In a waterproof connector and a method for the same, the waterproof connector includes a plurality of electrically conductive terminals, an electrically insulating base, an electrical wire, a hollow cylinder and a cladding. The electrically insulating base has a receiving section. The electrical wire has a plurality of cores. Each core is connected to one end of each electrically conductive terminal. The hollow cylinder is connected to the receiving section and located to one side of the electrical wire. The cladding is used to cover the receiving section, the hollow cylinder, the core and one end of electrically conductive terminal. Further, the present invention provides a method for manufacturing the waterproof connector so as to enhance the yield rate and prevent the penetration of moisture.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a connector, and in particular to a waterproof connector and a method for manufacturing the same.
2. Description of Prior Art
Modern connectors are widely used in outdoor places. Therefore, there is an increasing demand for waterproof connectors. Most of the connection in the connector is achieved by metals of good electrical conductivity so as to transmit electrical signals. However, these metals may get wet easily to affect the transmission and even get failed. Although some waterproof connectors are available in the market, the waterproof effect thereof is not perfect enough.
FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a conventional connector. A common connector comprises a plurality of electrically conductive terminals 10a, an electrically insulating base 20a, an electric wire 30a and a cladding 40a. The right side of the electrically insulating base 20a is formed with a receiving section 21a and an accommodating trough 22a for allowing each of the electrically conductive terminals 10a to pass though and be fixed therein. One end of each electrically conductive terminal 10a is exposed to the outside of the receiving section 21a. The electric wire 30a has a plurality of cores. Each of the cores is connected to each electrically conductive terminal 10a. The cladding 40a is used to cover each of the electrically conductive terminals 10a, the electrically insulating base 20a and a portion of the electric wire 30a. However, such kind of connector has disadvantages as follows. Since the cladding 40a is made by means of an injection molding process to cover each electrically conductive terminal 10a and the electric wire 30a, the cladding 40a may hit the connecting portion between each electrically conductive terminal 10a and the electric wire 30a during the injection of the plastics, which causes poor contact or the breakage in the soldering portions. As a result, the yield rate is reduced. Further, since the electrically insulating base 20a made of a hard material and the cladding 40a made of a soft material are attached to each other tightly, gaps may be generated between these two materials after being used for a period of time because the difference between the physical properties of these two materials is too large. Thus, moisture may penetrate in the gaps to make the electrically conductive terminals wet, which affects the normal function thereof.
In view of the above problems, the industry of this art has developed another kind of connector. As shown in FIG. 2, a receiving section 21b extends from one end of the electrically insulating base 20b of the connector. The interior of the receiving section 21b is formed with an accommodating trough 22b. The soldering portion between each electrically conductive terminal 10b and the electrical wire 30b is formed in the accommodating trough 22b. The receiving section 21b acts to protect the soldering portion between each electrically conductive terminal 10b and the electrical wire 30b. In this way, the cladding 40b may not hit the soldering portion directly during the injection of the plastics, so that the electrically conductive terminals 10b and the electrical wire 30b may not suffer damage. However, such a solution may generate other problems as follows. Since the soldering position between each electrically conductive terminal 10b and the electrical wire 30b is formed in the accommodating trough 22b, it is not easy to solder each electrically conductive terminal 10b and the electrical wire 30b because the working space is too small. As a result, the yield rate is reduced. Further, if the yield rate of the soldering process is to be increased, the length of each electrically conductive terminal 10b should be enlarged to make each electrically conductive terminal 10b to protrude from the receiving section 21b. However, a long electrically conductive terminal will be bent easily and suffer damage.
Therefore, it is an important issue to provide a waterproof connector to improve the yield rate of production and increase the structural strength of the connector.

Waterproof connector and method for manufacturing the same


An electro-optical module comprising flexible connection cable and aligning capabilities is disclosed. Electro-optical devices may be soldered on a transparent substrate such as glass or a substrate comprising an optical waveguide wherein electrically conductive traces are designed, forming an electro-optical module. When such electro-optical module is inserted and aligned into a printed circuit board, the external part of the substrate, comprising electrically conductive traces and pads, referred to as flex-cable, is bent down toward the mounting plane of the PCB allowing to establish electrical connections between these pads and the PCB. The substrate may be brokenalong a pre-formed groove, and the external part of the substrate can be removed leaving the flex-cable section in place.

Typically systems that might potentially use optical interconnects within the next few years are servers, supercomputers and telecom switch-routers, comprising multiple racks, wherein each rack has a backplane or midplane, and multiple plug-in cards (or blades). Communication between the plug-in-cards is routed through the backplane. The aggregate data rate within a single rack is expected to reach multiple Terabit per second (Tb/s) by the end of the decade, and it is assumed that it will grow to tens of Tb/s in the future. Currently communication is achieved electrically through copper lines. However, in electrical lines the attenuation and cross-talk increase with frequency. For board to board interconnects with a typical distance of one meter the crossover point where optical transmission becomes more power efficient than electrical transmission is at 5 Gb/s. Furthermore, optical transmission lines can be packed much denser than electrical lines.
The reliable, accurate and cost-effective integration of optical elements such as waveguides, transmitters and detectors in PCB's is a challenge lying mainly in high integration and optical alignment. The alignment requirements of optical elements are much tighter than those of electrical components. For example, the minimum alignment tolerance in the realization of a printed circuit board is 20 μm, optical elements need to be positioned with an accuracy of 5 μm (for 50 μm×50 μm square optical waveguides). Consequently, it is a challenge to align optical elements in a printed circuit board.

Electro-optical module comprising flexible connection cable and method of making the same

International Business Machines Corporation


A sunshade apparatus configured to inhibit the sun's rays, constructed with a plurality of flexible panels, having the ability to form a three-dimensional shape that provides a compact collapsible structure, and minimum assembly. The sunshade three-dimensional structure has the capability to easily adapt to an object or stand on its own.

The sun's light rays, otherwise noted as sun's rays can produce harmful effects with prolonged exposure and may even create serious health risks to humans and other living species. The sun's rays more specifically may effects humans, resulting in sun burns and in extreme conditions may cause skin cancer from long term exposure. The sun's ultra violet rays not only can damage the skin from a prolonged exposure and can also heat objects that are directly exposed to direct sun light. There are many products sold on the market today that provide a barrier from the sun's rays and or limit the exposure on a single plane or that are attached to a planar surface area. Some shade devices are frequently attached to buildings or structures providing a sun screen. These devices are made of separate components and require hardware and tools for installation and removal. These sunshades with multiple components and lose parts are somewhat cumbersome to install and require some mechanical ability and time to construct and disassemble the apparatus. The conditions created by direct sunlight can be especially dangerous for small children with sensitive skin, or even pets that have limited ability to cool their bodies efficiently when exposed to increased temperature levels. Children often kept outdoors and exposed to the sun's rays, are more susceptible to burning and becoming irritated even after a short duration in time. There are sunshades in the market today that help eliminate the direct rays of sun that can be placed on automobiles, windows, and structures and for outdoor activities. These shades are typically cumbersome and time consuming to assemble as a three dimensional structure. Other benefits of blocking UV light and offering extended benefits reducing fading of materials and degrading the properties that may decrease the life of a product or structure. The shades that are commonly found in the market today are constructed in various shapes and sizes are not easy to store and assemble into a three dimensional structure and most often are found to be expensive due to the manufacturing process and number of components. Sun shades found on the market today having multiple components and that may offer a simple method of manufacture, are more commonly difficult to assemble and disassemble. There is a need to have a shade structure that can block the ultra violet suns rays from Humans, pets and objects and that is easy to assemble, disassemble and store in a compact shape. There is also a need to have a device easily adaptable to attach to a structure or stand on its own, providing a collapsible structure to form a barrier from the sun's rays. The option to provide storage and organization is yet another feature that can be useful with the proposed sunshade device.


A bug-like flipping toy is provided having four resilient leg members extending from a substantially horizontal body member with a depression member in the form of an extended posterior portion. Each leg member is a relatively flat elongated plate having a greater width at the point of adjoinment with the body member and tapering to a narrower, radial, distal foot. The leg members are paired into anterior legs and posterior legs with the anterior legs being elongated plates on a horizontal plane and posterior legs being elongated plates on a diagonal plane. An external force placed on the depression member will push the body member downward and cause the anterior legs to extend forward and the posterior legs to abduct due to their angular construction. When the external force is removed the resiliency of the leg members will cause them to rebound into their static positions thereby launching the present invention into a tumbling trajectory. Decorative attachments are provided to suggest an insect or an animal.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to jumping toys and, more specifically, to a bug-like flipping toy having four resilient leg members extending from a substantially horizontal body member with a depression member in the form of an extended posterior portion that, when an external force is applied thereupon, will deform the leg members and create reciprocal tension between the surface that the toy is on and the body member until the external force is removed allowing the front legs to recoil and propel the anterior body portion upward as the two posterior legs rebound to their original position thereby launching the present invention tumbling into a horizontal and vertical trajectory.
2. Description of the Prior Art
There are other jumping toys designed for children""s amusement. Typical of these is U.S Pat. No. 5,334,079 issued to John J. Gentile et al. on Aug. 2, 1994.
Another patent was issued to Christopher Shaw et al. on Feb. 7, 1989 as U.S. Pat. No. 4,802,880. Yet another U.S. Pat. No. 3,612,528 was issued to Marvin I. Glass et al. on Oct. 12, 1971 and still yet another was issued on Apr. 23, 1968 to Jack Zimmerman as U.S. Pat. No. 3,378,947. Another patent was issued to Howard E. Kelly on Dec. 31, 1957 as U.S. Pat. No. 2,817,925.
A toy for launching projectiles. The toy includes a flexible shell generally having a convex outer surface and a concave inner surface. The convex outer surface has a first protrusion and a plurality of claws. The concave inner surface has a second protrusion. A first projectile is mountable on the first protrusion. A second projectile is mountable on the second protrusion. When the first projectile is mounted on the first protrusion and the shell is inverted such that the convex outer surface becomes a concave surface, the plurality of claws grip the first projectile. Thereafter, when pressure is applied to the shell, the shell returns to its original non-inverted shape and the first projectile is discharged into the air. Moreover, when the second projectile is mounted on the second protrusion and the shell is inverted such that the convex outer surface becomes a concave surface and is thereafter dropped on a hard surface, the shell returns to its original non-inverted shape and the second projectile is discharged into the air.
A jumping toy having thin flexible convex surface with at least two curved perimetral edge formation where the convex surface is adapted to bear against a second surface, and is manipulatively elastically deformable against a second surface so as to leap therefrom when the convex surface returns to its original shape. Such jumping toy having a representation of a frog in one embodiment and used in a football game in another embodiment.
Game apparatus for playing a target game including a target member having a variably sized target opening and projectiles of unitary construction having deformable leg members which quickly resume their original positions upon release of an applied force to flip the projectile vertically and cause it to move in a horizontal direction.
An animated toy comprising a substantially flat sheet with an apertured portion therein a resilient flap which can be bent and inserted into the apertured portion, whereby due to it""s resiliency the flap will yieldably slide out of the apertured portion and spring into it""s normally unstrained position.
A catapulting figure top comprising a base, means on said base for supporting said base in a stable attitude on a generally horizontal surface, a member movably attached at said base for generally up and down movement with respect to said base, said member being biased upwardly with respect to said base, at least, a portion of said member being accessible, when said base is resting on said surface, for manual depression of said member with respect to said base against said bias. And means for said member for engaging a portion of said base to transport upward impact of said member to said base when said member portion is released from depressed position, the energy of said upward impact being sufficient to bodily catapult the toy upward.
The present invention relates generally to jumping toys and, more specifically, to a bug-like flipping toy having four resilient leg members extending from a substantially horizontal body member with a depression member in the form of an extended posterior portion. Each leg member is a relatively flat elongated plate having a greater width at the point of adjoinment with the body member and tapering to a narrower, radial, distal foot. The leg members are paired into anterior legs and posterior legs with the anterior legs being elongated plates on a horizontal plane and posterior legs being elongated plates on a diagonal plane. An external force placed on the depression member will push the body member downward and cause the anterior legs to extend forward and the posterior legs to abduct due to their angular construction. When the external force is removed the resiliency of the leg members will cause them to rebound into their static positions thereby launching the present invention into a tumbling trajectory.
A primary object of the present invention is to provide a bug-like toy having resilient leg members emanating from a substantially horizontal body member. When sufficient pressure is exerted upon the depression member to extend the leg members and then removed, the leg members will snap back to their static positions thereby flipping the bug into a tumbling trajectory.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a flipping bug-like toy having anterior legs with a generally horizontal width that extend arcuately forward and downward from the body member so the legs will flatten and extend when compressed. The posterior legs have a substantially vertical thickness with the bottom edge sloping away from the center enabling them to abduct when compressed. The difference between the anterior and posterior legs creates two distinct means of delivering the potential energy within the deformed leg members.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a flipping bug-like toy having a body with a depression member for the user to exert pressure upon, thereby deforming the legs and creating the potential power for the projection that will occur once the external pressure is removed.
Additional objects of the present invention will appear as the description proceeds.
To the accomplishment of the above and related objects, this invention may be embodied in the form illustrated in the accompanying drawings, attention being called to the fact, however, that the drawings are illustrative only, and that changes may be made in the specific construction illustrated and described within the scope of the appended claims.


In some embodiments, an assembly in which storage components (e.g., at least two bare SATA disk drives) can be removably secured. The assembly can secure bare storage components in an enclosure without the need first to mount any of them in or to a carrier, and such that they can be conveniently removed from the enclosure and replaced (e.g., when they fail). Some embodiments include a flexible assembly for each storage component, including at least one flexible element and at least one swaged cam for each flexible element. The flexible assembly has two states: a locking state in which each cam deforms a flexible element into a locking position; and an unlocking state in which each cam and each flexible element have relative positions that allow the storage component to move past each flexible element. Other embodiments include a spring-biased assembly for each storage component, having a locking state in which at least one spring element (e.g., a metal flange) exerts spring force on the storage component to maintain it in a locked position; and an unlocking state in which each spring element has relaxed away from the storage component to allow the storage element to move out of the locked position.

The following definitions apply throughout the specification, including in the claims:
"SATA standard" denotes the standard known as Serial ATA, Revision 1.0, adopted on Aug. 29, 2001, by the Serial ATA Working Group, for communication between a host and one or more storage devices over one or more serial links;
"SATA system" denotes a system including elements (sometimes referred to as "SATA components") configured for communication over at least one serial link in compliance with the "SATA" standard;
"RAID" system denotes a system including at least one host (e.g., a CPU), at least two storage devices, and a controller (a RAID controller) coupled between the host and the storage devices to provide an interface between the host and the storage devices. Thus, the expression "RAID" system is used herein more broadly than in a conventional sense in which it denotes a system including at least one host, a "redundant array of inexpensive disks" (an array of inexpensive disk drives), and a controller coupled between the host and disk drives to provide an interface between the host and disk drives;
a "swaged" element denotes that the element is shaped for deforming another element into a complementary shape. For example, a "swaged" cam herein denotes a cam shaped and configured to be capable of deforming another element into a shape complementary to the cam's shape (e.g., temporarily deforming a flexible element into the complementary shape such that the flexible element can later move or be moved back into its original shape); and
"enclosure" (for one or more storage devices) denotes a structure in which each storage device can be removably secured. The term "enclosure" is used broadly to denote either a structure that can enclose a storage device completely (on all sides) or a structure that does not completely enclose a storage device.
The expressions "storage devices" and "storage components" are used interchangeably herein (as synonyms).
The expressions "assembly" and "apparatus" are used interchangeably herein (as synonyms). It is not intended that an "assembly" or "apparatus" necessarily consists of discrete structures that are assembled together to manufacture it.
Banks, hospitals, government institutions, public institutions and similar entities often employ multi-storage component systems to manage their data. Due to the importance of the data, data loss (e.g., due to a hard disk drive failure) cannot be tolerated. In some conventional systems for managing data in a multi-storage component environment, a RAID controller manages data transmission over a serial link between multiple storage units and a host server (e.g., a personal computer). In FIG. 1 (an example of such a system), each of RAID controllers 30 includes a host connection 40 which is configured to be coupled to a host (not shown in FIG. 1) via a serial link. In various implementations of the FIG. 1 system, host connection 40 can be implemented to be compatible with any of several different types of serial links, including SCSI (small computer system interface), fibre channel, ethernet, and firewire (IEEE standard 1394) links. Each RAID controller 30, which can be implemented as a commercially available RAID controller (e.g., one available from CMD Technology Inc. of Irvine, Calif.), performs a multiplexing function to distribute data over several storage components (e.g., in a striping arrangement). If one storage component fails to function properly, a RAID controller 30 prevents the loss of data stored on the failed storage component.
In the FIG. 1 system, each RAID controller 30 can be coupled to two (or more) storage components 60, and each storage component 60 is coupled to one of power supplies 50. More specifically, each of RAID controllers 30, storage components 60, and power supplies 50 is connected to backplane 55 (sometimes referred to as a "midplane"), and backplane 50 provides the appropriate connections between components 60 and RAID controller 30 and between components 60 and power supplies 50. Typically, host connection 40 is a SCSI or fibre channel type connection since such a connection allows multiple storage components to be connected to a host server 20: up to 125 storage components for fibre channel and up to 14 storage components in the case of SCSI.
While the SCSI and fibre channel standards support multi-storage system environments, the associated SCSI and fibre channel storage components are four to six times more expensive than the traditional IDE (integrated device electronics) storage components that are used in most PC's. The IDE standard only supports the connection of two IDE storage components, however, and is therefore not ideal for use in a multi-storage component environment.
SATA systems have been developed as a next generation standard replacement for IDE. SATA storage components are similar in cost to IDE storage components. However, the SATA standard requires tight impedance control for on board signal routes and as a result SATA storage components cannot simply be plugged into a circuit board substrate due to potential distortion. Due to their low cost, it is desirable to use SATA storage components in a multi-storage component environment. U.S. Pat. No. 6,843,674, issued Jan. 18, 2005, describes a cable (having a connector configured to be coupled to a complementary connector of a SATA component) and other hardware for connecting SATA storage components to other components in a multi-storage environment.
SATA connectors (for connecting SATA storage components to other components such as controllers and power supplies) have many desirable characteristics including the following: a SATA connector has a low pin count, supports lower operating voltages and higher data transfer rates than IDE, and can be used with very thin and flexible cables.
Among the disadvantages and limitations of conventional systems that include a backplane (e.g., backplane 55 of FIG. 1) for connecting storage devices to other elements are that a backplane typically is undesirably bulky, and since component location is fixed due to the use of plug-in boards with a backplane, system design is constrained.
To eliminate such disadvantages and limitations, it would be desirable to implement a system in which SATA storage components (or other storage components) are connected in a multi-storage component environment without the use of plug-in boards or a backplane.
A system of this type is described in above-cited U.S. Pat. No. 6,843,674. A system very similar to the one described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,843,674 will next be described with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3.
The system of FIGS. 2 and 3 includes SATA storage components 80 (which can be disk drives), and chassis 100 having bays 90 for receiving the components 80. At the end of each bay 90, chassis 100 has an opening 110 into which one end of a SATA cable 120 and to one end of a power cable 150 (or a specialized connector coupled to one end of a SATA cable 120 and one end of a power cable 150) can be inserted so that the SATA and power cables (or specialized connector) can be coupled to a complementary connector of a component 80 in the bay 90. The other end of each such SATA cable 120 plugs into an appropriate connector of RAID controller 130, and the other end of each such power cable 150 plugs into power supply 140. RAID controller 130 includes a host connection 160 which is configured to be coupled to a serial link (e.g., serial link 161 of FIG. 3) to allow communication via the serial link between controller 130 and a host (e.g., host computer 20 of FIG. 3). RAID controller 130 regulates the flow of data between the host and each of the SATA storage components 80 via the serial link (to the host) and cables 120. Host connection 160 can be implemented to be compatible with any of several different types of serial links, including SCSI (small computer system interface), fibre channel, ethernet, and firewire (IEEE standard 1394) links.
RAID controller 130 also includes a SATA connector 80A (shown in FIGS. 2 and 3) for each of bays 90. One end of each of the SATA cables 120 can be coupled to each of SATA connectors 80A. Data from host 20 propagates over serial link 161 to host connection 160, and from host connection 160 to input buffer 170 of RAID controller 130. The data are distributed to SATA storage components 80 via data distribution component 180 of RAID controller 130. As will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art, input buffer 170 can be a standard, high impedance input buffer and distribution component 180 can be implemented to include at least one multiplexer, electronic switch, or similar device.
It would be desirable to removably secure storage components 80 in chassis 100 of FIG. 2, so that each storage component can be locked into a position with its SATA and power connector aligned with slot 110 so that the storage component can be coupled to SATA and power cables (or to a connector coupled to such cables) and then decoupled from the cables (or connector) when desired, and so that the storage component can be unlocked and removed from the chassis (after being decoupled from the cables or connector). More generally, it would be desirable to removably secure storage components (e.g., SATA storage devices) in a chassis or other enclosure (using simple, inexpensive hardware, and without the need to mount any of the storage components in or to an individual disk carrier or other carrier), so that each storage component can be locked into a position for convenient coupling to a connector (e.g., a connector of or coupled to a SATA cable or other serial link) and then decoupling from the connector, and so that each storage component can be unlocked and removed from the enclosure (after being decoupled from the connector).

Apparatus for removably securing storage components in an enclosure


Provided are a method for multiple accesses in a memory, an apparatus supporting multiple accesses in the memory and a storage system. The method comprises: receiving a number N of addresses in the memory, wherein N is an integer larger than 1 and the number N of addresses are discontinuous; performing a preset operation according to the number N of addresses; and outputting the result of the operation. As a consequence, the performances of a computer system can be improved, and a user can input and use the desired addresses just as required by the user.

Random memory access is always an important factor affecting computer performances. Generally, one access to a DRAM (Dynamic Random Access Memory) requires hundreds of clock cycles. Means such as Cache (cache memory) or prefetching are always employed by computer architectures and programming languages to reduce the random accesses to DRAM as far as possible or to reduce the influence on the performance by the random accesses.
In recent years, big data analyzing becomes an important application filed, and data structures of which a representative example is a graph are mostly used in the big data analyzing application, however, it is very difficult for methods of Cache and prefetching, etc., to perform optimization on such data structure, such that a large amount of random accesses would still occur in the structure of the processor and the memory.
Accordingly, it is desired a solution capable of improving the access performance of the computer system.

Method and apparatus for multiple accesses in memory and storage system, wherein the memory return addresses of vertexes that have not been traversed


The present invention relates to a semiconductor device manufacturing method of forming an inter-wiring layer insulating film having a low dielectric constant to cover a copper wiring. In construction, in a semiconductor device manufacturing method of forming an insulating film 34 having a low dielectric constant on a substrate 20, the insulating film 34 is formed by plasmanizing a film forming gas, that consists of at least any one of alkyl compound having siloxane bonds and methylsilane (SiHn(CH3)4xe2x88x92n: n=0, 1, 2, 3), any one oxygen-containing gas selected from a group consisting of N2O, H2O, and CO2, and ammonia (NH3) to react.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a semiconductor device and a semiconductor device manufacturing method and, more particularly, a semiconductor device manufacturing method for forming a wiring buried insulating film for burying a wiring formed of a copper film or formed mainly of a copper film, and an inter-wiring layer insulating film that has barrier property to copper.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In recent years, the miniaturization and the reduction in thickness of the pattern are required with the higher integration degree and the higher density of the semiconductor integrated circuit devices. In addition, since the higher speed of the data transfer rate is also required.
Therefore, the insulating film having the low dielectric constant (referred to as a xe2x80x9clow dielectric constant insulating filmxe2x80x9d hereinafter) and the small RC delay is employed. As such insulating film, there are the SiOF film having the relative dielectric constant 3.5 to 3.8, the porous SiO2 film having the relative dielectric constant 3.0 to 3.1, etc., for example.
In the meanwhile, the wiring material is being changed from the conventional aluminum (Al) to the wiring formed of the copper (Cu) film having a low electric resistance or formed mainly of the copper film (referred to as a xe2x80x9ccopper wiringxe2x80x9d hereinafter).
Therefore, in order to manufacture the semiconductor device having the multi-layered copper wiring, the low dielectric constant insulating film is formed as the interlayer insulating film on the copper wiring in the prior art. In this case, since normally the copper is ready to diffuse from the copper wiring into the low dielectric constant insulating film, the leakage current between upper and lower wirings is increased. Accordingly, in order to prevent the diffusion of the copper element into the low dielectric constant insulating film, the barrier insulating film containing Si and N or Si and C is often interposed between the copper wiring and the low dielectric constant insulating film.
However, the insulating film containing Si and N has the high relative dielectric constant. Therefore, even if such insulating film of the thinner film thickness is employed as the barrier insulating film, the dielectric constant of the overall interlayer insulating film is increased.
Also, the relative dielectric constant of the barrier insulating film containing Si and C is relatively low such as about 5 rather than the barrier insulating film containing Si and N. But such barrier insulating film containing Si and C cannot sufficiently suppress the increase in the leakage current. In this case, in order to suppress sufficiently the leakage current, further the oxygen must be introduced into the barrier insulating film containing Si and C.
The leakage current can be reduced to a sufficient level by doing so. However, the new problem is caused such that the surface of the copper wiring is oxidized and thus the barrier insulating film and the low dielectric constant insulating film are easily peeled off.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a semiconductor device and a semiconductor device manufacturing method capable of preventing peeling-off of an insulating film for covering a wiring made of only or mainly a copper film and achieving a low dielectric constant of an interlayer insulating film between wirings made of copper film etc. while maintaining a high barrier characteristic to a copper and a small leakage current, like the silicon nitride film, when an inter-wiring layer insulating film into which a connecting conductor is buried and a wiring-buried insulating film into which the copper wiring is buried are formed.
Advantages that can be achieved by the configuration of the present invention will be explained hereunder.
The PE-CVD TMS SiO2 film according to the present invention has a peak of an absorption intensity of an infrared rays in a range of a wave number 2270 to 2350 cmxe2x88x921, a film density in a range of 2.25 to 2.40 g/cm3, and a relative dielectric constant in a range of 3.3 to 4.3.
According to the experiment by the inventor of the present invention, the PE-CVD TMS SiO2 film having the aforementioned characteristics has a high mechanical strength, is dense, has a high water resistance, and has a small content of moisture similarly to a silicon nitride film, and is a lower relative dielectric constant than the silicon nitride.
The semiconductor device of the present invention has a protection layer covering a wiring made only or mainly of a copper film, and the protection layer is formed of the PE-CVD TMS SiO2 film having the aforementioned characteristics. Accordingly, since the protection layer is dense similarly to a silicon nitride, it can prevent the copper from diffusing from the wiring to a periphery thereof.
Further, an inter-wiring layer insulating film having the aforementioned characteristics is interposed between the lower wiring and the upper wiring. Therefore, the inter-wiring layer insulating film can prevent the copper from diffusing from the wiring to a periphery thereof, while the semiconductor device maintains a lower dielectric constant.
Moreover, the semiconductor device has a main insulating film, protection layers covering it in both a lower surface and an upper surface. In other words, the protection layers having the aforementioned characteristics are interposed both between the lower wiring and the main insulating film and between the upper wiring and the main insulating film, respectively. Therefore, the protection layers can prevent the copper from diffusing from the wirings to the main insulating film.
Further, employing a porous insulating film or a coating insulating film having a lower dielectric constant as the main insulating film results in preventing the copper from diffusing from the wirings to the main insulating film, while maintaining a lower dielectric constant.
The insulating film is formed by plasmanizing the film forming gas, that consists of any one selected from the group consisting of the alkoxy compound having Sixe2x80x94H bonds and the siloxane having Sixe2x80x94H bonds and any one oxygen-containing gas selected from the group consisting of O2, N2O, NO2, CO, CO2, and H2O, to react.
According to the experiment, it is found that the silicon-containing insulating film, that formed by plasmanizing the film forming gas that consists of any one selected from the group consisting of the alkoxy compound having Sixe2x80x94H bonds and the siloxane having Sixe2x80x94H bonds and any one oxygen-containing gas selected from the group consisting of O2, N2O, NO2, CO, CO2, and H2O to react, is dense, is excellent in the water resistance, and has the small amount of contained moisture in the film, that are equivalent to the silicon nitride film, and has the smaller relative dielectric constant than the silicon nitride film.
Therefore, in the method of manufacturing the semiconductor device in which the inter-wiring layer insulating film is put between the lower wiring-buried insulating film into which the lower wiring formed of the copper film or formed mainly of the copper film is buried and the upper wiring-buried insulating film into which the upper wiring formed of the copper film or formed mainly of the copper film is buried, the inter-wiring layer insulating film is formed by the above film forming condition. In other words, since the inter-wiring layer insulating film is interposed between the lower wiring and upper wiring, the diffusion of the copper from the lower wiring and the upper wiring can be prevented without the barrier insulating film and also the semiconductor can achieve the lower dielectric constant in the overall insulating film between the wirings.
Also, the main insulating films and the protection layers made of the silicon-containing film of the present invention are laminated alternatively in this order from a bottom to form two or more inter-wiring layer insulating films and two or more wiring buried insulating films alternatively in this order from a bottom. The inter-wiring layer insulating films and the wiring buried insulating films include at least the main insulating film and the protection layer, respectively. Then via holes and wiring recesses are formed alternatively in the inter-wiring layer insulating films and the wiring-buried insulating films, and then a metal consisting only or mainly of a copper film is buried in the via holes and the wiring recesses to form the, connecting conductor and the wiring connecting to the connecting conductor. In this case, the method of forming the connecting conductor and the copper wiring by laminating the inter-wiring layer insulating films and the wiring-buried insulating films, then forming the via hole and the wiring recess therein, and then filling the copper film or the like in the via hole and the wiring recess is referred to as the so-called dual damascene method.
According to the above structure, since the protection layer is interposed between the wiring made of the copper film or the like and the main insulating film, the diffusion of the copper from the copper wirings into the main insulating film can be prevented.
Also, if the main insulating film is formed of the SiOF film, for example, the diffusion of the fluorine (F) element into the peripheral portions can be prevented by the protection layer made of the silicon-containing insulating film of the present invention.
In addition, since the protection layer is formed of not the silicon nitride film but the insulating film having a low relative dielectric constant, the dielectric constant can be reduced in the overall insulating film between the wirings.
Further, since the protection layer made of the silicon-containing insulating film of the present invention is formed to cover the lower wiring, the diffusion of the copper into the peripheral portions can be prevented.
Furthermore, since the silicon-containing insulating film of the present invention has essentially the small leakage current like the silicon nitride film, the introduction of the oxygen is not needed to reduce the leakage current, unlike the insulating film containing Si and C. Although the protection layer and the inter-wiring layer insulating film that contact to the wiring made of copper or the like are ready to peel off if the surface of the wiring made of copper or the like is oxidized by the introduced oxygen or the oxygen introducing process, there is no possibility of that peeling-off in the present invention.
Moreover, if the main insulating film is formed of the coating insulating film, the peeling-off of the film can be prevented and also the discharge of the moisture from the coating insulating film into the peripheral portions can be prevented more completely since the protection layer of the present invention has the good adhesiveness to the coating insulating film.
Besides, the semiconductor is formed of, from the bottom, the inter-wiring layer insulating film and the wiring-buried insulating film formed by laminating sequentially two or more sets of the insulating films and the protection layers made of the silicon-containing insulating film according to the present invention, and then the via holes and the wiring recesses connected to the via holes are formed alternatively to pass through the inter-wiring layer insulating film and the wiring-buried insulating film such that their opening areas are expanded sequentially from the lower side respectively. In other words, the protection layer is exposed from the insulating film that is to be etched, or acts as the underlying film of the insulating film that is to be etched when the insulating film is selectively etched. In this case, since the protection layer of the present invention is dense, such film can effectively function as the mask or such film can effectively function as the stopper to prevent the excessive etching of the insulating film formed under the protection layer.

Semiconductor device and semiconductor device manufacturing method

Semiconductor Process Laboratory Co., Ltd.


Provided is an apparatus that measures a thickness of a coating by selecting a wavelength of a laser based on a color of the coating using a contactless method using a photoacoustic effect and an interferometer, the apparatus including a pulsed laser source to irradiate a pulsed laser beam toward the coating, a continuous wave (CW) laser source to irradiate a CW laser beam toward the coating, a detector to detect an optical interference signal corresponding to the CW laser beam, and a signal processor to process the optical interference signal to calculate a thickness of the coating.

1. Field of the Invention
Embodiments of the present invention relate to an apparatus that measures a thickness of a coating applied on a surface of an object, and more particularly, to an apparatus that measures a thickness of a coating by selecting a wavelength of a laser based on a color of the coating using a contactless method using a photoacoustic effect and an interference signal, rather than an existing contact method.
When a pulsed laser having a nanosecond pulse width is applied to a surface of the coating, an ultrasonic wave may be generated on the surface of the coating and thus, the surface of the coating may be displaced and an optical interference signal may be changed. By measuring the changed optical interference signal, the thickness of the coating may be measured.
To achieve an efficient photoacoustic effect, a pulsed laser having a wavelength band that is excellently absorbed into the coating may be used. To measure an optical interference signal with an excellent sensitivity, a continuous wave (CW) laser having a wavelength band that is excellently reflected by the coating may be used. Since an absorptivity and a reflectivity of the coating vary depending on a color of the coating, lasers having different wavelengths may be used based on the color of the coating. Provided is a wavelength-selectable coating thickness measurement apparatus that may include CW lasers and pulsed lasers having a number of wavelength bands, and select a laser having a desired wavelength band. In another example, provided is a wavelength-selectable coating thickness measurement apparatus that may configure a sensor head unit including a single pulsed laser and a single CW laser, and replace the sensor head unit based on a color of the coating.
2. Description of the Related Art
Coating thickness measurement apparatuses currently being used for vessels, aircrafts, and automobiles may be classified based on measurement principles into a radiographic coating thickness measurement apparatus, an ultrasonic coating thickness measurement apparatus, an eddy current coating thickness measurement apparatus, and a magnetic induction coating thickness measurement apparatus. A method using radiation may detect a defect in transmissive and reflective manners using an X-ray or a gamma ray. The method using radiation may have an advantage of contactless measurement and a disadvantage of harmfulness of radiation to a user. A method using an ultrasonic wave may measure a thickness by measuring a travelling time of an ultrasonic wave transmitted to a sample, reflected, and returned. The method using an ultrasonic wave may require a medium to be used for impedance matching between an ultrasonic transducer and the sample and thus, an application of the method using an ultrasonic wave to a contactless measurement method may be difficult. An eddy current method may measure a thickness based on a change in resistance of an electrode caused by eddy current. A magnetic induction method may measure a thickness by measuring an increase in voltage and an increase in magnetic flux. The magnetic induction method may have an advantage of portability and a disadvantage of contact measurement. Since such a contact measurement apparatus may perform measurement after a covering is completely dried, a great deal of time and expenses may be used to provide dry air for a long time.
In a case of contactless covering thickness measurement using light, the measurement may be performed in real time during a continuous process. Thus, the period of ship constructions may be reduced, and the measurement may be performed rapidly and precisely based on characteristics of light.
An absorption spectrum and a reflection spectrum of a laser may vary depending on a color of a coating. Thus, different wavelengths may be selected for a pulsed laser and a CW laser based on the color of the coating. When a color of a coating to be measured is determined, a pulsed laser having a high-absorptivity wavelength band may be selected to produce an excellent photoacoustic effect, and a CW laser, to be used for an optical interferometer, having a high-reflectivity wavelength band may be selected to be excellently reflected on a surface of the coating.
By integrally including pulsed lasers and CW lasers having different wavelengths in a single measurement apparatus, or by housing pulsed lasers and CW lasers having different wavelengths in an individual module and replacing the module based on a color of a coating, thicknesses of coatings in many colors may be measured using a single measurement apparatus.

Wavelength-selectable coating thickness measurement apparatus

ELECTRONICS AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS RESEARCH INSTITUTE


A method for clarifying phosphoric acid by flocculation or coagulation of solids wherein an effective amount of a carboxylic-type polymer having a portion of sulfonic functionality is used as the clarification aid. Preferred polymers are high molecular weight acrylic acid/acrylamido methylpropyl sulfonic acid-type polymers.

The primary method of manufacturing phosphoric acid is by digestion of phosphate rock with acid. This is commonly referred to as the "wet" process for phosphoric acid production. Apatite (calcium phosphate) is the most commercially valuable phosphate mineral. Sulfuric acid is the most commonly used acid for digestion. A by-product of wet process phosphoric acid production is the generation of a significant amount of calcium and magnesium sulfates (commonly referred to as phosgyp), and to a lesser degree other impure precipitates. The insoluble solids are typically removed by filtration, usually on a horizontal pan filter. The solids are then discharged as a waste product and the filtered acid is concentrated by evaporators with a clarification process between each stage. The final acid concentration is determined by the end use and can be as high as 67 to 76% P.sub.2 O.sub.5, which is known as superphosphoric acid. Fertilizer production accounts for about 90% of phosphate rock utilization.
After the phosphate matrix has been mined, it is beneficiated by washing, screening and/or flotation processes to concentrate the phosphatic material. The concentrate phosphate rock consists of phosphates of calcium, magnesium and the like with some organic as well as inorganic impurities. This material is dissolved by hot (140.degree.-190.degree. C.) sulfuric acid to yield a phosphoric acid solution of about 28% P.sub.2 O.sub.5. The sulfuric acid reacts with the cations in the phosphatic ore matrix, producing insoluble precipitates. The bulk of the insoluble solids consist of sulfates of calcium and magnesium which are removed by filtration prior to concentration of the acid. Additional solids are generated during concentration of the acid and are removed through sedimentation in clarifiers.
Flocculants are often used to aid the clarification process. See, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,644,091, which discloses the use of water soluble sulfonated polystyrenes having molecular weights of from about 1 to about 40 million as phosphoric acid clarification aids.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,800,071 discloses the use of sulfonated acrylamide and sulfonated acrylamide/acrylate polymers to aid in the filtration of gypsum in the "wet" process for production of phosphoric acid.
Copending application U.S. Ser. No. 776,101 discloses the use of sulfonic acid/acrylamide-type polymers in the clarification of phosphoric acid streams and U.S. Ser. No. 775,888 discloses the use of acrylic acid/sulfonic acid polymers in gypsum slurry filtration.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,291,005 discloses the use of acrylamide/ammonium acrylate polymers for settling suspended solids in phosphoric acid production solutions. Polymers claimed consist essentially of a predominant proportion of acrylic acid units and a minor portion of acrylamide units.
Japanese Patent No. JP 56/88814 (CA96(2):8835d) discloses the use of acrylamide/(methacryloyloxy) ethyldimethylbenzelammonium chloride copolymers to flocculate solids from phosphoric acid.
Czechoslovakian Patent No. CS204404 B (CA99(26):214925y) discloses the use of melamine formaldehyde and PhNH.sup.2 formaldehyde condensates for clarification of suspended solids in phosphoric acid.
CA86(18):123780 and CA99(12):903x relate to the effect of polyacrylamide on the filtration rate of phosphogypsum.
CA91(24):195236r discloses the effect of various polyacrylamides and polyethylene oxide polymers on the filterability of phosphogypsum.
By contrast, the present invention relates to the use of carboxylic-type polymers possessing a portion of sulfonic functional groups as flocculation aids to improve the separation of suspended solids from all grades of phosphoric acid. This invention is not disclosed or suggested by any of the above references, alone or in combination.


In a general aspect, a multiple-entity root certificate data block chain is constructed and maintained for use in a cryptography system. In some aspects, a genesis data block includes genesis block data entries representing respective member entities of a root certificate authority consortium. A block chain comprising the genesis block is provided for use by one or more end entities as a root certificate data block chain in a cryptography system. In some aspects, an action data block comprising an action block data entry is generated and sent to member entities of the root certificate authority consortium. An action block based on the action data block is generated and associated with an existing block of the block chain. The block chain comprising the action block is providing for use, by one or more end entities, as a root certificate data block chain in the cryptography system.

The following description relates to a multiple-entity root certificate data block chain for cryptography systems.
Cryptography systems are used to communicate securely over public channels. For example, some cryptography systems provide confidentiality by encrypting messages, and some cryptography systems provide authenticity through digital signatures. Some cryptography systems operate using public keys, private keys and shared secrets.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Constructing a multiple-entity root certificate data block chain


In individualized data communication of a data entity (200) between peers of a group, the data entity (200) includes at least one common data piece (210) and at least one non-common data piece (220). The at least one common data piece (210) is shared by all peers of the group, whereas the at least one non-common data piece (220) is shared by a subgroup of the group. A non-common data identifier (600) is used to identify the at least one non-common data piece (220). By receiving the non-common data identifier (600), one peer of the group may determine whether another peer of the group is sharing the same non-common data piece (220).

Digital distribution of data, e.g. multimedia content, has been gaining more and more attention over the recent years. In this respect, it is known to distribute data on the basis of a descriptive file, also referred to as a metafile. Examples of such descriptive files are, e.g. a torrent file as used according to the BitTorrent protocol and a playlist file as used according to the HTTP Live streaming protocol. Typically, a recipient of the data will use information in the descriptive file as a basis for obtaining the data. Such information may be identifiers uniquely associated with pieces of the data to be received. Actual reception of the data may then occur from different sources, e.g. according to a P2P protocol. One example of a P2P protocol is the above-mentioned BitTorrent protocol.
In P2P protocols, content is shared among all users that are part of a P2P network. This content may therefore also be referred to as common content. For this purpose, a descriptive file may be provided for every content item available in the network. In this respect, "available" means that at least one member of the network, also referred to as a "peer", is offering this content item. In the descriptive file, small pieces of the content item are addressed. When a user requests a certain content item, these pieces may be served from different members of the network. This has the advantage that the recipient of the content item does not have to rely on certain peers providing the pieces to be online the whole time until the content item is received completely. Every piece may be served from the most suitable location, e.g. from a location to which there is a data connection with low latency and high bit rate.
According to known P2P techniques, the descriptive file of a content item contains references to data pieces shared by all peers of a group, typically in the form of hash values of the different data pieces. This means that each data piece can be obtained from every peer of the group, once it becomes available at this peer. However, in some situations it may also be desirable that a content item is "individualized" for certain peers of the group. In such a case, the content item will include common data pieces which are shared by all peers of the group, and non-common data pieces which are shared by only some peers of the group. This may result in a peer trying to obtain a non-common data piece from another peer which is not sharing this non-common data piece. On the other hand, reducing the group of peers to include only peers sharing the same non-common data pieces, which means that they are receiving the same individualized content item, is often undesirable since it may result in a rather small group of peers and inefficient usage of the P2P mechanisms. For example, when distributing software a large portion of a content item may be the same for most recipients, but there may be differences with respect to some portions of the software, e.g. language packs, architecture-specific portions, or the like. Another example is multimedia content which is individualized by personalized advertisements. In each case, it is desirable to keep the group of participating peers as large as possible, thereby allowing for an efficient distribution of the common content.
Accordingly, there is a need for techniques which allow for efficiently communicating non-common data within a larger group of peers sharing the same common content.

Peer-to-peer communication of non-common data


A stern unit of marine craft that comprises a casing, a propeller, a propeller shaft, and at least one rudder actuated by hydraulic pistons is described. The casing is open at the bottom, with its bottom surface having a parabolic shape in cross-section. The casing has an inlet section near to the hull that diverges rearwardly toward an outlet section. The casing provides a housing to the shaft, the propeller, and the rudders, with a gap located above the trace line of the boat bottom where air is sucked above the water surface line such that an air film extends inside the casing along the bottom surface of the casing to an outlet of the casing. The air film reduces frictional resistance between the flowing water and the casing surface to enable additional thrust.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to the stern unit provided in marine craft whereby power generated by the engine and the transmission mechanism is linearly transmitted to the propeller by means of a shaft.
2. Discussion of Related Art
Generally, in the stern section of the marine craft, lubrication oil, felt gaskets against oil leakage, balls for the bearing of the shaft, spider balls for directing the power, and fastening elements such as bellows, bolts and clamps that provide the inter connection of these components, gear assemblies and joints are employed.
In U.S. Pat. No. 5,066,255, as a document known from the state of art, a drive arrangement in which a drive shaft extends from an inboard engine through the stern wall to a propeller arranged in a tunnel-shaped water flow guide structure extending backwardly from the bottom edge of the stern wall, is described. This structure is movable upwards and downwards as well as to the left and to the right. However the number of the components providing these movements is quite high and furthermore balls, spider, felt (including felt gaskets), gear wheels and lubrication oil are used, consequently the ratio of break-down and damages increases due to the mechanical wearing of the components.


One end of a toothed cable is connected to a rear door of a vehicle. The toothed cable moves forward and backward, thus opening and closing the rear door. A drive motor imparts a moving force to the toothed cable. An electromagnetic clutch connects the drive motor to the toothed cable and disconnects the drive motor from the toothed cable. A speed sensor detects the movement of the toothed cable when the electromagnetic clutch is set to a disconnected state. A control unit sets the electromagnetic clutch to a connected state when the movement of the toothed cable is detected and actuates the drive motor to allow the toothed cable to move in the same direction at that in which the toothed cable is moving. When the completely opened or closed rear door is moved to some extent in a closing direction or an opening direction by an operator's hands, the rear door is automatically closed or opened by the drive motor.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an apparatus for automatically opening and closing a pop-up rear door of a van using a drive motor or the like.
2. Description of Related Art
In recent years, large-sized vans such as recreational vehicles have become very popular. Needless to say, the pop-up rear door of the body of such a large van is fairly large and heavy. Thus, short people have difficulty in opening and closing the rear door. In order to solve this problem, Japanese Laid-Open Utility Model Publication No. Hei 5-52165 discloses an automatic door-closing system including a drive motor provided inside the body to wind the wire thereon, one end of which is connected to the rear door. Further, in order to automatically open the rear door, this automatic door-closing apparatus has a coil spring to open the rear door at an angle larger than the angle at which the urging force of the damper installed on the rear part of the vehicle body starts to work in the door press-up direction.
However, although it can be automatically opened by utilizing the urging force of the damper, the above-described automatic door-closing apparatus is incapable controlling the opening speed of the rear door.
Further, in the conventional automatic door-closing apparatus, it is necessary to mount an operation switch for issuing an instruction signal for opening and closing the rear door to a drive motor on the vehicle body. It is convenient to install the operation switch on the rear door, which necessitates the operation switch-installing space to be secured in the rear part of the vehicle body and wires to be installed in the rear part thereof.

Apparatus for automatically opening and closing pop-up door of a vehicle


A guest host mode liquid crystal composition comprising dichroic dyes and host liquid crystal, wherein said dichroic dyes are at least one member selected from each of the following groups (A), (B) and (C):. Group (A) consisting of azo dichroic dyes of the following formula (I): ##STR1## wherein each of R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 which are independent of each other, is a hydrogen atom, a C.sub.1-10 alkyl or alkoxy group, a C.sub.2-12 alkoxyalkyl group, a halogen atom, or a cyclohexyl, phenyl, benzyl or cyclohexylmethyl group which may have such an alkyl, alkoxy or alkoxyalkyl group or a halogen atom, as a substituent; PA1 Group (B) consisting of azo dichroic dyes of the following formula (II): ##STR2## wherein n is 0 or 1, R.sup.3 is R.sup.1 and each of R.sup.4 and R.sup.5 which are independent of each other, is a hydrogen atom, a C.sub.1-10 alkyl, alkoxy or halogenated alkyl group, a C.sub.2-12 alkoxyalkyl group, a halogen atom, or a benzyl or cyclohexylmethyl group which may be substituted as R.sup.1 ; and PA1 Group (C) consisting of anthraquinone dichroic dyes of the following formula (III): ##STR3## wherein ##STR4## each of R.sup.6 and R.sup.7 which are independent of each other, is a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, a C.sub.1-10 alkyl or alkoxy group, a C.sub.2-12 alkoxyalkyl group, or a cyclohexyl or phenyl group which may be substituted as R.sup.1.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a liquid crystal composition useful for e.g. a display device, and a liquid crystal display device employing such a composition.
2. Discussion of Background
A liquid crystal device employing a guest host mode liquid crystal composition having a dichroic dye mixed to a host liquid crystal composition, is excellent in brightness or in the viewing angle, and thus is expected to be useful as a liquid crystal device for reflection type display to be used for portable data equipments.
The display quality such as the contrast of such a guest host mode liquid crystal device interrelates directly with the dichroism or the order parameter of the guest host mode liquid crystal composition to be used. Accordingly, a guest host mode liquid crystal composition which exhibits a high order parameter, has heretofore been desired. Especially, recently, a guest host mode liquid crystal composition which employs a new host liquid crystal composition of e.g. fluorine-type and which exhibits a high order parameter, has been desired, which is useful for active matrix addressing LCD.
In an active matrix addressing liquid display device employing e.g. a thin film transistor, the liquid crystal material is required to maintain stored charges for frame time. Accordingly, as such a liquid crystal material, it is essential to employ a material which has a high ability to maintain stored charges for frame time, i.e. a high holding-voltage ratio.
Most of such liquid crystal display devices are transmission type devices employing backlight. However, Personal Digital Assistant (PDA) which has been actively developed in recent years, is required to be driven for a long period of time with a limited battery, and its parts are required to have low power consumption. As a display device, preferred is a reflection type device of low power consumption type requiring no back light. Particularly effective is a guest host liquid crystal composition employing a dichroic dye, since its light utilization efficiency is high.
As such a liquid crystal material, instead of a conventional liquid crystal material containing cyano groups, it has been common to employ a fluorine-type liquid crystal material containing fluorine atoms or substituents containing fluorine atoms, such as fluoromethyl groups such as trifluoromethyl groups, or fluoromethoxy groups such as trifluoromethoxy groups, which usually scarcely contains ionic impurities. However, when a dichroic dye is added to such a liquid crystal material, it often happens that the holding-voltage ratio of the host liquid crystal is substantially impaired. A display intended to be used outdoors, such as Personal Digital Assistant, is required to have high electrical performance such as holding-voltage ratio, particularly with respect to durability against light such as direct sunlight. However, such a liquid crystal material having a dichroic dye incorporated, has a problem that there is a substantial decrease in the holding-voltage ratio after an irradiation test employing a xenon lamp or the like as the power source. For these reasons, it has been difficult to practically develop an active matrix addressing liquid crystal display device employing such as guest host liquid crystal composition.
Specifically, common azo dyes generally exhibit high order parameters, but they are inferior in stability against light as compared with anthraquinone dichroic dyes and thus have had a problem such as a decrease in the voltage-maintaining performance by exposure to light. Anthraquinone dyes are superior to azo dyes in their electrical characteristics to light, but the order parameters of the individual dyes tend to be inferior to azo dyes. Further, in a case where a composition having a black, brown or dark blue color is prepared by mixing a plurality of dyes of such azo and anthraquinone types, the order parameters of the individual dyes decrease in light absorption wavelength regions departing from the respective maximum absorption wavelength (.lambda.max). Accordingly, with the above composition having a color of black or the like, prepared by mixing dichroic dyes having various structures, the order parameter decreases in a wavelength region where light absorption spectra of the respective dichroic dyes overlap, whereby no adequate contrast of the entire guest host mode liquid crystal composition has been obtained.
For the above-mentioned reasons, it has been desired to practically realize a guest host mode liquid crystal composition and a liquid crystal display device showing a high order parameter and high light stability.

Liquid crystal composition and liquid crystal display device


An engine having an engine control for reducing the passage of unburned fuel and other components into the exhaust system for preventing the fouling of an exhaust catalyst, is provided. As the speed of the engine increases, the engine control causes a valve corresponding to each exhaust passage to move to a position whereby time during which exhaust is allowed to flow from each combustion chamber is extended. Preferably the valve is of the rotating type, movable from one position in which it does not obscure the exhaust passage and the exhaust duration is long, and a second position in which it does obscure a portion of the exhaust passage, causing the exhaust start time to be delayed and the exhaust stop time to be accelerated. The engine control prevents fouling of the catalyst by reducing the flow of unburned fuel products through the exhaust thereto.

It has been found desirable in many instances to provide engines with a leaner than stoichiometric air/fuel mixture. Maintaining a lean air/fuel mixture has the advantage that unburned fuel is not exhausted, reducing the possibility of catalyst fouling and reducing the amount of harmful emissions. While providing an engine with a lean air/fuel mixture is satisfactory in many running conditions, such as when the engine is idling, such does not often provide sufficient fuel to support engine acceleration at other times.
This problem is especially acute in watercraft. As is well known, in order to move a watercraft from a trolling velocity to a planing velocity, a great increase in watercraft velocity must be effectuated. This requires a large increase in power output during a period of engine acceleration. If the engine is supplied with too lean of an air and fuel mixture, the engine will not provide the power output necessary to effectuate planing of the watercraft.
On the other hand, if the amount of the fuel delivered to the engine is increased, if even during only short periods of acceleration, the engine may exhaust unburned fuel components. In modem engines having exhaust systems with exhaust gas catalysts, the exhausting of unburned fuel may result in the fouling or overheating of the catalyst.
A system for providing the required air/fuel mixture to an engine powering a watercraft during all phases of engine operation, and wherein catalyst fouling and overheating is prevented, is desired.


A system of adjustable balancing weights is provided for a helicopter main rotor blade. The trailing edge of the rotor blade is formed with a plurality of recesses that each receive an aerodynamically shaped weight to adjust and balance the weight of the rotor blade. A forward weight recess and a forward weight are also provided on the rotor blade adjacent the rotor blade leading edge. The lateral spacing between the weight adjacent the rotor blade leading edge and the weights adjacent the rotor blade trailing edge provides greater flexibility in balancing the mass of the rotor blade.

(1) Field of the Invention
The present invention pertains to an adjustable weight system for a rotor blade of a rotary wing aircraft. Specifically, the present invention pertains to an adjustable weight system for a helicopter rotor blade, where the trailing edge of the rotor blade is formed with a plurality of recesses that each receive an aerodynamically shaped weight to adjust and balance the weight of the rotor blade.
(2) Description of the Related Art
For rotary wing aircraft, for example helicopters, it is necessary that the rotor blades of the aircraft have a mass balance adjustment capability at the tip end or distal end of each rotor blade. Balancing the weight of a rotor blade enables a set of the balanced rotor blades to be operated with reduced vibration. The mass balance adjustment of the rotor blade is provided for both the spanwise direction, i.e. the longitudinal length of the rotor blade, and the chordwise direction, i.e. the lateral width of the rotor blade. This is typically achieved by a helicopter rotor blade balance system that has a pair of adjustable weights positioned adjacent the leading edge of the rotor blade and the distal end of the rotor blade. The two adjustable weights are spaced from each other in the chordwise or lateral direction on the rotor blade. The weights are positioned in a pair of mechanical pockets provided in the surface of the rotor blade. The pockets are typically constructed of metal to withstand the load created by the weights contained in the pockets and to transfer the load to the rotor blade structure.
A typical construction of a prior art rotor blade mass balance system is shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 1 shows a section of a rotor blade 10 adjacent the blade distal end. A first forward pocket 12 is positioned in a complementary shaped cavity in the rotor blade adjacent the blade leading edge 14, and a second forward pocket 16 is positioned in a complementary shaped cavity in the rotor blade adjacent the first forward pocket 12. The first pocket 12 and second pocket 16 are typically secured to the rotor blade structural spar tube 22. This positioning of the pair of pockets 12,16 provides sufficient structural strength to the pockets in the blade.
A pair of weights 24, 26 are positioned in the pockets 12, 16 in adjusting the mass balance of the rotor blade. The weights 24, 26 are secured in the pockets 12, 16 by a plurality of mechanical fasteners 28, for example, self-locking screws. A cover plate 32 is provided to cover over the pair of weights 24, 26. The cover plate 32 fits into a complementary shaped recess 34 in the surface of the blade 10. A plurality of mechanical fasteners 36, for example self-locking screws, are provided to secure the cover plate 32 to the surface of the blade 10.
The above described mass balancing system of the prior art is disadvantaged in that the two weight pockets 12, 16 cannot be spaced any further apart in the chordwise or lateral direction of the blade 10 beyond the lateral width of the rotor blade spar tube 22. The structure of the tube 22 is needed to secure the pockets 12, 16 and weights 24, 26 in the rotor blade 10. The portion of the rotor blade 10 that extends aft of the spar tube 22 is typically constructed of lightweight composite material skins or layers that extend over the opposite sides of a core material of the blade. This portion of the blade is typically configured and dimensioned to maintain an aerodynamic shape. The thickness dimensions of this portion of the blade are not sufficiently large to retain the weight pockets and their associated weighs, without adding significant reinforcement, which unacceptably adds weight to the blade.

Trailing edge adjustable weight system for helicopter main rotor blades