A mobile display device capable of communicating with a host computer depending upon whether it is coupled with a docking station. The mobile display device includes a wired module for receiving the wired input signal applied from the docking station and converting the wired input signal into a first video signal; a wireless module for converting the wired or wireless input signal applied from the host computer into a second video signal; a display panel for reproducing the first video signal and the second video signal; and a display controller for converting the first and second video signals applied to the display panel from the wired module and the wireless module depending upon whether the mobile display device is coupled with the docking station, and applying to the display panel a control signal for turning on and off images reproduced from the display panel upon the above-described conversions.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a mobile display device and a mobile display system, and more particularly, to a mobile display device and a mobile display system capable of minimizing noise and electric power consumption which occur upon view switchovers in the mobile display device, and an image signal reproducing method of the mobile display device.
2. Description of the Related Art
In general, a computer system is provided with a display device, an input device, a processor, a memory, and a storage part for storing programs or Operating Systems. In such a computer system, a user has difficulties in doing his or her jobs when using the computer system beyond a certain distance. The user with a mobile notebook or a laptop computer undergoes the same difficulties, so the user has to stay close to a computer system connected with a display device all the time even when he or she surfs the web or watches moving pictures. As for such a problem, Microsoft Corporation has provided a smart display device which is a mobile display device receiving and sending video data in a wired or a wireless manner with a computer system.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram for conceptually showing a conventional mobile display system.
The mobile display system shown in FIG. 1 has a host computer 10 for outputting wired and wireless video signals, a docking station 20 for receiving and sending data in a wired manner with the host computer 10, and a mobile display device 30 detachably mounted to the docking station 20, for receiving a wireless video signal outputted from the host computer 10. The mobile display device 30 operates in a fashion similar to a display device provided for a general computer system, when mounted on the docking station 20. Meanwhile, the mobile display device 30 performs wireless communications with the host computer 10 when the mobile display device 30 is released from the docking station 20. The wireless communications are performed according to a communication code such as 802.11b, and the mobile display device 30 receives a wireless video signal sent from the host computer 10 and reproduces the video signal on a screen. At this time, if the mobile display device 30 is provided with a touch panel, a command can be simply executed through the touch panel, and, when the mobile display device 30 is used to surf the web, a user can use the mobile display device, carrying it with him or her, in a distance range in which communications are available with the host computer 10.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram for showing a conventional mobile display device 30.
The mobile display device shown in FIG. 2 has a wireless module 31, a wired module 32, a docking detector 33, a switching part 34, a switching controller 35, and a display panel 36.
The wireless module 31 receives a wireless input signal applied from the host computer 10, and decodes and converts the wireless input signal into video signal data2. Further, the wireless module 31 applies a control signal ctr2 to the display panel 36 through the switching part 34 to enable the display panel 36 when a video signal is sent to the display panel 36.
The wired module 32 receives a wired input signal applied from the host computer 10 when the mobile display part 30 is coupled with the docking station 20 shown in FIG. 1, decodes and converts the wired input signal into a video signal data1. The converted wired input signal data1 is applied to the display panel 36 for reproduction, and, like the wireless module 31, when the wired module 32 applies the video signal data1 to the display panel 36, the control signal ctr1 is also applied to the display panel 36 to enable the display panel 36.
The docking detector 33 detects whether the mobile display device 30 and the docking station 20 are coupled.
The switching part 34 selectively applies to the display panel 36 the video signals data1 and data2 and the control signals ctr1 and ctr2 respectively outputted from the wireless module 31 and the wired module 32 depending upon a result of the detection of the docking detector 33. For example, if the mobile display part 30 and the docking station 20 are coupled with each other as determined by the docking detector 33, the switching part 34 passes only the video signal data1 and the control signal ctr1 which are applied to the display panel 36 from the wired module 32, and, if the mobile display part 30 and the docking station 20 are released from each other, the switching part 34 passes only the video signal data2 and the control signal ctr1 which are applied to the display panel 36 from the wireless module 31.
The switching controller 35 applies to the wired module 32 and the wireless module 31 information on whether the docking station 20 and the mobile display part 30 are coupled with each other or released from each other, to thereby have the wired module 32 and the wireless module 31 share information for turning on or off the display panel 36. For example, if the docking station 20 and the mobile display device 30 are released from each other while the wired module 32 applies the video signal data1 to the display panel 36, the switching controller 35 receives the release state from the docking detector 33, notifies the wired module 32 of the release state, and enables the wireless module 31. Accordingly, the wired module 32 stops sending the video signal data1 to the display panel 36, and sends the control signal ctr1 to turn off the display panel 36. If the control signal ctr1 is completely sent from the wired module 32 to the display panel 36, the wired module 32 notifies the switching controller 35 of the complete transmission, and the switching controller 35 instructs the wireless module 31 to send the video signal data2 after the switching controller 35 is notified. The wireless module 31 applies the video signal data1 to the display panel 36 through the switching part 34 in response to the instruction of the switching controller 35, and also applies the control signal ctr2 to turn on the display panel 36. At this time, the switching controller 35 enables the switching part 34 to pass signals between the wireless module 31 and the display panel 36.
As stated above, the conventional mobile display device 30 has to have the switching controller 35 recognize the states of the wired module 32 and the wireless module 31 all the time.
That is, at the time when the wireless module 31 applies the video signal data2 to the display panel 36, the wired module 32 applies the control signal ctr1 to the display panel 36 to stop sending a video signal to the display panel 36, and notifies the wireless module 31 through the switching controller 35 of whether the application of the control signal ctr1 is completed, and, at the time when the wired module 32 is to apply the video signal to the display panel 36, the wireless module 31 applies the control signal ctr2 to stop sending the video signal data2 to the display panel 36, and notifies the wired module 32 of whether the application of the control signal ctr2 is completed. Accordingly, the wired module 32 and the wireless module 31 have to share information to recognize each other's states all the time, which increases the complexity of the mobile display device 30 and error possibility upon implementing the information sharing in hardware and software.
In general, the wireless module 31 includes a module (not shown) for communicating with the host computer 10 in the wireless manner, a decoding module (not shown) for decoding a received wireless input signal and producing a video signal, input/output ports (not shown) for recognizing the state of the wired module 32 through the switching controller 35, a processor (not shown) for controlling the above modules and ports, and a memory (not shown), and the wireless module 31 is driven by a built-in operating system such as Windows CE. Accordingly, in order for the wireless module 31 to keep recognizing the states of the wired module 32 through the switching controller 35, the wireless module 31 frequently receives an interrupt signal (not shown) corresponding to a time point at which the wired module 32 is turned on or off, and an interrupt signal (not shown) corresponding to a state of the wired module 32, which increases malfunction possibility in the wireless module 31. Further, since the video signal data2 of the wireless module 31 is applied to the display panel 36 after the video signal data1 applied to the display panel 36 from the wired module 32 is cut off and the wireless module 31 checks the cut-off of the video signal data1, switching noise occurs upon view switchovers of the wired module 32 and wireless module 31. The switching noise renders the screen gray since no video signal is applied to the display panel 36 for a certain period of time, and the switching noise mainly occurs when the video signals data1 and data2 outputted from the wireless module 31 and the wired module 32 are added in the display panel 36. Further, the mobile display part 30 is provided with all the wired module 32 and the wireless module 31, which causes a problem that the mobile display part 30 consumes unnecessary electric power in the wired module 32 when the mobile display part 30 is driven through the wireless module 31.

Mobile display device, mobile display system and image signal reproducing method thereof


An electrostatic chuck includes a dielectric layer 30 formed with an attraction and fix face onto which a plate member 10 is attracted and fixed, wherein the attraction and fix face of the dielectric layer 30 is formed with a plurality of projection parts 32 each with only a tip face abutting the plate member 10 formed as a flat face by grinding and formed with a coolant gas flow path 36 where a coolant gas flows is opened to the flat face of each of the projection parts 32.

1. Technical Field
This invention relates to an electrostatic chuck.
2. Related Arts
Patent Document 1 proposes an electrostatic chuck shown in FIG. 5 as an electrostatic chuck for attracting and fixing a plate member of a wafer, etc.
The electrostatic chuck shown in FIG. 5 is formed with a plurality of projection parts 102, 102, . . . each having a flat tip face, formed on an attraction and fix face of a dielectric layer 100, and an exit of a coolant gas flow path 104 is opened in a valley part formed between the projection parts 102 and 102.
Further, in the electrostatic chuck shown in FIG. 5, the full face of the attraction and fix face containing the tip end faces, side faces, and valley part faces of the projection parts 102 is ground.    [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2003-86664
In the electrostatic chuck shown in FIG. 5, when a plate member 106 is attracted and fixed onto the attraction and fix face of the dielectric layer 100, the plate member 106 and the dielectric layer 100 are in contact with each other on the flat faces formed on the tip faces, and helium as a coolant gas passing through the coolant gas flow path 104 flows out into the valley between the projection parts 102. Thus, heat added to the plate member 106 attracted and fixed onto the attraction and fix face of the dielectric layer 100 can be radiated rapidly.
Further, the full face of the attraction and fix face of the electrostatic chuck is ground and thus when the plate member 106 is attracted and fixed, scattering of particles from the attraction and fix face of the electrostatic chuck can be prevented.
In the electrostatic chuck shown in FIG. 5, however, the full face of the attraction and fix face containing the projection parts 102 of the dielectric layer 100 is ground and thus the manufacturing process of the electrostatic chuck is complicated.
Further, it turned out that the boundary part between the tip face and a side face of the projection parts 102 of the dielectric layer 100 becomes round and the contact area between each tip face and the plate member 106 becomes lower than the design value. It is difficult to predict lowering of the contact area caused by grinding.
By the way, the contact area between the tip face of each of the projection parts 102 and the plate member 106 is important for striking a balance between the attraction force of the plate member 106 and heat removal of the plate member 106 and it is necessary that the contact area does not substantially change before and after grinding.
On the other hand, the grinding is necessary for preventing minute projections of each tip face from scattering as particles when the plate member 106 and the tip faces of the projection parts 102 come in contact with each other.


An optical fiber containing one or more random modulations capable of reflecting one or more random wavelengths of light passing through the optical fiber is provided. Each modulation is a section of the optical fiber in which the refractive index has been modified or a section of random refractive index optical fiber that has been spliced into the optical fiber. The optical fiber is produced by modifying the refractive index of at least one portion of the optical fiber through photo-etching, photo-bleaching, ultraviolet radiation exposure or splicing. The optical fiber containing the random modulation is used to measure one or more engineering parameters by locating the section or portion of the optical fiber containing the random modulation in an area where the engineering parameter is to be measured and measuring the engineering parameter using optical frequency domain reflectometry.

The commercial success of optical fiber telecommunications has fostered the growth of optical fiber sensing applications by providing a ready supply of low cost, high quality components and test equipment. Another enabling characteristic of optical fibers that facilitates their use in fiber sensing is ultraviolet (UV) radiation photosensitivity. This photosensitivity allows the alteration of the internal structure of a fiber waveguide. Modification of the waveguide can be employed for a number of useful purposes. One such useful purpose is to induce a periodic modulation of the refractive index along the fiber core to create a wavelength selective reflector called a fiber Bragg grating (FBG).
A fiber Bragg grating refers to regular, periodically spaced changes in the refractive index made in the core of an optical fiber. These periodic changes reflect a very narrow range of specific wavelengths of light passing through the fiber while transmitting other wavelengths. The period of the change or modulation determines that narrow band of reflected wavelengths. These reflections are small and add together in a phenomenon known as the Bragg reflection, where a single large reflection results from the coherent addition of many small reflections spaced a multiple of half the wavelength apart. The wavelength that is reflected by the fiber Bragg grating can be altered in two ways, altering the temperature or inducing strain in the section of the optical fiber containing the Bragg grating. Therefore, by monitoring the reflected wavelength, Bragg gratings can be used as strain and temperature gauges. In addition, the telecommunications industry has driven their development for use in wavelength division multiplexing, laser transmitter wavelength stabilization, fiber lasers and dispersion compensation.
Other desirable properties of optical fibers include excellent light transmission characteristics over long distances and the ability to fabricate such fibers in lengths of many kilometers. Since the optical fibers can communicate information, for example video, audio, or data, long optical fibers containing one or more fiber Bragg gratings can be used for remote measurement of engineering or environmental parameters. In the petroleum industry, for example, it is important to accurately measure environmental parameters, such as the pressure or temperature being experienced at a certain depth, using an optical fiber, or the strain on that optical fiber at a certain depth. For instance, while drilling, the drill bit may drill into a high pressure layer, and from at least a safety and environmental standpoint it is important to obtain accurate pressure information. Optical fibers can be used to communicate certain environmental and physical parameters from wells being drilled, as well as from already completed wells.
Previous systems using fiber Bragg gratings, however, require a high degree of manufacturing control to produce desired configurations and close correlations between the wavelength response of the fiber Bragg grating and the light source or laser. Therefore, a need remains for optical fibers that can measure engineering parameters and are easier to manufacture and provides a broadband wavelength response.

Random refractive index modulated optical fibers


A solid-state imaging device with a pixel region in which a plurality of pixels with photoelectric conversion films are arrayed and pixel isolation portions are interposed between the plurality of pixels. The photoelectric conversion film is a chalcopyrite-structure compound semiconductor composed of a copper-aluminum-gallium-indium-sulfur-selenium based mixed crystal or a copper-aluminum-gallium-indium-zinc-sulfur-selenium based mixed crystal, and is disposed on a silicon substrate in such a way as to lattice-match the silicon substrate concerned. The pixel isolation portion is a compound semiconductor subjected to doping concentration control or composition control so as to become a potential barrier between the photoelectric conversion films.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a solid-state imaging device, a method for manufacturing the solid-state imaging device, and an electronic apparatus.
2. Description of the Related Art
Electronic apparatuses, e.g., digital video cameras and digital steel cameras, include solid-state imaging devices. For example, complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) type image sensors and charge coupled device (CCD) type image sensors are included as the solid-state imaging devices.
In the solid-state imaging device, a plurality of pixels are arrayed on a surface of a semiconductor substrate. In each pixel, a photoelectric conversion portion is disposed. The photoelectric conversion portion is, for example, a photodiode, and generates a signal charge by receiving light incident through an externally attached optical system with a light-receiving surface and effecting photoelectric conversion.
In the case where a color image is imaged in the solid-state imaging device, in general, the photoelectric conversion portion generates a signal charge by receiving light incident through a color filter with the light-receiving surface and effecting photoelectric conversion. For example, color filters of three primary colors, red, green, and blue, are disposed in a Bayer pattern on an imaging surface, and the light of each color passed through a color filter of each color is received by the photoelectric conversion portion in each pixel.
By the way, regarding the solid-state imaging device, miniaturization and, in addition, an increase in the number of pixel have been desired. In this case, the size of one pixel is reduced and, thereby, it becomes difficult that each pixel receives sufficient amount of light. Therefore, an improvement in image quality of the resulting image is not easy. Consequently, the solid-state imaging device is desired to have higher sensitivity.
In addition to the above description, in the case where high-speed imaging is executed to improve moving image characteristics and in the case where imaging in a dark place is desired, higher sensitivity is especially necessary because the amount of light incident on a pixel is reduced.
Regarding the CMOS type image sensor among solid-state imaging devices, a pixel is configured to include a pixel transistor besides the photoelectric conversion portion. The pixel transistor is configured to read a signal charge generated in the photoelectric conversion portion and output an electric signal to a signal line.
In general, regarding the solid-state imaging device, the photoelectric conversion portion receives light incident from the surface side of a semiconductor substrate, the surface being provided with circuits, wirings, and the like. In this case, the circuits, the wirings, and the like interfere or reflect the incident light and, thereby, it may be difficult to improve the sensitivity.
Consequently, a "backside-illumination type" has been proposed, in which the photoelectric conversion portion receives light incident from the backside opposite to the surface provided with the circuits, the wirings, and the like of the semiconductor substrate (refer to Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2008-182142, for example).
In addition to this, a "layered type" has been proposed, in which photoelectric conversion portions to selectively receive light of individual colors are not arranged in a direction along the imaging surface, but the photoelectric conversion portions for individual colors are arranged while being layered in a depth direction perpendicular to the imaging surface. Here, for example, the plurality of photoelectric conversion portions are formed from materials having band gaps different from each other and are layered in the depth direction, so that light of each color is isolated and detected and a signal is output on a color basis (refer to Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2006-245088, for example).
Furthermore, realization of an improvement of the sensitivity through signal amplification due to avalanche multiplication has been proposed (refer to IEEE Transactions Electron Devices Vol. 44 No. 10 October, 1997 (1997) and IEEE J. Solid-State Circuits, 40, 1847 (2005), for example).
Moreover, realization of an improvement of the sensitivity through the use of a "chalcopyrite based" compound semiconductor film, e.g., a CuInGaSe2 film, having a high optical absorption coefficient in a photoelectric conversion portion has been proposed (refer to Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2007-123720 and The Spring Meeting, 2008 by JSAP, Extended abstracts 29p-ZC-12 (2008), for example).

Solid-state imaging device with pixel isolation portion, method for manufacturing solid-state imaging device, and electronic apparatus


Systems and methods for determining dependencies between processor instructions in multiple phases. In one embodiment, a partial comparison is made between the addresses of a sequence of instructions. Younger instructions having potential dependencies on older instructions are suspended if the partial comparison yields a match. One or more subsequent comparisons are made for suspended instructions based on portions of the addresses referenced by the instructions that were not previously compared. If subsequent comparisons determine that the addresses of the instructions do not match, the suspended instructions are reinstated and execution of the suspended instructions is resumed. In one embodiment, data needed by suspended instructions is speculatively requested in case the instructions are reinstated.

1. Technical Field
The invention relates generally to computing systems, and more particularly to systems and methods for detecting dependencies between processor load/store instructions in multiple phases in order to increase the performance of high speed processors.
2. Related Art
Often, the order of execution of a sequence of instructions by a processor is changed in order for the processor to execute the instructions more efficiently. For example, in the case of a processor that can execute two types of instructions concurrently, the processing efficiency of the processor can be increased by supplying the processor with a sequence of alternating types of instructions. If a large number of consecutive instructions of the first type is received, the processors will be underutilized since only approximately half of the processor will be used.
Changing the order of execution of the instructions can optimize the execution of the instructions but can create other execution problems. For example, if a load instruction that depends on a preceding store instruction is moved ahead of the store instruction, this may result in the load instruction reading invalid data. It is therefore necessary to detect such dependencies in order to be able to avoid such problems.
Several techniques can be employed to detect load/store instruction dependencies and avoid the executing instructions in an order that would result in the use of invalid data. Upon successful detection of a load/store dependency, the execution of dependent instruction may be held until the execution of any instructions on which the instruction depends is complete. Many of the available techniques involve the comparison of the memory addresses referenced by younger and older instructions. If two load/store instructions are reading from and writing to the same address, a potential dependency exists between the instructions.
Performing a full address comparison on all the instructions in an instruction sequence, however, is becoming exceedingly difficult. As memory sizes increase, longer addresses are required to reference memory locations and more time is required to perform comparisons between the addresses. In addition, today's high-speed processors have critical timing specifications. In regard to pipelined processors in particular, there may be only a small amount of time between stages in the pipeline, so it may be especially difficult to perform full address comparisons between stages in the pipeline.
To overcome the timing issue, some systems perform only a partial address comparison. Since only a portion of the addresses is compared, it becomes more probable that the operation can be completed within the imposed time limits. A partial address comparison, however, can falsely identify dependencies between load/store instructions even when dependencies do not actually exist. This is because, while the compared portions of the addresses may match, the remainder of the addresses may not. If the addresses are mistakenly determined to be the same, the corresponding instructions may mistakenly be determined to be dependent, causing the later of the instructions to be suspended. As a result of the unnecessary suspension of load/store instructions caused by the false identification of the partial comparison, the efficiency of the processor is decreased.
It would therefore be desirable to provide systems and methods to reduce the number of falsely identified load/store dependencies between instructions. Moreover, it would be desirable for these systems and methods to be able to operate within the limited time between instruction stages of modern, high-speed processors without delaying the execution of instructions by the processors.

System and method for detecting instruction dependencies in multiple phases


Disclosed herein is a fluorinated bridged carbocyclic compound that can be polymerized by itself or with at least one other ethylenically unsaturated monomer to provide a polymer. The polymer may be used, for example, within a sub-300 nm photoresist composition. Also disclosed is a method to make the bridged carbocyclic compound.

The present invention relates generally to bridged carbocyclic compounds. This invention also relates to the use of these compounds, for example, as monomers that can be homopolymerized or copolymerized with other reactive components to make resins within sub-200 nanometer (nm) photoresist compositions.
Photoresists are photosensitive films that are used for the transfer of images to a substrate. In a typical lithography process, a substrate is generally coated with either a positive or negative photoresist coating. The photoresist-coated substrate is then exposed through a photomask to an activating radiation source which transfers the pattern of the photomask onto the photoresist-coated substrate. Depending upon whether the photoresist coating is positive or negative, the radiation source either increases or decreases its solubility in a subsequently applied developer solution. In a positive photoresist coating, the areas masked from the radiation source remain after development while the exposed areas are dissolved away whereas in a negative photoresist coating the opposite occurs. The patterned photoresist image acts as a mask for subsequent substrate patterning processes such as etching, doping, and/or coating with metals, other semiconductor materials, or insulating materials.
Current interest in the semiconductor industry has increased in photoresists that can be photoimaged with short wavelength radiation, i.e., exposure radiation of about 200 nm or less such as 193 nm (ArF laser) or 157 nm (F2 excimer beam laser) wavelengths. Short exposure wavelengths may allow for the formation of smaller features within the semiconductor device. In this connection, a photoresist that can provide well-resolved images after exposure to a 193 nm or 157 nm wavelength radiation source may allow for the formation of relatively smaller (e.g., sub-0.25 μm) features. Smaller device features meet the industry demands for smaller dimension circuit patterns and provide for greater circuit density and enhanced device performance.
Photoresist materials, particularly sub-200 nm materials, are particularly challenging to develop because of the need to balance a variety of different performance characteristics. Photoresist materials should ideally provide high transparency at the exposure wavelength, sufficient resistance to plasma-etching processes, and functional groups that are capable of undergoing sufficient photochemical transformations that change the solubility in developer solutions. Besides these, other important characteristics include, but are not limited to, reasonably simple synthesis procedures, adhesion to the underlying substrate, glass transition temperatures compatible with typical processing temperatures, acceptable shelf storage lifetime, and minimum toxicological risk.
The prior art discloses a variety of monomers that can be polymerized and used as base resins within photoresist compositions for sub-200 nm applications. For the higher end of this range (e.g. 193 nm), cycloaliphatic structures have drawn the most attention. For lower wavelength applications (e.g. 157 nm), the monomers tend to have one or more electron-withdrawing groups such as fluorine or hydroxyl and one or more cyclic structures. It is believed that the combination of the electron-withdrawing groups and the one or more cyclic structures improve the performance of the photoresist composition, particularly transparency.
The preparation of bicyclo[2.2.1]hept-5-ene-2-(1,1,1-trifluoro-2-trifluoromethylpropan-2-ol), also known as NBHFA, and its use in photoresist polymers was first described by H. Ito, et al., "Synthesis and Evaluation of Alicyclic Backbone Polymers for 193 nm Lithography", American Chemical Society, 1998. Since then it has become an industry benchmark for 157 nm photoresists. The norbornene monomers disclosed therein were synthesized by a Diels-Alder Reaction. One reaction disclosed within the reference is as follows:
The optical density (OD) of the homopolymer (expressed as Absorption at 157 nm divided by the film thickness) was later reported to be 1.7 micrometers−1 (Ito et al, SPIE Proceedings, Vol. 4690 (2002), 18–28).
U.S. Patent Application US2002/0004570 ("Zampini I") describes photoresist compositions that contain polymerized units of cyclic olefin monomers having one or more pendant cyclic electron-withdrawing groups. The pendant cyclic electron-withdrawing groups disclosed may be N-based, O-based, or S-based.
European published patent application WO 02/21214 ("Zampini II") discloses base resins within 157 nm photoresist compositions that contain at least one electronegative group that includes aromatic groups such as phenolic moieties. In this connection, Zampini II specifically describes vinyl ether entities that incorporate fluorinated aromatic structures as the electronegative group.
European published patent application WO 02/21213 ("Taylor") describes resins that are used within photoresist compositions that contain photoacid-labile deblocking groups substituted with one or more electron-withdrawing groups. The electron-withdrawing moieties within the resin are bonded to the blocking group so that the acid-catalyzed blocking and deblocking reactions are relatively unaffected by their presence.
Japanese Application JP 2002/179,731 (Chemical Abstracts 137:54625; "Harada I") discloses photoresist resins that contain the structure: CO2CR1R2R where R1 and R2=H, F, or a C1-20 alkyl and R=C3-20 cyclic alkyl. In addition, Harada I describes an acrylate resin that contains fluorinated alkyl groups in ester side chains.
U.S. Patent Application 2002/0051936 ("Harada II") describes an acrylic resin that contains repeating units containing a fluorinated hydrocarbon group, an acid labile group, and an adhesive group. Harada II describes one of the units, preferably the acid labile group, as having at least one alicyclic structure. Harada II also describes acrylic polymers containing the structure —O—C(R1R2)—C(H)(R3)R4, where R1, R2, R3, and R4 are H, F, or an unsubstituted or fluorinated, straight, branched or cyclic alkyl group. Transparencies are reported from 25–45% for 200 nm films measured by transmission spectroscopy.
European Application EP 1 126 322 describes resins for use in a 157 nm photoresist that contain fluorinated ester groups. Transparencies are reported from 40–60% for 300 nm films measured by transmission spectroscopy.
European Application EP 1,103,856 ("Tsutsumi") describes a fluorine-containing resin that contains polymerized units of an acrylic or methacrylic acid ester wherein the ester moiety comprises a fluorine-containing group. Tsutsumi further describes moieties where the fluorine-containing group has a cyclic structure such as a fluorine-containing benzene ring, a fluorine-containing cyclopentane ring, a fluorine-containing cyclohexane ring, or a fluorine-containing cycloheptane ring. Transparencies are reported from 51–68% for 100 nm films measured by transmission spectroscopy.
US 0059710A1 discloses the following composition useful as a photoresist composition:

wherein Re is a hydrogen atom or an organic group; W2 is a linkage group; Rf is a hydrogen atom or a hydroxyl-protecting group; and Rz is a group containing a fluorine atom, where carbon atoms constituting the ring in the formula may each have a substituent. Additionally, US 0059710A1 discloses in Example 14, the reaction of 5-hydroxybicyclo[2.2.1]-2-heptene and hexafluoroacetone to produce 5-[1,1-bis(trifluoromethyl)-1-hydroxymethyl]oxybicyclo[2.2.1]-2-heptene:

WO 00/67072 discloses the following composition useful as a photoresist

As described in Example 3 of WO 00/67072, the photoresist material was made by reacting sodium hydride, hexafluoroisobutylene epoxide, and 5-norbornene-2-methanol in anhydrous DMF. Sodium hydride is pyrophoric, making this process difficult to commercialize.
Many of the monomers that are known to be useful in a photoresist material must be copolymerized with fluoroolefins or the like to form a useful photoresist material, for example, see the "Binder 2 Preparation Procedure" on page 24 of WO 02/31595 A2 which uses 70 parts TFE in a pressurized vessel when making a copolymer to be used as a photoresist material. The tetrafluoroethylene provides improved transparency to the copolymer; however, the tetrafluoroethylene decreases the etch resistance, and causes poor adhesion, and additionally complicates the reaction to make the photoresist material.
Accordingly, there is a need in the art to provide novel resins polymerized from novel monomers that provide high transparency at sub-200nm wavelengths. These monomers can be used to make homopolymers useful as photoresist materials, if desired. There is also a need in the art for new industrial processes to make fluorine-containing monomers providing improved transparencies.
All references cited herein are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

Bridged carbocyclic compounds and methods of making and using same


A non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery includes a positive electrode having a positive electrode active material layer containing a positive electrode active material, a negative electrode having a negative electrode active material, a separator interposed between the positive electrode and the negative electrode, an electrode assembly comprising the positive electrode, the negative electrode, and the separator, and a non-aqueous electrolyte impregnated in the electrode assembly. The positive electrode active material contains at least cobalt or manganese. The positive electrode has an end-of-charge potential of 4.40 V versus the potential of a lithium reference electrode. The positive electrode active material layer is superficially coated with a polymer layer composed of a polymer having a partially cross-linked structure and a molecular weight of 800,000 or greater.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to improvements in non-aqueous electrolyte secondary batteries, such as lithium-ion batteries, and more particularly to, for example, a battery structure that is excellent in cycle performance and storage performance under high-temperature conditions and that exhibits high reliability even with a high power battery design.
2. Description of Related Art
Mobile information terminal devices such as mobile telephones, notebook computers, and PDAs have become smaller and lighter at a rapid pace in recent years. This has led to a demand for higher capacity batteries as the drive power source for the mobile information terminal devices. With their high energy density and high capacity, lithium-ion batteries that perform charge and discharge by transferring lithium ions between the positive and negative electrodes have been widely used as the driving power sources for the mobile information terminal devices.
The mobile information terminal devices tend to have higher power consumption according to the functions of the devices, such as a moving picture playing function and gaming functions. It is strongly desired that the lithium-ion batteries that are the drive power source for the devices have further higher capacities and higher performance in order to achieve longer battery life and improved output power.
Under these circumstances, research and development efforts to provide lithium-ion batteries with higher capacities have been underway. These efforts center around attempts to reduce the thickness of the battery can, the separator, or positive and negative electrode current collectors (e.g., aluminum foils or copper foils), as disclosed in Japanese Published Unexamined Patent Application No. 2002-141042, which are not involved in the power generating element, as well as attempts to increase the filling density of active materials (improvements in electrode filling density). These techniques, however, seem to be approaching their limits, and fundamental improvements such as finding alternative materials have become necessary to achieve a greater capacity in lithium-ion batteries. Nevertheless, regarding attempts to increase the battery capacity through alternative positive and negative electrode active materials, there are few candidate materials for positive electrode active materials that are comparable or superior to the state-of-the-art lithium cobalt oxide in terms of capacity and performance, although alloy-based negative electrodes with Si, Sn, etc. as negative electrode active materials appear to be promising.
Under these circumstances, we have developed a battery with an increased capacity by raising the end-of-charge voltage of the battery, using lithium cobalt oxide as the positive electrode active material, from the currently common 4.2 V to a higher region to increase the utilization depth (charge depth). The reason why such an increase in the utilization depth can achieve a higher battery capacity may be briefly explained as follows. The theoretical capacity of lithium cobalt oxide is about 273 mAh/g, but a battery rated at 4.2 V (the battery with an end-of-charge voltage of 4.2 V) utilizes only up to about 160 mAh/g, which means that it is possible to increase the battery capacity up to about 200 mAh/g by raising the end-of-charge voltage to 4.4 V. Raising the end-of-charge voltage to 4.4 V in this way accomplishes about a 10% increase in the overall battery capacity.
When lithium cobalt oxide is used at a high voltage as described above, the oxidation power of the charged positive electrode active material increases. Consequently, decomposition of the electrolyte solution is accelerated, and moreover, the delithiated positive electrode active material itself loses stability of the crystal structure. Accordingly, most important issues to be resolved have been the cycle life deterioration and the performance deterioration during storage due to crystal disintegration. We have already found that addition of zirconia, aluminum, or magnesium to lithium cobalt oxide can achieve comparable performance to the 4.2 V battery even at a higher voltage under room temperature conditions. However, as recent mobile devices require higher power consumption, it is essential to ensure battery performance under high-temperature operating conditions so that the battery can withstand continuous operation in high temperature environments. For this reason, there is an imminent need to develop technology that can ensure sufficient battery reliability even under high temperature conditions, not just under room temperature conditions.
It has been found that the positive electrode of a battery with an elevated end-of-charge voltage loses stability of the crystal structure and shows a considerable battery performance deterioration especially at high temperature. Although the details are not yet clear, there are indications of decomposition products of the electrolyte solution and dissolved elements from the positive electrode active material (dissolved cobalt in the case of using lithium cobalt oxide) as far as we can see from the results of an analysis, and it is believed that these products and elements are the primary causes of the deterioration in cycle performance and storage characteristics under high temperature conditions.
In particular, in the battery system that employs a positive electrode active material composed of lithium cobalt oxide, lithium manganese oxide, lithium-nickel-cobalt-manganese composite oxide, or the like, high temperature storage causes the following problems. When stored at high temperature, cobalt or manganese dissociates into ions and dissolves away from the positive electrode, and subsequently, these elements deposit on the negative electrode and the separator as they are reduced at the negative electrode. This results in an increase in the battery internal resistance and the resulting capacity deterioration. Furthermore, when the end-of-charge voltage of the lithium-ion battery is raised as described above, the instability of the crystal structure is worsened, and the foregoing problems are exacerbated, so the foregoing phenomena tend to occur even at a temperature of about 50° C., where the battery rated at 4.2 V does not cause such problems. Moreover, these problems tend to worsen when a separator with a small film thickness and a low porosity is used.
For example, with a battery rated at 4.4 V that uses a lithium cobalt oxide positive electrode active material and a graphite negative electrode active material, a storage test (test conditions: end-of-charge voltage 4.4 V, storage temperature 60° C., storage duration 5 days) showed that the remaining capacity after the storage deteriorated considerably, in some cases as low as about zero. Following the disassembly of the tested battery, a large amount of cobalt was found in the negative electrode and the separator. Therefore, it is believed that the elemental cobalt that has dissolved away from the positive electrode accelerated the deterioration. The valency of the positive electrode active material that has a layered structure, such as lithium cobalt oxide, increases by the extraction of lithium ions. However, since tetravalent cobalt is unstable, the crystal structure thereof is unstable and tends to change into a more stable structure. This is believed to cause the cobalt ions to easily dissolve away from the crystals. It is also known that when a spinel-type lithium manganese oxide is used as the positive electrode active material as well, trivalent manganese becomes non-uniform, and dissolves away from the positive electrode as bivalent ions, causing the same problems as in the case of using lithium cobalt oxide as the positive electrode active material.
As described above, when the charged positive electrode active material has an unstable structure, performance deterioration during storage and cycle life degradation under high temperature conditions tend to be more evident. It is also known that this tendency is more evident when the filling density of the positive electrode active material layer is higher, so the problems are more serious in a battery with a high capacity design. It should be noted that even the physical properties of the separator, not just the negative electrode, are involved because, for example, by-products of the reactions produced from the positive and negative electrodes migrate through the separator to the opposite electrodes, further causing secondary reactions. Thus, it is believed that ion mobility and migration distance within the separator are greatly involved.
To overcome such problems, attempts have been made to prevent cobalt or the like from dissolving away from the positive electrode by, for example, physically coating the surface of the positive electrode active material particles with an inorganic substance, or by chemically coating the surface of the positive electrode active material particles with an organic substance, for example, a polymer of a cyclic aromatic hydrocarbon, or of a biphenyl or the like. However, in the case of a physical coating, since the positive electrode active material more or less expands and shrinks repeatedly during charge-discharge cycling, the advantageous effect resulting from the coating may be lost. On the other hand, in the case of a chemical coating, it is difficult to control the thickness of the coating film. If the thickness of the polymer layer is too large, the internal resistance of the battery increases, making it difficult to attain desired performance, and as a result, the battery capacity reduces. Moreover, there remains an issue that it is difficult to coat entire particles, limiting the advantageous effect resulting from the coating. Thus, there is a need for an alternative technique to the coating methods.

Non-aqueous electrolyte battery and method of manufacturing the same


A high-pressure valve assembly having a valve body that defines a preferably cylindrical valve cavity, a fluid inlet, a fluid outlet and a plurality of valve ports; and a fluid pressure intensifier assembly having a plurality of piston-plunger assemblies and utilizing the high-pressure valve assembly to distribute the working fluid. The valve assemblies have a valve rotor rotatably mounted within the valve cavity. In one embodiment, the valve rotor divides the valve cavity into a high-pressure region in communication with the fluid inlet and a low-pressure region in communication with the fluid outlet. As the valve rotor rotates, at least one and preferably three or more valve ports communicate with the power chamber and at least one and preferably three or more valve ports communicate with the discharge chamber. The valve cage has a high-pressure region in communication with the fluid inlet, a low-pressure region in communication with the fluid outlet, and valve ports in communication with the corresponding valve rod holes and the valve port of the valve body. In such second embodiment, the valve rotor has a slanted face in contact with a round end of each valve rod while the opposite end of each valve rod is biased by a spring or a pressurized gas. As the valve rotor rotates, the valve rods slide in an axial direction within the valve rod holes. As the valve rod oscillates, the middle cutout area forms communication with the respective valve port, alternatively with the high-pressure region and the low-pressure region.

Fluid power systems are widely used in the industry for performing various types of work, such as generating high-velocity fluid jets. One important component of all fluid power systems is the pump through which the system fluid is pressurized and delivered. A variety of conventional mechanical components are used inside the pump to pressurize fluids and an electric motor, an engine, or another fluid power system typically provides the required energy. A pump is basically a device for converting kinetic energy from a prime mover to the potential energy stored in pressurized fluid, or for raising the potential energy from one fluid to another fluid by adding kinetic energy.
Conventional types of pumps have various names. The names often identify a mode of operation, method of pressurization or appearance of the pump. Common types of conventional pumps include centrifugal pumps, diaphragm pumps, roller pumps, vane pumps, bellows pumps, tubing pumps, screw pumps, piston pumps, crankshaft pumps, positive displacement pumps, and pressure intensifiers. At relatively low operating fluid pressures, there are many types of conventional pumps available and the design is often dictated by considerations such as fluid compatibility, cost and size. At relatively high operating fluid pressures, there are fewer types of conventional pumps available. At operating pressures above about 1,000 psi, there are only a few types of conventional pumps that can withstand the stresses involved and that are capable of producing the required pressures. At relatively high fluid pressures, such as above 10,000 psi, suitable conventional pumps are restricted to the so-called positive-displacement reciprocating pumps that involve constant speed moving pistons to move a fixed volume of fluid through a set of check valves and into the delivery line. Such conventional pumps may also be identified as axial-piston pumps, radial-piston pumps, and crankshaft pumps to denote the arrangement of the multiple pistons or plungers involved.
A conventional crankshaft pump is normally a multiple-piston pump that uses a crankshaft to impart linear movement to a set of pistons, such as those of known automotive engines. A conventional triplex pump has three cylinders or pistons; a quintuplex pump has five cylinders or pistons. Conventional crankshaft pumps are generally directly driven with electric motors or engines, normally at a rotating speed of about 500 rpm. A conventional crankshaft pump is shown in FIG. 1.
A conventional pressure intensifier is a piston pump that is driven with pressurized fluid, such as hydraulic fluid or another suitable working fluid, through a piston-plunger arrangement to raise the pressure of another fluid, the system fluid. The term pressure intensifier often implies that there are two separate fluids and fluid systems involved. The additional energy required is provided by a motor or engine of the working fluid system. Fluid pressure intensifiers are commonly used in generating relatively high-pressure waterjets at static pressures above about 40,000 psi. These intensifiers are often a double-acting type with two opposing plungers connected to a single power piston, which reciprocates within a cylinder as a result of pressurized hydraulic fluid alternatively entering the two sides of the power piston. Two piston position sensors and a pilot-operated 4-way hydraulic valve are conventionally used to regulate and control flow of a working fluid. The plungers, which often have a smaller cross-sectional area than the power piston, move the system fluid in and out of the high-pressure cylinders, through inlet and outlet check valves. An intensification ratio is defined as the area ratio of the power piston to the plunger, which determines a maximum pressure that the system fluid can attain inside a particular pressure intensifier. A conventional double-acting pressure intensifier is shown in FIG. 2.
The performance of a high-pressure pump is generally rated or defined by a peak-pressure capability, an efficiency, power characteristics, reliability, operating flexibility and cost. Key or primary components of high-pressure pumps include check valves, pistons, plungers, piston seals, and high-pressure cylinders. Because of the relatively high-frequency cyclic pressure pulsations and high internal stresses, these pumps parts are subjected to metal fatigue problems that result in premature fracture of metal parts. Reliability of these pump parts are very important to pump manufacturers and pump users.
Conventional crankshaft pumps are quite popular because of their direct-driven nature and rugged construction, and are used in many outdoor applications, such as irrigation and oil field operations. But they also have well-known shortcomings. Conventional crankshaft pumps generate relatively high vibrations due to the geometry of piston arrangement. For example, conventional triplex crankshaft pumps experience considerable output pressure pulsations due to their power distribution through only three cylinders. A quintuplex pump has improved pressure pulsation but is also bulkier and heavier because of the two additional cylinders. Crankshaft pumps are generally limited to a peak pressure of about 20,000 psi, due to metal-fatigue problems associated with the fluid manifold, which is often made of a monolithic block of stainless steel heavily ported and bored to accommodate the check valves and fluid passages. The complicated internal cavities of such fluid manifold have many stress-concentration sites that can develop fractures over a relatively short time, as a result of fluid pressure pulsations. Improved manifold design is a first step toward achieving increased operating pressures for crankshaft pumps.
Another shortcoming of conventional crankshaft pumps is the lack of operational flexibility, such as output pressure and flow control. External pressure-regulating and pressure-relief valves are required to provide some flexibility. Conventional valves suitable for very high fluid pressures are rare.
Hydraulically operated pressure intensifiers are well-suited for very high pressure applications, due in part to their smooth force transfer and good lubrication. They are the only pumps capable of reliably delivering fluids at pressures greater than about 40,000 psi. Unfortunately, conventional pressure intensifier systems are also more costly because of an extra hydraulic power unit. For example, a complete pressure intensifier system for waterjet applications will have a prime mover such as an electric motor or an engine, a hydraulic pump, a hydraulic reservoir or tank, a water-oil or air-oil heat exchanger or both, an oil filter, a 4-way solenoid-operated hydraulic valve, a double-acting intensifier equipped with power piston position sensors and circuit, an outlet pressure pulsation attenuator, a water inlet charge pump, water filters, support structure, tubing and hoses, and gauges and controls. A schematic diagram of a typical conventional fluid pressure intensifier system is shown in FIG. 3. One of such pressure intensifier systems is taught by U.S. Pat. No. 5,092,744.
The intensification ratio of intensifiers can be as low as about 2:1 or as high as about 20:1. For example, a conventional hydraulic pump capable of producing a 5,000 psi output pressure is commonly used in hydraulic power systems. Many of these pumps have advanced features, such as pressure compensation and output flow adjustment. When such a hydraulic power unit is used to power a pressure intensifier having a 20:1 intensification ratio, for example, an output system pressure of about 100,000 psi can be reliably produced. At present, system pressures considerably greater than about 100,000 psi are produced in such manner for several important yet uncommon applications.
Conventional pressure intensifiers operate relatively slowly; a reciprocating rate of 60 rpm is common. Relatively large intensifiers can be considerably slower because of larger and longer pistons. The relatively slow speed of conventional intensifiers is helpful from a metal-fatigue point of view. Because a double-acting intensifier has only two pistons, its output power continuity is very poor and pressure pulsations are very severe. Therefore, external pressure pulsation attenuators in the form of a dead-volume high-pressure accumulator are practically mandatory for use with pressure intensifiers. This situation also encourages the use of two or more double-acting intensifiers to form a network in order to dampen the output pressure fluctuations.
Multiple intensifiers can be phased together to produce a prescribed "firing order" by controlling the hydraulic fluid flowing in and out of the multiple intensifiers. The aim is to produce as even as possible a power output from the reciprocating motion of all the pistons involved. Electrical drives, mechanical drives or a combination of both are conventionally used to yield such phased operations, but with only partial success. Multiple intensifiers can significantly increase the cost of the system equipment. The high cost of pressure intensifier system equipment is a cause for the current limited growth of waterjet technology.
Another shortcoming of conventional pressure intensifiers is their inflexible power capability. Once constructed, a pressure intensifier has a fixed maximum power output. If greater power output is desired, a physically larger pressure intensifier must be constructed, or another intensifier of the same type must be added to the system. Relatively large intensifiers have larger and longer pistons and therefore must operate at a slower speed, thus resulting in a longer dead moment during the reciprocating movement and aggravating the pressure pulsation problem.
A pressure intensifier of moderate power output is quite bulky and heavy. For example, a conventional 50 hp pressure intensifier may have a 5 inch diameter power piston and can be 40 inches long. A conventional double-acting 50 hp pressure intensifier may have two massive stainless steel end blocks, such as with 8 inches by 8 inches by 4 inches dimensions, and two pressure cylinders, such as with 4 inches by 10 inches dimensions. The amount of expensive materials involved in each pressure intensifier is quite substantial and yet a 50 hp power output is quite modest for waterjetting applications. When one major component of a conventional pressure intensifier fails, such as a cylinder, it is simply discarded.
In view of the current status of high-pressure pumps available for waterjet and other applications, there is quite a demand for significant improvement in the pump design, so that the performance can be improved and the cost reduced. This invention is aimed at accomplishing at least these two basic objectives.

Method and apparatus for pressurizing fluids


A securing device for securing a wall to an I-beam. The securing device includes two members that coupled to the sides of an I-beam and are secured together so as to couple the securing device to the I-beam. The two members define a surface that is spaced from the bottom surface of the I-beam that can receive fasteners and the thickness of the two member is such that ordinary fasteners can be used to secure a wall component to the two members of the securing device thereby reducing the need to drill, weld or otherwise attach wall members directly to the I-beam.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to building construction and, in particular, concerns a clamping device for use with I-beams in order to mount interior walls in buildings.
2. Description of the Related Art
Mounting the interior walls of commercial buildings requires a significant effort. Conventionally, metal pieces, commonly referred to as "stickers", are welded at periodic intervals to load bearing I-beams, which support the building. An upper surface of a sticker is welded to the lower flange of an I-beam and a strut is attached to the lower surface of the sticker by screws or other fasteners. The strut is then used to frame the interior wall and provide an attachment point for other wall members, such as dry wall sheets and the like. In this fashion, the interior wall is supported by the I-beam without directly piercing the I-beam with mechanical fasteners, which can weaken the I-beam, in keeping with building code.
This fabrication method is expensive and time consuming, however. Welds must be performed by a welder who possesses significant, specialized experience. Furthermore, each sticker is welded over approximately 12 inches, requiring significant time to properly perform, even for an experienced welder. Additionally, the stickers are closely spaced along the I-beam, on the order of feet, meaning that numerous stickers are utilized in a building. Moreover, the welds must be inspected and tested to ensure they meet building code requirements. All of these factors significantly add to the time and cost of fabricating a building.
From the foregoing, it is apparent that there is need for a construction device for securing an interior wall of a building to an I-beam which may be deployed faster and at reduced cost than present devices. To this end, there is a need for a securing device that reduces the need for expensive weld attachments.

Clamping device for securing metal struts to I-beams for interior wall construction


A display panel drive device capable of preventing a malfunction caused by the influence of electrical charge remaining in a display-panel discharge cell, in which, in parallel with a switching element that connects each electrode of the display panel to a reference potential, at least one of a row electrode drive circuit and a column electrode drive circuit is provided with a parallel switching element that connects each electrode to the reference potential via a current limiting element. The residual charge in the discharge cell on the display panel is discharged via a bypass formed by this parallel switching element within a predetermined period immediately after the device power supply is turned on.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a display panel drive device for driving a display panel such as a plasma display panel (hereinafter referred to as a 'PDP') or an electroluminescence (hereinafter referred to as 'EL') panel, or the like.
2. Description of the Related Art
Nowadays, thin-type display devices that employ a flat self-illumination-type display panel such as a PDP or EL are being manufactured as the so-called "wall-mount" televisions. Such a technology as that described in Japanese Patent Kokai No. 2000-155557 is known as a display panel drive device of thin-type display devices employing a PDP, for example. Here, the overall constitution of the display panel drive device disclosed in this publication is shown in the block diagram of FIG. 1.
In this figure, the PDP10, which is a display panel, comprises row electrodes X1 to Xn and row electrodes Y1 to Yn, which form a row electrode pair corresponding with each row (the first to nth rows) of a single screen by means of one pair of an X electrode and Y electrode. In addition, column electrodes Z1 to Zm, which are orthogonal to the row electrode pairs and correspond with each column of a single screen (first to mth columns) with a dielectric layer and discharge gap layer (not shown) interposed therebetween, are formed in the PDP10. Further, one discharge cell C(i,j) is formed at the intersection between a pair of row electrodes (Xi, Yi) and one column electrode Zj.
Each electrode in the PDP10 is connected to a column electrode drive circuit 20 and row electrode drive circuit 30 or 40, and these electrode drive circuits are drive-controlled by means of commands from a drive control circuit 50.
The overall operation of the display panel drive device shown in FIG. 1 may be described as follows.
First, the row electrode drive circuit 30 generates a positive-voltage reset pulse RPy and simultaneously applies same to all of the row electrodes Y1 to Yn as shown in FIG. 2. At the same time, the row electrode drive circuit 40 generates a negative-voltage reset pulse RPX and simultaneously applies same to each of the row electrodes X1 to Xn.
Due to the simultaneous application of the reset pulses RPX and RPY, all of the discharge cells of the PDP10 are excited and charged particles are generated. After the discharge has ended, a predetermined amount of barrier charge is formed uniformly in the dielectric layers of all the discharge cells. Incidentally, this processing step is known as the reset step.
After the reset step is complete, the column electrode drive circuit 20 generates pixel data pulses DP1 to DPn that comply with pixel data corresponding with the first to nth rows of the screen. Subsequently, these pixel data pulses are sequentially applied to the column electrodes Z1 to Zm as shown in FIG. 2. Meanwhile, the row electrode drive circuit 30 generates a negative-voltage scan pulse SP in accordance with the application timing of each of the pixel data pulses DP1 to DPn. This negative-voltage scan pulse SP is then sequentially applied to the row electrodes Y1 to Yn with the timing shown in FIG. 2.
Among the discharge cells belonging to row electrodes to which the scan pulse SP is applied, discharge occurs in the discharge cells to which a positive-voltage pixel data pulse DP is simultaneously applied, whereby the majority of the barrier charge is lost. On the other hand, because discharge does not take place in the discharge cells to which the scan pulse SP is applied but to which the positive-voltage pixel data pulse DP is not applied, the barrier charge still remains. Here, discharge cells in which the barrier charge remains are light-emitting discharge cells and discharge cells in which the barrier charge is eliminated are non-light-emitting discharge cells. Incidentally, this processing step is known as the address step.
When the address step is complete, the row electrode drive circuit 30 applies a positive-voltage sustain pulse IPy serially to each of the row electrodes Y1 to Yn as shown in FIG. 2. At the same time, the row electrode drive circuit 40 applies the positive-voltage sustain pulse IPX serially to each of the row electrodes X1 to Xn with timing that is displaced with respect to the application timing for the sustain pulse IPY. Light-emitting discharge cells, in which the barrier charge still remains over the period during which these sustain pulses IPX and IPY are alternately applied, repeat discharge light emission and retain this light-emitting state. Incidentally, this processing step is known as the sustain step.
Further, in the case of the display panel drive device shown in FIG. 1, the serial processing step described above is repeated for each subfield of the display image.
Further, the first drive control circuit 50 of FIG. 1 generates a variety of switching signals for generating a variety of drive pulses as shown in FIG. 2, based on the synchronization timing contained in the picture signal supplied to this device. Further, these switching signals are supplied to the column electrode drive circuit 20, and row electrode drive circuits 30 and 40 respectively. That is, each of the column electrode drive circuit 20 and the row electrode drive circuits 30 and 40 generate the variety of drive pulses shown in FIG. 2 in accordance with the switching signals supplied by the drive control circuit 50.
The pulse generation circuit, which generates various drive pulses such as the reset pulse RPY and sustain pulses IPX and IPY, is provided for each of the electrodes in each row and column, in each of the electrode drive circuits described above. Further, these pulse generation circuits all generate the variety of drive pulses above by utilizing the charging of the capacitor by an LC resonance circuit constituted by an inductor L and a capacitor C.
That is, considering that a discharge cell C(i,j) formed on the PDP10 is a capacitive load, a resonance circuit is formed by combining an inductor, which is an inductive element, and a capacitor for power recovery with this discharge cell C(i,j). Further, the desired drive pulse is generated by causing this resonance circuit to oscillate with predetermined timing by opening and closing a switching element such as an FET in accordance with the switching signals supplied by the drive control circuit 50.
As described above, a conventional display panel drive device performs reset discharge processing, such as a display-screen full screen write discharge or a full screen erase discharge, in the reset step that starts a one-field or one-subfield picture display. In other words, it can be deduced that the barrier-charge state of all the discharge cells on the panel is initiated by means of this reset discharge and is included in the writing of data in the subsequent address step.
However, at the time of a transition, such as when the power supply of the display panel drive device is disconnected, cases arise where the voltage value supplied to the circuit of each part in the device drops and control of the variety of discharge states described above is problematic. For example, a situation may also arise where, when the device's power supply is disconnected in the course of a subfield sequence and hence the drive sequence is interrupted, the device is then left with a lot of charge still remaining in the discharge cells on the panel. In this case, there is the risk that, when the power supply of the device is turned on next, the large amount of electrical charge remaining in the discharge cells will flow into each of the electrode drive circuits and render the operation of each electrode drive circuit unstable.


An LED module includes an LED and a lens located over and enclosing the LED. The lens includes a surface of incidence facing the LED for an incidence of light emitted from the LED and a surface of emission for an emission of the light out of the LED module. The surface of incidence has a convex spherical surface, and the surface of emission has a concave spherical surface corresponding to the convex spherical surface. The convex spherical surface refracts the light incident thereon to redirect the light to the concave spherical surface. The concave spherical surface spreads the light into a wide and uniform beam. The surface of emission further has a first cylinder extending downwardly from an outer edge of the concave spherical surface. A totally reflective coincoid extends downwards from the first cylinder to a bottom of the LED module.

1. Technical Field
The disclosure relates to a light-emitting device and, more particularly, to an LED (light emitting diode) module.
2. Description of Related Art
LEDs (light emitting diodes), available since the early 1960's, have been increasingly used in a variety of application fields and are intended to be a high quality replacement for conventional light sources due to high light-emitting efficiency, environmental friendliness, and low power consumption.
A typical LED includes an LED die emitting light and a transparent encapsulant enveloping the LED die. The encapsulant protects the LED die from contamination and damage, and converges most of the light emitted from the LED die around an optical axis of the LED into a narrow beam. The encapsulant keeps a peak intensity of the light occurring around the optical axis of the LED, which easily results in a discomfortable glare.
What is needed, therefore, is an LED module which can overcome the above-mentioned problem.

Fu-Zhun Precision Industry (Shen Zhen) Co., Ltd.


A substrate processing method which removes an ArF resist film from a wafer having the ArF resist film. As an ultraviolet irradiation process is performed on the ArF resist film, and then an ozone gas and water vapor are fed to the ArF resist film, the ArF resist film is altered in a water-soluble state. Thereafter, the ArF resist film is removed from the substrate by feeding pure water to the ArF resist film altered into the water-soluble state.

In the fabrication process of a semiconductor device, shortening the waveform of a light to be used at a photolithography step is in progress for the high integration of the semiconductor device, and nowadays, a technology which uses an ArF excimer laser as a light source is about to be put to a practical use. A photolithography step using an ArF excimer laser, like a conventional photolithography step using g rays, i rays or the like, is executed by forming a resist film (hereinafter called "ArF resist film") which is selectively exposed by the light of the ArF excimer laser, exposing the ArF resist film with a reticle on which a predetermined circuit pattern is formed, and then developing the film.
With the use of the ArF resist film patterned in this manner as a mask, various processes of forming trench interconnection elements, such as an etching process, a process of burying a metallic material by a CVD method, and an ion implantation process, are carried out. After execution of such processes, the ArF resist film which has become unnecessary should be removed. As a conventional method of removing the ArF resist film that becomes unneeded, for example, Unexamined Japanese Patent Application KOKAI Publication No. 2002-184741 discloses a method of altering a resist film to be water-soluble under atmosphere of water vapor and an ozone gas, and removing the resist film altered to be water-soluble by a rinse process.
The separation rate in the process for the ArF resist film using an ozone gas and water vapor is, however, extremely low. Therefore, it is difficult to employ that process in a production process which uses an ArF resist film. In general, an antireflection film (BARC) for preventing the reflection of an ArF excimer laser is formed as the base of the ArF resist film, but it is also difficult to remove the antireflection film by the process using ozone gas and water vapor. Further, not limited to the ArF resist film, as a resist film undergone an ion implantation process at a high dosage is hardened by implanted ions, it is also difficult to remove the resist film by only the process using ozone gas and water vapor.

Substrate processing method, substrate processing apparatus and computer-readable memory medium


A display apparatus includes a stationary base portion and a support member mounted to a top surface of the stationary base portion. A vertically extending pole is disposed through the interior of each of the support member and the base portion along a center axis, thereby permitting selective rotation of the support member. The support member includes a plurality of lateral side panels for displaying graphic and or other materials, such as photographs and advertising. The vertically extending pole permits electrical leads to be routed therethrough to connect, for example, to at least one light source.

It is known in the field to provide certain forms of display upon which graphic media materials such as articles, photographs, and other textual and/or pictorial items can be displayed or presented. Such displays have proven useful for groups or gatherings including, for example, weddings, bowling and golf tournaments and leagues, corporate functions and outings, and the like. These displays typically include a single planar facing surface onto which any of the above items can be affixed, thereby taking up a considerable amount of floor space. Such displays, to date, include apparatus such as bulletin boards and the like. Similar displays, used for example, for advertising or for functional purposes, such as scheduling or calendaring, among others. The issues relating to available floor space equally pertain to each of the above displays.
Applicant has previously developed a rotatable form of display apparatus or kiosk in which a cubic supporting member having a plurality of orthogonally arranged display panels is installed onto a fixed or stationary base section. This display apparatus efficiently makes better use of floor space than other existing systems, while simultaneously providing an enhanced amount of overall display space. The base section of the apparatus is fabricated from several sections, including a turntable that is mounted integrally into a top supporting surface onto which the cubic supporting member is attached, permitting selective rotation thereof by the user(s). Each of the sides of the cubic supporting member includes a display panel that is capable of supporting certain graphic media, such as photographs and the like.
There are a number of deficiencies, however, that are found even in the latter apparatus design. First, the use of the turntable and other components add to the overall weight and complexity of the apparatus, making the apparatus an expensive design in terms of both cost and manufacture. Second, the incorporation of the turntable is a source of noise in terms of operation when the support member is actually rotated. Third, there is a need to expand the capabilities of the present display apparatus design.


The present invention provides an approach for quadrature signal generation, which does not require orthogonal reference signals or nearly orthogonal reference signals as an input or given condition. The techniques provided herein can utilize a reference phase shift less than 90° but greater than 0°, along with an inversion to create orthogonal signals. The techniques provided here reduce the number of critical manipulations required from a hardware perspective.

Often in signal processing applications, particularly modulation and demodulation, orthogonal signals are required to transport and recover latent information relating to some complex passband waveform. Typically, analog techniques are used in RF modulators and demodulators to synthesize a 90° phase shift in a carrier or signal waveform to enable this processing. Passive and active components are used to generate delays at passband corresponding to phase shift at a frequency of interest. These techniques possess certain inaccuracies and implementation tradeoffs. For instance, polyphase filter network approaches require multiple refinement stages to obtain reasonable accuracy while R-C splitters depend on minimizing parasitic elements of the interface amplifiers. Quasi-digital approaches are also used for some applications but trade-off frequency plan, frequency response and power vs. performance.
What are needed are improved methods and systems for generating orthogonal signals for quadrature signal generation.

Orthogonal signal generation using vector spreading and combining


An inflatable toy sword includes a handle having a proximal end and a distal end, a fan disposed in the handle for directing air toward the distal end of the handle, a power source disposed in the handle for providing power to operate the fan, and a switch coupled with the fan for selectively activating the fan. An inflatable blade has a proximal end with an opening. The proximal end of the inflatable blade is connected to the distal end of the handle. The toy sword may also generate light and sound.

Field of the Invention
The present patent application is generally directed to toys and is more particularly directed to inflatable toys having fan assemblies that are activated to inflate the toys.
Description of the Related Art
From the primitive edged weapons used by early humans to those used in the modern world, the history of the sword is a fascinating story. The sword has been used as a fighting weapon, a symbol of authority, a mark of social rank and as a ceremonial object. For centuries, the sword was the weapon of choice for soldiers. Its pre-eminence was secured by a combination of continuous technological improvements and adaptation to ever-changing battlefield conditions.
The Legionaries of the Roman Empire used a short sword called a Gladius sword. The Gladius sword had an average length of 18 to 24 inches long. The primary function of the Roman sword was for thrusting and stabbing in close quarters. Starting in the 11th century in Europe, the wide-bladed and double-edged Saxon broadsword became the inspiration for the early medieval "knightly" sword. In Japan, the rise of the Samurai warrior class during the 12th century saw the development of the Samurai sword. These swords had a complex and ritualized process of manufacturing. China has also had a long history of sword making that stretches back over 3,000 years and includes such indigenous swords as the famous straight-bladed "jian" and the curved-bladed "dao".
Star Wars is an American epic space opera franchise based on a film series created by George Lucas. It depicts the adventures of various characters "a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away." A light saber is a fictional energy weapon featured in the Star Wars films. A typical light saber has a metal hilt usually around 11 inches in length that projects a brightly-lit energy blade usually around 3 feet in length. The light saber is the signature weapon of the Jedi Order and their Sith counterparts. In 2008, a survey of approximately 2,000 film fans found the light saber to be the most popular weapon in film history.
There have been many efforts directed to providing toy swords and sabers. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 7,476,141 to Hom discloses a blade part that is comprised of an elastic plastic balloon, and a handle part that is comprised of a hand pump. The handle part also works as a flash light. The balloon blade is in a contracted state when not in use. When a user wants to use the toy balloon saber, air is pumped into the balloon to tighten the balloon and make it stiff. The flash light is turned on when the saber is used.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,033,242 to Gulmesoff discloses a toy sword having at least one visual or auditory indicator for signaling a user when the sword contacts a target. It functions similar to a fencing point indicator.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,036,602 to Abbott discloses a sparring instrument which allows for safe, pain free, full contact training. The sparring instrument has a handle and a striking portion covered with a bushing armature. The bushing armature is covered by a sheath extending beyond the tip rod. The sheath is made of a soft, resilient material whereby the sheath extends from the end of soft, flexible material when the instrument is bent. The instrument provides a solid training sword covered with soft bushing and cover.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,010,435 and 5,295,926 to Tanabe illustrate a bag-shaped sword blade section having a throttled opening formed of a sealing and elastic material such as rubber, which is fitted onto and closely attached to a tip end of a cylindrical-shaped grip formed of a hard material such as wood, a hard rubber, plastics and metals. A gas such as air is filled in the sword blade section.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,947,789 to Chan illustrates a toy sword featuring a handle section housing a light source for illuminating an interior of the blade section and a translucent blade section. The light blinks.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,389,033 to Rauch discloses a toy sword assembly including an elongated blade and handles subpart and a guard part that fits on a guard grasping section of the blade and handles subpart.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,127,871 to Miller teaches a flexible foam 65 sword having a one-piece sword and guard.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,678,450 to Scolari et al. discloses a toy light sword including a hollow blade with a fluorescent coating on the inside that glows when illuminated. It is similar to a Star Wars light saber, however, the sword does not contract.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,080,751 to Copstead teaches a toy sword having a resilient, air-inflatable blade. Means are also provided for securing a rigid handle to the resilient blade. The balloon is inflatable, however, no light is provided.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,807,904 and RE30,894 to Schuman disclose a substantially closed cylinder containing a compressible air or liquid. The passageways are heated along their lengths by an electric bulb which provides sufficient heat energy for sustaining oscillation while providing light for illumination of the surroundings. The light is installed over a head of a cylinder and it has no relation with the piston.
None of the prior art introduces a toy light saber that is safe to use while contracting, expanding and lighting at the same time.
Thus, there remains a need for improved inflatable toy swords and sabers.

Inflatable toys having interchangeable parts


This disclosure describes decellularized, biologically-engineered tubular grafts and methods of making and using such decellularized, biologically-engineered tubular grafts.

Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of mortality in the world: approximately one million surgical procedures are performed annually in the US alone. Vascular grafts made from synthetic polyesters have shown success in replacement of large diameter vessels such as the thoracic and abdominal aortas, aortic arch vessels, as well as the iliac and femoral arteries. However, they have generally proven inadequate as small-diameter (<6 mm) arterial grafts. This is primarily a result of acute graft thrombogenicity, anastomotic intimal hyperplasia, aneurysm formation and infection. Autologous arteries and veins remain the standard of care. However, a significant fraction of patients do not have a suitable vessel that can be harvested as a replacement and donor site morbidity occurs. Therefore, tissue engineering provides a viable alternative to create arterial grafts that can maintain vascular function comparable to native vessels.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Decellularized biologically-engineered tubular grafts


Automatic installation of a circlip is facilitated even when an axial length (inner race width) of a protrusion of an inner race is reduced. An inner race is installed in a constant velocity universal joint for transmitting torque while allowing angular displacement between itself and an outer race, with a shaft being inserted in a shaft hole formed in an inner bore to be spline-fitted thereto so as to be prevented from coming off by virtue of the circlip. A two-step chamfer having different chamfer angles is provided at a shaft insertion side end portion of the shaft hole. The two-step chamfer includes a first chamfer section situated on a shaft hole opening side and a second chamfer section provided on the side opposite to the shaft hole opening so as to be continuous with the first chamfer section. The chamfer angle α of the first chamfer section is set larger than the chamfer angle β of the second chamfer section.

A fixed-type constant velocity universal joint (Rzeppa type constant velocity universal joint: BJ) has been employed as a connection joint for a drive shaft or the like of an automobile. For example, such a universal joint includes: an outer race serving as an outer member and having curved track grooves formed axially in a spherical inner diameter surface; an inner race serving as an inner member and having curved track grooves formed axially in a spherical outer diameter surface; a plurality of torque transmission balls arranged in respective ball tracks each constituted by one of the track grooves of the outer race in combination with the corresponding track groove of the inner race; and a retainer having pockets for holding those balls. The plurality of balls are accommodated in respective pockets formed in the retainer and are arranged at regular intervals in the circumferential direction.
When this constant velocity universal joint is employed in a drive shaft, a shaft portion (driven shaft) integrally extending from one end of the outer race in the axial direction thereof is connected to a wheel-bearing apparatus, and a shaft (driving shaft) spline-fitted into a shaft hole of the inner race is connected to a sliding-type constant velocity universal joint. Even when the outer race and the inner race are angularly displaced between the respective two axes of the shaft portion of the outer race and the shaft of the inner race side, each of the balls accommodated in the pockets of the retainer is always held in a plane bisecting an operational angle at any operational angle. Therefore, the constant velocity of the joint is ensured. In this case, the operational angle represents an angle formed by the shaft portion of the outer race and the shaft of the inner race.
As described above, a shaft is connected to the shaft hole of the inner race of a constant velocity universal joint. In this connection structure of the inner race and the shaft, the shaft is spline-fitted to the shaft hole of the inner race, and is prevented from coming off by virtue of a circlip (see, for example, Patent Document 1). In the connection structure disclosed in Patent Document 1, a chamfer is provided at the shaft insertion side end portion of the shaft hole of the inner race so as to facilitate the automatic installation of the circlip.
FIGS. 9 to 12 illustrate how a shaft 113 is installed in an inner race 106 of a configuration as disclosed in Patent Document 1. As shown in the drawings, a spline 117 is formed on the inner peripheral surface of a shaft hole 112 of the inner race 106, and a chamfer 120 is provided at the shaft insertion side end portion of the shaft hole 112. A chamfer angle β is set to be 32.5° or less, more preferably, not less than 15° but not more than 32.5°. Further, in order that the shaft 113 may be allowed to be inserted as it is into the shaft hole 112 of the inner race 106 even in a state in which a circlip 115 previously mounted to a recessed groove 114 formed at an end portion of the shaft 113 is drooping due to the weight of the circlip 115, the radius R2 of the opening end of the chamfer 120 is set larger than the radius R1 when the circlip 115 of the shaft 113 is drooping therefrom due to the weight of the circlip 115 (see FIG. 9).
When installing the shaft 113 in the shaft hole 112 of the inner race 106, as shown in FIG. 9, the shaft 113 is first arranged coaxially with respect to the shaft hole 112 of the inner race 106. Then, a state is attained in which the circlip 115 is drooping from a shaft end portion of the shaft 113.
When, in this state, the shaft 113 is inserted into the shaft hole 112 of the inner race 106 as shown in FIG. 10, the circlip 115 is guided by a tapered surface of the chamfer 120 of the inner race 106 to undergo automatic alignment.
When, thereafter, the shaft 113 is further inserted into the shaft hole 112 of the inner race 106 as shown in FIG. 11, the circlip 115 passes through the shaft hole 112 while reduced to the spline small diameter of the inner race 106.
When, as shown in FIG. 12, the shaft end portion of the shaft 113 is inserted to a position where the shaft end portion of the shaft 113 protrudes from the inner race 106, the circlip 115 is diverged at the position of a step portion 116 formed at the shaft hole opening end of the inner race 106, and the shaft 113 is prevented from coming off by virtue of the circlip 115.    [Patent Document 1] JP 3188001 B

Constant velocity universal joint and inner member of the same