When a learning condition is satisfied, an operational state of an engine is adjusted in a retarded combustion operation to a misfire inducing state, at which misfire is prone to occur in a cylinder of the engine due to shortage of a pilot flame generative injection quantity. When the misfire is sensed, the pilot flame generative injection quantity of the misfired cylinder is progressively increased. Then, when the misfire is eliminated through this, a pilot flame generative correction quantity at the time of eliminating the misfire is stored. Thereafter, the pilot flame generative injection quantity is corrected based on the stored pilot flame generative correction quantity.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a diesel engine control system that can perform a specific injection type, in which latter stage injection is ignited by combustion of former stage injection, and the latter stage injection is not ignited upon extinguishment of the former stage injection.
2. Description of Related Art
As one type of multi-stage injection operation, there has been proposed a retarded combustion operation. In the proposed retarded combustion operation, fuel injected into a cylinder by pilot flame generative injection (a former stage injection in an injection pattern of the retarded combustion operation) from an injector is compressed and is ignited, and large heat generative injection (a latter stage injection in the injection pattern of the retarded combustion operation) is carried out at a retarded angle where sole combustion of the large heat generative injection is difficult, so that the large heat generative injection is ignited by the pilot flame combustion caused by the pilot flame generative injection. In this way, the combustion angle of the main combustion (the combustion caused by the large heat generative injection) is retarded, and thereby the undesirable components of the exhaust gas, particularly, NOx is reduced in the retarded combustion operation (low NOx operation).
As discussed above, the main combustion is performed in the respective cylinder, in which the internal volume is increased, and therefore the pressure and the temperature are reduced, so that the NOx in the exhaust gas is reduced (the amount of NOx is increased as the temperature and pressure are increased).
As another technique for reducing the combustion temperature, there is also known an exhaust gas recirculation (EGR).
In the case of executing the retarded combustion operation, it is required to make sure that the pilot flame generative injection is effectively performed, and the fuel of the pilot flame generative injection is effectively combusted.
This is due to the fact that when the combustion of fuel of the pilot flame generative injection is extinguished, fuel injected by the large heat generative injection at the latter stage cannot be ignited. This will likely cause a decrease in the engine torque and/or the engine rotational speed, so that the uncombusted gas may be disadvantageously exhausted from the engine.
The devices of the fuel injection system, such as injectors, may change its output characteristic due to, for example, a change with time (aging), so that the injection quantity of the injector will be possibly changed.
Thus, the combustion of fuel of the pilot flame generative injection could be extinguished due to, for example, the change with time in the devices of the fuel injection system, such as the injectors. This limits use of the retarded combustion operation, in which the above NOx reducing technique is implemented.
Furthermore, in order to more reliably perform the pilot flame combustion, it is possible to increase the pilot flame generative injection quantity (the former stage injection quantity in the injection pattern of the retarded combustion operation). However, this will cause a pressure increase and a temperature increase due to the pilot flame combustion. This will, in turn, cause deterioration of the NOx reducing effect at the time of combusting the large heat generative injection. As a result, it is not desirable to excessively increase the pilot flame generative injection quantity.


A graphical condition builder is provided that presents a graphical representation of a search query. In an embodiment, the graphical condition builder presents a graphical and numerical preview indicating the size of the expected query results set. In an embodiment, a graphical preview is provided that includes graphical preview portions having a shape suggestive of a funnel. In an embodiment, the graphical condition builder supports formulating queries for both relational and multidimentional databases. In an embodiment, the graphical condition builder displays a textual indication of the type of logical operation being performed. In an embodiment, the graphical condition builder determines the type of logical operator to apply depending on the relative location of icons representing filter objects. In an embodiment, order dependent filters are available to the user. In an embodiment, the search query is represented by query steps, and multiple filter objects may be contained in each query step.

Query construction can be thought of as a two-stage process having an assembly stage followed by a refinement stage, as discussed by Willis et al. "Users' Models of the Information Space: The Case for Two Search Models," Proceedings of the ACM Special Interest Group on Information Retrieval (SIGIR) '95, (Seattle Wash., 1995), ACM Press, pp. 205-210 and Plaisant et al., "Interface and Data Architecture for Query Preview in Networked Information Systems," ACM Transactions on Information Systems, 17, 3 (July 1999), pp. 320-341. The assembly stage gathers together relevant information, and the refinement stage iteratively narrows and nests the user's focus until a desired set is achieved.
However, use of Boolean operators is difficult for novice users because, for example, common language usages of these terms can be the opposite of their usage in Boolean expressions, as discussed by Pane et al., "Tabular and Textual Methods for Selecting Objects from a Group," Proceedings of VL 2000: IEEE Int. Symposium on Visual Languages (Seattle, Wash., September 2000), IEEE Press, pp. 157-164 and Young et al. As an example of the confusion with common language, assume that a user wants to extract all records associated with two cities, Boston and New York. Under these circumstances, if the user relies on common language parlance, the user may logically request all records from "Boston AND New York," which produces a Boolean intersection of sets of records associated with these cities, and is likely to result in no records being returned, depending on the nature of the data in the database being searched. In contrast, the correct request would be a union operator using a Boolean search query of "Boston OR New York." However, the naive user may incorrectly believe that the "OR" means that only one of these cities would be considered.
Another difficulty a user may have is that in text queries, parentheses are used to establish precedence among the operators, which may be poorly understood by novice users, as discussed by Michard, "A New Database Query Language for Non-Professional Users: Design Principles and Ergonomic Evaluation," Behavioral and Information Technology, Vol. 13 (1982), pp. 279-288, and Young et al., cited above. Nested parentheses are a particular source of difficulty for many users, as also discussed by Michard. In particular, when there are many levels of nesting the user may get confused as to which two parentheses form the pair that delineate the level the user is interested in.
As discussed by Jones, "Dynamic Query Result Previews for a Digital Library," Proceedings of the 3rd ACM Conference on Digial Libraries (Pittsburgh, Pa., May 1998), ACM Press, pp. 291-292, and "Graphical Query Specification and Dynamic Result Previews for a Digital Library," Proceedings of the 11th Annual ACM Symposium on User Interface Software and Technology (San Francisco, Calif., November 1998), ACM Press, pp. 143-151, and Plaisant et al., "Interface and Data Architecture for Query Preview in Networked Information Systems," ACM Transactions on Information Systems, Vol. 17, No. 3 (July 1999), pp. 320-341, a graphical representation of the query can result in substantial benefits during the refinement phase of query building. Potential advantages include fewer zero-hit queries, reduced network activity due to the prevention of retrieval of undesired records, improved query comprehension, and better support for browsing within an unfamiliar database.
Query preview is available in prior prototypes that support dynamic querying, using direct manipulation to construct queries, as disclosed by Ahlberg et al., "Dynamic Queries for Information Exploration: An Implementation and Evaluation," Proceedings of ACM CHI '92, (1992), ACM Press, pp. 619-626, Malan et al., "Visual Query Tools for Uncertain Spatio-Temporal Data," Proceedings of the 9th ACM International Conference on Multimedia (Ottawa, Canada, September 2001), ACM Press, pp. 522-524, and Plaisant et al., "Dynamaps: Dynamic Queries on a Health Statistics Atlas," Proceedings of ACM CHI '94 (Boston, Mass., April 1994), ACM Press, pp. 439-440. However, query preview may add a significant amount of processing overhead.
Query formulations that include tabular layouts of cards are disclosed by Pane et al., "Improving User Performance on Boolean Queries" Proceedings of CHI 2000 Extended Abstracts (The Hague, Netherlands, April 2000). ACM Press, pp. 269-270, and "Tabular and Textual Methods for Selecting Objects from a Group," Proceedings of VL 2000: IEEE Int. Symposium on Visual Languages (Seattle, Wash., September 2000), IEEE Press, pp. 157-164. Similarly, boxes that may overlap in horizontal or vertical dimensions are used by Anick et al., "A Direct Manipulation Interface for Boolean Information Retrieval via Natural Language Query," Proceedings of ACM Special Interest Group on Information Retrieval (SIGIR) '90, ACM Press, pp. 135-150.
Young et al., "A Graphical Filter/Flow Representation of Boolean Queries: A Prototype Implementation and Evaluation," Journal of the American Society of Information Science, Vol. 44, No. 6 (1993), pp. 327-339, introduced a Filter/Flow model for query building to overcome issues related to the limited Boolean knowledge of end users. Young et al.'s prototype relied upon a graphical representation of parallel branching and constrictions in data flowing to represent OR's and AND's in a Boolean query.
FIG. 1 shows prior filter flow interface 100 according to Young et al. Filter flow interface 100 has filters 102, 104, 106, 108, and 110, and has dataflow lines 122, 124, 126, 128, and 130. The width of each of dataflow lines 122, 124, 126, 128, and 130 represents the amount of data retrieved after application of those of filters 102, 104, 106, 108, and 110 that precede that dataflow line. Filters 102, 104, 106, 108, and 110 filter the collection of data by limiting the total amount of data in the results as depicted by the dataflow lines 122, 124, 126, 128, and 130. As the data is filtered, the dataflow lines get narrower. An analogy can be made to dams on a river constricting the flow of the river and filters 102, 104, 106, 108, and 110 (analogous to the dams) constricting dataflow lines 122, 124, 126, 128, and 130 (analogous to the rivers) by limiting the amount of data remaining in the search results (analogous to the amount of water remaining in the river).
In FIG. 1, filters located on dataflow lines arranged parallel to one another are logically ORed with one another forming a union of the two sets of data, while filters located on dataflow lines that are serially connected are logically ANDed with one another forming the intersection of the two sets of data. In the example depicted in FIG. 1, the search query represented will find any document having a location of Georgia (filter 102, filtering dataflow line 122 to produce dataflow line 124) including either clerks (filter 104, filtering dataflow line 124 to produce dataflow line 126) with an income of $40,000 or more (filter 106, filtering dataflow line 126 to contribute to dataflow line 128), or all accountants and engineers (filter 108 also filtering dataflow line 124, but producing dataflow line 130) having Elizabeth as their manager (filter 110 filtering dataflow line 130 to also contribute to dataflow line 128). Dataflow line 128 that include the output of filter 110 ORed with the output of filter 106 as indicated by filters 106 and 110 being located on parallel paths including parallel dataflow lines 126 and 130.
Using Young et al.'s Filter/Flow model, users comprehended and constructed queries more accurately, compared to users of all text-based queries. Users also strongly preferred the graphical interface over the text query interface. However, the Filter/Flow model by Young et al. is limited in its flexibility and was not connected to a database.

Graphical condition builder for facilitating database queries


In a diffraction optical element in which a plurality of diffraction gratings are laminated and the maximum difference of length among optical paths of light passing through the plurality of diffraction gratins is integer multiples of a plurality of wavelengths, diffraction efficiency is further improved and even when an environmental condition changes, a deviation of the diffraction efficiency is reduced. More specifically, a diffraction optical element is disclosed which includes, as the plurality of diffraction gratings, a first diffraction grating made of a resin material, in which inorganic fine particles are dispersed, and a second diffraction grating made of a material whose organic matter composition is substantially same as that of the resin material.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a diffraction optical element and an optical system having the diffraction optical element.
2. Related Background Art
Conventionally, aside from a method with which chromatic aberrations of a lens system are reduced through combination of glass materials, a method is known with which such chromatic aberrations of a lens system are reduced by providing a diffraction optical element having a diffraction function for a part of a lens surface or a lens system (SPIE Vol. 1354 International Lens Design Conference (1990), Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H04-213421 (corresponding to U.S. Pat. No. 5,044,706), Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H06-324262 (corresponding to U.S. Pat. No. 5,790,321), and U.S. Pat. No. 5,044,706). The method using a diffraction optical element is a method utilizing a physical phenomenon where the appearing direction of chromatic aberrations with respect to a light beam at a certain reference wavelength at a refractive surface and the appearing direction thereof at a diffraction surface become opposite to each other in an optical system.
Also, it is possible to give an aspherical lens effect to the diffraction optical element by appropriately changing the period of the periodic structure thereof, so the diffraction optical element is also effective at reducing various aberrations other than chromatic aberrations.
In a lens system having a diffraction optical element, when light fluxes in a usage wavelength range are concentrated on diffraction light on a specific order (hereinafter also referred to as "specific order" or "design order"), the intensity of diffraction light on the other orders is reduced and when the intensity becomes "0," this results in a situation where the diffraction light does not exist. In reality, however, unnecessary diffraction light on such orders other than the design order exists and when the unnecessary diffraction light has certain intensity, it travels in an optical system through different path from that of a light beam on the design order and becomes flare light.
Consequently, in order to utilize an aberration reduction function by utilizing a diffraction optical element, it is necessary that the diffraction efficiency as to diffraction light on the design order be sufficiently high in the entire usage wavelength range. It is important that consideration is sufficiently given to the spectral distribution of the diffraction efficiency on the design order and the behavior of the unnecessary diffraction light on the orders other than the design order.
Therefore, various diffraction optical elements are proposed which each have a construction where diffraction efficiency is improved and unnecessary diffraction light is reduced (Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H09-127322 (corresponding to U.S. Pat. No. 6,157,488), Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2000-098118 (corresponding to U.S. Pat. No. 6,560,019), Japanese Patent No. 03495884 (corresponding to U.S. Pat. No. 6,480,332). Diffraction optical elements disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H09-127322, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2000-098118, and Japanese Patent No. 03495884 realize high diffraction efficiency in a wide wavelength band (around 98% in a wavelength range of 450 nm to 650 nm) for diffraction light on a desired order by lamination-arranging multiple diffraction gratings and appropriately setting the material of each diffraction grating and the height of each diffraction grating (such a diffraction optical element will be hereinafter referred to as "laminated DOE"). Note that the diffraction efficiency is expressed by a ratio of the light amount of diffraction light on each order to the total amount of all transmission light beam.
In Japanese Patent No. 03495884, a construction is disclosed with which changes in diffraction efficiency resulting from changes in the refractive index of a material of a diffraction grating due to temperature changes are reduced. More specifically, through optimum settings of refractive index changes due to temperature changes of two materials forming respective diffraction gratings and the grating heights of two diffraction gratings, diffraction efficiency changes are suppressed in a range of a temperature change of 30° C. With this construction, from the viewpoint of not only improvement of diffraction efficiency in terms of design but also stabilization of performance under a usage environment, optimization of the materials forming the diffraction gratings and the shapes of the diffraction gratings is performed.
Recently, a diffraction optical element whose diffraction efficiency is further improved is proposed (Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-78166 (corresponding to U.S. 2003-0231396)). Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-78166 discloses a diffraction optical element in which a fine particle dispersed resin is adopted as a material of a diffraction grating in which inorganic fine particles are mixed into a resin material while giving consideration to the partial dispersion ratio θgF of the material. With this construction, as indicated by a curve 1 shown in FIG. 14, high diffraction efficiency of 99.8% or more is obtained in the entire usage wavelength range.
In addition, with the diffraction optical element disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-78166, as indicated by a curve 1 shown in each of FIGS. 20A, 20B, 21A, and 21B, the diffraction efficiency of diffraction light on orders of "design order±1" that are unnecessary diffraction orders (zero-order diffraction light and +2nd-order diffraction light) is favorably suppressed to 0.05% or less in the entire usage wavelength range. As a result, the diffraction optical element disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-78166 reduces the unnecessary diffraction light to around 1/10 in comparison with a diffraction optical element using a conventional material.
With the diffraction optical element disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-78166, the diffraction efficiency is significantly improved, but it is further preferable that deviations of the diffraction efficiency due to usage environments be suppressed.
With the diffraction optical element disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 03495884, change in diffraction efficiency on the design order due to 30° C. change in temperature is suppressed to around 2%. Changes by 2% in the diffraction efficiency on the design order means that the diffraction efficiency of 99.8% which has been improved by the diffraction optical element disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-78166 is degraded to around 98% due to temperature changes. The diffraction efficiency of the diffraction optical element before the improvement using the technique disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-78166 is around 98% in a wavelength range of 450 nm to 650 nm, therefore, the diffraction efficiency improved through the technique disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-78166 might be nullified.
Curve 2 shown in each of FIGS. 14 to 16 represents the diffraction efficiency in the case where the refractive index of the material changes due to temperature change of 30° C. As is apparent from FIGS. 14 to 16, the diffraction efficiency of diffraction light on the +1st-order that is the design order is decreased by around 0.5 to 2.0% and the diffraction efficiency of the zero-order diffraction light and the 2nd-order diffraction light that are unnecessary diffraction light are conversely increased by around 0.2 to 0.7%.
It should be noted here that the above description has been made by taking, as an example, a change in the diffraction efficiency due to temperature deviation, but it is also possible to consider a situation where the optical characteristic of a material forming a diffraction grating changes due to moisture absorption. That is, it is important that consideration is given to change in the diffraction efficiency resulting from environmental deviations including a moisture deviation and the like.
In reality, the degree of the change in the diffraction efficiency resulting from the environmental deviations changes in behavior to some extent in accordance with the initial diffraction efficiency and the combination of grating shapes. However, the change in the diffraction efficiency due to the environmental deviations fundamentally depends on the characteristic of the material, so it becomes important to improve the environmental tolerance characteristic of the material.
When it is possible to suppress the deviation of the curve 2 shown in FIG. 14 to a deviation of around 0.2%, even when environmental changes exist, it is possible to say that the diffraction efficiency is sufficiently high. The environmental tolerance characteristic of the material can be conversely obtained therefrom, for example, the refractive index change described above should be improved to ¼ or ⅛ of a general resin. This corresponds to changing the fundamental physical properties of the resin material, which is difficult to realize.
When a material other than a resin, more specifically, glass or the like is used, it is possible to significantly improve refractive index changes resulting from environmental changes to around 1/10 of a case of the resin. In this case, however, it is required to produce every material of a laminated DOE using glass and it is impossible to use a material, such as the material disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-78166, where fine particles are dispersed. Therefore, a novel material for improvement of initial performance becomes necessary.


A release preventing device for a fishing reel provided with a one-way clutch that allows a rotating body, such as the spool of a double-bearing type fishing reel and the rotor of a spinning reel, to rotate in one direction but restricts rotation of that rotating body in the other direction. Rotation is restricted in the reverse direction, the direction in which fishing line is released, by a wedge effect, wherein roller members are wedged between an inner race and an outer race.

The present invention relates to a release preventing device for a fishing reel, and more particularly, to a release preventing device provided with a one-way clutch that allows a rotating body, such as the spool of a double-bearing type fishing reel and a rotor of a spinning reel, to rotate in one direction but restricts rotation of that rotating body in the other direction by means of a wedge effect from roller members.
In a release preventing device for a fishing reel as described in Japanese Patent Application Kokai (OPI) No. SHO-48-90882 and Japanese Utility Model Application Kokai (OPI) No. SHO-64-38964, an inner race and an outer race of a one-way clutch are attached, respectively, to a fixed member of a reel body and to a rotatable part. The rotatable part is for example, a handle rotatably supported by the reel body and a rotatable part drivingly connected to a motor. The wedge effect from roller members provided in a guide groove between the inner and outer races allows rotation of the rotating unit in one direction (the normal direction) but restricts rotation in the other (the reverse direction).
A release preventing device for a fishing reel as described in Japanese Patent Application Kokai (OPI) No. SHO-54-141285 is provided with bearings between a shaft sleeve portion of a rotor rotatably supported in the reel body, and a front portion of the reel body. The bearings are provided for rotation in only the normal direction, while rotation in the reverse direction is restricted according to a wedge effect from roller members. A restricting plate rotatably provided on the front side of the bearings contains locking pieces that protrude into a guide groove retaining the roller members. When the restricting plate is rotated by an operating rod supported on the reel body, the roller members are changed to a non-wedge position, allowing the rotating body to rotate in the reverse direction.
A unit assembly for a release preventing device is described in Japanese Patent Application Kokai (OPI) No. HEI-6-58348. In this unit assembly, an annular holder is provided for restricting front-and-rear movement of the roller members described in Japanese Patent Application Kokai (OPI) No. SHO-54-141285. Further, an external frame (outer race) for restricting radially outward movement of the roller members is fitted tightly around the outside of the annular holder.
Another unit assembly for a release preventing device is described in Japanese Patent Application Kokai (OPI) No. HEI-6-225673. In this unit assembly, an external frame (outer race) for restricting radially outward movement of the roller members is rotatably fitted around the outside of the annular holder described in Japanese Patent Application Kokai (OPI) No. HEI-6-58348. In addition, the roller members are changed to a non-wedge position when the annular holder is rotated by an operating rod supported on the reel body.
Japanese Patent Application Kokai (OPI) No. HEI-7-246047 discloses a release preventing device in which an annular holder is integrally provided with the reel body in a concentrical arrangement with a rotatable part such as a shaft sleeve portion of the rotor and is positioned radially outwardly of the shaft sleeve portion. The annular holder retains roller members which are in contact with the rotatable part for restricting rotation of the rotatable part in one direction. Further, an external frame (outer race) is rotatably disposed around the annular holder for preventing radially outward displacement of the roller members. An operating rod supported by the reel body rotates the external frame so as to switch the roller members into non-wedge position.
However, in the release preventing devices described in these publications rotation of the rotatable part such as the shaft sleeve of the rotor is prevented by radially inward movement of the roller members, while radially outward movement of the roller members is restrained by the external frame or the outer race. For this reason, restriction of rotation is performed at a position as close to the rotational center of the rotating body as possible. Hence, not only is it difficult to create sufficient restrictive force, but a large rotational force may widen the guide groove due to the wedge effect of the roller members, inviting deformation or damage to the outer race.
In a technique described in Japanese Utility Model Application Kokai (OPI) No. HEI-4-77774 for improving the rotational restrictive strength and the durability of a release preventing device, the device is provided with bearings on an inner peripheral surface of a hollow cylindrical portion of a rotor. The bearings are provided for rotation of a rotatable part in only the normal direction, while rotation in the reverse direction is restricted according to a wedge effect from roller members. When pawls are disengaged by an operating rod supported on the reel body from depressions provided on the inner periphery of the internal frame (inner race), the rotatable part can rotate in the reverse direction. An external frame (outer race) is provided on the inner peripheral surface of the hollow cylindrical portion of the rotor for restricting radially outward movement of the roller members.
According to the bearings described in Japanese Utility Model Application Kokai (OPI) No. HEI-4-77774, rotation of the internal frame is restricted by radially inward movement of the roller members, while radially outward movement of the roller members is restrained by the external frame or the outer race. This configuration incurs the same problems described above.
Further, in the release preventing device of Japanese Utility Model Application Kokai (OPI) No. HEI-4-77774, since permission and prevention of the reversal rotation of the internal frame is performed by engagement and disengagement of the pawls with and from the depressions formed on the inner periphery of an internal frame, the operating speed degrades in comparison to a configuration allowing rotation in the reverse direction when the roller members are moved to a non-wedge position. Also, since an external frame (outer race) for restricting radially outward movement of the roller members is provided on the inner peripheral surface of the hollow cylindrical portion of the rotor, the roller members may be separated from the internal frame (inner race) due to centrifugal force if the rotor is rotated at high speed. As a result, quick and reliable release prevention cannot be achieved.
In order to avoid this separation problem, biasing means can be provided to urge the roller members radially inwardly, i.e., in a wedge effecting direction to provide such reliable release prevention. However, the strengthened urging force will affect smooth normal rotation of the internal frame because the roller members are forcibly urged onto the internal frame.
As information, U.S. Pat. No. 4,185,723 discloses an automatic four-wheel drive transfer case having a friction clutch. U.S. Pat. No. 4,415,072 discloses a one-way clutch formed between an inner race and an outer race. U.S. Pat. No. 4,230,211 discloses a free wheel hub apparatus for vehicles. U.S. Pat. No. 5,443,147 discloses a rotationally dependent free-wheeling coupling. Japanese patent application Kokai (OPI) No. SHO 56-143823 and Japanese patent publication No. SHO 38-25312 disclose a one way clutch. Japanese patent application Kokai (OPI) No. SHO52-137552 discloses an intermittent rotation clutch.

Release preventing device for fishing reel


A leg guard apparatus 10 for preventing mechanically propelled debris from impacting on a person's lower leg and/or being deposited on or in their footwear 100. The apparatus 10 comprises a cover member 20 fabricated from an elongated sheet 21 of protective material 22 and provided with a plurality of strap members 30 for snugly positioning the cover member 20 over the user's lower leg 100 and footwear 101.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to the field of leg protection devices in general, and in particular to a leg protector apparatus that covers both the user's leg and foot.
2. Description of Related Art
As can be seen by reference to the following U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,665,562; 4,926,501; 5,297,294; and 5,625,896, the prior art is replete with myriad and diverse leg protector devices that are strapped onto the user's leg to protect at least the front portion thereof.
While all of the aforementioned prior art constructions are more than adequate for the basic purpose and function for which they have been specifically designed, they are uniformly deficient with respect to their failure to provide a simple, efficient, and practical way to extend the scope of protection offered by a leg protector device not only to the user's lower leg, but also to the top of the user's foot and associated footwear.
As most homeowners and landscape workers are well aware, many yard and gardening tasks such as grass cutting, weed whacking, leaf blowing, or raking, and gardening result in dirt, twigs, leaves, grass cuttings, and other outdoor debris being deposited on the lower legs and feet of the person performing the tasks.
As a consequence of the foregoing situation, there has existed a longstanding need for a new and improved type of lightweight, low cost, lower leg and foot covering and protecting device and the provision of such a construction is a stated objective of the present invention.


The present invention relates to a device and method for controlling the pH of a UpA cell. The device comprises a receiving unit for receiving a preset parameter including a desired pH value; a computing module configured to calculate an UpA cell parameter based on the preset parameter; and a control module configured to control the UpA cell based on the calculated UpA cell parameter.

Unidirectional pH adjustments (UpA) of water may be used for unidirectionally producing acidic or alkaline water during water electrolysis. UpA cells are used in various applications, including cooking, brewing, food cleaning, descaling, etc.
Water electrolysis is a process where the water molecules are split into a hydrogen and oxygen gas shown in equation (1), by electrical power. Usually, an electrolytic cell is employed. At an anode, water molecules are oxidized to oxygen gas while generating hydrogen ions (equation (2)). At a cathode, water molecules are reduced to hydrogen gas while generating hydroxide ions (equation (3)).2H2O→2H2+O2  (1)2H2O−4e−O2+4H+  (2)4H2O+4e−→2H2+4OH−  (3)
During unidirectional pH adjustment only the pH of water at a counter electrode is changed while that at the working electrode is maintained stable. Several measures may be taken to realize unidirectional production of acidic or alkaline water through stabilizing the pH of water at working electrode, including chemical neutralization or ion exchange (using resins) of undesired hydrogen ions or hydroxide ions, employing a buffer solution as the half-cell electrolyte, capacitor-based technology to suppress the half electrode reaction, etc.
pH control of a UpA cell is or great importance during operation. On the one hand pH control ensures that water with a desired pH is produced upon different applications. In addition, water quality is ensured. Generally, realizing the control of pH requires using at least one pH sensor such as printed pH sensors and conventional pH electrodes, is required the measure to pH value of the produced water from UpA cell. The measured value is then transmitted to the control part to accordingly adjust the relevant device parameters to achieve the desired pH value.
JP 2006167706 discloses an ion water generator wherein the pH is adjusted electrolytically. The pH of the ion water generator is controlled by employing a conductivity sensor for determining conductivity of water after passing the electrolytic chamber.
In particular, for domestic use controlling the pH of generated water from UpA cell, employing a pH or any other sensor for indirectly determining pH, such as a conductivity sensor, is relatively expensive, and to some extent, not necessary because in some applications, the requirement for the pH value is not so accurate (for instance, for food cleaning, each value in the range of 11-13 is considered acceptable).
The sensors apparently employed in UpA devices are further prone to technical failure. In addition, the sensors are rather complicated with respect to maintenance and proper use.


Interleukin-2 (IL-2) mutants having reduced toxicity, which include full-length IL-2, truncated forms of IL-2 and forms of IL-2 that are linked to another molecule are disclosed herein. Particular substitutions within IL-2, particularly within the permeability enhancing peptide region of IL-2 achieve substantial reduction of vasopermeability activity as compared to a wildtype form of the mutant IL-2 while retaining many of the immune activating properties of IL-2. Invention IL-2 mutants can be used to stimulate the immune system of an animal and may be used in the treatment of various disorders and conditions.

Cytokines play a role in the growth and differentiation of all cells in the body but are especially important to cells of the immune system. A category of cytokines are called interleukins, of which 18 have been identified thus far. Interleukin-2 (IL-2) is an important cytokine for the regulation of T-cell function in the immune system. Because of its important involvement in both the cellular and humoral arms of the immune system, IL-2 has been investigated extensively for a potential role in the treatment of disease. Although the primary function of IL-2 is to stimulate the growth and proliferation of T lymphocytes, IL-2 is also known to have diverse stimulatory effects on a variety of immune cells, including natural killer (NK) cells, lymphokine-activated killer (LAK) cells, monocytes, and macrophages. In regulating the immune system, IL-2 also may trigger the production of secondary cytokines, such as interferons and TNF-α, to further stimulate an immune response. Interferons, interleukins and TNF-α can be made in mass quantities through recombinant techniques for therapeutic applications.
IL-2 administration is a therapeutic treatment in cancer and other diseases. For example, IL-2 is approved for the treatment of metastatic renal cell carcinoma and melanoma. In this setting, intravenous IL-2 produces a 20% rate of remission. However the efficacy of IL-2 has been restricted by the relatively severe toxicities associated with therapeutic dosages. The native form of IL-2 exhibits toxic side effects that may include myocardial infarction, renal failure requiring dialysis, fluid retention, nausea and neuropathy. In addition, IL-2 administration is associated with generalized inflammatory changes which include the development of dose limiting capillary leak syndrome. The short half-life of i.v. administered IL-2 (about 22 minutes) requires the higher dosing that leads to toxicity.
Attempts to reduce the unwanted toxicity associated with the therapeutic use of IL-2 have focused on increasing the half-life of the molecule. This has been achieved by increasing the molecular size by linking IL-2 to another molecule such as a protein or polymer, or by linking IL-2 to a targeting molecule such as an antibody. Attempts to direct IL-2 to the site of disease by a targeting molecule have been somewhat effective and have resulted in increased levels of therapeutic efficacy, including control of malignant effusions, prevention of the growth of established tumors, and even a reduction in the size of established tumors. However, such approaches cannot be used in all anatomic locations and are not applicable to disseminated disease.
IL-2 molecules that have a mutated amino acid sequence through substitution of amino acid residues present in the wildtype IL-2 molecule have been reported to have reduced toxicity. However, such mutants are associated with altered biological function such as reduced binding affinity to forms of the IL-2 cellular receptor and altered cytokine functions, including T cell stimulation, LAK or natural killer cell activation, or secondary cytokine production. Therefore, there remains a need in the art for a low toxicity variant of IL-2 to minimize toxicities associated with treatment.

Interleukin-2 mutants with reduced toxicity


In a program information broadcasting system, it is aimed to minimize time for retrieval of program by viewers in operating an electronic program guide or time for waiting when applying for subscription. As a program information broadcasting system, program elements constituting a broadcasting program are divided into a plurality of items and are turned to data at a center, and a master data 21 of a program information to recognize the program is prepared. From the data constituting the master data, minimal necessary items for preparation of a program table are extracted, and a program basic information 22 is prepared. Said master data and said program basic information are transmitted simultaneously with the broadcasting, and said program basic information is received, reproduced and displayed before receiving of the master data at a receiving terminal unit 31 is completed. As a result, the program basic information having far less amount of data than the master data can be incorporated, and it is possible to minimize the time required for storage of the data in memory of the receiving terminal unit.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a program information broadcasting system for broadcasting information of component elements to constitute a program such as category information, performer information, etc. of each of the programs to be broadcast, and further to a broadcasting device used for the above broadcasting system, and to a receiving terminal unit for receiving various types of program information thus broadcast and for displaying the information quickly and efficiently.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In recent years, with development and progress of communication technique and data processing technique, multi-media information such as audio information or video information is digitalized and offered to users. Also, with the introduction of large capacity storage medium in the market, it is now possible to provide a broadcasting system, which can send a large amount of data via broadcasting or communication facilities, and receive and accumulate the information at a terminal unit on user side so that the users can view it at any time desired.
Normally, in case a viewer receives and views a broadcasting program using a receiving terminal unit such as television receiver or radio receiver, the user is informed of program content and broadcasting schedule on program schedule in television/radio page of newspapers or magazines and decides the program to view or listen. When the user wants to subscribe a program, it is necessary to input and set broadcasting channel, scheduled broadcasting time, etc. of the program found on newspapers or magazines. In this respect, when the user does not have newspaper or magazine at hand, program subscription cannot be inputted because no program schedule can be referred.
Under such circumstances, it is now partially practiced, in case of television broadcasting, for example, to use a new type of television receiver provided with a data decoder, by which program information including program title and other information is broadcast in multiplex on video signal via teletext or the like, and program schedule can be displayed on screen of the television receiver. As an example, in digital satellite broadcasting, which has been recently started in Japan, program information and broadcasting program are broadcast.
In the broadcasting of program information as proposed in the past, broadcasting center prepares and transmits a program information (master data) and transmits the program information in broadcasting, and the data of the broadcast program information is received and reproduced (or decoded) and displayed on display unit. Included in the program information related to each program are program identification number, program title, broadcasting channel, explanation of program content, program category, individual key word relating to the program (data items such as performer, director, original author, etc.; generally called "items"), date and time of broadcast starting, date and time of completion of broadcasting, etc.
In the digital satellite broadcasting, the program information is transmitted at the same time as the broadcasting program. By receiving the program information, electronic program guide (also called "EPG") is prepared, and program information is displayed to the users. Using the electronic program guide, the user can obtain various types of information relating to the program on television screen in the same manner as the checking of program on newspaper or other media. Also, it is possible to subscribe or purchase the program using the electronic program guide. The electronic program guide is practically used in the digital satellite broadcasting, which is currently in the stage of practical application. in case program information is retrieved on the electronic program guide as described above, the data of the program information is received by a receiving terminal unit, stored in memory of the receiving terminal unit for once, and is displayed on display screen after retrieval.
However, in the broadcasting of program information as proposed in the past, data is retrieved only after all of the data to be retrieved is incorporated in memory or retrieval of the data is conducted while incorporating the data. In any case, the retrieval cannot be completed until all of the program information is completely incorporated, and the user must wait for relatively long time until program information is actually displayed after an instruction to display the program information is inputted.

Program information broadcasting system, broadcasting device, and receiving terminal unit


A composite tack-free film having a film substrate with opposing surfaces, bearing on at least one of said surfaces a highly crosslinked, film-forming acrylate composition containing from about 25 to about 78 of at least one lower alkyl (meth)acrylate ester and from about 10 to about 60 percent vinyl acetate and at least about 1 percent of a polar monomer, wherein the acrylate composition is capable of attaching temporarily to polyimide film surface to provide a substantially air-tight seal and being cleanly removable from said polyimide film surface leaving no visible residue, even after being subjected to elevated temperatures.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to composite films having surface contact characteristics useful for temporary attachment to article surfaces during processing of such articles at high temperatures without significant increase in the force of attachment. Films of the invention facilitate device manufacturing operations associated with electronic microdevice assembly.
2. Description of the Related Art
Assembly of electronic microdevices is complex and includes a variety of physical and chemical processing steps which are performed upon smaller and smaller circuits. In fabricating, for example, a printed circuit supporting integrated circuit chips, it is necessary to protect or mask certain portions of the printed circuit while performing required processing steps such as the application of photoresist, soldering or encapsulating to a circuit which is on the order of a few millimeters in total size.
A masking material, typically an adhesive masking tape, limits application of fluid treatments to designated areas of the printed circuit. Most adhesive-type masking tapes, whilst fulfilling the requirement of confining treatments to desired areas, have the potential to cause problems after completion of the step requiring their use. This is primarily due to the difficulty in removing the tape. A tacky adhesive, used for tape attachment, typically has more affinity for the surface to which it is adhered than it has cohesive characteristics, especially when the process step requires heat, which tends to increase adhesion. At the time of removal, the adhesive frequently has insufficient cohesive strength for clean removal from the surface, resulting in contamination of the printed circuit surface. This transfer of adhesive to the surface of the printed circuit produces an area of contamination capable of capturing particulates or chemical components that could prevent the circuit assembly from functioning effectively. It is highly desirable for an adhesive in electronic component masking to separate from the protected surface without leaving any residual adhesive. This is extremely difficult to accomplish considering that formulation of adhesives primarily focuses on the need for measurable tack or stickiness when applying the adhesive. Even crosslinked adhesives, with higher cohesive properties, are subject to some adhesive transfer due to their tendency to flow, especially if part of the circuit assembly process includes a high temperature step.
Adhesive tapes are disclosed for use as masking tapes in electronic processing methods in JP 4251931 where a tape consisting of a substrate film layer composed of polypropylene or poly(ethylene terephthalate) having an adhesive layer coated thereon is used to protect the front side of a semiconductor wafer from acid treatment.
In JP 7216334 a film composition containing a polymer with at least 20% 2-acryloyloxyethyl succinic acid is used as a support for a protective film or tape to masking electronic parts.
Other references, including JP 6340848, JP 6184521, JP 3140380, JP 63227334, JP 57167254 and JP 74013630, disclose protective films which prevent surface damage to planar structures made from a variety of materials with emphasis on glass, metal and plastic plates. These protective films cover the total area of the underlying plate and remain in attachment with the surface of the plate until removal of the film. There is no disclosure or evidence to show that these films seal the gap between the film and a plate surface to prevent ingress of fluids as is required of protective masking films suitable for electronic circuit processing. Also neither clean removal nor high temperature performance appear to be requirements for films used to protect polished surfaces of plates.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,737,559 discloses a crosslinked adhesive which is controlled through the addition of a free radically polymerizable photocrosslinker to an alkyl acrylate and methacrylate for adhesion and to skin and removal therefrom.
Effective processing and prevention of surface contamination introduced by masking films used in processing electronic circuits requires a material which will provide good temporary adhesion or attachment to the circuit as well as a residue-free separation from selected areas of a printed circuit, even after exposure to heat.
The current invention provides a temporary attachment material in the form of a composite, tack-free film having an affinity for attachment to printed circuit surfaces. Because the surface which contacts the printed circuit is part of a continuous film, free of the fluid characteristics of an adhesive, it releases cleanly, and no residue remains on the circuit after removal of the composite film.

Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company


A drive device for a vehicle having a combustion engine and a multistage manual transmission having first and second sub-transmissions, each of which has a separate input shaft. A first input shaft of the first sub-transmission couples, via a first clutch, the combustion engine or is assigned an electrical machine. A second input shaft of a second sub-transmission couples, via a second clutch, the combustion engine. The first input shaft is additionally assigned a start-up element having at least one hydrodynamic transfer element, which has first and second functional wheels which together form a working chamber. The working chamber can be filled with fluid in order to generate a hydrodynamic transfer torque such that at least one start-up function, affecting the first sub-transmission, can carried out by way of the start-up element.

Drive devices of vehicles, comprising manual transmissions having two sub-transmissions or functionally comparable, separate transmission trains, which can usually be shifted automatically or in an automated manner, are already known. Certain functions of such a drive are usually assigned to only one of the two sub-transmissions, or can only be implemented thereby, and therefore asymmetrical loads can occur on the sub-transmissions, or certain functions are mutually exclusive or are available only with limitations.
In a double clutch transmission, for example, usually one of two input-side power-shift transmissions is also always used as a start-up clutch, since the preferred start-up gear is located in the applicable sub-transmission. If the drive is subject to frequent start-up procedures, as is the case with a city bus, for example, this can result in thermal overload with premature wear of the applicable clutch.
In a hybrid drive derived from a double clutch transmission or the like, functionalities assigned to the sub-transmissions can make certain limitations necessary. For example, it is not possible to switch from a generator mode of an electric machine assigned to one of the sub-transmissions into a start-up procedure without delay. In addition, operation in a creep mode, i.e., driving at a constant low speed, is usually not possible in a generator mode. Further limitations can result when starting the internal combustion engine in an electric driving mode. In order to start the internal combustion engine and retain the tractive force in the drive train, it is usually necessary to utilize a second electric machine as a starter-generator, or an additional friction clutch, which must be designed large enough for frequently recurring start-up procedures.
In the case of vehicle transmissions subject to high loads on the start-up and braking devices thereof, such as automatic power-shift transmissions for city busses, for example, in the case of which start-up and braking procedures occur frequently and in close succession, it is known to equip such vehicle transmissions with a hydrodynamic torque converter as a wear-free start-up element and, possibly, with an additional wear-free constant-braking device, such as a hydrodynamic retarder. In such hydrodynamic transfer elements, the mechanical energy of a drive shaft is converted into the kinetic energy of a fluid, with generation of heat, and back into the mechanical energy of an output shaft. A simple fluid coupling comprising a driving impeller and a driven turbine functions as a continuously variable transmission having different speeds of rotation on the input side and the output side. In a torque converter, an additional stator redirects the flow in the direction of the impeller and thereby increases the torque in the torque conversion. In a retarder, a fixed turbine blade wheel, the stator, generates a braking effect on the driving wheel, the rotor, and thereby induces a braking effect on the drive train.
Start-up retarders mentioned above are known for the purpose of minimizing the required design complexity and the production costs, the start-up retarders combining the functions of a hydrodynamic start-up element, such as a fluid coupling or a torque converter, and a hydrodynamic retarder, in one unit.
A hydrodynamic clutch comprising an impeller and a turbine is used in such a drive system known from DE 100 45 337 A1, wherein the impeller is connected to a drive motor and a friction clutch is engaged in parallel in order to lock up the impeller and the turbine, and wherein the turbine is connected to a transmission input of a downstream manual transmission by means of a freewheel, and can be fixed on a housing by means of a turbine brake. At start-up, power is transferred to the transmission input by means of the hydrodynamic circuit. In braking, the turbine is fixedly braked and the friction clutch is engaged. Filling the hydrodynamic clutch with a fluid permits the hydrodynamic clutch to function as a primary retarder.
EP 0 879 370 B1 discloses a transmission unit comprising a hydraulic transmission part, which has a primary blade wheel and a secondary blade wheel, which together form a working chamber, which can be filled with fluid, and comprising a mechanical transmission part disposed separately downstream thereof relative to the drive train, as the actual vehicle transmission. The mechanical transmission part can be, for example, a planetary transmission having one or more coupled planetary gear sets and a plurality of forward gear steps and reverse gear steps. The hydraulic transmission part can be operated in two operating states, namely in a driving state as a hydrodynamic clutch and in a braking state as a hydrodynamic retarder. In a start-up procedure, the primary blade wheel functions as an impeller, and the secondary blade wheel functions as a turbine. In a braking procedure, the primary blade wheel is fixed and functions as a stator, and the secondary blade wheel is connected to the transmission and then functions as a rotor rotating in the reverse direction due to the opposite direction of flow. The hydraulic transmission part is assigned a plurality of shift elements, which, together with further shift elements of the mechanical transmission part, act on each of the blade wheels and couple one of the blade wheels or both blade wheels to the transmission, or bypass or fix one of the blade wheels or both of the blade wheels. Vehicle operation is implemented in each case by means of one forward gear step or one reverse gear step with the start-up retarder disengaged or bypassed. Braking action is implemented in each case by means of one reverse gear step with the primary blade wheel fixed.
DE 198 17 865 A1 discloses a start-up retarder comprising a hydrodynamic retarder and a planetary gear set, which form one unit. The start-up retarder makes it possible to implement a hydrodynamic start-up procedure with an additional start-up transmission ratio and hydrodynamic braking action. The retarder comprises a rotatable rotor blade wheel and a fixed stator blade wheel. The rotor is connected or connectable to a sun gear of the planetary gear set and is connected or connectable to a planet carrier. The planet carrier is connected or connectable to an engine-side drive shaft or to a transmission-side output shaft of the planetary gear set. A ring gear is therefore connected either to the output shaft or to the drive shaft. The retarder is designed as a so-called double-flow retarder. This comprises two flow circuits having two outer, axially opposed stators, each of which has inwardly facing blades, and an axially inner rotor having blades mounted on both sides. The rotor can therefore generate sufficiently high braking power in both of the possible rotational directions thereof.

Drive unit for a vehicle, and operating method therefor


A hand grip exercise apparatus, comprising: a first half configured with at least one vertical surface, at least one horizontal surface and at least one angled portion; a second half configured with at least one vertical surface, at least one horizontal surface and at least one angled portion; and, a hinge, connecting the first half to the second half at the angled portions of each half.

The objective of improving grip strength and equipment for performing this improvement have existed for decades, if not longer. Typically, grip strength equipment has consisted of squeeze grip hand exercises which consist of two handles connected together by a metal coil which is elastically deformable when the handles are squeezed together by the user. Grip strength is theoretically improved by repetitive squeezing of the handles towards each other, the resistance to the motion being provided by the elastically deformable metal coil. An example of such a device, "Squeeze Grip Hand Exercisers", can be found at www.exercise-equipment-parts.com/squeeze-grip-exercisers.html.

Hand grip exercise apparatus and methods of using same


A process for biological treatment of waste water is characterized by the following sequence of steps: mixing of the incoming raw waste water with activated sludge containing a first, chemoorganotrophic biocenosis in an anerobic preliminary stage (APS); separation of the solution from the activated sludge in an intermediate settling basin (IS); nitrification of the separated solution by means of a second, chemolithotrophic biocenosis in a nitrification stage (NIR) with an aerobic medium; remixing of the nitrified solution with the activated sludge containing the first, chemoorganotrophic biocenoses; common denitrification of the mixture of solution and activated sludge in a denitrication stage (DER) with an anoxic medium; aeration to obtain an aerobic medium; separation of the purified waste water from the activated sludge in a resettling basin (RSB); recycling (C) of the activated sludge to the anaerobic preliminary stage (APS).

The invention relates to the cleaning of waste water using a continuous biotechnological process.
Treatment of the waste water to be cleaned comprises the process-technological basic operations of substance transformation and separation. Hereby four task areas may be derived from each other: removal of organic substances (carbon decomposition), oxidative transformation of the inorganic nitrogen compounds ammonium and nitrite into nitrate (nitrification), transformation of the nitrate and nitrite, into gaseous nitrogen compounds (denitrification), and biological elimination of phosphorus without using external chemical precipitants.
In order to realize these tasks, special microorganisms which have the respectively needed special capabilities for substance transformation are used. These specialized microorganisms shall be present in a waste water treatment plant in the largest possible number in order to enable high substance transformation rates and thus efficient cleaning of the waste water.

Process, installation and reactor for biological treatment of waste water


An extended shaft for connecting a standard, transmission mounted power take-off device to an auxiliary device which permits non-interference mounting configurations of the auxiliary device to the power take-off device. The extended shaft further provides mounting bracketry to prevent stresses when thermal expansion or contraction of relevant parts occurs during the operation of the motor vehicle or power take-off device.

This invention relates to an extended shaft for connecting a standard, transmission mounted power take-off device to an auxiliary device, which permits non-interference mounting configurations of the auxiliary device to a power take-off device. The invention further provides mounting bracketry to prevent stresses when thermal expansion or contraction of relevant parts occurs during the operation of the motor vehicle or power take-off device.
Power take-off devices are ubiquitously employed throughout the trucking industry to power auxiliary devices. For example, power take-off devices are often used to provide power to hydraulic pumps which in turn provide hydraulic fluid to cylinders which perform auxiliary operations associated with the vehicle (e.g. raise and lower a dump bed, operate a garbage compactor and the like).
In certain situations, power take-off devices are not employed. Rather, the hydraulic pump (or other auxiliary device) is directly driven by the crankshaft of the vehicle""s engine. More specifically, a driveshaft assembly is employed to connect the input shaft of the hydraulic pump to the crank shaft of the engine, thereby providing power to the hydraulic pump as the engine is operated. This type of arrangement generally requires that the hydraulic pump be placed at the front end of the vehicle. This creates one or a combination of problems. For example, when mounted in this front location, the front bumper of the vehicle oftentimes must be extended to accommodate the usually large pumps. Further, the radiators in such equipped vehicles frequently need to be cored or relocated to accommodate the mounting position of the hydraulic pump, a practice which may soon be prohibited by a new Environmental Protection Agency emissions law taking effect in the year 2002. In particular, this can result in restricted or reduced airflow to the radiator.
Other problems arise in equipping motor vehicles with hydraulic pumps because certain hydraulic pumps are of such a design that it is not possible to directly mount them to a standard power take-off device. For example, hydraulic pumps used in certain applications must be so large or heavy as to frustrate the plausibility of directly mounting them to a standard power take-off device because to do so would impart too much stress on the mounting areas. In other instances the large size of the hydraulic pump prohibits it from fitting into the envelope (space) that would otherwise be conveniently available for its use.
In view of the above, it is apparent that there exists a need in the art for an extended shaft capable of operably coupling to both a power take-off device and to an auxiliary device which overcomes the above drawbacks. It is a purpose of this invention to fulfill this need in the art, as well as other needs which will become apparent to the skilled artisan once given the following disclosure.
Generally speaking, this invention fulfills the above described needs in the art by providing: in the combination of an engine which operates a work performing mechanism remotely located from the engine wherein the combination includes a transmission operatively connected to the engine and to the work performing mechanism by a power takeoff device connected to the transmission and having a housing and an output shaft connectable to the work performing mechanism for operating the mechanism in a work performing mode, the improvement wherein the combination further includes an extension mechanism for remotely mounting the work performing mechanism a preselected spaced distance from the power takeoff device, the extension mechanism comprising a housing extending across the preselected spaced distance and being connected to the transmission and to the housing of the power takeoff device and further including a shaft located and internally rotatably supported via sealed, lubricated bearings within the housing and extending across the preselected spaced distance from the power takeoff device to the work performing mechanism and being connected at a first end to the output shaft of the power takeoff device and at a second end to the work performing mechanism, whereby when the power takeoff device is operatively connected to the transmission and the engine is operating so as to be operatively engaged with the transmission, the combination operates the work performing mechanism.


Determining a physical property of a device under test—DUT—includes receiving an optical scatter signal returning from the DUT in response to a probe signal launched into the DUT, wavelength dependent separating a first response signal and a second response signal from the scatter signal, determining a first power information of the first response signal and a second power information of the second response signal, time-adjusting the first power response and the second power response to each other in order to compensate a group velocity difference between the first response signal and the second response signal within the DUT, and determining the physical property on the base of the time-adjusted power responses.

The present invention relates to determining an physical property of a device under test by optical reflectometry measurements.
For determining optical properties of an optical device under test (DUT), e.g. an optical fiber, it is known to apply a so-called optical time domain reflectometry (OTDR) or optical frequency domain reflectometry (OFDR). For that purpose an optical signal is coupled into the DUT, which travels along the DUT and which is partly scattered by the DUT, e.g. due to inhomogeneities in the silica structure (Rayleigh scattering) along the optical fiber or due to interaction of the optical signal with optical phonons (Raman scattering) or acoustical phonons (Brillouin scattering). Some of the scattered light travels back to the DUT input. The power of this returning light is measured and evaluated.
It is further known to separate different spectral components of the backscattered light from an optical fiber and to put these components into relation in order to obtain a physical property of the fiber. Well-known scatter signals returning at different wavelengths are so-called Raman scatterings. An arrangement for measuring a temperature distribution along an optical fiber by determining Raman scatterings is e.g. described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,618,108. The related technical background is e.g. described, in "Optical Fiber Communications" by J. Senior, Prentice Hall, 1992, pages 91-96.

Optical reflectometry analysis with a time-adjustment of partial responses


A printer cassette includes a housing containing a ribbon in a channel, and ink in a well. An ink wheel is rotatably mounted to the housing in operable engagement with the ribbon. A wick extends from the well and includes a stem elastically cantilevered from a base thereof at the well to a tip thereof between which is disposed the ink wheel in contact therewith. The wick stem converges to selectively transfer ink to the ink wheel.

The present invention relates generally to printer ribbon cassettes, and, more specifically, to re-inking cassettes.
One type of printer ribbon cassette includes an endless ribbon disposed inside a cassette housing for being removably inserted into a corresponding printer. The ribbon is saturated with ink and is driven by the printer for cyclical use until the ink is depleted.
In order to ensure a suitable useful life, the cassette typically includes an inkwell having a foam insert or pad therein saturated with an additional volume of ink. A wick extends from the well and frictionally engages an ink wheel for continuously transferring ink from the well to the wheel, and in turn to the ribbon for replenishing the ribbon ink. In one embodiment, the ink wheel is in the form of a gear which cooperates with a mating gear, and between which is driven the ribbon in an endless loop. As the printer removes ink from the ribbon as each character is formed, the ink wheel resupplies the ribbon with ink removed from the well. In this way, each cassette may achieve a useful life typically expressed in millions of characters, such as five million for example.
Cassette life is the primary performance factor. This requires the ability to produce several million printed characters of suitable darkness. Insufficient or excess ink transfer to the ribbon during operation is undesirable since the former results in faded characters, and the latter may result in character smudging and possibly ink leaking from the cassette. Excessive ink transfer between the wick and ink wheel may accumulate ink on the wheel which falls by gravity to the bottom of the cassette and can leak through holes therein such as the bushing supporting the ink wheel itself.
Printer cassette Model No. 7141 manufactured and sold by the NCR Corporation is an example of a re-inking cassette enjoying commercial success for many years. Cassette performance and life are controlled in most part by the formulation of the ink used; the material and configuration of the foam ink pad and wick associated with the well; the configuration of the ink wheel; and the construction of the fabric ribbon. These components are interrelated in operation for ensuring the continuous re-inking of the ribbon as it travels through the cassette in repeated cycles for printing characters of acceptable darkness without premature character fading or ink leaking.
However, a statistically significant number of this exemplary cassette has failed to meet the desired minimum character life specification, and has led to the discovery of the present invention.


A module (10) for use with a smart card (50) is disclosed. The module (10) includes a substrate (14) having a first side (16) and a second side (18). The first and second sides each have deposited thereon a metallic layer (19, 21), with the substrate (14) having a thickness of about 125 microns. A die (22) is mounted adjacent the substrate first side (16), with the die (22) being coupled to the substrate first side (16) by a plurality of wire leads (24). A protective coating (26) covers the die (22), with the module having a total thickness of about 525 microns.

The present invention relates generally to smart cards, and more specifically relates to an improved dual mode smart card module, an improved dual mode smart card incorporating such a module, and a method of forming the same.
Dual mode smart cards incorporate contacted and contactless interfaces into a single card. Dual mode smart cards typically include a module which is disposed in a recess in a card body. The module typically includes a double sided substrate having a metalized layer on each side, and an integrated circuit wafer or die coupled to the substrate, such as by wire leads. A protective coating or encapsulant covers the die. Antenna leads or pads for the contactless application are provided which are not covered by the protective coating. The protective coating is typically applied using the xe2x80x9cglob topxe2x80x9d process.
Existing modules, such as is shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, incorporate a 200 micron thick substrate and a 410 micron thick protective coating, giving a total module thickness of 610 microns. The total card thickness is typically specified at 762 microns xc2x176 microns, resulting in a card measuring 686 microns thick at the low end of the tolerance. The recess which receives the module is typically 635 microns deep, with a 25 micron tolerance for milling the recess in the card body. Thus, the bottom wall of the recess will have a thickness of 51 microns. Unfortunately, such a thin bottom wall measuring about 51 microns increases distortion during the hot melt bonding used to secure the module to the card body. Moreover, such a thin bottom wall frequently tears during milling when forming the recess in the card body.
The glob topping process requires that a dam be dispensed around the die prior to application of the protective coating. The dam occupies a significant amount of surface area on the surface of the substrate, and thus less surface area is available for bonding the module to the card body. Using the glob topping process, the available surface area is typically limited to about 83.2 square millimeters, which may not be sufficient to optimize the strength of the bond and which ultimately may lead to long term field reliability problems. Attempts have been made to employ thinner, metal rings as dams around the die in order to increase the available bonding area, but in practice such metal rings place the antenna pads too close to the metal rings, requiring much tighter tolerances which raises production costs.
Accordingly, there is a need for an improved dual mode smart card module and for an improved dual mode smart card incorporating such a module.

Smart card module and method of assembling the same


The present invention relates to an aqueous coating composition for coating a photoresist pattern, comprising a polymer comprising at least one unit with an alkylamino group, where the unit has a structure (1),

The densification of integrated circuits in semiconductor technology has been accompanied by a need to manufacture very fine interconnections within these integrated circuits. Ultra-fine patterns are typically created by forming patterns in a photoresist coating using photolithographic techniques. Generally, in these processes, a thin coating of a film of a photoresist composition is first applied to a substrate material, such as silicon wafers used for making integrated circuits. The coated substrate is then baked to evaporate any solvent in the photoresist composition and to fix the coating onto the substrate. The baked coated surface of the substrate is next subjected to an image-wise exposure to radiation. This radiation exposure causes a chemical transformation in the exposed areas of the coated surface. Visible light, ultraviolet (UV) light, electron beam and X-ray radiant energy are radiation types commonly used today in microlithographic processes. After this image-wise exposure, the coated substrate is treated with a developer solution to dissolve and remove either the radiation-exposed or the unexposed areas of the photoresist.
Miniaturization of integrated circuits requires the printing of narrower and narrower dimensions within the photoresist. Various technologies have been developed to shrink the dimensions to be printed by the photoresist, examples of such technologies are, multilevel coatings, antireflective coatings, phase-shift masks, photoresists which are sensitive at shorter and shorter wavelengths, etc.
One important process for printing smaller dimensions relies on the technique of forming a thin layer on top of the photoresist pattern, thus widening the photoresist image and reducing the dimension of the space between adjacent photoresist features. This narrowed space can be used to etch and define the substrate or be used to deposit materials, such as metals. This bilevel technique allows much smaller dimensions to be defined as part of the manufacturing process for microelectronic devices, without the necessity of reformulating new photoresist chemistries. The top coating layer or shrink material may be an inorganic layer such as a dielectric material, or it may be organic such as a crosslinkable polymeric material.
Dielectric shrink materials are described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,863,707, and comprise silicon oxide, silicon nitride, silicon oxynitride, spin on material or chemical vapor deposited material. Organic polymeric coatings are described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,858,620, where such coatings undergo a crosslinking reaction in the presence of an acid, thereby adhering to the photoresist surface, but are removed where the top shrink coating has not been crosslinked. U.S. Pat. No. 5,858,620 discloses a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device, where the substrate has a patterned photoresist which is coated with a top layer, the photoresist is then exposed to light and heated so that the photogenerated acid in the photoresist diffuses through the top layer and can then crosslink the top layer. The extent to which the acid diffuses through the top coat determines the thickness of the crosslinked layer. The portion of the top layer that is not crosslinked is removed using a solution that can dissolve the polymer.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Composition for coating over a photoresist pattern

Abstract: where, R1 to R5 are independently selected from hydrogen and C1 to C6 alkyl, and W is C1 to C6 alkyl. The invention also relates to a process for imaging a photoresist layer using the present composition.


A method, apparatus and system for Digital Multimedia Broadcasting (DMB) service are provided. A DMB receiving terminal identifies a channel service area in which the DMB receiving terminal is currently located based on an identified current location, and configures a channel information list by searching only a frequency band corresponding to the channel service area. When the channel service area is changed, the DMB receiving terminal searches a pre-stored connection channel list, and identifies a predetermined channel established as a transition channel corresponding to a channel which the DMB receiving terminal has received, from channels belonging to the changed channel service area. The DMB receiving terminal then receives the identified channel and provides terrestrial DMB service, thereby reducing a channel search time period and smoothly providing the terrestrial DMB service.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to Digital Multimedia Broadcasting (DMB) service, and in particular, to a method and apparatus for smoothly providing terrestrial DMB service according to channel service areas by a DMB receiving terminal.
2. Description of the Related Art
Generally, broadcasting signals provided by a provider of digital broadcasting (e.g., terrestrial DMB such as Eureka-147 DMB) are transmitted within a frequency range allocated according to each broadcasting station. For example, in Korean DMB, six terrestrial broadcasting providers have been selected, in which each broadcasting station is allocated a frequency band of 2 MHz. In order to receive broadcasting signals transmitted through such six frequency bands, it is necessary to tune a receiver to the frequency band of a provider desired by the user. Thus, a receiver with only one tuner cannot receive signals transmitted through frequency bands other than a set frequency band and cannot check the reception sensitivity of a corresponding broadcasting channel.
Also, since remote nodes of each broadcasting station are allocated different frequency bands, a frequency band allocated to a terrestrial DMB for the Korean capital area, for example, is now unavailable for the same terrestrial DMB in a local area, and different frequency bands depending on areas must be used for the same broadcast program. As a result, like FM radio, whenever the user moves from one area to another area, it is necessary to search for a corresponding frequency band and to tune the receiver to the searched frequency band. Such a tuning operation is manually performed.
In FIG. 1, it can be understood that although the Korean terrestrial DMB uses frequency bands of CH7 to CH13, which are in a VHF band, the Korea National Capital Region area broadcasting currently being provided uses two frequency bands of CH8 and CH12, and different areas except for the National Capital Region area use frequency bands which can be secured according to each area. Here, FIG. 1 is a view illustrating the present status of terrestrial DMB channels selected according to service areas. Owing to such a frequency environment being different depending on each area, it is impossible to construct a Single Frequency Network (SFN) for nationwide service. Instead, a Multi-Frequency Network (MFN) using frequencies allocated according to areas is constructed.
However, since an Electric Program Guide (EPG) for the terrestrial DMB being currently provided is not provided, the user must make a channel information list about channels which can be received in a corresponding area, through a channel search by himself/herself. Such a channel information list includes a detailed frequency band, an ensemble ID and a service ID. The detailed frequency band may include three detailed areas of A, B and C, for example, 12A, 12B and 12C, according to each band. The ensemble ID represents a broadcasting station name, and the service ID represents a channel name. When searching for a channel under the MFN condition, the user cannot recognize the frequency band corresponding to each service area, so that the user must perform a channel search with respect to all the terrestrial DMB bands of CH7 to CH13. This results in searching even for unnecessary frequency bands, thereby requiring a long period of time for channel searching. When a channel search is performed with respect to all the terrestrial DMB bands, it takes about 40 seconds to one minute.
In addition, when a channel service area is changed while a DMB broadcast is being provided through the DMB service, a channel providing the DMB broadcast is changed according to the change of the channel service area, so that even the same DMB broadcast is interrupted.

Method, apparatus and system for terrestrial DMB service


A lithographic projection apparatus includes a radiation system for providing a projection beam of radiation, a support structure for supporting a patterning device, the patterning device serving to pattern the projection beam according to a desired pattern, a substrate table for holding a substrate, a projection system for projecting the patterned beam onto a target portion of the substrate, an illumination system for conditioning the beam of radiation beam so as to provide a conditioned radiation beam so as to be able to illuminate said patterning means, and a beam delivery system including redirecting elements for redirecting and delivering the projection beam from the radiation system to the illumination system. The radiation beam is arranged to have a predetermined polarization state and the redirecting elements are arranged to provide a minimum radiation loss in relation to the predetermined polarization state of the radiation beam.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a lithographic projection apparatus comprising and more particularly to lithographic projection apparatus having polarization compensation.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The term "patterning device" or "patterning structure" as here employed should be broadly interpreted as referring to means that can be used to endow an incoming radiation beam with a patterned cross-section, corresponding to a pattern that is to be created in a target portion of the substrate; the term "light valve" can also be used in this context. Generally, the said pattern will correspond to a particular functional layer in a device being created in the target portion, such as an integrated circuit or other device (see below). Examples of such patterning means include:
A mask. The concept of a mask is well known in lithography, and it includes mask types such as binary, alternating phase-shift, and attenuated phase-shift, as well as various hybrid mask types. Placement of such a mask in the radiation beam causes selective transmission (in the case of a transmissive mask) or reflection (in the case of a reflective mask) of the radiation impinging on the mask, according to the pattern on the mask. In the case of a mask, the support structure will generally be a mask table, which ensures that the mask can be held at a desired position in the incoming radiation beam, and that it can be moved relative to the beam if so desired;
A programmable mirror array. One example of such a device is a matrix-addressable surface having a viscoelastic control layer and a reflective surface. The basic principle behind such an apparatus is that (for example) addressed areas of the reflective surface reflect incident light as diffracted light, whereas unaddressed areas reflect incident light as undiffracted light. Using an appropriate filter, the said undiffracted light can be filtered out of the reflected beam, leaving only the diffracted light behind; in this manner, the beam becomes patterned according to the addressing pattern of the matrix-addressable surface. An alternative embodiment of a programmable mirror array employs a matrix arrangement of tiny mirrors, each of which can be individually tilted about an axis by applying a suitable localized electric field, or by employing piezoelectric actuation means. Once again, the mirrors are matrix-addressable, such that addressed mirrors will reflect an incoming radiation beam in a different direction to unaddressed mirrors; in this manner, the reflected beam is patterned according to the addressing pattern of the matrix-addressable mirrors. The required matrix addressing can be performed using suitable electronic means. In both of the situations described hereabove, the patterning means can comprise one or more programmable mirror arrays. More information on mirror arrays as here referred to can be gleaned, for example, from U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,296,891 and 5,523,193, and PCT patent applications WO 98/38597 and WO 98/33096, which are incorporated herein by reference. In the case of a programmable mirror array, the said support structure may be embodied as a frame or table, for example, which may be fixed or movable as required; and
A programmable LCD array. An example of such a construction is given in U.S. Pat. No. 5,229,872, which is incorporated herein by reference. As above, the support structure in this case may be embodied as a frame or table, for example, which may be fixed or movable as required.

Lithographic apparatus, mirror element, device manufacturing method, and beam delivery system


A DNA fragment for directing the expression of foreign or endogenous genes or RNA in cells of monocot plants. The fragment comprises a sequence corresponding to a first part of a putative type I starch branching enzyme gene (wbeI) present in wheat and a 5'-region upstream of the gene, or a part of the sequence that is effective for increasing the expression of the foreign or endogenous gene in the plant cells. The indicated sequence contains two promoter regions, P1 and P2. A DNA fragment effective to increase expression comprises at least one of the promoter regions, or an effective part. The fragment can be obtained from a genomic library of wheat and can be fused to suitable genes and markers and inserted into suitable vectors for expression in transgenic monocot plants.

I. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to promoters used for expressing foreign genes introduced by genetic engineering techniques into cells of monocotyledonous (monocot) plants, especially cereals such as wheat, barley, maize, oat and rice.
II. Description of the Prior Art
Genetic engineering is a procedure in which desired genes are inserted and stably integrated into the host genome followed by regeneration and selection for transformed plants using tissue culture methods. The development of plant transformation techniques has opened up the possibility to introduce and express genes of diverse origins in plants and thereby created a powerful tool to supplement and complement traditional plant breeding.
Significant progress has recently been made in the genetic transformation of cereals, such as wheat (see, for example, Nehra, N. S., et al., "Wheat Transformation: Methods and Prospects," Plant Breeding Abstracts, 65(6):803-808, 1995, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference). In particular, the inventors of the present invention have achieved the genetic transformation of wheat by biolistically delivering genes into isolated scutella, the starting explant for an enhanced regeneration system (Nehra, N. S., et al., "Self-fertile Transgenic Wheat Plants Regenerated From Isolated Scutellar Tissues Following Microprojectile Bombardment With Two Distinct Gene Constructs", The Plant J., 5(2):285-297, 1994, the disclosure of which is also incorporated herein by reference).
With the development of gene transfer techniques, the remaining limitation for commercial exploitation of genetic transformation technology in wheat and other monocot plants is the lack of efficient promoters that will direct foreign gene expression in transgenic wheat plants. Many of the most commonly used promoters employed to transform dicot plants show low activity in cereal cells. A rice actin promoter, which transiently expresses high activity of marker genes in cultured barley cells (Chibbar, R. N., et al., "The effect of Different Promoter-Sequences on Transient Expression of GUS Reporter Gene in Cultured Barley Hordeum vulgare L. cells", Plant Cell Reports, 12:506-509, 1993), has been successfully used in the production of transgenic wheat. Moreover, a promoter comprising the 5'-region of a rice RAc1 gene for use in rice is disclosed in PCT patent publication WO 91/09948 filed in the name of Cornell Research Foundation and published on Jul. 11, 1991; and a nucleic acid promoter fragment comprising the 5' flanking promoter region of the Em structural gene in wheat is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,139,954 issued on Aug. 18, 1992.
However, there is a need for more effective promoters for use in cereal plants, especially wheat, barley, maize, oat and rice.

Promoter for expressing foreign genes in monocotyledonous plants


The disclosed technology relates to an array substrate and a method of manufacturing the same, and a liquid crystal display. The array substrate comprises a base substrate. The base substrate comprises a pixel region and a peripheral region; data lines and gate lines are formed to transversely and longitudinally cross each other on the base substrate to form a plurality of pixel units, and each of the pixel units comprises a switching element, a pixel electrode and a common electrode above the pixel electrode; the common electrode has slits in each pixel unit and is a plate-shaped electrode in the pixel region, when powered on, the common electrode forms a horizontal electric field together with the pixel electrode of the pixel unit; and a common electrode line fouled in the pixel region and connected with the common electrode.

Embodiments of disclosed technology relate to an array substrate and a method of manufacturing an array substrate, and a liquid crystal display.
Presently, liquid crystal displays (LCDs) are flat panel displays which are commonly used; thin film transistor liquid crystal displays (TFT-LCDs) are the main kind of liquid crystal displays. TFT-LCDs have been dominating the market of mediate and small sized displays, due to low cost, high yield and excellent display effect.
Fringe-field switching (FFS) technology can improve the picture quality of TFT-LCDs, and has advantages of wide viewing angle, high aperture ratio, short response time, no push Mura, and so on. However, the manufacturing process of a FFS mode LCD, electrical field formation and switching mode of liquid crystal and so on give rise to serious signal delay of common voltage (Vcom), and crosstalk occurs. Crosstalk is an important factor affecting picture quality, and may represent the degree of influence from a gray-scale picture in one region to an adjacent pixel region. The industry standard generally requires crosstalk of less than 2%.
In the liquid crystal displaying technology, capacitance formed between a common electrode and a pixel electrode is an important factor for the common electrode to generate signal delay, and the amount of the capacitance can refer to the calculating formula: C=∈r∈0*S/d, where C is capacitance; ∈r is relative dielectric constant, which is related to material property; ∈0 is absolute dielectric constant; S is the area of the electrodes; and d is the distance between the electrodes.
FIG. 1 is a diagram of capacitance formed between a common electrode and a pixel electrode in FFS mode LCD, and FIG. 2 is a diagram of capacitance formed between a common electrode and a pixel electrode in TN mode LCD.
As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the common electrode 13 is applied with a common voltage (Vcom) signal, and the pixel electrode 11 is applied with a pixel voltage (Vpixel) signal, and capacitance is fainted between the common electrode 13 and the pixel electrode 11. In the FFS mode LCD, the common electrode 13 and the pixel electrode 11 are both located on an array substrate 50, and the capacitance dielectric material between the common electrode 13 and the pixel electrode 11 is a passivation layer (PVX), of which ∈r is about 5 and d is about 0.5 μm. As shown in FIG. 2, in the TN mode LCD, the common electrode 13 is located on a color film substrate 60, and the pixel electrode 11 is located on an array substrate 50, and the capacitance dielectric material between the common electrode 13 and the pixel electrode 11 is liquid crystal (LC), of which ∈r is about between and 12 and d is about 5 μm. Referring to the above formula, it can be estimated that the Ccom in the FFS mode is about ten times of that in the TN mode, and the capacitance formed between the common electrode and the pixel electrode in the FFS mode is increased by one order than that in the TN mode. Thus, compared with TN mode LCD, the loading ability of the common voltage of the FFS mode is relatively low, and crosstalk more easily occurs.
High aperture ratio FFS (HFFS) LCDs are one kind of FFS LCDs, which are mainly used for TFT-LCDs of mediate and small size. The typical structure of HFFS type array substrate comprises a base substrate, data lines and gate lines are formed to transversely and longitudinally cross to form a plurality of pixel units on the base substrate, and each of the pixel units may comprise a switching element, a pixel electrode and a common electrode having slits. The pixel electrodes arranged in a matrix are disposed to opposite to the common electrode of a whole piece, and the common electrode has slits in the each pixel unit. The region constituted by the pixel units is referred to a pixel region, and the region outside of the pixel region is referred to an interface region.
FIG. 3 is a diagram of the formation of electric field and rotation of liquid crystal in a conventional HFFS LCD. As shown in FIG. 3, the common electrode 13 and the pixel electrode 11 are both located on an array substrate, and they can both be formed of indium tin oxides (ITO). The common electrode 13 with slits and the underlying pixel electrode 11 together form a horizontal electric field 70 when applied a voltage therebetween. The electric field 70 can rotate the liquid crystal molecules, which are horizontally arranged between the array substrate 50 and the color film substrate 60, to function as a light valve. FIG. 4 is a diagram of hierarchy structure of a conventional HFFS LCD. As shown in FIG. 4, the sequence of deposition and etching of an HFFS LCD manufactured by using six-photolithography method may include: a gate line and the gate electrode (Gate), a gate insulation layer (UI), an active layer (Active), a pixel electrode (a first ITO layer), source/drain electrodes (SD), a passivation layer (PVX) and a common electrode (a second ITO layer); and the sequence of deposition and etching of an HFFS LCD manufactured by using five-photolithography method may include: a gate line and the gate electrode, the gate insulation layer, an active layer, source/drain electrodes, a pixel electrode, a passivation layer, and a common electrode.
The common electrode in an HFFS LCD has slits and thus has a larger resistance than a complete piece of plate common electrode flat, so RC signal delay of the common electrode is much larger, which causes the loading ability of the common voltage signal to decrease, thereby the crosstalk phenomena is more apparent and the picture quality is affected disadvantageously.

Array substrate and manufacturing method thereof, and liquid crystal display

CHENGDU BOE OPTOELECTRONICS TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.