A fixing device includes a pressure roll having elasticity or flexibility which is a driving roller, a heat-resistant endless belt being in contact with the pressure roll to form a nip zone through which a recording medium passes, the heat-resistant endless belt rotating as driven by the pressure roll, a pressing supporting body disposed inside the heat-resistant endless belt and having a flat segment to press the heat-resistant endless belt for making the nip zone nearly flat, a heat source disposed inside the heat-resistant endless belt, the pressing supporting body being arranged between the heat source and the nip zone. Preferably, the heat-resistant endless belt is directly heated by radiant heat from the heat source and heated by thermal conduction through the pressing supporting body.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a fixing device for fixing an unfixed image on carried on the surface of a recording medium onto the recording medium by heating and pressurizing the recording medium, and an image forming apparatus provided with the fixing device.
2. Description of the Related Art
As an image forming technique, an electrophotographic system has become widespread because it have many advantages that the printing speed is high, the preparation of the printing plate is not required each time, an image can be directly acquired from various items of image information, the apparatus size is relatively small, full-coloring can be easily realized, etc.
In the image forming apparatus (electrophotographic apparatus) which adopts the electrophotographic system, generally, by bringing charged toner into contact with the surface of a latent image carrier on which an electrostatic latent image is formed, toner is selectively applied to the surface of the latent image carrier to form a toner image. The toner image is transferred onto a recording medium through or not through an intermediate transfer body. The toner is fixed on the surface of the recording medium by heat and/or pressure, thereby providing an image.
In such an electrographic apparatus, generally, a fixing device in a two-roll system composed of a heating roll and a pressure roll kept in contact with each other is employed for fixing. Bypassing the recording medium, on the surface of which the unfixed toner image is formed, through a nip zone formed through contact of both rolls, the toner is molten by heat and pressure so that the toner image is fixed on the surface of the recording medium as a permanent image. As the case may be, in place of the heating roll and/or pressure roll, the heating member and/or pressure member each having an endless belt shape are employed.
The heating roll is a metallic core incorporating a heat source such as a halogen lamp, which is covered with an elastic layer or releasing layer. The surface of the heating roll is heated internally by the heat source. From the viewpoint of energy saving and preventing a user from waiting in using the image forming apparatus, it has been demanded for the fixing device that the hearing member such as the heating roll can be heated instantaneously to minimize the warm-up time.
A related art fixing device includes a fixing roll (heating roll) which is a hollow fixing body, a pressure roll which is pressed on the fixing roll by an urging unit and a halogen heater (fixing heater) serving as a heating unit. In this fixing device, electric power is supplied from a power source to the halogen heater so that the fixing roll is heated. An output from a sensor to detect the surface temperature of the fixing roll is supplied to a temperature control. The halogen heater is ON/OFF controlled on the basis of the above output by the temperature control so that the fixing roll is kept at a predetermined surface temperature. The unfixed image of the unfixed toner carried on the recording medium is heated and pressurized together with the recoding medium within the fixing nip formed by the fixing roll and pressure roll so that it is permanently fixed.
Owing to difficulty of forming a free shape of the fixing nip, the conventional fixing roll having a hollow cylindrical shape presented such inconvenience that the recording medium is wrinkled or curled, transportability is affected and limitation is given to improve the fixing property. It was difficult to obviate such inconvenience for all of various recording media by the conventional fixing roll.
For example, in the recording medium having a two or more multiple-layer structure such as an envelope, if the shape of the nip zone between the fixing roll and the pressuring roll is not planar but has a curvature, even with equal rotary speeds of both rolls, a slight difference occurs in their linear speed on the surface to give a difference in the transporting speed between the upper and lower surfaces of the recording medium. This may lead to inconvenience such as wrinkle of recording medium and affection on the capability of fixing and feeding (transportation). Particularly, when the process speed is increased, the above inconvenience is likely to occur.
In order to solve the above problem, the technique disclosed in JP-A-7-287460 has been proposed. The technique is a fixing device including a hollow pipe incorporating a heat source, a pressure roll for pressuring the hollow pipe and a heat-resistant endless sheet wound around the hollow pipe, wherein a recording sheet (recording medium) carrying unfixed toner is passed between the endless sheet and the pressure roll to implement the fixing by heating/pressurizing. In this fixing device, the surface carrying the unfixed toner of the recording sheet is in contact with the endless sheet which rotation-moves at the speed equal to the feeding or transporting speed of the recording sheet, and the pressed position of the hollow pipe by the pressure roll is practically planar.
In such a fixing device, however, the entire hollow pipe is heated by the halogen heater so that the area other than the nip zone of the hollow pipe which does not contribute to fixing is also heated. This leads to a problem that it takes a long time to increase the temperature of the entire fixing member to a predetermined temperature, thereby not shortening the warm-up time.
Where recording sheets are continuously fed, since heat is absorbed by the recording sheet, the temperature falls. In order to keep the nip zone of the hollow pipe at a predetermined temperature, heating must be carried out from the heat source. However, the area opposite to the nip zone with respect to the heat source in the hollow pipe, where heat is not absorbed, is rapidly heated to a high temperature. As a result, in order to reduce the temperature of the pertinent area to a predetermined temperature or lower, it is necessary to reduce the printing speed and stop the printing.

Fixing device and image forming apparatus


A mixture of honey solution and a surgical adhesive, typically a cyanoacrylate adhesive is described. The adhesive and honey solution are mixed and applied to a cut or wound prior to the cure of the mixture. The adhesive mixture, which retains the strength of the unadulterated adhesive significantly reduces the growth of bacteria in the vicinity of the associated closed cut or wound, has applicability in both human and veterinary medicine.

Traditionally, wounds, cuts and incisions of a certain size were closed using stitches. Surgical adhesives have largely supplanted the use of stitches for many types of incisions, cuts and wounds (collectively "cuts"). Studies have shown that when using stitches the skin sometimes doesn't heal normally and deformities can result including the formation of excessive scar tissue. In contrast, when using skin or surgical glue, the skin heals more normally with reduced scarring. Research has shown that the use of surgical adhesives reduces the risk of the closed cut tearing or breaking open. Further, surgical adhesives can be used to form a protective layer over the closed cut reducing the risk of infection when compared to the use of other methods such as stitches or adhesive tape. Nevertheless, infection at a cut site is still a significant risk sometimes necessitating that the associated patient return to a medical care facility for additional care, potentially including additional surgery, to prevent an infection from spreading. Infection at the closed cut can also result in increased unsightly scarring.
The most common type of surgical adhesive are of the cyanoacrylate-type including, but not limited to, n-Butyl cyanoacrylate and 2-Octyl cyanoacrylate. These types of adhesives are notable for curing rapidly in the presence of moisture.
Honey is a sugary food produced by certain insects, such as honey bees, from floral nectar. Honey is largely antimicrobial inhibiting the growth of many if not most microorganisms in or on it. Some studies have indicated that honey can be used effectively to treat and protect wounds and burns. Honey is a supersaturated solution of sugars that has a strong interaction with water molecules. Also, when honey is diluted by a exuding wound, hydrogen peroxide is produced. This is released slowly to provide antibacterial activity. One particular type of honey, Manuka honey, has been used by the indigenous community in New Zealand for centuries because of its healing properties. Manuka honey is produced by honey bees from the nectar of Manuka tree flowers. Studies have attributed the antibacterial properties of Manuka honey to its high osmolality, its hydrogen peroxide content, and its antibacterial phytochemicals.

Surgical adhesive including honey and methods of preparation and use thereof


A two-way cache memory having multiplexed outputs and alternating ways is disclosed. Multiplexed outputs enable the cache memory to be more densely packed and implemented with fewer sense amplifiers. Alternating ways enable two distinct cache access patterns. According to a first access pattern, two doublewords in the same way may be accessed simultaneously. Such access facilitates the leading of data into main memory. According to a second access pattern, two doublewords in the same location but in different ways may be accessed simultaneously. Such access facilitates the loading a particular word into a register file.

This invention relates in general to computers and in particular, to cache memory.
CPU designers, since the inception of computers, have been driven to design faster and better processors in a cost-effective manner. For example, as faster versions of a particular CPU becomes available, designers will often increase the CPU's clock frequency as a simple and cost effective means of improving the CPU's throughput.
After a certain point, the speed of the system's main memory (input/output) becomes a limiting factor as to how fast the CPU can operate. When the CPU's operating speed exceeds the main memory's operating requirements, the CPU must issue one or more wait states to allow memory to catch up. Wait states, however, have a deleterious effect on CPU's performance. In some instances, one wait state can decrease the CPU's performance by about 20-30%.
Although wait states can be eliminated by employing faster memory, it is very expensive and may be impractical. Typically, the difference between the price of a fast memory chip and the next fastest speed grade can range from 50-100%. Thus, the cost can be quite prohibitive, especially for a system requiring a large memory.
A cost effective solution has been to provide the CPU with a hierarchical memory consisting of multiple levels of memory with different speeds and sizes. Since the fastest memories are more expensive per bit than slower memories, they are usually smaller in size. This smaller memory, referred to as a "cache", is closely located to the microprocessor or even integrated into the same chip as the microprocessor.
Conceptually, the memory controller retrieves instructions and data that are currently used by the processor and stores them into the cache. When a processor fetches instructions or data, it first checks the cache. The control logic determines if the required information is stored in the cache (cache hit). If a cache hit occurs, the CPU does not need to access to main memory. The control logic uses valuable cycles to determine if the requested data is in the cache. However, this cost is acceptable since accesses to main memory is much slower.
As can been seen, the higher the cache "hit" rate is, the faster the CPU can perform its duties. obviously, the larger the cache, the more data it can store, and thus, a higher probability of a hit. However, in the real world, microprocessor designers are always faced with size constraints due to the fact that there is limited available space on a die. Using a larger die size, although effective, is not practical since the cost increases as die size increases. Further, reducing the size of the cache without reducing the performance allows the designer to improve the performance of other functional units of the CPU.
Thus, there is a need for designing a cache that can determine if a hit has occurred using a minimum number of cycles and a high hit rate while reducing space needed on the chip.

Cache memory with dual-way arrays and multiplexed parallel output


The damping characteristics of shock absorbers are variable contingent upon various operating parameters. In changing the damping characteristic, the invention provides for performing the change during operating phases of slight damping force changes. This can be achieved, in that the changes of the damping characteristic are carried out only in the compression stage of the shock absorber. This is especially favorable with a shock absorber of a design such that its damping characteristic will be adjustable only in the traction stage.

The invention relates a system for generating a signal on a vehicle, specifically in conjunction with an undercarriage control.
An efficient suspension system between the wheel units and the vehicle superstructure is essential for the design of the undercarriage of a motor vehicle. In the case of a semiactive system, such a suspension system consists generally of a spring arrangement having a fixed spring characteristic with which a shock absorber device with adjustable damping is arranged in parallel thereto. Such a shock absorber with an adjustable characteristic may be realized in such a way that the shock absorber system is equipped with a flow control valve whose cross sectional flow is variable.
Furthermore, an efficient process for the control or regulation of the adjustable suspension system is of great importance for the design of such an undercarriage. Such a process, based on information from sensor signals which apprise the state of travel of the vehicle, provides activation signals for the adjustable suspension systems.
An efficient undercarriage regulation or control should ideally regulate or control the adjustable undercarriage in such a way that, for one, it allows for road safety and, for another, enables maximum travel comfort for the passengers and/or a vehicle cargo that is sensitive to shocks. From the aspect of the suspension and/or shock absorber system, these are conflicting objectives. High travel comfort can be achieved through a maximally soft undercarriage adjustment, whereas with regard to high road safety, a maximally hard undercarriage adjustment is desirable.
Previously known from DE-OS 39 18 735 is a process for damping sequences of motion on undercarriages of passenger cars and trucks. Here, the activation signals for control or regulation of the adjustable undercarriage are essentially generated by the processing of sensor signals through filter setups. These filters are so conceived that the sensor signals which apprise the travel state of the vehicle will be influenced in their amplitude and/or phase development. This influencing generates activation signals for the adjustable undercarriage, thereby effecting an adaptation to the respective state of movement of the vehicle in such a way that in critical travel situations an undercarriage adjustment serving the road safety mode will be brought about while in uncritical travel situations an adjustment for comfort will be made.
An undercarriage comfort adjustment can be accomplished in that the adjustable undercarriage is adjusted maximally soft, i.e., such that the adjustable shock absorbers exercise a slight damping. A far more efficient control or regulation of the undercarriage, for example in view of the movements of the vehicle superstructure that determine travel comfort, can be accomplished through a so-called frequency-dependent "skyhook regulation."
With the so-called skyhook regulation, the superstructure movements are reduced so as to bring about an improvement of the travel comfort, whereas the road safety is not directly increased. Generally known in undercarriage control, this concept of regulation is based on the model concept of a shock absorber and/or suspension system that attaches to the mass of the vehicle superstructure and is connected to an inertial fix point (skyhook). Such an inertial shock absorber and/or suspension system not being directly realizable in practice, is by way of substitution, appropriately activated between the vehicle superstructure and the wheel units.
There is known from a number of publications (Crolla, D. A., Aboul Nour, A. M. A., Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, International Conference of Advanced Suspension, 22-25 Oct. 1988, London or Magolis, D. L., Semi-Active Heave and Pitch Control for Ground Vehicles, Vehicle System Dynamics, 11 (1982), pp. 31-42), in the case of a suspension system featuring shock absorbers whose damping characteristic is adjustable in two stages (hard/soft), "semiactive, discrete skyhook damping" which is a switching strategy wherein the damping characteristic is adjusted contingent on superstructure movements. This strategy is presented in the following table:
______________________________________ Shock absorber Shock absorber in pull state in push state ______________________________________ Va > Vagr hard soft Vagr soft hard ______________________________________
Here, the superstructure velocity in the vertical direction, at the points of attack of the suspension system, is abbreviated as Va. Once this velocity exceeds a certain positive bound Vagr (tuning parameter), i.e., as an impetuous upward movement of the car body is taking place, the respective shock absorber is switched in the pull state to the hard characteristic, and in the push state to the soft characteristic. Conversely, an impetuous down movement of the superstructure causes in the pull stage, a changeover to the soft and in the push stage to the hard characteristic. In the absence of excessive superstructure movements (.vertline.Va.vertline..ltoreq.Vagr) the shock absorber operates in its soft tuning mode, both in the pull and the push stage.
Shock absorbers that are adjustable in their damping characteristic are described in DE-OS 33 04 815 and DE-OS 36 44 447.
When activating the shock absorbers in the aforementioned manner, considerable switching noises may occur when changing the damping characteristic.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,936,425 proposes a system for undercarriage control where a changeover of a semiactive shock absorber between a hard and a soft damping stage is to be carried out when the relative velocity of the two shock absorber attachment points is smaller than a fixedly predetermined threshold or the tire deformation is smaller than a fixedly predetermined threshold, depending on which of these two switching conditions is met first. With such an activation dependent on shock absorber piston velocity an optimum activation mode is not achievable even when additionally allowing for the deformation of the tires as a criterion for changeover of the shock absorber characteristic. Furthermore, allowing for the tire deformation requires a considerable expense regarding the necessary sensor engineering.
The problem underlying the present inventional system is to develop an optimized activation system for activation of the shock absorbers.
This problem is solved through the inventional system with the features described hereinbelow.

System for generating a signal on a vehicle


The invention relates to surface-mount type coil components having a mounting surface for mounting them on a printed circuit board or hybrid IC (HIC) and provides a low-cost coil component having a low direct-current resistance. A common mode filter includes a bridge conductor layer which has a bridge conductor one end of which is connected to one end of a lead wire and another end of which is connected to an inner circumferential end of a coil conductor and another bridge conductor one end of which is connected to one end of another lead wire and another end of which is connected to an inner circumferential end of another coil conductor, the bridge conductor layer being formed between two coil conductor layers with an insulation film interposed between the bridge conductor layer and each of the coil conductor layers.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a surface-mount type coil component having a mount surface for mounting the same on a printed circuit board or a hybrid IC (HIC).
2. Description of the Related Art
Known coil components mounted on circuits in electronic apparatus such as personal computers and cellular phones include wire-wound type components provided by winding a copper wire around a ferrite core, multi-layer type components provided by forming a coil conductor pattern on a surface of a magnetic sheet made of ferrite and stacking such magnetic sheets one over another, and thin-film type components provided by forming insulation films and coil conductors constituted by metal thin films alternately using thin film forming techniques. Multi-layer type and thin-film type coil components can be easily provided with a small size.
Known coil components include common mode filters for suppressing a common mode current which can cause electromagnetic interference in a balanced transmission system. Patent Document 1 discloses a common mode choke coil (common mode filter) provided by stacking a first insulator layer, two lead-out electrodes, a second insulator layer, a first coil conductor, a third insulator layer, a second coil conductor, and a fourth insulator layer in the order listed on a surface of a magnetic substrate. One of the two lead-out electrodes is electrically connected to the first coil conductor through a via hole provided on the second insulator layer, and the other electrode is electrically connected to the second coil conductor through via holes provided on the second and third insulator layers.
To decrease the direct-current resistance of the common mode filter and to improve electrical characteristics of the same such as impedance characteristics and transmission characteristics in a differential mode, the coil conductors of the filter must be formed with a great width. However, when the coil conductors are formed with a greater width, a greater electrostatic capacity (floating capacity) will be generated between the two coil conductors. In a differential mode, an electrostatic capacity is a parasite in parallel with the inductance of a coil conductor. Therefore, when a relatively great electrostatic capacity is generated at the common mode filter, the electrostatic capacity constitutes the dominant impedance of the filter in high frequency bands.
In order to suppress any increase in the electrostatic capacity while forming the coil conductors with a greater width, the distance between the two coil conductors must be made greater (e.g., 20 μm or more). The thickness of the insulator layer between the two coil conductors must be increased to increase the distance between the two coil conductors. When the thickness of the insulator layer between the two coil conductors of the common mode filter disclosed in Patent Document 1 is increased, the insulator layer between the two coil conductors must be formed with a thickness greater than that of the insulator layer between the lead-out electrodes and the first coil conductor.
In order to provide the insulator layer between the two coil conductors with a great thickness, for example, the insulator layer must be provided by performing a plurality of forming steps consecutively. When the insulator layer is formed by performing a plurality of steps consecutively, the number of manufacturing steps increases, which results in an increase in manufacturing time. In order to form the insulator layer between the two coil conductors at a time, for example, it is necessary to form the insulator layer between the two coil conductors from a material different from the material of the insulator layer between the lead-out electrodes and the first coil conductor. When the two insulator layers are formed from different materials, for example, different apparatus must be used to form the insulator layer between the two coil conductors and the insulator layer between the lead-out electrodes and the first coil conductor. A problem therefore arises in that an increase in the distance between the two coil conductors results in an increase in the manufacturing cost of the common mode filter.
Patent Document 2 discloses a thin-film common mode filter provided by stacking a first insulator layer, a lower lead conductor, a second insulator layer, a lower coil conductor, a third insulator layer, an upper coil conductor, a fourth insulator layer, an upper lead conductor, and a fifth insulator layer in the order listed, on an insulated magnetic substrate. The above-described problem occurs also in the thin-film common mode filter disclosed in Patent Document 2.
There is demand for further reduction in the direct-current resistance of common mode filters. Direct-current resistance is the dominant common mode impedance in low frequency bands. It is desirable for common mode filters to have low common mode impedance in low frequency bands. Further, there is demand for reduction in power consumption in products such as cellular phones. A common mode filter having a low direct-current resistance allows a reduction in the power consumption of an electronic apparatus employing the common mode filter. It is therefore desirable for a common mode filter to have a low direct-current resistance.
Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent No. 3601619
Patent Document 2: JP-A-2005-159223


An office automation apparatus with calibration and positioning device includes a body with an optical module, an automatic document feeder (ADF) arranged at the body and a home pattern having both positioning and calibrating functions and placed below the automatic document feeder and having a first marking for color calibration of the office automation apparatus and a second marking for positioning the optical module to a home location. The home pattern can provide both calibration and positioning functions for saving space and cost.

The current development trends for office automation apparatus are compact size and more integration in functions, while the cost thereof is also desired to reduce.
The office automation apparatus can be classified to single-function office automation apparatus such as stand-alone printer, copier and scanner; and multiple-function office automation apparatus such as a multiple purpose printer (MFP) integrated with copying, printing, scanning and facsimile functions.
Moreover, the current office automation apparatus is also incorporated with automatic document feeder (ADF) to save effort of user. However, the office automation apparatus with ADF generally requires operations for positioning optical module (such as CCD or CIS) and calibrating color before scanning (including the scanning process for copying). A positioning sensor is required and cost is increased.
FIGS. 1 and 2 show a conventional office automation apparatus with a flatbed body 1, an optical module 13 in the flatbed body 1, an automatic document feeder (ADF) 2 arranged at a left top side of the flatbed body 1, and a top housing 11 arranged at remaining top portion of the flatbed body 1 and used to retain a scanning/copying glass 12. A calibration plate 121 is provided between a left side of the scanning/copying glass 12 and the top housing 11. A document to be scanned is moved by a gear set 23 in the ADF 2 and then fed into the office automation apparatus. Moreover, the document is guided by a guiding groove 21 to move through a scanning window 22 below which the optical module 13 is arranged. Therefore, the document is scanned by the optical module 13 while being fed to pass through the scanning window 22. Moreover, a home sensor 131 is provided at a left side of the optical module 13 to position the optical module 13 to a home location.
However, before scanning operation, the optical module 13 is subjected to a calibration step wherein the optical module 13 is moved rightward to a position below the calibiation plate 121 for the calibration step. Afterward, the optical module 13 is returned to the home location under the control of the home sensor 131. The calibration step is cumbersome and additional hardware (the home sensor 131) is required.
Therefore, it is desired to calibrate the optical module 13 and move back the optical module 13 to the home location with better efficiency.

Office automation apparatus with calibration and positioning device for automatic document feeder


The application describes a stable liquid washing or liquid cleaning agent with an acid-treated cellulose or an acid-treated cellulose derivative. The application further relates to methods of use and preparation of such stable liquid washing or liquid cleaning agents and their anti-greying powers.

To increase the washing or cleaning power of washing or cleaning agents, they often contain one or more additives. For example, to prevent redeposition of dirt released previously in a finer distribution, washing agents contain so-called anti-grey agents, for example, carboxymethyl cellulose.
EP 054325A1, for example, describes a washing agent with carboxymethyl cellulose as the anti-grey agent.
For several years, liquid washing or cleaning agents have been available in transparent bottles. Because of the low solubility of carboxymethyl cellulose in liquid washing or cleaning agents, turbidity occurs when carboxymethyl cellulose is incorporated into liquid washing or cleaning agents. This leads to a less attractive product aesthetically, in particular when it is offered in a transparent bottle.
Another problem is that it is very difficult to obtain stable dispersions of cellulose or cellulose derivatives in the matrix of a washing or cleaning agent.

Washing or cleaning agent with cellulose or a cellulose derivative


The invention provides a method for genotyping interfering polymorphic loci in a target polynucleotide, such as a strand of genomic DNA, in a multiplex hybridization-based assay. The invention also provides nucleic acid standards for validating the performance of such hybridization-based assays. In one aspect, the method of the invention is carried out by providing for each interfering polymorphic locus one or more probes so that at least one probe is capable of forming a perfectly match duplex at the locus regardless of the characteristic sequence of an adjacent polymorphism.

Many high throughput approaches for analyzing genetic processes and variation make use of complex mixtures of oligonucleotides to detect, sort, or manipulate gene products and/or genomic fragments, e.g. Brenner et al, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci., 97: 1665-1670 (2000); Church et al, Science, 240: 185-188 (1988); Chee et al, Science, 274: 610-614 (1996); Shoemaker et al, Nature Genetics, 14: 450-456 (1996); Hardenbol et al, Nature Biotechnology, 21: 673-678 (2003); Kennedy et al, Nature Biotechnology, 21: 1233-1237 (2003); and the like. Such techniques are starting to be employed to genotype individuals to determine susceptibilities to a variety of conditions, including cancer, adverse drug reactions, responsiveness to targeted therapeutics, and the like, particularly in clinical trial settings. As these complex hybridization-based techniques move out of research laboratories and into medical and diagnostic applications, there will be a critical need to ensure that readouts based on the techniques are robust and valid, e.g. Food and Drug Administration, "Class II special controls guidance document: Instrumentation for clinical multiplex test systems," Guidance for Industry and FDA Staff (Mar. 10, 2005).
When polymorphisms are closely spaced along a gene or genome, certain polymorphisms, particularly insertions or deletions, at one locus may interfere with the detection of a polymorphism at adjacent loci in hybridization-based assays because of anomalous hybridization and/or interference among probes. This situation makes it difficult to determine whether a lack of signal in a readout is due to the absence of a polymorphism, probe degradation, probe interference, or other problems, e.g. Landi et al, BioTechniques, 35: 816-827 (2003). The difficulty of such determinations is exacerbated when highly complex probes are used that comprise hundreds, or even thousands, of hybridizing components.
Such difficulties may be crucial when hybridization-based assays are used to genotype a large set of xenobiotic metabolizing genes to determine an effective dosage of a drug for a patient. Metabolism of xenobiotic substances, such as drugs, is a chemical process, by which the body structurally modifies foreign compounds to enhance their solubility and facilitate their excretion. This involves two distinct metabolic phases: enzymatic oxidation, reduction, and hydrolysis reactions, which expose or add functional groups to produce polar molecules (Phase I metabolism) and addition of endogenous compounds to the molecules to further increase polarity (Phase II metabolism). The bulk of responsibility for the Phase I reactions rests on the cytochrome P450 (CYP450) superfamily of enzymes. The CYP450 family consists of 60 to 100 different monoxygenases that catalyze the oxidative metabolism of lipophilic chemicals. These, together with several members of different families of transport proteins, play a crucial role in the disposition and elimination of a diverse array of therapeutic drugs and other xenobiotics. It is now well established that significant inter-individual variability exists in patient drug disposition and response. Much of the observed heterogeneity is thought to be due to the underlying genetic variation in the human population. Individual differences at a single nucleotide of DNA, otherwise known as single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), are the most abundant source of genetic variation in humans. Many SNPs with potential for altering the activity of proteins involved in drug metabolism, such as the CYP450s have been found, e.g. Daly, Fundamental & Clinical Pharmacology, 17: 27-41 (2003). Phenotypes resulting from these genetic changes can markedly influence a drugs pharmacokinetics or change its efficacy and/or toxicity profile. Several examples exist where subjects carrying certain alleles suffer from a lack of drug efficacy, due to ultrarapid metabolism (UM) or, alternatively, adverse effects from the drug treatment due to impaired drug clearance by poor metabolism (PM). In current clinical practice, the suitability of a drug for a given individual is determined by trial and error. This practice places a significant burden on healthcare systems and costs. Having an accurate genetic profile of a patient's drug metabolizing genes would help ensure that the patient receives the most effective treatment, while avoiding inadvertent adverse drug reactions in poor metabolizers.
In view of this, it would be highly desirable to have available multiplexed hybridization-based assays that could accommodate interfering polymorphisms and methods and compositions that would allow one to factor out specific causes for signal loss or variance in such assays. Such assays would be especially useful in the field of medicine and drug development, where information such assays are being increasingly used in decisions about patients and products.

Method and kits for multiplex hybridization assays


A spin polarization enhancement artificial (SPEA) magnet comprises combinations of positive spin asymmetry interfaces and inverse spin asymmetry interfaces arranged antiferromagnetically such that current passed through the SPEA magnet has enhanced spin polarization. The SPEA magnet additionally may combine bulk material properties of electron scattering to either supplement or replace the interfacial spin differentiation. A basic functional unit of the SPEA magnet includes two ferromagnetic layers separated by two spacer layers. Each spacer forms an interface such that adjacent ferromagnetic layers produce different spin symmetry. Antiferromagnetic arrangement of adjacent ferromagnetic layers coordinates the different spin symmetries such that a single spin state is selected and also provides additional stabilization to the SPEA magnet.

The present invention relates generally to the field of spin-dependent scattering of electrons to spin polarize current. In particular, the present invention relates to an artificial magnet with spin polarization enhancement for use in magnetoresistive devices.
Magnetoresistive (MR) devices generally operate by responding to changes in local magnetic flux. For example in a magnetic data storage and retrieval system, a magnetic recording head typically includes a reader portion having a magnetoresistive (MR) sensor for retrieving magnetically encoded information stored on a magnetic disc. Magnetic flux from the surface of the disc causes rotation of the magnetization vector of a sensing layer or layers of the MR sensor, which in turn causes a change in electrical resistivity of the MR sensor. The sensing layers are often called free layers, since the magnetization vectors of the sensing layers are free to rotate in response to external magnetic flux. The change in resistivity of the MR sensor can be detected by passing a current through the MR sensor and measuring a voltage across the MR sensor. External circuitry then converts the voltage information into an appropriate format and manipulates that information as necessary to recover the information encoded on the disc.
For all types of MR sensors, magnetization rotation occurs in response to magnetic flux from the disc or other magnetic media. As the recording density of magnetic discs continues to increase, the width of the tracks on the disc must decrease, which necessitates more sensitive sensor devices in order to supply the necessary signal amplitude to the preamplifier within a hard disc drive.
MR sensors of present interest can be characterized in two general categories: (1) giant magnetoresistive (GMR) sensors, including spin valve sensors, and (2) tunneling magnetoresistive (TMR) sensors.
GMR sensors have a series of alternating magnetic and nonmagnetic layers. The resistance of GMR sensors varies as a function of the spin-dependent transmission of the conduction electrons between the magnetic layers separated by the nonmagnetic layer and the accompanying spin-dependent scattering which takes place at the interface of the magnetic and nonmagnetic layers and within the magnetic layers. The resistance of a GMR sensor depends on the relative orientations of the magnetization in consecutive magnetic layers, and varies as the cosine of the angle between the magnetization vectors of consecutive magnetic layers.
Conventional GMR sensors include many classes of sensors including current-in-plane spin valve (CIP-SV), CIP SAF-only SV (synthetical antiferromagnetic), CIP trilayer SV, and current-perpendicular-to-plane (CPP)-SV sensors. A limiting factor in many of CIP sensors is the decrease in amplitude due to loss of free layer area as the reader width decreases. Conventional GMR sensors rely primarily on positive spin symmetry effects. Therefore, further improvement in spin-dependent scattering is one method to improve amplitude in these devices.
TMR sensors have a configuration similar to GMR sensors, except that the magnetic elements (also referred to as electrodes) of the sensor are separated by a barrier layer that is thin enough to allow electron tunneling between the magnetic elements. A first magnetic element serves as a spin polarized source, while the second magnetic element serves as a spin detector or drain. The tunneling probability of an electron incident on the barrier from one electrode depends on the spin state of the electron and the relative orientation between the magnetization of the spin polarized source and the spin detector.
For a TMR device, the magnetoresistance (MR), used as a measure of device sensitivity, is equal to 2P1P2/(1−P1P2) where P1 is the spin polarization for the spin polarized source and P2 is the spin polarization for the spin detector. Spin polarization is defined as (N↑−N↓)/(N↑+N↓), where N↑, N↓ are the number of spin-up and spin-down electrons respectively. Therefore in TMR devices, the more effective a spin polarized source is at providing spin selected electrons (spin polarized sense current), the greater the sensitivity of the TMR device. Consequently, there remains a need in the art for improved spin polarization for use in these sensors and other MR devices.

Spin polarization enhancement artificial magnet


A sensor assembly for a sliding camshaft of a motor vehicle is provided. The sliding camshaft includes a base shaft that extends along a longitudinal axis and rotates about the longitudinal axis. The sliding camshaft further includes lobe banks rotationally fixed to the base shaft. Each lobe bank is axially movable between first and second positions relative to the base shaft. The sensor assembly includes a detection element rotationally fixed relative to the base shaft and axially movable between first and second positions relative to the base shaft. The sensor assembly further includes a sensor operably coupled to the detection element and configured to generate a signal indicative of an axial position of the detection element relative to the base shaft and at least one of an angular speed of the base shaft and an angular position of the base shaft about the longitudinal axis.

Automotive manufacturers are continuously developing variable valve actuation systems for diesel engines and gasoline engines. For example, a variable valve lift (VVL) system fora gasoline internal combustion engine (ICE) can include one or more camshafts each having low-lift cams and high-lift cams that actuate the intake valves and the exhaust valves. The low-lift cams and the high-lift cams are movable along a longitudinal axis of the camshaft to at least two positions per cylinder, and the high-lift and low-lift cams are rotationally locked relative to the camshaft. The VVL system uses the low-lift cams to operate the valves under regular or partial load conditions to promote fuel economy, and the VVL system uses the high-lift cams to increase valve travel under higher loads, so as to increase flow of air-fuel mixture into the engine to improve vehicle performance.
The VVL system includes a plurality of sensors electrically coupled to one or more wire harnesses for sending signals to an Engine Control Unit (ECU). In particular, the VVL system can include a plurality of barrel sensors for detecting the axial position of each camshaft barrel along the longitudinal axis. Each barrel sensor is configured to detect only the axial positions of the camshaft barrel and associated lobes. In addition, the VVL system can also include a camshaft trigger wheel rotationally locked to the camshaft and a camshaft sensor operably coupled to the camshaft trigger wheel for generating a signal. The ECU can use this signal to synchronize a crankshaft sensor during engine cranking or startup, such that the ECU can determine whether a cylinder is disposed in a compression stroke or an exhaust stroke. After synchronization, the ECU can use only the signal from the crankshaft sensor to determine whether a cylinder is disposed in a compression stroke or an exhaust stroke. If the crankshaft sensor malfunctions, the ECU may utilize the signal from camshaft sensor to determine the stroke of the cylinder and actuate the valves in response to same. During their life cycle, the sensors may experience mechanical damage, internal short circuits, or interrupted connection with the ECU.
Thus, while current sensors for variable valve actuation systems achieve their intended purpose, there is a need for a new and improved sensor assembly that addresses these issues.

Sensor assembly for a sliding camshaft of a motor vehicle


A robot hand is moved at a moving speed in direct movement from a start position to an end position. When the robot hand passes through a setting position on a movement route from the start position to the end position, a setting position passing signal is outputted. At this time, a robot controller does not lower the moving speed of the robot hand before and after arrival at the setting position. Therefore, the reduction in the moving speed of the robot hand due to existence of the setting position can be prevented and the movement time of the robot hand can be prevented from undesired prolongation. By doing this, the cycle time can be shortened and the operability of the robot can be improved.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a robot controller which executes a preset operation content when it judges that a standard moving part installed on a robot reaches a preset setting position.
2. Description of the Related Art
FIG. 15 is a drawing showing a transfer operation of a workpiece 2 by a robot. The robot performs the operation in the order of (1) to (6) of FIG. 15, retains the workpiece 2 retained by a chuck 3 by a robot hand 1, and transfers the workpiece 2 to a predetermined place. A part of a program example of the related art in this case is shown in Table 1 indicated below. Further, FIG. 16 is a graph showing a change with time of the speed of the robot hand when the operation of the program shown in Table 1 is performed.
TABLE 1  :  :LMOVE#ALMOVE#BSIGNAL1, 2 (Hand opening instruction, chuckopening instruction)LMOVE#CSIGNAL−1 (Hand closing instruction)LMOVE#DLMOVE#ESIGNAL3 (Workpiece supply instruction)LMOVE#A  :
The robot controller moves the hand 1 toward the chuck 3 retaining the workpiece 2 and stops it at a first position A above the workpiece 2 (LMOVE #A). Next, the robot controller moves the hand 1 from the first position A to a second position B close to the chuck 3 and stops the hand 1 at the second position B (LMOVE #B). Next, the robot controller gives an instruction for opening the hand 1 and an instruction for opening the chuck 3 (SIGNAL 1, 2) and then moves the hand 1 from the second position B to a third position C close to the chuck 3 and stops the hand 1 at the third position C (LMOVE #C). Next, the robot controller gives an instruction for closing the hand 1 (SIGNAL-1) and moves the hand 1 from the third position #C to a fourth position D and stops the hand 1 at the fourth position D. When the hand 1 moves to the fourth position D, it enters a state of clamping the workpiece 2. Next, the robot controller moves the hand 1 to a fifth position E farther than the fourth position D (LMOVE #E) from the chuck 3 and stops the hand 1 at the fifth position. Next, the robot controller gives an instruction for supplying another workpiece 2 to the chuck 3 (SIGNAL 3) and moves the hand 1 from the fourth position E to the first position A.
As mentioned above, the robot hand controller, when the hand 1 reaches the predetermined setting positions B, C, and E, stops the robot, opens or closes the hand 1, outputs the chuck opening or closing instruction, and outputs the workpiece supply instruction.
Further, a controller disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 9-258812 outputs a setting position passing signal when it judges that an estimated position of a laser welding device reaches a predetermined setting position during the laser welding device is moved by a robot along a predetermined movement path. The controller decides the estimated position on the basis of the change in the movement instruction of the laser welding device and the movement position.
Further, the controller disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 58-177289 moves a hand horizontally and vertically by a robot and handles a workpiece. The controller moves the hand horizontally, judges that it reaches a setting position before a handling position, and outputs a setting position passing signal. And, when the controller outputs the setting position passing signal, it starts the vertical movement of the hand. By doing this, the hand draws a smooth arc movement trace and reaches the handling position.
As mentioned above, the robot controller of the related art executes operation contents in accordance with the setting position when judging that a standard moving part, such as a robot hand, installed on the robot reaches a predetermined setting position on the movement route,
In the related art shown in FIG. 16, the controller, when the hand 1 reaches the setting positions B, C, and E on the movement route, stops the movement of the hand 1. Therefore, whenever the hand 1 moves to the setting positions B, C, and E, the movement operation of the hand 1 is discontinued, and the mean speed of the hand 1 is lowered, and a problem arises that the operation efficiency is lowered.
FIG. 17 is a drawing for explaining the movement route of the standard moving part and FIG. 18 includes graphs showing a change with time of the moving speed of the standard moving part. FIG. 18(1) shows a case that a first operation D1 moving from the movement start position A to the setting position C and a second operation D2 moving from the setting position C to the movement end position B are performed individually and FIG. 18(2) shows a case that a part of the first operation D1 and a part of the second operation D2 are performed simultaneously.
As shown in FIG. 17, even if the standard moving part is moved from the movement start position A to the movement end position B, it may be shifted from a movement route 18 for direct movement from the movement start position A to the movement end position B, thus the setting position C may be set. In this case, the standard moving part moves from the movement start position A toward the setting position C and stops at the setting position C. And, during movement from the setting position C toward the movement end position B, the robot controller executes the operation contents in accordance with the setting position C.
In this case, one single operation D3 directly moving from the movement start position A to the movement end position B as shown by the dashed line in FIG. 18(1) is divided into the first operation D1 moving from the movement start position A to the setting position C and the second operation D2 moving from the setting position C to the movement end position B. Therefore, to move toward the setting position C halfway the movement from the movement start position A to the movement end position B, the hand must slow down and the time W1 required for movement from the movement start position A to the movement end position B becomes longer than the time W2 required for direct movement from the movement start position A to the movement end position B.
Further, when the setting position C is installed at a place shifted from the transfer route 18 for direct movement from the movement start position A to the movement end position B, the movement route of the standard moving part is extended, thus the movement time becomes much longer than direct movement from the transfer start position A to the transfer end position B.
In the art disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 58-177289, as shown in FIG. 18(2), the standard moving part, before completion of the first operation D1, starts the second operation D2 together with the first operation D1. In this case, as shown by a two-dot chain line in FIG. 17, the standard moving part does not pass through the setting position C but moves in the neighborhood of the setting position C along a smooth track 17, and moves from the movement start position A to the movement end position B. And, the standard moving part, at the point of time tC when the second operation is started together with the first operation D1, executes the operation contents according to the setting position C. Even in this case, as compared with the single operation D3, during the period W3 when the first operation D1 and the second operation D2 are performed at the same time and the periods W4 and W5 before and after it, the speed of the standard moving part is inevitably lowered. Therefore, the time W6 required for movement from the movement start position A to the movement end position B becomes longer than the time W2 required for direct movement from the movement start position A to the movement end position B.


A method for preparing hydroxylamine, comprising the steps of: (i) pretreating the acidic buffer solution with the compounds having a functional group represented by formula (I), thereby removing metal impurities from the acidic buffer solution; and (ii) reducing nitrate ions in the acidic buffer solution with hydrogen to give hydroxylamine in the presence of catalysts,

Industrial preparation of hyroxylamine is usually carried out under a recycling system by combining with other processes, for example, the hydroxylamine-oxime reaction system. In this system, nitric acid and hydrogen are used as starting material, and phosphate salt is used as an inorganic processing solution. Nitrate ions are then reduced to hydroxylamine in the presence of catalysts. The hydroxylamine obtained is subjected to a condensation reaction with cyclohexanone to yield cyclohexanone oxime. After oxime is produced, nitric acid is added to the phosphate processing solution or nitrous gases is introduced and absorbed to form nitric acid, so as to increase the required amount of nitrate ions. Thereafter, the phosphate inorganic processing solution is introduced to a hydroxylamine reactor to generate hydroxylamine. These reactions are shown as follows:
Preparation of Hydroxylammonium Phosphate by the Reduction Nitrate IonsNH4NO3+2H3PO4+3H2→NH3OH.H2PO4+NH4H2PO4'Preparation of Cyclohexanone Oxime by Condensation with CyclohexanoneNH3OH.H2PO4+C6H10O→C6H10NOH+H2O+H3PO4 Supplement of Nitrate Ions into the Phosphate Inorganic Processing SolutionHNO3+H2PO4−→NO3−+H3PO4
Since the inorganic processing solution containing phosphate salt is recycled during the processing, the quality of the obtained hydroxylamine is directly affected by the quality of the inorganic processing solution. In the inorganic processing solution, phosphate salt is used as an acidic buffer solution. The acidic buffer solution will corrode and dissolve the metal materials apparatuses or facilities and form the metal impurities. The metal of the impurities then decrease the selectivity of hydroxylamine production. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,767,758 describes that an inorganic processing solution containing molybdenum, rhodium or ruthenium causes a decrease of the selectivity of hydroxylamine production. Further, U.S. Pat. No. 4,062,927 discloses that when hydroxylamine is prepared by reduction of nitrate ions or nitrogen monoxide with hydrogen in an acidic solution, the acidic solution can corrode apparatuses or facilities, and thus causes the contamination with heavy metal. Among the heavy metal contaminants, molybdenum contaminants can cause 5˜15% decrease of the selectivity of hydroxylamine production. Therefore, the molybdenum contaminants are removed from the acidic solution by coprecipitation of the molybdenum contaminants together with the ion-ammonium phosphate precipitate.
However, the coprecipitation requires a pH of over 3.5 to give precipitates, and a basic solution is required to adjust the pH of the acidic inorganic processing solution used in the hydroxylamine-oxime recycling system. However, this treatment will increase the costs and the complexity of the processes and the selectivity of the hydroxylamine production is only promoted up to 83%.
Therefore, it is desirable to provide a simple process with high selectivity for the preparation of hydroxylamine.

Abstract: According to the present invention the selectivity for reducing nitrate ions to give hydroxylamine can be significantly enhanced.

China Petrochemical Development Corporation


There is provided a semiconductor integrated circuit that hardly causes an unnecessary operation time for variable control over an operating frequency and an internal power supply voltage. A CPU specifies an operational clock signal frequency to a clock generation circuit and an internal power supply voltage to a power supply circuit. The power supply circuit comprises a voltage regulator and a determination circuit to determine a transition state to a specified internal power supply voltage. The CPU uses a first signal to notify which time point the power supply voltage variable control start to the power supply circuit. The power supply circuit returns a second signal to the CPU to notify at which time point the power supply voltage variable control terminated. Based on handshaking between the first and second signals, the power supply voltage variable control hardly causes an unnecessary operation time for variable control over the operating frequency and the internal power supply voltage for saving power consumptions.

The present invention relates to a power supply circuit to generate an internal power supply voltage from an external power supply voltage, a semiconductor integrated circuit having such on-chip mounted power supply circuit, and an information recording medium to record design data for providing the power supply circuit as a design part in a computer-readable format. For example, the present invention relates to a technology efficiently applied to variably control the internal power supply voltage in response to an operating frequency of the CPU in order to save power consumption of the semiconductor integrated circuit.
When a semiconductor integrated circuit contains a CPU that operates on an internal power supply voltage lower than a power voltage used for an interface between chips, there is known a method of variably controlling the internal power supply voltage in accordance with an operating frequency of the CPU to save power consumption of the semiconductor integrated circuit. Generally, however, an upper bound is placed on the frequency that can operate on the internal power supply voltage supplied to the CPU. The CPU may malfunction if the internal power supply voltage is decreased with a high frequency applied to the CPU. On the other hand, when the CPU operates at a low frequency, it may need to be operated at a high operating frequency by increasing the internal power supply voltage. In such case, there is a problem of when to supply a high frequency to the CPU. Conventionally, there is known a method of using a timer circuit to determine a specified period to be a voltage transition period from the time to start voltage variable control. During this period, the CPU's operating frequency is decreased or the CPU is stopped. After the voltage transition period, an intended operating frequency is supplied to the CPU. According to another prior art, a CPU's replica circuit is created on the same chip and is supplied with an operational clock. An error detection circuit always monitors an operational delay in the CPU replica circuit and selects an internal power supply voltage that does not cause the CPU to malfunction. When the operating frequency is changed, the internal power supply voltage varies with the operating frequency. This is the same as the voltage variable control. The former prior art is exemplified in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. Hei 7 (1995)-287699. The latter prior art is exemplified in "A Dynamic Voltage Scaled Microprocessor System" (Thomas B, et al., ISSCC Digest of Technical Papers, pp. 232–233, February 2000).


A device for anchoring a drill string in a borehole an anchoring member connected to the drill string, the anchoring member being movable between a retracted position in which the anchoring member is retracted from the borehole wall, and, an extended position in which the anchoring member is extended against the borehole wall so as to anchor the drill string to the borehole wall, and an activating member operable to move the anchoring member from the extended position to the retracted position by the action of pressure of drilling fluid present in the borehole.

International patent application WO 99/09290 discloses a drill string system provided with a thruster to thrust the drill bit in forward direction, and an anchoring device including radially extendible grippers with actuator pistons to anchor the drill string to the borehole wall during activation of the thruster.
A problem of the known anchoring device is that a separate actuating means is required to bring the pistons (and thereby also the grippers) back to their retracted position after drilling of a further borehole section.

Device for anchoring a drill string in a borehole


An internally cooled target assembly for use in a magnetron sputtering apparatus is provided. The internally cooled target assembly includes a cooling plate that is configured to promote highly turbulent coolant flow through the target assembly to achieve efficient and uniform target cooling. The volume of coolant required to cool the target assembly is minimized.

The present invention relates generally to magnetron sputtering devices, and particularly to an internally cooled target assembly for use in a magnetron sputtering device. More particularly, the present invention relates to an improved internally cooled target assembly configured to promote highly turbulent coolant flow through the target assembly to achieve efficient and uniform target cooling while minimizing the volume of coolant needed to cool the target assembly.
Magnetron sputtering devices have long been used by the semiconductor processing industry to coat substrates (e.g., silicon wafers) with various materials (e.g., aluminum, titanium, gold, etc.) during the manufacture of integrated circuits. Generally, in a sputtering device, the material to be deposited or sputtered on the substrate is contained in a target. The substrate is placed on a substrate support table in a sputtering chamber. Air in the sputtering chamber is evacuated and replaced with an inert gas such as argon, preferably at a low pressure. An electric field is established between an anode such as the walls that line the sputtering chamber and the target. The target acts as an electron source, or a cathode. Ions are formed when electrons collide with the inert gas. The ions are then drawn toward the target by the electric field. The ions impact the target with sufficient energy to dislodge, or sputter, atoms of target material into the sputtering chamber. The sputtered atoms travel from the target surface to the substrate, coating the substrate with a thin film of target material. The target erodes more quickly in regions where more ions impact the target. The cloud of free electrons, inert gas atoms, inert gas ions and sputtered atoms that exist near the target sputtering surface is termed a "plasma discharge."
The location of plasma discharge may be controlled by introducing a magnetic field adjacent to the sputtering surface of the target in the sputtering chamber. The magnetic field is generated by a rotating magnetic circuit located on the side of the target opposite the sputtering surface. The magnetic field acts to trap electrons in a desired region so that ionization is concentrated in that region. Creation of such a region adjacent to the target surface results in a corresponding region of plasma discharge and erosion in the target sputtering surface. The region of plasma discharge rotates with the magnetic circuit about an axis that is perpendicular to the target sputtering surface.
Uniformity of the thickness of the film of material deposited onto a substrate is an important parameter in magnetron sputtering. Film thickness uniformity has become increasingly important as the semiconductor processing industry reduces semiconductor device geometries to achieve greater device densities. At the same time that uniformity requirements have become more stringent, the use of larger, 200 mm semiconductor substrates has become increasingly common. The use of larger substrates makes it more difficult to meet tighter uniformity requirements.
Uniformity may be improved by increasing the diameter of the targets used in magnetron sputtering devices. Sputtering with a larger target provides a more even distribution of sputtered material in the vicinity of the substrate. It has been found that significant improvements in film thickness uniformity on 200 mm substrates may be achieved by using sputtering targets having diameters of about 350 mm or more. To achieve this benefit, the magnetron sputtering device must be configured to generate a plasma discharge at remote radii of the larger target to cause sputtering to occur at the remote radii.
Although the use of larger targets in magnetron sputtering devices may contribute to improved film thickness uniformity, there remain difficulties associated with the use of larger targets that have yet to be addressed. It is generally known that the sputtering process generates a substantial amount of energy in the form of heat in the sputtering target. The heat generated during sputtering needs to be dissipated; otherwise, the heat may damage the target and other components of the magnetron sputtering device.
In one previously known approach for cooling a sputtering target, a water-tight cooling chamber is formed on the side of the target opposite the target sputtering surface. The non-sputtering surface of the target forms one wall of the cooling chamber. The cooling chamber is filled with coolant (e.g., water), thus flooding the non-sputtering surface of the target with coolant. The coolant dissipates the heat generated in the target during sputtering. With this approach, the rotating magnet is immersed in the coolant.
Although a cooling chamber is effective for cooling smaller diameter targets, some difficulties arise when this approach is used for larger targets. For example, the target is subjected to a large pressure difference between the evacuated sputtering chamber on the sputtering surface side of the target and the coolant-filled cooling chamber on the non-sputtering surface side. This large pressure difference may cause the target to bow toward the substrate. A larger diameter target will bow more than a smaller diameter target, unless the larger diameter target is made thicker to withstand the greater pressure difference. However, increasing the thickness of the target increases the distance between the rotating magnet and the sputtering surface of the target, thereby undesirably reducing the intensity of the magnetic field at the sputtering surface.
Another approach to cooling a sputtering target includes forming internal cooling channels in a multi-layer target assembly as disclosed, for example, in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/684,440 of Anderson entitled SPUTTERING DEVICE AND LIQUID COOLED TARGET ASSEMBLY THEREFOR, assigned to Varian Associates Inc., which now abandoned is incorporated herein by reference. The cooling channels in the multi-layer target assembly may include a plurality of parallel cooling channels which connect a coolant input port to a coolant output port of the multi-layer target assembly. The parallel channels distribute coolant received through the input port throughout the target assembly to uniformly cool the target assembly. After flowing through the parallel passages, the coolant leaves the target assembly through the output port.
Highly turbulent coolant flow (e.g., Reynolds number greater than about 4000) through the cooling channels of an internally cooled target assembly is desirable to efficiently cool the target assembly. It is also desirable to keep the exit temperature of the coolant below about 60.degree. C. for safety reasons. It has been difficult, however, to obtain highly turbulent coolant flow using low coolant volume while keeping the exit temperature of the coolant below about 60.degree. C. It has also been difficult to achieve highly turbulent coolant flow in coolant channels remotely located from the coolant input port due to the pressure drop caused by coolant flowing into the coolant channels located near the coolant input port.
In the course of manufacturing a multi-layer target assembly, extreme heat and pressure may be used during the process of bonding the layers together. A difficulty that may be encountered when parallel cooling channels are used in an internally cooled target assembly is that the layer within which the grooves are formed may have a tendency to easily bend parallel to the cooling channels when extreme heat and pressure are applied. This may create defects in the bonds between the layers of the multi-layer target assembly. Use of a target assembly that incorporates such bonding defects can potentially lead to coolant leaks in the target assembly and loss of vacuum in the sputtering chamber.
In view of the foregoing, it would be desirable to provide an internally cooled target assembly for a magnetron sputtering device in which efficient target cooling is achieved through the use of highly turbulent coolant flow through cooling channels in the target assembly.
It would also be desirable to provide an internally cooled target assembly for a magnetron sputtering device in which efficient target cooling is achieved using highly turbulent coolant flow while minimizing the volume of coolant needed to cool the target.
It would further be desirable to provide an internally cooled target assembly for a magnetron sputtering device in which efficient target cooling is achieved using highly turbulent coolant flow while minimizing the volume of coolant needed to cool the target and keeping the exit temperature of the coolant below about 60.degree. C.
It would still further be desirable to provide an internally cooled target assembly for a magnetron sputtering device in which uniform target cooling is achieved using highly turbulent coolant flow through each of a plurality of parallel cooling channels in the target assembly, including cooling channels remotely located from a coolant input port of the target assembly.
It would even further be desirable to provide an internally cooled target assembly for a magnetron sputtering device that is resistant to bonding defects which may be induced by the presence of cooling channels in the target assembly.

Internally cooled target assembly for magnetron sputtering


A sequential memory access circuit for access to various memory units is provided. The sequential memory access circuit is coupled between an external system and at least two memory units including a RAM unit and a ROM unit. The sequential memory access circuit includes a common data pointer circuit, responsive to a reset signal, a write request signal, and a read request signal from said external system, for generating accordingly a RAM enable signal, a ROM enable signal, and a counter signal, for control of the access to the RAM unit and the ROM unit. Further, a length register is used to generate a bound control signal to said common data pointer circuit in response to the write request signal and the counter signal. A sequential access dedicated comparator is used to provide the controls for the access to the two memory units. The structure of the sequential memory access circuit allows for a small circuit layout area and a reduced delay time.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to access methods for computer memories, and more particularly, to a sequential memory access method and circuit which utilizes a single data pointer for control of the access to various memory units including, for example, a RAM unit and a ROM unit.
2. Description of Related Art
In memory devices with limited address/port provisions, the access methods are usually based on sequential memory schemes so as to save precious area on the circuit board. This will allow the computer system developer to have a large system space to put various components therein. Such sequential memory schemes include, for example, the PnP (Plug and Play) bus protocol specified by ISA (Industrial Standard Association). For efficient utilization of the limited area on the circuit board, the sequential memory circuit includes a RAM unit for storing volatile data, and a ROM unit for storing permanent data that are repeatedly used by the system. Such a conventional sequential memory system is composed of the following components:
(1) At least one RAM unit and one ROM unit, in which the RAM unit is used to store volatile data and the ROM unit is used to store permanent data.
(2) At least two data pointers, which are respectively used to address the RAM unit and the ROM unit. The value of each of the two data pointers will be increased by one after each access to the respective memory unit is completed.
(3) One length register, which is to record the length of the data to be written to or read from the RAM unit, and is also used to control the variation in the length of data stored in the RAM unit.
(4) One comparator, which is used to compare the contents of the length register and the RAM data pointer to determine whether the current access operation is being directed to the RAM unit or to the ROM unit. For example, when the RAM data pointer is greater in value than the length register, the current access operation is being directed to the ROM unit; otherwise the RAM unit is being accessed.
The foregoing system, however, has several drawbacks. First, the RAM unit and the ROM unit cannot be accessed at the same time, but two data pointers are used. Second, the use of two data pointers causes the system to be complex and less efficient. Third, there is a delay time in the comparator which causes a reduction to the overall system performance. The foregoing system will be described in more detail in the following with reference to FIG. 1.
Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown a schematic circuit diagram of a conventional sequential memory access circuit which allows an external system 10 to perform an access (Read/Write) operation on various memory units including, for example, a RAM unit 13 and a ROM unit 14. This sequential memory access circuit includes a RAM data pointer circuit (Y) 11, a ROM data pointer circuit 12, a comparator (X-Y) 15, a length register (X) 16, a Write.sub.-- Data bus which is used to transfer data from the external system 10 to the RAM unit 13 and the length register (X) 16, and a Read.sub.-- Data bus which is used to transfer data from the RAM unit 13 and the ROM unit 14 to the external system 10. The external system 10 issues three control signals including RESET (reset signal), Read (read request signal), and Write (write request signal) to the RAM data pointer circuit 11 for control of the access operation to the RAM unit 13 and the ROM unit 14.
At first, the external system 10 issues the RESET signal to set the pointer value in the RAM data pointer circuit 11 and the ROM data pointer circuit 12 to zero so as to initiate a sequential access operation to the RAM unit 13 or the ROM unit 14. When the external system 10 reads data from the RAM unit 13 and ROM unit 14, for example, it sets Read at a LOW voltage, and the accessed data will be put on the Read.sub.-- Data bus for the external system 10 to fetch data from the same. On the other hand, when the external system 10 wants to write data into the RAM unit 13, it sets Write at a LOW voltage and puts the data on the Write.sub.-- Data bus, which causes the data on the Write.sub.-- Data bus to be written into selected areas of the RAM unit 13. At the same time, the content X of the length register 16 and the current pointer value Y of the RAM data pointer circuit 11 are forwarded to the comparator 15 which compares the two inputs X, Y to thereby generate an output in accordance with the following criteria:
(A) If X>Y, the output of the comparator 15 will update the pointer value of the RAM data pointer circuit 11 in accordance with the states of Read and Write. PA1 (B) If X.ltoreq.Y, the output of the comparator 15 update the pointer value of the ROM data pointer circuit 12 in accordance with the state of Read. At this time, the RAM data pointer circuit 11 is disabled.
At this time, the ROM data pointer circuit 12 is disabled, while the access operation to the RAM unit 13 is enabled.
One major drawback of the foregoing sequential memory access circuit, however, is that the RAM data pointer circuit 11 and the ROM data pointer circuit 12 cannot operate at the same time. This causes the use of extra hardware that significantly increases the manufacturing costs of the sequential memory access circuit. Moreover, since the comparator 15 is built with adders and subtractors, it requires a large circuit layout area to implement, and the data processing rate is low due to a delay time inherent to such a construction.

Sequential memory accessing circuit and method of addressing two memory units using common pointer circuit


The present invention is suitable for a power supply control field, and provides a fully-controlled bridge rectifying device with surge suppression function. In the embodiment of the present invention, the electric equipment uses a fully-controlled bridge rectifying device with surge suppression function comprising a driving module, a first controllable half-bridge module, an isolation driving module, a second controllable half-bridge module, a half-bridge module and a current limiting resistor. At the starting moment of the electric equipment, the first controllable half-bridge module cooperates the half-bridge module to carry out the bridge rectifier for the alternative current to charge the filter capacitor quickly, and the surge is suppressed by the current limiting resistor, when the electrical equipment work from starting state transits to a stable work state, the first controllable half-bridge module cooperates the second controllable half-bridge module to carry out the fully-controlled bridge rectification for the alternative current to provide direct current to the electric device, the whole fully-controlled bridge rectifying device has the advantages of simple structure, low cost and small volume, and also effectively reduces the power consumption of the equipment.

At present, in the high frequency switch power supply system, the industrial frequency alternating current (ac) is generally converted to the direct current by the rectifying device and then is delivered to the subsequent circuit. The most commonly used rectifier device is the bridge rectifier circuit, because the subsequent circuit usually contains a filter capacitor with large capacitance, a anti-surge circuit must be added into the input circuit to avoid the surge current caused by quick charge of the filter capacitor during the starting of electrical equipment which leads to a damage of the rectifying device, filter capacitor or other device. To this, the simplest method of preventing a surge is implemented by adding a current limiting resistor (it is usually a negative temperature coefficient thermistor) in series with the input circuit, in order to prevent the influence of the current limiting resistor on the conversion efficiency, usually a switching device (it can be a relay or semiconductor switch) is connected to the current limiting resistor in parallel.
In FIG. 1, the circuit with the reference number 100 is the bridge rectifier and surge control circuit in the prior art. At the starting moment of the electric equipment, the alternating current (ac) flows through the fuse F1, EMI filter network 200 in the electric equipment, then is limited by a current-limiting resistor Rt (the control switch 101 is off), is rectified by the rectifier bridge BD, and charges a filter capacitor C. When the electric equipment enters into the stable working state, control switch in parallel with the current limiting resistor Rt is closed to eliminate the influence of the current limiting resistor Rt on the conversion efficiency.
During rectifier procedure, the bridge rectifier and surge control circuit in the prior art rectifies the current through two series rectifier diode in each half cycle. Because the rectifier diode has high positive voltage drop (typically about 1.2 V), so the power loss brought by the bridge rectifier takes a larger proportion in the whole power consumption, which increases the power consumption of the entire circuit. In addition, the cost of the control switch in parallel with the current limiting resistor is high, if the control switch is a semiconductor switch, it will bring a large extra power consumption, and if the control switch is a relay, although the relay has small power consumption which can be ignored, the large volume of the relay leads to an increase of the entire volume of the bridge rectifier and surge control circuit, which goes against the miniaturization of the circuit. Therefore, the bridge rectifier and surge control circuit in the prior art has the problem of high power consumption, high cost and large volume.

Fully-controlled bridge rectifying device with surge suppression function

China Greatwall Computer Shenzhen Co., Ltd.


In a method for parameter-related driver input gauging in motor vehicles, with the position of a moveable control element being determined, a theoretical maximum value of at least a parameter relevant for the drive system is defined and an actually recallable value of this parameter is determined. A change from a static to a dynamic driver input gauging is carried out below the actually recallable value of the parameter relevant for the drive system. A static gauging is carried out in a lower value range of this parameter such that the maximum displacement of the movable control element is assigned to the theoretical maximum value of the parameter, and if a threshold of the driver input is exceeded in an upper value range, a dynamic gauging is carried out such that the maximum displacement of the moveable control element is assigned to an actually recallable value of the parameter.

A driver input gauging is required in order to combine the gradually staggered activation of control elements by the driver with a targeted effect in the clearest possible manner.
An effective metering ability is particularly needed during braking and acceleration, said metering ability resulting in a predictable acceleration and/or deceleration of the motor vehicle. Only this ability to predict the reaction of the motor vehicle makes it possible, using familiarization and learning effects, to create a driving sensation tailored to the respective motor vehicle, said driving sensation giving the driver in question an ability to react which itself enables suitable responses in critical driving situations.
A corresponding gauging was originally effected in that the control elements, in the form of pedals for instance, were directly connected to displaceable function parts by means of mechanical connecting elements. An activation of the control elements thus automatically results in a metered displacement of the associated function part, for instance a flap of a carburetor restricting the air flow. A suitable adjustment ensures that the complete available pedal stroke is available for a precisely metered activation of the control element.
Modern systems for engine timing generally operate without a direct mechanical connection of a control element to a corresponding displaceable function part. The control elements to be activated by the driver should however correspond to conventional systems with regard to their functionality, so that extensive refamiliarization is not required if the type of motor vehicle is changed.
In the case of the accelerator, the position of the pedal is detected by corresponding sensors for this purpose and is translated into a position signal distinctly describing the position of the pedal. At the same time, the value of a parameter of the driver which is relevant for the drive system of the motor vehicle can be derived from the position of the accelerator. A corresponding gauging of this driver input allows a signal derived from the position signal of the accelerator to be achieved, said signal being routed to the motor timing, and resulting in an adjustment of this parameter corresponding to the driver input, provided the required value can be made available.
In particular, with torque-related interpretations of the driver input, two methods have hitherto been established for gauging the torque required by the driver.
The use of a permanently predetermined maximum value of the torque and the compensation of the maximum torque required is known. This maximum requirement exists for instance when the accelerator, as a position-relevant control element, is completely depressed. The respective current value of the torque required by the driver is determined according to this method, in which the fraction of the maximum value of the torque actually required by the driver is derived from the position of the pedal in relation to the full throttle position.
Aside from the respective current driver input, numerous further measurement variables are incorporated into modern motor vehicles in the timing of the torque to be released, which can partially result in a significant reduction in the maximum torque released. A restriction of the torque of this type partially has a higher priority compared with the driver input. When the torque desired by the driver is greater than the maximum possible torque, dead travel or play develops at the accelerator with a gauging with a constant maximum value. Said dead travel or play at least temporarily restricts the possibilities of the driver of exerting an influence on the driving behavior of the driven motor vehicle. This is a significant disadvantage of the method, particularly because some measurement variables, which predominantly result in a reduction in the maximum torque available, are not consciously recognized or not recognized at all by the driver.
Methods of a dynamic gauging of the driver input are thus known. In this way, by considering all measurement variables which could contribute to a restriction in the maximum torque, the respective current maximum recallable torque is determined. This maximum recallable torque is assigned to the maximum requirement by means of the driver. The respective current value of the torque actually required by the driver is likewise determined according to this method, in which the fraction of the maximum value of the torque required by the driver, which is in this case current and dependent on different influential parameters, is derived from the position of the pedal in relation to the full throttle position. A dead travel at the accelerator is prevented in this way. The disadvantage of this method is thus that an absolute calibration of the driver input is no longer possible. The driver input can be distorted by the engine dynamics, which is influenced by the most diverse boundary conditions such as for instance a smoke intensity restriction function. Numerous influential parameters partially change the gauging in short time segments, whereby the pick-up behavior of the engine changes constantly in terms of the driver's perception. As these changes can only be predicted in part, they have a negative effect, under some circumstances, on the development of the already claimed driving sensation, which can impair the safety in critical driving situations. This disadvantage can only be incompletely compensated by means of automatic control and safety systems.
The described problems can basically also be attributed to gauging systems, which are not based on or not only based on a torque-related interpretation of the driver input.


Various acquisition streams are delivered, synchronously or asynchronously, to a server. Those streams having local time indicia are synchronized with the global timeline and the various acquisition streams are then stored. Low bit rate streams corresponding to the stored acquisition streams are generated for use in subsequent editing of the acquisition streams. The editing of the acquisition streams entails reviewing the various acquisition streams and selecting portions for replay. The portions selected for replay are identified through metadata which is then stored. The replay or distribution mode begins by editing the global timeline using the metadata generated in the editing mode so as to produce an edited timeline. The various acquisition streams are then rendered or played back according to the edited timeline to produce a distribution stream.

The present invention is directed generally to video capture and editing systems.
A number of systems are known or have been proposed that are directed to various aspects of the present disclosure. For example, U.S. patent publication no. 2002/0018124 A1 entitled Methods and Systems for Networked Camera Control discloses methods and systems for providing fluid, real-time camera control of at least one camera to at least one network user via a network including the Internet. A control pad or area can be provided to camera users via an application or applet that can be calibrated to provide fluid camera control. Compressed or uncompressed analog, digital, or streaming video and audio data can also be provided to the users to allow real-time low latency continuous audio/visual feedback. Multiple camera users can obtain control of a camera using a dynamic queuing technique that can allow single user camera control for certain time intervals. An administrator can establish user camera control parameters including camera control intervals for subscriber users versus non-subscriber users, camera usurping by an administrator, elimination of camera control privileges for a user, and denial of camera control requests by a user.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,785,013 entitled System for Capturing Images From a Peripheral Unit and Transferring the Captured Images to an Image Management Server discloses an image data storing system, and more particularly a video capture controller to capture raw video image data from a peripheral unit and to provide compressed video image data to a document image management server. The video capture controller includes a control processor, a first memory, and a second memory. The first memory stores raw video image data from the peripheral unit under control of the control processor. The raw video image data stored in the first memory is then converted into compressed video image data, and is then stored in the second memory, again under control of the control processor. Then, the compressed video image data from the second memory is transferred to the image management server. A third memory may further be provided between the peripheral unit and the first memory. This third memory can be a page memory which performs a direct memory access of the raw video image data output from the peripheral unit into the page memory. The raw video image data may be initially output to the page memory when the page memory is set to a maximum page size. Then, the page size setting of the third memory can be changed based on subsequently received page size data. These operations ensure that the raw video image data can be quickly stored in a first memory, which may prevent having to reduce a speed of generating the raw video image data in the peripheral unit. Further, if the raw video image data is output prior to outputting accompanying commands indicating a page size of the raw video image data, no raw video image data will be lost.
U.S. publication no. 2004/0240541 entitled Method and System for Direct Ingest and Storage of Digital Video Content With Immediate Access to Content for Browsing and Editing discloses a video encoder system and method for receiving uncompressed streaming video and outputting a continuous compressed video stream. The system uses a video encoder to compress the input video stream, and a formatter and indexer to receive the compressed video stream, apply indexing metadata and formatting metadata to the video stream, and output a formatted video stream that is capable of storage and access.
U.S. publication no. 2005/0246725 entitled Method and System for Sharing Video Over a Network enables a user to create a video segment or employ an existing video segment, and then share it over a computer network. The user provides an indication that one or more particular video segments are to be shared over the network. The video segment(s) is/are then automatically assessed and determined to be compatible with streaming video, or not. If the video segment(s) is/are not compatible with streaming video, it/they are converted to a compatible format automatically. An identifier for the video segment is automatically created and the segment and the identifier are automatically uploaded to a host computer over the network such as the Internet. The video segment and the identifier (optionally with other identifying material such as an identity of the sender, an access authorization for the video, a number of accesses permitted, and a duration for the availability of the video) can be stored at the direction of the host computer. A viewer can be sent an identifier of the video, and can request that the video be served as a streaming video to the viewer's computer. Alternatively, the viewer can be sent a location of the video such as a URL, can be served the video as an embedded portion of a Web page, or can be served the video as a consequence of being sent a link in an e-mail or as an e-mail greeting card.
U.S. Pat. No. RE38,609 E is entitled On-Demand Presentation Graphical User Interface. Disclosed therein is a graphical user interface ("GUI") comprising: a video region for displaying a video of a presenter giving a presentation; a primary slide region for displaying slides used by the presenter during the presentation; and a thumbnail region containing thumbnails representing slides in the presentation, the thumbnails selectable by a user via a cursor control device.
Finally, U.S. Pat. No. 5,966,121 entitled Interactive Hypervideo Editing System and Interface discloses an apparatus and method for interfacing with a hypervideo multimedia application when composing and playing same. A novel hypervideo control and interface provides for either user-actuated or automatic transitioning between a plurality of video, graphics, textual, animation, and other types of multimedia files. A hypervideo control preferably transitions through distinct lifecycle phases and events as it is presented and removed from an interface display to visually convey to a user the present availability and impending removal of the control from the interface display, thereby providing an intuitive means for navigating a hypervideo application. In one embodiment, a hypervideo editing system includes a wordprocessing system and a separate video playback system. An author of a hypervideo application preferably identifies a particular frame of video displayed by the video playback system and creates an ASCII compliant mark video file that defines the type and functional characteristics of hypervideo controls, marks, and actions using the wordprocessing system. In a preferred embodiment, editing and playing of a hypervideo application is facilitated by a software-implemented hypervideo editing system that provides an intuitive graphical-user-interface (GUI) to facilitate rapid, real-time hypervideo application development, as well as playback capability. Object-oriented design principles are preferably employed to permit efficient linking and embedding of a hypervideo application or interface into an off-the-shelf software application or other parent application.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

System and method for capturing, editing, searching, and delivering multi-media content with local and global time


A user equipment and method used in a user equipment include receiving from a base station, a message including information indicating a first logical channel associated with one or more first cells, information indicating a second logical channel with one or more second cells, and information associating the first logical channel and the second logical channel with a specific bearer of the user equipment. When transmitting data of the specific bearer, the data it transmitted by using the first logical channel in response to a volume of the data not exceeding a threshold value configured by the base station, and the data is transmitted by using the first logical channel and the second logical channel in response to the volume of the data exceeding the threshold value. A base station transmits the message and configures the threshold.

In 3GPP (3rd Generation Partnership Project), which is a project aiming to standardize a mobile communication system, specifications of carrier aggregation, which is a technology in which a radio terminal communicates with a base station simultaneously through a plurality of cells (that is, a plurality of component carriers), have been provided.
The maximum number of cells in carrier aggregation in any release prior to 3GPP Release 13 (that is, the maximum number of cells to be aggregated) is 5. In contrast, the maximum number of cells in carrier aggregation in 3GPP Release 13 is increased to 32. Accordingly, in future, rather than a plurality of cells to be aggregated having similar characteristics, it is expected that cells having various characteristics are aggregated.
Further, in recent years, applications executed by radio terminals have been diversified, and characteristics required for traffic of each application have been diversified accordingly. Therefore, it is desired to realize a technology that makes it possible to match the characteristics of the cells to be aggregated and the characteristics of the traffic.

Radio terminal and base station communicate simultaneously through a plurality of cells