A technique for determining scan lanes is provided. For a set of patterns, a number of scan lanes is estimated to be utilized on an accelerator. The number of the scan lanes estimated for the set of patterns is iteratively incremented to optimize a throughput of the accelerator. The set of patterns is distributed to the number of the scan lanes as a distribution, and each one of the scan lanes has a predetermined number of engines. A size of a memory space is evaluated that is needed for the distribution to distribute the set of patterns onto the number of scan lanes.

Exemplary embodiments relate to communications, and more specifically, to scanning for patterns.
Packet scanning, also known as packet content scanning, is an important part of network security and application monitoring. Packets in a stream are mapped against a set of patterns to detect security threats or to gain information about the stream or packet stream. Due to their flexibility, regular expressions are a common way to define such patterns. Finite automata are typically used to implement regular expression scanning or parsing.
In contrast to Non-Deterministic Finite Automata (NFA), Deterministic Finite Automata (DFA) only requires one state transition per input value. This yields higher scanning or parsing rates and a smaller parse state which has to be maintained per flow. Therefore, DFA are utilized for Network Intrusion Detection Systems (NIDS) although they usually require more memory than NFA. Regular expressions can be compiled into NFAs and DFAs using well-known techniques.
Regarding NIDS, the frequency of network attacks increases every year, and the methods of attack are becoming more sophisticated. NIDS works to keep up with these trends. NIDS can apply very powerful and flexible content-filtering rules defined using regular expressions. This has triggered a substantial amount of research and product development in the area of hardware-based accelerators for pattern matching, as this seems to be a viable approach for scanning network data against the increasingly complex regular expressions at wire-speed processing rates of tens of gigabits per second.
Moreover, in typical network environments, the number of open sessions at any given time can be on the order of millions, and the streams are scanned in an interleaved fashion. Therefore, the internal state of the scanning engine has to be stored and reloaded whenever the input stream is switched.

Compiling pattern contexts to scan lanes under instruction execution constraints

International Business Machines Corporation


The present invention relates to a method for producing a microelectronic device successively comprising:                a formation of a first current collector on a face of a substrate;        a formation of a first electrode (14) on, and in electrical continuity with, a portion of the first current collector;        a heat treatment configured to treat the first electrode (14)characterised by the fact that:        the formation of the first collector comprises a formation of a first collector layer (12) on the face of the substrate and a formation of a second collector layer (13) covering at least one part, called covered part, of the first collector layer (12) and having a first face in contact with the first electrode (14),        the second collector layer (13) is configured to protect the covered part during the heat treatment, such that the heat treatment does not oxidise said covered part.

By referring, in particular to electrochemical energy storage systems, these are generally produced by successive depositions on a substrate of a first current collector, of a first electrode, of an electrolyte or ionic conductor, of a second electrode, and of a second current collector. An encapsulation, by means of deposition of additional layers, or by extension of cover, is often necessary to protect the system of chemical reactivity with oxygen and water vapour.
The migration of one or more ions between the two electrodes through the electrolyte makes it possible, either to store energy or to deliver it to an external circuit.
An electrochemical device making it possible to store energy is known from patent publication EP 3012886 A1. It shows, for example, in FIG. 9, the formation of a stack on a substrate and conventionally comprising a first collector, a first electrode, an electrolyte, a second electrode, and a second collector. In the stack configuration, it is necessary to have a dielectric element between the first collector and the second electrode and the second collector to avoid a short-circuit. The formation of this electrical insulator is a necessary step and which must be done with precaution for the reliability for producing the device. Commonly, a first current collector made of platinum is used in order to resist heat treatment 300-700° C. under an oxidising atmosphere used to crystallise the first electrode (in particular, LiCoO2 commonly used). However, the collector stack, thus comprising platinum covered with an insulator, is subject to short-circuiting with the second electrode. Indeed, the latter generates whiskers, i.e. needle shapes produced by the platinum through the insulating layer, when the platinum is subjected to heat treatments in the presence of transition metals.
Therefore, there is currently a need for an improved production of devices comprising a collector part and an electrode part, supported by a substrate. It is an aim of the invention, that to overcome at least partially the disadvantages of the current techniques, to do this.

Realization of a microelectronic device collector

Commissariat A L'Energie Atomique et aux Energies Alternatives


Disclosed is a process to dry 1-chloro-3,3,3-trifluoropropene (HCFO-1233zd) or its mixtures by washing with water and or alkaline solution. The resulting liquid mixture, containing HCFO-1233zd, other organic, and water, is allowed to settle, and thereafter, the lighter water layer is decanted off from the top of the mixture. The heavier HCFO-1233zd layer is then withdrawn from the bottom of the decanter to a desiccant dryer (e.g., molecular sieve, activated alumina, silica gel, and the like) to further remove the residual soluble moisture from the HCFO-1233zd to about 80 ppm or less.

Commercial uses for HCFO-1233zd (1233zd) include foam blowing agent and solvent applications. In such applications, tight control of moisture content is typically needed to meet customer requirements. Occasionally, due to process issues, the moisture level in 1233zd may exceed specification limits.
Various 1233zd production processes have been disclosed. One example is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 8,921,621, which disclosed a process for the production of HCFO-1233zd comprising the steps of: (a) reacting HCC-240 and HF in a high pressure liquid phase reactor, with subsequent steps including step (h) of "feeding the overhead crude HCFO-1233zd stream to a caustic scrubber to remove any remaining acidity and drying the scrubbed stream with a drying agent . . . ".
In the '621 process, one objective is to provide enough drying agent to remove the water in the process stream, and one must be prepared that the overhead crude HCFO-1233zd vapor stream could be fully saturated with water. In such a case, it is estimated that for every 1,000 pounds of HCFO-1233zd vapor produced, one could need to remove at least 4 pounds of water. Accordingly, if using a typical molecular sieve desiccant, which can adsorb up to about 15 wt % moisture, one would need to use up to about 27 pounds of molecular sieve for every 1,000 pounds of HCFO-1233zd generated in the process. This invention is designed to significantly reduce the desiccant consumption required for such a process.


A mask for laser crystallization includes a transmissive portion defining a crystallization pattern and an alignment pattern. The alignment pattern includes a first pattern group having a size corresponding to the crystallization pattern and a second pattern group having a plurality of radial bars surrounding the first pattern group. A shielding portion surrounds the transmissive portion.

1. Field
The present application relates to a crystallization method of a silicon thin film, and more particularly, to a mask for laser crystallization and a crystallization method using the mask.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
Flat panel display (FPD) devices having high portability and low power consumption have been the subject of recent research and development. Among various types of FPD devices, liquid crystal display (LCD) devices are commonly used as monitors for notebook and desktop computers because of their ability to display high-resolution images, wide ranges of different colors, and moving images.
In general, an LCD device includes a color filter substrate and an array substrate separated from each other by a liquid crystal layer. The color filter substrate and the array substrate include a common electrode and a pixel electrode, respectively. When a voltage is supplied to the common electrode and the pixel electrode, an electric field is generated that affects orientation of liquid crystal molecules of the liquid crystal layer due to optical anisotropy within the liquid crystal layer. Consequently, light transmittance characteristics of the liquid crystal layer become modulated and images are displayed by the LCD device.
Active matrix type display devices are commonly used because of their superior display of moving images. Active matrix-type display devices include pixel regions that are disposed in matrix and a switching element, such as a thin film transistor (TFT), is formed at each pixel region. Recently, LCD devices that include TFTs using polycrystalline silicon (p-Si) have been widely researched and developed. In an LCD device using polycrystalline silicon, specifically, both a display region TFT and a driving circuit may be formed on one substrate. Moreover, since an additional process of connecting the TFT of the display region and the driving circuit is not necessary, the total fabrication process for the LCD device is simplified. Since the field effect mobility of polycrystalline silicon is several-hundred times as great as that of amorphous silicon, the LCD device using polycrystalline silicon has a short response time and high stability against heat and light.
FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing a liquid crystal display device according to the related art where a display TFT and a driving circuit are formed on one substrate. In FIG. 1, a driving circuit portion 3 and a pixel portion 4 are defined on a single substrate 2. The pixel portion 4 is disposed at a central portion of the substrate 2, while the driving portion 3 is disposed at left portion and top portions of the pixel portion 4. The driving circuit portion includes a gate driving circuit 3a and a data driving circuit 3b. The pixel portion 4 includes a plurality of gate lines 6 connected to the gate driving circuit 3a and a plurality of data lines 8 connected to the data driving circuit 3b. The gate line 6 and the data line 8 cross each other to define a pixel region and a pixel electrode 10 is formed in the pixel region. A thin film transistor (TFT) "T" as a switching element is connected to the pixel electrode 10. The gate driving circuit 3a supplies a scan signal to the TFT "T" through the gate line 6 and the data driving circuit 3b supplies a data signal to the pixel electrode 10 through the data line 8. The gate driving circuit 3a and the data driving circuit 3b are connected to an input terminal 12 of external signals. Accordingly, the gate driving circuit 3a and the data driving circuit 3b process the externals signals from the input terminal 12 to generate the scan signal and the data signal.
Even though not shown in FIG. 1, the TFT includes a semiconductor layer, a gate electrode, a source electrode and a drain electrode, and the semiconductor layer uses polycrystalline silicon because of higher field effect mobility.
Polycrystalline silicon may be formed by crystallizing amorphous silicon. A laser annealing method, where a laser beam is irradiated onto an amorphous silicon film, finds wide use as a crystallization method. However, since the surface temperature of the irradiated amorphous silicon film reaches about 1400° C., the top surface of the silicon film is apt to oxidize. Particularly, since the laser beam irradiates the silicon film several times during the laser annealing method, silicon oxide (SiO2) may be created on the top surface of the silicon film when the irradiation of the laser beam is performed in ambient air. Accordingly, the laser beam may be irradiated under a vacuum of about 10−7 to 10−6 Torr. To solve the above problems of the laser annealing method, a sequential lateral solidification (SLS) method using a laser beam has been suggested and researched.
The SLS method utilizes the phenomenon that grains of a silicon film grow along a direction perpendicular to a border surface of a liquid phase region and a solid phase region of the silicon film. In the SLS method, grains grow along one lateral direction by adjusting an energy density and an irradiation range of a laser beam and moving the laser beam (Robert S. Sposilli, M. A. Crowder, and James S. Im, Material Research Society Symp. Proc. Vol. 452, pages 956-957, 1997). Since the grain size of a silicon film is enlarged by the SLS method, a TFT having a channel region of single crystalline silicon may be obtained.
FIG. 2 is a schematic plane view showing a mask for laser crystallization according to the related art. In a SLS method, a mask having slits is disposed over an amorphous silicon layer and the amorphous silicon layer is crystallized by repetition of irradiation of a laser beam and movement of the mask along two directions. In FIG. 2, a unit area of an amorphous silicon layer may be irradiated twice and a mask 16 for laser crystallization may be referred to as a two-shot type. The mask 16 has a crystallization pattern 14 including a plurality of slits 13, each of which has a width of several micrometers. The crystallization pattern 14 has first and second blocks "IIa" and "IIb." The slits 13 in the first block "IIa" alternate with the slits 13 in the second block "IIb." When an amorphous silicon layer is crystallized, the mask 16 may move by a distance corresponding to a width of each block "IIa" or "IIb." Accordingly, a unit area of the amorphous silicon layer is crystallized by twice irradiation of a laser beam. A size of the laser beam irradiated onto the mask 16 corresponds a first region "IIIc," where the laser beam has a uniform energy density.
FIG. 3A is a schematic plane view showing a size of a laser beam for laser crystallization according to the related art, FIG. 3B is a schematic cross-sectional view, which is taken along a line "IIIa-IIIa" of FIG. 3A, showing a profile of a laser beam for a laser crystallization according to the related art and FIG. 3C is a schematic cross-sectional view, which is taken along a line "IIIb-IIIb" of FIG. 3A, showing a profile of a laser beam for laser crystallization according to the related art. In FIG. 3A, a laser beam 20 includes a first region "IIIc" having a first energy density corresponding to a complete melting regime at a central portion and a second region "IIId" having a second energy density lower than the first energy density at a peripheral portion.
In FIGS. 3B and 3C, each of transverse and longitudinal profiles of a laser beam 20 includes a first region "IIIc" and a second region "IIId." The first region "IIIc" may be referred to as a top hat region. A first energy density of the first region "IIIc" corresponds to a complete melting regime and a second energy density of the second region "IIId" corresponds to a partial melting regime. Since a laser beam having an energy density corresponding to a complete melting regime is irradiated in a SLS method, a third region "IIIe" corresponding to a crystallization pattern 14 (of FIG. 2) should be disposed inside the first region "IIIc" for laser crystallization. The third region "IIIe" may be designed smaller than the first region "IIIc" on the basis of alignment margin.
However, when the mask for laser crystallization is changed, the mask may be misaligned over the alignment margin. Specifically, the misalignment of the mask may become more serious for a long rest time period between laser annealing processes or a long time period of a laser annealing process.
FIGS. 4A and 4B are a schematic plane view and a schematic cross-sectional view, respectively, showing misalignment of a mask for laser crystallization according to the related art. In FIGS. 4A and 4B, a mask 16 for laser crystallization is misaligned with a laser beam such that a first region "IIIc" of the laser beam does not cover a crystallization pattern 14. Accordingly, a laser beam corresponding to a slope region "IV" having a third energy density lower than a first energy density of the first region "IIIc" may be irradiated onto an amorphous silicon layer, thereby deteriorating crystallinity of a resultant polycrystalline silicon layer.
An LCD device where a driving circuit and a pixel TFT are formed on a single substrate may be fabricated using a multi-pattern mask for laser crystallization. Since the requirements of a driving TFT in the driving circuit is different from that of the pixel TFT, a semiconductor layer of the driving TFT may be crystallized using a crystallization pattern different from that for a semiconductor layer of the pixel TFT. In order to simplify the process and reduce the production cost, a multi-pattern mask for laser crystallization having several different crystallization patterns may be used for an LCD device having a driving circuit and a pixel TFT on a single substrate. Since the multi-pattern mask is aligned with the amorphous silicon layer more frequently, the misalignment may cause more serious problems in crystallinity.

Mask for laser crystallization and crystallization method using the same


In an image pickup apparatus arranged to carry out a predetermined signal processing action including a gamma correction process on a signal outputted from an image sensor and to invert the signal during the process of the signal processing action, a varying circuit is arranged to vary a gamma value to be used for the gamma correction process.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a video camera having a negative/positive inverting function for inverting a positive image into a negative image and vice versa.
2. Description of the Related Art
FIG. 1 shows the arrangement of the conventional video camera having the negative/positive inverting function. Referring to FIG. 1, light from an object of shooting 1 comes through a lens 2 and an iris 3 to an image pickup part 4 which includes a solid-state image sensor such as a CCD. The image pickup part 4 then performs a photoelectric conversion process on the light of the object to obtain R (red), G (green) and B (blue) color signals. The R, G and B signals are applied to a processing circuit 5 to be subjected to a white balance adjustment process, a gamma correction process, a matrix process, etc. A luminance signal Y and color-difference signals R-Y and B-Y are obtained through these processes.
These signals Y, R-Y and B-Y are inverted by inversion circuits 6, 7 and 8 and are then applied to an encoder 9. The encoder 9 modulates the signals R-Y and B-Y in a balanced manner. The signals R-Y and B-Y are added together and are further combined with the signal Y into a video signal, which is outputted from the encoder 9.
If the object 1 is a negative photographic film, for example, the processes mentioned above invert the negative image on the film to give a video signal for a positive image. In a case where the object 1 is a normal positive image, the positive image is inverted to give a video signal for a negative image, so that a special effect can be attained.
The details of the inverting process to be carried out by the inversion circuits 6, 7 and 8 can be mathematically expressed as follows:
inverted Y=A-Y (A: a constant) PA1 inverted (R-Y)=-(R-Y) PA1 inverted (B-Y)=-(B-Y)
The luminance signal Y is inverted by subtracting the luminance signal Y from a certain reference level. The color-difference signals are inverted by inverting the polarity of them.
In a case where a negative photographic film is used as the object 1, the positive image obtained from the video signal outputted from the conventional video camera having the negative/positive inverting function has a low luminance level and a small amount of color saturation. The image thus obtained is too dark as a whole and too faint in color. The reason for this is as follows.
As is well known, the negative photographic film has such a characteristic that a relation between the quantity of light incident on the film surface and the blackening amount of the film is nonlinear. This is called a gamma characteristic. The gamma characteristic shows a smaller amount of change in a part having a larger amount of incident light. In other words, the image is printed on the film surface in such a way as to have the image compressed at a part where the luminance level is high. Therefore, in the output obtained by photoelectrically converting the light of the negative film at the image pickup part 4, a part corresponding to a high luminance part of a photographed object is also compressed.
This state is shown in FIGS. 2(a) to 2(e), which are waveform charts obtained by using a gray scale chart as an object of shooting. FIG. 2(a) shows a luminance distribution of a gray scale chart obtained before taking a photograph. Horizontal positions are indicated on the axis of abscissa. Luminance levels are indicated on the axis of ordinate. This gray scale chart consists of a part where the luminance gradually decreases from the left to the right, another part where the luminance gradually increases from the left to the right and a middle part having a high luminance area vertically extending in a strip-like shape with black parts on both sides of the high luminance part. The luminance distributions of these parts are shown as obtained on one and the same plane.
FIG. 2(b) shows an output signal of the image pickup part 4 which is, for example, the G signal. The output signal corresponds to a distribution of blackening amounts of a negative film which is used as the object 1. The distribution is shown upside down, with respect to FIG. 2(a). Further, as mentioned above, the lower part of FIG. 2(b), which corresponds to the high luminance part of the FIG. 2(a), shows a nonlinear shape due to the gamma characteristic .gamma.F of the film. In FIG. 2(b), broken lines represent the output characteristic of the image pickup part 4 obtained in a case where the blackening amount characteristic of the negative film is linear.
As the signal which is as described above is inputted to the processing circuit 5, the white balance of the signal is adjusted. After the white balance adjustment, the signal is subjected to a gamma process with a gamma value of 0.45 for use in the video camera in this instance. Through these processes, the waveform of the signal becomes as shown in FIG. 2(c). As shown, the high level part of FIG. 2(b) is compressed. In FIG. 2(c), broken lines show the levels obtained before the gamma process. The R and B signals are processed in the same manner as the G signal. After this, a matrix process is performed to generate the signal Y and the signals R-Y and B-Y. Since the matrix process is of a so-called linear matrix type, the characteristic obtained before inputting to the matrix is reflected as it is in the output.
In other words, as shown in FIG. 2(d), the signal Y is inverted into a shape which is as a whole compressed from the original level of the object 1. The shapes of the color-difference signals R-Y and B-Y of course likewise become compressed shapes. Then, when these signals Y, R-Y and B-Y are applied respectively to the inversion circuits 6, 7 and 8, they are inverted in their compressed states. Their levels thus become lower than normal output levels as shown in FIG. 2(e). As a result, an image thus obtained on a picture plane is dark as a whole, weak in contrast and faint in color. Besides, since the gamma value of the film does not coincide with that of the video camera, the gradation of the image also becomes unnatural.
As is well known, a document camera apparatus (a video visualizer) has been commercialized as a camera appliance. The document camera apparatus is arranged to pick up, from above, an image of a document or the like placed on a copyboard, to output the image to a TV monitor or to a computer. The document camera apparatus is usable not only for things written on a paper sheet but also in picking up an image of a three-dimensional object for a presentation.
The conventional document camera apparatus which has been used for the above-stated purposes has presented a problem, which is as follows. Since a video camera is usually used for the document camera apparatus, a gamma process is applied to the level of the signal of the picked up image. However, the gamma value for the video camera is normally set at 0.45. As a result, a high level signal is compressed. The gamma correction which is made in this manner generally gives a large dynamic range in picking up an image of an ordinary natural thing. However, in a case where an image of a document or the like is to be picked up by means of an ordinary video camera, the gamma correction tends to result in a compressed contrast to impair the legibility of letters included in the document.


Integrated chips and methods of forming the same include forming a first set of sidewall spacers on a first mandrel at first vertical level. The first mandrel is etched away. A second set of sidewall spacers is formed on a second mandrel at a second vertical level. A portion of the second set of sidewall spacers vertically overlaps with a portion of the first set of sidewall spacers. The second mandrel is etched away. A first hardmask layer is etched, using the vertically overlapping first set of sidewall spacers and second set of sidewall spacers as a mask.

The present invention generally relates to integrated chip fabrication and, more particularly, to fabrication of lines using lithographic processes.
In some processes that form lines, sidewalls are formed on a mandrel and are then used to pattern an underlying layer. However, due to imperfections in the deposition processes used to form the sidewalls, the corners of the resulting sidewall structures can be curved. When the outer edges of these sidewall structures are used for patterning additional structures, the additional structures can form "pinch points" at the ends of the mandrels, where they follow the curve of the sidewall structures. These pinch points result in increased parasitic capacitance. Additionally, pillars used to cut the mandrels can slump or otherwise depart from the intended design, causing device failure and lowered yield. Furthermore, because the mandrels can be patterned without a spacer, the mandrel lines can suffer from increased line edge roughness.

Spacer-assisted lithographic double patterning

INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION


A tire inflation pressure detecting device includes sensors provided in respective tires of a vehicle to detect various kinds of measured data involving a tire inflation pressure, transmitters for transmitting the measured data and a receiver for receiving the measured data transmitted from the transmitters. In operation, each of the transmitters of the tires transmits the measured data plural times at certain transmitting intervals in a predetermined cycle. Among the transmitters, the respective transmitting intervals are different from each other.

The present invention relates to a tire inflation pressure detecting device for detecting tire inflation pressure of a vehicle and particularly, it relates to a technique for specifying respective positions of the tires.
There has been proposed and practically used a tire inflation pressure detecting device that detects tire inflation pressures of a vehicle at it traveling and provides resulting pressure information to a passenger in the vehicle in real time.
The tire inflation pressure detecting device in an earlier art has pneumatic sensors each arranged in respective tires of the vehicle to detect respective tire inflation pressures, transmitters each arranged in the tires to transmit so-obtained tire inflation pressure data to the outside and a receiver arranged in a vehicle body to receive the tire inflation pressure data. Then, the tire inflation pressure data received by the receiver is displayed on display means to the passenger.
In the tire inflation pressure detecting device, however, it is impossible to identify which of the tires corresponds to the received tire inflation pressure data. In detail, since the receiver is adapted so as to receive the tire inflation pressure data transmitted from the transmitters installed in four tires, if the tire inflation pressure is reduced, it is impossible to recognize which of the four tires is subjected to a reduction in tire inflation pressure.
Under such a situation, Japanese Patent Application Laid-open Nos. 2000-71726 and 11-78447 disclose a method of specifying the position of a tire subjected to a reduction in tire inflation pressure. According to the method, respective identifying codes are established to the transmitters in the tires while storing the identifying codes in a memory (EEPROM) of the receiver. On the establishment, it is carried out to compare the identifying codes involved in the pressure data transmitted from the transmitters with the identifying codes stored in the memory, thereby specifying the tire having a reduced pressure.
In the above conventional method, however, the tire inflation pressure detecting device has a tendency to be a grand production since the receiver has to be equipped with the memory (EEPROM) and the identification codes stored therein must be compared with the identification codes on the transmitters' side. Additionally, since the compliance relationship between the identification codes on the transmitters' side and the identification codes stored in the EEPROM would collapse at a "tire-rotation" where the conventional positions of the tires are modified in view of improving their lives, it is necessary to rewrite the identification codes stored in the EEPROM, requiring lots of labor for rewriting them.
As one method of solving the above problem, there may be expected a two-way radio communication that enables the tires to be specified with no identification code owing to two-way communication between the tires' side and the vehicle's side. Also in this case, however, the tire inflation pressure detecting device would be large sized while causing the manufacturing cost to be elevated.

Tire inflation pressure detecting device for vehicle


A portable one-hand-operable, hydraulic punching machine is disclosed which comprises at least two pumps driven by an electric motor, and a single-acting, spring-return cylinder driven by one of the pumps for a variety of punching operations such as cutting, perforating, and wrenching. The machine has a pump housing and a cylinder housing disposed end to end, with a partition therebetween in which there are formed a fluid supply passageway for supplying a hydraulic fluid under pressure from one pump to the cylinder fluid chamber, a fluid return passageway for returning the fluid from the cylinder fluid chamber to the pump fluid chamber, and a spool chamber open to the return passageway. In order to hold the return passageway closed during cylinder extension, and to open the same for cylinder contraction a return valve is provided which includes a spool reciprocably received in the spool chamber. Normally holding the return passageway open under spring pressure, the valve spool closes the return passageway upon delivery of the fluid under pressure into the spool chamber by the other pump in the pump fluid chamber. A relief valve is provided for bleeding off excess pressure from the spool chamber into the cylinder fluid chamber.

This invention relates generally to fluid-actuated machines for performing a variety of punching operations such as bending, cutting, perforating, and wrenching, and more particularly to portable, one-hand-operable, hydraulic punching machines comprising a hydraulic cylinder driven by one or more pumps for any desired punching operation. Still more particularly, the present invention pertains to improvements in or relating to a return valve which is held closed during the extension of the hydraulic cylinder and which opens to permit the hydraulic fluid to return from the cylinder fluid chamber to the pump fluid chamber during cylinder contraction.
The portable, hydraulic punching machine of the general character set forth above is described and claimed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 6-75738. The return valve normally holds the fluid return passageway open under spring pressure and closes the same in response to fluid pressure from a pump that is driven concurrently with the other pump or pumps for powering the cylinder. The punching machine is operable merely by a finger actuation of a trigger switch for on-off control of an electric motor for driving the pumps.
Typically, the return valve has a spring-loaded spool reciprocably received in a spool chamber which is open to the fluid return passageway and which also communicates with one of the pumps thereby to be actuated against the bias of the spring. A clearance is provided around the spool in order to permit excess fluid to escape from the spool chamber back into the pump fluid chamber.
Difficulties have been encountered in determining the clearance of the return valve spool because the viscosity of oil or like hydraulic fluid is subject to change with its temperature: the higher the temperature, the lower the viscosity. Conventionally, the clearance was made as small as 0.1 millimeter or so at a maximum in order to assure proper oil leakage from the spool chamber when the oil rose in temperature, and so dropped in viscosity, after a prolonged period of use of the machine; otherwise, the heated oil would have leaked so fast that the spool would have failed to close the return passageway in opposition to the force of the spring.
The noted setting of the spool clearance is unsatisfactory, however, when the oil temperature is very low, as immediately after the machine is set into operation, especially in cold weather. The oil viscosity is then so high that, conventionally, leakage through the small spool clearance tended to drop to less than the required rate. Excess pressure often built up in the spool chamber, overloading the drive motor even when the machine itself was not in use and, in the worst case, ruining the piston seals of the pump. The machines of this type were in need of frequent repairs for these reasons, and their useful life was severely limited.
Making the spool clearance greater would provide no remedy at all. It would serve only to cause excessive oil leakage at lower oil temperatures than heretofore. It is apparent that this problem cannot be overcome merely through adjustment of the spool clearance, inasmuch as hydraulic machine oils as we have them today are unavoidably susceptible to wide change in viscosity with temperatures.


Methods and apparatus to provide services over integrated broadband communication systems include an example method to manage access to a communication link to a customer premises. Such an example method comprises determining a data rate for the communication link, determining whether the customer premises utilizes a predetermined service, identifying the communication link as disabled when the customer premises does not utilize the predetermined service and the data rate is below a first rate, and identifying the communication link as enabled for the predetermined service and disabled for at least one other service when the customer premises utilizes the predetermined service and the data rate is below the first rate and above a second rate.

In today's competitive environment, telecommunication service providers endeavor to integrate services onto a single broadband communication link. For example, many service providers strive to be a subscriber's sole source of the "triple play services" of television (e.g., internet protocol television (IPTV)), telephone (e.g., voice over internet protocol (VoIP)) and Internet (e.g., data and email services). Digital subscriber line (DSL) and other broadband access technologies enable the triple play services to be integrated onto a single communication link between a customer premises and the service provider's network. Conventional broadband access techniques are designed to guaranty a minimum bandwidth or data rate over the communication link to the customer premises to ensure delivery of all of the services to which the customer premises has subscribed. If this minimum bandwidth or data rate cannot be guaranteed, for example, due to weather conditions, equipment outages, etc., then the conventional broadband access techniques completely disable the communication link to avoid providing services that do not meet the obligations of the subscriber's subscription agreement until the minimum bandwidth/data rate can be achieved.


An acceleration sensation presentation apparatus includes: a frame to be worn on the head of a user; at least one or more weights provided to the frame; and a vibration driving unit configured to vibrate the weight to be moved.

The present disclosure relates to an acceleration sensation presentation apparatus, an acceleration sensation presentation method, and an acceleration sensation presentation system.
There has been proposed a device configured to present acceleration sensation to a user by optionally changing the center of gravity of a headgear-type device worn on the head of the user (see Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2010-26865).

Acceleration sensation presentation apparatus, acceleration sensation presentation method, and acceleration sensation presentation system


A base station of a radio access network (RAN) can be configured to prioritize standalone (SA) 5G traffic over non-standalone (NSA) 5G traffic in certain situations, to improve user experiences associated with 5G-specific services implemented via SA 5G networks. The base station can generally instruct 5G user equipment (UE), such SA UEs and NSA UEs, to prioritize camping on an SA priority band. However, if a RAN load level is at or above a threshold, the base station can instruct NSA UEs to prioritize camping on a different priority band in order to relieve congestion on the SA priority band and/or preserve remaining capacity on the SA priority band for SA UEs. When the RAN load level is above a threshold, the base station can also, or alternately, at least briefly delay traffic associated with NSA UEs to prioritize transmission of traffic associated with SA UEs.

Telecommunication networks can use various radio access technologies (RATs), such as Long-Term Evolution (LTE) and fifth generation (5G) New Radio (NR). Many telecommunication networks began transitioning from LTE to 5G NR by using non-standalone (NSA) 5G solutions in which 5G base stations are connected to an LTE core network. Telecommunication networks are also implementing standalone (SA) 5G solutions in which 5G base stations are connected to a 5G core network.
Because many telecommunication networks implemented NSA 5G before SA 5G, some 5G-compatible mobile phones and other user equipment (UE) were deployed with support for NSA 5G, but without support for SA 5G. Other 5G-compatible UEs do support both NSA 5G and SA 5G. Accordingly, a set of 5G-compatible UEs that connect to a 5G base station may include some UEs that support SA 5G and other UEs that do not support SA 5G.


Elements necessary for a digital television receiver are structured as blocks that are a plurality of digital signal processing blocks and a host arithmetic operation processing block. The blocks are connected through a general-purpose bus. Commands for controlling operations of the blocks and data of streams are transferred through the bus. An extension plug-in card for a new service can be attached and detached to/from the bus. The extension plug-in card has hardware that accomplishes an extension function and a script for commands of the hardware. When the extension plug-in card is attached to the bus through an interface, the script for the commands is automatically uploaded to the host arithmetic operation processing block side. The host arithmetic operation processing block can operate the extension plug-in card corresponding to the transferred script for the commands.

Analog television broadcasts are becoming changed to digital television broadcasts. So far, digital satellite broadcast services using CS (Communication Satellites) have been started. In addition, digital satellite broadcast services using BS (Broadcasting Satellites) are being prepared. Moreover, digital television broadcasts using ground waves are scheduled to be started.
In digital television broadcasts, since the frequency efficiency is improved, more channels can be assigned than analog television broadcasts. In addition, HDTV (High Definition Television) broadcasts can be easily performed. Moreover, in digital television broadcasts, various services such as bi-directional service, data delivery service, and video-on-demand that are not available in conventional analog television broadcasts can be accomplished.
A television receiver that receives such a digital television broadcast is conventionally structured as shown in FIG. 1.
In FIG. 1, a received signal is supplied from an input terminal 101 to a tuner circuit 102. In the case of a CS digital broadcast, a signal of 12 GHz band is received by a parabola antenna (not shown). The received signal is converted into a signal of 1 GHz band by a low noise converter disposed in the parabola antenna. The converted signal is supplied to the tuner circuit 102. The tuner circuit 102 selects a carrier frequency signal of a desired channel from the received signal and performs a demodulating process and an error correcting process for the selected signal. As a result, the tuner circuit 102 decodes the selected signal to a transport stream composed of video packets and audio packets.
An output of the tuner circuit 102 is supplied to a demultiplexer 103. The demultiplexer 103 separates the transport stream into video packets and audio packets.
The video packets are supplied to a video decoder 104. The audio packets are supplied to an audio decoder 105. The video decoder 104 performs a decompressing process for the video packets corresponding to for example the MPEG 2 (Moving Picture Experts Group) system so as to decode the video packets to video data. In addition, the audio decoder 105 performs a decompressing process for the audio packets corresponding to the MPEG system so as to decode the audio packets to audio data.
The video data decoded by the video decoder 104 is supplied to a graphics processing circuit 106. The graphics processing circuit 106 performs a picture process. An output of the graphics processing circuit 106 is output from an output terminal 107. An output of the audio decoder 105 is output from an output terminal 108.
The tuner circuit 102, the demultiplexer 103, the video decoder 104, the audio decoder 105, and the graphics processing circuit 106 are controlled by an MPU (Micro Processor Unit) 111. A bus 111 extends from the MPU 111. The tuner circuit 102, the demultiplexer 103, the video decoder 104, the audio decoder 105, and the graphics processing circuit 106 are connected to the bus 110.
In addition, a modem 112 and for example an IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers) 1394 interface 113 are connected to the bus 110. The modem 112 is used to perform a charging process. The IEEE 1394 interface 113 exchanges a stream with an external device.
As was described above, in a conventional receiver for a digital television broadcast, the entire receiver is controlled by an MPU. The MPU centrally controls each portion of hardware using commands thereof in consideration of precise timing levels thereof.
However, in that method of which the MPU centrally controls the entire device in consideration of each portion of the hardware, since the design work should be performed for each device, if the design of the device is changed, software should be largely rewritten and hardware should be largely changed. Thus, the developing efficiency of such a method is low. In addition, since parts cannot be used in common or structured as modules, the cost of the device may rise. In addition, the size of the device may become large. Moreover, digital television broadcasts provide various types of services. Thus, in the method of which the MPU centrally manages the entire device, it is difficult to deal with new services.
To solve such a problem, functions necessary for a television receiver may be structured as blocks and connected through a common bus. When such a bus is used, the design efficiency of the device can be improved and the design change thereof can be easily performed.
In addition, when a bus is standardized, by adding hardware for providing an extension function to the bus, a new service can be used. For example, when an extension plug-in card for an extension function is prepared and connected to the bus through an interface, various functions and services may be newly added.
However, when hardware for an extension function is connected to the bus, to cause the hardware to operate, the host MPU should recognize the hardware and issue commands to the hardware. To allow the host MPU to issue commands to the hardware, software may have to be installed to the host MPU. The install work for the software may be troublesome for non-experienced users of television receivers.
Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a digital signal processing apparatus, a system thereof, and an extension function providing method that allow hardware for an extended function to be easily connected to a bus for a device of which required functions are structured as blocks and connected through a standardized bus.

Method and apparatus for digital signal processing and method of providing extension function


A computer input/output connector assembly which uses connector port holders that can easily be snapped into a metal retaining bracket. In one preferred embodiment, the bracket of the present invention is mounted on the front of a personal computer tower. Connected to the bracket is a first connector port holder with two USB connector ports, a second connector port holder with an IEEE 1394 high speed communication port, a third connector port holder with three audio ports (e.g., audio in, audio out and microphone) and a fourth connector port holder with two video ports (e.g., RCA composite video and S-video). The connector port holder is preferably made of a durable, heat resistant plastic. This connector port holder includes movable cantilever strips with lock tabs which can firmly snap into holes in the bracket for mounting.

Computers have become an essential part of modern business. Through advances in chip design and manufacture, the cost of personal computers has dropped dramatically in recent years to the point where such personal computers are affordable by most consumers. As part of an effort to lower manufacturing costs, manufacturers have been looking for ways to more easily, reliably and flexibly assemble their computers.
While much attention has been paid to advances in chip design and manufacture, comparatively little effort has been put into optimizing the input and output connections to a personal computer. The input connections for a personal computer often involves input ports for a keyboard, mouse, joystick, microphone, video feed and, more recently, multi-use universal serial bus ("USB") connectors. The output connections for a personal computer often involve output ports for a printer, video monitor, modem and audio loudspeakers.
Thus far, a patch work of approaches has been used for installing input/output connector ports onto a computer. Historically, connector ports have been located at the rear of the computer housing where they are difficult for the user to access. In the case of audio and visual connector ports, they have often been built as part an electrical circuitboard which must then be screwed onto the computer housing. Other connectors, such as USB and high speed communications connectors, have been wrapped in a plastic plug which again must be screwed onto the computer housing. All of this screwing of connector ports onto a computer housing is labor intensive and, therefore, expensive. Moreover, present techniques for installing connector ports onto a computer housing allow little flexibility to change the type of connector ports being used if the manufacturer wants to use the same connector assembly for both high end computers with many connector ports and low end computers with fewer connector ports.
What is needed is an improved computer input/output connector assembly design which allows connector ports to be easily connected to the computer housing and provides the flexibility to quickly change the type of connector ports being used with the computer housing.

Computer input/output connector assembly


A reflector for a projector includes a metal reflector that defines an optical surface. An absorptive surface is disposed on the optical surface. A layer of germanium is disposed on the absorptive surface. A band-pass reflective surface is further disposed on the absorptive surface.

A typical projection system includes an arc-lamp source of bright white light, a method for separating the white light into red, green and blue spectral components, and a spatial light modulator (SLM, also called a light valve) for two dimensional imaging each of the spectral components to create a color picture. The SLM performs the spatial and temporal modulation in response to an analog or digital video signal generated by a computer or another video source such as a TV tuner, VCR, HDTV broadcast, or DVD player. The SLM typically creates sequential images in red, green, and blue color planes although other color separation techniques exist such as cyan, yellow, magenta, and optionally white planes. The color planes may then be recombined optically and projected onto a screen, or they may be flashed temporally in sequence onto the screen at such a rate that a viewer perceives only a single image.
Most digital projectors compete based on the number of screen lumens that the projector places on the projection screen. Although the competition in the projector market is fierce, cost considerations as well as size constraints have limited the development of more efficient light sources.
Most conventional small projector systems have total optical system efficiency from bulb to screen between 12-20%. That is, only up to 12-20% of the light created by the bulb actually exits from the projection optics and makes it to the screen. This inefficient design results in not only a dimmer display but also the consumption of needlessly wasted power. Much of the wasted power is in the form of electromagnetic energy outside of the visible spectrum that is unwanted and should be removed to limit damage to other components in the projector. Several approaches have been attempted to increase the efficiency but with little success.
There are several problems with existing arc-lamp sources. The most commonly used lamp source is a mercury vapor arc lamp. This lamp produces the most light for a given wattage and has a small point source. However, mercury arc lamps have a short lifetime compared to other technologies and produces light that is spectrally deficient in the red spectrum while producing energy in the ultraviolet (UV) spectrum. In addition, mercury is a hazardous material that many countries would like limit the use of or ban outright. Although other bulb technologies could be substituted for the mercury vapor arc lamp, none has its efficiency and small spot size that allow for a small etendue and thus production of small high intensity projectors. Etendue is a method of measuring the system throughput. Etendue once created by a light source can only be increased. In a perfect lossless optical system, etendue is always conserved. Etendue in an optical system is limited by the element, which has the least etendue. An optical source system must have an etendue less than the limiting etendue or maximum system efficiency. Simply replacing the arc lamp bulb with a non-arc lamp will not offer a satisfactory competitive solution because of the non-point source nature of non-arc lamps limits their available etendue and they tend to produce emissions outside of visible light, which usually need to be eliminated. To allow for substituting out mercury bulbs, the light path in a projector must have increased etendue efficiency and unwanted energy removal. Therefore, there is also a need for a solution that allows other bulb technologies to compete with mercury vapor arc lamps.
In summary, there exists a need to overcome the efficiency and other problems associated with arc lamp bulbs, particularly mercury vapor types.

Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.


Methods and apparatus for providing a high-resolution spatial light modulator. A spatial light modulator includes a cell that includes: a substrate portion; a first support post and a second support post, each having a top surface; and a micro mirror that includes a hinge member having a first end and a second end. The first end and second end is secured to the top surface of the first support post and the second support post, respectively. The hinge member and the support posts are completely hidden underneath the micro mirror.

The present disclosure relates to spatial light modulators.
In general, a spatial light modulator (SLM) includes an array of cells, each of which includes a micro mirror that can be tilted about an axis and, furthermore, circuitry for generating electrostatic forces that operate to tilt the micro mirror. In addition, a cell typically includes structures that hold and allow the tilting of the micro mirror. In conventional SLMs, there are gaps between cells for accommodating such structures. The cell usually further includes a first structure and a second structure configured to mechanically stop the cell's micro mirror at the "on" position and the "off" position, respectively. These structures are referred to as mechanical stops.
In one implementation, for example, a digital mode of operation for displaying video images, there are two positions at which the micro mirror can be tilted. In an "on" position or state, the micro mirror directs incident light to an assigned pixel of a display. In an "off" position or state, the micro mirror directs incident light away from the assigned pixel. The "on" position can be, for example, 20 degrees from the horizontal in a first direction of rotation about the axis, and the "off" position can be, for example, 15 degrees from the horizontal in the opposite direction.
An SLM implemented as described above generally operates by tilting a selected combination of micro mirrors to selectively project light to display an image on the display. A display that implements SLM technology is typically required to refresh images at high frequencies typical of video applications. Each instant of refreshing can include changing the state of all or some of the micro mirrors. Providing a fast response by the micro mirrors therefore can be crucial to the proper operation of an SLM-based display device. One issue with response time is related to the stiction, i.e., surface contact adhesion, between the lower surface of the mirror and the mechanical stop in contact with the surface. Stiction can cause a delay in the mirror's response or may even prevent the mirror from changing state.

High-resolution spatial light modulation


A leadless type semiconductor package includes a plate-like mount, and at least one semiconductor chip mounted on the plate-like mount such that a bottom surface of the semiconductor chip is secured to the plate-like mount, and the semiconductor chip has at least one electrode pad formed on a top surface thereof. The package further includes at least one flat electrode electrically connected to the electrode pad, and a molded resin enveloper for completely sealing and encapsulating the semiconductor chip. The molded resin enveloper further partially seals and encapsulates the flat electrode such that a part of the flat electrode is exposed as an outer electrode pad on a top surface of the molded resin enveloper.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a leadless type semiconductor package having no outer leads outwardly extending from a periphery thereof, and a production process for manufacturing such a leadless type semiconductor package.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventionally, a semiconductor package includes an island or plate-like mount, a semiconductor chip mounted on the plate-like mount, a plurality of leads electrically connected to the semiconductor chip, and a molded resin enveloper sealing and encapsulating the plate-like mount, the semiconductor chip, and the inner portions of the leads. Thus, the outer portions of the leads outwardly and laterally extend from sides of the molded resin enveloper, and the conventional semiconductor package is mounted on a wiring board such that the outer portions of the leads are electrically contacted with and bonded to electrode pads formed on the wiring board. Of course, this conventional semiconductor package is undesirable in application to a miniature or compact piece of electronic equipment in that the outwardly and laterally extending outer portions of the leads result in overall bulkiness of the semiconductor package.
JP-A-(HEI)11-150143 (Japanese Letters Patent No. 3074264) discloses a leadless type semiconductor package more compactly arranged in comparison with the aforesaid conventional semiconductor package. In particular, the leadless type semiconductor package includes an island or plate-like mount, a semiconductor chip mounted on the plate-like mount having electrode pads provided on a top surface thereof, a molded resin enveloper sealing and encapsulating the semiconductor chip, and metal electrode pads provided on a rear surface of the molded resin enveloper and electrically connected to the electrode pads of the semiconductor chip through the intermediary of bonding wires.
The leadless type semiconductor package is mounted on a wiring board such that the metal electrode pads of the molded resin enveloper are electrically contacted with and bonded to electrode pads formed on the wiring board.
The leadless type semiconductor package is more compact in comparison with the first-mentioned conventional semiconductor package because this semiconductor package has no outer lead portions extending outwardly and laterally from sides of the molded resin enveloper. Nevertheless, the leadless type semiconductor package necessarily has a relatively large thickness in that the bonding wires are used to establish the electrical connection between the electrode pads of the semiconductor chip and the metal electrode pads of the resin molded enveloper. Namely, it is necessary to provide a relatively high space for the laying of the bonding wires, resulting in the large thickness of the leadless type semiconductor package itself.

Leadless type semiconductor package, and production process for manufacturing such leadless type semiconductor package


An active matrix substrate includes a switching device; a scanning line electrically connected to the switching device; a signal line electrically connected to the switching device and arranged so as to cross the scanning line; an interlayer insulation layer formed over the switching device, the scanning line and the signal line, the interlayer insulation layer having a contact hole; and a picture element electrode provided on the interlayer insulation layer and electrically connected to the switching device through the contact hole. The picture element electrode has a recessed portion in the contact hole, and a buried portion formed of an insulation material is provided in the recessed portion so that a top surface of the buried portion and a top surface of the picture element electrode are at an identical level.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an active matrix substrate including switching devices such as thin film transistors (hereinafter, referred to as "TFTs") and a liquid crystal display device (hereinafter, referred to as an "LCD device") including the active matrix substrate.
2. Description of the Related Art
An LCD device includes an active matrix substrate and a counter substrate between which is interpose a liquid crystal material acting as a display medium therebetween. FIG. 5 shows an exemplary structure of an active matrix substrate including switching devices.
The active matrix substrate shown in FIG. 5 includes a plurality of TFTs 23 acting as switching devices arranged in a matrix and a plurality of picture element capacitors 22 also arranged in a matrix. A plurality of gate lines 24 acting as scanning lines for controlling the TFTs 23 are connected to gate electrodes of the respective TFTs 23. The TFTs 23 are each driven by a signal input to the respective gate lines 24. A plurality of source lines 26 acting as signal lines for supplying data signals to the TFTs 23 are connected to source electrodes of the respective TFTs 23. Video signals or other signals are input to the source lines 26. The gate lines 24 and the source lines 26 are arranged to cross each other. A drain electrode of each TFT 23 is connected to a picture element electrode and one of two terminals of the respective picture element capacitor 22. The other terminal of each picture element capacitor 22 is connected to a picture element line 25. The picture element line 25 is to be connected to a counter electrode in the counter substrate when the active matrix substrate is combined with the counter substrate to produce an LCD device.
FIG. 6 is a partial plan view of a conventional LCD device including such an active matrix substrate. FIG. 7A is a cross sectional view of the LCD device along line E-E' in FIG. 6, and FIG. 7B is a cross sectional view of the LCD device along line F-F' in FIG. 6.
As shown in FIG. 6, the active matrix substrate includes a plurality of gate lines 20 and a plurality of source lines 70 which cross each other. A picture element area is defined by the two adjacent gate lines 20 and two adjacent source lines 70. FIGS. 6, 7A and 7B each show one picture element area of the active matrix substrate.
As shown in FIG. 7B, the active matrix substrate includes a light-transmissive insulation plate 1, a gate electrode 2 provided on the plate 1, and a gate insulation layer 3 provided on the plate 1 so as to cover the gate electrode 2. A semiconductor layer 4 is provided on the gate insulation layer 3 above the gate electrode 2, and a channel protection layer 5 is provided on a central area of the semiconductor layer 4. A source electrode 6a and a drain electrode 6b both formed of n.sup.+ -Si are provided on the semiconductor layer 4 so as to cover the channel protection layer 5. The source electrode 6a and the drain electrode 6b are separated from each other on the channel protection layer 5. A source line 70 including an ITO (indium-tin-oxide) film 7a and a metal layer 8a provided on the ITO film 7a is provided on the gate insulation layer 3 so as to cover the source electrode 6a. A connecting electrode 7' formed of an ITO film 7b is provided on the drain electrode 6b, and a metal layer 8b is provided on the connecting electrode 7'. The connecting electrode 7' is extended on the gate insulation layer 3 for connecting the drain electrode 6b and a picture element electrode 11.
As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7A, the connecting electrode 7' is extended to cover a picture element storage capacitor signal line 19. An area where the connecting electrode 7', the gate insulation layer 3 and the picture element storage capacitor signal line 19 overlap acts as a storage capacitor.
An interlayer insulation layer 9 is provided on the gate insulation layer 3 so as to cover the gate line 20 (FIG. 6), the source line 70, and a TFT 23 including the gate electrode 2, the source electrode 6a and the drain electrode 6b. The picture element electrode 11 is provided on the interlayer insulation layer 9. The picture element electrode 11 is connected to the drain electrode 6b via the connecting electrode 7' at the bottom of a contact hole 10 formed so as to run through the interlayer insulation layer 9 in the thickness direction. In FIG. 7B, reference numeral 2a denotes an anodized film formed on the surface of the gate electrode 2. In FIG. 7A, reference numeral 19a denotes an anodized film formed on the surface of the picture element storage capacitor signal line 19.
In the active matrix substrate having the above-described structure, the interlayer insulation layer 9 is provided between the gate line 20/source line 70 and the picture element electrode 11. Accordingly, end parts of the picture element electrode 11 can be overlapped with the gate line 20 and the source line 70. Due to such a structure, the numerical aperture is improved, and an electric field generated by the gate line 20 and the source line 70 is shielded, thus preventing the defective orientation of liquid crystal molecules.
In the above-described structure, the picture element electrode 11 is connected to the drain electrode 6b through the contact hole 10 formed in the interlayer insulation layer 9, and thus the picture element electrode 11 has a stepped portion having a depth corresponding to the thickness of the interlayer insulation layer 9. The orientation of the liquid crystal molecules is disturbed over the stepped portion, possibly causing the light to be transmitted where the light should not be transmitted.
Conventionally, in order to solve this problem, areas corresponding to the contact holes are masked by, for example, using light-shielding materials for the metal electrodes, the gate lines, the source lines, the picture element storage capacitor signal lines or by a black matrix of a color filter. Accordingly, the opening of each picture element area is decreased, which prevents improvement of the numerical aperture.
In the cage of a reflection-type LCD device, the stepped portion of the picture element electrode changes the surface state of the picture element electrode and thus deteriorates a reflection characteristic. Conventionally, in order to solve this problem, areas corresponding to the contact holes are masked by a black matrix of a color filter. Accordingly, the opening of each picture element area is decreased, which prevents improvement of the numerical aperture.

Active matrix substrate, for use in a liquid crystal display and method for producing the same


A touch panel may include: a substrate having an upper surface and a lower surface; a first electrode layer disposed on the lower surface of the substrate and formed in a mesh shape; a first insulating layer disposed on the lower surface of the substrate and disposed to surround the first electrode layer; a surface reforming layer disposed on a lower surface of the first insulating layer and capable of reforming a hydrophobic surface to a hydrophilic surface; and a second electrode layer disposed on a lower surface of the surface reforming layer and formed in a mesh shape.

The present disclosure relates to a touch panel.
A touch sensing apparatus such as a touch screen, a touch pad, or the like, which is an input apparatus attached to a display apparatus to provide an intuitive input method to a user, has recently been widely used in various electronic devices such as a cellular phone, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a navigation device, and the like. Particularly, as demand for a smart phone has increased, a touch screen capable of providing various input methods within a limited form factor has been increasingly used.
The touch screen used in a portable device may mainly be divided into a resistive type touch screen and a capacitive type touch screen according to a method of sensing a touch input. Here, the capacitive type touch screen has advantages in that it has a relatively long lifespan and that it may easily implement various input methods and gestures, such that the use thereof has been increasing. Particularly, since the capacitive type touch screen may implement a multi-touch interface more easily as compared with the resistive type touch screen, it is widely used for devices such as a smart phone and the like.
The capacitive type touch screen includes a plurality of electrodes having a predetermined pattern and defining a plurality of nodes at which a capacitance change is generated by a touch input. At the plurality of nodes distributed on a two-dimensional plane, a self-capacitance or mutual-capacitance change is generated by the touch input. A coordinate of the touch input may be calculated by applying a weighted average method, or the like, to the capacitance change generated at the plurality of nodes.
In a touch panel according to the related art, a sensing electrode that recognizes touch is generally formed of indium tin oxide (ITO). However, the ITO is expensive and has low price competitiveness, because indium, used as a raw material thereof, is a rare earth metal. In addition, indium is expected to be depleted within the next decade, such that it may not be sufficiently supplied.
Thus, research into technology of forming the electrode using non-transparent conductive fine lines for reasons mentioned above has been conducted. Here, the electrode formed by the conductive fine lines such as a metal may have better conductivity than that of the ITO or conductive polymer and may be sufficiently supplied.
In order to implement the touch panel as described above, a multi-layer structure should be implemented.
Particularly, the touch panel using the conductive fine lines has a structure in which a metal electrode is mainly formed on an insulating material.
In order to implement the touch panel when the metal electrode is formed on the insulating material, adhesion between the metal electrode and the insulating material should be secured.


Aminobutanoic acids of the following formula (I): ##STR1## where R.sup.1 -R.sup.5 are a variety of substituents, novel intermediates, a pharmaceutical composition for treating inflammatory diseases, demyelinating diseases, and tumor metastasis, methods for such treatment and processes for preparing compounds of formula (I).

The matrix metalloprotease family of zinc endoproteinases includes interstitial (type 1) and neutrophil collagenase (MMP1 and MMP8), the stromelysins (also known as proteoglycanases or transins), fibroblast and polymorphonuclear leucocyte gelatinases (also known as collagen-IV-ases) and `pump-1` (putative metalloprotease 1, uterine metalloprotease). Accelerated breakdown of connective tissues by metalloprotease catalyzed resorption of extracellular matrix is a feature of many pathological conditions. Matrix metalloproteases are involved in connective tissue degradation of several inflammatory conditions where the breakdown of articular cartilage and bone leads to stiffness and immobility. Aberrant regulation of these enzymes has been implicated in pathologies such as rheumatoid arthritis. See Arthritis and Rheumatism, 20, 1231-1239 (1977). Interstitial collagenase and stromelysin have been found at elevated levels in the joints of many patients suffering from rheumatoid arthritis as shown by immunolocalization of collagenase at sites of erosion. See Arthritis and Rheumatism, 34, 1076-1105 (1991).
Matrix metalloproteases have also been implicated in the initiation of tumor metastisis/angiogenesis, and in the pathogenesis of demyelating diseases of the nervous system. See Nature, 284, 67-68, (1980), and J. Neurochem., 50, 688-694 (1988). Additionally, matrix metalloproteases may be involved in conditions such as arthropathy, dermatological conditions, bone resorption, osteopenias such as osteoporosis, hyperparathyroidism, cholesteatoma, osteoarthritis, periodontitis, gingivitis, dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa, corneal ulceration, multiple sclerosis, optic neuritis, neuromyelitis optica, diffuse and transitional sclerosis, and acute disseminated encephalomyelitis and demyelinating peripheral neuropathies including acute inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathies [Landry-Guillain-Barre-Strohl syndrome for motor defects and analogous syndromes for sensory and autonomic (pandysautonomia) deficits].
The compounds of the present invention act as inhibitors of matrix metalloproteases and are therefore useful in treating or preventing conditions which involve tissue breakdown including rheumatoid arthritis and various diseases in which matrix metalloprotease activity is important. A number of small peptide-like compounds which inhibit collagenase are taught in U.S. Pat. No. 4,511,504. Aminobutanoic acid tripeptide inhibitors of metalloproteases are taught in EP 0 520 573 A1, published Jun. 23, 1992. Thiol based derivatives and hydroxamic acid based derivitives are taught in International Application WO 91/02716 published Mar. 7, 1991. Phosphonic acid derivatives are taught in International Application WO 91/15507 published Sep. 17, 1991. European Application EP O276 436 A1 published Aug. 3, 1988 teaches phosphinic acid derivatives as does European Application EP 0 236 872 A2 published Sep. 16, 1987.

Aminobutanoic acid compounds having metalloprotease inhibiting properties


In order to equip a dishwasher (1) with a machine base (10), on which a washing container (20) is arranged so as to be capable of being put down in position, in a simple way with a fastening for the washing container (20), said fastening being less complicated and therefore more cost-effective and having better stability, according to the invention the washing container (20) rests, on the rear side, on the upper edge (11) of the machine base (10).

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a dishwasher having a machine base, on which a washing container is arranged so as to be capable of being put down in position.
2. Description of the Related Art
German Patent Specification 36 14 345 discloses a dishwasher of the type mentioned initially, in which a washing container is fastened to a machine base, which is designed as a mounting tub and carries the appliance assemblies and which is preferably made from thermoplastic, on the rear side by means of a tilting mounting and on the front side by means of stays inserted in integrally molded receptacles and fastened to the washing container. This fastening is complicated and therefore expensive.


An analog Mueller matrix data acquisition system (AMMS) acquiring middle-infrared Mueller (M) matrices of backscattering surfaces. The M-elements are measured by means of an active photopolarimetric sensor. The AMMS records nine M-elements simultaneously in groups of four modulo 2 incident continuous-wave CO2 laser beams—one incident beam is tuned to a fundamental molecular absorption cross-section by the aerosol of detection interest (analytic wavelength λa) while the other beam is detuned off that resonance band (reference wavelength λr) and in the closest vicinity to λa. Accordingly, those ΔM elements exhibiting susceptible behavior to the aerosol analyte, driven on-then-off its molecular vibrational resonance band, cues an identification event thus providing detection decision information. The AMMS is comprised of PEM reference frequency synthesizer, optical power regulation, data digitizer, and computer interface components in an interfaced and integrated framework that governs all operations of M-elements production by the photopolarimetric sensor.

1. Technical Field
The embodiments herein generally relate to an analog electronics system that integrates to a standoff detection sensor for detecting chemical and biological materials at a distance, and, more particularly, to an analog electronics system that measures elements of the Mueller matrix at infrared CO2 laser wavelengths from a photopolarimetric-based sensor apparatus, and preprocesses those data fields so as to identify targeted contaminants—such as biological aerosol and liquid chemical warfare agents or simulants of such compounds—by their unique polarized infrared elastic backscattering signatures brought out in a differential-absorption Mueller matrix spectroscopy (DIAMMS) operation mode of sensor.
2. Description of the Related Art
A variety of systems and methods have been developed and used to detect and identify hazardous chemical and biological threat agents in the field. Passive infrared (PIR) imaging sensors detect airborne chemical threats such as nerve (GA, GB, and GD) and blister (H and L) agents based on the infrared spectrum of the agent. Currently, fielded devices have been reported to detect aerosols at a distance of up to 5 km. Practical PIR detection systems generally have difficulty detecting low levels of chemical-biological warfare (CBW) surface target contaminants because the surfaces are typically at thermal- or pseudo-equilibrium and provide insufficient contrast to identify target contaminants. U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,241,179; 6,464,392; 6,731,804; and 7,262,414, the complete disclosures of which, in their entireties, are herein incorporated by reference, address this issue by externally stimulating the subject target contaminant/background with radiation to produce sufficient contrast when performing detection functions.
Additionally, background radiation and interference encountered in the field can mask the infrared signature of contaminant, making the detection event difficult if not impossible. Uniqueness of detection is, furthermore, a major issue with PIR detection systems as they typically rely on one quantifier; i.e., the infrared signature spectrum.
What is needed in a standoff detection system is technology that provides a truly unique metric for revealing an analytic contaminant (i.e., chemical and biological, or chemical/biological (CB), warfare agents) that can be measured in the field rapidly, reliably, and repeatedly at very low concentration levels of that analyte. The sensor built around this technology must operate remotely at a safe distance in order to detect target contaminants before casualty-producing concentrations are encountered.

Infrared Mueller matrix acquisition and preprocessing system and method

The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army


Provided is an optical mode switch that can effect a more compact optical switch. The optical mode switch (100) is provided with: a single input port (1); a single output port (2); two waveguides (10) provided in parallel between the input port (1) and the output port (2); and a refractive index altering means (8) that alters the refractive index of the waveguides. Any given mode light input to the input port (1) is output as any given mode light from the output port (2) in accordance with the refractive index altered by the refractive index altering means (8).

Conventional spatial optical switch is comprised of: an input waveguide that inputs an optical signal; a slab waveguide that distributes the optical signal to an arrayed waveguide; an arrayed waveguide that is equipped with a triangular-shaped electrode for performing current injection or voltage application in order to change refractive index; a slab waveguide that couples outputted light from the arrayed waveguide to an output waveguide; and a plurality of output waveguides that output optical signals (see Patent Literature 1: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-72157, for example). This conventional spatial optical switch has a plurality of output waveguides arranged in parallel, which spatially distribute an input optical signal of one wavelength by a control signal to be applied to an electrode, and couples a signal of one wavelength to different output waveguides.

KYUSHU UNIVERSITY, NATIONAL UNIVERSITY CORPORATION


A current sensor comprises a flat housing made of plastic having an underside and an upper side and electrical connections, a current conductor through which the current to be measured flows, and a semiconductor chip having two magnetic field sensors, wherein the component of the magnetic field detected by the two magnetic field sensors points in opposite directions at the locations of the two magnetic field sensors. The semiconductor chip is connected as flipchip to the electrical connections. The current conductor extends from one side wall to the opposite side wall of the housing, is embedded flat in the underside of the housing and is therefore exposed on the underside of the housing. The opposing surfaces of the semiconductor chip and the current conductor are separated by an electrical insulation layer.

Current sensors exist in many designs and variants. Current sensors which detect the magnetic field generated by the current, which are packaged in a conventional IC housing and in which current conductors through which the current to be measured flows are passed through the housing are known, for example, from U.S. Pat. No. 7,129,691, international patent applications WO 2005026749 and WO 2006130393 and US patent application US 2010156394.
Since the current conductor guided through the housing has a relatively small cross-section and an even further reduced cross-section in the area of the magnetic field sensors, in order to locally increase the current density and therefore the magnetic field there, the heat produced by the power loss in the current conductor leads to heating of the current sensor which brings about undesirable drift fluctuations of the magnetic field sensors.
The invention is based on the object of developing a current sensor which requires little space, is cost-effective to manufacture and does not show the mentioned disadvantages.


A door sill and a sealing mechanism engage one another analogously to a rack and pinion in order to automatically create a weather-resistant closure at the gap between an inswinging exterior door bottom and the floor below. The sealing mechanism, which fastens to the door bottom, contains a door-wide rotating shaft with an arm extension tipped with a flexible seal. On the underside of the shaft extension is a short “pinion” component with elongated teeth that engage in corresponding recesses in the sill, raising and lowering the seal in the process. The pinion is positioned on the far lock side of the door, so that the teeth engage and the seal begins to drop only when the door is nearly closed. As the door opens and the seal rises, a magnet further retracts the shaft extension and retains it until the door is again closed.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention is an "assemblage" in that it consists of two main components: a retractable door seal attached to the underside of an inswinging door and a floor sill against which it tightly presses. The movement of the seal down towards the sill is actuated by the closure of the door itself.
The design of fenestration products must meet architectural needs but also satisfy various government regulations that sometimes work at odds to one another. Post-Hurricane Andrew building codes require ever tighter closure of such products against very high onslaughts of wind and rain. But other regulations make that job more difficult. The American with Disabilities Act, for example, limits the overall height of primary entry-door sills to only a half inch in order that they accommodate wheelchairs.
Most inswinging exterior doors feature a simple rubber-like flap on the bottom that seats against the sill, or an elongated bulb in the sill that seats against the door bottom, or a combination. Again, codes limit the pressure needed to open and close these doors, so the seal cannot be too tight, certainly not tight enough keep out wind-driven rain.
The invention described herein is presented as a solution to this dilemma. By using the closing movement of the heavy door to inter-engage the door bottom mechanism with the sill, which in turn pivots the seal down hard against the sill, a much tighter closure can be attained. Because it does not rely on rubber components undergoing an extended compression and abrasion, it can do so without out making the door too hard to close (and reopen). And because the sill is engaged just before the door latches, the seal can drop down to the weather side of what little elevation "dam" in the sill the ADA permits (one-quarter inch).
When the door is reopened, the disengagement of the door bottom mechanism and the sill swings the seal up and over any such dam and, with the help of a magnet, retracts the components of the door bottom mechanism far enough so that they will not rub on the interior floor covering.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Automatic door bottoms are currently commercially available. Typically, they feature a horizontal actuating member that protrudes from the hinge stile of the door. As the door is closed and the protrusion mashes against the door jamb, the horizontal member is moved laterally. That movement is then converted by the use of springs—by bowing leaf-type springs, for example—to move a seal down vertically against the door sill.
Commercially available devices may keep out dust and non-conditioned air on a still day, but the seal produced by the relatively weak springs is not nearly strong enough to keep out wind-driven rain. (The installation instructions typically say to adjust the seal so that it just touches the sill.)
The devices, which mount either under the bottom rail of the door or on the exterior face of the door, are designed for outswinging doors. While a face-mounting device could theoretically be shimmed out beyond the face of the door far enough to work on an inswinging door (the protrusion would mash against the door stop rather than the jamb), this would create new water-infiltration problems around the perimeter of the door-bottom device.
Accommodating an inswinging door is very important because many entry doors are designed to operate this way, especially those used in condominium and apartment buildings. Out-opening doors in such buildings require by code much wider exterior hallways in which to swing and therefore dictate a bigger, more expensive structure. Also, outswinging doors are awkward and more subject to catching in the wind.
Inswinging doors do present more of a challenge in terms of preventing water infiltration, however.
Thus it is an object of the current invention to accommodate inswinging doors.
In doing so, it is an object of the invention to present an apparatus that will automatically create a storm-resistant seal between the door and sill each time the door is closed; and to automatically release that seal as the door is opened.
Additionally, it is an object of the invention to use only components which are sturdy enough in design and simple enough in function to repeatedly stand up to storm-like conditions (no springs, for example).
Also, it is an object of the invention to provide such a seal in a way that does not adversely affect the seals between the other edges of the door and the door frame.
Further, it is an object of the invention to present an apparatus that will automatically create a storm-resistant seal between the door and sill each time the door is closed; and to automatically release that seal as the door is opened.
Further, it is an object to provide said seal without requiring an unreasonable effort on the part of the person opening and closing the door.
Finally, it is an object that the sealing apparatus and the sill be easily trimmed to length without special tools, so that the invention could be used as a retrofit product on its own as well as a new-door component. (Since an existing door would itself also have to be trimmed to the proper height above the floor, the retrofit application would be limited to wood or other trimmable doors.)

Automatic door bottom and sill assemblage


A circuit housing having a printed circuit board and a circuit and holes in which peg-like positioning elements projecting away from the housing engage for positioning the PCB relative to the housing, at least one positioning element projecting without play into one circular hole, another positioning element, accommodated in another hole, having spreading fingers separated from one another by at least one recess, projecting into/through the further hole, elastically transverse to the direction of an imaginary connecting line of the holes and a cross-section such that a) in the direction of the imaginary connecting line, there is play between the spreading fingers and a radially inner circumferential surface of the another hole on both sides, but b) the spreading fingers make contact by their diametrically opposite side faces with the inner face of the another hole perpendicular to the connecting line without play only along a contact line/point.

A circuit housing of this generic type is discussed in DE 20 2008 008 286 U1 in which peg-like positioning elements which are formed on the circuit housing and have a circular cross section project into associated bore holes in the printed circuit board.
Electronic controllers of vehicles, such as brake controllers, motor controllers and the like, usually have a large number of electrical plug contacts which are, for example, injection-molded into the circuit housing as part of an injection-molding process or are stitched into said circuits and the ends of which have to be soldered or pressed into openings or contact points of a printed circuit board. In this case, the position of the printed circuit board relative to the circuit housing is critical since, if printed circuit boards are incorrectly positioned, the electrical plug contacts which project away from the base of the circuit housing are no longer in alignment with the associated openings in or contact points on the printed circuit board. Therefore, high requirements are made of the tolerances of the printed circuit board and the positioning elements on the circuit housing, these having proven to be problematical to comply with and expensive to produce, particularly when the printed circuit board and the circuit housing have large dimensions.

Circuit housing having a printed circuit board which is positioned in said circuit housing by means of positioning elements

KNORR-BREMSE SYSTEME FUER NUTZFAHRZEUGE GMBH


The invention relates to a basketball retrieval device that is connected to a basketball pole. The retrieval device comprises an elongated pole that vertically extends from the basketball pole up to a upper horizontal support arm. The upper support arm supports a screen or net that hangs down behind the backboard. The ball hits the retrieval device and causes the ball to roll back onto the court instead of landing off the court. A lower support arm is attached to the bottom of the basketball pole and secures the bottom of the net in tension.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a basketball retrieval device, that is located behind the basketball backboard. The retrieval device catches and returns balls that fall beyond the backboard.
2. The Prior Art
Basketball retrieval devices are widely used to allow basketballs to be returned from behind a backboard. For example, Keehn, Br., U.S. Pat. No. 5,402,999, discloses a basketball safety return apparatus that comprises a net mounted on a set of vertical poles. The net is assembled around a basketball pole to keep the ball from escaping from the property.
Caveney, U.S. Pat. No. 3,901,506, discloses a basketball retrieval apparatus having a pair of side frame deflectors arranged on a backframe. Flexible sheeting extends down from the frame. When a ball is shot, it bounces down through the sheet where it is directed back to a player on the foul line. This allows the shooter to practice free throws without having to expend a lot of energy retrieving the ball.
White et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,364,562, discloses a basketball rebound target having a target board with netting extending out from the side panels.
Epply, U.S. Pat. No. 4,206,916, discloses a tension net having a frame in which the net is stretched. The net is used as a rebound net for various sports such as tennis and baseball.
Wagner, U.S. Pat. No. 3,362,712, discloses a basketball game having side panels and a ramp for returning the ball within the confines of the game area.
While the prior art does show a wide array of basketball retrieval systems, the prior art does not show a basketball retrieval system located behind a basketball backboard that is attached to the basketball pole.


An electronic device is provided. The electronic device includes an operation of determining at least one control level by executing at least one scheduling process, an operation of selecting one control level from among the at least one control level, and an operation of transmitting a power control signal corresponding to the selected control level to one or more control target devices. The operation of determining the control level may include an operation of performing a first scheduling process of receiving first power usage data from an external power amount data providing device and determining a first control level based on the first power usage data. In addition to this, various embodiments identified through the specification are possible.

A demand response (DR) means changing the energy usage to meet the demand for an amount of energy that can be supplied. In particular, in the case of electric energy, since there is a problem that it is difficult to store, power suppliers were able to meet the maximum demand only by having their production capacity matched to the maximum demand, or supplying power from other sources of supply. However, with this supply method, there is a limit to increasing an amount of energy supply, and a situation may occur where the operation cost is high or the demand exceeds the maximum production amount of the supplier.
That is, there is a limit for the supplier to meet the demand. To the contrary, some users may postpone a task requiring a large amount of energy, or stop some functions of a device to reduce the amount of energy used to adjust the demand. A payer who provides incentives related to an energy provider who supplies energy or a supplier (hereinafter, the 'supplier' may include one or more of the energy supplier or incentive payer) may provide incentives to users who have reduced their energy usage to satisfy conditions presented in order to induce demand adjustment.
In order to determine whether or not the supplier will provide incentives to users, a method for checking whether or not the users have saved energy usage according to the presented conditions is required. The supplier may install, in order to determine whether or not the user saves energy, a device (for example, a watt hour meter) that can remotely check the energy usage on the user's device to determine the user's energy usage through the device.
However, due to the cost of installing a device capable of measuring the energy usage, participation in the demand response market was mainly made only for large-scale power users such as factories, hospitals, or large buildings.
In addition, when reduction in energy usage is required, if the supplier requests, through a telephone or the like, to the user to save energy, the user voluntarily adjusts the energy usage. However, in the above method, it is difficult to obtain an effect of energy saving because a large number of small-scale energy users are requested to individually adjust the energy usage. In addition, according to the above method, there is a problem in that it is difficult for the user to save an appropriate amount of energy. In addition, according to the above method, there is an inconvenience in that a large number of small-sized users have to directly adjust energy usage.

Method for controlling energy saving, and apparatus therefor