A waterproof button mechanism of a computer input device has a bottom case having a coding module and at least two micro switches mounted therein and connected with the inner case. Two mounting holes are formed on a front end of the inner case to respectively correspond to the two micro switches on the bottom case. Two waterproof assemblies are respectively mounted on the two mounting holes. A top cover is mounted on the inner case. Two slots are formed through a front end of the top cover. A button is movably mounted in the slot and a front end of the button corresponds to the waterproof assembly. When the button is pressed down, the input device is operated by triggering the micro switches through the waterproof assembly. The waterproof mechanism is waterproof function to be added without sacrificing easy customization of appearance.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is related to a computer input device, and more particularly to a waterproof button mechanism of a computer input device.
2. Description of the Related Art
By and large, the cases of current optical mice are seemingly sealed, but not yet completely sealed to prevent water penetration due to buttons and scroll-wheel of the mice. As most mice having scroll-wheel and buttons located in the front end of the mice pertain to a mechanical type, gaps between button and case and between scroll-wheel and case become the places in which water penetrates. Currently, regarding the scroll-wheel, there have been touch-type products as alternatives. Such touch-type products determine moving changes of the scroll-wheel in accordance with touching directions of users. Although such products remove some gaps in the case, gaps between the buttons and the case still exist. To tackle these problems, waterproof mechanism for buttons of conventional mice mostly adopt a waterproof measure as shown in FIG. 7. The waterproof measure employs rubber to completely sheathe a case (70) of the mouse and a top cover in particular so as to obviate gaps between the case and buttons located in the front end of the conventional mice. Despite a solution to the waterproof issue, such approach adopting rubber to fully enclose the case greatly reduces flexibility in appearance of mice. As far as information products are concerned, functions and ornamental design are equally important. Such approach apparently fulfills one at the cost of the other.

Computer input device and waterproof button mechanism thereof


A sensing device for detecting an approaching object is composed of a sensor section that includes a detection electrode supplied with a detection source signal having a prescribed frequency and another detection electrode disposed in close vicinity to the detection electrode, a communication signal amplifier that amplifies the communication signal and outputs the amplified communication signal as an amplifier output signal, an integrator that integrates the amplifier output signal and outputs a judging signal for judging whether or not an object approaches the sensor section, and a detection sub-signal switch that is disposed between an output side of the communication signal amplifier and an input side of the integrator. A communication signal is obtained from the detection source signal that is transmitted to the other detection electrode from the detection electrode and attenuated thereat when an object approaches the sensor section. The detection sub-signal switch periodically switches on only during a prescribed period in which a peak value of the amplifier output signal is included in response to a detection sub-signal, wherein a frequency of the detection sub-signal is equal to that of the detection source signal, and the detection sub-signal maintains specific phase relation with the detection source signal, and further a duty ratio of the detection sub-signal is less than 50%.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a sensing device for detecting an approaching object such as a human body, which is useful for any of a switching circuit for electronic equipment, an additional function for display equipment and a touch sensor for electronic equipment, and further the approach sensing device is excellent in resistant to noise.
2. Description of the Related Art
A sensing device for detecting an approaching object (hereinafter referred to as approach sensing device) is a device that detects an approaching object such as a human body and notifies electronic equipment of the approaching object. With respect to a detection method of such an approach sensing device, various detection methods such as detecting infrared radiation emitted from a human body and applying the Doppler effect of a microwave have been available for such an approach sensing device.
One of approach sensing devices adopting such detection methods, there exists an approach sensing device of an electrostatic capacitance type, which uses change of capacitance of a capacitor constituted by a pair of detection electrodes in response to an approaching object such as a human body to the pair of detection electrodes. Such an approach sensing device of the electrostatic capacitance type can detect an object approaching a relatively narrow area, so that a plurality of sensing devices can be disposed on an insulation panel of electronic equipment. In this connection, such an approach sensing device of the electrostatic capacitance type is widely used in electronic equipment as an inputting device that alternates a mechanical switch of the electronic equipment. Because a switch contact of a mechanical switch is gradually worn out in accordance with repeated turning on and off operations. However, wearing of switch contact never occurs in an approach sensing device of the electrostatic capacitance type.
Further, various kinds of circuitry are available for an approach sensing device of the electrostatic capacitance type. As one example of such circuitry, there exists one circuitry that makes use of a communication signal, wherein the communication signal changes in response to an approaching object such as a human body. In the circuitry, a detection source signal having a prescribed frequency is supplied to one of a pair of detection electrodes, and the detection source signal is transmitted to another detection electrode of the pair of detection electrodes. Then the transmitted detection source signal is changed in response to an approaching object and outputted as a communication signal.
The Japanese publication of unexamined patent applications No. 2001-203565 disclosed an approach sensor that detected an approaching object such as a human body.
FIG. 12 is a schematic diagram of a conventional sensing device for detecting an approaching object (hereinafter referred to as approach sensing device) according to the Japanese publication of unexamined patent applications No. 2001-203565.
According to the Japanese publication of unexamined patent applications No. 2001-203565, as shown in FIG. 12, a phase of a measuring signal "Is", which is outputted from an oscillation circuit 10, is shifted in response to an object such as a human body approaching to a detecting plate 22, that is, an approach sensor of the electrostatic capacitance type. Then the measuring signal "Is" is outputted as an output signal "IL". Phase difference between the output signal "IL" and the measuring signal "Is" is compared by a DBM (double balanced modulator) or a phase detector 30.
Accordingly, approach of an object such as a human body can be detected.
However, in the above-mentioned approach sensing device of the electrostatic capacitance type, which makes use of the output signal "IL" (communication signal) that is obtained from the measuring signal "Is" (detection source signal) that is supplied to one of a pair of detecting electrodes and changes in response to an approaching object such as a human body, if an AC electric noise generated in electric equipment such as a TV display or a radio wave emitted from an aeronautical radio station or a maritime radio station exists in the surrounding of the approach sensing device, then such an AC electric noise or a radio wave is possibly transmitted to the detection electrodes through a human body as an interfering signal.
Accordingly, the approach sensing device may not be able to detect change of the communication signal although a human body approaches, and results in miss-operation.
Although the Japanese publication of unexamined patent applications No. 2001-203565 fails to teach countermeasure for such an interfering signal, it is commonly known that a band pass filter is provided in a transmission line for a communication signal so as to eliminate an interfering signal from a communication signal.
In this connection, relatively simple circuitry can eliminate an interfering signal in case a frequency of the interfering signal is sufficiently away from that of a detection source signal. However, in case a frequency of the interfering signal is close to that of the detection source signal, a band pass filter having narrow bandwidth in complex circuitry is essential for eliminating such an interfering signal having a frequency close to that of the detection source signal.
Accordingly, there exist problems such that a frequency of a detection source signal and a pass band of a band pass filter are hardly controlled or adjusted, and that designing the circuitry results in difficult.
Further, a number of component parts constituting a band pass filter in narrow bandwidth increases. Particularly, in case a plurality of approach sensing devices is disposed in a limited area, it creates another problem that a scale of circuit increases and cost of component parts rises, and further space for component parts on a circuit board is strained.

Sensing device for detecting approaching object


Audio data which are read out from a compact disc drive are written into a hard disk drive (6) at a rate that is higher than an audio playback rate. The written audio data are read out at a rate which is higher than the audio playback rate, and than output to audio output interfaces (buffer memories). The audio output interfaces read out the audio data at the playback rate and output the data. Since the hard disk drive (6) can perform reading/writing at a rate which is sufficiently higher than the playback rate of audio data, monitoring is enabled while performing ripping.

The present invention relates to a digital audio recording and playback apparatus which extracts digital audio data from an audio compact disc to record the data, and plays back the digital audio data.
Today, a playback apparatus for playing back an audio compact disc is widely used, and even a processing apparatus such as a personal computer can play back an audio compact disc. In the field of a personal computer or the like, an apparatus having a so-called ripping function of extracting audio data of an audio compact disc and recording the data into a hard disk drive has been practically used.
When ripping is performed on an audio compact disc, it is often desired to monitor whether the audio data are correctly extracted or not. However, a conventional apparatus can perform only an operation of playing back data read out from an audio compact disc as they are, and cannot read cut data written into a hard disk drive and monitor the written stare.
The ripping is performed at a rate which is higher than the playback rate (44.1 kHz) of an audio compact disc. When ripped data are played back as they are, an expensive DAC which operates at the rate same as the high extraction rate (in the case of the quadruple speed, for example, 44.1×4=176.4 kHz) is required. Moreover, it is difficult to audibly check whether the audio data are correctly extracted or not, because the playback rate and the playback frequency are largely different from those for an actual audio signal.

Recording and playback apparatus using harddrive for ripping digital audio data


A medical device for creating an artificial knee joint or an artificial cruciate ligament in a mammal patient, the medical device comprising a transversal member adapted to be placed through at least three layers of cortical bone of the distal portion of the femoral bone, out of totally four cortical layers along a prolongation of the transversal member. The transversal member is adapted to be involved in the artificial knee joint or the artificial cruciate ligament, wherein the transversal member comprises at least one fixation portion adapted to be involved in fixation of the transversal member to at least one of the at least four layers of femoral cortical bone.

Knee replacement surgery is one of the most commons surgical procedures to date performed at more than a million patients every year worldwide. The most common reason for performing a knee replacement surgery is that the patient suffers from knee joint osteoarthritis, which is a syndrome in which a low-grade inflammation results in pain in the joints. The low-grade inflammation is caused by abnormal wearing of the cartilage that covers and acts as a cushion inside joints, which results in a decrease of the synovial fluid that lubricates the knee joint.
In conventional surgery the surgeon places a prosthesis on the lateral condyle, the medial condyle or both the medial and the lateral condyle. The prosthesis could further more comprise a contacting surface placed on the top part of the tibia bone and an artificial part replacing the knee cap.
The procedure usually takes up to two hours and the surgeon will make a single cut (10 to 30 cm long) down the front of the knee. The kneecap is moved to one side to reach the knee joint. The worn or damaged surfaces are removed and the bone are shaped to fit the artificial knee joint.
The average patient age is between 65 and 75. Of these surgeries, approximately 80% are unilateral (only one knee replaced) and 20% are bilateral.
The knee joint comprises proximal contacting surfaces, being sections of the medial condyle, the lateral condyle and an area of the femoral bone between the medial and the lateral condyle and a distal contacting surface being a cross-section of the proximal part of the tibia bone. Furthermore the knee joint comprises the patella which is a, triangular bone which articulates with the femur and covers and protects the knee joint. The knee joint also comprises the minisci which are cartilaginous elements within the knee joint which serve to protect the ends of the bones from rubbing on each other. The minisci also acts as shock absorbers in the knee. There are two menisci in each knee, the medial meniscus and the lateral meniscus.
Osteoarthritis is a common condition of cartilage failure that can lead to limited range of motion, bone damage and invariably, pain. Due to a combination of acute stress and chronic fatigue, osteoarthritis directly manifests itself in a wearing away of the articulating surface and, in extreme cases, bone can be exposed in the joint. Some additional examples of cartilage failure mechanisms include cellular matrix linkage rupture, chondrocyte protein synthesis inhibition, and chondrocyte apoptosis.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


What is disclosed is a medical device comprising a compressed, cylindrical or oblong, thin-walled, expandable metal structure (a “blockstent”) and a flexible, elongated device (a “delivery catheter”) to position the compressed blockstent into the lumen of a blood vessel segment to be treated, and methods of use for occlusion of treated blood vessel segments. A blockstent can be made with ductile metals such as gold, platinum, or silver such that the blockstent will conform to the shape of the lumen of the treated blood vessel segment during expansion and allow for the shape of the blockstent to be permanently changed by the application of an external force. The surface of the blockstent can be configured to promote local thrombus on the external surface of the blockstent and to promote the growth of tissue into the wall of the blockstent in order to occlude the treated blood vessel and fix the blockstent in place. The wall of the blockstent can also be configured to release drugs or pharmacologically active molecules such as those that promote thrombosis, cell proliferation, extracellular matrix deposition to promote this thrombus formation and tissue growth.

In certain clinical situations, patients can benefit from the occlusion of certain artery or vein segments through endovascular means. Clinical settings where endovascular vessel occlusion is beneficial include reducing bleeding from an injured vessel, reducing blood flow to tumors, and rerouting the path of blood in the vascular system for other purposes. Alternatively, minimally invasive, catheter-based, endovascular treatments have been developed to occlude blood vessel segments. Endovascular medical devices for blood vessel occlusion include balloon catheters wherein the balloon can be inflated to fill the lumen of a blood vessel segment and detached from the catheter. There are two major drawbacks to the use of detachable balloon catheters for blood vessel occlusion. First, the balloons are made of polymers that generally resist tissue incorporation that limits fixation of the devices where they are placed. Second, the balloons are configured with elastic walls which are expanded with pressurization and valves designed to maintain that pressure after detachment. Unfortunately, there is a substantial rate of balloon and valve failure, resulting in deflation. Without tissue incorporation, balloon deflation can lead to balloon migration and occlusion of non-target vessel segments. Endovascular medical devices for blood vessel occlusion include metal coils that are used to fill a portion of the lumen of a blood vessel segment to induce thrombosis and occlusion of the blood vessel segment. There are several major drawbacks to the use of metal coils and basket structures for blood vessel occlusion. First, numerous coils are usually required to occlude the blood vessel segment, resulting in higher costs and longer treatment times. Second, coil placement is difficult to control, often resulting in coil placement in non-target vessel segments. Third, coils only partially fill the blood vessel. The accumulation of thrombus and scar tissue is required to occlude the blood vessel, a process that takes weeks to occur and is sometimes incomplete, often resulting in incomplete occlusion or recanalization and a failed treatment. More recently, endovascular medical devices for blood vessel occlusion have been developed that include basket structures that are used to fill a portion of the lumen of a blood vessel segment to induce thrombosis and occlusion of the blood vessel segment. Although only a single basket structure is usually required to occlude a blood vessel segment, and the devices are generally easier to control, these devices only partially fill the blood vessel and require the accumulation of thrombus and scar tissue to occlude the blood vessel. As with coils, this process that takes weeks to occur and is sometimes incomplete, often resulting in incomplete occlusion or recanalization and a failed treatment.
Therefore, there remains a need for catheter-based medical devices, systems, and methods for the occlusion of blood vessel segments that are simple to perform, result in a rapid, controlled, and complete occlusion, have a low risk of recanalization, device migration, or other complications, and can be purchased at a reasonable cost.


A testing system for optical and electrical monitoring of a production quality and/or for determining optical and electrical properties of solar cells, comprising a first conveyor device for conveying the solar cells to a test region, a second conveyor device for moving the solar cells through the test region, a third conveyor device for conveying the solar cells out of the test region, an optical checking device located in the test region for visual checking of the solar, and an electrical checking device also located in the test region for checking electrical functions of the solar cells, the electrical checking device including an illumination device for shining light on light-sensitive surfaces of the solar cells and also including an electrical contacting device for picking up voltages and/or currents and electrical contacts of the solar cells, the first, second and third conveyor devices including a common, linear conveyor belt system which passes through the test region and has a vacuum suction device for holding the solar cells on a surface of a conveyor belt system.

The invention relates to a testing system for optical and electrical monitoring of the production quality and/or for determining optical and electrical properties of solar cells.
More particularly, it relates to a testing system of the above mentioned type which has a first conveyor device for conveying the solar cells to a test region, a second conveyor device for moving the solar cells through the test region, and a third conveyor device for conveying the solar cells out of the test region, and having an optical checking device, located in the test region, for visual checking of the solar cells, and an electrical checking device, also located in the test region, for checking the electrical functions of the solar cells, the electrical checking device including an illumination device for shining light on the light-sensitive surfaces of the solar cells and also includes an electrical contacting device for picking up voltages and/or currents at electrical contacts of the solar cells.
Such testing systems are typically equipped with the solar cells to be tested via a first conveyor device, in the form of a conveyor belt. In the test region, the solar cells are then taken from the first conveyor device by a robot and placed on an indexing turntable, where they are delivered, in timed increments to the optical checking device for visual checking and to the electrical checking device for function testing. In known testing systems, the optical checking device as a rule includes a area scanning camera, which in the stopped times in the cycle detects the surface of the solar cell to be tested.
Any irregularities are then recognized either by a human or by an assessment computer, and the applicable solar cell is classified as unacceptable or only limitedly acceptable in the cycling of the indexing turntable, and electrical contacting with the solar cell to be examined is then done at a different point in the test region, for checking the electrical functions. In the process, light is shone on the light-sensitive surface of the solar cell, and at corresponding contacts of the solar cell, the current and/or voltages that occur are measured. The electrical checking is typically also done during a stopped time of the indexing turntable.
After the conclusion of the checking operations, the checked solar cell is taken from the indexing turntable again by the same robot arm or a different one and transferred to a third conveyor device, where it is assigned to a defined quality class in accordance with the outcomes of the check and is carried away, usually with a linear belt device. The total cycle time for such a test cycle is between three and five seconds, in testing systems known at present.
However, besides this relatively slow cycle time, the known testing systems also have still other disadvantages:
Because of the use of robot arms and indexing turntables, such devices are relatively expensive and require a relatively large amount of space. When the solar cells to be tested are shifted from the first conveyor device to the second conveyor device and after the conclusion of the checking are shifted from the second conveyor device to the third conveyor device, damage often occurs in supplied or already-checked solar cells, so that on the one hand there are discards and on the other the ensuing sorting by quality classes is not completely reliable.
When the solar cells to be tested are fastened in the holder devices of the indexing turntable, the solar cells usually have a certain waviness, which in turn can impair the precision and conclusiveness of the optical checking.


An oral dosage form which includes a bi-layer tablet consisting of an Actives Granulation layer and an Osmagen Granulation layer is disclosed. An encapsulant is disposed over that bi-layer tablet. The encapsulated bi-layer tablet includes an orally therapeutically effective dose of oxycodone in combination with dextromethorphan, where the weight ratio of oxycodone to dextromethorphan is 1:5. The oral dosage form does not include an opioid antagonist.

Many medications are used for the treatment of pain, ranging from well known, over-the-counter compounds such as aspirin, acetaminophen, ibuprofen and other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory compounds to various opioid compounds which are dispensed under a physician's prescription. Opiates in various forms, including opium, heroine and morphine which derive from the opium poppy, have very powerful analgesic properties. Opiates have been widely used for anesthesia as well for the treatment of pain, especially where the pain is very severe.
In addition to these natural opiates, many synthetic opioids have been synthesized. Morphine is still the drug of choice, however, for management of pain at least in part due to its low cost, the ability of the drug to provide relief from pain of a variety of origins, and the vast experience with this drug. Despite its therapeutic advantages and vast experience with the drug, many pain management experts believe that morphine and other opioids are under-prescribed for patients who require long-term pain therapy.
One reason for underprescription is the risk of the side effects associated with long-term administration of opioids in general, such as development of opiate tolerance, dependence, constipation, and/or other undesirable side effects (see, e.g., Moulin et al. 1992 Can Med. Assoc. J. 146:891-7). Patients who develop opioid tolerance require increased doses to achieve a satisfactory analgesic effect, and risk the development of further undesirable side effects such as respiratory depression, which can be life threatening. Physical dependence, which is related to factors such as the dose administered and the length of the administration period, can generally only be resolved by discontinuing opioid administration, which in turn results in the onset of severely painful withdrawal symptoms. Other side effects that can be associated with administration of opioids include reduced cough reflex, bronchial spasms, nausea, vomiting, peripheral vasodilation, orthostatic hypotension, vagal impact on the heart, contraction of smooth muscles (sphincters), reduced peristaltic motility in the gastrointestinal tract (e.g., constipation), urinary retention, changes in regulation of body temperature and sleep pattern, and release of histamine, adrenalin, and anti-diuretic hormone.
The negative effects on respiratory function especially impact postoperative patients, who are particularly susceptible to depression of respiratory function. Even where the concerns regarding side effects might be outweighed by the serious need for pain relief as in terminally ill patients, many doctors still avoid prescribing opioids due to concerns of abuse of surplus medication by others in contact with the patient, or even that their frequent prescription of the drug might lead to criminal investigation.
Relieving pain by using a lower dosage of opioid(s) is desirable because such a lower dosage reduces the likelihood and/or severity of the above-recited undesirable side effects. Applicants' invention includes an oral dosage form which comprises oxycodone in combination with dextromethorphan. Using Applicants' oral dosage form and method using that oral dosage form, a tablet comprising about 5 milligrams of oxycodone, in combination with about 25 milligrams of dextromethorphan, provides the same level of pain relief as does a tablet which contains about 10 milligrams of oxycodone alone.

Pain relief composition, method to form same, and method to use same


A titanyloxyphthalocyanine crystal to be used as a charge generation material for an electrophotographic photoreceptor, having a maximum diffraction intensity observed at Bragg angle (2 .theta.) of 9.6.degree..+-.0.2.degree. and clear peaks of diffraction intensity observed at 7.22.degree..+-.0.2.degree., 9.60.degree..+-.0.2.degree., 11.60.degree..+-.0.2.degree., 13.40.degree..+-.0.2.degree., 14.88.degree..+-.0.2.degree.,18.34.degree..+-.0.2.degree., 23.62.degree..+-.0.2.degree., 24.14.degree..+-.0.2.degree., and 27.32.degree..+-.0.2.degree., respectively, in an X-ray diffraction spectrum obtained by performing an x-ray diffraction method using CuK.alpha. as a source of radiation. A method for preparing the crystal includes dispersing a predetermined amount of amorphous titanyloxyphthalocyanine in an aqueous solution in which ionic substances are dissolved, under mechanical force at a temperature of under 50.degree. C., to obtain a mixture composed of a fine dispersion of titanyloxyphthalocyanine; adding a non-aqueous organic solvent to the mixture to shift the fine dispersion of titanyloxyphthalocyanine from an aqueous phase to a non-aqueous organic solvent phase; and removing the non-aqueous organic solvent phase to obtain a pellet of titanyloxyphthalocyanine crystal.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a novel titanyloxyphthalocyanine crystal, a method for preparing such crystal, and an electrophotographic photoreceptor that comprises the titanyloxyphthalocyanine crystal as a charge-generation material.
2. Description of the Prior Art
After inventing a principal theory of the process of electrophotography by C. F. Carlson in 1937, the electrophotographic technologies have been dramatically developed and applied in the devices for processing information, such as digital photocopying machines, laser printers, light-emitting diode printers, and facsimile machines.
The electrophotography is an image-forming method that depends on a skillful combination of photoconductive characteristics and electrostatic phenomena of the electrophotographic photoreceptor(C. F. Carlson, U.S. Pat. No. 2,297,691, 1942) That is, the electrophotography is characterized by the process comprising the steps of:
charging a surface of the electrophotographic photoreceptor by subjecting to colona discharge in darkness; PA1 producing an electrostatic latent image including characters, pictures, and the like in an original by exposing the charged surface of the photoreceptor to light; PA1 visualizing (i.e., developing) the electrostatic latent image by using toner (i e., colored and charged particles) that adheres to the charged surface of the photoreceptor for transforming the latent image into a real image; and PA1 transferring the developed toner image to a surface of substrate (e g., a sheet of paper) and fixing the image thereon. PA1 (1) the phthalocyanine pigment is chemically and physically stable and in general used as a color pigment of color ink, coating compound, or the like; PA1 (2) the phthalocyacine pigment is easily prepared; PA1 (3) the phthalocyanine pigment has the ability of absorbing light at the wavelengths of ending up to the long wavelengths of near infrared ray; and PA1 (4) the light absorption wavelengths and photo-conductivities of the phthalocyanine pigment are depended on the types of its central atom, crystal form, and preparation method, so that the big variations in these characteristics of the phthalocyanine can be occurred. PA1 (1) Titanyloxyphthalocyanine crystals classified in a first group are thermodynamically stable and can be obtained immediately after their syntheses. The X-ray diffraction spectrum of each crystal is characterized by having the maximum intensity of diffraction at the Bragg angle (2.theta.) of 26.3.degree.(.+-.0.2.degree.). PA1 (2) Titanyloxyphthalocyanine crystals classified in a second group are such as crystals in the typeof II as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laying-open No. 62-67094. The X-ray diffraction spectrum of each crystal is characterized by having the maximum intensity of diffraction at a Bragg angle (2.theta.) of 27.3.degree.(.+-.0.2.degree.). PA1 (3) Titanyloxyphthalocyanine crystals classified in a third group are such as crystals in the type of a as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laying-open No. 61-217050. The X-ray diffraction spectrum of each crystal is characterized by having the maximum intensity of diffraction at a Bragg angle (2.theta.) of 7.5.degree.(.+-.0.2.degree.). PA1 (4) Titanyloxyphthalocyanine crystals classified in a fourth group are such as crystals disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laying-open No. 5-320167. The X-ray diffraction spectrum of each crystal is characterized by having the peak intensities of diffraction at Bragg angles (2.theta.) of 9.degree., 5.degree., 14.1.degree., 17.8.degree., 27.1.degree., and 29.0.degree. and the maximum intensity of diffraction at a Bragg angle (2.theta.) of 9.5.degree.(.+-.0.2.degree.). PA1 dispersing a predetermined amount of amorphous titanyloxyphthalocyanine in which an aqueous solution in which ionic substances are dissolved, under mechanical force at a temperature of under 50.degree. C., to obtain a mixture comprising fine dispersions; PA1 adding a non-aqueous organic solvent to the mixture to shift a dispersion of titanyloxyphthalocyanine from an aqueous phase to a non-aqueous organic solvent phase; PA1 removing the non-aqueous organic solvent phase to obtain a pellet of titanyloxyphthalocyanine crystal that has a maximum diffraction intensity observed at Bragg angle (2.theta.) of 9.60.degree..+-.0.2.degree. and clear peaks of diffraction intensity observed at 7.22.degree..+-.0.2.degree., 9.60.degree..+-.0.2.degree., 11.60.degree..+-.0.2.degree., 13.40.degree..+-.0.2.degree., 14.88.degree..+-.0.2.degree., 18.34.degree..+-.0.2.degree., 23.62.degree..+-.0.2.degree., 24.14.degree..+-.0.2.degree., and 27.32.degree..+-.0.2.degree., respectively, in a X-ray diffraction spectrum obtained by performing a X-ray diffraction method using CuK.alpha. as a source of radiation. PA1 a=16.3058 .ANG., b=23.078 .ANG., c=8.7155 .ANG., PA1 .alpha.=101.352.degree., .beta.23.078.degree., and .gamma.=117.530.degree., PA1 the charge generation material is a titanyloxyphthalocyanine crystal having a lattice constant of: PA1 a=16.3058 .ANG., b=23.078 .ANG., c=8.7155 .ANG., PA1 .alpha.=101.352.degree., .beta.-23.078.degree., and .gamma.=117.530.degree., PA1 dispersing a predetermined amount of amorphous titanyloxyphthalocyanine in which an aqueous solution in which ionic substances are dissolved, under mechanical force at a temperature of under 50.degree. C., to obtain a mixture comprising fine dispersions; PA1 adding a non-aqueous organic solvent to the mixture to shift a dispersion of titanyloxyphthalocyanine from an aqueous phase to a non-aqueous organic solvent phase; PA1 removing the non-aqueous organic solvent phase to obtain a pellet of titanyloxyhthalocyanine crystal that has a lattice constant of: PA1 a=16.3058 .ANG., b=23.078 .ANG., c=8.7155 .ANG., PA1 .alpha.=101.352.degree., .beta.-23.078.degree., and .gamma.=117.530.degree.,
Then the photoreceptor is discharged and cleaned of any excess toner using coronas, lamps or the like for recycling the photoreceptor.
In accordance with the above electrophotography, it is possible to digitize an original image of document by scanning and exposing a surface of the photoreceptor to light emitted from a light source such as a semiconductor laser or a light-emitting diode (LED). Therefore, an input image information can be recorded by converting an output of the data-processing device into a plurality of dots of light, and scanning and exposing the surface of the photoreceptor by using these dots. As the information-processing has been advanced and sped up in recent years, the data-processing devices (such as laser printing machines and digital copying machines which perform the high-qualified image formation at a predetermined high printing speed) have been sprung into wide use. Especially in the case of using the semiconductor laser as a source of exposure light in the above information-processing device, it is not only possible to provide a comparatively small and cheap device but also possible to provide the device having a high reliability and a high image quality. Thus the photoreceptor has been investigated and developed so as to have an excellent sensitivity against the light emitted from the semiconductor laser to be used as the above light source.
Currently, by the way, a wavelength of the light generated by the semiconductor laser in practical use has been limited to in the range of comparatively long wavelengths of near infrared ray (i.e., about 700-800 nm) Consequently, it has been required that the photoreceptor to be applied in the device that uses a semiconductor laser as an exposure light source should be of a high sensitivity against the above wavelengths. In addition, it has been also required that such photoreceptor should have the properties of being stable in repeat use and in various environmental conditions. That is, the needs for preventing the changes in electrical characteristics of the photoreceptor, the qualities of output images, the generation of memory, and the like are constantly increased in repeat use.
For the above requests, therefore, charge-generation materials have been studied and developed. In general, the following materials are known as the charge-generation materials: polyazo pigment, phthalocyanine pigment, azulenium base pigment, pyrylium pigment, and naphthoguinone pigment. However, the naphthoquinone pigment is of no practical use because of its insufficient photosensitivity. In case of the azulenium base pigment and the pyrylium pigment, their chemical constructions are unstable under a strong light such as a laser beam. In case of the phthalocyanine pigment, on the other hand, it has the following advantages compared with the others. That is,
From the above point of view, therefore, the phthalocyanine pigment can be provided as a preferable charge generation material of an electrophotographic photoreceptor.
The following pigment compounds have been studied for finding an appropriate type of the phthalocyanine pigment to be used as the charge generation material. For example, .epsilon.-type copper phthalocyanines, X-type nonmetal phthalocyanines, t-type nonmetal phthalocyanines, chloroaluminium phthalocyanine, chloroindium phthalocyanine, chlorogallium phthalocyanine, chloro-germanium phthalocyanine, vanadyloxy phthalocyanine, and titanyloxy phthalocyanine have been studied. Among these pigments, the titanyloxyphthalocyanine has attracted a great deal of public attention because of the following reasons. That is, the nonmetal phthalocyanines and the divalent metallic phthalcyanines do not have sufficient photo-sensitivities against the laser beam at the wavelengths of near infrared region. In addition, the trivalent and quadrant metallic phthalocyanines have disadvantages that their electric characteristics are changed in accordance with the progress of hydrolysis in which their chemical compounds are gradually decomposed by the reaction with water in the atmosphere. However, the quadrant metallic phthalocyanine having the metal connected with oxygen atom shows stable electric characteristics. Especially in recent years, therefore, titanyloxyphthalocyanine has been energetically studied for providing it as a charge-generation material and disclosed in the documents, for example Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 49-4338 that discloses titanium phthalocyanine as an example of metal phthalocyanine to be used as a photoconductive material of a resin-dispersed photoreceptor in the type of having a photosensitive layer formed as a single layer (hereinafter, it will be referred as a mono-type photoreceptor).
By the way, a laminate-type photoreceptor having a photosensitive layer formed as a laminate of functionally distinguishable layers (a charge generation layer and a charge transport layer) shows excellent electrophotographic properties compared with that of the mono-type photoreceptor. Accordingly, the above described titanyloxyphthalocyanine have been investigated as a material to be applied in a charge-generation layer of the laminate-type photoreceptor as described below.
In the documents of Japanese Patent Application Laying-open Nos. 59-49544 and 59-166959, deposit films of titanyloxyphthalocyanine to be used as charge generation layers are disclosed. However, the deposition for preparing a charge generation layer is not appropriate for the mass production because it requires the large investment in plant and equipment such as vacuum deposition system and results in costly production of electrophotographic photoreceptor.
For the industrial production, therefore, it is preferable to make a charge generation layer by a coating method comprising the steps of dispersing and dissolving both a charge generation material and a binder in a solvent to prepare a coating solution and applying the obtained solution on a surface of a substrate to form the charge generation layer. However, the photoreceptor having the charge-generation layer provided as a film formed by the coating method is not advantageous to the one obtained by the deposition method with respect to their electric characteristics, image-characteristics, and the changes in the characteristics by repeat use.
Comparing with the photoreceptor obtained by the deposition method, the photoreceptor obtained by the coating method shows a low charge retentivity, a high residual potential, and almost 40 percent low spectral sensitivity (e.g., one of the examples is described in an official gazette of Japanese Patent Application Laying-open No. 59-49544). About the cause, the charge-generation material does not work uniformly and effectively in the coated charge-generation layer being formed unevenly by an effect of settling out or aggregating the charge-generation material as a result of the unstable dispersion of the charge-generation material being dispersed in the solvent. Besides, the trapping of charge carriers and the dropping of photo sensitivity are observed at the portion where the content of the charge generation material is lowered. During the repeat use of the photoreceptor, the photo sensitivities are changed and image ghost and memory phenomena are generated. In addition, another portion where the charge generation material is comparatively concentrated may be responsible for the image noise because of the difference in electric properties between the portion where the charge generation material is comparatively concentrated and its surroundings.
Accordingly, these phthalocyanines must be contented with many required characteristics not only their electrical characteristics but also their dispersion stabilities and the like, for using them as charge-generation materials in the coating method for preparing a photoreceptor.
Regarding the electrical characteristics in an initial state, it must be of having excellent electrical characteristics such as an excellent photosensitivity, an excellent static electrification, and a small residual potential, and also it must be stable in darkness without causing gradual deterioration to an inferior state. It is further required that the photoreceptor must be of having a cycle stability, i.e., keeping its electrical characteristics in stable during and after the period of using the photoreceptor repeatedly. Furthermore, the charge-generation material must be of keeping a dispersion stability without causing any troubles such as coagulation, sedimentation, and crystal growth in a coating solution for a long time.
It has been known that the electrical characteristics of phthalocyanine depends largely on its coordinated metal species. Also, the phthalocyanine shows different properties of static electrification, dark attenuation, photosensitivity, and the like in accordance with not only the type of coordinated metal but also its crystal form (Sawada, M., Japanese Journal of "DYES and CHEMICALS", vol. 24, No. 6, pages 122-128, 1979).
Regarding a dispersion stability of phthalocyanine pigment, on the other hand, it has been known that it depends on a particle size, a particle form, and a surface .xi.-potential (Kumano, I. Denshi Shashin Gakkai-shi, pages 111-120, No. 2, vol. 22, 1984). In this case, the particle form and the quantum surface potential are also affected by various kinds of the crystal form (i.e., habit) depending on the extent of a growth of crystallographically equivalent surfaces. Therefore, it is very important to develop a crystal particle having a habit suitable for providing an excellent electrical characteristics and an excellent dispersion stability. Conventionally, it has been possible to develop phthalocyanine crystals having crystal forms for providing good electrical characteristics but habits suitable for providing dispersion stabilities.
In the case of the same materials having different habits, by the way, it is possible to distinguish between the two by means of external forms of their crystals. However, they can be distinguished more precisely by making a comparison between their patterns of X-ray diffraction spectra to be obtained by performing a X-ray powder method or the like.
That is, the process includes the steps of obtaining a X-ray diffraction spectrum of each crystal sample and making a comparison between their diffraction intensities with respect to each angle of diffraction.
As listed in Table 1 below, the titanylphthalocyanine crystals are classified into several structure types in accordance with their X-ray diffraction spectra, and also their lattice constants are determined by means of the structure analysis.
TABLE 1 ______________________________________ Crystal type Lattice constant Reference ______________________________________ .alpha. Phase II JP61-217050 JP61-239348 JP62-134651 I Phase I JP62-67094 II JP62-67094 A Phase I JP63-364, JP63-366 B Phase II JP63-364, JP63-366 C JP63-364, JP63-366 m C JP63-198067 amorphous JP1-123868 ______________________________________
FIGS. 1 to 4 are X-ray diffraction spectra of titanyloxyphthalocyanine crystals in the types of I, IT, .alpha., and amorphous, respectively. That is, FIG. 1 is an X-ray diffraction spectrum of titanyloxyphthalocyanine crystal (type I) described in Japanese Patent Application Laying-open No. 62-67094; FIG. 2 is an X-ray diffraction spectrum of titanyloxyphthalocyanine crystal (type II) described in Japanese Patent Application Laying-open No.62-67094; FIG. 3 is an X-ray diffraction spectrum of titanyloxyphthalocyanine crystal (type .alpha.) described in Japanese Patent Application Laying-open No.62-134651; and FIG. 4 is an X-ray diffraction spectrum of amorphous titanyloxyphthalocyanine crystal.
Regarding the above lattice constants listed in Table 1, phase II type crystals are grouped in triclinic crystals, while phase I and C type crystals are grouped in monoclinic crystals.
The above clarification is also explained in Journal of Imaging Science and Technology, 605-609, vol. 37, No. 6, 1993.
Furthermore, there is another way for classifying titanyloxyphthalocyanine crystals in accordance with Bragg angles and intensities in their X-ray diffraction spectra. That is, they are classified into the following four groups.
However, the titanyloxyphthalocyanines of the above groups have some disadvantages in practical use. That is, for example, the photoreceptor comprising one of them does not show a sufficient photo sensitivity against a beam of laser, a sufficient charging ability, a sufficient potential stability under the condition of recycling use; and a potential stability under the changes in use conditions.
In addition, there is another disadvantage of an insufficient dispersion stability when the above typed titanyloxyphthalocyanine crystal is used as a charge generation material to be dispersed in a solvent to prepare a coating solution. For that reason, in the case of forming charging generation layers by using the coating solution immediately after the dispersion or after passing times, the changes in electrophotographic characteristics of the resultant photoreceptors can be observed in spite of using the same coating condition. In this case, furthermore, there are other troubles such as an image noise to be caused by aggregated particles. As a result, it is very difficult to obtain an electrophotographic photoreceptor which is of good quality and of excellent characteristics in industrial and economical terms.
In general, by the way, a charge transport material preferable for a certain charge generation material is not always good for other charge generation materials. In addition, a charge generation material preferable for a certain charge transport material is not always good for other charge transport materials. That is, it means that there is an appropriate combination between them. Thus an inappropriate combination between them leads to several problems in practical use, such as insufficient sensitivities, low static electrification, and unstable electrical characteristics in repeat use of the photoreceptor.
As described above, the above combination is a matter of great importance to the photoreceptor. However, there is no definite theory concerned about the combination. Therefore the appropriate combination of the above materials has been investigated by way of experiment. It means that the appropriate combination of the charge generation material and the charge transport material have been hardly found.
In the case of the laminate-type photoreceptor, furthermore, there is an under-coating layer mainly consisting of a resin between the conductive layer and the photosensitive layer for preventing the injection of charge carriers from the conductive substrate. The reasons of applying the under-coating layer on the substrate is for forming a good photosensitive layer without causing unevenness thereof. That is, the under-coating layer covers defects of substrate's surface, such as an irregular shape, impurities and roughness thereof.
The resin to be used for the under-coating layer can be selected from the group of solvent-soluble polyamide, polyvinyl alcohol, polyvinyl butyral, casein, and so on. It is possible to prevent the injection of charge carriers by processing the resin into a thin film of under 0.5 .mu.m in thickness. In general, however, the under-coating layer should be formed as a film of over 0.5 .mu.m in thickness for covering a surface of the conductive substrate and forming a photoconductive layer without unevenness. As the case may be, the under-coating layer should be formed as a film of over 1 .mu.m in thickness, for example in accordance with the conditions of processing the substrate and the conditions of impurities on the substrate's surface. However, if the resin layer is prepared as a thick film made of the above resin such as polyvinyl alcohol, polyvinyl butyral, and casein, it shows large electrical resistivity and high residual potential of the photoreceptor. In this case, furthermore, there is another problem of the big change in electrical properties of the photoreceptor under the condition of low temperature and low humidity or the condition of high temperature and high humidity because of the following reasons. That is, water-absorption properties of the resin layer is comparatively large and thus the water content thereof is largely changed in accordance with the surrounding conditions. In addition, the electrical conductivity of the resin layer is depend on the movement of H.sup.+ ions and OH.sup.- ions to be generated by dissociating water molecules in the resin (i.e., ionic conductivity).
Currently, various materials have been proposed as an appropriate material to be used as an under-coating layer having low electric resistivity whether the layer is thick or not. For example, Japanese Patent Laying-open No. 2-193152, Japanese Patent Laying-open No. 3-288157, and Japanese Patent Laying-open No. 4-31870 disclose the specific resin structures of solvent-soluble polyamide resins. Japanese Patent Laying-open No. 3-145652, Japanese Patent Laying-open No. 3-81788, and Japanese Patent Laying-open No. 2-281262 disclose the mixtures of polyamide resin with other resins in expectation of reducing the effects of environmental changes by adjusting the electric resistance. However, these materials cannot avoid the effects of thermal and humidal conditions because of their compositions mainly including polyamide resin.

Titanyloxyphthalocyanine crystals, and method of preparing the same


This male penis sheath underwear/bandage is worn in place of the traditional male underwear brief or boxer short. The form of the tubular sheath follows that of the penis. The tubular sheath is open at each end and is provided with a slit at the proximal end through which the scrotum is passed. The garment is unique in that it is self-securing, requiring no waistbands or leg straps. Also, the sheath does not have to be removed in order to urinate.

(Not Applicable)
(Not Applicable)
(Not Applicable)
1. Field of Invention
This invention relates to male wearing apparel, specifically to apparel worn under trousers as underwear.
The traditional male undergarment is the brief, boxer short, bikini, thong, or athletic supporter or cup. Also included in this list are various medical or surgical bandages. Each of these garments shares a common characteristic of a single-pouch construction for holding the two principle parts of the male genitalia: the penis and the scrotum. This construction compacts the male genitalia, causing abrasion (chafing), sticking, misalignment, itching, and fosters perspiration that could lead to a fungal infection.
It is the intent of this invention to eliminate most of the discomforts (as described above) exhibited by conventional male underwear.
2. Related Art
Many types of male undergarments that offer protection for the penis exist in prior art. U.S. Pat. No. 2,888,014 describes a suspensory with a pouch that supports the penis and scrotum. U.S. Pat. No. 1,686,943, depicts an athletic supporter that protects the penis and scrotum, while providing a means for recording a striking blow to this area of the body. U.S. Pat. No. 850,298 delineates a suspensory that provides protective pouches for both the penis and the scrotum. U.S. Pat. No. 5,237,706 describes a male garment with a scrotal pouch that repositions both the penis and the scrotum to a more prominent anterior position. U.S. Pat. No. 796,278 depicts a supporter for the scrotum to be used during the treatment of a number of male diseases. U.S. Pat. No. 3,550,590 describes a pouch-like surgical bandage to protect the penis and/or scrotum after injury or surgery.
U.S. Pat. No. 1,477,187 depicts a surgical appliance that supports a suspensory, a pouch, or both to protect the penis and scrotum. Although these seven prior art describe male undergarments that protect the penis and scrotum, each of them relies on waistbands and/or leg straps to secure the protective device to the male body. Whereas, my invention, which protects the penis, is without the encumbrances of a waistband or leg straps.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,590,931 describes a protecting scrotum guard, which uses hook and loop fastening strips as the retention device to protect the penis, the scrotum, or both. My invention offers two advantages over this guard: (1) it is less bulky, mine being a single tubular sheath, and (2) it does not have to be removed in order to urinate.
The Undergear catalog, fall 1993, page 2, Items F-J, Tactics Contour (Registered) Collection, details traditional elasticized cotton garments of various leg lengths, i.e., above the knee, below the knee, to the upper thigh, and to the ankle. My invention is made of similar material (elasticized cotton), but covers only the penis.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,981,147 details a disposable, unitary coital protective garment, comprising a groin-covering panel and an integrally formed penile sheath. This art is not meant for every-day use and does not allow for urination without its removal. My invention is designed for every-day use and does not have to be removed in order to urinate.
The design of this invention provides a one-piece garment with clean, simple lines that does not distort, deform, or interfere with the natural shape and functioning of the male genitals. The garment also accommodates the natural changes in size and shape that occur with the penis and scrotum.
The simplicity of the garment allows comfort to the wearer no matter what the activity, eliminating most of the discomforts inherent in conventional undergarments: constriction, friction, chafing, and distortion. The penis is protected and the scrotum remains free from cramping and squeezing.
The garment is also adaptable as a surgical or medical bandage.


A method and system of improving signal integrity in integrated circuit designs is disclosed. In some embodiments, signal integrity optimization is conducted in conjunction with detailed routing of an integrated circuit design based upon a global routing plan previously generated for the design.

The present invention is related to integrated circuit designs. More particularly, the present invention is directed to a method and system for improving signal integrity in integrated circuit designs.
Signal integrity (SI) represents issues relating to the sources of noise in an integrated circuit (IC) design and their effect on performance. It has become increasingly important in recent years because advancements in IC design have led to a rise in noise level as well as a decline in immunity to the noise. For example, smaller process technologies result in greater interconnect densities, which in turn causes capacitive coupling, a growing source of noise. Additionally, designs with higher clock speeds and lower threshold voltages have an increased sensitivity to noise. Noise can affect a signal by destroying the logical information within, which could lead to functional failure, or by changing the timing of a transition, which could cause timing problems.
Traditionally, the design process for an IC begins with a set of design requirements, e.g., size, speed, purpose, etc. From these requirements, components (also known as cells or blocks) are created from scratch and/or selected from libraries of existing components. These components are then placed in such a way as to minimize the size of the chip. Routing then connects various terminals (also known as ports) of these cells in a manner that would satisfy the design requirements. The connection between ports with the same ID is called a net.
Previously, SI effects were either ignored altogether or analyzed and repaired after routing was complete. However, because the number of potential violations and their likelihood of seriously impacting the design have increased dramatically, the post-routing approach no longer works well by itself. In addition, pre-routing SI analysis is limited due to difficulties in predicting the timing variations that capacitive coupling between wires could introduce. Moreover, handling signal integrity issues exclusive of other concerns, such as timing and manufacturability, is simply not viable for today's designs as a fix for one problem will likely exacerbate another problem. Accordingly, there is a need for a method and system that can address these issues concurrently.
Embodiments of the present invention provide methods, systems, and mediums for improving signal integrity in integrated circuit designs. In one embodiment, a global routing plan is generated for an integrated circuit design. Signal integrity optimization is then conducted in conjunction with detailed routing based upon the global routing plan.
Further details of aspects, objects, and advantages of the invention are described below in the detailed description, drawings, and claims. Both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory, and are not intended to be limiting as to the scope of the invention.

Method and system for improving signal integrity in integrated circuit designs


An array of light emitters is arranged single-file along an emitting surface of a transmitting device and emits light in a z-direction normal to the emitting surface. The array of light emitters is aligned along a y-direction normal to the z-direction. A lens assembly is optically coupled to the array of light emitters. The lens assembly includes at least one cylindrical lens and at least one aspherical lens. The lens assembly emits the light in free-space along the z-direction and has a first focal length in the y-direction and a different, second focal length in an x-direction. An encoder is coupled to apply a data signal to the array of light emitters. The data signal causes the array of light emitters to illuminate in a pattern that switches at a rate corresponding to a rolling shutter of a receiving sensor array.

Optical field communications (OFC), or free-space optical communications (FSO) relates to the use of light propagating through free-space (e.g., air, vacuum, water) to communicate data between endpoints. This is in contrast to using a propagating media such as a waveguide or optic fiber to transmit optical data. While propagating media may offer high reliability and tighter control over the transmission, OFC communications do not require any physical coupling between endpoints, and so are useful in fields such as mobile and space communications.

Transmitting data to a rolling shutter sensor array via a light emitter array


A sprayed coating having a multilayer structure including a lower layer made a sprayed coating containing a rare earth oxide, and a surface layer made of another sprayed coating containing a rare earth fluoride and/or a rare earth oxyfluoride, the multilayered sprayed coating having a volume resistivity at 23° C. and a volume resistivity at 200° C., the volume resistivity at 23° C. being 1×109 to 1×1012 Ω·cm, and a temperature index of the volume resistivities defined by the ratio of the volume resistivity at 200° C. to the volume resistivity at 23° C. being 0.1 to 10.

An electrostatic chuck use for a lower electrode in a semiconductor manufacturing apparatus is generally categorized to two types of a Coulomb force type electrostatic chuck and a Johnson-Rahbek force type electrostatic chuck, in accordance with the difference between materials. For a Coulomb force type electrostatic chuck, a sintered ceramic such as aluminum oxide and aluminum nitride with high purity is commonly utilized such that a dielectric layer portion has a volume resistivity of over 1×1015 Ω·cm. Thus, this type has an issue of high production cost. Further, a Coulomb force type electrostatic chuck must be applied a high voltage of about 2,000 to 3,000 V for ensuring sufficient adsorption power because charge transfer is scarcely occurred in the Coulomb force type electrostatic chuck.
For a Johnson-Rahbek force type electrostatic chuck, a sintered ceramic such as aluminum oxide and aluminum nitride in which an additive such a metal oxide is doped is commonly utilized such that a dielectric layer portion has a volume resistivity of about 1×109 to 1×1012 Ω·cm. This type also has an issue of high production cost. Further, in a Johnson-Rahbek force type electrostatic chuck, it is required that the material has a low temperature dependency since the adsorption property depends to volume resistivity.
In addition, a processing object (semiconductor) is treated under high corrosive halogen series gas atmosphere in a plasma etching apparatus. Fluorine series gas and chlorine series gas are utilized as the gas for the treatment. Examples of the fluorine series gas include SF6, CF4, CHF3, ClF3, HF and NF3, and examples of the chlorine series gas include Cl2, BCl3, HCl, CCl4 and SiCl4.
On the surface of parts or members of which a plasma etching apparatus is composed, an erosion-resistant coating is generally formed by atmospheric plasma spraying (APS) which supplies rare earth compound as a raw material in form of particulate. Further, in case that a reaction product deposited or attached on the surface of the member by halogen series gas plasma is removed by a cleaning solution, Patent Document 1 proposes to suppress, by a coating having a multilayer structure, a dissolving amount of a substrate caused by infiltration of an acid generated from a reaction of the reaction product and the cleaning solution. As another matter, an average particle size of the spraying particles is preferably at least 10 μm to spray in form of particulate. If the size is less than the range, flowability of the particles may become low, resulting a supply tube being clogged with the sprayed material, or the particle introduced in a flame may vaporize, resulting deterioration of process yield (Patent Document 2). Accordingly, a sprayed coating obtained by thermal spraying with particles having a large average particle size results in many cracks and a large porosity because the splat diameter of the particle is large. Thus, a dense coating cannot be obtained, and particles generates adversely from the coating in etching process. For example, when a yttrium fluoride series sprayed coating which has a good erosion resistance to halogen series gas plasma is formed by APS, initial generation of particles are suppressed in comparison with a yttrium oxide sprayed coating formed by APS. However, the yttrium fluoride series sprayed coating has a Vickers hardness of 350 to 470 and a porosity of approx. 2% (in Patent Document 3) which do not necessarily mean enough properties.
Particularly, integration of a semiconductor is in progress, recently, and will be expected to reach to a width of wiring of up to 10 nm. The above yttrium series coating is easy to drop yttrium series particles from the surface of the yttrium series coating of the parts when the integrated semiconductor devices is processed by etching, and the released particles are dropped readily on a wafer and prevent the etching treatment. These particles may cause deterioration of process yield in manufacturing semiconductor devices. Thus, it is required that an erosion-resistant coating formed on a member which constitutes a chamber exposed to a plasma has a further high erosion resistibility.
Recently, a suspension plasma spraying (SPS) is investigated to solve the above-described problems. In SPS, spraying particles are not sprayed as a particulate form but are sprayed as a slurry form in which the spraying particles are dispersed in a dispersion medium. When thermal spraying is conducted with a slurry form, fine particles having a particle size of up to 10 μm that is difficult to apply for thermal splaying with a particulate form can be introduced to a flame of thermal spraying. Thus, the obtained sprayed coating is very dense since splat diameter of the sprayed coating becomes very small.
For example, a thermal spraying method using a slurry in which yttrium oxide particles are dispersed in a medium is known as a method in which particles are splayed in a slurry form. The method can prepare a dense sprayed coating having a Vickers hardness of at least 500 and a porosity of up to 1% (Patent Document 4). However, even if the sprayed coating is dense, the yttrium oxide has a problem such that a sprayed coating of yttrium oxide can be progressively halogenated at its surface by chemical reaction of yttrium oxide and halogen series gas plasma, and many yttrium series particles are generated as unfavorable particles source.
To deal with the problem, a sprayed coating obtained from a slurry in which yttrium fluoride or yttrium oxyfluoride spraying particles are dispersed in a medium is proposed, however, a dense sprayed coating that can satisfy current needs has not been formed in this method (Patent Documents 5 and 6).

Sprayed coating, method for manufacturing sprayed coating, sprayed member and spraying material


An LED display apparatus 1 in which at least multiple LEDs are serially-connected to a power circuit part having a constant current power source, each one of the LEDs has a switching element parallel-connected thereto, and a control circuit part is used to selectively turn on/off the switching elements to control the LEDs for a specific display, characterized by the fact that the apparatus comprises a display matrix circuit part 9 constituted by parallel-connecting to the power circuit part 8 multiple LED circuits 7a, 7b, 7c . . . consisting of multiple LEDs 2 . . . and a single first switching element 3a, 3b, 3c . . . serially-connected and second switching element 4 . . . each parallel-connected to one of the LEDs 2 . . . , and a control circuit part 10 turning on the first switching elements 3a . . . for a given time period (Ts) in sequence and turning on/off a row La, Lb, Lc . . . of multiple second switching elements 4 . . . extending across the LED circuits 7a . . . of the display matrix circuit part 9 in correspondence with the first switch 3a . . . being turned on.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an LED display apparatus in which switching elements are parallel-connected to multiple serially-connected LEDs, respectively, and turned on/off to display figures and the like.
2. Description of the Related Art
LED display apparatuses using multiple LEDs to display figures and the like are known. The normally-on LED display apparatus must satisfy general requirements such as small size, low price, and high quality display and other performances, particularly low power consumption and operation with a low voltage power source.
Such LED display apparatuses are known from the Japanese Patent Publication Nos. 9 (1997)-81211 (Patent Document 1), 5 (1993)-129665 (Patent Document 2), 5 (1993)-131681 (Patent Document 3), 8 (1996)-194448 (Patent Document 4), and 2001-109433 (Patent Document 5). Patent Document 1 discloses a display circuit having a constant current power source, multiple serially-connected light emitting elements serially-connected to the constant current power source, and bypass circuits provided one each to the light emitting elements and parallel-connected to the corresponding one of them wherein the bypass circuit shorts between the ends of the corresponding light emitting element at sufficiently smaller resistance than that of the corresponding light emitting element in response to supplied control signals. Patent Document 2 discloses an LED drive circuit comprising a set of light emitting elements serially-connected in the forward direction, a constant current power source supplying the set of light emitting elements with a constant current, a set of switching elements each parallel-connected to one of the set of light emitting elements to turn on/off the corresponding light emitting element based on external control signals. Patent Document 3 discloses an LED array apparatus comprising an LED array consisting of a number of LEDs juxtaposed and a circuit controlling the conduction of the individual LEDs wherein the LED array apparatus is provided with an LED array consisting of serially-connected LEDs, switching elements each parallel-connected to one of the LEDs, and a constant current unit powering the LED array. Patent Document 4 discloses a display apparatus comprising a light source constituted by a serial element consisting of multiple serially-connected LEDs wherein a constant current element is serially-connected to the serial element. Patent Document 5 discloses a dot matrix display apparatus in which multiple scanning electrodes and multiple signal electrodes intersect in a matrix form and a display element is driven by the voltage between the scanning electrode and the signal electrode at each intersection of the matrix wherein a rectifying element is electrically connected in a specific electrode direction between a scanning electrode and a reference voltage terminal supplying a given reference potential and the charge on the scanning electrode is discharged to the reference voltage terminal via the rectifying element.
However, the above described prior art LED display apparatuses have the following problems.
First, a necessary number of LEDs are serially-connected in Patent Documents 1, 2 and 3. Therefore, in Patent Documents 1, 2 and 3, a higher drive voltage is required in correspondence with the number of LEDs to be used, leading to a larger power source and increased cost. If a higher drive voltage is not available, the number of LEDs to be used is limited or their luminance may be lowered. When the LEDs are parallel-connected, the luminance may not be uniform and the power consumption is increased.
A necessary number of LEDs are used in a combination of serial-connection and parallel-connection, in other words they are connected in a matrix array in Patent Documents 4 and 5. When a matrix connection is used, the drawbacks with the serial-connection and parallel-connection can be eliminated to a certain extent. However, the parallel circuits (row) or serial circuits (column) are controlled as a group. Therefore, the individual LEDs are not controlled, disadvantageously limiting display applications.

LED display apparatus having a column and row controller


The present invention is directed to crystalline forms of 6-[[(3S,4R)-3,4-dihydro-3-hydroxy-6-[(3-hydroxypheny)sulfonyl]-2,2,3-trimethyl-2H-1-benzopyran-4-yl]oxy]-2-methyl-3(2H)-pyridazinone, formulations containing at least one of these crystalline forms and their use to promote hair growth.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,912,244 ("the '244 patent") discloses the compound 6-[[(3S,4R)-3,4-dihydro-3-hydroxy-6-[(3-hydroxyphenyl)sulfonyl]-2,2,3-trimethyl-2H-1-benzopyran-4-yl]oxy]-2-methyl-3(2H)-pyridazinone (hereinafter "the Compound"), methods for its preparation and its use as a potassium channel opener. The '244 discloses that potassium channel openers may be used to treat diseases associated with altered tone or motility of smooth muscles. Examples of such conditions include chronic obstructive airway disease, asthma, urinary incontinence, hypertension, myocardial ischemia, cerebral ischemia, and glaucoma.
Example 7 of the '244 patent illustrates the preparation of the Compound, as the ethanol solvate. The ethanol solvate converts to an amorphous form over time. New crystalline forms of the Compound, having enhanced crystalline stability, would be an improvement over the prior art. Such forms would be more amenable to handling and formulating into finished dosage forms at clinical or industrial scale.
Copending, commonly assigned, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 60/544,116 (the '116 application) discloses the use of the Compound to promote hair growth in mammals. The '116 application discloses that the Compound stimulates the growth of the hair follicle, increases the number of follicles in the anagen phase and increases the period of time that follicles remain in the anagen phase (i.e., increases the anagen to telogen ratio).


A metal-to-metal antifuse according to the present invention is disposed between a lower conductive electrode and an upper conductive electrode. The conductive electrodes may comprise either a barrier metal or a tungsten plug, and are each in electrical contact with a metal layer, usually a metal interconnect layer in an integrated circuit. An antifuse material is disposed between the lower and upper conductive electrodes and comprises a layer of amorphous silicon. The antifuse layer is sandwiched between two layers of silicon nitride.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to metal-to-metal antifuse technology. More particularly, the present invention relates to a metal-to-metal antifuse having an improved radiation single event dielectric rupture (SEDR).
2. The Prior Art
Metal-to-metal antifuses are well known in the art. These devices are usually formed between two metal interconnect layers in an integrated circuit and comprises a layer of antifuse material, usually amorphous silicon or an alloy thereof sandwiched between a pair of lower and upper conductive electrodes, each electrode in electrical contact with one of the two metal interconnect layers.
Metal-to-metal antifuses are susceptible to SEDR. A high-energy ion striking the antifuse can set up momentary conduction path in the antifuse material, which can, under certain circumstances, cause the antifuse to become inadvertently programmed. This inadvertent programming phenomenon presents a reliability issue for antifuse-based products intended for use in environments, such as space applications, where radiation is expected to be encountered.
A metal-to-metal antifuse according to the present invention is disposed between a lower conductive electrode and an upper conductive electrode. The conductive electrodes may comprise either a barrier metal or a tungsten plug, and are each in electrical contact with a metal layer, usually a metal interconnect layer in an integrated circuit. An antifuse material is disposed between the lower and upper conductive electrodes and comprises a layer of amorphous silicon. The antifuse layer is sandwiched between two layers of silicon nitride.
A method for fabricating a metal-to-metal antifuse according to the present invention comprises forming a lower conductive electrode, forming a first layer of silicon nitride, forming an antifuse layer, forming a second layer of silicon nitride, and forming an upper conductive electrode.


A wafer-slip detection apparatus used in association with a chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) apparatus may include an imaging device that generates images corresponding to at least an area of a rotation table of the CMP apparatus, and an image processing unit coupled to the imaging device for receiving and processing the generated images during a CMP process. The image processing unit includes a reference image that is compared with each of the generated images for detecting a wafer presence within the at least an area of the rotation table, whereby the detected wafer presence is indicative of a wafer-slip event.

a. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) processes, and more particularly, to determining wafer-slip during such CMP processes.
b. Background of Invention
Chemical Mechanical Polishing/Planarization (CMP) may include a process of smoothing surfaces by utilizing a combination of chemical and mechanical forces. CMP may therefore serve as a hybrid between chemical etching and free abrasive polishing. However, it may, among other things, be imperative to retain semiconductor wafers undergoing CMP processes in place within CMP apparatuses. A failure to do so may, in some instances, cause such wafers to slip from their retaining means and ultimately break.

Wafer slip detection during CMP processing


Methods for preventing the failure of disk drives in storage systems are disclosed. A system and a computer program product for preventing the failure are also disclosed. Factors relating to the aging or early onset of errors in a disk drive are monitored. These factors are then compared to thresholds. In case the thresholds are exceeded, an indication for the replacement of the disk drive is given. Sudden rises in the factors are also used to indicate the impeding failure of disk drives.

The present invention relates generally to digital processing systems. More specifically, the present invention relates to a method of prevention of failures of disk drives in high availability storage systems.
Typically, in computing applications, data storage systems include storage devices such as hard disk drives, floppy drives, tape drives, compact disks, and the like. An increase in the amount and complexity of these applications has resulted in a proportional increase in the demand for larger storage capacities. Consequently, the production of high capacity storage devices has increased in the past few years. However, large storage capacities demand reliable storage devices with reasonably high data transfer rates. Moreover, the storage capacity of a single storage device cannot be increased beyond a certain limit. Hence, various data storage system configurations and topologies using multiple storage devices are commonly used to meet the growing demand for increased storage capacity.
A configuration of the data storage system to meet the growing demand involves the use of multiple small disk drives. Such a configuration permits redundancy of stored data. Redundancy ensures data integrity in case of device failures. In many such data storage systems, recovery from common failures can be automated within the data storage system itself using data redundancy, such as parity, and its generation with the help of a central controller. However, such data redundancy schemes may be an overhead to the data storage system. These data storage systems are typically referred to as Redundant Array of Inexpensive/Independent Disks (RAID). The 1988 publication by David A. Patterson, et al., from University of California at Berkeley, titled 'A Case for Redundant Arrays of Inexpensive Disks (RAID)', describes the fundamental concepts of the RAID technology.
RAID storage systems suffer from inherent drawbacks that reduce their availability. In case one disk drive in the RAID storage system fails, data can be reconstructed with the help of redundant drives. The reconstructed data is then stored in a replacement disk drive. During reconstruction, the data on the failed drive is unavailable. Further, if more than one disk drive fails, data on both drives cannot be reconstructed if there is single drive redundancy, typical of most RAID storage systems. The probability of failure increases as the number of disk drives in a RAID storage system increases. Therefore, RAID storage systems with large numbers of disk drives are typically organized into several smaller RAID systems. This reduces the probability of failure of large RAID systems. Further, the use of smaller RAID systems also reduces the time it takes to reconstruct data on a spare disk drive in the event of a disk drive failure. When a RAID system loses a critical number of disk drives, there is a period of vulnerability from the time the disk drives fail until the time data reconstruction on the spare drives completes. During this time interval, the RAID system is exposed to the possibility of additional disk drives failing which would cause a catastrophic failure. A catastrophic failure of a RAID system results in unrecoverable data loss. If the failure of a one or more disk drives can be predicted with sufficient time to replace the drive or drives before a failure or failures, and a drive or drives can be replaced without sacrificing fault tolerance, the data reliability and availability can be considerably enhanced.
There exist a number of methods for predicting impending failure of disk drives in storage systems. One such method is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,727,144, titled 'Failure Prediction for Disk Arrays', assigned to International Business Machines Corporation, NY, and filed on Jul. 12, 1996. In this method, failure is predicted with the help of error analysis. This includes flyheight analysis and error log analysis. In flyheight analysis, the failure is predicted if the flyheight of the read/write head above the disk head is too low. In error log analysis, seek error rates, sector reassign rates, and the like, are compared with thresholds. If these factors exceed the thresholds, then failure is predicted. Data of the disk drive, for which the monitored factors have exceeded the thresholds, is copied onto a spare disk drive before the failure occurs. Further, if the disk drive fails before the data is completely copied, the contents of the failed disk drive are rebuilt.
Storageflex RAID systems, manufactured by Storageflex, Ontario, Canada predict failure of disk drives with the help of Self-Monitoring, Analysis, and Reporting Technology (SMART) attributes. SMART is an interface between a disk drive and a drive controller. The drive controller receives information from disk drives, through the SMART interface, in the form of attributes. SMART attributes that are monitored in Storageflex RAID systems include head flying height, data throughput performance, spin-up time, reallocated sector count, seek error rate, seek time performance, spin try recount and drive calibration retry count.
However, the methods and systems described above suffer from one or more of the following shortcomings. Disk drive manufacturers recommend some key factors for predicting disk drive failure. The manufacturers also recommend thresholds, which the factors should not exceed. The systems described above do not consider these factors. Further, the systems do not consider the sudden rise of these factors for predicting failure of disk drives.

Method and system for proactive drive replacement for high availability storage systems


A nonvolatile memory device includes a memory gate including a memory layer provided over a substrate and a gate electrode provided over the memory layer, the memory gate having first and second opposing sidewalls disposed on first and second sides of the memory gate, respectively; first and second select gates disposed on the first and second sidewalls of the memory gate; a source region formed in the substrate proximate to the first side of the memory gate; a drain region formed in the substrate proximate to the second side of the memory gate; and a gate contact coupled to the gate electrode of the memory gate and to the first select gate, or the second select gate, or both.

1. Field
Embodiments relate to a semiconductor device fabrication technology, and more particularly, to a nonvolatile memory device and a method for fabricating the same.
2. Description of the Related Art
A life environment is being changed such that anyone can conveniently use desired information anytime and anywhere, thanks to recently developed digital media devices. A variety of rapidly spreading digital devices require storage media capable of conveniently storing captured images, recorded music and various data. In order to meet this requirement, there is a growing interest in the field of a system-on-chip (SoC) according to a trend towards a high degree of integration of non-memory semiconductors, and semiconductor manufacturers compete to invest in the field of SoC in an effort to strengthen SoC-based technology. A SoC refers to system technologies that are integrated in one semiconductor. If a system design technology is not secured, it may be difficult to develop non-memory semiconductors.
A type of SoC where complicated technologies are integrated, is an embedded memory. A memory which is highlighted among embedded memories is a flash memory. Flash memory may be divided into a NOR type and a NAND type. A NOR type flash memory is mainly used in embedded memories. Also, a flash memory may be divided into a floating gate type and a silicon-oxide-nitride-oxide-silicon (SONOS) type. Recently, research has been actively conducted for the SONOS type.
FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a conventional nonvolatile memory device.
Describing a conventional SONOS type flash memory device with reference to FIG. 1, a memory gate (MG) in which a memory layer 105 and a gate electrode 106 are stacked is formed on a substrate 101, and spacers 107 are formed on both sidewalls of the memory gate MG. Source/drain regions 108 are formed in the substrate 101 on both sides of the memory gate MG. The memory layer 105 is an oxide-nitride-oxide (ONO) layer in which a first oxide layer 102, a nitride layer 103 and a second oxide layer 104 are sequentially stacked. The gate electrode 106 serves as a control gate.
In the flash memory device having the above structure, a problem may be caused in that over-erase is likely to occur in an erase operation. In order to solve this problem, an additional operation such as recovery is used, and due to this fact, the size of a peripheral circuit may increase.
Further, while the conventional flash memory device uses a hot carrier injection (HCI) scheme for a program operation, since the HCI scheme consumes a large amount of current for programming, the HCI scheme is inappropriate for an embedded memory.

Nonvolatile memory device and method for fabricating the same


The invention is designed to be used for the large outdoor fires such as fires on the U.S. Navy's aircraft carriers, in forests and grasslands and at airports and chemical plants. The operators of an “assist unit” should always be behind the firefighters. At long range it can blow fire suppressors into a fire and smother it. The suppressors can be water or chemicals by the firefighters. Soot, ashes, dirt or sand around a fire itself are good suppressors. The “assist unit” will blow them into the fire and it blows away the smoke and fumes as well. There are two versions of the “assist unit”: the ALL MANUAL one and the VEHICLE MOUNTED one.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to the field of firefighting. Specifically, it relates to a unit that can assist in combating large dangerous outdoor fires effectively. The unit is very easy to use.
2. Description of the Related Art
Any discussion of the prior art throughout the specification should in no way be considered as an admission that such prior art is widely known or forms part of common general knowledge in the field.
For years firefighters have used ventilation fans of various types, designs and sizes. They are good for small and large structure fires. They are not designed to combat the large dangerous outdoor fires such as fires on the U.S. Navy's aircraft carriers, in forests and grasslands and at airports and chemical plants.


The present invention relates to a baby carrier belt, and more particularly, to a no-noise detachable baby carrier belt, which does not generate noise when the belt is fastened and unfastened so as to prevent a baby or an infant who is sleeping in a baby carrier from awaking from sleep due to noise generated when the belt is fastened and unfastened.

In general, a mother or a father supports his or her baby's weight with the two arms when he or she holds his or her baby, but he or she cannot freely use his or her arms and such a posture is as hard on the arms when he or she holds his or her baby with the two arms for a long time.
Therefore, a mother or a father uses a carrier blanket to carry a baby on his or her back or nestle the baby in his or her breast, but such a carrier blanket is as hard on the shoulders because the baby's weight is concentrated on the mother's or the father's shoulders.
Recently, a baby carrier with a hip seat fastened around a mother's or father's waist and pelvis to disperse the baby's weight has been widely used.
Such a baby carrier includes a waist belt 10 as illustrated in FIG. 1 to fasten the baby carrier on a user's body, a hip seat 11 formed on the waist belt to allow a baby to sit thereon, and a shoulder strap (not shown) detachably attached to the waist belt 10.
The conventional waist belt 10 includes Velcro fasteners 12 formed at both ends of the waist belt 10 to be easily fastened or unfastened around the user's waist, such that the user can fasten and unfasten the waist belt 10 around the user's waist using the Velcro fasteners 12.
However, when the user unfastens the waist belt 10 in order to lay down the baby after lulling the baby to sleep using the baby carrier, the Velcro fasteners 12 generate a loud noise, and so the baby awakes from sleep due to the noise.


A forming tool and method for its use with flat pre-preg composite laminate assemblies which incorporates a mandrel segmented into multiple forming blocks, the forming blocks sized to receive a draped composite laminate assembly with all portions of the composite laminate assembly spaced from a shaping surface on each block. A spline plate engages the shaping surface of the forming blocks to provide a neutral axis for maintaining the entire composite laminate assembly in tension during forming. In the exemplary embodiments, the draped composite laminate assembly is formed to the forming blocks from the flat composite laminate assembly and maintained in contact with the forming blocks using a vacuum bag. The mandrel forming blocks arc then displaced to a desired curvature on the spline plate.

1. Field
This invention relates generally to the forming of composite structures and more particularly to a forming method and tooling for single or multiple axis forming of a flat epoxy pre-impregnated laminate (pre-preg) charge using a flexible mandrel maintaining the entire cross section of the mandrel and part under tension during the curve forming operation.
2. Background
Replacement of machined, cast, forged or stamped metallic structural elements such as aluminum wing ribs, in an aerospace industry example, with composite structures is becoming highly desirable for weight reduction and performance enhancement of structural assemblies. For the composite wing rib example, without limitation, ribs may be similar to built-up aluminum ribs, using separate webs, chords and stiffeners. All of the parts may be produced primarily from epoxy pre-impregnated composite tape which typically is placed manually on a predetermine shaped mandrel followed by curing within an autoclave.
The two fundamental approaches presently in the art are to assemble composite laminate onto a tooling form in a predetermined manner in its final shape on the cure mandrel, or assemble in a predetermined manner a flat charge of composite laminate, mechanically form it to shape, and then cure it.
Forming of composite elements which have variable contour with local areas having a contour as tight as 300 inch radius currently requires manual layup on a shaped mandrel. At a typical rate of one pound per hour per employee, manual laminate assembly of the large structural elements is not an economical approach for full production applications. Automated lay-up of composite structural elements directly on cure mandrels is possible with modified fiber placement machines. However, such an approach requires specific machine development with associated very high capital investment.
It is therefore desirable to assemble in a predetermined manner flat composite laminate assemblies or charges and form them to shape. Flat charges are typically manufactured using composite tape automation methods and these machines are very cost effective at producing flat charges. Capability is readily available with current manufacturing processes to drape form flat charges to a channel shape on a flexible mandrel and then cure the mandrel. However, this process is suitable for large radius bends only. At radii of 1500 inches or less, there may be problems of causing buckles in the pre-preg composite laminate assembly.
It is also therefore desirable to provide a method and tooling for shaping and cure of flat charge layups of pre-preg materials with single or multiple centers of curvature which precludes buckling of composite assembly.

Method and apparatus for contouring composite pre-preg articles