A vending machine, and an operating system and an operating method thereof are provided. The vending machine includes a cabinet and a transparent touch display. The cabinet accommodates a plurality of physical commodities for vending. The transparent touch display is configured in the cabinet and located in front of the physical commodities. The transparent touch display has a transparent area for revealing the physical commodities. A user selects the physical commodities by touching a position corresponding to each of the physical commodities at the transparent area. The transparent touch display is adapted for displaying corresponding commodity information according to touch information applied by the user on the transparent touch display.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a vending machine and an operating method thereof, and in particular to a vending machine with a transparent touch display and an operating method thereof.
2. Description of Related Art
In a current vending machine, samples or patterns of commodities for vending are placed on a commodity rack in the vending machine. Each commodity for vending has a corresponding button, and a user directly presses the corresponding button or inputs a serial number corresponding to the commodity after determining the commodity to be purchased, and then obtains the commodity after waiting for a short period of time.
The above-mentioned vending machine mainly provides a one-way purchasing service, and does not provide a man-machine operating interface for interaction between the vending machine and the user. During purchasing, the user can only see the samples or patterns of the commodities for vending without seeing the physical commodities, and can obtain the commodity only after determining the commodity and paying. Therefore, the user usually feels that the physical commodity is not as good as the sample shown in the vending machine.
With the rise of a touch panel, various public information systems such as the vending machine, a bank auto teller machine, or other human control machines all need the touch panel. However, the vending machine with the touch panel can display multimedia information through the touch panel, but still cannot provide the user with a purchasing experience of interaction with the touch panel and the physical commodity at the same time.

Vending machine, and operating system and operating method thereof


This disclosure concerns a wallhugger bed with a plurality of mattress retaining brackets secured to one or more corners of the mattress platform to keep the mattress from shifting on the mattress platform during operation of the actuator.

1. Field
This invention relates to an adjustable bed frame, in particular an adjustable bed frame with mattress retaining brackets.
2. Background
Adjustable beds are available in a number of configurations. There exists a need for a truss-reinforced frame assembly for adjustable beds for ease of manufacture and to satisfy end user customers.

Adjustable bed frame with mattress retaining brackets


An infant support device for supporting an infant in a prone position, comprising a base with a front, a back, a top, a bottom and two side members, said base having a support surface extending between the side members on the top of the base;                the support surface being defined by two portions: (I) a body support surface disposed proximate the front of the support device and terminating adjacent the front of the device, and (II) a leg support surface extending rearwardly from terminus of the body support surface toward the back of the device;        and having a grip for retaining the posterior side of the legs of the infant and extending upwardly from the support surface between the side members;        wherein an infant is supported in a prone position on the support surface between the side members, and the legs are supported on the leg support surface and are retained by said grip to minimize infant rollover toward a supine position.

It has been recommended by the Pediatric Society that infants and babies should always sleep on their backs and not in a prone position, to reduce the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). However since the infants are kept for long periods of time on their backs, they can develop plagiocephaly or cranial disfiguration otherwise referred to as flattening of the back of the skull. Therefore, it was further recommended by pediatricians that babies need to spend time on their tummy known as "tummy time" in a prone position beginning at two months of age. Some suggest that "tummy time" has to be practiced from day one. Besides preventing cranial disfiguration, tummy time also promotes the development of muscular strength in the neck, back, shoulders and arms. Further it develops coordination, motor skills and head control required for rolling over and crawling.
Various baby products were developed in order to address the need for "tummy time" while reducing the involvement of the caregivers in the process. The requirements for those devices were to keep the baby in the prone position in a safe manner while preventing the baby from rolling on its back. It is also beneficial to raise the baby's head so the baby can observe the surroundings and not feel abandoned.
At some stage babies learn to turn onto their backs from the tummy position by using their head weight, making it difficult to keep them in the prone position for the required tummy time periods. Therefore it was still a need to provide a device to keep baby in the prone position and prevent rollover. The following patents illustrate various designs of support structures addressing the issue, however each of those designs has various deficiencies.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,566,449 issued to Smith teaches an elevated infant positioner restricting an infant's movement in lateral and vertical positions. However, this positioner does not prevent the infant from rolling over during the "tummy time" period.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,261,134 issued to Matthews, teaches a portable pillow for infant support. This pillow does not prevent an infant from rolling over to its back and further does not prevent the infant from sliding down from the pillow.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,675,853 issued to Linge, teaches an infant seat cushion comprising a foam cushion with an optional restraint for the infant. This device comprises several parts that make its operation cumbersome especially the restraining and the releasing functions.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,546,620 issued to Matthews, teaches a baby support comprising a mat and a cushion to support baby's chest in a prone position. This device, however, does not prevent baby from flipping over and from sliding down from the cushion.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,626,487 issued to Buitendach, teaches a baby chair that supports a baby in a seated position. This device however is not suitable for "tummy time" due to its design.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,117,553 issued to Fairchild et al., teaches an apparatus for support and development of an infant, comprising a mat with head and foot portions. This apparatus does not prevent the infant from rolling over and therefore the baby requires constant parent attention while utilizing this apparatus.
U.S. Patent Application No. 2002/0133881 to Vrbas et al., teaches an inclined pillow with fastening strips to hold a baby in supine or prone positions. This device positions a baby in a confusing awkwardly elevated position.
As it is apparent from a review of the prior art, there is still a need for simple and safe device for keeping a baby in a prone position.
It is therefore a primary object of the invention to provide a baby support device which is capable of retaining a baby in a prone position while preventing the baby from flipping over.
It is further an object of the invention to provide a device which is easy to operate without restraining straps.
It is still a further object of the invention to provide a device with inclined planes to keep baby's head elevated.
It is further an object of the invention to provide such a device made of a molding foam that is strong enough to restrain the baby and soft enough to be comfortable.
It is still a further object of the invention to provide such a device which is easy to clean and maintain.
Further and other object of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art when considering the following summery of the invention and the more detailed description of the preferred embodiment illustrated herein.


A distribution layer structure and a manufacturing method thereof, and a bond pad structure are provided. The distribution layer structure includes a dielectric layer and a wire layer embedded in the dielectric layer. The wire layer includes a frame and a connection line, the frame has at least two openings and is divided into a plurality of segments by the at least two openings. The connection line is located in the frame and has a plurality of connecting ends connected to the frame. The connection line divides an interior of the frame into a plurality of areas, with each segment connected to one of the connecting ends, and each area connected to one of the openings. This structure provides improved binding force between the wire layer and the dielectric layer without increasing a resistance of a wire connecting with a top bond pad.

In the field of semiconductor manufacturing, a bond pad is used to connect a semiconductor pin to a packaging pin of a device, and needs to have good conductivity and mechanical strength.
A bond pad structure generally includes a distribution layer, which is configured to arrange an input/output port of the bond pad to improve the performance and reliability of a packaged integrated circuit (IC). Conventional distribution layers have poor structural and mechanical strength. As a result, in wire bonding of packaging, the bond pad may be entirely or partially peeled off along with a dielectric layer in the distribution layer, resulting in damages to the bond pad structure.
It is to be noted that the information disclosed in the above background is merely for facilitating the understanding on the background of the present invention and thus may include information that does not constitute the prior art known to a person of ordinary skill in the art.

Distribution layer structure and manufacturing method thereof, and bond pad structure


An orifice plate is projectingly provided within a fluid chamber formed inside an elastic block to damp the medium to high frequency vibrations. The orifice plate is arranged to have a projection area which is maximum in the principal input direction Z of vibrations to be isolated, medium in the direction Y of the two input directions X and Y which are perpendicular to the direction Z, and minimum in the direction X by providing a recess at a bottom thereof which traverses in the same direction (as the direction X). The resonance frequency is high in the direction Y and the circumferential edge portions of the projection surface in the direction Y are adapted to serve as stoppers which perform the displacement control in the direction X. In another embodiment, the stoppers are asymmetrically shaped.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to an antivibration rubber device such as a suspension mount rubber and an engine mount rubber of an automobile vehicle, and more particularly to an advantageous mechanism of an orifice plate and an elastic block provided within a fluid chamber to mainly isolate medium to high frequency vibrations.
2. Description of the Prior Art
One example of such an antivibration rubber device is disclosed in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication (Kokai) No. Sho 64-1566 comprising a first bracket secured to an automobile vehicle body, a second bracket secured to a vibrating member, a rubber portion disposed between the first and second brackets, a fluid chamber provided within the rubber portion, and an elastic partition wall dividing the fluid chamber into two chambers. The partition wall is provided with an orifice passage adapted to communicate with the two fluid chambers and an orifice plate provided within at least one of the divided fluid chambers to perform a relative movement integrally with a connecting member, thereby mainly isolating the medium to high frequency vibrations.
Since this orifice plate is formed to have a generally circular shape in the principal input direction Z of the vibrations to be isolated, in each vibration direction of the two directions X and Y which are perpendicular to the principal vibration input direction Z and intersect at right angles to each other, the projection surface shape and the projection area are almost equal. Therefore the minimum value of the dynamic spring constant in each vibration direction of X and Y is also almost the same level and the resonance frequencies a and b in each vibration direction of X and Y are also substantially equal as shown in FIG. 10(A).
In the figure, a horizontal axis shows the frequency of the input vibration and a vertical axis shows the dynamic spring constant, in which the letter c shows the resonance frequency in the direction Z. In the following description, the direction represented by X, Y, and Z means the direction of vibrations input along any of the axes in the three directions X, Y, and Z which intersect at right angles to each other.
However, in a certain specification, the resonance frequency in each vibration direction of X and Y is not made equal. For example, the resonance frequency in the direction X is the same as before, but it may be required to be capable of performing the displacement control, while in the direction Y, it may be required to move the resonance frequency to a higher frequency side. However, in the prior art, it has not been possible to change a characteristic every different vibration direction such as the directions X and Y.
On the other hand, as one example of an elastic block, there has been proposed an engine mount in which an upper bracket on the side of an engine and a lower bracket on the side of a vehicle body are connected by the elastic block made of rubber which is formed as a cylindrical member of a generally truncated cone shape when viewed from a side. There is also a specification in which a spring constant in the principal input direction Z of the vibrations to be isolat and, the ratio of the spring constant of each of the two directions X and Y which are perpendicular to the input direction Z (and also intersect at right angles to each other) is required to be more than 1. In this case, the elastic block is formed as a cylindrical member of a generally truncated cone shape when viewed from a side, and the open end on the side of a smaller diameter which is the upper portion of the elastic block is formed with a taper surface slanting inward, wherein the upper bracket formed with the corresponding taper surface is arranged to contact the taper surface of the elastic block.
With such a construction, it is possible to realize the ratio described above, but since the elastic block is principally loaded with load in the shearing direction, the creep amount due to the engine heat increases and it has the drawback that the elastic block can not be used when the allotted load is over 100 Kilograms (kgs). In this case, it has been proposed to use a stiffening ring at the middle portion of the elastic block, but it has the drawback of making the products large-sized.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an improved antivibration rubber device which can overcome all of such drawbacks as found in the prior art.


The disclosure relates to a circular saw, in particular a hand-held circular saw, having a housing and a drive unit, at least some sections of which are arranged in the housing and with which a tool holder for an exchangeable saw blade is associated. The drive unit is designed to rotationally drive the exchangeable saw blade about an associated axis of rotation. In the circular saw, a blade guard is associated with the exchangeable saw blade. The blade guard is mounted in the housing for rotation about the associated axis of rotation and extends around a cutting point of the exchangeable saw blade at least during a sawing operation in such a way that contact with the cutting point can be at least substantially prevented.

The present disclosure relates to a circular saw, in particular a hand-held circular saw, having a housing and a drive unit, at least some sections of which are arranged in the housing and to which a tool holder for an exchangeable saw blade is assigned, the drive unit being designed to rotationally drive the exchangeable saw blade about an associated axis of rotation.
The prior art discloses such a circular saw, designed as a hand-held circular saw, which has a housing and a drive unit, of which some sections are arranged in the housing. Here, the drive unit is assigned a tool holder for an exchangeable saw blade, and the drive unit is designed to rotationally drive the exchangeable saw blade about an associated axis of rotation. In order to protect a user of the circular saw against injury because of contact with the cutting point, the circular saw has a pendulum protective hood. Said pendulum protective hood encloses the saw blade and is rotatably mounted about a saw blade centre point. During the sawing operation, the pendulum protective hood is urged into the housing of the circular saw, so that the saw blade is exposed and thus an injury can arise because of contact between the cutting point and the user.

Circular saw, in particular hand-held circular saw


A driver arrangement comprises a charge pump based oscillator (OSC) having a first charging element (CE1) with a first capacitance (C1) for generating an oscillator signal depending on a first capacitance (C1) and on a first charging current (I1). A controllable current source (CCS) is configured to generated a first and a second charging current (I1, I2) depending on a current control signal, wherein first and second charging currents (I1, I2) have a first predetermined scaling ratio (α). The current control signal is provided by a control unit (CTL). An output circuit (DRV) of the driver arrangement comprises a second charging element (CE2) having a second capacitance (C2). The output circuit (DRV) is configured to generate an output signal depending on a data signal (TXD), on the second charging current (I2) and on the second capacitance (C2). Herein, the second capacitance (C2) has a second predetermined scaling ratio (β) with respect to the first capacitance (C1).

Electronic sensors and respective control units communicate, for example, over a bus system. To this end, data to be transmitted are coded as a binary signal which is generated on the data bus. There are several standards for such bus systems like Controller Area Network, CAN, Local Interconnect Network, LIN, or others.
For example, a LIN-bus can be used in automotive applications. It has a concept of a single master and multiple slaves connected to a single bus wire. The bus wire is electrically connected to the supply voltage which usually is positive with respect to a ground voltage by means of a pull-up resistor. The bus wire is kept in a recessive voltage level corresponding to a relatively high positive voltage near to the positive supply voltage by this pull-up resistor. Master and slave units usually comprise a built-in line driver for pulling down the voltage on the bus wire to a dominant voltage level corresponding to a relatively low positive voltage near to the ground voltage level in response to a data signal. According to the LIN standard, a respective LIN cluster can have up to sixteen slave units being connected to a master unit by the bus wire.
For bus systems, especially in automotive networks, there can be stringent requirements on the electromagnetic emissions of the output drivers generating the signal on the bus system. Fast rising or failing transients on the bus networks can be a major source of energy emission since they generate many high-frequency components. Turning on or off respective drivers instantly can result in undesirable overshoots or undershoots in supply and ground. Thus, these fast transitions can be a major source of electromagnetic emissions and, therefore, radio frequency disturbances on the bus wire. Such disturbances can result in misinterpretation of the recessive and dominant voltage levels on the bus wire.
Furthermore, an asymmetrical propagation delay between the rising and the falling edges of the bus signal can cause a duty cycle different from a usually desired value of 50%.
Both these issues can be a cause for faulty communication. To this end, some bus standards like the LIN standard determine ranges for duty cycles and propagation delays. Respective rise times and fall times of transitions between a recessive voltage level and a dominant voltage level or between a high and a low state, respectively, of a bus signal can be derived from these standard given values.
In conventional driver arrangements for such bus systems, the rise and fall times depend on the load of the bus wire which, for example, is determined by the number of communication units connected to the bus wire. Furthermore, such driver arrangements can be dependent on PVT variations, i.e. variations of process, voltage and temperature, regarding the rise and fall times.

Driver arrangement and signal generation method


An improved exhaust system and catalytic converter element for a diesel engine wherein the improvement comprises: holding means for restricting the movement of catalytic converter elements in an overhead exhaust manifold; an improved catalytic converter element having at least one retaining rod extending through the catalyst substrate and/or having at least one retaining lip projecting into the substrate; a stabilizer projecting from the cover for the element insertion slot for receiving an end portion of the catalytic converter element to restrict the movement of the converter element in the exhaust manifold; perforated flow distribution elements provided upstream of the catalytic converter elements; and/or vertical coupling manifolds which each receive exhaust from a pair of engine cylinders and then deliver the combined exhaust stream to a separate one of the inlet openings in the bottom of the overhead exhaust manifold.

Two-stroke and four stroke medium speed diesel engines such as those manufactured by Electromotive Diesels (EMD) of LaGrange, Ill. (formerly a division of General Motors) are used in locomotives, in power generating systems, and in marine propulsion applications. An example of one common type of diesel engine, depicted in FIG. 1, is an EMD 645 E-16 two-stroke, "roots-blown" engine having an exhaust system which comprises an elongated overhead exhaust manifold 4 which runs horizontally above the centerline of the engine 2. The overhead manifold 4 receives exhaust gas via a series of pairs of opposing manifold legs 6 which extend upwardly to the bottom of the horizontal exhaust manifold 4 from the individual cylinder exhaust ports of the engine 2. The exhaust from the vertical manifold legs 6 collects in the horizontal exhaust manifold 4 and flows out of the exhaust manifold 4 via one or more (typically a plurality of) exhaust stacks 3.
As is also known in the art, another common type of diesel engine is a turbocharged engine which is similar to the roots-blown engine 2 depicted in FIG. 1 except that the exhaust collected in the horizontal overhead exhaust manifold of the turbocharged engine flows from one of the longitudinal ends of the horizontal overhead exhaust manifold to a turbocharger.
Turbocharged and roots-blown diesel engines typically have either 8, 12 or 16 cylinders arranged in a V configuration. Consequently, the manifold legs 6 of the exhaust system extend upwardly from the cylinder ports to the overhead exhaust manifold 4 in a series of four, six or eight opposing pairs. The overhead exhaust manifold 4 is typically formed of a series of manifold sections 10 such that two opposing pairs of the manifold legs 6 are connected to each manifold section 10. Each manifold section 10 also typically includes a flange 12 on one or both of the longitudinal ends thereof for bolting to flanged expansion joints positioned between the other manifold sections 10.
A need presently exists for an effective catalytic converter system for treating the exhaust gas from diesel engines. The application of catalytic converter devices to the exhaust systems of two-stroke and four-stroke diesel engines has been difficult for several reasons. In many cases, particularly in locomotive applications, there is not sufficient space around the engine for installation of a catalytic converter system. In addition, the temperature of the exhaust from two-stoke and four-stroke engines is relatively low in terms of the temperature necessary to "light-off" the catalyst to initiate and maintain the conversion reaction. Further, these engines have a relatively high lube oil consumption rate. In addition, it is difficult in locomotive and other applications to remove the exhaust manifolds from the engines due to a lack of sufficient overhead space for the lifting equipment. Also, the back pressure limits of the turbocharged diesel engines are typically very low.

Catalytic converter system and element for diesel engines


The present disclosure relates generally to the field of semiconductor manufacturing. In one example, in a production flow of low-volume, high-precision semiconductor products, a method for controlling critical dimensions of a semiconductor product during a semiconductor processing operation in the production flow, the semiconductor processing operation requiring a desired energy value to achieve the critical dimensions includes: measuring a previously formed critical dimension on the product; calculating a first energy value based on the measured critical dimension and a desired critical dimension for the semiconductor processing operation; and obtaining the desired energy value based on the calculated first energy value and a previously-obtained desired energy for the semiconductor processing operation performed on a prior product in the production flow.

The present disclosure relates generally to the field of semiconductor manufacturing, and more particularly, to the field of integrated circuit metrology for controlling critical dimensions of features formed on semiconductor wafers.
With the advancement of semiconductor manufacturing, current semiconductor fabrication design rules allow ultra large scale integration (ULSI) devices to possess submicron features, increased transistor and circuit speeds, and improved reliability. To ensure that the devices are of a desired size, e.g., they do not improperly overlap or interact with one another, the design rules define such things as the tolerances between devices and interconnecting lines, and the widths of the lines. The design rule limitation will often define a desired range for line and spacing dimensions, such as the width of a line or the amount of space between two lines permitted in the fabrication of devices.
Frequently, dimensional errors indicate certain instability in a critical part of the semiconductor manufacturing processes. Dimensional errors may arise from any number of sources, such as optical (e.g., lens field curvature or lens aberration in a photolithography system), mechanical, or chemical (e.g., thickness non-uniformity of resist coating and anti-reflection coating (ARC)) sources. In one example, lithography machines, which facilitate pattern projection on wafers, may cause dimensional errors by supplying an incorrect energy amount (e.g., the radiation used for exposure). Accordingly, among other things, it is desirable to provide adequate control of the energy dose to ensure that the dimension complies with the predefined specification.
For those reasons and other reasons that will become apparent upon reading the following detailed description, there is a need for an improved dimension controller.

Process controller for semiconductor manufacturing

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.


A method and apparatus for extracting feature vectors for face recognition and retrieval are provided. An entire Fourier feature vector is generated for an entire face area of a normalized face image using first and second normalized vectors, and a central Fourier feature vector is generated for a central face area of the normalized face image using third and fourth normalized vectors. An entire intensity feature vector is generated for the entire face area, and a local intensity feature vector is generated for a predetermined number of face component-wise areas. An entire composite feature vector is generated by coupling the first and second normalized vectors and the entire intensity feature, and a central composite feature vector is generated by coupling the third and fourth normalized vectors and the local intensity feature vectors.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a face recognition and retrieval system, and more particularly, to a method and apparatus for extracting a feature vector used for face searching and recognition, which can overcome the limits of feature vectors generated in a frequency domain and a spatial domain by separately generating a Fourier feature vector and an intensity feature vector for a normalized face image and then merging the Fourier feature vector and the intensity feature vector.
2. Description of the Related Art
In the "information society" we now live in, personal information or specific groups' information are considered worth more than other properties. In order to protect such valuable information from third persons, it is very important to develop a variety of techniques capable of efficiently recognizing the identify of people who attempt to access the information. Among currently available identification techniques, face recognition has been considered as the most convenient and most efficient identification method because it can be used to recognize a person's identify without letting the person realize that his/her identity is being checked and does not require a person to move or act in a specific way during an identification process.
Even though social demands for end-user products, such as credit cards, debit cards, or electronic IDs, which inevitably require an identification process, have become stronger, only a few identification techniques, including password-based identification techniques, have been proven effective. Lack of alternative identification techniques to the password-based identification techniques has sprouted many social problems, such as identity-theft crimes using computers. Since face recognition is believed to be able to solve these problems, it has been drawing tremendous attention from the public so far. In addition, face recognition has a great possibility of being applied to many different fields, such as terminal access control, public places control, electronic photo albums, and criminal face recognition.
In the meantime, there are many different types of face recognition techniques. One of those techniques is a principal component analysis (PCA)-based face recognition technique. PCA is a method of compressing data by projecting image data onto a low-dimension vector space while minimizing data loss. The PCA-based face recognition technique is capable of recognizing a face image by extracting major feature vectors from the face image and classifying the face image into a predetermined category based on the extracted major feature vectors. However, this technique has problems, such as low recognition speed and low reliability. Even though this technique shows some degree of reliability irrespective of variations in the lightness of a face image, it has failed to provide reliable and satisfactory face recognition results for different face expressions and poses.
In order to overcome the limits of the PCA-based face recognition technique, a method of extracting feature vectors from a face image in a frequency domain by using principal component linear discriminant analysis (PCLDA) has been suggested by Toshio Kamei et al. in "Report of the core experiments on Fourier spectral PCLDA based face descriptor," ISO-IEC-JTC1-SC29WG11, M8559, Klagenfurt, Austria, October 2002, and a method of extracting component-wise feature vectors in a spatial domain by using LDA has been suggested by Tae-kyun Kim "Component-based LDA Face Descriptor for Image Retrieval," British Machine Vision Conference 2002, September 2002. These two methods, however, have distinct limitations in terms of-precision of face recognition and retrieval, partly because they solely take advantage of either frequency-domain feature vectors or spatial-domain feature vectors.

Method and apparatus for extracting feature vector used for face recognition and retrieval


In a method of manufacturing a memory device having improved erasing characteristics, the method includes sequentially forming a tunneling oxide layer, a charge storing layer, and a blocking oxide layer on a semiconductor substrate; annealing the semiconductor substrate including the tunneling oxide layer, the charge storing layer, and the blocking oxide layer under a gas atmosphere so that the blocking oxide layer has a negative fixed oxide charge; forming a gate electrode on the blocking oxide layer with the negative fixed oxide charge and etching the tunneling oxide layer, the charge storing layer, and the blocking oxide layer to form a gate structure; and forming a first doped region and a second doped region in the semiconductor substrate at sides of the gate structure by doping the semiconductor substrate with a dopant.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method of manufacturing a memory device having improved erasing characteristics, and more particularly, to a method of manufacturing a memory device in which an atmospheric gas and an annealing temperature are controlled so that a blocking oxide layer can maintain a negative voltage during a process for forming the memory device.
2. Description of the Related Art
The development of semiconductor memory devices has focused on increasing storage capacity while, at the same time, increasing programming and erasing speeds. A typical semiconductor memory array structure includes a plurality of memory unit cells connected by circuitry and can be classified as a non-volatile memory device in which information is retained when the power removed or as a volatile memory device such as a dynamic random access memory (DRAM) in which information is retained only while power is applied. The information storage capacity of the memory device is proportional to the integration density of the memory device. A typical unit cell of a semiconductor memory device includes one transistor and one capacitor.
Recently, new types of semiconductor memory devices having new operation principles have been introduced. For example, semiconductor memory devices having a giant magneto-resistance (GMR) structure or a tunneling magneto-resistance (TMR) structure formed on a transistor have been introduced to utilize magnetic resistance characteristics. Also, new structures of non-volatile semiconductor memory devices, such as a phase change random access memory (PRAM) that utilizes a phase change material to provide a data storage function, and a SONOS device having a tunneling oxide layer, a change storing layer, and a blocking oxide layer, have been introduced.
FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a typical conventional SONOS memory device. Referring to FIG. 1, a first doped region 11a and a second doped region 11b doped with a dopant are formed in a semiconductor substrate 10. A channel region is defined in the semiconductor substrate 10 between the first and second doped regions 11a and 11b. A gate structure is formed on the semiconductor substrate 10 contacting the first doped region 11a and the second doped region 11b. The gate structure has a structure in which a tunneling oxide layer 12, a charge storing layer 13, a blocking oxide layer 14, and a gate electrode layer 15 formed of a conductive material are sequentially formed.
Here, the tunneling oxide layer 12 contacts the first doped region 11a and the second doped region 11b of the semiconductor substrate 10, and charge flowing in the channel region is stored in a trap site of the charge storing layer 13 after the electrons pass through the tunneling oxide layer 12. That is, the information programming of the memory device having the above structure is performed when the electrons pass through the tunneling oxide layer 12 under a voltage applied to the memory device and are trapped in the trap site of the charge storing layer 13.
In the SONOS memory device, the device threshold voltage Vth varies depending on whether the electrons are trapped in the charge storing layer 13. The blocking oxide layer 14 on the charge storing layer 13 blocks electrons from leaking into the gate electrode layer 14 while the electrons are trapped in the trap site of the charge storing layer 13, and blocks charge of the gate electrode layer 14 from being injected into the charge storing layer 13.
The SONOS memory device requires a thin tunneling oxide layer 15 to increase the programming and erasing speed. However, this in turn reduces the information retention characteristics of the device. That is, the retention characteristics and erasing characteristics are in a mutual trade-off relationship in accordance with the thickness of the tunneling oxide layer 12. To improve the inverse proportional relationship between the retention characteristics and the erasing characteristics, control over the characteristics of the blocking oxide layer 14 is needed.
However, to prevent the blocking oxide layer 14 from tunneling electrons from the gate electrode layer 15, a thick blocking oxide layer 14 is desired. However, if the blocking oxide layer 14 is too thick, then control of the characteristics of the channel region by the gate electrode layer 15 is adversely affected.

Method of manufacturing a memory device having improved erasing characteristics


An optical assembly, such as a multiple output diode laser pump source for EDFAs, is formed by pressing an optical array emitter chip against a standoff structure protruding from a submount such that the emitter chip deforms to match the curvature of the standoff structure. An IO chip is also juxtaposed against the standoff structure such that its optical receivers can receive optical energy from the emitter chip. The IO chip can provide various optical functions, and then provide an optical array output for coupling into an optical fiber array. The standoff structure preferably contacts the emitter chip over an aggregate contact area much smaller than the area by which the emitter chip overlaps the submount. The materials used for bonding the emitter chip and the IO chip to the submount are disposed in the recesses between standoffs and not on the contact surfaces of the standoff structure.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to semiconductor diode laser based pump sources, and more specifically to techniques for construction of planar multi-channel diode laser pump sources.
2. Description of Related Art
Optical amplifiers are an accepted part of long-haul telecommunications systems. They are used to amplify signals after optical fiber propagation losses over long transmission distances typical of such as the nation-wide networks. A typical system uses a plurality of Erbium doped fiber amplifiers (EDFAs) pumped by semiconductor diode lasers. Semiconductor diode laser pump sources for EDFAs typically operate at wavelengths of 980 nanometers (nm) or 1480 nm. The EDFA is capable of amplifying wavelengths over a wide bandwidth with a gain spectrum that peaks at about 1530 nm and that typically extends to 1570 nm, or 1620 nm in advanced configurations. Usable output or optical gain is achievable over this 40 to 90 nm region. This wide bandwidth provides the opportunity for the optical signal to be carried on a large number of wavelength channels that can be independently and all-optically amplified by an EDFA. This technique of wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) is currently driving the expansion of modern telecommunications.
The EDFA has been available for about 10 years, during which time the performance of the device has increased markedly, benefitting in particular from improved performance of semiconductor diode laser pump sources. However, this improved performance is typically accompanied by increased cost. The increased cost is readily tolerated in the high value, relatively low fiber count long haul system because each fiber is able to carry many data channels via WDM, each data channel being amplified simultaneously within a single EDFA. Thus the cost of the high performance EDFA is shared amongst many revenue generating data streams and subscribers.
To achieve continued expansion of data carrying bandwidth to the office and home, the fiber optic transmission system must be extended from the point-to-point long-haul network to Metropolitan (Metro) and access networks. The more diffuse nature of the Metro network, and the need to service users on a more individual basis means that less data is carried onto a single fiber, generally causing proposed Metro networks to be characterized as having fewer data channels per fiber at lower transmission rates and more individual fiber transmission paths and shorter span lengths than long haul systems. The lower data channel count per fiber means less revenue per fiber, and the increased number of separate fibers and decreased span length means increased component numbers. The combination of these two factors leads to a requirement of lower cost components to enable profitable Metro network implementation.
EDFAs play a key role in Metro networks, just as they do in the long-haul backbone. The use of EDFAs enable longer ring or mesh propagation distances within the network, and also enable the use of lossy all-optical components such as wavelength demultiplexers and multiplexers, or optical cross connects without the need for costly detection, electrical regeneration, and reemission/modulation of the data signals. Thus a lower cost implementation of the current EDFA found in long-haul networks is required to drive the installation and commissioning of Metro networks.
A typical long-haul network EDFA is composed of a number of subsystems or components including one or more erbium doped fiber sections, optical isolators to eliminate back reflection, and one or more semiconductor laser diode pumps with their associated wavelength couplers to combine them with the 1550 nm data signal on the network fiber. A significant proportion of the overall cost of the amplifier results from the semiconductor diode laser pumps, which typically cost many thousands of dollars each. Thus, a lower cost implementation of the diode laser pump source would enable lower cost EDFAs for application in Metro networks.
Currently, two main types of diode laser pump sources exist: those that operate at 980 nm and those that operate at 1480 nm. These two wavelengths are absorbed quite efficiently by the erbium ions in the fiber core and offer different performance characteristics for the overall amplifier system. Pumping at 980 nm is usually chosen for pre-amplifiers where low noise amplification is important, as the 980 nm pumping may lead to a more complete population inversion of the emitting erbium state and to a correspondingly lower amplifier noise figure as compared to 1480 nm pumping. Diode lasers operating at 1480 nm are often chosen for high output power amplifiers as the optical-optical conversion efficiency is higher and the dollar cost per mW of output power from the diode laser is generally lower than for 980 nm diode lasers.
Prior art semiconductor diode laser pump sources operating at 980 nm (a very similar device configuration is used at 1480 nm, simply utilizing a different semiconductor material system to generate the different wavelengths) generally consist of a number of individual components, shown symbolically in FIG. 1. A diode laser chip 105 is soldered to a submount 110 to provide thermal heatsinking and electrical connection. Each diode laser chip 105 has a single active laser region that is capable of generating and emitting several hundred mW of output power in a single transverse optical mode. Submount 110 is positioned inside a butterfly package 115 that has the capability of achieving a hermetic seal on final closure. A single-mode optical fiber 120 is fed through a ferrule and opening in butterfly package 115 and then brought into alignment with the output aperture of diode laser chip 105. To achieve a high coupling efficiency between diode laser chip 105 and single-mode optical fiber 120, a lens or chisel shaped tip may be formed on the end face of fiber 120 so that the rapidly diverging optical mode of diode laser chip 105 is efficiently converted into the relatively much larger and slower diverging mode of fiber 120.
In addition to the need for the lensed or chisel ended fiber 120, there are also very tight constraints placed on the positioning of the tip of fiber 120 relative to the emitting aperture of diode laser chip 105. In fact, it is necessary to control the position of fiber 120 to sub-micron accuracy to achieve optimum coupling. This precise control is typically achieved by holding fiber 120 via a computer controlled multi-axis micropositioner. Diode laser chip 105 is energized to generate output light, and the output from fiber 120 is monitored using a photodiode or power meter. The micropositioners then move fiber 120 to optimize for maximum signal transmitted therethrough, after which fiber 120 is fixed in position, typically by laser welding of a metallized fiber ferrule 125 to a holder clip 130 mounted to the package or submount 110. Often it is necessary to tweak the alignment of fiber 120 after initial fixing with further laser-assisted or mechanical bending of holder clip 120.
The fully active fiber alignment process described above is both cumbersome and slow, and although it can result in remarkably good coupling efficiency between the diode laser and fiber (in excess of 60%), it does not lend itself well to high volume, high yield and low cost manufacturing. It is this fully active alignment step that accounts for a significant portion of the cost of constructing a diode laser pump source for an EDFA.
In the prior art, attempts have also been made to construct multi-channel integrated laser arrays and to align them with integrated optoelectronic chips or directly with fiber arrays. The use of a self-aligned solder assembly with mechanical stops and misaligned solder joints is reported to provide three-dimensional passive alignment between the laser diode axis of each diode and a corresponding optical axis of an optical fiber with lateral misalignment of ±2 microns and vertical misalignment of ±0.75 microns, with coupling losses of about 4 dB per channel reported for a 4 diode array.
Such prior art techniques do not provide the level of precision obtained using the active fiber alignment described above, and which is conventionally required to achieve efficient coupling between a diode laser and an optical fiber. Difficulties include height variation (that is spacing between the diode laser chip and the substrate) across the lateral array dimension due to solder thickness variations or bonding pressure variations. Thus, co-planarity of the bonding surfaces is difficult to achieve to the degree desired for very efficient coupling (typically about 0.2 microns over 10 mm for a high channel count laser diode array).
Bowing of the diode laser chip also gives rise to misalignments across an array of emitters. Fabrication of the diode laser structure using epitaxial growth and planar surface lithography often results in a laser array chip with a residual bow or warpage.
In addition, misalignment can also be caused by particles trapped between the diode array and the mounting surface. Keeping large planar surfaces free of particles is difficult. Even a single sub-micron particle is sufficient to cause severe misalignment along a large array. In one prior art approach, the presence of foreign particles is accommodated by supporting the laser array on a pair of standoffs, above the large substrate area, one standoff at each end of the array. This may help to minimize the effect of foreign particles, but does not address the absolute positioning of the multiple emitters across the array, and cannot alleviate misalignment arising from laser array curvature due to warped or bowed wafers.
In view of the problems associated with prior art techniques for manufacturing pump sources, it is an object of this invention to provide a semiconductor laser array pump source for optical amplifiers which may be manufactured relatively easily and inexpensively, and which enables precise optical alignment of components even in the presence of foreign particles and/or component warpage or bowing.

Multi-channel laser pump source for optical amplifiers


A network system includes a service providing apparatus; first and second backup apparatuses, each of which is configured to back up at least a part of a function of the service providing apparatus, and is connected with the service providing apparatus through a WAN; and a terminal connected with the service providing apparatus and the first and second backup apparatuses, and configured to receive a service from the service providing apparatus in a normal operation. The service providing apparatus has IP addresses of itself, the first and second backup apparatuses and the terminal, and notifies the IP addresses of the service providing apparatus and the first backup apparatus to the terminal in response to registration of the IP address of the terminal. The terminal holds the IP addresses of the service providing apparatus and the first backup apparatus, and registers the IP address of the terminal on the first backup apparatus based on the IP address of the first backup apparatus to receive a service from the first backup apparatus, when knowing a communication failure with the service providing apparatus.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to address notification, and more particularly relates to an address notifying technique in a network system and a method of notifying an address of a backup apparatus in an IP (Internet Protocol) telephony.
2. Description of the Related Art
As one of features in an IP telephony system, there is a point that a service can be provided from one point to a plurality of sites which are far away. Since this configuration is employed, it is possible to attain integrated management of data. However, simultaneously with this, the service cannot be provided even when any of network apparatuses other than a server and a terminal is failed. For this reason, a backup apparatus is installed in a necessary location in order to continue to provide the service even when the network apparatus is failed.
A method of using this backup apparatus will be described below. At a time of a normal operation, a VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) service providing apparatus belonging to a LAN (Local Area Network) provides the service for all terminals containing terminals belonging to the above LAN and terminals belonging to other LANs connected through WAN (Wide Area Network) to the above LAN. Here, the terminal implies an apparatus such as an IP telephone, all the kinds of terminal apparatuses used in the IP telephony, and a Gateway apparatus for conversion between IP channel and a conventional channel.
Now, it is supposed that a failure has occurred in the WAN so that a communication between a VoIP service providing apparatus and a terminal belonging to a LAN cannot be carried out. At this time, if the terminal belonging to the LAN previously obtains an IP address of a VoIP service backup unit or apparatus installed in the other LAN from the VoIP service providing apparatus, the terminal can continue to receive the service from the VoIP service backup apparatus by performing re-registration to the VoIP service backup apparatus.
In the normal operation, it is necessary that the LANs at the respective sites are normal when the WAN is failed. However, a network trouble is not simple, and there is a possibility that the trouble has a spreading compositely. For example, a case could be considered that a failure has occurred in another LAN so that a communication between the VoIP service backup apparatus and a terminal belonging the other LAN is impossible. In such a case, the terminal cannot receive the service even if the VoIP service providing apparatus is provided. At this time, the terminal cannot receive the service, even if there is the VoIP service backup apparatus belonging to another LAN.
In conjunction with the above description, Japanese Laid Open Patent Application (JP-P 2004-186766A) discloses a backup controller. In this conventional example, the backup controller automatically backs up in a remote station, a controller which centrally controls a voice exchange between a plurality of IP telephones in at least one remote station through an IP network. This backup controller has a failure monitoring section, a first automatic switching section and a second automatic switching section. In accordance with a reception state of a periodical transmission signal from a controller or a reception state of an allowable response for the periodical transmission signal to the controller, if those reception states reach a predetermined failure reference, the failure monitoring section determines that a failure has occurred. Moreover, after the failure is determined to have occurred, if those reception states reach a predetermined recovery reference, it is determined that the failure is recovered. If the failure monitoring section determines that the failure is has occurred, the first automatic switching section disconnects the IP telephone in the remote station from the controller, and registers it as a self-extension terminal to set it to be usable. Then, the IP telephone can carry out transmission/reception to/from an extension or a station line. If the failure monitoring section determines that the failure has been recovered, the second automatic switching section disconnects the IP telephone that is registered as the self-extension terminal and made usable, and then re-connects to the controller.
Also, Japanese Laid Open Patent Application (JP-P2004-328604A) discloses an IP telephony service system. In this conventional example, the IP telephony service system in which an IP telephony service providing apparatus provided in a main network is used to attain an IP telephony service for an IP terminal, The main network has an IP telephony service providing apparatus for providing an IF telephony service to an IP terminal; and a first database that is linked with the IP telephony service providing apparatus and stores a service data provided to the IP terminal. Inside a plurality of sub-networks, there are an IP telephony service backup apparatus for providing an IP telephony service, when a communication with the IP telephony service providing apparatus in the main network through the IP terminal becomes impossible; and a second database that is linked with the IP telephony service backup apparatus and stores service data provided to the IP terminal by the IP telephony service backup apparatus.
Also, Japanese Laid Open Patent Application (JP-A-Heisei, 11-308236) discloses an emulated LAN apparatus. In this conventional example, the emulated LAN apparatus is provided with an LES/BUS server and an LAN emulation client. The server is composed of a currently-used server and a spare server, and the client holds an ATM address table corresponding to each server, and when a failure of the currently-used server is detected, its connection is switched to the spare server.

System and method for address notification in a network


Disclosed are methods, circuits, devices, systems and associated computer executable code for generating a web-projection. One or more scripts, defining web-projections, are executed, initiating communication sessions with one or more webpage servers defined in the scripts. Specific content(s) defined in the script, from the one or more webpage servers, is retrieved, translated and injected into corresponding web-projections prior to being served to a requesting client web browser.

In its basic form, a web browsing user will surf to a website using a web browser by writing/clicking a URL and will be served with a webpage designed by the original website creator. All aspects of such a webpage including the design and functionality are controlled by the original website creator.
Browser plugins are a software component that is installed on a computer and allows for the modification of existing websites by changing the behavior of a user's web browser. After a webpage is served to the user's web browser, the browser plugin can perform actions to manipulate what is presented to the user.
Taking the above into account, there clearly remains a need, in the field of Internet and Web technology, for better more efficient systems and methods for website modification and augmentation that do not rely on software installation as with browser plugins. Such systems and methods may allow for a website to be served under a new URL, allowing for modifications to the original website to be made before the website is served to the end user. Such modifications may apply to the UI and visual elements, to adding functionality to the web page and/or to the building of mash-ups between sites and adding content or functionality to an original website from other websites.

Methods circuits devices systems and associated computer executable code for web augmentation


A kit for forming a valve service box (10). The kit includes a plastic service valve housing (24) and a cover box assembly (22). The cover box assembly includes a plastic cover housing (32). Each of the housings (24 and 32) is provided with a cylindrical smooth wall bore (24.21 or 32.21) which may closely receive one end of a length of polyvinyl chloride pipe (26) of an appropriate uniform diameter. The housings (24 and 32) can be bonded by a conventional solvent welding process to the piece of plastic pipe (26) to form the valve service box, the plastic pipe (26) having been cut in the field to be of a correct length.

A water or gas main is connected to a building, such as a residential house, via a service line which extends from the main to the building below the frost line. The service line is provided with a service line shut-off valve assembly, typically near the curb. In order to turn the water or gas supply to the structure either "on" or "off" a valve service box is provided. The valve service box has a service valve housing disposed about the shut-off valve assembly, a cover, and a tubular structure which extends between the cover and the service valve housing. When the cover is removed, a conventional rod key may be passed through the tubular structure and the service valve housing for turning the water or gas supply "on" or "off".
A common form of service box in use today has top and bottom cast iron sections. The bottom section includes a service valve housing and an integral upwardly extending cylindrical portion provided with external threads. The top cast iron section includes a cylindrical housing having an outwardly extending flange near its top upon which may rest a downwardly extending flange of a metal cover, the cover being secured to the top section by a suitable fastener in the form of a bolt which passes through an aperture in the top and which is screwed into an inwardly extending flange portion on the top section. The lower portion of the cylindrical housing of the top section is provided with internal threads which may cooperate with the threads on the bottom section so that the overall length of the service box may be varied. While this form of service box is widely accepted, it requires the installer of service boxes to have a number of differing sizes in stock as the service pipe shut-off valve assemblies may be disposed at varying distances below ground surface. Thus, one manufacturer provides four different lengths of bottom sections and three different lengths of top sections. Representative examples of cast iron service boxes are shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 407,955 and 2,099,479.
While cast iron devices hold up quite well in use, they have the disadvantage in that they are relatively heavy and are subject to corrosion. To this end it has been proposed to form valve service boxes of material other than cast iron. Examples are shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,746,034 and 4,691,733. In these patents the telescoping screw adjusted top and bottom cylindrical sections are formed of a suitable non-metallic material, such as polyethylene. While these patents also use threaded top and bottom sections, it is well know that other means may be employed for adjusting the length between the top cover and the bottom bell housing. U.S. Pat. No. 2,931,383 shows a valve service box formed of a non-metallic material such as cellulose, acetate, butyrate, acrylonitrile, a rubber molding compound, or the like. This valve service box includes as its principal components an upper tubular section telescoped within a lower tubular section, and a bell housing which is cemented to the lower end of the lower tubular section. The upper and lower tubular sections are secured to each other by a set screw or the like. A more recent patent to the same inventor is U.S. Pat. No. 3,548,864 which discloses a somewhat similar structure. However, the lower tubular section and the bell housing are formed as single integral piece, and the upper tubular section is telescoped within the lower tubular section and is held from longitudinal movement by friction means.
While some of the more recent patents overcome the disadvantages of corrosion and the weight of a cast iron valve service boxes, they still have the disadvantage of requiring a number of upper and lower telescoping tubular members of different lengths in order to meet differing length requirements. This requires the installer to have a larger inventory of parts than would be necessary than with the present invention.


The present invention provides a driver chip comprising a gate driving module and a source driving module both coupled to a display panel. A plurality of scan lines and a plurality of data line of the display panel scan and drive the display panel for displaying a frame. The source driving module is coupled to the mainboard and receives the positive and negative voltage of the mainboard for generating a source signal to the display panel.

As the industry develops, digital tools such as mobile phones, digital cameras, notebook computers, desktop computers are developing towards the trend of more convenience, more functions, and designs that are more appealing. The displays of these electronic products are indispensable human-machine interfaces and are able to facilitate operational convenience for users. As the image processing technology develops, in order to fully utilize frames, the resolution of displays must be increased. Up to date, products with 5 K resolution have been announced.
The circuit design inside a high resolution display is complicated and requiring multiple voltages. Thereby, multiple voltages are required for a driver chip for high resolution display. According to the prior art, in order to supply various voltages to a driver chip, multiple capacitors are disposed on the flexible printed circuit (FPC) for boosting voltage and the boosted voltage is supplied to the internal module of the driver chip. Nonetheless, the capacitors on FPC result in an increase in cost.
Accordingly, in order to use no capacitor on FPC, the present invention provides a high solution display for reducing the cost of display.

Driver chip of a display panel with high resolution display


Disclosed is a filter screen and the apparatus for aiding vehicle fuel combustion and purifying exhaust gas using said filter screen which has a metallic screen body treated in a treatment tank containing a discharge electrode plate and a receiving electrode plate both formed of mineral plate so as to have a memorized wave of wave length ranging 5 μm˜20 μm. When placed in various environments, the filter screen is able to negatively ionize the ions in the air passing therethrough by releasing an energy wave motion so as to recover the air into its original pure state thereby improving the quality of the air and enhance the human health.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a filter screen, and more particularly, to an air purification screen with which the quality of the air can be purified to its natural state to contain more negative irons so as to improve human health, and the apparatus for aiding vehicle fuel combustion and purifying exhaust gas using this filter to improve efficiency of fuel combustion. By using this filter screen, the perfect combustion of the fuel can be attained through irradiation of far infrared ray from active sphere balls on the fuel flowing through the apparatus to reduce the molecular size of the fuel, and supplying the purified air by negative ion inductors.
2. Description of the Prior Art
As SARS rapidly spreads from China to all over the world, it caused a panic everywhere. It is recommended by all governments in the world to cover your mouth and nose with a mask, to keep your hand clean and to intensify your immunity against virus of SARS to minimize any possibility of infection, etc. before the discover of effective vaccine. It is a pity that the investigation on the filtering effect of 90% of masks on the market is proved to be insufficient to keep out infectious particles in the air.
On the other hand, the recently developed air filters imposing an activated charcoal layer is proved to be invalid for interrupting transmission of SARS' bacteria either.
It is reported that the source of environmental contamination is not caused by contaminated air itself, but instead, the contamination is brought about by the increase of positive ions in the atmosphere which has been contaminated by infectious bacterias. It is believed that pollinosis is caused by the fir, wood pollens, but actually it is the polluted dust particles in the air which stimulate the human nose when being inhaled that is the essential origin of allergic. Such allergic reaction to dust particles can be alleviated by supplying the fresh negatively ionized air which after being passed through the filter screen.
As it is well known that the filter screen of an air conditioner is only effective for eliminating the dust and the louse, but ineffective for improving quality of the air. The air released from the air conditioner can only contribute to giving the people staying in the room a cool feeling.
The greatest ecocatastrophes threating the human nowadays are water and air pollution. About 70% of the area of the globe is occupied by ocean, also 70˜80% weight of human body is water, and especially air is indispensable. In order to solve the problem of conflict between environmental contamination inevitably caused by the development of high technical industries and establishment of a comfortable and wholesome world, it is important to improve the living quality for every person by overcoming at first surrounding air and water pollutions which have been annoying him/her.
There are several causes of water pollutions, among which the most predominate ones are discharging the industrial waste water, and discarding poultry and domestic animals excreta, or rubbish directly to water sources such as streams and rivers. Fluorine is added with little effect to city running water for trying to recover the confidence of consumers. People reply on spring water and distilled water on market as their drinking water, but for the regular domestic works, such as washing clothes, bathing and cleaning vegetables and fruits, etc. they still have to use the incompletely sterilized city running water so that they are by no means released from pollution in this respect.
In addition to this, exhausted poisonous gases discharged from various factories, carbon monoxide produced due to incompletely combusted automobile fuel further added to come to attack citizens' health as if they were confined in a sealed chamber filled with poisonous gases.
In order to rectify such worldwide problems of environmental contamination, the applicant for patent of the present invention, through a longterm effort of study and experiment, has succeeded in developing a filter screen and an apparatus of the present invention which at least will release people from wearing a gas mask when they are working on the street, or suffering from polluted water. However, the invention is disclosed hereinafter.

Filter screen and the apparatus for aiding vehicle fuel combustion and purifying exhausting gas using said filter screen


A scale has a first incremental track with first incremental patterns including first light and dark patterns formed at equal intervals in first periods, an absolute track with absolute patterns representing absolute positions, and a second incremental track with second incremental patterns including second light and dark patterns formed at equal intervals in second periods longer than the first periods. A light source emits a measurement light to the scale. A photodetector receives the measurement light reflected at or transmitted through the scale. A signal processing circuit processes the received light signal of the photodetector to detect an absolute position of the scale.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an absolute position encoder.
2. Description of the Related Art
Incremental encoders and absolute encoders are known as devices for measuring travel distances of objects. The incremental encoders measure relative travel distances and absolute encoders allow for absolute position length-measurement.
In the case of photoelectric encoders, the incremental encoders have incremental tracks with incremental patterns including equally spaced light and dark regions. Based on these patterns, the incremental encoders count light and dark signals to detect relative travel distances. In addition, the incremental encoders may detect absolute travel distances by detecting origin detection patterns provided separately from the above-mentioned incremental patterns with equally spaced light and dark regions, and then detecting relative travel distances from the origin. However, prior to the measurement, a scale must be moved to right and left directions in order to read origin detection patterns.
On the other hand, the absolute encoders have absolute tracks with absolute patterns representing pseudo-random codes such as M-sequence codes and detect absolute positions resulting from reading the absolute patterns for a corresponding object. Unlike the incremental encoders, the absolute encoders does not require any origin detection based on origin detection patterns and may start measurement at a current position when powered on. However, the absolute encoders have a lower detection accuracy than the incremental encoders.
As such, an absolute position encoder is known where an incremental track with equally spaced incremental patterns and an absolute track with absolute patterns representing pseudo-random codes are positioned in parallel on one scale, as disclosed in, e.g., Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. (HEI) 7-286861.
In an encoder of this type, if the pitch of incremental patterns is 40 μm, then the absolute patterns must have a position accuracy of not more than ±20 μm. However, in encoders so configured, it is difficult to form highly accurate patterns since incremental patterns and absolute patterns have a different line width and different density of patterns, respectively.

Absolute position encoder having a second incremental track integrated with the absolute track


An inking system (10) for a printing press (12) having an ink injector (18) for supplying ink under pressure and having a device (50) for pumping and metering the ink flow in the injector (18), a fountain roller (14) having an outer brush surface (26) in close contact with the ink injector (18), a device (29) for rotating the fountain roller (14), a pick up roll (16) located adjacent the fountain roller (14) to receive ink from the fountain roller (14), a device (29) for rotating the pick up roller (14), and a device (42) for scraping the residual ink from a scraper roller (40) receiving ink from a rubber covered roller.

The present invention relates to an inking system for a printing press.
In the past, inking devices have been known for a printing press, such as an open fountain with a trough for supplying ink to a fountain roller for use in the press. In such devices, it has been necessary to use a plurality of keys to control the amount of ink passage depending upon the pattern of the image printed.
It has been necessary to adjust the ink, since when a desired thickness of ink is supplied to a printing plate by the last inking roller in contact with it, an equal amount of ink is returned to the ink train because the ink divides equally between any two outgoing surfaces. In the keyless process, this return ink is removed by a scraper blade leaving no residual image, and making the key adjustments unnecessary. The ink film thickness must be uniform across the inking rollers, and constant with the press speed changes.

Keyless inking system for a printing press


An inertial navigation system includes a first inertial measurement unit with at least a first sensor and a second inertial measurement unit with at least a second sensor corresponding in type to the first sensor. The first inertial measurement unit is rotatably mounted relative to the second inertial measurement unit, The inertial navigation system further include a controller arranged to: acquire a first set of measurements simultaneously from both the first inertial measurement unit and the second inertial measurement unit; rotate the first inertial measurement unit relative to the second inertial measurement unit; acquire a second set of measurements simultaneously from both the first inertial measurement unit and the second inertial measurement unit; and calculate from the first set of measurements and the second set of measurements at least one error characteristic of the first sensor and/or the second sensor.

Navigation systems can use a variety of different sensors to detect changes to the motion and orientation of an object. For example accelerometers, gyroscopes and magnetometers are often used. Accelerometers detect applied force, gyroscopes detect rotation rates and magnetometers detect the Earth's magnetic field and so can be used to determine orientation.
Inertial navigation systems, based on accelerometers and gyroscopes, can be used either on their own or together with other navigation systems such as global positioning system (GPS).
An inertial navigation system typically comprises an inertial measurement unit (IMU) which has one or more sensors in the form of one or more linear accelerometers and/or one or more gyroscopes. The inertial navigation system then takes the outputs from the IMU, combines them with other information where available and outputs an overall navigation solution typically comprising position and/or attitude information, depending on the sensors present. A full three dimensional IMU normally has three orthogonal linear accelerometers and three orthogonal gyroscopes so that it can measure acceleration along three orthogonal axes and rotations around three orthogonal axes.
The sensors of an IMU each have errors associated with them resulting from variations in manufacturing processes as well as variations over time due to temperature changes, humidity changes, other mechanical stresses affecting the sensor, and/or material properties changing with time. In most sensors these errors are expressed as a bias and a scale factor. The bias is a systematic offset, while a scale factor is a multiplier that scales the sensor output linearly. Both of these error values can vary from one sensor to another and therefore each sensor is normally calibrated after manufacture so as to establish and store the particular errors associated with that sensor. Such calibration is normally done in a testing laboratory shortly after manufacture and the determined bias and scale factor are stored with (or on) the sensor device so that the errors can be compensated during use. However, the errors drift over time due to variations in temperature and material ageing. This can be a problem where a sensor is being used some time after calibration, or in environmental conditions that have changed significantly from its calibration setup. For example, a sensor may not be put into use for several months after its initial calibration, by which time that calibration will not be as accurate as it was. The bias and scale factor may be different each time the unit is switched on. In cases where the sensor accuracy is of high importance, the sensor can be recalibrated periodically to re-determine its errors, such as its bias and scale factor. Any uncorrected errors manifest as navigation errors during use.
Calibration is done in known conditions. In particular, for gyroscopes and accelerometers, calibration may be done by taking measurements with the sensors stationary and non-rotating. Any output from the sensor when it is known not to be moving must be due to sensor errors. For example, a bias in a linear accelerometer will manifest as an increasing velocity output which can be measured, thereby measuring the sensor bias. For more complicated error measurement, the sensor can be put through a sequence of movements that together test and measure the various errors that may be present. For example, in the case of a full 3D IMU with three accelerometers and three gyroscopes, there is a known sequence of manoeuvres known as the "Savage" sequence. Measurements are taken from the inertial measurement unit after each manoeuvre of the sequence and the resulting information can be combined together to determine the errors (biases and scale factors) in each individual sensor in the IMU. Such calibrations are typically carried out by mounting the sensor (or IMU) on a rotatable platform, which may be rotatable around more than one axis, e.g. it may be gimballed for rotation about at least two axes. Readings are taken when the IMU is at rest between movements and the sensors are re-oriented repeatedly until sufficient information has been obtained to calculate the errors.
Such calibrations cannot be performed while the IMU is moving, i.e. on a moving vehicle as they rely on the sensor being at rest during the measurement. Thus, in a typical setup, the sensors will only experience acceleration due to gravity and the various rotational forces that are applied as part of the measurement sequence. Some efforts can be made to monitor and adjust the sensor calibration during use, e.g. during a flight by using aiding data from other sensors, e.g. satellite positioning data and comparing that to the sensor outputs and thereby estimate the sensor errors. However, such aiding data is not always available or can be inaccurate. For example, GPS satellite accuracy can vary greatly, especially in highly featured terrain which blocks the view to satellites, or GPS can even be jammed or spoofed.


An automatic method for autonomous interactions between robots, comprising an action of automatically receiving, by a transport robot, a request for transporting a service robot. The method comprises an action of automatically computing a location of the service robot. The method comprises an action of automatically moving the transport robot to the location of the service robot. The method comprises an action of automatically sending a signal from the service robot to the transport robot using a signal emitter incorporated into a mechanical element attached to the service robot. The method comprises an action of automatically coupling, using the signal, the mechanical element to a carrier element attached to the transport robot.

A robot may be described as an electromechanical machine that may be guided by a computer program or electronic circuitry, such as an embedded system and the like. Robots may be autonomous, semi-autonomous, or operator controlled, and may perform one or more tasks, such as industrial robots, medical operating robots, patent assist robots, dog therapy robots, collectively programmed swarm robots, unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) drones, unmanned ground vehicle (UGV) drones, unmanned marine vehicle (UMV) drones, microscopic nano-robots, and the like. A robot may have electronic circuitry or control systems that provide instructions for the operation and/or motion of the robot when performing the one or more task.
Robotics technology deals with the design, construction, operation, and application of robots, as well as computer systems for their control, sensory feedback, and information processing. These technologies deal with automated machines that may perform one or more tasks, such as tasks in dangerous environments, manufacturing processes, repetitive tasks, dangerous tasks, and/or the like.
Navigation robots have been used to transport functional robots between sites where the functional robots perform the one or more tasks. These navigational and functional robots may be combined into a robotic system for managing multiple functional robots and transporting them between the sites where tasks may be performed.
The foregoing examples of the related art and limitations related therewith are intended to be illustrative and not exclusive. Other limitations of the related art will become apparent to those of skill in the art upon a reading of the specification and a study of the figures.


An apparatus for on-demand power management including a system controller, a clock domain manager coupled to the system controller and a power distribution manager coupled to the system controller. The system controller monitors a processing demand in a processing system. The clock domain manager provides one or more clock frequencies and, in response to the processing demand, switches between a first set of clock frequencies and a second set of clock frequencies without halting the processing system. The power distribution manager provides one or more operating voltages and, in response to the processing demand, switches between a first set of voltages and a second set of voltages without halting the processing system.

As digital electronic processing systems trend toward higher operating frequencies and smaller device geometries, power management has become increasingly important to prevent thermal overload while maintaining system performance and prolonging battery life in portable systems.
The two principal sources of power dissipation in digital logic circuits are static power dissipation and dynamic power dissipation. Static power dissipation is dependent on temperature, device technology and processing variables, and is composed primarily of leakage currents. Dynamic power dissipation is the predominant loss factor in digital circuitry and is proportional to the operating clock frequency, the square of the operating voltage and the capacitive load. Capacitive load is highly dependent on device technology and processing variables, so most approaches to dynamic power management focus on frequency and voltage control.
One conventional approach to power management halts the processing system to adjust core clock frequencies and voltages, during which time the processor does not execute operating system code or application code, and then restarts the system after the new frequencies and voltages have stabilized. Such an approach is described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,754,837, as illustrated in FIG. 1. FIG. 1 illustrates a processor or processing system 1 contains a programmable voltage ID (VID) register 3, a clock frequency control register 4 and a count register 5. When the processor determines that a change in the voltage and/or frequency is desired, the desired voltage and frequency control information is loaded into the VID register and the clock frequency control register, respectively. Access to those registers triggers a stop request 9 to the CPU core logic 11. In response to the stop request, the CPU completes the current instruction and issues a stop grant signal 13 to indicate to a power controller 7 that processing has stopped. The stop grant state is maintained, for a time determined by a value in the count register, while the voltage and/or frequency are changed and stabilized. In addition to the processing time lost during the stop grant state, this approach may also result in large transient power surges when the processor restarts.
Another conventional approach to power management, described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,788,156, changes the clock frequency of a processor while the processor is operating, but requires the frequency changes to be made in small increments to avoid processing errors that large frequency steps would cause. As a result, this approach may require a significant time period to achieve a desired operating frequency.
Yet another conventional approach to power management, described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,778,418, employs a fixed relationship between voltage and frequency, either through a lookup table or by use of a frequency to voltage converter. In this approach, a frequency increase is always preceded by a voltage increase and a frequency decrease always precedes a voltage decrease. In addition, a frequency increase is delayed while the voltage is ramped up to a corresponding voltage. The new frequency and voltage are not scaled independently, and the new operating point may not be optimum with respect to an application's processing demand.

Method and apparatus for on-demand power management


A carrier chrominance signal forming device is provided with input parts for receiving a plurality of kinds of complementary color signals and a carrier chrominance signal forming part for forming a carrier chrominance signal by performing computing operations on the complementary color signals received by the input parts. These parts are arranged to enable the device to stably form a carrier chrominance signal from the complementary color signals with a compact circuit arrangement.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a carrier chrominance signal forming device for forming a carrier chrominance signal by processing an electrical signal obtained from an image sensor through photo-electric conversion.
2. Description of the Related Art
Generally, color television (TV) signals are transmitted in the form of having a carrier chrominance signal multiplexed with a luminance signal. The carrier chrominance signal is formed by modulating color signals obtained from an image pickup system with a color subcarrier of a predetermined frequency.
A modulation device for forming, for example, a carrier chrominance signal for a color TV signal of the NTSC system is arranged as follows. Color signals for colors R (red), G (green) and B (blue) are obtained from an image sensor. Color-difference signals R-Y and B-Y (wherein Y represents a luminance signal) are obtained by carrying out a matrix process on each of the color signals. From the color-difference signals and signals obtained by respectively multiplying the color-difference signals by "-1", a digital data series is formed to include a sequence of (R-Y), -(B-Y), -(R-Y) and (B-Y) according to the period of the color subcarrier specified by the NTSC system. A color-burst signal which has a predetermined phase and level at a specified position (leading edge of each horizontal line) is imparted to the digital data series. The digitial data series with the color-burst signal imparted is D/A converted according to a clock signal of a frequency which is four times as high as the frequency of the color subcarrier. A carrier chrominance signal is formed by restoring the D/A converted signal to an analog signal through a low-pass filter (LPF).
In a case where the color signals obtained from the image sensor are complementary color signals of yellow (Ye), cyan (Cy) and magenta (Mg), it is necessary to form the color-difference signals R-Y and B-Y by forming the color signals R, G and B from the complementary color signals through a computing process and then carrying out the matrix process on these color signals R, G and B. Therefore, a computing process for obtaining a carrier chrominance signal from the complementary color signals requires a circuit of a large scale, which increases the size of the whole apparatus.
In the case of a camera-integrated video tape recorder or the like, a picked-up image signal obtained from an image sensor of an image pickup system is recorded on a recording medium such as a magnetic tape or the like in the following manner. A luminance signal Y and color-difference signals of two kinds R-Y and B-Y are formed from the signal outputted from the image sensor. The luminance signal Y is frequency modulated. The two color-difference signals R-Y and B-Y are subjected to a quadrature two-phase balanced modulation process to form a carrier chrominance signal. The carrier chrominance signal thus formed is subjected to a so-called low-band converting process to make it into a low-band converted carrier chrominance signal. After that, the low-band converted carrier chrominance signal is frequency multiplexed with the frequency modulated luminance signal to obtain a recording video signal for recording on the recording medium.
However, in cases where a carrier chrominance signal is formed by a device of the above-stated kind or where a low-band converted carrier chrominance signal is formed by a camera-integrated video tape recorder, if the signals outputted from an image sensor are, for example, complementary color signals of yellow (Ye), cyan (Cy) and magenta (Mg), it is necessary to form the color signals of R, G and B respectively from these complementary color signals and also to form the color-difference signals R-Y and B-Y by carrying out a matrix process on the R, G and B color signals. In this case, a circuit which performs a computing process for obtaining the carrier chrominance signal or the low-band converted carrier chrominance signal from each of the complementary color signals must be arranged in a large scale, which increases the size of the whole apparatus.

Carrier chrominance signal forming device


A gate barrier which includes a first post, a drive shaft and a driven shaft revolvably supported on the first post at different elevations, a second post disposed in parallel to the first post, the second post having at least one angled holder plate, and a folding collapsible barrier having a fixed end fixedly connected to the drive shaft and the driven shaft and a free end for resting on the at least one holder plate at the second post, the folding collapsible barrier being extended out when lowered with its free end rested on the at least one angled holder plate at the second post, the folding collapsible barrier being collapsed when lifted from the second post to a vertical position in vertical alignment with the first post.

The present invention relates to a gate barrier installed in a gate for preventing people from passing, and more particularly to such a gate barrier which comprises a folding collapsible barrier, which is extended out when lowered to the operative position, or collapsed when lifted to the non-operative position.
In order to prevent people from passing through a gate, a gate barrier may be installed. FIG. 1 shows a conventional gate barrier for this purpose. The gate barrier is comprised of a first post 10 having an angled holder plate 11 near the top, a second post 15 disposed in parallel to the first post 10 and having an angled holder plate 11 near the top, and a rail 13 rested on the angled holder plates 11;17 between the posts 10;15. Because the rail 13 is not prominent, a car driver may neglect to stop the car, causing the rail 13 to be broken by the running car. Because the space between the posts 10;15 below the rail 13 is an open space, small animal may pass through the gate barrier. In order to prevent small animal from passing, a grating may be used and supported between the posts instead of the rail. However, it is inconvenient to frequently place the grating on the posts and then to take it away from the posts. Further, the grating occupies must ground space when it is removed from the posts.


An objective of the invention is to eliminate the need of a frequent dust waste by the user and to provide efficient device for wasting the dust that has been collected in the robot cleaner. The invention provides a robot cleaner capable of discharging dust out to a dust discharge station, wherein the robot cleaner is capable of moving autonomously to collect dust, the robot cleaner comprising: a dust container for storing dust; a dust inlet for collecting dust into the dust container; and an opening and closing mechanism of the dust container, provided at a bottom surface of the robot cleaner, for discharging dust collected in the dust container.

A robot cleaner cleans floors in a house autonomously and is expected to be a very useful device that may replace a substantial portion of conventional non-robot vacuum cleaners. Conventional systems are proposed which deal with wasting dust in robot cleaners.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,787,545 describes a system including a discharge unit for discharging dust from a robot cleaner. U.S. Pat. No. 7,053,578 describes a system that discharges dust from the bottom of the robot cleaner using a suction-extraction assembly that generates negative pressure in a charging station. U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,076,226 and 6,327,741 describe systems that collect dust from above the robot cleaner driven by a central processing unit.

Robot cleaner and dust discharge station


Trapping structures are provided for particle separation devices that make use of traveling wave fluid flow. These trapping structures are operative to capture and collect separated particles and present them for extraction. The extraction can be accomplished in conventional manners, such as through the use of suitable sized pipettes.

Particle separation and sorting represents an important requirement especially in biological and chemical processes for both macro-scale and miniaturized lab-on-chip applications. Macro-scale methods include: mechanical sieving, sedimentation, and free flow fractionation (FFF). Micro-scale methods include: hydrodynamic chromatography, size exclusion chromatography, electrophoresis, miniaturized FFF, ultracentrifugation, and ultrafiltration. These methods are extremely laborious and require skilled technicians even for routine operation.
In commonly assigned U.S. application Ser. No. 11/224,347, filed on Sep. 12, 2005 (now U.S. Pat. No. 7,681,738 issued Mar. 23, 2010) and entitled "Traveling Wave Arrays, Separations Methods, and Purification Cells", which is hereby incorporated herein by this reference, a device such as that shown in FIG. 1 is described. Such a device serves as a single-step concentration/focusing/separation device for particles that are suspended in fluid which may be configured for both batch and continuous flow operation. The combination of traveling wave grid layouts and sample separation strategies may be incorporated together with the concentration and focusing aspects of the device to provide a purification cell 600 as shown in FIG. 1. The purification cell 600 includes a concentration chamber 610, a focusing channel 650, and a separation chamber 670, 680. The top 680 of the separation chamber may be divided into a lateral row of compartments 682, 684, 686, 688, and 690 to collect an increasing range of particle sizes proceeding from left to right. For example, relatively large sized particles constitute the stream denoted by arrow 672, which are subsequently collected in compartment 690. Intermediate sized particles constitute the stream denoted by arrow 674, which are subsequently collected in compartment 688. And relatively small sized particles in stream 676 are collected in compartment 686. Streams of finer sized particles can be collected in one or both of the compartments 682 and 684. The traveling wave arrays in the separation chamber may be a continuous layout of chevrons to focus particulates in the different size ranges into the designated collection compartments at the top. The focusing section 650 forms a narrow stream which will result in improved separation performance. Representative dimensions for each portion or component of the cell 600 are provided on FIG. 1.
FIG. 2 shows another exemplary embodiment traveling wave array 700 where a connecting bridge is utilized and disposed between the top to close the loop on the cell. This strategy allows the contents of one of the collected compartments to be re-circulated to result in increased purification. The purification cell 700 includes a concentration chamber 710, a focusing channel 750, a separation chamber 770, 780, and a connecting bridge 740. The top of the separation chamber may be divided into a collection of compartments 782, 784, 786, 788, and 790 to collect an increasing range of particle sizes proceeding from left to right. For example, relatively large size particles constitute the stream denoted by arrow 772, which are subsequently collected in compartment 790. Intermediate sized particles constitute the stream denoted by arrow 774, which are subsequently collected in compartment 788. And relatively smaller sized particles in stream 776 are collected in compartment 786. Streams of finer sized particles can be collected in one or both of compartments 784 and 782. The connecting bridge 740 can be utilized to selectively return particles of a particular size or size range, to the concentration chamber 710 if further processing is desired.
This device is modular and is potentially suited for disposable use. However, the trapping functionality of the device could be improved to make trapping of appropriately sized particles more convenient and reliable. Also, improved trapping systems could be useful in a variety of implementations apart from the devices of FIGS. 1 and 2.

Trapping structures for a particle separation cell