In a manufacturing method of a MIM nonlinear device (50) having a Ta electrode layer (16), an anodic oxidation film (18) and a Cr electrode layer (20), tantalum oxidation film (14) is first formed on the transparent substrate (12). The Ta electrode layer (16) is formed on the tantalum oxidation film (14) and the anodic oxidation film (18) is formed on the Ta electrode layer (16). Then, heat treatment is performed to the substrate. The final temperature drop in the heat treatment process is carried out in the atmosphere that contains water vapor. After that, the Cr electrode layer (20) is formed to complete the MIM nonlinear device (50). By conducting the heat treatment in the atmosphere that contains water vapor, the nonlinear characteristics of the MIM device can be improved as well as the improvement of the resistance characteristic in the OFF state.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a manufacturing method of a MIM (Metal-Insulator-Metal) nonlinear device, and to an MIM nonlinear device and a liquid crystal display device.
2. Related Art
Generally, active matrix liquid crystal display devices comprise two substrates, between which liquid crystal is filled. On one substrate, a switching device is provided for each pixel region to form a matrix array, and on the other substrate, a color filter is formed. The orientation of the liquid crystal is controlled in each pixel region, thereby displaying prescribed information. As the switching device, a three-terminal device, such as a TFT (Thin Film Transistor), or a two-terminal device, such as MIM nonlinear device, are typically used. A MIM nonlinear device is advantageous in responding to the demand for a large-sized screen and reduced manufacturing cost. Moreover, a MIM nonlinear device has another advantage of eliminating crossover short-circuit between the scan line and the data line because scan lines and data lines are separately provided on different substrates. That is, scan lines are provided on the substrate having a matrix array formed thereon while data lines are provided on the other substrate.
FIG. 14 shows an example of the conventional active matrix liquid crystal display device 100 using an MIM nonlinear device, in which a matrix is formed by a plurality of scan lines 74 connected to the scan line driving circuit 72, and a plurality of data lines 78 connected to the data line driving circuit 76. Pixel region 80 is formed in each element of the matrix. Pixel region 80 includes a MIM nonlinear device 50 connected to the data line 78 at one end, and a liquid crystal display element 60 connected between the MIM nonlinear device 50 and the scan line 74. Liquid crystal display element 60 is driven based on the differential voltage between the signal applied to the scan line 74 and the signal applied to the data line 78. If the threshold voltage of liquid crystal element 60 is represented as (Vb), and the threshold voltage of MIM nonlinear device 50 is represented as (Vth), and if the voltage at both terminals of the liquid crystal display element 60, which turns on the liquid crystal display element 60, is represented as (Vb+.DELTA.V), then the liquid crystal display element 60 is in the ON state when the differential voltage is (Vb+Vth+.DELTA.V) during a selected period, while the liquid crystal display element 60 is in the OFF state when the differential voltage is (Vb+Vth). During a non-selected period, the differential voltage is set to less than (Vth) to maintain the state decided during the selected period.
FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view of the active matrix liquid crystal display device 100 using an MIM nonlinear device. Liquid crystal layer 40 is positioned between the electrode substrates 10 and 30. Electrode substrate 10 comprises a transparent board 12, MIM nonlinear devices 50 formed on the transparent board 12, and pixel electrodes 22 connected to the corresponding MIM nonlinear device 50. MIM nonlinear device 50 is composed of a Ta electrode layer 16 formed on the transparent electrode 12, a Ta.sub.2 O.sub.5 film 18 formed on the Ta electrode 16, and a Cr electrode layer 20 formed on the Ta.sub.2 O.sub.5 film 18. Ta.sub.2 O.sub.5 film 18 is formed on the surface of the Ta electrode layer 16 through anodic oxidation of the Ta electrode layer 16 so that the film thickness becomes uniform without generating pin holes. (See Japanese Patent Application Laid-Opens 5-297389 and 5-313207.)
With the conventional method, MIM nonlinear device 50 having such a structure is manufactured as follows: forming a tantalum oxide layer 14 with a thickness of about 1000 .ANG. by depositing a tantalum layer on the transparent substrate 12 by sputtering, followed by heat oxidation; depositing a tantalum layer up to about 3000 .ANG. by sputtering, and patterning the tantalum layer to form a Ta electrode layer 16; performing anodic oxidation to the Ta electrode layer 16 to form a Ta.sub.2 O.sub.5 anodic oxidation film 18; and depositing chromium film with a thickness 1500 .ANG. by sputtering and patterning the chromium film to form a Cr electrode layer 20, thereby completing a MIM nonlinear device 50.
IEEE Trans Electron Device, Vol. ED28, pp. 736-739, June 1981, proposes a technique for doping nitrogen into Ta electrode layer 16 composing an MIM nonlinear device, in order to improve the nonlinear characteristics of the MIM nonlinear device. However, this technique requires highly advanced technology of tantalum sputtering, and makes it difficult to manufacture the MIM nonlinear device with good repeatability.
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open 63-50081 proposes a technique of anodic oxidation of the tantalum film, which is followed by heat treatment at a temperature from 400.degree. C. to 600.degree. C. in the nitrogen atmosphere, for improving the nonlinear characteristic of the MIM nonlinear device. However, simply conducting heat treatment at 400.degree.-600.degree. C. in the nitrogen atmosphere after the anodic oxidation of the tantalum film can not achieve an adequate nonlinear characteristic and a satisfactory resistance characteristic in the OFF state, which are required for obtaining an excellent image quality. Thus, further improvement of the nonlinear characteristic and resistance characteristic has been desired.
Therefore, the objective of the invention is to provide a method for manufacturing an MIM nonlinear device, which is capable of improving the nonlinear characteristic and resistance characteristic in the OFF state of a MIM nonlinear device, and to provide a liquid crystal display device using an MIM nonlinear device with improved a nonlinear characteristic and resistance characteristic in the OFF state.

Manufacturing method of mim nonlinear device, mim nonlinear device, and liquid crystal display device


To prevent interference between an electronic element mounted on a circuit board and a casing upon inserting the circuit board into the casing and to facilitate insertion of the circuit board into the casing. A casing adapted to contain a circuit board may have opposed side walls each having a guide groove. Each guide groove has a narrow width portion with an even width in an inner part of the casing and a wide mouthed portion at an inlet port of the casing. The wide mouthed portion has first and second opposed slant surfaces that are gradually spaced away from each other toward the inlet port. The slant starting point of the first slant surface is nearer the inlet port than the slant starting point of the second slant surface. When the circuit board is inclined and inserted through the inlet port into the casing, the leading end of the circuit board initially contacts the first slant surface to restrain the inserting angle of the circuit board, thereby preventing an electronic element mounted on the circuit board from interfering with the peripheral edge of the casing around the inlet port.

This invention relates to a containing structure for a circuit board and more particularly to a containing structure for a circuit board in which the circuit board can be readily inserted into a casing in an electronic control apparatus. This application claims priority from Japanese Patent Public Disclosure JP-A-2005-213774, filed Jul. 25, 2005, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
Conventionally, an electronic control apparatus to be mounted on a motor vehicle contains in a casing a circuit board on which electronic elements are mounted. Some casings are provided in the interior with guide grooves that serve to guide the circuit board into the casing and hold it at a predetermined position in the casing.
For example, in Japanese Patent Public Disclosure 2000-49475 JP-A-2000-49475), the width of each guide groove at an inlet side for a circuit board is set to be great enough to enable the circuit board to be inserted into the casing.
The width of the guide groove may be enlarged at the inlet side of the casing to form a wide mouthed portion as disclosed in JP-A-2000-49475. In that case, when a circuit board 2 is inserted into the casing 1 slantwise, as shown in FIG. 8, a leading end 2a of the circuit board 2 contacts a slant surface 4 on the wide mouthed portion 3a, which is formed by widening a width of the guide groove 3, and the guide groove 3 restrains an inserting direction of the circuit board 2.
Thus, in the case where the guide groove 3 is provided with the wide mouthed portion 3a, an inlet port for the circuit board 2 becomes larger, thereby facilitating insertion of the circuit board 2 into the casing 1.


A memory stores first image data for offset correction generated by performing an interlace scanning of the driving lines of odd rows only in a driving circuit unit. A memory stores second image data for offset correction generated by performing the interlace scanning of the driving lines of even rows only in the driving circuit unit. A processing unit synthesizes the first image data for offset correction and the second image data for offset correction, thereby to generate image data for offset correction of one frame portion, and an arithmetic operation unit performs an arithmetic operation processing on the radiation image data by using the image data for offset correction of one frame portion synthesized and generated, thereby to perform the offset correction of the radiation image data.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a radiation imaging apparatus for performing a so-called offset, the driving method thereof, and a radiation imaging system.
2. Description of the Related Art
In recent years, in general, there has been known a radiation imaging apparatus, which comprises a flat-type area sensor arranged with pixels in a matrix, which are composed of a conversion element and a TFT based on amorphous silicon and polysilicon on an insulating substructure such as a glass substrate. In this radiation imaging apparatus, radiation such as X-rays is converted into an electric charge, and the converted electric charge is subjected to matrix-driving by using the TFT serving as a switch element controlled by a driving control unit, so that the electric signal based on the electric charge is read, and is read out to a circuit unit.
Using such an apparatus, an object image can be obtained by the electric signal output from a read out circuit unit, but this image (electric signal output from the read out circuit unit) includes an offset component generated by the area sensor and the read out circuit unit. Since the image radiographed by actually irradiating it with the radiation includes the above-described offset component, it is necessary to perform an offset correction in order to remove the offset component from the radiographed image.
Heretofore, this offset correction has been performed by what can be broadly divided into two methods. A first offset correction method is a method of obtaining an image data for offset in advance. In this method, the electric signals based on the electric charges accumulated in the pixel in a state in which the radiation, or light based on the radiation, is not incident on the area sensor are read out by using the driving circuit unit and the read out circuit unit from the area sensor, thereby to obtain an image data FO for offset correction. The image data FO for offset correction thus obtained is stored in an image memory for offset. When the image data for offset correction is obtained in advance in this manner, it is often the case that a ROM is used for the image memory for offset.
After that, every time the radiation including the object image information or the light based on that radiation is incident, a read action is performed for the area sensor, the driving circuit unit, and the read out circuit unit. At this time, for every radiographing, a radiation image data Xn is stored in a radiation image memory. In an arithmetic operation unit, an arithmetic operation processing such as subtracting the image data FO for offset correction from the radiation image data Xn is performed, and the image data subjected to the arithmetic operation processing is displayed in a display unit such as a monitor.
In the above-described conventional example, since the image data FO for offset correction is obtained in advance, it is not necessary to obtain the image data for offset correction for each radiographing, and this is advantageous in performing a prompt radiographing. However, it is generally known that the offset component in the flat panel-type area sensor often changes due to factors such as a variance in time, variance in temperature, image lag (effect due to optical hysteresis of the preceding frame), and variance in defective pixels.
When a change occurs in the offset component of the above-described area sensor, the correction method based on the image data for offset correction stored in advance is not sufficient in terms of image quality, but often causes malfunctions. That is, in this case, the offset correction had often the opposite effect of lowering the image quality of the radiation image data.
Hence, in a second offset correction method, every time the irradiation with radiation or with light based on that radiation is performed, in other words, every time the radiation image is radiographed, both the radiation image data Xn and an image data Fn for offset correction are obtained so as to perform the offset correction. In this method, the radiation or the light based on that radiation is directed at the area sensor, and after that, the read out of a radiation image data X1 is performed, and this radiation image data X1 is stored in the radiation image memory. Subsequently, in a state in which the radiation or the light based on that radiation is not incident on the area sensor, an image data F1 for offset correction is obtained, and this image data F1 for offset correction is stored in the image memory for offset. When the content stored in the image memory for offset is rewritten every time in this manner, RAM is used for the memory.
After that, every time radiographing is performed in the operation unit, the arithmetic operation processing such as subtracting the image data Fn for offset correction from the radiation image data Xn is performed, and the image data subjected to the arithmetic operation processing is displayed in the display unit such as the monitor. For example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-301053 discloses a radiation imaging apparatus, which performs an offset correction by using the image data for offset correction obtained at the same time intervals as the output of the radiation image data during a period in which the radiation or the light based on that radiation is not irradiated.
In this second offset correction method, it is possible to prevent fluctuation of the image data for offset correction by the changes such as the above described variance in time, variance in temperature, image lag, and variance in defective pixels and avoid the lowering of the image quality of the radiation image data. However, on the other hand, in the second offset correction method, since it takes the same time as required in obtaining the radiation image data to obtain the image data for offset correction, it has been difficult to perform a prompt radiographing.

Radiation imaging apparatus, driving method thereof and radiation imaging system


A light beam deflection unit is formed of a light-transmissive deflection prism extending in the direction of an optical axis and of a carrier prism. The deflection prism has a light entry face oriented essentially perpendicular to the optical axis, a reflection face proceeding obliquely relative to the optical axis and a light exit face. The carrier prism is joined to the deflection prism at the reflection face and supplements the latter to form a composite unit essentially symmetrical relative to the optical axis that is seated rotatable around the optical axis. For the purpose of reducing air turbulence upon rotation of the composite unit, a hollow-cylindrical element whose cylinder axis essentially coincides with the optical axis and whose inside diameter at least corresponds to the diameter of the light beam incident onto the light entry face and that is connected to the composite unit is arranged in front of the light entry face. Position errors of the deflected light beam are minimized due to the reduction of air turbulence, as a result whereof a uniform exposing and, thus, a high reproduction quality are achieved given employment of the light beam deflection unit in a recording apparatus.

The invention is in the field of electronic reproduction technology and is directed to a light beam deflection unit in a scanner device for an apparatus for scanning masters or for a recording apparatus. Such a scanner device essentially comprises a light source for generating a light beam, a deflection unit for the light beam and an optical unit for correcting the light beam.
In a master scanning apparatus, also referred to as input scanner, a light beam generated in a scanner device is conducted point-by-point and line-by-line across an original to be scanned, and the scan light reflected from the original or allowed to pass therethrough is converted into an image signal in an optoelectronic transducer. In a recording apparatus, also referred to as a recorder, exposer or output scanner, the light beam for recording information acquired in a scanner device is intensity-modulated by an image signal and is conducted point-by-point and line-by-line over a light-sensitive recording material.
In the case of a flat bed apparatus, the holder for the master or for the recording material is a plane surface over which the light beam is conducted point-by-point and line-by-line, and that moves relative to the scanner device. In the case of an inside drum apparatus, the holder for the master or for the recording material is designed as a stationary half shell or trough. The scanner device moves parallel to the longitudinal axis of the holder, and the light beam is conducted radially across the master or the recording material perpendicular to the longitudinal axis.
An inside drum recording apparatus is disclosed, for example, by EP-A-0 354 028. The light beam deflection unit therein is designed as a mirror surface arranged transversely relative to the light propagation direction, and is connected to a shaft turning around a rotational axis. The rotating mirror surface deflects the light beam across the recording material point-by-point and line-by-line.
During operation of the recording apparatus, contaminants can collect at the mirror surface, and air turbulences can arise at high speeds due to the asymmetrical design of the light beam deflection unit with reference to the rotational axis. The air turbulences lead to disturbing noises and contamination in the region of the mirror surface. Beyond this, the air turbulences can exert alternating pressures on the bearing for the rotational axis that can cause slight shifts in the position of the mirror surface and, thus, of the deflected light beam on the recording material. Further, the optical path of the light beam in the light deflection unit can be influenced by the air turbulences, so that additional shifts in the position of the light beam on the recording material can arise. Such positional errors of the light beam lead to non-uniform exposures on the recording material, as a result of which the reproduction quality is disadvantageously deteriorated, given a high-quality recording apparatus.
DE-A-41 24 229 discloses a light beam deflection unit with a light entry face and a light exit face for the perpendicularly deflected light beam that is composed of a rotationally seated carrier prism and of a light-transmissive deflection prism that extends in the direction of a rotational axis. The face of the deflection prism adjoining the carrier prism is designed as a reflection surface that proceeds transversely relative to the rotational axis. The deflection prism is glued to the carrier prism, and the two prisms supplement each other, at least in regions, to form a unit that is symmetrical relative to the rotational axis. Disk-shaped cover elements that project beyond the unit in the radial expanse are arranged to the side of the unit.
Given this light beam deflection unit, the cover elements in fact result in slight air turbulences, dirt and unquiet running as well; however, the positional errors of the deflected light beam caused by air turbulence cannot be entirely avoided. Further, the manufacture of the cover elements is comparatively involved since they must be precisely manufactured and precisely centered at the unit.
DE-A41 30 977 discloses another light beam deflection unit that is composed of a transparent member designed as a spherical segment and of a carrier member that is likewise designed as a spherical segment and that is glued to the transparent member at the reflection layer. The transparent member comprises a light entry face, a reflection face and a light exit face. The unit formed of the transparent member and the carrier member is rotatable around an axis that resides perpendicular to the light entry face and comprises an outside contour that is dynamically balanced, at least with reference to the axis. As a result of the spherical design of the unit, this light beam deflection unit can in fact rotate at a relatively high speed without creating substantial running noises; nonetheless, air turbulences can occur, these likewise disadvantageously causing disturbing positional errors of the light beam.

Light beam deflection apparatus having element for reducing air turbulence


A non-magnetic one-component developer comprises a binder resin and a colorant, and has a volume-average particle diameter (dv) in a range of 5-15 .mu.m, a ratio (dv/dn) of the volume-average particle diameter (dv) to the number-average particle diameter (dn) in a range of 1.00-1.40, a quotient (Sc/Sr) obtained by dividing the area (Sc) of a circle supposing the absolute maximum length of a particle is a diameter by the real projected area (Sr) of the particle in a range of 1.00-1.30, a product (AxdnxD) of the specific surface area (A) (m.sup.2 /g) as measured in accordance with the BET method, the number-average particle diameter (dn) (.mu.m) and the true specific gravity (D) in a range of 5-10, and a ratio (Q/A) of the charge level (Q) (.mu.c/g) to the specific surface area (A) in a range of 80-150. The developer is substantially spherical from both conditions of Sc/Sr and AxdnxD, and is suitable for use in a development process in which cleaning is conducted at the same time as development. A development process making use of the non-magnetic one-component developer is also disclosed.

Image-forming apparatus such as electrophotographic apparatus and electrostatic recording apparatus, in which a prescribed latent image on a photosensitive drum is rendered visible, are generally equipped with a cleaning device for removing a developer remaining on the photosensitive drum.
For example, an image-forming apparatus of such a construction as schematically illustrated in section in FIG. 1 is generally used. This apparatus is provided with a photosensitive drum (1), a cleaning device (2) equipped with a cleaning blade (2a) disposed about the photosensitive drum, a charging device (3), an exposing device (4), a developing device (5), a development roll (8), a transferring device (6) and the like. The surface of the photosensitive drum (1), which has been charged to a desired extent by the charging device (3), is selectively exposed by the exposing device (4), thereby forming a latent image. An area of the latent image is developed with a developer (toner) by making use of the developing device (5). A toner image thus developed is transferred to a transfer paper sheet (7) by the transferring device (6). After completion of the transfer process, the toner remaining on the photosensitive drum (1) is removed by the cleaning blade (2a) of the cleaning device (2).
However, the above-described apparatus involves a problem that since the remaining toner accumulated in the cleaning device must be discarded, its maintenance is complicated, and pollution of the circumference of the apparatus and environment is brought about. In addition, the photosensitive drum is worn due to the friction with the cleaning blade, so that the image-forming characteristics and life of the image-forming apparatus are lowered. Furthermore, the provision of the cleaning device results in reduction in degree of freedom in its design.
In order to solve such problems, it has been proposed to use a one-component developer and conduct development and cleaning at the same time by the same developing device (Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Nos. 203182/1987 and 7972/1991).
A schematic cross-sectional view of an exemplary image-forming apparatus for achieving such a process is illustrated in FIG. 2. Incidentally, in FIG. 2, the character (9) indicates a layer-thickness regulator for toner, and other characters designate members or devices respectively corresponding to those of the same characters in FIG. 1.
In the process making use of the apparatus illustrated in FIG. 2 to conduct development and cleaning at the same time, the toner remaining on the photosensitive drum after completion of a transfer process is recovered within the developing device according to the following principle. Namely, a surface potential of an unexposed area (non-latent-image area) and a surface potential of an exposed area (latent-image area) of the photosensitive drum (1), and a development bias voltage applied to the development roll (8) are supposed to be Vo, Vq and Vb, respectively, and a surface potential Ve of the development roll (8) is assumed to be identical with the development bias voltage Vb. The electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive drum is developed in reversal fashion with a one-component developer (toner) charged to the same polarity as the electric charge of the latent image.
In this reversal development, the above-described surface potentials are preset so as to satisfy the following relationship: EQU .vertline.Vo.vertline.>.vertline.Ve.vertline.>.vertline.Vq.vertline.
wherein Vo, Ve and Vq have the same polarity. In the latent-image area on the photosensitive drum, force toward the photosensitive drum is exerted on the toner on the development roll by a potential difference .vertline.Ve-Vq.vertline., thereby conducting development. After completion of the transfer process, force toward the development roll is exerted on the toner remaining on the non-latent-image area by a potential difference .vertline.Vo-Ve.vertline., thereby recovering the remaining toner, i.e., cleaning the photosensitive drum. According to this simultaneous process of development and cleaning, the conventional cleaning device becomes unnecessary.
In this development process, a toner layer uniform and thin in thickness is also formed on the development roll (8) by the layer-thickness regulator for toner (9). Further, as a toner, there is used a non-magnetic one-component developer comprising a binder resin and a colorant, containing no magnetic powder and having a high specific resistance.
It was however found from the results of an experiment by the present inventors that when a potential difference .vertline.Ve-Vq.vertline. is made great with a view toward attaining a sufficient image density, a potential difference .vertline.Vo-Ve.vertline. required to recover the remaining toner becomes small, so that cleaning becomes incomplete and the formation of ghost images occurs. On the contrary, when the potential difference .vertline.Vo-Ve.vertline. is made great with a view toward improving the cleaning ability, the potential difference .vertline.Ve-Vq.vertline. required for the development becomes small, so that it is impossible to attain a satisfactory image density. If the transferability of the toner on the photosensitive drum to transfer paper is poor and the toner hence remains thereon to a great extent, it is necessary to properly control the respective surface potentials Vo, Ve and Vq and moreover to regulate the thickness of a toner layer formed on the development roll and the rotational ratio of the photosensitive drum to the development roll so as to keep the amount of the toner required for the development proper, thereby making the amount of the toner remaining on the photosensitive drum after completion of the transfer small, in order to satisfy both image density and cleaning ability. The latitude of these proper conditions is extremely limited, so that it is difficult to properly control them.

Non-magnetic one-component developer and development process


A method and apparatus for dynamically expanding an N drive RAID set to an M drive RAID set while maintaining data integrity, where the M drive RAID set includes one or more new drives. The method comprises the steps of identifying a destructive zone in the N drive RAID set including destructive zone data. Thereafter the destructive zone data is mirrored in the M drive RAID set by copying it to a free location in the N drive RAID set and to a location in a new drive in the M drive RAID set. Finally, the N drive RAID set is expanded to an M drive RAID set. Data integrity is assured in the N drive RAID set during migration by maintaining mirrored destructive zone data until the expansion step has completed migration of the destructive zone of the N drive RAID set.

The present invention relates generally to distributed computing systems, and more particularly to a method and apparatus for dynamically expanding a RAID (Redundant Array of Independent Discs) set while assuring data integrity during the expansion process.
In a distributed computing system, a host is connected to a storage (memory) system via a storage controller. The host communicates with the storage controller through an interface, such as a small computer systems interface (SCSI). RAID technology is often employed to provide data redundancy for distributed computing systems. In a RAID architecture system, the host communicates to a RAID storage controller via an interface (SCSI). In turn, the RAID storage controller is connected to one or more storage elements (i.e., the RAID set, which may include hard disc drives, optical discs, or magnetic tape drives) for storing host data. The host writes to or reads from the storage elements through the RAID storage controller. The RAID storage controller writes data to the various storage elements according to the user's selected RAID level providing the user a selectable level of redundancy for host data.
In some systems the number of storage elements for storing the host data is variable. That is, the number of storage elements is dependent on the amount of information required to be stored. Accordingly, for some systems, expansion to add one or more storage elements to the existing RAID set is required as host storage requirements increase.
One problem that has arisen during RAID set expansion is maintaining data integrity for the system in the event of a failure during the expansion process. While ordinarily data integrity is high because of the redundancy built into the RAID architecture system, during the expansion process, singular failures may result in data loss. In order to assure data integrity, some systems disable storage operations during the expansion process, thereby disabled the host from accessing the system storage. While this allows for easier configuration control over the storage system, it results in inefficiencies in the host. What is desired is to provide for dynamic expansion capability while maintaining host data integrity.

Fault-tolerant preservation of data integrity during dynamic raid set expansion


This disclosure relates to a printing integration system. Specifically, this disclosure provides a means to integrate one or more pairs of substantially vertically aligned marking engines using an intersection transport. The intersection transport includes a media sheet input intersection transport, a single horizontal transport, and a media sheet output intersection transport.

This disclosure relates to printing systems which vertically integrate a plurality of printing devices.
Conventionally, vertically integrated printing devices, also referred to as IMEs (Image Marking Engines) are integrated by means of multiple media paths to provide inter-IME routing of media sheets for marking.
One example of a conventional printing system which includes vertically integrated IMEs is illustrated in FIG. 1.
The printing system includes a first sheet feeder module 2, a second sheet feeder module 4, a first interface module 6, a user terminal 8, a first IME 10, a second IME 12, a third IME 14, a fourth IME 16, a second interface module 20, a first sheet stacker module 24, a second sheet stacker module 26 and an intersection transport module 18 which integrates IMEs 10, 12, 14 and 16, and provides media sheet routing between the IMEs and interface modules 6 and 20.
To provide sheet routing from the first interface module 6 to IMEs 10, 12, 14 and 16, and from the IMEs to the second interface module 20, the intersection module 18 includes forward sheet highways on the top and bottom, and a return highway in the center of the intersection module 18. Notably, these sheet highways are unidirectional.
Another example of a conventional printing system which includes vertically integrated IMEs is illustrated in FIG. 2. This system includes a sheet feeder module 40, a first interface module 42, a user terminal 44, a first IME 46, a second IME 48, a second interface module 52, a third interface module 54, a sheet stacker module 56 and an intersection module 39. The intersection module 39 provides routing of media sheets from the first interface module 42 to IMEs 46 and 48, and to the second interface module 52.
With reference to FIG. 3, illustrated is a detailed view of the intersection module 39 illustrated in FIG. 2. The intersection module 39 includes a top sheet highway 28 which directs media sheets in a forward direction, a middle sheet highway 30 which provides a return path for duplex printing sheet recirculation, and a bottom sheet highway 32 which directs media sheets in a forward direction. Gates 31 and 33 provide the routing of media sheets to and from the interface modules 42 and 52, and provide routing of sheets between media sheet highways 28, 30 and 32. Notably, the media sheet highways are unidirectional.
With reference to FIG. 4, illustrated is another example of a conventional printing system which includes multiple media sheet highways to vertically integrate a plurality of IMEs. The printing system includes a first interface module 60, a first IME 62, a second IME 64, a third IME 66, a fourth IME 68 and a second interface module 70. In addition, integrated within this printing system is a top return highway 72, a middle return highway 74, a middle forward highway 76 and a bottom forward highway 78. Notably, in this example, the media sheet highways are integrated within the IMEs and are unidirectional.
In operation, the printing system highways, i.e. 72, 74, 76 and 78, provide routing of media sheets from the first interface module 60 to IMEs 62, 64, 66 and 68, and to the second interface module 70.
As will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art of printing systems, the multiple highway structures shown in FIGS. 1-4 are necessary to enable the vertically integrated printing systems to provide a variety of printing modes which utilize one or more IMEs. Examples of the provided printing modes include simplex printing, duplex printing, overlay printing with two or more IMEs, etc.
This disclosure provides a method and system to vertically integrate IMEs in a modular fashion, where a single bidirectional path operatively connected to a pair of intersection transports provides the routing of media sheets between the IMEs. Since the single bidirectional path can serve the same function as the previously described multiple unidirectional highways, the resulting system can be made more compact and at lower cost.


A Dedicated Physical Location Channel (DPLCH) is utilized by a mobile station (913) to support subscriber location functions. The DPLCH is spread by an Orthogonal Variable Spreading Factor (OVSF) code C.sub.L (502) of length 256 which is distinct from those OVSF codes assigned to other channels utilized by the mobile station (913). When a power-up function (PUF) is received by the mobile station (913), the DPLCH sub-channel amplitude is then modified relative to the other channels being utilized by the mobile station (913) using gain module G.sub.L (503) prior to combination (504) with the other channels.

FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 show an exemplary configuration of the spreading, modulation, and framing design for the uplink (i.e. the mobile station (MS) to base station (BS) link) of a so-called "3.sup.rd Generation" (3G) cellular communications system based on Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) principles. That system is generally described in the European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI) report of sub-group SMG2, entitled "Concept Group Alpha--Direct-Sequence CDMA (WCDMA) Evaluation Document (3.0), Part1, Dec. 15-19, 1997." There are two types of physical sub-channels shown in FIG. 1, namely the Dedicated Physical Data Channel (DPDCH) 101 and the Dedicated Physical Control Channel (DPCCH) 102. The DPDCH is used to carry dedicated data generated at layer 2 and above while the DPCCH is used to carry control information generated at layer 1.
As shown in FIG. 2, the DPDCH and DPCCH are separated into 10 ms frames 201, and further separated into 625 us timeslots 202. The DPDCH carries 10*2.sup.K BPSK symbols (i.e. bits) in each timeslot, where K is an integer in the range 0-6. In the example illustrated by FIG. 2, K=1, allowing 20 data bits 206 (symbols d(0)-d(19)) to be transmitted per timeslot giving a bit rate of 32 kbps. Since the spreading rate is 4.096 Mega-chips per second in the example shown, there are 2560 (N.sub.P) chips in each timeslot, with each DPDCH data symbol being spread by a factor of 128.
The DPCCH consists of a) known pilot symbols 203 to support channel and received signal-to-noise (SNR) estimation at the BS rake receiver, b) a Transmit Power Control Indicator (TPCI) field 204 to support closed-loop BS transmit power control, and c) a Rate Indicator (RI) field 205 used to describe the information rate of each 10 ms frame. The DPCCH is typically spread by a factor of 256.
The DPDCH and DPCCH are respectively mapped to the in-phase (I) and quadrature (Q) branches of the MS transmitted waveform. The resulting I and Q signal is then spread to the chip rate using two different orthogonal channelization codes C.sub.D 103 and C.sub.C 104. The channelization codes are Orthogonal Variable Spreading Factor (OVSF) codes selected from the hierarchy of such codes described in detail in "Tree Structured Generation of Orthogonal Spreading Codes with different lengths for Forward Link of DS-CDMA Mobile Radio," Electronics Letters, Jan. 2nd, 1997, pp.27-28, by F. Adachi, M. Sawahashi, and K. Okawa. Since, in the example shown, it is assumed that the desired coded bit rate of the DPCCH is 32 kbps, the DPDCH channelization code C.sub.D is required to be length 128. The DPCCH channelization code is likewise an allowable OVSF code of length 256, regardless of the bit rate of the DPDCH.
The complex-valued signal 111 resulting from the combination of DPCCH and DPDCH is then scrambled by an MS-specific primary scrambling code C.sub.S 105. In the prior art, this primary scrambling code is complex-valued, is of length-256, and is constructed using a pair of extended Very Large Kasami codes although any code family with good auto- and cross-correlation properties may be used. The resulting spread signal is then filtered using square-root raised-cosine chip pulse-shaping filters 108 and 109 before being quadrature modulated 109 and transmitted from antenna 110.
Radio trilateration techniques have been widely used in many mobile transmitter location systems (e.g., Loran-C). There are two primary methods to achieve trilateration, namely the a) Time of Arrival (TOA) and b) Time Difference of Arrival (TDOA) methods. TDOA requires each BS to estimate, with respect to a local timing reference, the time delay of the MS signal using a time delay estimator. FIG. 3 shows the block diagram of a prior-art BS time delay estimator that may be used to form such an estimate given the transmitted MS signal described above. In FIG. 3, the received signal is first converted to baseband using quadrature demodulator 301, then processed using chip pulse matched filter 302, and sampled using analog-digital (ADC) 303. The signal is then passed through Code Matched Filter (CMF) 304, where the taps of the filter are set equal to the length-N.sub.PILOT code C* 207 shown in FIG. 2, where C* 207 is constructed by concatenating K copies of the length-256 code formed as the product of the C.sub.C and C.sub.S codes, and where N.sub.PILOT =256K. In the example of FIG. 3, K=5.
A time delay estimate is then formed by coherently accumulating 305 the complex-valued CMF outputs to an array of N.sub.P observations or "ranging bins" (where N.sub.P is 2560 as shown in FIG. 2) for N timeslots, and then non-coherently accumulating 312 the result for M such length-N timeslot periods. The total observation time is therefore N.times.M timeslots. The length-N.sub.P real-valued output array of the non-coherent accumulator 312, i.e., the array of available decision statistics 307, is then passed through a Time Delay Decision Algorithm 308 which gives the time delay estimate to 309 of the MS signal with respect to the local timing reference, where the Time Delay Decision Algorithm 308 may be as simple as selecting the ranging bin with largest magnitude decision statistic 307. This time delay estimate 309 can then be combined with time-delay estimates from other BSs and used in the derivation of MS location using, for example, the TDOA technique.
The ability to use such trilateration techniques in a DS-CDMA system utilizing MS transmit power control is, however, problematic since MSs close to BSs (i.e. a "proximal" BS) transmit at low output power in order to avoid the well-known near-far problem for CDMA systems. Since such MSs are observed at very low SNR at distant BSs, it may not be possible in such cases to form a reliable time-delay estimate at distant BSs. One of the ways to increase the visibility of the MS to multiple BSs is to increase the MS power level for a brief period at a predefined time period using a so-called Power-Up Function (PUF) command from the infrastructure equipment. Details of PUF can be found in Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA) contribution "Location Power Up Function," TR188.8.131.52/97.07.17.02 by A. Ghosh, G. Bruckert, B. Verbiscer and M. Panjwani and in ETSI SMG2 document UMTS A36/97 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,508,708 dated Apr. 16, 1996 by Ghosh et. al.
PUF can be used for performing MS location in systems employing the prior-art MS transmitter/transmission structure described above. In this case, the pilot field of the DPCCH (see FIG. 1 and FIG. 2) is sent at higher power for the duration of the PUF. The TDOA information required for MS location can then be derived from observation of the pilot field at multiple distant base stations using trilateration methods and a code matched filter (CMF) matched only to the pilot field of the DPCCH. (If the entire DPCCH transmission over the timeslot were used, range estimation would have to be performed jointly with determination of modulated TPCI 204 and RI 205 symbols). In practice, however, the CMF would not be matched to the entire DPCCH and would not be of length-2560, but rather of length N.sub.PILOT. This leads to reduction in SNR at distant BS filter outputs. Also, it is inefficient to transmit the TPCI 204 and RI 205 fields at higher power during PUF, since those fields are not used at the CMF. Transmitting only the pilot field 203 at higher power, however, would lead to undesirable MS transmit power envelope variations. Furthermore PUF probe cancellation at proximal BSs becomes cumbersome with this approach.
Thus a need exists for a method and apparatus for location of a mobile station within a communication system that results in a higher SNR at distant BSs without the undesirable MS transmit power envelope variations and other disadvantages of prior-art location techniques.

Method and apparatus for mobile station location within a communication system


There is described a process for preparing metal oxide particles which are substantially free of coarse tail from an oxidizing agent and a vaporous metal reactant in a flow reactor; comprising, (a) directing a flow of the metal reactant into a contacting region of the flow reactor; comprising (a) passing a flow of oxidizing agent through a high temperature zone of the flow reactor to form a flow of hot oxidizing agent and directing the flow of the hot oxidizing agent onto the contacting region of the flow reactor at a flow condition sufficient to form a reaction stream comprising a flow of hot oxidizing agent, a flow of metal reactant and a diffusive flow of the hot oxidizing agent and the metal reactant, the temperature of the hot oxidizing agent being at least sufficient to initiate oxidation of the metal reactant in the diffusive flow; (c) passing the reaction stream into a reaction zone of the flow reactor, while simultaneously introducing a flow of an upper cooling fluid substantially coaxially with the reaction stream to form a fluid curtain which surrounds the reaction stream; (d) maintaining the fluid curtain while the metal oxide particles form within the diffusive flow of the reaction stream and until at least a major portion of the reaction stream is cooled to a temperature below the temperature at which metal oxide particles coalesce; and (e) separating the metal oxide particles from the reaction stream.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a process for producing nanoparticles and more particularly to a process for reacting a metal reactant and an oxidizing agent to make nanoparticles, the process being capable of eliminating coarse tail and scale formation.
2. Description of the Related Art
The chloride process for making titanium dioxide includes high-temperature anhydrous vapor phase reactions where liquid titanium tetrachloride is vaporized and superheated then reacted with oxygen to produce titanium dioxide. The superheating and subsequent reaction phase can be carried out either by a refractory process, where the reactants are heated by refractory heat exchangers and combined. Alternatively, carbon monoxide can be purified and then mixed with the titanium tetrachloride and oxidizing agent and then the mixture subjected to a controlled combustion. Another method is by vaporizing the titanium tetrachloride in a hot plasma along with the oxidizing agent.
The development of these processes for the production of fine particles which are below about 100 nm in size, termed "nanoparticles", has been a point of focus in recent years. In particular, titanium dioxide nanoparticles have gained increased attention because they can have a high degree of transparency and they can also have UV protective properties. The combined properties of transparency and UV protection is especially desirable in applications demanding both properties including, without limit, cosmetics; product coatings, such as automotive clear coatings and wood coatings; and plastics, such as polymer composites.
The development of processes for making nanoparticles continues to be a challenge.
The build-up of scale within the reactor is a significant problem in the production of metal oxide nanoparticles, particularly titanium dioxide nanoparticles. Scale is a layer of solids formed on the walls of the reactor that can build up significantly overtime as the hot metal oxide particles and reactants collide with the walls of the reactor and stick at a temperature at which the metal oxide particles can coalesce. The layer can comprise sintered metal oxides which are very hard and tenacious. This hard and tenacious type of reactor wall scale is labor intensive to remove and represents loss of product which increases production costs.
In the production of titanium dioxide nanoparticles the presence of "coarse tail" can be a significant problem. "Coarse tail" is an amount of large particles, typically having a diameter exceeding about 100 nm and greater, present in the product. The large particles can be built up from smaller metal oxide particles and/or reactants which collide with each other and coalesce at a high temperatures. In addition, the large particles can result from particle aggregates that can form from partially coalesced particles. Further, a "soft" layer of large coalesced particles that can form on the walls of the reactor can become entrained with the flow of product and contribute to coarse tail.
In the manufacture of titanium dioxide nanoparticles, coarse tail can be a commercialization barrier because it is considered detrimental to transparency. Even a very small percentage of titanium dioxide particles having a diameter above about 100 nm can impart a degree of opacity sufficient to render the product unacceptable for high transparency applications such as automotive clear coatings. Since, large particles can be difficult and costly to remove there is a need for processes capable of producing nanoparticles which are free of coarse tail.
In U.S. Pat. No. 6,277,354 at Col. 4, lines 37-41 this "stickiness" property of metal chlorides and metal oxides which can lead to wall scale and coarse tail is defined as meaning that the ratio of the temperature Kelvin of the particular particles to their melting point temperature Kelvin is equal to or less than about ⅔.
A highly turbulent quench zone has been described for controlling particle size distribution and reactivity to overcome particle growth and agglomeration. Highly turbulent quenching conditions can also provide high conversion rates. While relatively high conversions of reactants can be an advantage of this process, coarse tail and reactor wall scale problems remain. Highly turbulent conditions promote collisions between particles which at high temperatures increase particle coalescence which increases the proportion of large particles and the buildup of reactor wall scale.

Process for making metal oxide nanoparticles


The PLCC package enables a narrow viewing angle without requiring a second lens by providing the PLCC package with a reflector cup having multiple stages where the geometry or some other characteristic of one stage is different from the geometry or some other characteristic of another stage.

Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs) have many advantages over conventional light sources, as incandescent, halogen and fluorescent lamps. These advantages include longer operating life, lower power consumption, and smaller size. Consequently, conventional light sources are increasingly being replaced with LEDs in traditional lighting applications. As an example, LEDs are currently being used in flashlights, camera flashes, traffic signal lights, automotive taillights and display devices.
Among the various packages for LEDs, an LED package of interest is the Plastic Leaded Chip Carrier (PLCC) package for a surface mount LED. Surface mount LEDs in PLCC packages may be used, for example, in automotive interior display devices, electronic signs and signals, and electrical equipment.
In some LED applications, a narrow viewing angle LED is required. As used herein, a narrow viewing angle refers to limiting the viewing angle (also referred to as the spatial radiation pattern) of less than or equal to 80 degrees (i.e., less than or equal to 40 degrees off-axis). When the LED is packaged within traditional PLCC and the LED naturally emits light at a relatively wide viewing angle, the PLCC package must be modified to accommodate a narrow viewing angle.
As can be seen in FIG. 1, traditional PLCC packages 100 for LEDs include cast epoxy/silicone on a plastic molded lead frame 104 which includes a plastic molded cup 108 and one or more leads which constitute a lead frame 112. Traditional plastic molded lead frames 104 are provided with a reflector cup into which the LED is mounted. The reflector cup in traditional plastic molded lead frames 104 is generally uniform in nature in that the inner wall of the reflector cup has a single offset or tilt angle relative to the surface on which the LED is mounted. If a white LED is desired, then epoxy/silicone can be provided in the reflector cup with phosphor. In previous solutions, a narrow viewing angle was achieved for PLCC packages 100 by attaching a lens 116 to the plastic molded cup 108. The profile of the lens 116 is specifically formed to minimize the viewing angle of the LED in the PLCC package.
There are several downsides to utilizing a lens 116 to achieve a narrow viewing angle. First, the addition of more components to the PLCC package increases its cost. Second, the lens 116 is usually attached with glue, which is also a complicated process and is not necessarily that easy to control. Third, the viewing angle for the LED will not be accurate if the lens 116 is tilted in any way or offset relative to the LED during the assembly process.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Narrow viewing angle plastic leaded chip carrier


A silicon substrate processing method for reducing the thickness of an area of a silicon substrate on which a metal layer is formed to implement a semiconductor integrated circuit is disclosed. The method includes: (A) a process which evenly reduces the thickness of the backside of a silicon substrate to an extent where mechanical strength is maintained and the metal layer on the silicon substrate remains intact; (B) a process which detects defects from the backside of the silicon substrate after the process (A); (C) a process which further reduces the thickness of a defect-containing area of the silicon substrate by processing the backside of the silicon substrate; and (D) a process which measures the thickness of the area of the silicon substrate which is reduced in the process (C).

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to a silicon substrate processing method for the observation of defects in semiconductor devices and a defect-detecting method.
2. Description of the Related Art
When a VLSI silicon device having a semiconductor integrated circuit formed on a silicon substrate fails, it is required to detect the defects causing the failure and examine the nature of those defects.
To observe defects, a transmission electron microscope (TEM) may be used. For the TEM observation, preparation of a very thin sample through which an electron beam can penetrate is required. For example, for the TEM observation using an electron beam with an accelerating voltage of 200 kV, the thickness of the sample to be observed should be around 0.1 μm. Some methods using a focused ion beam (FIB) to cut out a defect-containing area have been proposed for the preparation of samples used for the TEM observation (Patent documents 1 through 3).
Before preparing such a very thin sample, it is necessary to identify the specific location of a defect in the silicon substrate or the metal layer formed on the front side of the substrate. The present invention relates to a method for identifying specific locations of defects.
Known defect-detecting techniques include the optical beam induced current (OBIC) technique, the optical beam induced resistance change (OBIRCH) technique, and the photoemission microscopy (PEMS) technique.
In the OBIC and OBIRCH techniques, a constant voltage is applied to a target device, the observation point in the device is scanned and irradiated with a laser beam, and each electric current variation is displayed as a brightness signal variation on a point on the screen which corresponds to each point in the scanned area. The OBIC technique uses a visible laser (with a wavelength of 623.8 nm, for example) to detect electric current variations in a silicon substrate. The OBIRCH technique uses a visible laser (with a wavelength of 623.8 nm, for example) or a near-infrared laser (with a wavelength of 1300 nm) to detect resistance variations in a metal layer which are caused by temperature rise.
The PEMS technique uses luminescence which is seen when a voltage is applied to a target device. If the device has a defect such as junction leakage or a damaged insulator film, the electric field is concentrated near the defect and hot carriers are generated. The hot carriers emit light when they recombine. The PEMS technique detects this light to identify the location of the defect.
Detection of defects may be performed either from the front side or the backside of a silicon device. However, in defect detection from the front side, emission leakage through the metal layer may prevent accurate detection of defects. In defect detection from the backside, the surface pattern is recognized through infrared ray observation, the surface pattern is scanned (using CAD navigation, for example), and the area to be processed is determined. Also, to open the front side of the device, the backside opening should be closed to maintain the mechanical strength of the sample. Therefore, after opening the front side, it is difficult to electrically detect defects from the backside.
In defect detection from the backside, if the thickness of the silicon substrate is 15 μm or more, the resolution and the location accuracy become low. Furthermore, even if a defect is detected, the thicker the silicon substrate, the longer it takes to cut out a sample from the backside for the TEM observation.
[Patent document 1] Japanese Patent No. 3485707
[Patent document 2] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2001-217290
[Patent document 3] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2004-228076
To detect defects from the backside of a silicon substrate and to improve the accuracy of location identification, it is necessary to create a thin silicon substrate.
A thinner silicon substrate is better for highly-accurate detection of defects. Normally, diffusion layers are formed on the front side of a silicon substrate, for which a well is deeper than other types of diffusion layers and has a depth of 1.5 to 2.0 μm. Since defects in a substrate are normally found in the diffusion layers, it is not appropriate to make a silicon substrate thinner than the depth of diffusion layers. Consequently, the most suitable thickness of a silicon substrate when detecting defects is 2 to 5 μm.
One way to reduce the thickness of the backside of a silicon substrate is to evenly grind the entire area. However, if the entire silicon substrate is very thin, less than 10 μm for example, the mechanical strength of the substrate becomes low and handling of the substrate becomes very difficult.
Another way is to reduce the thickness of a defect-containing area only. For this partial processing, a laser beam or a FIB may be used. In this method, the remaining thickness of the defect-containing area should be measured. Since the infrared ray can penetrate a silicon substrate, the thickness can be measured by focusing an infrared microscope on the front side and backside of the processed silicon substrate. However, the accuracy of this method is low and it is difficult to precisely measure a very thin silicon substrate with a thickness less than 10 μm.

Silicon substrate processing method for observing defects in semiconductor devices and defect-detecting method


An exemplary agricultural implement includes a plurality of units configured to inject particulate material into a ground surface and a plurality of metering modules. Each metering module is configured to receive a supply of particulate material and to meter the particulate material to a set of the plurality of units. A distribution assembly is configured to receive particulate material from a source and to distribute the particulate material to the plurality of metering modules.

Agricultural implements for opening furrows in the ground and depositing seed therein are well known. One exemplary implement includes a frame mounted on wheels that is pulled behind a vehicle, such as a tractor. A plurality of ground-engaging openers are positioned along the frame for opening furrows as the implement moves along the ground. Particulate material, such as seed and/or fertilizer, are delivered from tanks or bins to the openers for placement in the furrows.
The discussion above is merely provided for general background information and is not intended to be used as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter. The claimed subject matter is not limited to implementations that solve any or all disadvantages noted in the background.

Agricultural implement particulate distribution system


Lipophilic active ingredients are co-melted with tocopherol polyethyleneglycol succinate (TPGS) and a dispersion adjuvant to obtain solid dry coprecipitate compositions suitable as an oral dosage form. The solid TPGS coprecipitates of lipophilic active ingredients show improved drug release in vitro and enhanced oral bioavailability in vivo.

Lipophilic substances possessing low water solubility often have poor oral bioavailability. These substances, being hydrophobic by nature, show wetting difficulties and poor dissolution. These properties obviously represent a rate-limiting step in their absorption from solid oral dosage forms and, in turn, cause a subsequent reduction in their bioavailability.
To address the foregoing issue, these lipophilic substances are usually administered in the form of liquid preparations dissolved in edible oils or formulated in oil-in-water emulsions or microemulsion. Even in these formulations, however, the oral bioavailability of many of them is still very low. Thus, even today, there remains an unresolved need for safe and useful formulations that provide enhanced oral bioavailability for such substances.
Cannabinoids are one example of a family of lipophilic substances with very poor water solubility. Cannabinoids such as .DELTA..sup.1 -tetrahydrocannabinol (.DELTA..sup.1 -THC), .DELTA..sup.6 -tetrahydrocannabinol (.DELTA..sup.6 -THC), .DELTA..sup.9 -tetrahydrocannabinol (.DELTA..sup.9 -THC), cannabinol, cannabidiol, and their metabolites, are highly hydrophobic lipid soluble compounds and can be dissolved in aqueous solutions only in the range of a few micrograms/ml or less, depending upon the conditions (Garret and Hunt, J. Pharm. Sci., 63:1056-1064,1974).
In general, the systemic availability of cannabinoids after oral administration is low and mean estimates of the human bioavailability of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) following oral ingestion range from 6 to 12% depending on the vehicle used. For example, the maximal plasma levels after oral dosing of 20 mg THC in a sesame oil formulation were around 10 ng/ml (Wall et al., Clin. Pharmacol. Ther. 34:352-363, 1983).
Dexanabinol (also denoted HU-211), is disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,876,276 and 5,521,215, as a synthetic non-psychoactive cannabinoid with novel neuroprotective activity in the multiple-action treatment of brain damage associated with stroke, head trauma, and cardiac arrest. The chemical structure of dexanabinol, (+)-(3S, 4S)-7-hydroxy-.DELTA..sup.6 -tetra hydrocannabinol-1,1-dimetylheptyl, is shown in Scheme 1. ##STR1##
Dexanabinol is a very lipophilic compound which is practically insoluble in water (less than 50 .mu.g/ml) and, like other lipophilic drugs, exhibits poor oral bioavailability.
Coenzyme Q10, chemically named 2,3-dimethoxy-5-methyl-6-decaprenyl-1,4-benzoquinone and also known by the names Ubiquinone or Vitamin K, is classified as a fat-soluble quinone, a naturally occurring enzyme. It has been identified as an essential component of the mitochondrial respiratory chain, and, thus, a necessary part of a cell's energy production. More particularly, it constitutes a redox-link between flavoproteins and cytochromes and acts as an electron shuttle controlling the efficiency of oxidative phosphorylation. It is a very lipophilic compound and practically insoluble in water due to its long side chain of 10 isoprenoid units.
CoQ10 has been previously identified as a natural antioxidant with potential use as a dietary supplement to protect against age-related degeneration and as an adjuvant vitamin to prevent or treat many disease states.
Supplementary Coenzyme Q10 has reportedly shown beneficial influences in a variety of conditions or diseases, including: periodontal disease, certain blood circulation diseases, impaired memory, fatigue, irregular heartbeat, high blood pressure, immune system impairment, and the aging process.
The recommended daily allowance for coenzyme Q10 has not been determined. Most experts agree, however, that the daily requirement lies somewhere between 30 and 60 milligrams. When treating illnesses, dosages of 100 to 300 milligrams are commonly used.
The oral bioavailability of CoQ10 is related to the dissolution rate of the formulation (Kishi et al., Metabolism of exogenous coenzyme Q10 in vivo and the bioavailability of coenzyme Q10 preparations in Japan, in: K. Folkers, and Y. Yamamura, eds., Biomedical and Clinical Aspects of Coenzyme Q10, Vol. 4, Elsevier, Amsterdam, 1984, pp. 131-142).
Given CoQ10's poor solubility in water, the ability to formulate this substance in a suitable form affording convenient and efficient oral bioavailability is a desired goal. The art has attempted to address the problem by disclosing formulations of Coenzyme Q10 using lipids, in the form of emulsions, liposomes, microparticles and nanoparticles, have previously been disclosed. These known lipid formulations have comprised particles dispersed in an aqueous medium, and are suitable for various routes of administration, including primarily intravenous administration, as disclosed in: WO 95/05164, which discloses microparticles and nanoparticles in aqueous suspension; U.S. Pat. No. 4,824,669, which discloses fatty emulsions; U.S. Pat. No. 4,636,381, which discloses liposomes; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,483,873, which discloses aqueous dispersions or solutions.
The neurohormone melatonin is synthesized in the pineal gland with a nocturnal circadian rhythm. Sleep disorders, seasonal depression, mood disorders, migraine, and jet lag are some of the disorders that have been correlated to a disruption of normal, physiological melatonin secretion. There are reports on the beneficial effect of exogenous melatonin administration to reestablish the synchronization of circadian rhythm. However, these studies have shown large variations in oral melatonin absorption, as well as highlighted the inconvenience of employing a continuous intravenous delivery system. Therefore, an oral formulation of melatonin with good bioavailability is needed. A melatonin buccal mucoadhesive sustained release delivery patch, mimicking endogenous secretion, has already been shown as one alternative means for delivering melatonin (Benes et al., Proceed. Intl. Symp. Control. Rel. Bioact. Mater., 21:551-552, 1994).
Additional examples of lipophilic drugs with very poor water solubility and low oral bioavailability which could benefit from oral dosage forms are the antifungal agent amphotericin B, the anticancer drug etoposide, as well as tamoxifen and its analogs.
Water-dispersible vitamin preparations were disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,102,078, wherein the vitamin E derivative tocopherol polyethyleneglycol succinate (TPGS) was shown to have useful properties as a solubilizing agent. Oily compositions of anti-tumor drugs utilizing TPGS as a solubilizing adjuvant have also been disclosed for instance in U.S. Pat. No. 4,578,391. Further uses of TPGS as a surface active substance (U.S. Pat. No. 4,668,513), as a cryoprotectant (U.S. Pat. No. 5,198,432) or to improve the bioavailability of vitamin E (U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,179,122 and 5,223,268) have also been disclosed. A powder formulation of water dispersible vitamin E compositions for use as a vitamin E supplement has also been disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,234,695.
The structure of TPGS is shown in scheme 2 ##STR2## where n represents the average number of --CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 O-- groups in the polyethylene glycol chain. For typical polyethylene glycols, n is from about 5.2 (PEG 200) to about 182.4 (PEG 8000). Thus, there remains a need for new formulati provide improved oral bioavailability of such compounds. The present invention provides such formulations.

Solid Coprecipitates for enhanced bioavailability of lipophilic substances


A system and method for mixing sound signals is provided in which a mixer buffer stores sample values for three or more sound channels, each sound channel including a main sound component and one or more auxiliary sound components. Send paths are provided for sending the auxiliary sound components for each sound channel to a sound effects processor and return paths from the sound effects processor are provided for respectively adding the effects-processed auxiliary sound components for each channel to the corresponding main sound component.

Many of us have seen films containing remarkably realistic dinosaurs, aliens, animated toys and other fanciful creatures. Such animations are made possible by computer graphics. Using such techniques, a computer graphics artist can specify how each object should look and how it should change in appearance over time, and a computer then models the objects and displays them on a display such as your television or a computer screen. The computer takes care of performing the many tasks required to make sure that each part of the displayed image is colored and shaped just right based on the position and orientation of each object in a scene, the direction in which light seems to strike each object, the surface texture of each object, and other factors.
Because computer graphics generation is complex, computer-generated three-dimensional graphics just a few years ago were mostly limited to expensive specialized flight simulators, high-end graphics workstations and supercomputers. The public saw some of the images generated by these computer systems in movies and expensive television advertisements, but most of us couldn't actually interact with the computers doing the graphics generation. All this has changed with the availability of relatively inexpensive 3D graphics platforms such as, for example, the Nintendo 64® and various 3D graphics cards now available for personal computers. It is now possible to interact with exciting 3D animations and simulations on relatively inexpensive computer graphics systems in your home or office.
Interactive 3D computer graphics systems are often used to play video games. The "gaming experience" however typically involves more than just video content. For example, almost all gaming experiences involve audio content that accompanies the video content. The audio system described herein enables sound emitters to be placed in three-dimensional space and provides a powerful means of generating psycho-acoustic 3D sound effects with a pair of speakers. The audio system includes an audio memory that is usable, for example, to store sound samples, instrument wave tables, audio tracks and the like read from a mass storage device such as a DVD. The samples, wave tables, tracks, etc. are subsequently read out and processed by an audio digital signal processor to produce the game audio content. This content is transferred to a main memory from where it is subsequently read out for supply to a decoder and output to speakers. The separate audio memory improves the access for the audio processing circuitry to audio data by avoiding the need to contend with other resources (e.g., the graphics system) attempting to access the main system memory.
The present invention provides enhancements for the audio content of video games and, in particular, enhancements for sound effects such as reverb, chorus and delay. A conventional arrangement for providing sound effects in a stereo sound system is shown in FIG. 11A. The signal from a sound source is distributed to left and right channels L and R. The signals on the left and right channels are tapped and sent to a sound effects processor 1000 for separately providing left- and right-channel sound effects such as reverb, chorus and delay. The processed signals are added back to the left and right channels and the resultant signal is ultimately output via speakers 1002L and 1002R.
FIG. 11B shows a conventional arrangement for providing sound effects in a surround sound system. The signal from a sound source is distributed to left, right and surround channels L, R and S. There is one "auxiliary" send to effects processor 1004 summed from all the channels and one "auxiliary" return from the effects processor 1004 supplied to all the channels. Suppose, for example, that the signal from the sound source is mixed heavily to the left channel and that effects processor 1004 adds some reverb. Because of the arrangement of FIG. 11B, the reverb is centered because it is evenly distributed to all the channels. Thus, it is not possible to selectively position reverb or other effects such as delay and chorus in three-dimensional space using the arrangement of FIG. 11B.
The mixer and effects processor described below separately provide effects for signals on three or more channels such as left, right and surround channels. Therefore, effects may be selectively "positioned" in three-dimensional space. A mixer buffer stores sample values for three or more sound channels, each sound channel including a main sound component and one or more auxiliary sound components. Send paths are provided for sending the auxiliary sound components for each sound channel to the sound effects processor and return paths from the sound effects processor are provided for respectively adding the effects-processed auxiliary sound components for each channel to the corresponding main sound component. The mixer is symmetrical in that the number of channels in the mixer buffer is the same as the number of sends/returns to/from the effects processor.

Method and apparatus for mixing sound signals


A system for interfacing at least one user interactive device with a trade execution system to execute trading transactions requested by users over a network includes an application in communication with the network for interfacing between the at least one user interactive device and the trade execution system and coordinating interaction of the at least one user interactive device with the trade execution system. The application contains first and second APIs. The first API is structured to deliver a trading transaction request received from the at least one user interactive device to the trade execution system. The second API is structured to deliver real-time information relating to the trading transaction request received from the trade execution system to the at least one user interactive device. The first API includes at least one stub that is called by the application at a predefined step during processing of the trading transaction request. The at least one stub includes code to interface the application with the trade execution system.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to on-line transaction systems, and particularly to a transaction interface system for interfacing user interactive devices with a transaction execution system in a distributed network environment, and more particularly to a transaction interface system having an unified architecture which is compatible with existing transaction execution systems. The present invention also relates to the development of an enterprise system based on the unified architecture.
2. Description of Related Art
The dramatic growth of the information highway and network-centric computing significantly altered the way people conduct business transactions. For example, on-line transactions are becoming ubiquitous. A user may use a personal computer to access a company's transaction execution system to request and carry out a desired transaction. With the explosion of the World Wide Web and Internet technologies, on-line transactions are made more widely accessible to users. The conveniences of on-line business transactions have driven companies from across a broad spectrum of businesses to provide customers with the option of conducting on-line transactions.
The demand and ubiquity of on-line transactions fueled the development of various sophisticated transaction execution systems and related transaction application systems. With the availability of increasingly more powerful processors, many applications are designed to run on smaller scale network computer systems generally referred to as client-server systems. However, in the past, the transaction execution applications and transaction applications had been designed as dedicated systems which did not offer the flexibility of allowing easy addition of new features, and compatibility and interoperability with other applications.
For example, when a company having an existing transaction execution system wished to provide for user access for transaction via the Internet, an entirely new protocol had to be provided to interface the Internet with the existing transaction execution application. This required developing a new application or making significant modifications to the existing transaction execution application, and integration of the Internet interface into such modified transaction execution application. When it comes time to add another feature to the modified transaction execution system, additional modifications and integration into the transaction execution application would be required. Moreover, the Internet based interface of one transaction execution system is not compatible with another transaction execution system.
There are several drawback associated with having to develop new applications or make modifications to existing applications. The direct costs for making the modifications or developing a new application can be relatively high, especially in the case when a company undertakes to make modifications to an antiquated legacy system. Further, significant time and resource must be spent on debugging the entire new or modified transaction execution application to confirm its integrity. There is always the risk of discovering additional bugs in the new or modified application after it has been put into active service. Such new bugs may cause significant downtime of the transaction system to allow for debugging and bug fixing. More critically, the bugs may create irreversible errors in the execution of the transactions, which may proceed undetected until significant damages have been caused. For example in the financial industry, and more particularly in the securities trading business, an error in executing an on-line trade could have ramifications that cannot be reversed when the error is eventually detected several hours or days later.
The reason for the lack of compatibility of current transaction applications is partly due to the lack of an infrastructure in the past to allow development and deployment of large-scale, interactive applications on distributed networks, such as Intranets, Extranets, and the Internet. Specifically, in current implementations of Internet systems, Web servers route discrete requests from multiple browsers to the requested applications and databases. These discrete requests are received by the system as a series of unconnected "hits". This is due to a problem that generally exists in the Internet environment known as a lack of "application state". Without an application state, a system cannot track a user's prior actions, and it loses track of which requests came from which user. Moreover, the numerous variables required by the application in each instance of the program cannot be efficiently maintained in the Internet environment. (For example, while a request for a stock quote requires a single query to a database of current share prices, the manipulation of sales information for a customized report may involve a large number of variables and multiple queries to the database.) These problems are exacerbated when one visualizes a Web site or Internet system with hundred or thousands of simultaneous users, whereby multiple instances of an application may run concurrently. Until now, the lack of an application state in the Internet environment has prevented the deployment of sophisticated applications, which require tracking a user's actions throughout the entire program in the Internet environment. This has also lead to development of a variety of convoluted methods for making applications written in existing languages or for legacy environments work in the Internet environment.
Further, in the past, some developments cannot be carried out using technology the developers already owned, programming languages they already knew, and programming techniques they already understood. As a result, the development and maintenance costs in prior systems are relatively high. For example, there is a large market of corporate developers that do not feel comfortable developing new Web-based applications because they do not have the right systems in place to help them to do so. However, companies are hard pressed to develop such systems because of the competitive pressures and general advantages of the technology. Companies that start developing the Web systems in the absence of programming talent in-house are faced with the choice of significant time delay because of retraining of their people, or a significant expense of hiring new personnel or outsourcing.

Transaction execution system interface and enterprise system architecture thereof

Simplexity, LLC C/O Versa Capital Management, Inc.


Techniques are disclosed for performing processing, such as striping, staggering, and stitching, on print data prior to printing by a multi-head printer. Subsets of the print data may be stored in multiple stages of buffers and processed in parallel to increase processing efficiency. Print data representing digital photographs may be processed sufficiently rapidly to enable continuous printing of digital photographs at high speeds. Parameters of the system, such as print buffer size and interrupt frequency, may be varied in response to design requirements such as overall system cost.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to multi-head printers and, more particularly, to techniques for processing print data for printing by multi-head printers.
2. Related Art
Various kinds of printers are well-known in the computer and digital imaging arts. Such printers include, for example, dot-matrix printers, laser printers, inkjet printers, and thermal printers. Thermal printers use thermal energy (heat) to produce printed output. More specifically, thermal printers typically contain a linear array of heating elements (also referred to herein as "print head elements") that print on an output medium by, for example, transferring pigment from a donor sheet to the output medium or by initiating a color-forming reaction in the output medium. The output medium is typically a porous receiver receptive to the transferred pigment, or a paper coated with the color-forming chemistry. Each of the print head elements, when activated, forms color on the medium passing underneath the print head element, creating a spot having a particular density. Regions with larger or denser spots are perceived as darker than regions with smaller or less dense spots. Digital images are rendered as two-dimensional arrays of very small and closely-spaced spots.
A thermal print head element is activated by providing it with energy. Providing energy to the print head element increases the temperature of the print head element, causing either the transfer of pigment to the output medium or the formation of color in the receiver. The density of the output produced by the print head element in this manner is a function of the amount of energy provided to the print head element. The amount of energy providing to the print head element may be varied by, for example, varying the amount of power to the print head element within a particular time interval or by providing power to the print head element for a longer time interval.
A single thermal printer may include multiple thermal print heads, in which case the data to be printed is divided into a plurality of portions, referred to as "stripes," each of which is printed by one of the print heads. The process of dividing the print data into stripes is referred to as "striping." Multi-head thermal printers can be superior to single-head printers for cost and reliability reasons, particularly when wide printing is required. For example, the cost of a single wide head typically is significantly greater than the total cost of multiple small heads having the same aggregate width as the single wide head. Furthermore, the manufacturing yield for wide heads is very low compared to that of small heads. In addition, when a pixel fails in one print head in a multi-head printer, only the failing print head need be replaced, while the failure of a single printer in a single large print head requires the entire print head to be replaced at a much higher cost.
The print heads in a multi-head printer may be staggered with respect to each other. One example of this kind of printer is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,660,052 to Kaiya et al., and is described as a heat-sensitive recording apparatus with multiple thermal heads disposed in a staggered arrangement along two platen rollers. The apparatus has alternate image segments printed on a first platen roller by a first set of print heads. The intervening segments are filled in by a second set of print heads printing on a second platen roller. The heads are arranged such that the printing of the second set of print heads overlaps the printing of the first set of print heads, forming "stitching" regions between each pair of adjacent segments in which the printing may be adjusted to obscure the presence of a transition from one to the other.
The use of stitching regions may create undesirable visible artifacts in the printed image if adequate preventative steps are not taken. Various techniques have been employed to "stitch" image segments within stitching regions so that the presence of the stitching regions is imperceptible to the greatest extent possible. Stitching techniques include techniques for performing image processing on stitched image segments prior to printing, mechanical techniques for properly printing stitched image segments with proper alignment, and combinations thereof. Particular examples of stitching techniques may be found, for example, in a commonly-owned patent application Ser. No. 10/374,847, filed on Feb. 25, 2003, and entitled "Image Stitching for a Multi-Head Printer."
Striping and stitching are merely two examples of kinds of processing that may need to be performed on print data before it is provided to the print heads for printing. As the speed of multi-head printers continues to increase and as price competition among printer manufacturers continues to increase, it is becoming increasingly important that techniques for performing striping, stitching, and other image processing techniques be capable of processing print data both quickly and inexpensively.

Print job data processing for multi-head printers


An adjustable locking hinge for holding a door either completely or partially open. The adjustable locking hinge has an adjustable friction resistance and allows retention of the door at any desired angle. The hinge includes two hinge leaves with knuckles in an intermeshing relationship with each other, and a hinge pin that extends through the knuckles that is axially shiftable to locked and unlocked positions. Two pins extend upwardly from opposite sides of a base element and engage a sprocket plate mounted on the hinge pin, in the locked position. In the locked position, the resistance to move the door is adjusted by an actuating mechanism. A protective cap is removably attached to the base element, and covers the components of the locking mechanism. The protective cap has a central aperture through which the top portion of the actuating mechanism extends. The lower portion of the hinge pin includes an axial bore with an end button press fit therein. The hinge pin is shifted downward to the locked position by pressing down on the top portion of the actuating mechanism, and the hinge pin is shifted upward to the unlocked position by pressing the end button upward. A sleeve extends through the knuckles, and has an internal diameter that is approximately only 4/1000" larger than the external diameter of the hinge pin. These close tolerances result in reduced wear and tear on the hinge. To avoid inadvertent movement of the hinge pin, the hinge further includes a position retention mechanism.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a locking hinge assembly which can be set to hold a door in a predetermined position. More specifically, the locking hinge includes a sleeve containing an axially moveable hinge pin with a sprocket plate, that locks the hinge to maintain the door in specific position. The sleeve reduces the amount of slack in the hinge, thereby increasing the life of the hinge.
2. Description of the Related Art
Several different types of locking hinges have been disclosed in the prior art. None of the prior art devices, however, provide a hinge that: retains a door at any desired angle; permits adjustment of the amount of friction exhibited during opening and closing of the door; and has a sleeve for reducing slack and increasing the usable life of the hinge. The most pertinent prior art is the applicant's own U.S. Pat. No. 5,173,993, issued on Dec. 29, 1992. This patent discloses an adjustable locking door hinge that retains a door at any desired angle, permits adjustment of the amount of friction exhibited during opening and closing of the door, and operates in substantially the same manner as the present invention. Therefore, U.S. Pat. No. 5,173,993 is hereby incorporated by reference. U.S. Pat. No. 872,650, issued on Dec. 3, 1907 to Gilroy discloses a fluid operated locking hinge with an axially moveable hinge pin that locks the hinge in a closed position. U.S. Pat. No. 3,874,029, issued on Apr. 1, 1975 to McCullough discloses a locking hinge having an axially moveable hinge pin that locks the hinge in a several positions. U.S. Pat. No. 4,829,633, issued on May 16, 1989 to Kassner, shows a vehicle door hinge with an adjustable door check. U.S. Pat. No. 4,999,937, issued on Mar. 19, 1991 to Bechtold, teaches a panel sign having a ratchet hinge with an axially moveable hinge pin for engaging and disengaging the ratchet. U.S. Pat. No. 5,125,131, issued on Jun. 30, 1992 to Leblanc teaches a hinge locking mechanism with a fluid operated action. The entire device is disposed within a sleeve housing to form a cylinder and piston operating mechanism. U.S. Pat. No. 5,402,150, issued on Mar. 28, 1995, to Stiles shows a pointing device with a selectively lockable pivot. British Patent Specification No. 502,276, dated Mar. 15, 1939, shows a locking hinge assembly with an axially displaceable hinge pin. Italian Patent No. 552546, issued Dec. 6, 1956, shows a locking hinge assembly. The top portion of the hinge is fitted with a slotted aperture which operates in conjunction with a lock-engaging lever to lock the hinge in a plurality of positions.
None of the above inventions and patents, taken either singularly or in combination, is seen to describe the instant invention as claimed. Thus an adjustable locking hinge solving the aforementioned problems is desired.


An optical disc apparatus (1) for recording and/or reproducing information on/from an information surface (3) of a rotatable optical disc (5), includes a supporting assembly (7), a spindle motor (15), associated with the supporting assembly (7), having a spindle (17) with a spindle axis (19) for rotating the optical disc (5), an optical lens unit (21) associated with the supporting assembly (7) for scanning an information surface (3) of said optical disc (5) mounted on the spindle (17), and including a focussing lens assembly (23) having a focussing lens (29), a swing arm assembly (35) which is rotatable about a swing axis (39), having a movable magnetic focussing unit (45) provided near a free end (37) of the swing arm assembly (35), for driving the the movable focussing lens assembly, and consequently, the focussing lens (29) along the focussing axis (31) so as to focus the optical beam (33) on the optical disc information surface (3), and a stationary magnetic focussing unit (46) magnetically cooperating through an intermediate air gap (48) with the movable magnetic focussing unit (45). The stationary and movable magnetic focussing units (46, 45) are disposed and cooperate such that the force vector component (P) intersects a focussing lens area (27) bounded by a focussing lens periphery.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an optical disc apparatus for recording and/or reproducing information on/from an information surface of a rotatable optical disc.
2. Description of the Related Art
An optical disc apparatus of the kind indicated above is known from U.S. Pat. No. 6,052,357. This patent describes an optical disc apparatus for recording and/or reproducing information on/from an information surface of a rotatable optical disc, comprising a supporting assembly and a spindle motor, associated with the supporting assembly, having a spindle with a spindle axis for rotating the optical disc, mounted on the spindle, about the spindle axis. An optical lens unit is associated with the supporting assembly in order to scan an information surface of the optical disc mounted on the spindle. The optical lens unit comprises a focussing lens assembly having a movable focussing lens having a focussing lens area bounded by a focussing lens periphery and a focussing axis intersecting the focussing lens area, the focussing lens assembly being adapted to focus an optical beam on the information surface of the optical disc. A swing arm assembly is provided which comprises a generally elongate swing arm structure, the focussing lens assembly being mounted at a free end thereof. The swing arm assembly is rotatable about a swing axis spaced from the free end and directed generally perpendicular to the swing arm structure and generally parallel to the spindle axis and the focussing axis, such that the swing arm assembly sweeps a plane generally parallel to the information surface of the mounted optical disc, the swing arm assembly thereby causing the focussing lens assembly to scan over the information surface of the mounted optical disc. The swing arm assembly also comprises movable magnetic focussing means, near the free end of the swing arm, associated with the swing arm assembly for driving the focussing lens along the focussing axis to focus the optical beam on the optical disc information surface.
In order to focus the optical beam on the optical disc information surface, this known optical disc apparatus also comprises stationary magnetic focussing means, associated with the supporting assembly, for magnetically cooperating, through an intermediate air gap, with the movable focussing means in order to generate a magnetic force vector having a vector component parallel to the focussing axis of the focussing lens assembly so as to drive the focussing lens assembly along the focussing axis by electromagnetic force.
In this prior art optical disc apparatus, the movable magnetic focussing means comprises magnetic focussing coil means disposed in a plane which is generally parallel to the focussing axis of the focussing lens at the free end of the swing arm structure, at a location spaced from the focussing lens assembly at the remotest part of the swing arm structure as seen from the swing axis thereof. Focussing movements of the focussing lens assembly in a direction according to its focussing axis are enabled by the fact that the swing arm structure comprises two spaced elongate, generally parallel flat resilient arm elements extending between the swing axis and the focussing lens assembly, that is, interconnected at or near the free end of the swing arm assembly. The stationary magnetic focussing means cooperate with the above-mentioned magnetic coil means over an air gap which is generally parallel to the magnetic focussing coil means and, therefore, generally parallel to the focussing axis of the focussing lens.
Any magnetic force vector acting through the air gap on the focussing coil of the movable magnetic focussing means of the prior art arrangement described will exert on the focussing lens not only a force along the focussing axis, but also a perpendicular force. Moreover, these forces act on the focussing lens assembly and, therefore, on the swing arm assembly at some distance from the focussing axis of the focussing lens, resulting in force moments exerted on the resilient arm elements of the swing arm assembly. Thus, eccentric forces and moments are dynamically produced during the focussing of the focussing lens; this will produce dynamic reaction forces and moments in the swing arm assembly which may cause undue vibrations and distortions as well as added loading of the swing arm spindle. Undesirable parasitic resonance may result in the direction along the focussing axis, upsetting the automatic focussing control system of the optical lens unit. Also crosstalk may arise in the scanning direction perpendicular to the focussing direction, upsetting the automatic scanning control system.

Optical disc apparatus for recording and/or reproducing information on/from an information surface of a rotatable optical disc