A thermocouple having an electropositive leg formed of a noble metal-Al alloy and an electronegative leg electrically joined at respective ends thereof to form a thermocouple junction. The thermocouple provides for accurate and reproducible measurement of high temperatures (600.degree.-1300.degree. C.) in inert, oxidizing, or reducing environments, gases or vacuum. Furthermore, the thermocouple circumvents the need for expensive, strategic precious metals such as rhodium as a constituent component. Selective oxidation of rhodium is also thereby precluded.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a thermocouple adapted for accurate and reproducible measurement of high temperatures in inert, oxidizing or reducing environments, gases, or vacuum, and more particularly to a thermocouple leg comprising a noble metal-Al alloy.
2. Description of the Prior Art
High melting, noble metal thermocouples made of e.g., platinum (Pt), rhodium (Rh), palladium (Pd), iridium (Ir) , etc., and alloys thereof are known in the art. For example, the most widely used thermocouple for measurement of temperatures above 1000.degree. C. is Pt-Pt13Rh, where one leg of the thermocouple is made of a wire or thin film of Pt and a second leg of the thermocouple is made of a wire or thin film of Pt13Rh (i.e., an alloy of platinum and rhodium containing 13 wt. % rhodium). The emf-temperature response of a Pt-Pt13Rh thermocouple, the basis of temperature measurement via thermocouples, is high (e.g., about 12.5 mv at 1200.degree. C.) , and its oxidation resistance is good. The Pt-Pt13Rh thermocouple can be used with minimal drift (i.e., a change in emf with time due to any cause such as composition change, oxidation or chemical attack) up to 1500.degree. C. Other precious metal elements, e.g., Pd and Ir, or alloys thereof with Pt are also useful thermocouples. Such thermocouples are not widely used because they are more susceptible to oxidation than Pt, and degrade by drift caused by selective oxidation.
On the other hand, Pt-modified pack aluminide coatings and the oxidation properties of these coatings in Pt-Al bulk alloys are known in the art. However, none of this technology concerns coating of Pt wires, making Pt-Al alloy wires, or using Pt-Al wires as thermocouple devices. The essence of the Pt-modified aluminide coating is that a thin layer (less than about 0.025 mm) of Pt is plated or CVD coated onto a nickel-base superalloy and then aluminized to form a Pt-Al rich outer layer in a NiAl coating. The Pt-Al phases are more diffusionally stable than NiAl, and serve as a long-term aluminum reservoir for protective Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 scale formation. Pt-Al oxidation studies have shown that about 5-10 a/o Al (atom %) is needed to form a protective Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 scale. Excellent oxidation resistance is obtained for these alloys.
A disadvantage of Pt-Pt13Rh as a thermocouple is its use of the strategic precious metal Rh. Rh is expensive and its availability is unreliable. Rh is also somewhat more prone to oxidation than Pt, so that alloys thereof suffer selective elimination of Rh resulting in a change in the emf of a Pt-Pt13Rh thermocouple over time (i.e., a temperature measurement inaccuracy). In reducing atmospheres, contact with any silica-containing material, e.g., silica-based refractories and SiC or Si.sub.3 N.sub.4 ceramics, can result in low melting Pt-Si compounds and destruction of the thermocouple.
The following patents relate to high temperature thermocouples, including Pt-Rh elements or analogous alloys which utilize rare and expensive metals or other metals.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,901,734 to Sibley et al relates to a thermocouple in which the positive element consists of an iron-nickel alloy and the negative element consists of a copper-nickel alloy. The compositions of these elements are such that inexpensive lead wires of copper, for example, may be used without any significant temperature error, where the thermocouple is used to monitor a temperature of about 1600.degree. F. and the lead wire-thermocouple junction is at a temperature not exceeding about 400.degree.-500.degree. F. Particularly, the emf output of the Sibley et al thermocouple between 32.degree. F. and about 500.degree. F. is said to approach substantially zero when the compositions of the positive and negative thermoelements are properly selected.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,402,447 to Przybyszewski et al relates to a method for bonding a platinum base metal lead wire to a thin platinum alloy film (typically Pt or Pt10Rh) resting on a thin alumina insulating layer adhered to a metal substrate. Typically, the platinum alloy film forms an element of a thermocouple for measuring the surface temperature of a gas turbine airfoil.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,984,904 to Nakano et al relates to a platinum-platinum/rhodium alloy thermocouple housed in an immersion protection tube used to monitor the temperature of molten metal. The immersion protection tube formed of alumina-graphite is said to protect the thermocouple from high temperature exposure to a reducing atmosphere.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,043,023 to Bentley relates to a metal sheathed thermocouple cable comprising an oxidation-resistant nickel-based alloy. The thermocouple cable is said to have excellent thermoelectric and mechanical stability at high temperatures (beyond about 900.degree. C.) , and is said to avoid premature failure due to oxidation that occurs in "bare-wire" thermocouples.
The following technical publications relate to platinum modified aluminide diffusion coatings.
M. R. Jackson et al, "The Aluminization of Platinum and Platinum-Coated IN-738", Metallurgical Transactions A, Vol. 8A, pages 1697-1707 (November 1977) relates to the chemistry and morphology of aluminide coatings formed on platinum and platinum-coated IN-738. These coatings are used to protect Ni-base superalloy gas turbine components from oxidation and hot corrosion attack.
J. S. Smith et al, "Platinum Modified Aluminides-Present Status", presented at the Gas Turbine and Aeroengine Congress and Expedition-Brussels, Belgium (Jun. 11-14, 1990) provides an overview of the development of platinum modified aluminide diffusion coatings used to impart oxidation and hot corrosion resistance to nickel-base superalloys. This paper discusses various coating morphologies and application of a low pressure chemical vapor deposition (low pressure CVD) process for production of platinum modified aluminide gas phase coatings on gas turbine components.

High temperature, oxidation resistant noble metal-Al alloy thermocouple

The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration


An FET semiconductor substrate includes source/drain regions with an outer buried contact region overlapping the drain region, a gate oxide layer, and a polysilicon layer over the gate oxide layer. An inner buried contact opening through the polysilicon and the gate oxide layer reaches down to the substrate over the outer buried contact region. An inner buried contact region, within the outer buried contact region, is self-aligned with the buried contact opening. A second polysilicon layer formed over the gate oxide layer reaches down through the buried contact opening into contact with the inner buried contact region. An interconnect and a gate electrode are formed from the polysilicon layers. Source/drain regions are self-aligned with the gate electrode and whereas the drain region is spaced from the inner buried contact region, the outer buried contact region interconnects the drain region with the inner buried contact region.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to integrated circuit semiconductor devices and more particularly to memory devices.
2. Description of Related Art
In MOS silicon gate technology there are several ways of establishing connection between a doped polysilicon conductor layer and a doped silicon substrate which are separated by a gate oxide layer. One such form of contact is a "buried contact" which provides direct contact between the polysilicon conductor layer and the substrate through a window in the gate oxide formed where the buried contact is to be made. An ohmic contact between the doped polysilicon conductor layer and the substrate is made by diffusion from the doped polysilicon conductor layer (which is more heavily doped) of dopant into the substrate. Then an insulating film layer is formed covering the buried contact.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,451,534 shows the use of buried contacts in SRAM device integrated circuit designs. Lithography and etching are used to form openings in the gate oxide layer thereby defining the buried contact openings. Then doped polysilicon line patterns are formed over the device the openings.
FIG. 9 shows a prior art device 28' with a P- doped substrate 30 has been covered with a gate oxide layer 36 over which the doped polysilicon gate electrode 44' of an FET device 45 and a lower polysilicon layer 38 have been formed. The device 28' includes S/D regions 47/48 formed in the substrate 30. In addition, there is a buried contact BC1 region 42' formed in the substrate 30 comprising N+ doped source/drain regions 47/48. Drain region 48 is just to the left of BC1 region 42' but is separated therefrom by an undoped region 46 into which no ions have been implanted during the formation of a N+ doped S/D regions 47/48. The buried contact region 42 in substrate 30 to the right of the FET 45 has been formed by doping with N+ ions implanted therein. A second polysilicon layer (44', 44") was patterned to produce the gate electrode 44' and the interconnect 44" over the lower polysilicon layer 38 and the buried contact region 42'. Interconnect 44" reaches down through an opening through lower polysilicon layer 38 and gate oxide layer 36 into electrical and mechanical contact with buried contact region 42' and therethrough into electrical contact with the P- substrate 30. The undoped region 46 with its high electrical resistivity illustrates the problem of separation between the buried contact region 42' and the drain region 48 by an undoped region, which increases resistance therebetween resulting in large effective buried contact resistance.
FIG. 10 shows a modification of FIG. 9 in which the undoped region 46 has been replaced by a trench between the drain region 48 and the buried contact region 42'. This illustrates the problem of formation of a trench 56 between the buried contact region 42' and the drain 48 which arises with a conventional process during etching because the buried contact region 42' will be attacked easily during the process of etching during the polysilicon patterning step. This trench 56 will result in additional leakage if the trench 56 is too large.

Outer buried contact region connecting drain region to inner buried contact region

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.


Systems and methods for activating a security action responsive to proximal detection and identification of a wireless device are provided. Such systems and methods can include a wireless radio of a door mounted contact sensor of a security system receiving a broadcast message that includes a device identifier from the wireless device. Then, such systems and methods can include determining whether the device identifier corresponds to any of a plurality of authorized devices enrolled with the security system, determining whether a signal parameter of the broadcast message satisfies a preconfigured access condition, and responsive thereto, performing the security action.

Known security systems can detect and identify a wireless device whenever the wireless device connects with a wireless receiver of a security system. However, known security systems are not capable of detecting a distance of the wireless device from the wireless receiver or a moving direction of the wireless device based on a broadcast signal from the wireless device received by the wireless receiver. Accordingly, these limitations require known security systems to implement problematic features, such as an entry delay or an indicator that identifies when it is safe to enter a premises protected by the security system.
In view of the above, there is a need and an opportunity for improved systems and methods.


A seed positioning device, a seed dispensing system, and a method of positioning a plurality of seeds may include an axially extending housing member having an upper portion and a lower portion. The seed positioning device further includes a seed positioning member extending axially through the housing member and being configured to transfer a plurality of seeds between the upper portion of the housing member and the lower portion of the housing member and position the plurality of seeds by centrifugal force.

Seeding implements, such as air seeders, are commonly towed by tractors to apply seed, fertilizer, and/or other granules to a field. The ground speed of agricultural machinery has increased recently as such vehicles and machinery have become more efficient. In the case of seeding operations, increased ground speed results in a need for metering or singulating seeds at extremely high rates. However, conventional seed metering, dispensing, and/or sensing systems may produce significant inaccuracies with seed counting or volumetric sensing during the seeding operation due to the higher rates of operation. In particular non-limiting examples, seeds may pass through a seed sensor at random angles, speeds, and/or in clumps, thereby making the seeds difficult to resolve or obscuring some seeds from the sensor. As such, seed sensors may not accurately determine a volume or rate of seeds being delivered and/or seeds may not be properly delivered to the soil.
Accordingly, there is a need in the art for a seed positioning device, a seed dispensing system, and a method of dispensing seeds that present seeds to a sensor in a uniform manner, otherwise improve accuracy of volumetric measurement or counting of the seeds, and/or ensure proper delivery of seeds to the soil.

Seed positioning device, seed dispensing system, and method of dispensing seed


This still picture filing system comprises a printer unit 2, a picture processing block 3, a thinning and compression/expansion processing block 4, a storage unit 5 and a system controller 6 which are connected through a bus line 7. Print picture data is formed by the picture processing block 3 on the basis of plural picture data which have been read out from a recording medium by the storage unit 5 to print the print picture data onto an index card at the printer unit 2. To realize this, the system controller 6 controls the printer unit 2, the picture processing block 3, the thinning and compression/expansion processing block 4 and the storage unit 5.

Hitherto, there have been known picture filing systems adapted for taking thereinto picture data from scanner, etc. to record the picture data thus taken in onto a recording medium such as an optical disc, etc. to carry out filing of the picture data. This picture filing system comprises a memory for temporarily storing picture taken in from the scanner, a picture processing unit for implementing picture processing such as enlargement, contraction and rotation, etc. to the picture data which have been read out from the memory, and a recording unit for recording, onto the optical disc, the picture data which has been caused to undergo picture processing.
Meanwhile, since recent optical discs have very large memory capacity, it is possible to store picture data of several hundred frames onto a single optical disc. In addition, such picture filing system is caused to store picture data of several hundred frames not only on a single disc but also on plural respective discs so that of picture data of several thousand frames are permitted to undergo filing.
However, when the number of discs on which picture data are recorded is increased, user could not recognize the relationship between discs and kind (attribute) of picture data recorded thereon. When operator attempts to search the picture data that he desires from a large quantity of picture data recorded on plural discs, a procedure must be taken to once the disc, into the recording/reproduction unit to read out picture data recorded on the disc to confirm it on the monitor. Accordingly, when such a processing is carried out with respect to the plural discs, not only time but also extremely much labor are required.
This invention has been made in view of such problems as described above, and its object is to provide a picture data printing apparatus and a print picture data generating apparatus which can easily judge respective picture data stored on discs by the picture filing system.

Picture data printing apparatus and print picture data generating apparatus


A communication link is established between a first wireless device and a communication network using a network communication protocol when it is determined at the first wireless device that a communication link with an access node is not detected. The first wireless device transmits an indication that the first wireless device can provide wireless communications to a second wireless device using a cellular radio access technology. In response to a communication channel request from the second wireless device, the first wireless device grants a communication channel to the second wireless device, and the second wireless device is assigned a network address. A request is received at the first wireless device to establish a communication session for the second wireless device over the communication network, and the communication session is established by the wireless device for the second wireless device over the communication network.

To communicate over a communication network, a wireless device typically establishes communication with a base station and then initiates one or more communication sessions governed by a controller network element. However, when a large-scale communications network is impaired or disabled, for example, by a natural disaster, wide area network outage, or simply lack of coverage by any base station within range of the wireless device, the wireless device may be unable to establish communication with a base station or with the controller network element to initiate a communication session.
Overview
In systems and methods of providing wireless network communication, it is determined at a first wireless device that a communication link with an access node is not detected, and a communication link is then established between the first wireless device and a communication network using a network communication protocol. An indication that the first wireless device can provide wireless communications to a second wireless device using a cellular radio access technology is then transmitted from the first wireless device. In response to a communication channel request from the second wireless device, the first wireless device grants a communication channel to the second wireless device, and the second wireless device is assigned a network address. A request is received at the first wireless device to establish a communication session for the second wireless device over the communication network, and the communication session is established by the wireless device for the second wireless device over the communication network.

Providing wireless network communication among a plurality of wireless devices


An integrated telephone user interface (TUI) system permitting switching between Dual Tone Multi-Frequency and voice operating command modes. This system provides the user with access to either command mode and allows the user to toggle among the two command modes while each command mode remains functionally distinct from the other. For example, when receiving a call, the TUI prompts the user to select either the voice-based or the tone-based command mode. After receiving an input from the user that activates one of the command modes, the user may initiate a desired TUI operation while in the active command mode. However, the user can also interrupt the active command mode and switch to another operationally distinct command mode. In response to the interruption, the system translates command modes to allow the user to resume TUI operation in the other command mode.

A TUI is a computer-implemented interface that allows a user to program and to manipulate program commands by using a telephone handset to communicate with a computer. At present, there are primarily two types of TUIs available: DTMF/tone-based and voice-based. In a tone-based TUI, control commands are generated using normal touch-tone dialing. For example, a user can touch buttons on a keypad to generate DTMF signals. Conventional telephones have a keypad including 12 buttons and, therefore, 12 possible combinations of tones. In contrast, for a voice-based TUI, commands are generated by reciting words or phrases. Voice activated controls recognize the recited words or phrases and identify the command.
A tone-based TUI provides a hierarchy of prompts consisting of a menu of options selected by touch-tone dialing. Once the TUI has been activated, the user is provided with an announcement of the options available at the present level in the menu structure. A TUI utilizing a DTMF interface instructs the user to press a keypad button associated with a number in order to initiate a desired action.
For example, a typical announcement in a DTMF-controlled TUI may provide the following menu of options for a voice mail system: "To listen to your messages, press 1; To change your voice mail greeting, press 2; . . . To disconnect, press 9." If the user presses a button represented by the number 1, the voice mail system plays the first voice mail message in the mailbox. This is an example of a single level of options in a tree menu structure. However, if the user presses a button represented by the number 2, the system goes to a different level of options in the tree menu structure. At each subsequent level the user enters, a new announcement is heard by the user. Each announcement instructs the user of a new set of available options. The user cannot skip levels of command options as a result of the tree-like menu structure for the DTMF-controlled interface. The user has to navigate through each level until a desired option is encountered, thereby making this tone-based TUI tedious to navigate.
On the other hand, a voice-based TUI utilizes a "flat" menu structure of options. Instead of pressing keys on the keypad of a telephone handset, the user states a voice command that instructs the system to perform an action. For instance, a user would simply state "Listen to my messages" or "Send a new message" without listening to a prompt identifying all of the possible options available to the user. In other words, upon the user entering the voice-based TUI, no announcement is made by the system and the user simply states the desired option, if known. If the user is not sure what to do, the user can say "Help" and the system responds by presenting the user with a list of the system's voice commands. However, because a voice-based TUI uses a flat menu structure, the user will not be provided with the hierarchy of prompts typically encountered in the tone-based TUI.
A voice-based TUI sometimes has difficulty responding to voice commands in noisy environments. Moreover, in public, if a user encounters a voice-based TUI, additional confidentiality may be desired. For example, the user may experience difficulty responding verbally in an environment where it is possible to be overheard. In order to allow the user to respond in private, the voice-based TUI must be exited or the user may simply fail to complete the purpose for which the call was made.
One technique to overcome the problems associated with both the DTMF and voice interface techniques is to utilize a voice-based TUI that can also accept the entry of DTMF commands. This technique is referred to as a voice-based hybrid TUI. Unlike a tone-based TUI, the user is not prompted in the voice-based hybrid TUI to press a button on a keypad to select an option. The user, however, must either know the corresponding button for a voice command or must ask the system for help.
Another technique to overcome the problems associated with both the tone-based and voice-based interface techniques is to utilize a tone-based TUI with integrated voice recognition. This technique is referred to as a tone-based hybrid TUI. An example of an announcement in a tone-based-hybrid TUI may state: "To listen to your messages, press or say 1 now; To change your voice mail greeting, press or say 2 now; To disconnect, press or say 9 now."
Both hybrid TUIs are implemented by using the same command mode of the core TUI on which they are based. For example, the tone-based hybrid TUI utilizes a tone-based command mode and the voice-based options are implemented from the core tone-based command mode. In contrast, the voice-based hybrid TUI uses a voice-based command mode and the tone-based options are performed while operating in this voice-based command mode. These known hybrid systems face operational difficulties because the options of a subsequently desired operating mode are implemented from within the originally initiated operating mode. For example, a tone-based hybrid TUI for a voice mail system may have a "Barge-In" capability that allows a user to implement voice command options without leaving the tone-based command mode. The user simply "talks over" the prompts and, in response, the tone-based-hybrid TUI recognizes the voice command and implements the corresponding option of the tone command mode. However, a Barge-In feature only allows the user to operate within the original command mode. To activate the other command mode, the user has to terminate the call and begin anew. There is no mechanism for changing the active command mode in a prior TUI system at any time during a call.
For the foregoing reasons, there is a need for a single TUI that combines tone-based and voice-based command modes. This integrated TUI should provide the user with access to either command mode and allow the user to switch between the two at anytime. This tone-based/voice-based TUI also should allow both modes to remain functionally distinct rather than having one command mode functioning as the core TUI.

Integrated tone-based and voice-based telephone user interface


A controller and a method for determining a logical topology of communications resources for providing a service offering. The controller comprises a function identifier, a graph generator and a mapper. The identifier is coupled to a service level description (SLD) associating the service with at least one service type and a library of network functions (NFs) and identifies at least one NF in the library for each service type. The generator is coupled to the SLD and a library of primitive service level graphs (SLGs) representing at least one data flow between directly-coupled resource entities and associates at least one primitive SLG to each identified NF. The mapper is coupled to the service level description and a map of network infrastructure elements and maps at least one resource entity of a primitive SLG onto an available network infrastructure element.

The demand for wireless resources in terms of bandwidth and throughput is ever increasing. One approach under consideration to meet this increasing demand is through virtualization of networks, in which pooled network resources are used to create a series of network slices, on each of which, one or more existing network nodes is instantiated with those network functions that provide a dynamic service level capability for a particular service. The use of network slices means that only those network functions that are appropriate are instantiated, and only as and when appropriate.
In some examples, each slice is used to provide an isolated service to a class of devices. The network operator can provide a service provider with a slice, or series of slices, that can be used to provide service level capability to a customer and its end users, such as a utility and its remotely located smart meters.
The network functionality of a particular slice may be implemented by downloading and instantiating as a virtual network function (VNF) certain network functionality from cloud-based resources to one or more existing network nodes or points of presence (PoP). A given PoP may have downloaded and instantiated thereon one or more than one VNF, each corresponding to one or more than one slice. When the functionality is no longer appropriate, the corresponding VNF may be terminated or deactivated or modified to reflect more appropriate functionality.
The identification of which nodes should be instantiated with which VNFs in order to provide a desired service level capability for a given slice is typically manually provisioned, involving considerable time and effort.
Methods and systems that reduce the amount of manual provisioning in this activity, so as to maximize flexibility and responsiveness of the network to changing customer demands would be desirable.

Software defined topology (SDT) for user plane


A light-emitting material comprises a compound having a partial structure represented by the following formulas (8), (20) and tautomers thereof:

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a light-emitting material (i.e., a light-emitting device material) and light-emitting device capable of converting electric energy to light which is then emitted and more particularly to a light-emitting device which can be preferably used in various arts such as display device, display, backlight, electrophotography, illuminating light source, recording light source, exposure light source, reading light source, sign, advertising display and interior. The present invention also relates to a novel light-emitting material which can be expected to find application in various arts.
2. Description of the Related Art
Today, various display devices have been under active study and development. In particular, an organic electric field light-emitting (EL) device can emit with a high luminance at a low voltage and thus has been noted as a favorable display device. For example, a light-emitting device having a vacuum-deposited thin organic layer has been known (Applied Physics Letters, vol. 51, page 913, 1987). The light-emitting device described in this reference comprises as an electron-transporting material tris(8-hydroxyquinolinate) aluminum complex (Alq) which is laminated with a positive hole-transporting material (amine compound) to exhibit drastically improved light-emitting properties as compared with the conventional single-layer type devices.
In recent years, the application of organic EL device to color display has been under active study. However, in order to develop a high performance color display, it is necessary that the properties of blue, green and red light-emitting devices be each improved.
As a means for improving the properties of light-emitting devices there has been reported a green light-emitting device utilizing the emission of light from orthometalated iridium complex (Ir(ppy)3: Tris-Ortho-Metalated Complex of Iridium (III) with 2-Phenylpyridine) (Applied Physics Letters 75, 4 (1999)). The foregoing device can attain an external quantum yield of 8%, which is higher than the limit of the external quantum yield of the conventional light-emitting devices, i.e., 5%. However, since the foregoing light-emitting device is limited to green light-emitting device, the range within it can be applied as a display is narrow. It has thus been desired to develop light-emitting materials capable of emitting light having other colors.
Noting a red light-emitting device, many light-emitting devices comprising DCM(4-(Dicyanomethylene)-2-methyl-6-(4-dimethylaminostyryl)-4H-pyran) and its analogy have been reported. No devices having an external quantum efficiency of more than 5% have been reported. If the external quantum efficiency of 5%, which is considered to be the limit of the external efficiency of the conventional red light-emitting device, can be surpassed, the development of high efficiency organic EL devices capable of emitting light having various colors can make a great progress. It has thus been desired to develop such high efficiency organic EL devices.
On the other hand, an organic light-emitting device which can attain light emission with a high luminance is one having a laminate of vacuum-deposited organic material layers. The preparation of such a device is preferably accomplished by a coating method from the standpoint of simplification of production procedure, workability, area attained, etc. However, the device prepared by the conventional coating method is inferior to that prepared by vacuum evaporation method particularly in light-emitting efficiency. It has thus been desired to develop a novel light-emitting material.
In recent years, various materials having fluorescence have been used in various arts such as filter dye, color conversion filter, dye for photographic material, sensitizing dye, dye for dyeing pulp, laser dye, fluorescent medicine for medical diagnosis and organic light-emitting material. Thus, there is a growing demand for such a material. New light-emitting materials have been desired.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Light-emitting material comprising orthometalated iridium complex, light-emitting device, high efficiency red light-emitting device, and novel iridium complex

Abstract: wherein the variables are as defined in the specification.


A thin film transistor (TFT) is provided, which includes a substrate, a first gate layer, an insulation layer, a first source/drain layer, a second source/drain layer, a semiconductor layer, a passivation layer and a second gate layer. The first gate layer is disposed on the substrate. The insulation layer is disposed on the first gate layer. The first source/drain layer is disposed on the insulation layer. The second source/drain layer is disposed on the insulation layer. The semiconductor layer is disposed on the insulation layer and covers the first source/drain layer and the second source/drain layer. The passivation layer is disposed on the insulation layer and covers the semiconductor layer. The second gate layer is disposed on the passivation layer and contacts the first gate layer through a via so that the two gate layers keep a same voltage level.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention generally relates to a transistor, and more particularly, to a thin film transistor (TFT).
2. Description of Related Art
A TFT can be roughly categorized into a staggered one and a coplanar one based on the structure layout of the layers thereof. For the staggered TFT, the semiconductor layer is disposed between the gate layer (or the insulation layer) and the source/drain layer thereof; for the coplanar TFT, the source/drain layer is disposed the gate layer (or the insulation layer) and the semiconductor layer thereof. In addition, the coplanar TFT can be further divided into a top gate type where the gate layer is located at the upper portion of the TFT and a bottom gate type where the gate layer is located at the lower portion of the TFT.
For the current coplanar TFT, the carrier transmission channel over the source/drain layer of the TFT is affected by a shielding effect of the source/drain layer where the electrical field produced by the gate layer below the source/drain layer is shielded, so that there is no charge accumulation at the region where the electrical field is shielded, which leads to increasing the impedance of the carrier transmission channel and reduces the mobility of carriers thereof.


Methods and apparatuses including programmed computers are provided for determining the initial concentration of diffusible particles in a sample stream introduced into a system wherein the sample stream which contains the diffusible particles flows in adjacent laminar flow with an indicator stream containing an indicator substance capable of exhibiting an observable change at a known concentration of the diffusible particles.

Chemical analysis of small samples is important in the fields of environmental science, chemical process control, biotechnology and medicine. In particular, the desire to make medical diagnoses at the point of care is driving the development of devices that can make accurate clinical chemical analyses of very small samples. The concept of a laboratory on a chip (LOC), incorporating small-scale versions of many chemical analysis devices (e.g., separators, reactors, detectors) onto a single silicon chip (Jacobsen, S. C. et al. [1994], "Microchip capillary electrophoresis with an integrated postcolumn reactor," Anal. Chem. 66:3472-3476), is an active area of development.
The goal of chemical analysis is often to determine the concentration of constituents in a sample. The separation of the constituent of interest from interfering species is required before accurate concentration measurements can be made. In LOC devices, sample volumes are small (e.g. 100 nl). An effective method of constituent separation for such small samples is electrophoresis (Jacobsen et al., supra). Electrophoresis separates constituents axially along a flow channel due to differences in constituent mobilities. Species detection and concentration measurement is accomplished downstream of constituent separation in the same channel.
Small-scale separation techniques include split-flow thin (SPLITT) fractionation techniques (Fuh, C. B. and Giddings, J. C. [1995], "Isolation of human blood cells, platelets, and plasma proteins by centrifugal SPLITT fractionation," Biotechnol. Prog. 11:14-20; and Fuh, C. B. et al. [1993], "Rapid diffusion coefficient measurements using analytical SPLITT fractionation: applications to proteins," Analytical Biochemistry 208:80-87). These techniques involve substantially larger flow rates than the preferred devices used in the present invention.
A different, smaller-scale approach to constituent separation based on a T-sensor is described in Weigl et al., U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/829,679 filed Mar. 31, 1997, PCT Application No. PCT/US97/05245 filed Mar. 31, 1997, and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/625,808 filed Mar. 29, 1996, all of which are incorporated herein by reference to the extent not inconsistent herewith.
A T-sensor operates by bringing a sample stream and an indicator stream into contact in a single channel. As constituents diffuse from the sample stream they react with a constituent in the indicator stream to produce a complex or change which can be detected, preferably by optical methods. A means for using this type of signal to determine the initial concentration in the sample of such constituents is needed rather than using a downstream detector as in Jacobsen et al., supra.
A device related to the T-sensor is the microscale diffusion-based separator described in Yager et al., U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/663,916 filed Jun. 14, 1996 and PCT Publication No. WO 9700442 published Jan. 3, 1997, incorporated herein by reference to the extent not inconsistent herewith.
Publications containing subject matter by inventors hereof include Weigl, B. et al. (1996), "Diffusion-Based Optical Chemical Detection in Silicon Flow Structures," Analytical Methods & Instrumentation, Special Issue MTAS 96:174-184; and Galambos, P. et al. (1997), "A method for determination of pH using a T-sensor," 1997 International Conference on Solid State Sensors and Actuators (Transducers '97), Chicago, Ill., June 16-19, 1:535-538.
Means for determining initial concentrations of constituents in sample streams entering such devices is also needed.
All references discussed herein are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety, to the extent not inconsistent herewith, particularly with respect to the teachings of art-known devices and procedures.

Method for determining concentration of a laminar sample stream


The present invention provides a transformant into which has been incorporated DNA for coding a foreign protein having lactate dehydrogenase activity and provided with pyruvic acid substrate affinity that equals or exceeds the pyruvic acid substrate affinity of the pyruvate decarboxylase inherent in the host organism. Said transformant can stably mass-produce lactic acid inside a host organism having the pyruvate decarboxylase gene.

Due to advances in recombinant DNA technology, technologies have been developed that obtain the target gene product by making a foreign gene express itself in a host such as a microbe, mold, animal, plant, or insect, and growing the gene's transformant. For example, by culturing yeast or the like, it is possible to produce a large volume of target gene product through fermentation production.
There have been several attempts to produce L-lactic acid using yeast. There have also been attempts to produce L-lactic acid by incorporating a bovine lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) gene into Saccaromyces cerevisiae (Eri Adhi et al., "Modification of metabolic pathway of Saccaromyces cerevisiae by the expression of lactate dehydrogenase and deletion of pyruvate genes for the lactic acid fermentation at low pH value," J. Ferment. Bioeng. Vol. 86, No. 3, 284-289, 1988; Danio Porro et al., "Development of metabolically engineered Saccaromyces cerevisiae cells for the production of lactic acid," Biotechnol. Prog. Vol. 11, 294-298, 1995, Kohyo (Japanese unexamined patent publication) No. 2001-516584). However, high-volume production of L-lactic acid was not observed in either of these reports.
It is known that the pyruvate decarboxylase in Saccaromyces cerevisiae has multiple isozymes. In ordinary yeast, pyruvate decarboxylase 1 is functioning. However, if this protein does not express itself due to the destruction of the main gene, etc., pyruvate decarboxylase 5 functions, thus maintaining ethanol production ("Autoregulation of yeast pyruvate decarboxylase gene expression requires the enzyme but not its catalytic activity," Ines Eberhardt, Hakan Cederberg, Haijuan Li, Stephen Koning, Frank Jordan and Stephen Hohmann, Eur. J. Biochem. Vol. 262, 191-201, 1999).

Method of controlling ethanol production and mass production of lactic acid and transformant therefor


An automatic conversational system has multiple computer-implemented dialogue components for conducting an automated dialogue process with a human user. A user client delivers dialogue output prompts to the human user and receives dialogue input responses from the human user including speech inputs. An automatic speech recognition engine processes the speech inputs to determine corresponding sequences of representative text words. A natural language understanding (NLU) processing arrangement processes the dialogue input responses and the text words to determine corresponding semantic interpretations. The NLU processing arrangement includes an anaphora processor that accesses different information sources characterizing dialogue context, linguistic features, and NLU features to identify unresolved anaphora in the text words needing resolution in order to determine a semantic interpretation. A dialogue manager manages the dialogue process with the human user based on the semantic interpretations.

Natural Language Processing (NLP) and Natural Language Understanding (NLU) involve using computer processing to extract meaningful information from natural language inputs such as human generated speech and text. One recent application of such technology is processing speech and/or text queries in multi-modal conversational dialog applications such as for mobile devices like smartphones.
FIG. 1 shows some example screen shots of one such conversational dialogue application for a mobile device, Dragon Go!, which processes speech query inputs and obtains simultaneous search results from a variety of top websites and content sources. Such conversational dialogue applications require adding a natural language understanding component to an existing web search algorithm in order to extract semantic meaning from the input queries. This can involve using approximate string matching to discover semantic template structures. One or more semantic meanings can be assigned to each semantic template. Parsing rules and classifier training samples can be generated and used to train NLU models that determine query interpretations (sometimes referred to as query intents).
In a typical conversational dialog application, there are several interconnected components:                the dialogue manager (DM) which decides what the next action should be after each user input,        the automatic speech recognition engine (ASR) which translates spoken utterances into sequences of text words        the natural language understanding engine (NLU) which maps the words into semantic interpretations, or concepts, and        the client, typically the component which resides on a mobile device or embedded platform and deals with visual displays and touch input.

Anaphora resolution using linguisitic cues, dialogue context, and general knowledge


An electronic camera includes an image pickup device, a partial image area position detecting section, a maximal image correcting value output section, and an image processing section. The image pickup device includes a light-receiving plane photoelectrically converting a subject image, and reads any partial image area from a maximal image area used to generate an image with maximum pixel numbers on the plane. The partial image area position detecting section detects positional data on the partial image area according to the maximal image area. The maximal image correcting value output section outputs maximal image correcting values, that are set based on the entire characteristic of the maximal image area and used for image processing image signals of the maximal image area. The image processing section extracts applied correcting values based on positional data and performs image processing on image signals of the partial image area using the applied correcting values.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to image processing of an electronic camera capable of partially reading out image signals from an image pickup device.
2. Description of the Related Art
An electronic camera which partially reads out any random partial image area from a maximal image area of an image pickup device and generates image data is conventionally and publicly known. For example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. Hei 9-135388 (paragraph [0187] and FIG. 52) discloses a technique of removing fixed pattern noise caused by a dark current component in the electronic camera capable of partial readout from the image pickup device.
However, image processing (such as line crawling correction, luminance shading correction, gain correction, gamma correction, color matrix calculation, or the like) with a conventional electronic camera was performed with a parameter based on a characteristic of the partial image area in partial readout, with no consideration given to characteristics other than that of the partial image area. Accordingly, if the same subject is photographed under the same photographing condition in partial readout and all pixel readout, a partial image subjected to the image processing in the partial readout and an entire image generated in the all pixel readout would differ and give the photographs a sense of incongruity.
If the partial image is generated by being cut out of the entire image, the above incongruity between the partial image and the entire image is resolved. However, in this case, the entire image needs to be generated with the all pixel readout in order to generate the partial image. This is inefficient since this would drastically increase the processing time required to generate the partial image. Moreover, the technique in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. Hei 9-135388 merely stores beforehand the data on fixed pattern noise in an area wider than the partial image area to prevent the data from being re-fetched. This is done as a measure for preventing reduction of frame rate for when the partial image area is changed. Accordingly, the technique in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. Hei 9-135388 does not resolve the above-described problem at all.


A method includes monitoring a variable-rate data communication channel to determine its signal-to-noise ratio, and adjusting the data transmission rate of the variable rate data communication channel based on its signal-to-noise ratio.

Wireless data communication is becoming increasingly popular and wireless data communication technology is being incorporated into numerous devices, such as cellular telephones, personal digital assistants, and wireless email devices, for example. Wireless data communication technology is also used in computer networks, thus allowing a user of a portable computer to move freely around an office, unencumbered by network wiring.
Two standard protocols for wireless data transmission are the IEEE 802.11a standard (IEEE std. 802.11a-1999, published December 1999) and the IEEE 802.11b standard (IEEE std. 802.11b-1999, published December 1999). Each of these protocols define multiple data transmission rates. IEEE 802.11a specifies a maximum transmission rate of 54 Mbits/s (megabits per second), with defined slower transmission rates of 48 Mbits/s, 36 Mbits/s, 24 Mbits/s, 18 Mbits/s, 12 Mbits/s, 9 Mbits/s, and 6 Mbits/s. IEEE 802.11b specifies a maximum transmission rate of 11 Mbits/s, with defined slower transmission rates of 5.5 Mbits/s, 2 Mbits/s, and 1 Mbit/s.
When maximum data throughput is desired, data is transferred at the highest data transmission rate available. Unfortunately, various factors, such as electrical interference, noise, and signal attenuation often limit that data transmission rate.


A photocurrent corresponding to the intensity of the light from the subject which photocurrent is successively generated at predetermined intervals is converted into a voltage by being logarithmically compressed by a logarithmic compression circuit in a divisional cell of a metering sensor during the preliminary light emission of the flash immediately before the actual shooting. Then, the voltage level is outputted to a controller as an analog metering signal. The controller A/D converts the successively inputted analog metering signal to generate digital data corresponding to the BV value representative of the brightness of the subject under flash light, and stores the digital data into a RAM. Then, the controller calculates a subject distance for determining the light emission amount of the flash in the actual shooting by performing a digital calculation including an integration calculation of the BV values obtained under ambient light and under flash light.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a light adjustment control technology for a single-lens reflex image capturing apparatus.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventionally, single-lens reflex cameras have been present among both film-based cameras and digital cameras. When shooting with the firing of the flash (flash shooting) is performed by use of a film-based single-lens reflex camera (hereinafter, referred to as "film-based SLR") or a digital single-lens reflex camera (hereinafter, referred to as "digital SLR"), the light emission amount of the flash is appropriately adjusted by use of a light adjustment sensor.
For example, in a conventional film-based SLR, as shown in FIG. 17, when flash shooting is performed, of the flash light, light reflected at the subject (hereinafter, referred to as "reflected flash light") is imaged on the film FL through the taking lens PL1. At this time, the amount of, of the reflected flash light, light reflected at the surface of the film FL is detected by a light adjustment sensor AS1 provided in the vicinity of the bottom of the body of the camera 100 and including an integration circuit comprising a capacitor, so that the light emission amount of the flash can be appropriately adjusted.
On the other hand, in a digital SLR, the surface of a microlens disposed in front of the image sensor substantially regularly reflects the reflected flash light like a mirror-finished surface. For this reason, even if a light adjustment sensor is disposed in a position similar to that in the film-based SLR 100, the light amount that can be detected by the light adjustment sensor is small, so that metering accuracy is low.
Therefore, for example, in the flash shooting, a preliminary flash light emission (hereinafter, referred to as "preliminary light emission") is performed immediately before a shooting operation to obtain an image for recording (hereinafter, referred to as "actual shooting operation") by the image sensor is performed. Then, the amount of reflected flash light in the preliminary light emission is detected to thereby obtain the distance between the subject and the camera, a guide number (GN) necessary for the light emission of the flash in the actual shooting operation (hereinafter, referred to as "actual light emission") is calculated, and the light emission amount in the actual shooting operation (hereinafter, referred to as "actual light emission amount") can be adjusted based on the calculated guide number.
Examples of the method of detecting the amount of reflected flash light include a method in which as shown in FIG. 18, reflected flash light that is incident through the taking lens PL2 and reflected at a reflecting mirror RM2 provided in front of the image sensor IS2 is detected by a light adjustment sensor AS2 including an integration circuit provided in the vicinity of the finder FD2, through a pentaprism PP2 provided in an upper part of the camera 200. Another example is such that as shown in FIG. 19, with a reflecting mirror RM3 being turned up, reflected flash light that is incident through the taking lens PL3 and reflected at the surface of a shutter screen SC3 provided in front of the image sensor IS3 is detected by a light adjustment sensor AS3 including an integration circuit provided in the vicinity of the bottom of the body of the camera 300.
Moreover, a camera has also been proposed that uses one sensor both as the metering sensor for measuring the brightness of the subject and the light adjustment sensor for adjusting the light emission amount of the flash when a shooting without the firing of the flash (hereinafter, referred to as "normal shooting") is performed.
However, in the light adjustment sensors provided in the above-described conventional cameras, an IC circuit including an integration circuit is used to detect the amount of reflected flash light, and the structure of the IC circuit is complicated by the inclusion of the integration circuit, which increases the cost of manufacturing.
A method is considered in which the amount of reflected flash light is detected by use of a monitor output obtained by the light receiving element of the sensor for automatic focusing (AF) control (AF sensor). However, the dynamic range of the light receiving element of the AF sensor is generally narrow. For example, when the initial setting is made so that light adjustment is correctly made when the distance between the subject and the camera is between 1 to 4 m, in a case where a subject only several tens of centimeters away from the camera is shot, light adjustment cannot be correctly made, so that light adjustment accuracy is degraded.

Image capturing apparatus and image capturing system


A circuit arrangement for supplying a controlled substantially constant level of electrical power to a discharge lamp in a load circuit includes a feedback loop responsive to a comparison or difference between a power measure signal corresponding to electrical power consumed by the lamp and a reference signal corresponding to a desired consumed power. The power measure signal is formed by a power measure signal forming circuit which includes a one quadrant multiplier which receives at a pair of inputs respective lamp voltage and lamp current measure signals output from a sample and hold device arranged for sampling both a signal indicative of instantaneous lamp voltage and a signal indicative of instantaneous lamp current. The sampling is done at instants at which a signal which is indicative of the derivative of the lamp voltage passes through zero in a predetermined direction. The latter signal constitutes the current through a capacitor which is coupled at one end to a voltage that is indicative of the instantaneous lamp voltage and at the other end to a voltage clamp.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a circuit arrangement for supplying a controlled substantially constant level of electrical power to a discharge lamp in a load circuit, the arrangement including a feedback loop responsive to a comparison or difference between a power measure signal substantially corresponding to electrical power consumed by the lamp and a reference signal corresponding to a desired consumed power, which power measure signal is formed by a power measure signal forming circuit which includes a multiplier which receives at a pair of inputs respective lamp voltage and lamp current measure signals formed by sensing the load circuit.
2. Description of the Related Art
Such a circuit arrangement is known from U.S. Pat. No. 5,075,602, which is assigned to an affiliate of the assignee of the present application.
In the known circuit arrangement, the instantaneous value of current through a load circuit which includes a discharge lamp and the instantaneous value of voltage across the ends of the load circuit forming a resonant tank are multiplied in a four quadrant multiplier to form a product which is averaged to represent average power supplied to the load circuit. The four quadrant multiplier is more costly and complex than a single quadrant multiplier. Further, the power measured in this circuit arrangement is not only the power consumed by the discharge lamp, since it also includes losses of the resonant tank circuit and power consumed in filament heating.
In U.S. Pat. No. 5,734,232, which is also assigned to the affiliate of the assignee of the present application, the power measure signal is obtained by multiplying in a one quadrant multiplier the absolute values of instantaneous signals indicative of lamp voltage and current. In the event that capacitive current is present in the load circuit i.e. a phase shift exists between the lamp voltage and current waveforms, calculation in the manner indicated can lead to a substantial error by including reactive as well as real components.

Circuit arrangement for operating a discharge lamp including real power sensing using a single quadrant multiplier

Philips Electronics North America Corporation


A container having an enclosure and a lid is used for storing viscous fluids. The enclosure has a first flat face and a second flat face. The enclosure is stable when resting on either the first or second face. The enclosure has an interior wall along the second face that slopes downwardly from the first face to a third face to define a lowermost region at the intersection of the second face and the third face when the container rests on its second face. The enclosure also has an open neck at the intersection of the second face and the third face that extends parallel to the second face and upon which the lid is secured. When the container rests on the second face, the contents of the container drain into the neck. When the container rests on the first face, the contents of the container drain away from the neck.

This invention relates to containers for viscous fluids.
A variety of foods, cosmetics, adhesives, and the like are sold in the form of a viscous fluid. Some of the more common foods sold as viscous fluids include ketchup, salad dressings, and sauces. Common cosmetics sold as viscous fluids include shampoos, creams, and lotions. These viscous fluid products are typically sold in relatively tall and thin containers having an opening and a lid at the top. When such a container is relatively full, it is desirable to store it in an upright position (with the opening and lid at the top) for two reasons. First, this position ensures that the product in the container does not drain out if the lid does not seal. Second, this position ensures that a large quantity of the product does not immediately pour out when the lid is removed and the container is turned over. However, when the container is nearly empty, these two reasons become less a factor and the problem of waiting for the product to flow out becomes more important. As the contents of the container decrease, it takes longer for the contents to flow through the container to the opening. As a result, it takes longer for the product is flow out when the container is turned over. Containers are frequently discarded when significant amounts of product remain simply because the time required for the product to flow out becomes unacceptable. Accordingly, there is a demand for a container for viscous fluids that can be stored stably in two positions, one of which is used when the container is full and one of which is used when the container is nearly empty.
Containers that have two storage positions are disclosed in Wachsman, U.S. Pat. No. 1,851,073, issued Mar. 29, 1932; Searer, U.S. Pat. No. 3,097,757, issued Jul. 16, 1963; White et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,722,850, issued Feb. 2, 1988; Hartman, U.S. Pat. No. Des. 367,229, issued Feb. 20, 1996; and Hackley, U.S. Pat. No. 5,794,904, issued Aug. 18, 1998. Other containers have relatively large caps and can be stored either with the cap pointing up or down. However, none of these containers has a position resting on a first face in which the contents are drained away from the opening, a second position resting on an adjacent face in which the contents are drained to the opening, and are stable in both positions.
The general object of this invention is to provide an improved container for viscous fluids. A more particular object is to provide a container that can be stored stably in one of two positionsxe2x80x94a first position when the container is full and a second position when the container is nearly empty. Another more particular object is to provide a container that enables viscous fluids to be poured out more quickly when nearly empty.
I have invented an improved container for viscous fluids. The container comprises: (a) an enclosure having a first face, a second face, and a third face; the second face separating and communicating with the first and the third faces; the first and second faces being substantially flat and having sufficiently large surface areas that the enclosure is stable when resting on either face; the enclosure having an interior wall along the second face that slopes downwardly from the first face to the third face to define a lowermost region at the intersection of the second face and the third face when the container rests on its second face; the enclosure further having an open neck at the intersection of the second face and the third face that extends parallel to the second face; and (b) a lid that fits over the open neck. When the container rests on the first face, the contents of the container drain away from the neck and when the container rests on the second face, the contents of the container drain into the neck.
The container of this invention can be stored in either of two positions. When the container is full, the container is stored resting on it first face with the contents of the container drained away from the neck. When the container is nearly empty, the container is stored resting on its second face with the contents drained toward the neck. This, in turn, enables the contents to be poured out quickly.


A method is provided for genotyping a target sequence at at least two allelic sites by a 5′ nuclease amplification reaction. In one embodiment, the method includes performing a nucleic acid amplification on a target sequence having at least two different allelic sites using a nucleic acid polymerase having 5′→3′ nuclease activity and a primer capable of hybridizing to the target sequence in the presence of two or more sets of allelic oligonucleotide probes wherein:                each set of allelic oligonucleotide probes is for detecting a different allelic site of the target sequence,        each set of allelic oligonucleotide probes includes two or more probes which are complementary to different allelic variants at the allelic site being detected by the set of probes, the allelic site being 5′ relative to a sequence to which the primer hybridizes to the target sequence, and        at least all but one of the allelic oligonucleotide probes include a different fluorescer than the other probes and a quencher positioned on the probe to quench the fluorescence of the fluorescer;

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates generally to an assay for detecting an amplification product and more specifically to an assay for detecting the genotype of the amplification product at two or more different allelic sites.
2. Description of Related Art
Nucleic acid sequence analysis is becoming increasingly important in many research, medical, and industrial fields, e.g. Caskey, Science 236: 1223–1228 (1987); Landegren et al, Science, 242: 229–237 (1988); and Arnheim et al, Ann. Rev. Biochem., 61: 131–156 (1992). The development of several nucleic acid amplification schemes has played a critical role in this trend, e.g. polymerase chain reaction (PCR), Innis et al, editors, PCR Protocols (Academic Press, New York, 1990); McPherson et al, editors, PCR: A Practical Approach (IRL Press, Oxford, 1991); ligation-based amplification techniques, Barany, PCR Methods and Applications 1: 5–16 (1991); and the like.
PCR in particular has become a research tool of major importance with applications in cloning, analysis of genetic expression, DNA sequencing, genetic mapping, drug discovery, and the like, e.g. Arnheim et al (cited above); Gilliland et al, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci., 87: 2725–2729 (1990); Bevan et al, PCR Methods and Applications, 1: 222–228 (1992); Green et al, PCR Methods and Applications, 1: 77–90 (1991); Blackwell et al, Science, 250: 1104–1110 (1990).
A wide variety of instrumentation has been developed for carrying out nucleic acid amplifications, particularly PCR, e.g. Johnson et al, U.S. Pat. No. 5,038,852 (computer controlled thermal cycler); Wittwer et al, Nucleic Acids Research, 17: 4353–4357 (1989)(capillary tube PCR); Hallsby, U.S. Pat. No. 5,187,084 (air-based temperature control); Garner et al, Biotechniques, 14: 112–115 (1993) (high-throughput PCR in 864-well plates); Wilding et al, International application No. PCT/US93/04039 (PCR in micro-machined structures); Schnipelsky et al, European Patent Application No. 90301061.9 (Publ. No. 0381501 A2)(disposable, single use PCR device), and the like. Important design goals fundamental to PCR instrument development have included fine temperature control, minimization of sample-to-sample variability in multi-sample thermal cycling, automation of pre- and post-PCR processing steps, high speed cycling, minimization of sample volumes, real time measurement of amplification products, minimization of cross-contamination, or sample carryover, and the like.
In particular, the design of instruments that permit PCR to be carried out in closed reaction chambers and monitored in real time is highly desirable. Closed reaction chambers are desirable for preventing cross-contamination, e.g. Higuchi et al, Biotechnology, 10: 413–417 (1992) and 11: 1026–1030 (1993); and Holland et al, PNAS(USA), 88: 7276–7280 (1991). Clearly, the successful realization of such a design goal would be especially desirable in the analysis of diagnostic samples, where a high frequency of false positives and false negatives would severely reduce the value of the PCR-based procedure.
Real time monitoring of a PCR permits far more accurate quantitation of starting target DNA concentrations in multiple-target amplifications, as the relative values of close concentrations can be resolved by taking into account the history of the relative concentration values during the PCR. Real time monitoring also permits the efficiency of the PCR to be evaluated, which can indicate whether PCR inhibitors are present in a sample.
Holland, et al. and others have proposed fluorescence-based approaches to provide measurements of amplification products during a PCR. Holland et al, PNAS(USA), 88: 7276–7280 (1991). Such approaches have either employed intercalating dyes (such as ethidiurn bromide) to indicate the amount of double stranded DNA present (Higuchi et al, Biotechnology 10:413–417 (1992), Higuchi et al, Biotechnology 11:1026–1030 (1993), U.S. Pat. No. 5,210,015) or they have employed oligonucleotide probes that are cleaved during amplification by 5′ nuclease activity of the polymerase to release a fluorescent product whose concentration is a function of the amount of double stranded DNA present, commonly referred to as a 5′ nuclease assay. An example of a 5′ nuclease assay is the assay used in the Taqman™ LS-50 PCR Detection system (Perkin-Elmer).
In general, 5′ nuclease assays employ oligonucleotide probes labeled with at least one fluorescer and at least one quencher. Prior to cleavage of the probe, the at least one fluorescer excites the quencher(s) rather than producing a detectable fluorescence emission. The oligonucleotide probe hybridizes to a target oligonucleotide sequence for amplification in PCR or similar amplification reactions. The 5′→3′ nuclease activity of the polymerase used to catalyze the amplification of the target sequence serves to cleave the probe, thereby causing at least one fluorescer to be spatially separated from the one or more quenchers so that the signal from the fluorescer is no longer quenched. A change in fluorescence of the fluorescer and/or a change in fluorescence of the quencher due to the oligonucleotide probe being digested is used to indicate the amplification of the target oligonucleotide sequence.
In 5′ nuclease assays, it is often desirable to analyze a sample containing multiple different targets using a different spectrally resolvable species for each target. Such simultaneous detection of multiple targets in a single sample has a number of advantages over serial analysis of each of the targets. Because the sample is analyzed once, fewer steps are required for sample processing and only a single measurement is required. As a result, higher sample throughput and improved user convenience is achieved. In addition, by detecting multiple targets in a single sample, internal calibration is facilitated. An example of a process using simultaneous multispecies spectral detection is multicolor DNA sequencing where four spectrally resolvable fluorescent dyes are simultaneously detected.
One potential application for 5′ nuclease assays is in the area of screening for polymorphisms. Current diagnostic techniques for the detection of known nucleotide differences include: hybridization with allele-specific oligonucleotides (ASO) (Ikuta, et al., Nucleic Acids Research 15: 797–811 (1987); Nickerson, et al., PNAS (USA) 87: 8923–8927 (1990); Saiki, et al., PNAS (USA) 86: 6230–6234 (1989); Verlaan-de Vries, et al., Gene 50: 313–320 (1980); Wallace, et al., Nucleic Acids Research 9: 879–894 (1981); Zhang, Nucleic Acids Research 19: 3929–3933 (1991)); allele-specific PCR (Gibbs, et al., Nucleic Acids Research 17: 2437–2448 (1989); Newton, et al., Nucleic Acids Research 17: 2503–2516 (1989)); solid-phase minisequencing (Syvanen, et al., American Journal of Human Genetics 1993; 52: 46–59 (1993)); oligonucleotide ligation assay (OLA) (Grossman, et al., Nucleic Acids Research 22: 4527–4534 (1994); Landegren, et al., Science 241: 1077–1080 (1988)); and allele-specific ligase chain reaction (LCR) (Abravaya, et al., Nucleic Acids Research 1995; 23: 675–682; Barany, et al., PNAS (USA) 88: 189–193 (1991); Wu, et al., Genomics 4:560–569 (1989)). Genomic DNA is analyzed with these methods by the amplification of a specific DNA segment followed by detection analysis to determine which allele is present.
Lee, et al. has reported using PCR in combination with Taq polymerase to distinguish between different alleles at a single allelic site of the human cystic fibrosis gene. Lee, et al., Nucl. Acids Res. 21:3761–3766 (1993). Livak, et al. has reported distinguishing between alleles in the −23 A/T diallelic polymorphism of the human insulin gene where each allelic site was analyzed in a separate amplification reaction. Livak, et al., Nature Genetics, 9:341–342 (1995). Neither Lee, et al. nor Lival, et al. teach how to distinguish between alleles variants at two or more allelic sites in a single amplification reaction. A need currently exists for a method and instrumentation for distinguishing between multiple sets of substantially homologous sequences, such as allelic variants, in a single amplification reaction. The invention described herein provides such methods and instrumentation.

Determination of a genotype of an amplification product at multiple allelic sites

Abstract: detecting a fluorescence spectrum of the amplification;

Abstract: calculating a fluorescence contribution of each fluorescer to the fluorescence spectrum; and

Abstract: determining a presence or absence of the different allelic variants at the two or more different allelic sites based on the fluorescence contribution of each fluorescer to the combined fluorescence spectrum.


A method, computer readable medium and apparatus for clearing hang calls in a communication network are disclosed. For example, the method detects a failure of an adjacent call stateful network element in a signaling path, identifies one or more calls that are affected by the failure of the adjacent call stateful network element, tests a media path of the one or more calls for activity and clears the one or more calls that are affected by the failure of the adjacent call stateful network element if the media path of the one or more calls is inactive.

With the separation of call and media processing (e.g. voice over Internet protocol (VoIP)) combined with the distribution of call state across multiple elements (e.g., session initiation protocol (SIP) call stateful proxies), hang calls associated with certain failures can no longer be cleared. Specifically, any failure that prevents call release messages to reach call stateful elements would result in the creation of hang calls. Hang calls may have adverse effects on a communication network. For example, the hang calls may consume memory and processing resources of various elements within the network or create a lack of synchronization between elements within the network. This can have an adverse impact on subsequent calls within the network.

Method and apparatus for clearing hang calls


An apparatus for applying images to opposite first and second sides of a continuous strip includes a back plate, and first, second, and third printing stations each being cooperatively actuatable for applying first, second, and third images to a continuous strip. The first, second, and third printing stations have a predetermined equal distance therebetween. The third printing station is positioned at a slightly higher elevation on the back plate than the second printing station and the second printing station is positioned at a slightly higher elevation on the back plate than the first printing station. The apparatus further includes first and second guide rollers, the first guide roller being positioned between the first and second printing stations adjacent the first printing station along a horizontal plane substantially parallel to the first printing station, and the second guide roller being positioned between the second and third printing stations adjacent the second printing station along a horizontal plane substantially parallel to the second printing station. A drive assembly having a rotatable drive roller longitudinally advances the strip so that it passes through the first, second, and third printing stations. Further embodiments of the apparatus are also contemplated.

The instant invention relates to apparatus for printing on a continuous strip, and more particularly to a two-sided printing apparatus which is capable of printing in multiple colors on two sides of a continuous strip, and which is easy to disassemble for maintenance purposes and for replacement of worn parts.
Thermal printing apparatus, and more specifically, two-sided thermal printing apparatus, have heretofore been known in the art. In this regard, U.S. Pat. No. 4,811,036 to Gaskill et al. and application Ser. No. 08/461,392, filed Jun. 5, 1995, entitled TWO-SIDED COLOR PRINTING APPARATUS AND REVERSIBLE PRINT HEAD MOUNTING ASSEMBLY THEREFOR, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,675,369, represent the closest prior art to the subject invention of which the applicant is aware. The '036 patent to Gaskill discloses a printing apparatus operative for applying images to opposite sides of a continuous strip at first and second sequential printing stations. The first printing station is operative for applying a single color image (usually black) to the lower side of the strip, and the second printing station is operative for applying a single color image to the upper side of the strip. The apparatus further includes a feed assembly driven by a stepping motor for advancing the continuous strip from the first printing station to the second printing station and a controller responsive to a predetermined number of stepped rotational increments of the stepping motor for coordinating the printing operations at the first and second printing stations. While the above-described apparatus is effective for applying single color images to each of the opposite surfaces of the strip, the apparatus is not capable of printing multiple-color images on either side of the strip.
The apparatus disclosed in the above-noted application solves many of the aforementioned problems. The apparatus is operable for applying images to opposite first and second sides of a continuous strip, and includes first, second, third and fourth thermal printing assemblies actuatable for applying first, second, third and fourth images to the continuous strip at first, second, third and fourth printing stations, respectively. The first and third thermal printing assemblies are mounted on reversible mounting assembles capable of mounting the respective thermal printing assembly in a first position wherein the printing assembly is actuatable for applying an image to a first side of the strip, and a second position wherein the printing assembly is actuatable for applying an image to a second side of a strip. The apparatus further includes a drive assembly including a rotatable drive roller for longitudinally advancing the strip so that it passes through the printing assemblies, a stepping motor rotatable at a predetermined fixed rate of stepped rotational increments per revolution for rotating the drive roller to advance said strip, and a controller responsive to a predetermined number of stepped rotational increments of the stepping motor corresponding to a predetermined distance between the printing assemblies for actuating the printing assemblies to apply images to the first and second sides of the strip. The stepping motor and controller ensure proper longitudinal alignment of the printed images on the first and second sides of the strip.
While this apparatus is also suitable for its intended purpose, it is somewhat difficult to disassemble for conducting routine maintenance and for replacing worn parts. The present invention is designed for overcoming this limitation of the prior art apparatus.


A pillar-type field effect transistor having low leakage current is provided. The pillar-type field effect transistor includes: a semiconductor body, source and drain formed in a semiconductor pillar; a gate insulating layer formed on a surface of the semiconductor body; a gate electrode formed on a surface of the gate insulating layer. The gate electrode includes a first gate electrode and a second gate electrode being electrically connected with the first gate electrode. The first gate electrode has a work function higher than that of the second gate electrode. Accordingly, the gate induced drain leakage (GIDL) can be reduced, so that an off-state leakage current can be greatly reduced.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a pillar-type field effect transistor having low leakage current, and more particularly, to a pillar-type field effect transistor capable of reducing gate induced drain leakage by forming a semiconductor body on a semiconductor substrate and forming a plurality of gate electrodes having different work functions so as to lower a work function of a gate electrode in a region overlapped with a drain region.
2. Description of the Related Art
DRAM technology has been one of the important technologies in silicon semiconductor markets. Recently, the DRAM technology has been more actively researched to implement next-generation highly-integrated DRAMs. In particular, a gate length of a DRAM cell device has been designed to be further reduced according to miniaturization of cell devices and an increase in a degree of integration of cell devices. As a problem in the miniaturization of cell devices, there is a so-called short channel effect problem. Due to the short channel effect, an off-state drain current is increased.
In a conventional MOSFET (Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor Field Effect Transistor), a channel region is formed in a planar surface, and source/drain regions are formed on both sides of the channel region. If the conventional MOSFET having the planar channel region is adapted to a sub-100 nm DRAM technology, the aforementioned short channel effect problem becomes serious. In general, in the miniaturization of the MOSFET, a thickness of a gate insulating layer and a depth of source/drain junction need be reduced, and a doping concentration of the channel region needs to be increased. In comparison with a Logic MOSFET, in the MOSFET for a DRAM cell device, the thickness of the gate insulating layer cannot be greatly reduced in terms of device characteristics, and the depth of the source/drain regions cannot be greatly deepened. Therefore, the miniaturization of the DRAM cell device is difficult. In addition, in order to prevent the so-called DIBL (Drain Induced Barrier Lowering) involved with the miniaturization of the DRAM cell device, the doping concentration of the channel region needs to be increased. In this case, a field between the channel region and the drain region is increased, and a leakage current due to band-to-band tunneling is increased. In the DRAM cell device, the leakage current, that is, an off-state drain current needs to be limited to about 1 fA or less. Therefore, in the conventional MOSFET having the planar channel, it is very difficult to reduce the gate length of the cell device down to about 70 nm or less.
Recently, approaches for solving the problems in the conventional DRAM cell device having the planar channel have actively researched. As an approach, a three-dimensional device structure or a device structure having a non-planar channel has been researched. As representative devices for the DRAM cell device, there are a device having a buried channel structure and a bulk FinFET, of which characteristics are described below.
In the DRAM cell device, it is important to decrease a cell area in a two-dimensional surface and to increase an on-state current and decrease an off-state current. In the buried channel structure, by preventing an increase in the cell area in the two-dimensional surface and increasing an effective channel length, the short channel effect such as DIBL can be suppressed. As an example, a buried channel structure adapted to a DRAM cell device was proposed by SAMSUNG ELECTRONIC CO. (J. Y. Kim et al., The breakthrough in data retention time of DRAM using recess-channel-array transistor (RCAT) for 88 nm feature size and beyond, in Proc. Symp. on VLSI Tech., p. 11, 2003). Although the off-state current can be greatly decreased by suppression of the short channel effect, the on-state current is also greatly decreased due to a relatively long channel length and a relatively short width of channel. Due to the decrease in the on-state current, operating speed of the DRAM is lowered. In addition, since a channel formed in the vicinity of a bottom of a buried region is formed in a concave shape, a problem of a back-bias effect become serious. In addition, any change in doping concentration of the channel region in the vicinity of the bottom causes a great change in a threshold voltage. In general, in the buried channel structure, the doping concentration is increased in only the buried channel region. In this case, the doping concentration influences the corner regions. In addition, in the ministration of device, a width of the buried channel region is reduced, so that it is difficult to control an etching profile in the vicinity of the bottom of the buried channel region and to maintain a uniform depth of the buried channel region. In addition, due to the reduction of the width of the buried channel region and the corresponding change in the etching profile in the vicinity of the bottom of the buried channel region, a sensitivity of the threshold voltage is increased.
In a double/triple-gate MOSFET where a gate surrounds a channel region, an excellent controllability of the gate electrode to the channel can be obtained. However, the double/triple-gate MOSFET formed on a SOI substrate, that is, an SOI FinFET cannot be substantially adapted to a DRAM cell device due to its device characteristics. The inventor of the present invention firstly proposed a body-tied double/triple-gate MOSFET (see Korean Patent Nos. 0458288 and 0471189, U.S. Pat. No. 6,885,055, Japanese Patent Application No. 2003-298051, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/358,981, and Japanese Patent Application No. 2002-381448), which is referred as a bulk fin field effect transistor (bulk FinFET). In the bulk FinFET, a channel is not buried, but the channel is formed in an upper surface and both side surfaces of a fence-shaped body. Alternatively, the channel is formed in both side surfaces of the fence-shaped body. As a result, the controllability of the gate electrode to the channel is much greater than that of the conventional device having the planar channel structure. In the bulk FinFET, the short channel effect can be effectively suppressed, and the DIBL becomes small, so that the miniaturization of device can be effectively implemented. Due to the excellent controllability of the gate electrode of the channel, there is substantially no influence of substrate bias. Since the cell area in two-dimensional surface is small and the effective channel width can be effectively increased, the on-state current can be increased, so that the operating speed of the DRAM can be increased. Therefore, a DRAM cell device employing the bulk FinFET can obtain many advantages.
In general, in an n-type FinFET, an n+ polysilicon gate is used. In this case, since the threshold voltage of a device is decreased, there is a problem in that the off-state current is increased. In order to increase the threshold voltage, a doping concentration for the channel region may be increased. However, the increase in the doping concentration causes an increase in the leakage current due to the band-to-band tunneling between the drain region and the channel region. There is a limitation in increasing the doping concentration for the channel region. In order to solve the problem, a negative word-line scheme may be used. However, there is a problem in that peripheral circuits become complicated. Alternatively, in order to increase the threshold voltage, the work function of the gate electrode may be changed by replacing the doping type of n+ with the doping type of p+. However, in this case, an energy band curvature in an overlapped portion between the gate electrode and the drain region is increased, so that the GIDL current is increased. As a result, there is a problem in that the off-state current is increased.
Therefore, the present invention proposes a new device structure capable of obtaining a suitable threshold voltage and a leakage current of 1 fA or less per cell by suppressing the GIDL in a pillar-type device.

Pillar-type field effect transistor having low leakage current


A bearing damper includes a coiled wire wrapped around projections formed on an outer race of the bearing, and supported by a casing having projections extending toward the coiled wire. Projections on the outer race are aligned with recesses on the casing, while projections on the casing are aligned with recesses in the outer race so that the coiled wire can flex between the projections that support the wire and provide a damping function. The coiled wire is formed of a plurality of strands. Flexing of the wire causes adjacent strands to rub and dissipate energy from the vibrations. The tension in the coiled wire can be adjusted in order to vary the damping capability of the bearing damper.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a damper for a bearing and more specifically to a damper that can be used under a wide range of temperatures and vibration loads, and in addition to a damper for a bearing in which the damping characteristics can be adjusted.
2. Description of the Related Art Including Information Disclosed Under 37 CFR 1.97 and 1.98
Elastomeric supported and flexible fluid filled dampers are well known in the art of dampers used in bearings. An electrometrically supported bearing like U.S. Pat. No. 4,506,998 issued to Showalter on May 26, 1985 uses a elastomeric pad positioned between the bearing and a casing, the pad providing damping capabilities for the bearing because of the soft material. However, the elastomeric (plastic) material used in the damping pad is limited to low temperature environments that will not melt or degrade the plastic material.
Fluid filled elastomeric dampers are known like that in U.S. Pat. No. 4,257,495 issued to de Brie Perry on Mar. 24, 1981 in which an elastomeric bag filled with a liquid is used to provide the damping capability. However, the plastic bag suffers from the same temperature limitation as described above, in addition to the problem of the liquid leaking out and causing problems with the bearing or its surrounding structure.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,097,895 issued to Matt on Jul. 16, 1963 shows a bearing suspension that uses a plurality of axial aligned solid or tubular resilient rods to support the bearing. The rods can withstand higher temperature environments than elastomeric materials and do not suffer from potential liquid leakage.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a bearing support that is oil free, is elastomeric free, and can be used in high temperature environments and under large damping forces.


The present invention provides a method of manufacturing a vitreous silica crucible including: a taking-out process of taking out the vitreous silica crucible from the mold, a honing process of removing the unfused silica powder layer on the outer surface of the vitreous silica crucible, and further comprising, after the taking-out process and before the honing process, a marking process of marking an identifier comprised of one or more groove line on the outer surface of the vitreous silica crucible, wherein the groove line after the honing process has a depth of 0.2 to 0.5 mm, and a width of 0.8 mm or more at the opening of the groove line.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a vitreous silica crucible and a method of manufacturing the same.
2. Description of the Related Art
In general, silicon single crystal is manufactured by melting high-purity polycrystalline silicon in a vitreous silica crucible to obtain silicon melt, dipping an end of a seed crystal to the silicon melt, and pulling the seed crystal while rotating it.
In general, in a manufacturing process of a vitreous silica crucible, silica powder is deposited on an inner surface of a rotating mold, and arc fusing process is carried out to fuse the silica powder. Thereafter, a honing process is carried out to remove unfused silica powder attached on an outer surface of the crucible by spraying high-pressure water onto the outer surface of the crucible. Then, a rim cutting process is carried out to cut, in a certain width, an opening edge of the crucible so that the height after the rim cutting process is set to a predetermined value. Thereafter, washing process, drying process, inspection process, and HF (hydrofluoric acid) washing process are carried out before the vitreous silica crucible is shipped.
Related references are JP-U-2533643 and JP-A-H11-209136

Vitreous silica crucible and method of manufacturing the same


A parking brake device having a bistable parking brake valve, a relay valve, a spring brake and electrically actuable valves, the electrically actuable valves being selectively connectable to the parking brake valve to supply pressure or atmospheric pressure, an outlet of the parking brake valve controls the relay valve, and the relay valve controls the spring brake, in which the parking brake valve has a movable piston, which is loaded by a spring and has two coaxial piston faces which delimit a first space and a second space, in which supply pressure, atmospheric pressure or a pressure which lies between them and which can be fed to the outlet of the parking brake valve can be supplied to the first space in accordance with the position of the piston, and in which the second space can be selectively connected to supply pressure or atmospheric pressure by an electrically actuable valve.

A parking brake device of this kind is discussed in DE 10 2008 007 877 B3. There, a spring brake cylinder is controlled by a relay valve which, for its part, is controlled by a bistable safety valve. The bistability is achieved by pneumatic feedback, with a select-low valve allowing the lower of two pressures applied to the outlet or to the inlet of the safety valve through to a control inlet of the safety valve. The safety valve is a 3/2-way valve having two inlets and one outlet. The first inlet can be connected selectively to a pressure medium source or atmospheric pressure by a first solenoid valve. The second inlet can likewise be connected selectively to a pressure medium source or atmospheric pressure by a second solenoid valve. The safety valve connects its outlet to one of the two inlets, depending on its operating position. The bistability of the safety valve is thus ensured, even if the power fails.
German patent document DE 10 2005 058 799 A1 discusses a parking brake device in which the spring brake cylinder is controlled by a relay valve which, for its part, can be controlled by a 3/2-way safety valve. This safety valve selectively connects its outlet to a compressed air source or atmospheric pressure. The purpose of this parking brake device is to enable the driver to activate the parking brake by actuating the service brake if the electric power supply fails.
German patent document DE 10 2007 061 908 B4 refers to a parking brake device having a spring brake cylinder, which can be selectively connected to a pressure medium source or atmospheric pressure by a relay valve. A pneumatic control inlet of the relay valve can be selectively connected to the pressure medium source or atmospheric pressure by a monostable changeover valve. The pressure medium outlet of the relay valve is connected to the pneumatic control inlet of the relay valve by a further monostable changeover valve. This provides a controllable feedback circuit for the relay valve, said circuit holding the relay valve pneumatically in a stable position in each case. It is thereby possible to avoid bistable valves for controlling the relay valve.
German patent document DE 103 36 611 A1 refers to a brake system having an electronic control device which operates electrically actuated valves upon receiving an electric actuating signal that requires deactivation of a parking brake function. In this case, use is made of a bistable valve which, in a first operating state, feeds pressure medium to an actuator and, in a second operating state, discharges pressure medium from the actuator.
Nowadays, parking brakes of commercial vehicles, including trailers, are normally fitted with spring brake cylinders which, in the release position, supply a spring compression space with compressed air and thus keep the spring under stress, while, for the parking brake function, the spring compression space is vented, i.e. connected to atmospheric pressure, with the result that the brake cylinder produces a braking force under the action of the spring (cf. Bosch, Kraftfahrttechnisches Taschenbuch (Automotive Handbook), 22nd German Edition, Düsseldorf, 1995, page 648).
In general, both purely pneumatically operated parking brakes, which are operated by driver-actuated parking brake valves that are generally bistable, and electropneumatic systems having a bistable electromechanical valve controlled by an electromechanical bistable valve are known. Both valve positions for "parking brake" and "release" must be "stable" here, i.e. must remain in the respectively selected position without human intervention. This also applies to failure of an electric power supply for the valves.
An electric or electropneumatic parking brake must therefore have two stable positions that can be maintained or automatically assumed, even if the power fails, namely                1. this state must be maintained without electric energy when the parking brake is applied;        2. the pressure to the spring-loaded cylinder and to the parking brake inlet of a trailer control valve must be maintained or supplied during a journey, at least while supply pressure is available.
An unwanted changeover between the two states must be prevented, even in the event of a fault. The only exception permitted in this respect is that the spring brake is activated if a pneumatic line is broken off. In this case, the port leading to the trailer control valve must also be vented automatically.
The changeover from the parking state to the driving state and the changeover from the driving state to the parking state is to be triggered under electric control. It is furthermore desirable that it should be possible to set any pressure between zero and the supply pressure in the driving state.

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