at its output terminal; similarly, the delay signal PD is inverted by a NOT gate 144 before being input to a NOR gate 146, which receives the control signal CTRL at its other terminal and outputs the gate control signal NG at its output terminal.
Please refer to FIG. 2, illustrating a timing diagram of the control signals and the delay signals of the conventional switching regulator 100. When the control signal CTRL transits from low level to high level (in order to turn on the PMOS 110), the gate control signal NG transits immediately from high level to low level, which immediately turns off the NMOS 120 to prevent the PMOS 110 and the NMOS 120 from turning on at the same time. After a delay time Td, the delay signal ND transits from high level to low level. As the inversion of the delay signal ND and the control signal CTRL both are at high level at the time, the gate control signal PG outputted by the NAND gate 136 transits to low level; namely, the PMOS 110 turns on at a delay time Td after the NMOS 120 turns off. After another delay time Td, the delay signal PD transits from high level to low level, reflecting the on state of the PMOS 110. After an enabling time Ton the control signal CTRL transits from high level to low level (in order to turn on the NMOS 120), which in turn makes the gate control signal PG transit immediately from low level to high level to turn off the PMOS 110 immediately so that the PMOS 110 and the NMOS 120 do not turn on at the same time. After the delay time Td, the delay signal PD transits from low level to high level. As the inversion of the delay signal PD and the control signal CTRL both are at low level at the time, the gate control signal NG outputted by the NOR gate 146 transits to high level; namely, the NMOS 120 turns on at the delay time Td after the PMOS 110 turns off. After another same delay time Td, the delay signal ND transits from low level to high level, reflecting the on state of the NMOS 120. As a result, continuous pulse signals are generated at the node LX by adjusting the duty cycle of the control signal CTRL. After the pulse signals pass through a low-pass filter 150, which is comprised of an inductor 152 and a capacitor 154, a DC voltage is generated at the output terminal OUT.
The feature of the circuit shown in FIG. 1 is that the gate control signal PG and the gate control signal NG are fed back to the NMOS 120 and the PMOS 110 respectively after a delay time so that when the gate control signal PG is at low level the gate control signal NG is not at high level, avoiding a short current caused by simultaneous turning on of both the PMOS 110 and the NMOS 120. Therefore, this kind of circuit is referred to as a feedback delay control circuit. This circuit, however, has a main drawback that when the enabling time Ton of the control signal CTRL is greater than the delay time Td but less than twice the delay time Td, (i.e., Td<Ton<2Td), there is a possibility that the PMOS 110 and the NMOS 120 turns on at the same time, resulting in the occurrence of the shout current. Please refer to FIG. 3, illustrating another timing diagram of the control signals and the delay signals of the conventional switching regulator 100. When the gate control signal PG transits from high level to low level to turn on the PMOS 110, the delay signal PD will not reflect the on state of the PMOS 110 until a delay time Td has elapsed. If, within the delay time Td, the control signal CTRL transits from high level to low level (in order to turn on the NMOS 120), despite the gate control signal PG transits immediately from low level to high level to turn off the PMOS 110 immediately, the gate control signal NG transits immediately from low level to high level since the delay signal PD is still at high level at the time, resulting in a simultaneous transition of both the gate control signal PG and the gate control signal NG, as depicted by the dotted circle in FIG. 3. As a result, because of inherent circuit delay of the components, a short current that damages the circuit components may probably occur during the transition time of both the gate control signal PG and the gate control signal NG when the PMOS 110 and the NMOS 120 turn on at the same time. In short, a short current will occur if the enabling time Ton or the non-enabling time of the control signal CTRL is less than twice the delay time Td.

DC voltage generation circuit and pulse generation circuit thereof


The invention is directed to a flow controlling device for a discharge system, such as a drainage system, having a first vortex chamber with an inlet and an outlet and a second bigger vortex chamber with a peripheral inlet and a central outlet axial in relation to a vortex in the second chamber. The second vortex chamber is connected at its inlet to the outlet of the first vortex chamber. The first vortex chamber is symmetrical with respect to a median plane perpendicular to a vortex axis (A), the direction of both the inlet and the outlet of this chamber being parallel with the median plane. The first vortex chamber is asymmetric with respect to a plane parallel with the inlet direction and perpendicular to the median plane. The vortex axis (A) of the first vortex chamber being perpendicular to a tangent of the second vortex chamber at the peripheral inlet and the ratio between the diameters of the first vortex chamber and the second vortex chamber is less than 0.43:1.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a flow controlling device for a discharge system, such as a drainage system, comprising a first vortex chamber with an inlet and an outlet and a second bigger vortex chamber with a peripheral inlet and a central outlet axial in relation to a vortex in this chamber, said second vortex chamber being at its inlet connected to the outlet of the first vortex chamber.
2. Prior Art
Such a flow controlling device is known from the accepted SE specification no. 457,121 and the corresponding WO-A-87/07048. Other flow controlling devices are known from the accepted DK specification no. 135,904, published GB specification no. 2,141,561 and U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,206,783 and 4,679,595. From these publications it is known to brake the flow of a liquid by leading it tangentially into a housing with an essentially circular cross section and which forms a vortex chamber. Common for these devices are that it is a prerequisite for the information of vortices and consequently for the establishing of the braking or controlling effect that the inlet flow into the vortex chamber takes place essentially perpendicular to the outlet flow dependent on the construction of the vortex chamber.
Within the field of controlling the flow of liquids and in particular within the environment sector there is an increasing need for not only a possibility to change the capacity by adjusting a controlling device but to an even higher degree a need for a possibility to control even smaller liquid flows than usual by means of a controlling device with a favourable characteristic and an acceptable cross section of the flow, clogging on account of solid or viscous impurieties in the liquid being thus avoided.

Flow controlling device for a discharge system such as a drainage system


A system and method of fabricating tank car outer jackets are provided that include supporting a plurality of coils of sheet metal on a plurality of coil supports such that the central longitudinal axes of the plurality of coils are generally parallel to a central longitudinal axis of a mandrel adjacent the plurality of coils. A plurality of sheets of sheet metal are unwound from the plurality of coils by rotating each of the plurality of coils generally about the respective central longitudinal axes of each of the plurality of coils. As the plurality of sheets of sheet metal are wound onto the mandrel, adjacent sheets of the plurality of sheets of sheet metal are welded together using a plurality of automated welding torches proximate the mandrel. The plurality of automated welding torches may be coupled for communication with a programmable logic controller.

Insulated tank cars often include an outer jacket wrapped around an inner hull or shell. An insulating material may be placed between the hull and the outer jacket. The outer jacket serves to protect and contain the insulating material.
Previously, insulated tank car outer jacket fabrication may have included applying strips of steel or other pre-fabricated material directly onto tank car jacket supports or spacers. Each strip may be laid out and carefully placed in order to have symmetrical seams. Following the layout, the seams may be welded and nozzle and bolster openings cut. Care must be exercised during cutting to avoid damaging the insulation applied between the tank shell and outer jacket. Handling may also be critical as lofting and rigging apparatus may crease the outer jacket. Care must also be taken to avoid collapsing or bending the jacket.
Alternatively, insulated tank car outer jacket fabrication may include laying material on a flat surface (such as a floor), arranging the materials according to the required dimensions, welding together some or all of the sections, and then installing the outer jacket on the car shell. Layouts for the nozzles, man ways, and bolsters may be manually applied prior to cutting. After cutting, the sections or completed assemblies may be rigged and lofted into position on the tank shell. This form of jacket fabrication may require enormous floor space and skilled layout personnel. Match lines may also need to be created and aligned so that cutouts match and/or properly align. Layout and fitting may be time consuming and may pose considerable quality control obstacles.
A further alternative insulated tank car outer jacket fabrication method may include the application of Spiral Welding to form a continuous tube. Flat coil material may be fed through a series of rollers that may spiral the strip into a tube. The interfaces of the spiral may be welded as the tube is formed. As the tube progresses, it may be cut to length and moved to an area where additional layout and cutting may be performed. At a separate station, the tube may be cut longitudinally so that it can be installed over the tank. Layouts and cuts for the nozzles, man ways, and bolsters are also made.
Another method of jacket fabrication may include de-coiling several widths of coil stock onto a large diameter mandrel of a jacket jig. The jig may closely match the length and diameter of the tank to which the jacket will be applied. The coil stocks may be wound to a measured length and then oxy-fuel torch cut. This leaves a strip of coil (or sheet of sheet metal) attached to the jig. A second set of coil stock may be wound to the jig after indexing the jig approximately a distance equal to the width of coil. The second set of coil stock may overlap the first set of coil stock by approximately 1″ at the intersections. Tack welds may be applied to the overlap, or lap joints, as the jig is rolled. After tack welding, two to four operators may weld the seam to completion to form the assembly (jacket). Following welding, the jacket may be manually laid out with chalk lines indicating where the cutouts are to be made by oxy-fuel torches at the required locations for nozzles, man ways, bottom outlets, and bolsters. At the completion of cutting, the jacket may be removed from the jig and prepared for installation over the tank car shell.
Prior systems for jacket fabrication have used coil alignment sensors and movable coil support carriages to keep sheets of sheet metal from spiraling onto the mandrel. In instances where it is desirable for the sheets of sheet metal to be wound onto the mandrel without spiraling, alignment sensors may be placed in close proximity to the mandrel. The alignment sensors may be in the form of disks capable of sensing a sheet of sheet metal has become misaligned. The sensors may be coupled for communication with an actuator on the coil support carriage. The actuator may be operable to move the coil support carriage, and thereby the coil, along a track running parallel to the mandrel. The coil support carriage may be moved until the alignment of the sheet of sheet metal being wound onto the mandrel has been corrected. Correct alignment may be determined by the coil alignment sensor, which may indicate to the actuator that the alignment no longer needs adjustment.
Fabricating flat sided jackets usually includes laying out and cutting the area for the flat side from a round jacket. A flat plate may then be welded in place of the cut out section to form a flat on the side of the jacket. The welding and cutting may cause distortion of the sheet metal, leaving waves and creases along the welded surfaces.
Alternatively, a flat side may be formed by passing a width of material through a brake press to crease transverse sections the width of the flat along the length of the coil. The strips may then be wound on a mandrel. As the winding proceeds, the creases transverse of the coil will remain relatively flat. Further work on the flat may be needed to obtain a smooth surface.

Apparatus to roll, cut, weld, and form tank car outer jackets


A method includes the steps of rotating an input roller to transport a first leading edge of a first document from an input tray to an input passageway, a scanning position and an output passageway sequentially; rotating the input roller to transport a second leading edge of a second document from the input tray to the input passageway after a first trailing edge of the first document deviates from the input roller; rotating an output roller to transport the first leading edge from the output passageway to an output tray; and generating a linear speed difference between the input roller and the output roller, after the first trailing edge deviates from the scanning position, to transport the first trailing edge to the output tray, such that the second leading edge is still within the input passageway or the input tray when the first trailing edge deviates from the output roller.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a document transporting and processing method, and more particularly to a document transporting and processing method of facilitating the inspection of a scanned result.
2. Description of the Related Art
An automatic document feeder is frequently used in conjunction with an image input/output device and is capable of transporting, one by one, the documents into the image input/output device. In a scanner equipped with an automatic document feeder, for example, a stack of documents on the automatic document feeder can be transported, one by one, to a scanning region of the scanner where an image of the document may be acquired.
In order to shorten the time interval between two times of transporting the adjacent documents, the two or more than two documents may simultaneously exist in a transporting path because the two documents are transported one by one with a specific distance therebetween in the automatic document feeder.
When a trailing edge of the current document is scanned, it is an optimum standby condition that a leading edge of the next document is located at the scanning position. However, the current document does not completely deviate from the automatic document feeder. So, the current document may be continuously transported to deviate from the automatic document feeder as the next document is being scanned.
If a user cancels the procedure of scanning the stack of documents by, for example, operating the software, the document which is not scanned yet in the sheet passageway can be taken out easily after an upper cover of the document feeder is opened.
However, the document which has been transported across the scanning position still remains in the sheet passageway and is clamped between two rollers. So, the document cannot be pulled out until the rollers are rotated, or the suitable force has to be applied to pull the document out. However, one of the rollers clamping the document is connected to a motor directly through a gear set. When the document is being pulled out, the motor has to be rotated. So, the damping of the motor is enlarged by the decelerating gear set, and the document cannot be easily pulled out or tends to be torn.
When this automatic document feeder is used in a scan-and-check mode, in which the user hopes to check the scanned image of the document immediately after the document is scanned in a specific occasion, for example, the user usually places a stack of documents in the input tray and then controls the automatic document feeder to transport the documents and controls the scanning module to scan the documents through a software interface or a hardware key. The first document still remains in the sheet passageway after being scanned. At this time, the second document following the first document is also transported to the sheet passageway to save the time of transporting the second document. Because the first document has to be taken out for the purpose of comparing the scanned image with the first document, the rollers have to be rotated to eject the first document. However, ejecting the first document may transport the second document over the scanning position. So, the second document has to be reversed again such that the scanning module can perform a next scan. Thus, the prior art design is poor and inconvenient.

Method of transporting and processing documents


A liquid ejection apparatus includes an energy generating element that generates energy for ejecting a liquid; a plurality of electroconductive protective films that are disposed so as to cover at least the energy generating element and that are in contact with the liquid; and an electrifying unit that is capable of electrifying the plurality of electroconductive protective films in such a way that surfaces of the electroconductive protective films in contact with the liquid serve as anodes.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a liquid ejection apparatus and a liquid ejection head for ejecting a liquid.
2. Description of the Related Art
Some liquid ejection heads for ejecting a liquid include a recording element substrate and an ejection orifice member. The recording element substrate includes a plurality of energy generating elements for generating thermal energy used to eject a liquid. The ejection orifice member has ejection orifices from which the liquid is ejected. Heat generating resistor layers, which generate heat when electrified, are used as the energy generating elements. The heat generating resistor layers generate heat for forming bubbles in the liquid, and the liquid is ejected from the ejection orifices due to pressure generated by the bubbles.
The energy generating elements are covered with an insulation film, and a protective film is formed on the insulating film. The protective film is made of an electroconductive material, such as tantalum (Ta). The protective film serves to protect the energy generating elements from a cavitation impact that occurs when bubbles form and burst and from a chemical reaction that occurs in the liquid.
There is a concern that, if the insulation film of the liquid ejection head has a defect, such a hole (pin hole), the energy generating elements and the protective film may be electrically connected to each other, so that the protective film and the liquid may cause an electrochemical reaction, leading to degradation of the protective film. When degradation of the protective film occurs, the thermal efficiency of energy transferred from the energy generating element to the liquid changes. Therefore, it is necessary to check the electrical insulation between the energy generating elements and the protective film during the process of manufacturing the recording element substrate.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2000-280477 discloses an inkjet recording head including a protective film and a circuit for detecting whether or not an electric current flows through a protective film and a liquid (ink) in a flow path.
Such detection can be easily performed by connecting protective films in the same recording element substrate so as to be electrically connected to each other and by using a terminal provided in the substrate. On the other hand, when the protective films are electrically connected to each other in the recording element substrate, degradation of some of the protective films may affect all the protective films in the substrate.
Some liquid ejection heads, such as a full-line head, includes a plurality of recording element substrates. If the substrates described above, in each of which the protective films are electrically connected to each other, are used for a liquid ejection head of this type, the following problem may occur.
If the liquid ejection head is assembled by using a plurality of substrates including a substrate in which a protective film has a defect, the thermal efficiency of the protective film having a defect deviates from those of other substrates, and therefore the minimum energy required for ejecting a liquid varies. When the liquid ejection characteristics of some of the substrates vary as described above in a liquid ejection head having a plurality of substrates, such as a full-line head, recording becomes nonuniform.
The same problem may occur if a hole is formed in the protective films or the insulation films of some of the substrates during use of the liquid ejection head.

Liquid ejection apparatus and liquid ejection head


A multiple antenna system is described herein that mitigates the negative effects of mutually coupled antennas on the connected transmitters and/or receivers. The antenna system comprises a directional coupler and two or more antennas. The directional coupler comprises multiple communication ports that each connect to corresponding antenna ports. The connection ports each connect to a different transmitter, receiver, or transceiver. A transmission line connects each antenna port to an antenna. The lengths of the transmission lines and the coupling factor of the directional coupler are selected to decouple the communication ports of the directional coupler. More particularly, the coupling factor and the transmission line lengths are selected so that antenna crosstalk signals caused by mutual coupling between the antennas and the coupled signals produced by the directional coupler have the same magnitude but opposite phase at the communication ports of the directional coupler.

The present invention relates generally to MIMO transceivers, and more particularly to antenna matching for MIMO transceivers.
Wireless communication systems often use multiple antennas at the transmitter and receiver to improve communication performance. Such Multiple-Input, Multiple-Output (MIMO) systems offer significant increases in data throughput without increasing the bandwidth or transmit power requirements.
MIMO transmitter antennas experience crosstalk due to mutual coupling between the antennas when a signal transmitted by one antenna couples to, and is therefore received by, one or more of the other transmit antennas. Such crosstalk effectively couples the transmitters, which may cause various transmitter problems, e.g., back intermodulation interference at the transmitter output terminals, transmitter mismatch, efficiency loss, etc. Base station transmitters may reduce and/or eliminate the mutual coupling by physically separating the antennas to spatially isolate the antennas. However, some wireless devices cannot adequately spatially separate the antennas. For example, mobile devices typically do not have sufficient space to adequately separate the antennas. When the antennas cannot be sufficiently separated, other techniques should be used to decouple the transmitters.


A new and distinct variety of miniature rose plant characterized by a profusion of exhibition form blooms that are an unusual combination of colors, consisting of yellow, pink, and vibrant red, with a strong fruity fragrance, held on long stems on a strong plant.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a new and distinct variety of miniature rose plant which has been given the international variety recognition designation "Brifire", and is to be marketed in this country under the synonym "Gabriel's Fire".
2. Plants Related to the Invention
The plant of this invention was originated as a result of a planned breeding program which had as a seed partent "Sachet" (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 5,967) also of the miniature rose class. While the pollen parent of "Brifire" is not known with certitude, it was one of a number of selected miniature varieties from which pollen had been taken for crossing with "Sachet", in the hope of attaining a new plant having some of the better traits of the seed parent and any one of the pollen parent plants involved in the program. The plant of this disclosure is a selection from the progeny of the stated cross(es), and has been asexually reproduced by the taking and rooting of stem cuttings, as performed at Lawndale, N.C., and shows that the foregoing characteristics and distinctions come true to form and are established and transmitted through succeeding propagations, establishing "Brifire" is stable.


A laser apparatus includes an external cavity laser (ECL) where the optical signal is modulated by an electrical modulation signal for modulating in frequency the laser output signal. The modulation in frequency produces a modulation of intensity (power) of the laser output signal, also denoted amplitude modulation (AM). A method of controlling the AM amplitude of a signal emitted by an ECL includes a gain medium, a phase element with variable transmissivity induced by the modulation, and a spectrally selective optical filter that selects and keeps the AM amplitude below a certain desired value or minimizes such value. A control method and a laser apparatus are also described in which the reduction of the AM component of the output power is achieved by acting on the gain of the gain medium of the ECL.

In fiber optical telecommunication systems, a problem that can rise when an optical signal generated by a laser optical source is transmitted along a fiber is the Stimulated Brillouin Scattering (SBS). The stimulated Brillouin scattering is a known inelastic process of interaction between acoustic and optical waves that propagate in the fiber, made possible by nonlinear effects of the transmissive medium. The thermally excited acoustic waves (phonons) produce a periodic modulation of the index of refraction due to electrostriction. The SBS causes the back-reflection of part of the light that propagates inside the fiber and a contemporary reduction of its frequency (Brillouin shift). The decrease of the light frequency is of the order of 10-20 GHz for silica fibers.
The stimulated Brillouin scattering, as a matter of fact, limits the maximum optical power that can be exploited to transmit signals, since when a certain threshold (hereinafter also referred to as SBS threshold) of optical power is exceeded, the greatest part of the optical power above the threshold is reflected back towards the transmission apparatus. The portion of reflected light, in addition to reducing the power transmitted in the fiber, returns to the transmitter degrading the optical system performances.
Different characteristics of the optical system define the SBS power threshold, such as the wavelength of the signal and the characteristics of the transmission optical fiber employed, for instance its effective area value, the material and the doping profile thereof.
Typically, the laser sources for telecommunications do not emit a monochrome radiation, in the sense that the signal emitted by a non-modulated laser has a finite line width. Additionally, the modulation operated on the optical carrier with the purpose of conveying the useful signal in the transmissive tends to further widen the line width of the emitted power (generally defined as optical power per unit of frequency or optical wavelength). Typical values of line width of the output signal of an external cavity laser for optical systems are comprised between 10 and 100 MHz.
A method to reduce the SBS requires the artificial increase of the power spectral density of a transmitting laser and therefore of the spectral emission width so as to reduce the levels of average optical power for unit frequency.
Recently the interest in having tunable optical laser sources has increased, especially to be used as transmitters in wavelength division multiplexing (shortened, WDM) systems and high channels density WDM systems, the DWDMs (dense wavelengths division multiplexing), in which a plurality of separate data flows are simultaneously transmitted in a single optical fiber and every channel is generated by modulating light of suitable frequency or wavelength emitted by a laser. Additionally, the tunable lasers can be for instance used in virtual private networks based on wavelength addressing.
A technological solution widely used with the purpose of achieving its operation on single longitudinal mode and to guarantee the spectral purity and frequency stability required by most of the applications, is that of the configuration external cavity that offers a good flexibility, because the optimization of the laser parameters can be entrusted to a suitable choice of the typology, of the number and of the related specifications of the different optical elements that can be inserted in the laser cavity. Moreover, high output powers are generally easily obtainable.
The selection of the wavelength or frequency of the output signal from an External Cavity Laser (ECL) is generally accomplished using a tunable filter by means of various mechanisms, like for instance a thermo-optical, electro-optical or piezo-electrical mechanism.

Method and apparatus for reducing the amplitude modulation of optical signals in external cavity lasers


A inventive flow-meter uses a measuring method which is based on the passage time of fluid molecules in a single sensor, without using any magnetic field gradient for the measurement of said fluid mean velocity. This method consists of the ultrafast irradiation of hydrogen nuclei from fluid molecules through pulses which are repeated every short time intervals, following a Carr-Purcell-Meiboom-Gill (CPMG) type sequence.

Components at the production line are very seldom found in pure state, as they rather form emulsions or heterogeneous blends which relative proportions change with time. Said condition is typically termed "multiphase". This particularity of the fluid to be measured prevents use of conventional flow-meters, which may only measure total fluid flow-rate, as they are unable of identifying proportions of each particular component. Measurement errors are generally important because, among other factors, passage of gas in non-homogeneous proportions instantaneously modifies rheological properties of the multiple phase. The most used method actually consists of deviating production towards a temporal storage tank, collecting said generally daily production and, once components have separated by the action of gravity, relative volumes are measured. This method poses multiple implementing problems, as:
a) due to several reasons, it is not possible to completely separate blend components, such reasons may include:
1. formation of a water-oil emulsion interface, which may amount to a significant volume in the storage tank; and
2. natural settlement always results in a certain quantity of water remaining in emulsion with oil
b) even where both components could be adequately separated, devices used for interface measuring are difficult to implement, as, for example, it is not possible to establish water or oil levels by simple level inspection.
c) in fact, this technique only allows control of the individual production of each well on a monthly frequency at most.
As regards the real time application of measurement techniques in the oil production, special consideration should be given to the fact that gas tends to flow at higher speeds than liquid components. Thus, gas flow-rate measurements should be necessarily performed separately from liquid components, or else such flow velocity should be measured once all of the components of the blend are adequately mixed.
Other more sophisticated techniques have been invented which are based on different measuring principles. As an example we can mention the simple Venturi tube, the Coriolis principle, ultrasound, gamma rays measuring, and Magnetic Resonance (NMR).
The first technique is based on the measurement of the pressure difference existing between both ends of a tube with variable section. Measurements performed by means of this method strongly depend from the gas which is dispersed or bubbles within the blend. Further, this method does not discriminate the multiphase composition.
Coriolis's mass flow-meter is a mechanical design in which flow passage through a curved duct or other medium produces the vibration of mechanical parts thereof. Two or more vibration sensors are installed on the device, said sensors being positioned at a certain distance one from each other in the flow direction. Such flow produces vibrations at pre-established resonance frequencies which depend on the material and shape of said mechanical parts, but vary according to mass flow density (for more details see U.S. Pat. No. 4,187,721). It is also possible to derivate a phase difference between the resonance frequencies of both sensors, which angle, divided by the resonance frequency f, is proportional to the flow mass proportion (for more details see U.S. Pat. No. 5,648,616 or EP-A-866 319). As this method involves mechanical interactions, it is also strongly dependent on the fluid compressibility, which in turn strongly depends on the gas proportion, both that gas which is dissolved within the vein and that which bubbles through it.
Another design which does not exhibit moving mechanical parts is based on the ultrasound emission and reception in order to measure transit time of the fluid through the carrying vein. The time taken by the ultrasound wave in arriving to the receptor element since its emission and through the liquid flow, is proportional to the fluid speed within the carrying conduct. The fluid blend is obviously used as the coupling substance between the emitting crystal and the receptor. Here again, gas plays an essential role as regards the evaluation of measurement errors. On the one hand, bubbles break said coupling and introduce very important errors both as regards the propagation time of the acoustic signal and the attenuation of the sound wave. Even where bubbles are absent, compressibility of the liquid medium strongly depends from the quantity of gas dissolved therein, this being a variable which remarkably affects measurement process and result.
However, the Nuclear Magnetic Resonance principle allows both measurements to be done: i) determination of oil, gas and water proportions in the fluid blend, and ii) determination of the flow speed of said blend. There exist several patents which disclose methods—not necessarily selective as regards multiphase fluids—which use NMR analysis. Among them, the following can be mentioned: 1) Rollwitz et al., Method and Apparatus for Coal Analysis and Flow Measurements, U.S. Pat. No. 4,531,093; 2) King et al. Method and Apparatus for Measuring Flow in a Pipe of Conduit, U.S. Pat. No. 4,536,711, and 3) Reichwein, Consistency Measuring Device, U.S. Pat. No. 4,866,385.
Previous art devices designed for flow measuring and/or flow mapping are based on two widely known principles: 1) "time of flight" of saturated or unsaturated spins on the NMR spectrometer magnetic field; 2) on what is known as spatial codification of spins phase as they displace on a magnetic field gradient.
State of the art is completed with those patents which disclose specific methods for measuring flow-rate of multiphase fluids:
1. U.S. Pat. No. 4,785,245, entitled Rapid Pulse NMR Cut Meter describes a flow-meter which employs an NMR analysis in order to determine the fraction of one of the components of a multi-phase fluid flowing through a production line. NMR signal amplitude of a certain component is obtained by means of a pulse sequence which radio-frequency is adequate for the relative relaxation times between fluid components. This patent does not disclose a simultaneous method able to measure flow-rate of one of the phases which signal has separated. That is to say, it requires another device in order to measure flow velocity of said component.
2. U.S. Pat. No. 6,046,587, Measurements of Flow Fractions, Flow Velocities and Flow Rates of a Multiphase Fluid using NMR Sensing and U.S. Pat. No. 6,268,727, Measurements of Flow Fractions, Flow Velocities and Flow Rates of a Multiphase Fluid using ESR Sensing, both to J. D. King, Q. Ni and A. de los Santos, disclose a sensor which employs at least two NMR spectrometers or one NMR spectrometer and another ESR (Electronic Paramagnetic Resonance) one. Basic principle of measurement methodology is based on what is known as "time of flight" between both spectrometers. Such system of two spectrometers which separately measure residence time of each phase at the magnetic field is of unpractical and costly implementation; also, its application is difficult in the case of oil fields, which are generally subject to harsh climates. Another variant of said patents are those filed with the INPI (Argentine Industrial Property Institute) No. 010104816 (Oct. 12, 2001) and patent pending in USA 2004/0015332, by M. Ramia, D. J. Pusiol, C. A. Martin, E. Fried and R. Garnero. This case comprises a single electronic part which is shared by two sensing coils, operation principle being that already described, that is, flow velocity is measured through time of flight of water and oil molecules through the space between both sensing coils. This device exhibits the same restrictions as that involving two spectrometers: measurable flow-rate is substantially lower than 100 m3/day for the total fluid.
3. Flow-meter with phase separation disclosed by U.S. Pat. No. 6,452,390, by E. Wollin, entitled Magnetic Resonance Analyzing Flow Meter and Flow Measuring Method, proposes a methodology and associated apparatus which implementation is simpler than those already described. This methodology uses pulsed magnetic fields gradients in order to modulate the spins (or protons) precession phase. That is to say that spatial codification is carried out by which is commonly known as Laboratory System. The problem with this method is that at the common displacement velocities of protons on the magnetic field, magnetic field gradients application is technologically difficult to apply, due to the fact that, in order to produce an adequate magnetic field gradient, it is necessary to include important currents which on/off times are generally relatively long. That is to say that this methodology is generally restricted to relatively small flow-rates measurements.
4. Another variant of said patents are those filed with the INPI under No. P040102415 on Jul. 8, 2004, and the pending US patent publication no. 2006/0020403, by SpinLock SRL and D. J. Pusiol. Said applications disclose a flow-meter and cut sensor comprising a single coil associated to slanted planar plates magnet which generates a constant magnetic field, along with a magnetic field gradient. Said application further discloses the application of a pre-polarization field for rapid fluids, which may be removed in the case of slow fluids. Said application also discloses a derivation device with electronic key which allows measurement of N sensors groups with a single electronic system. In said application, spatial codification of the resonant nuclei position is carried out through a linear gradient of the magnetic field at the place of the excitation/Magnetic Resonance detection coil, which is preferably generated by the slanted position of the polar faces of a permanent magnet. In the case of high flow velocities, said gradient must be increased in order to attain the necessary effectiveness of the spatial codification process of the NMR spectrum of those protons forming the moving complex fluid. Upon the increase of said magnetic field gradient the Magnetic Resonance signal broadens and thus deteriorates. The maximum flow-rate limit measurable by means of this invention is given by the maximum value of magnetic field gradient that may be applied to the fluid passing through the sensor tube before the signal deteriorates, preventing the precision required for the particular use.
The inventive flow-meter employs a measurement method which is based on the passing time of the fluid molecules at a single sensor, without using any magnetic field gradient for fluid velocity measurements. This method consists of the ultrafast irradiation of hydrogen nuclei belonging to said molecules through repeated pulses within short time intervals, following a CPMG type sequence (see, e.g. A. Abragham, The Principles of Nuclear Magnetism, Oxford University Press, 1998); thus, the temporal evolution of the NMR signal depends from the number of "refreshment" molecules appearing in the volume of the excitation/detection coil. In turn, for a given interval between excitation pulses, said number of refreshment molecules depends on the fluid velocity at the production line. This invention is based on the fact that there exists a region of the CPMG sequence in which the spin echoes amplitude following application of each radio-frequency pulse exhibits a linear variation with time. Quotient between the slope of said linear relation and origin ordinate is proportional to flow velocity, whereas the origin ordinate contains information which allows the determination of the proportion of the different elements comprising the complex fluid, which produce a detectable NMR signal.
In order to establish the relative proportions within the heterogeneous blend of the production fluid (we are preferably referring to oil, water and gas proportions), the production duct is first introduced through a spins pre-polarization magnetic module and then through a magnetic resonance sensor module. Length of said pre-polarization field and the velocity of the complex fluid establish a passage time of said flow which, along with the relaxation time T1 of the spins species which form part of one of the components of the complex fluid, allows protons present in the complex fluid portion to attain a polarization sufficient to produce a magnetic resonance signal in the magnetic resonance sensor module. Polarization of a particular component on the pre-polarization field is selected by adjusting length thereof in such a way that its protons will attain enough polarization so as to provide a NMR signal. In order to select the Magnetic Resonance signal of the component exhibiting a longer relaxation time, there is added to the pre-polarization magnetic field a second field (temporarily pulsed), extending its action on the production vein. That is to say that, in this situation, ordinate at the origin of adjustment of the linear region of the echoes of the CPMG sequence, after a repeated pulses sequence, will now represent protons from two of the fluid components, each with higher and lower T1. From the quantitative comparison of ordinates at the origin of both signals, one which is obtained with a shorter length of the pre-polarization field and the other obtained with longer spatial length for the application of the pre-polarization field, relative proportions, or cuts, of both components are obtained. Where the fluid bears a third component, an adequately arranged third magnetic field will be added.
Measurements are sequentially carried out and appropriately repeated in order to obtain an adequate signal-to-noise relation. Typically, measurement is completed in a few seconds.
Accordingly, this invention may be applied in all those cases involving complex fluids circulation, as for instance: Oil-Water, Mud from Mining Operations, Industrial Fluids, etc.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Apparatus and method for real time and real flow-rates measurements of oil and water cuts from oil production