A heat absorbing radiator and a gas turbine engine or a reciprocating piston engine are used to recapture and reconvert wasted heat energies into electric power and finally into hydrogen-deuterium fuel by having the engine's tailpipes submerged in cold compressed air inside the heat absorbing radiator pipes in reverse air flow to further drive the same engine. In order to capture fusion heat energy a hydrogen bomb is detonated in deep ocean to catch the flames by the water and the hot water energizes compressed air inside heat absorbing radiator pipes. In order to produce fusion energy an electric arc is passed thru/across liquid or gaseous deuterium by an electro-plasma torch and by a sparkplug in an internal combustion engine, or by detonating a dynamite inside liquid deuterium. Diamond is produced by placing carbon inside a hydrogen bomb which is then detonated in deepwater. Deuterium fusion flame is used first in smelting glass into large structural sizes before running an engine.

This invention has the mission to recapture and recycle the otherwise wasted heat energy—at the exhausts/tailpipes/chimneys and at the heat exchange chambers of cooling devices. It has been always a big blunder since the engine was invented wherein for more than 100 years, man has been helplessly and purposely allowing heat energy to escape into the atmosphere in the efforts to prevent overheating of the engines. Further, since the time fire was invented, heat energy has been always wasted, for lack of wisdom and lack of education, wherein the products of combustion and the poisonous gases had always been the enemy of man, and therefore, it has always been a big effort to eject soonest the waste gases which unfortunately carry away along with it so much heat energy. Additionally, so much heat energy has always been thrown away in the processes of smelting, glass/ceramics factories, freezing processes, refrigeration and distillation process, which heat energy should have been recycled to pre-heat the subject matters of the processes. God has created so much free heat energy by means of the sun, but we look at it as our enemy such that we spend so much in construction of heat insulation in our houses, —instead of using it to run our air conditioning and our refrigeration machines. All these blunders are dictated by the greedy secrete societies who hold monopoly on poisonous fuels and who suppress opposing technologies. The exhaust heat energy should be used to run water distillation machines and food processing machines, to dry trash fuel, to warm up sewer digestion chambers in biogas production, to dry animal manure for fertilizer in the farm, for cooking food, to pre-heat materials in the process of smelting, to heat up water in the process of electrolysis, to heat up water in the process of water-mist—vacuum-chamber-evaporation distillation process, to drive heat-absorbing electric generators in the process of producing hydrogen for fuel, etc. All heat exhaust from all engines, fuel cells, smelting plants, glass/ceramics plants, lamps, ovens etc., must be recaptured to further do work.
As has been illustrated in my own reference U.S. Pat. No. 6,327,994 B1, by G. Labrador, dated Dec. 11, 2001, the heat absorbing radiator 81 of FIG. 24, the heat absorbing radiator 3 of FIG. 23, the heat absorbing radiator 3-4 of FIG. 21, the heat absorbing radiator 3-4 of FIG. 22, and the heat absorbing radiator 3-4 of FIG. 20, had extensively demonstrated the functions and abilities of the multiple tube heat absorber in the process of heat recapture in partnership with a gas turbine engine 31-32-63-64 of said reference patent.
In this present representation and application, it is hereby extremely emphasized, as highlight of this invention, that the commercial utilization and industrial new applications of the heat absorbing radiator tubes is maximized by using it to absorb heat from the exhaust of Fuel Cells, the exhaust of steam engines, from the exhaust of all kinds of engines, from the exhaust and annealing of smelting plants of glass, metals, etc. Additionally, the radiator tubes are made multi-coil and so with the heat supply pipes are also made multi-coil that follow the coils of the heat absorber tubes. Additionally, to maximize heat transfer, the cold compressed air is made to enter the heat absorber tubes at the outlet lower temperature downstream end of the heat energy supply tubes and then exits at the high temperature upstream end of the heat energy supply tubes. This is a very important highlight of this invention because the higher temperature compressed air cannot absorb low temperature heat. It is therefore hereby extremely emphasized that the low temperature heat-absorbing compressed air is matched with the low temperature heat supply medium, likewise, the high temperature heat-absorbing compressed air is matched with the high temperature heat supply medium. Hence, in trying to collect the low temperature heat energy of the sunlight, the compressed air tubes must be made very hungry for heat:                1. by spraying cold water mist into the air before compression;        2. by passing the air thru cold pipes before compression;        3. by submerging the compressed air tubes into cold environment;        4. by matching low temperature air with the low temperature heat supply medium air or water, and        5. by reversing the flow of the heat absorbing medium, cold compressed air/water, at opposite the flow of the heat supply medium, air, water, or oil.These above listed improvements in the processes of heat absorbing mission has not been explained in my reference U.S. Pat. No. 6,327,994 B1.
This heat absorbing radiator tubes is hereby extremely emphasized as the key element that brings-in hot compressed air inside the engine, be it piston engine or be it turbine engine, by absorbing or gathering heat energy from the outside atmosphere or environment. The basic principle that runs the externally heated gas turbine engine, as demonstrated in my reference U.S. Pat. No. 6,237,994 B1, is that: —hot compressed air is introduced, by the heat collecting radiator, into the space in-between the compressor turbine and the power exhaust turbine. The power turbine is made larger than the compressor turbine, but the air or steam pressure acting upon the smaller compressor turbine to reverse its motion is the same magnitude of steam pressure acting upon the larger exhaust power turbine to forward its motion. The compressor being smaller turbine is therefore over-powered and driven forward by the exhaust turbine, thereby, more cold compressed air is introduce into the heat collector radiator which then continuously brings in more hot compressed air that expands to push forward the exhaust turbine. The hot air/steam expelled by the power turbine is then recaptured by the flowing cold compressed air inside the heat collector tubes/pipes that engulf the hot tailpipes. These basic process/method have not been explained in details in the herein reference Patent.
As a newly created engine in this invention, which is hereby extremely emphasized as among the many highlights of improvements over the reference art by this invention, and as has been fully explained basic principle in the preceding paragraph 0003, this principle is also applied to work between a larger exhaust piston and a smaller compressor piston which is directly connected with the larger exhaust piston by means of a straight connecting rod, such that there being equal air/steam pressure acting in opposite direction to each piston, the larger exhaust piston over-powers and drives forward the smaller compressor piston. Thereby resulting to a more cold compressed air introduced by the compressor smaller piston into the heat collector radiator tubes which brings in more hot compressed air to drive the exhaust larger piston. The heat energy from the exhaust air/steam is then recaptured by the heat collector compressed air tubes which engulf the hot exhaust tail pipe of the engine.
Additionally, for maximum utilization of the heat collector radiator tubes which contains cold compressed air, a plurality of this tubes are placed underwater to collect the low temperature heat energy of the warm waters in the tropical oceans. Before compression, the cold air is passed thru cold waters pumped out from about 3000 feet beneath the ocean where the water temperature is very low in order to pre-compress the clod air. Additionally, a wide area of the ocean surface is made hotter from solar heat by a double transparent roof to prevent the wind from stealing the heat energy out of the warm water. The hot seawater is then enclosed by a perimeter double fence to prevent the hot seawater from migrating into the cooler waters. As there is ocean current, it is also advantageous to raise up the perimeter fence above the water during the night to allow more warm water getting in touched with the heat collector tubes. Additionally, it is also advantageous to install an adjustable sunlight reflector, which is tilted to the right towards the sun in the morning and titled to the left towards the sun in the afternoon in order to make the sun light penetrate the transparent roof and strike the tubes under the roof when the sunlight is inclined. The sunlight reflector is in the form of horizontal shinny strips, laid on the roof and supported by a tilting device, —a further improvement over my reference U.S. Pat. No. 6,327,994 B1.
The new invention of the "partnership between the heat collector radiator tube and the gas turbine engine" has opened a very wide horizon of opportunities in energy management, including but not limited to, the recapture and utilization of heat energy created by the detonation of the hydrogen bomb under water. While in the process of producing diamonds, which is hereby extremely emphasized as the most outstanding by-product discovered in this invention in the efforts to produce heat energy, in the explosion of the hydrogen bomb, the deep water environment imposes a high pressure that compacts the molten carbon/charcoal/graphite, and then instantly cools it into diamonds. Due to the flames of the blast being surrounded by water, the heat energy is therefore captured by the deep water, into which the heat collector radiator tubes are submerged. The bomb may also be detonated deep underground but this is a very expensive procedure, hence, this invention limits it activity in deep water detonation, which may also be done inland by digging an open wide well or lake that is deep enough and filled up with water. The heat energy collector tubes are made very hungry for heat—by passing fresh air thru chilling tunnels with added water spray inside the tunnels and at the intake mouth of the compressor, —to introduce high humidity or more matter that expands when heated, —to add up more expanding power in pushing out the power exhaust turbine. It should be noted that the faster the compressed air moves thru the tubes, the faster the tubes collects heat energy from the hot water/gas it is in contact with. Hence, the heat collector tube is divided into many multiple smaller tubes to speed up the compressed air and to distribute or to maximize contact with the heat source or heat supply medium. The collected heat energy is then used to produce DC electricity, which is in turn used to produce Hydrogen and Deuterium to detonate the next hydrogen bomb in deep water, —of which the reference U.S. Pat. No. 6,327,994 B1 failed to illuminate.

Heat energy recapture and recycle and its new applications


Disclosed are: a polymer for treating the surface of a medical device such as a contact lens to suppress the reduction in lubricity of the device even when the device is scrubbed; a medical device having the polymer on the surface so that the reduction in lubricity over time is suppressed; and a wetting agent containing the polymer. The polymer for treating the surface is a copolymer which is water-soluble and includes as constitutional units the following monomers A and B: monomer A: a monomer containing a (meth)acryloyl group and an ester or amide structure in a molecule, in which the ester or amide structure is not constituted by including a part of the (meth)acryloyl group; monomer B: a monomer containing a (meth)acrylamide group in a molecule and having a structure different from that of the monomer A.

A medical device that comes into direct contact with a part of a human body is required to have biocompatibility on its surface. In order to achieve biocompatibility, it is considered important to control the adhesion of substances such as water, protein, and lipid.
One of the problems with ophthalmic lenses, in particular contact lenses, among medical devices, is initial discomfort for the wearer immediately after wearing the lens, caused by an increased frictional force between the lens surface and the cornea or eyelid. It is thought that the increased frictional force can result in increased risk of corneal damage as well as deterioration of wearing comfort.
For example, high water content soft contact lenses, which are made of hydrous gels (hydrogels) formed through polymerization of hydrophilic monomers such as 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) in the presence of a small amount of a crosslinking agent, have a problem in that, while having enhanced water wettability due to copolymerized acidic components such as acrylic acid, they have poor lubricity on their lens surfaces.
On the other hand, because low or no water content soft contact lenses often employ hydrophobic monomers, thus having poor lubricity and even poor water wettability, they are considered to require surface modification treatments to impart hydrophilicity.
Improving the lubricity of a lens surface leads to reduction in initial discomfort immediately after wearing the lens, so that a way to impart lubricity to lens surfaces by various polymers has been devised.
Patent Document 1 discloses a method of imparting lubricity to the surface of a high water content lens, the method comprising: adding a hydrophilic polymer polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) to a packaging solution included in a blister pack; immersing a contact lens in the solution; and carrying out steam sterilization.
Patent Document 2 discloses a method of imparting lubricity to the surface of a silicone hydrogel lens, the method comprising: immersing a contact lens in a packaging solution containing acid-terminated PVP produced by a reaction between hydroxylated poly(vinylpyrrolidone) or poly(vinylpyrrolidone-co-allyl alcohol) and succinic anhydride; and carrying out steam sterilization.
Patent Document 3 describes in the example a compound obtained by copolymerizing the following six components: n-butyl acrylate, styrol, amide acrylate, acrylic acid ester of N-β-hydroxyethyl pyrrolidone and sodium salt of mono-β-methoxyethyl maleate. However, since the compound is used in an aqueous dispersion, it is suspended in a liquid and not soluble in water. In addition, the document does not describe the use of the above compound for medical use.

Copolymer, wetting agent, medical device, and method for producing same


A semiconductor memory device having a crosspoint-type memory cell array includes a column readout voltage supply circuit 12 which supplies a predetermined first voltage when readout is selected, and supplies a second voltage different from the first voltage when the readout is not selected, to each of column selection lines BL, a row readout voltage supply circuit 11 which supplies the second voltage to each of row selection lines DL at the time of readout, a sense circuit 15 which senses a current flowing in the selected row selection line DL separately from a current flowing in the unselected row selection lines DL and senses an electric resistance state of the selected memory cell at the time of readout, and a row voltage displacement prevention circuit 31 which prevents a displacement in a supplied voltage level in at least selected row selection line DL at the time of readout.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a semiconductor memory device having a crosspoint-type memory cell array in which memory cells are arranged in a row direction and a column direction, one ends of the respective memory cells in the same row are connected to the same row selection line, and the other ends of the respective memory cells are connected to the same column selection line. More particularly, the present invention relates to a semiconductor memory device in which a memory cell comprises a variable resistive element which stores three or more multi-level information depending on a change in electric resistance.
2. Description of the Related Art
Recently, a crosspoint-type semiconductor memory device (referred to as the "crosspoint memory" occasionally hereinafter) comprising a memory cell array in which a memory cell does not comprise a selection element and a memory element is directly connected to a row selection line (referred to as the "data line" hereinafter) and a column selection line (referred to as the "bit line" hereinafter) in a memory cell has been increasingly developed (refer to Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2002-8369, for example).
According to "Equivalent Voltage Detection Method for Resistive Cross Point Memory Cell Array" disclosed in the Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2002-8369, a predetermined voltage is supplied to each of the data line and bit line to detect a resistance state of a memory cell of an MRAM (Magnetic Random Access Memory). According to this patent document 1, when a selected memory cell is read, a resistance state, that is, a memory state of the selected memory cell is detected by applying a first voltage to a selected data line and applying a second voltage lower than the first voltage to selected and unselected bit lines and unselected data lines.
FIG. 15 shows a circuit constitution of a memory cell array of a conventional crosspoint memory, set levels of voltages applied to data lines and bit lines, and current paths. According to the crosspoint memory shown in FIG. 15, when a selected memory cell is read, a resistance state of the selected memory cell is detected by applying a third voltage V2 to a selected bit line and applying a fourth voltage V1 which is higher than the third voltage V2 to selected and unselected data lines and unselected bit lines.
FIG. 15 shows a case where when a resistance state of a memory cell positioned at an intersection of a data line D0 and a bit line B0 is read, the resistance state of the object memory cell is determined by reading a current of the selected data line D0.
FIG. 16 shows a voltage setting of each data line and bit line and current paths when the resistance value of memory cell positioned at the intersection of the data line D0 and bit line B0 is read on the side of the bit line. In FIG. 16, similar to the voltage setting in the above patent document 1, when the selected memory cell is read, a resistance state of the selected memory cell is detected by applying a first voltage V1 to a selected data line and applying a second voltage V2 lower than the first voltage V1 to selected and unselected bit lines and unselected data lines. In this case, the resistance state of the object memory cell is determined by reading a current of the selected bit line B0.
FIG. 17 shows paths of leak currents Ileak0, Ileak1, . . . Ileakk generated when a readout current Id of a memory cell Md is measured. Reference character M in FIG. 17 virtually shows an ampere meter which measures the current IM on the selected data line. In a readout state shown in FIG. 17, voltages applied to bit lines and data lines are set in the same manner as that shown in FIG. 15. In this case, the readout current Id of the memory cell Md is shown by the following equation (1). In addition, a symbol of operation Σi=0 to k shows an arithmetic sum in a range of i=0 to k.Id=IM −Σi=0 to k Ileaki  (1)
FIG. 18 shows paths and direction of the leak current Σi=0 to k Ileak1i generated when a readout current Id1 of a memory cell Md1 is measured, and direction of Σi =0 to k Ileak2i generated when a readout current Id2 of a memory cell Md2 is measured. In a readout state shown in FIG. 18, voltages applied to bit lines and data lines are set in the same manner as that shown in FIG. 15. In this case, when a resistance value of the memory cell Md1 is low in the memory cell connected to the selected bit line, a voltage of a data line D1 is lowered because of voltage division corresponding to a resistance division ratio of an ON resistance value of a driver which drives the data line and a resistance value of the memory cell Md1.
Therefore, since a voltage at a contact point d1A of the memory cell Md1 and the data line D1 is lower than the other data line voltages, leak currents flowing from the bit line to the memory cell Md1 are generated. That is, the leak current (sneak current through an unselected memory cell) Σi=0 to k Ileak1i is generated from the bit line to the memory cell Md1 through the data line D1. In this case, a relation between the readout current Id1 of the memory cell Md1 and a measured current IM1 in the data line D1 is shown by the following equation (2). Reference character M1 in FIG. 18 virtually shows an ampere meter which measures the current IM1.IM1=Id1−Σi=0 to k Ileak1i  (2)
In addition, when a resistance value of the memory cell Md2 is high in the memory cell connected to the selected bit line, a voltage of a data line D2 is raised because of voltage division corresponding to a resistance division ratio of an ON resistance value of the driver which drives the data line and a resistance value of the memory cell Md2.
Therefore, since a voltage at a contact point d2A of the memory cell Md2 and the data line D2 is higher than the other data line voltages, leak currents (sneak currents through unselected memory cells) Σi=0 to k Ileak2i flow from the data line D2 to the bit line. That is, the leak current Σi=0 to k Ileak2i is generated from the data line D2 to a memory cell Mdx connected to the data line through the bit line. In this case, a relation between the readout current Id2 of the memory cell Md2 and a measured current IM2 in the data line D2 is shown by the following equation (3). Reference character M2 in FIG. 18 virtually shows an ampere meter which measures the current IM2.IM2=Id2+Σi=0 to k Ileak2i  (3)
The reason why the leak current is generated depending on the resistance value of the memory cell to be read out is that an apparent resistance value exists in the data line and the bit line as shown in FIG. 19. More specifically, the apparent resistance value is a resistance value when the driver which drives the data line and the driver which drives the bit line are driven.
Specifically, FIG. 19 shows a case in which the voltages applied to the data line and the bit line are set in the same manner as that shown in FIG. 15. In order to set the voltages of the data line and the bit line, drivers A are needed as shown in FIG. 19. When the driver A is driven, the ON resistance (it is assumed that the resistance value is R) exists. When the resistance values of the memory cells on the selected bit line in the memory cell array, that is, R1, R2, R3 and R4 are different from each other, voltages Vdi (i=1 to 4) of the data lines 1 to 4 are shown by the following equation (4). In addition, it is assumed that V1 is a driving voltage of each data line and V2′ is a voltage of the selected bit line.Vdi=(V1−V2′)×Ri/(Ri+R)  (4)
As shown the equation (4), the voltage Vdi of each data line varies with Ri. Therefore, the voltage of the data line varies with the resistance value of the memory cell on the selected bit line and the leak current is generated.
FIG. 20 shows one example of a circuit serving as a data line driver and an amplifier. The circuit serving as the data line driver and the amplifier applies a predetermined voltage (power supply voltage Vcc, for example) to the selected and unselected data lines. A P channel MOSFET (referred to as the "PMOS" hereinafter) P0 in the circuit serving as the data line driver and the amplifier supplies a drive current Ix which accesses a memory cell from the data line. When the resistance value of the accessed memory cell is high, since a current supplied from the PMOS (P0) of the data line drive circuit in FIG. 20 to the memory cell array is reduced, the gate voltage of the PMOS is raised. Meanwhile, when the resistance value of the accessed memory cell is low, since a current supplied from the PMOS (P0) of the data line drive circuit in FIG. 20 to the memory cell array is increased, the gate voltage of the PMOS (PMOS) is lowered. The gate voltage of the PMOS (P0) is amplified by the PMOS (P1) and the load transistor (N channel MOSFET) in a data line current amplification circuit in FIG. 20 and the amplified voltage V0 is outputted.
FIG. 21 shows an example of the bit line drive circuit shown in FIG. 19. The bit line drive circuit comprise a load circuit P0 in a PMOS and a column selection circuit comprising two CMOS transfer gates. According to the column selection circuit, when the bit line is selected by a decode output of a column address decoder (column decoder), the right CMOS transfer gate in FIG. 21 is turned on, the ground voltage Vss is supplied to the bit line, and when the bit line is not selected, the left CMOS transfer gate in FIG. 21 is turned on and a voltage which drops from the power supply voltage Vcc by a threshold voltage of the PMOS (P0) is supplied. In addition, the voltage supplied to the bit line when the bit line is not selected is at the same voltage level as that of the voltage supplied to the data line.
As described above, the measured current IM1 in the data line D1 in FIG. 18 is as shown in the equation (2) and the measured current IM2 in the data line D2 in FIG. 18 is as shown in the equation (3). As shown in the equations (2) and (3), when the predetermined voltage is applied to the data line and the bit line at the time of readout using the conventional circuit serving as the data line driver and amplifier and the bit line driver, since the current direction of the leak current varies according to the resistance value of the memory cell to be read out, in the case the leak current value is great, it is difficult to lead the memory cell readout currents Id1 and Id2 from the measured currents IM1 and IM2 measured on the data line.
Especially, when the memory cell stores three or more multi-level information, it needs to further prevent variation in the measured current IM, IM1 or IM2 corresponding to each memory level measured on the data line, and controlling means for highly preventing the leak current value is needed.
Furthermore, in the case where the voltage level setting to read the resistance value of the memory cell on the bit line side shown in FIG. 16 is used, the current direction of the leak current when the resistance value of the selected memory cell is high is shown in FIG. 22.
In FIG. 22, when the resistance value of the selected memory cell is high, the direction of the memory cell current Id1 flowing in the bit line B0 is the same as that of the leak currents Ileak0, Ileak1, . . . Ileakk. In addition, as shown in FIG. 23, when the value is low, the direction of the memory cell current Id2 flowing in the bit line B0 is the opposite to that of the leak currents Ileak00, Ileak01, . . . Ileak0k. In this case, since the values of the measured current IM1 and IM2 largely vary with the leak current value, the memory cell currents Id1 and Id2 cannot be correctly detected. As shown in FIGS. 22 and 23, in the setting method of the voltages to the data line and bit line shown in FIG. 16, the leak current flows backward depending on the resistance value of the selected memory cell similar to the leak currents shown in FIGS. 17 and 18.
In this case also, when the memory cell stores three or more multi-level information, it needs to further prevent variation in the measured current IM, IM1 or IM2 corresponding to each memory level measured on the data line, and controlling means for highly preventing the leak current value is needed.
Next, a description will be made of a case where the memory cell array is accessed (selected) by the bank with reference to FIG. 24. FIG. 24 shows a constitution in which the memory cell array is divided into a plurality of banks. In this case, in addition to the ON resistance of the driver described with reference to FIG. 19, an ON resistance of an array selection transistor BSi is added. Therefore, the voltage fluctuation of the data line becomes large as compared with the single memory cell array constitution shown in FIG. 19. When a memory cell in the memory cell array 10 (bank 1) in FIG. 24 is read, it is necessary to turn on a transistor in a transistor column BS1 (bank selection transistor column) which selects the memory cell array 10 (bank 1). In addition, in order not to select other memory cell arrays MR0, MR2, and MR3 (banks 0, 2 and 3), it is necessary to turn off all transistors in array selection transistor columns BS0, BS2 and BS3. Thus, when the transistors in the array selection transistor column BS1 are turned on, ON resistances Rbs1, Rbs2, . . . , Rbsx of the transistors are provided on the data line. Therefore, a voltage Vdij of the data line in each bank shown in FIG. 24 is shown by the following equation (5), where "i" designates an order of the data line in the same bank, "j" designates an order of the bank, and "Rij" designates a resistance value of the memory cell connected to a selected bit line and i-th data line in a bank j.Vdij=(V1−V2′)×Rij/(Rij+R+Rbsj)  (5)
As shown in the equation (5), the voltage is more largely fluctuated than the voltage of the data line shown in the equation (4). That is, since the leak current caused by the voltage fluctuation of the data line is increased, when the memory cell stores three or more multi-level information especially, the influence of the leak current is increased and the readout of the memory cell becomes more difficult or becomes impossible.


This electric vehicle control device is provided with: an efficiency control unit which, during travel of the electric vehicle, in a state in which the battery is prone to deteriorate, increases the rate of consumption of the power charged in the battery by performing control for reducing the efficiency of the motor; a travelable distance calculation unit which calculates the travelable distance of the electric vehicle using the SOC of the battery and a travel coefficient; and a travel coefficient correction unit which, before and after the efficiency control unit performs control for reducing the efficiency of the motor, corrects the travel coefficient such that change in the travelable distance calculated by the travelable distance calculation unit is reduced.

To be able to reduce environmental pollution caused by vehicle emissions and deal with limited petroleum resources, there are attempts to use alternative power sources different from traditional internal combustion engines (hereinafter referred to as engines) as automotive power sources. A representative example of this is an electric vehicle. The electric vehicle drives a motor using electric power charged in a battery and uses a driving force of the motor as an automotive power source.
Such electric vehicles are roughly classified into pure electric vehicles that only use battery power as a power source and hybrid electric vehicles (HEV) that are equipped with an internal combustion engine and use power generated by the engine to charge a battery and/or drive the vehicle.
Incidentally, the batteries used for electric vehicles are reduced in capacity due to secular changes. The capacity reduction (hereinafter also referred to as deterioration) tends to progress when a state of charge (SOC) of the battery is within a predetermined range. In particular, there is a problem in that battery deterioration progresses relatively quickly when the SOC is in the predetermined range when the electric vehicle is running.
In connection with the above problem, a technique has been proposed that reduces efficiency of an electric motor and thereby increases a consumption rate of electric power charged in a battery, provided that the battery is currently in a SOC zone in which battery deterioration readily progresses when a vehicle is running (see, for example, Patent Literature (hereinafter abbreviated as PTL) 1).

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Electric vehicle control device and electric vehicle


An inorganic field emission device includes a first electrode, a second electrode spaced apart from the first electrode, and a light emitting layer disposed therebetween. A dielectric layer is disposed between the first electrode and the light emitting layer and/or between the second electrode and the light emitting layer. A field reinforcing layer is disposed between a dielectric layer and the light emitting layer and includes carbon nanotubes having a length of about 20 nanometers to about 1 micrometer.

1) Field
The general inventive concept relates to an inorganic field emission device, and more particularly, to a dispersion-type inorganic field emission device.
2) Description of the Related Art
Inorganic field emission devices have simple manufacturing processes and therefore can be manufactured at lower cost relative to other types of displays. As a result, inorganic field emission devices are often used for large screen displays. In addition, inorganic field emission devices have been used in display fields or light source fields. However, research has been conducted for using inorganic field emission devices in various other fields.
An inorganic field emission device is classified as either a thin film-type inorganic field emission device or as a dispersion-type inorganic field emission device. More particularly, the thin film-type inorganic field emission device has a structure in which a light emitting layer that includes phosphor is disposed between two organic dielectric layers. In contrast, a dispersion-type inorganic field emission device includes a light emitting layer in which phosphor particles are dispersed in an insulating binder. The dispersion-type inorganic field emission device, however, has a lower brightness compared to that of other displays, such as a liquid crystal display ("LCD"), a plasma display panel ("PDP") or organic electroluminescence devices. As a result, there is a need to develop a dispersion-type inorganic field emission device having a substantially improved brightness.

Hankuk University of Foreign Studies Research and Industry-University Cooperation Foundation


A control system for an internal combustion engine, which is capable of enhancing the accuracy of fuel control and ignition timing control even when there is a possibility that the reliability of a calculated intake air amount lowers, and enables reduction of manufacturing costs. An ECU of the control system calculates a first estimated intake air amount according to a valve lift, a cam phase, and a compression ratio, calculates a second estimated intake air amount according to the flow rate of air detected by an air flow sensor. The ECU determines a fuel injection amount according to the first estimated intake air amount when an estimated flow rate Gin_vt calculated based on an engine speed, the valve lift, the cam phase, and the compression ratio is within the range of Gin_vt≦Gin1, and according to the second estimated intake air amount when Gin2≦Gin_vt.

Conventionally, a control system for an internal combustion engine in which a variable intake mechanism changes the amount of intake air drawn into cylinders as desired has been proposed in Patent Literature 1. This control system controls the amount of intake air (intake air amount) by the variable intake mechanism, and is comprised of an air flow sensor for detecting the flow rate of air flowing through an intake passage of the engine, a crank angle sensor for detecting a state of rotation of a crankshaft, an accelerator pedal opening sensor for detecting an opening of an accelerator pedal (hereinafter referred to as "the accelerator pedal opening"), and a controller to which are inputted detection signals from these sensors. The controller calculates an engine speed based on the detection signal from the crank angle sensor, and the intake air amount based on the detection signal from the air flow sensor. Further, the engine is provided with a throttle valve mechanism and a variable valve lift mechanism as variable intake mechanisms. The throttle valve mechanism changes the flow rate of air flowing through the intake passage as desired, and the variable valve lift mechanism changes the lift of each intake valve (hereinafter referred to as "the valve lift") as desired.
As will be described hereinafter, in the control system, the intake air amount is controlled by the controller. First, it is determined based on the engine speed, the accelerator pedal opening, and the intake air amount, in what operating load region the engine is. Then, when it is determined that the engine is in a low-engine speed and low-load region including an idling region, the valve lift is controlled to a predetermined low lift by the variable valve lift mechanism, and the opening of the throttle valve is controlled to a value corresponding to the engine speed and the accelerator pedal opening by the throttle valve mechanism. On the other hand, when it is determined that the engine is between a medium-engine speed and medium-load region and a high-engine speed and high-load region, the throttle valve is controlled to a fully-open state, and the valve lift is controlled to a value corresponding to the engine speed and the accelerator pedal opening.
[Patent Literature 1] Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication (Kokai) No. 2003-254100
In the above conventional control system, it is sometimes impossible to properly calculate the intake air amount, due to a low resolution of the air flow sensor. For example, some type of internal combustion engine has an intake passage whose diameter is set to a large value (i.e. which is configured to have a large diameter) so as to reduce flow resistance within the intake passage to enhance the charging efficiency of intake air in cylinders. When the conventional control system is applied to the engine configured as above, the flow velocity of intake air assumes a very low value when the engine is in a low-engine speed and low-load region, and hence the conventional control system cannot properly calculate the intake air amount due to the low resolution of the air flow sensor, which degrades the accuracy of the intake air amount control. As a result, when the amount of fuel to be supplied to a combustion chamber is controlled based on the intake air amount thus calculated, there is a fear that the resulting degraded control accuracy lowers fuel economy and increases exhaust emissions. Furthermore, since the engine to which the conventional control system is applied is provided with the throttle valve mechanism, this causes an increase in the flow resistance within the intake passage.
Further, in a high-load region of the engine, the reliability of the intake air amount calculated based on the detection signal from the air flow sensor is sometimes degraded, due to occurrence of intake pulsation or an excessively high flow velocity of the intake air. In such a case as well, the above described problems are brought about.
On the other hand, in the ignition control of the engine, a method is conventionally employed which uses an engine speed and an intake air amount as load parameters indicative of load on the engine, and ignition timing maps having map values of ignition timing set in advance in association with the load parameters. In the above-described engine with the intake air passage having a large diameter as well, it is envisaged that ignition timing is controlled by the above method. However, as described above, in the conventional control system, the intake air amount cannot be properly calculated in the low-load region of the engine due to the low resolution of the air flow sensor. This degrades the accuracy of the ignition timing control. Further, the charging efficiency of intake air in the cylinders varies with the engine speed, causing the maximum value of the intake air amount in the high-load region where knocking starts to occur to also vary with the engine speed. Therefore, in the high-load region of the engine, it is necessary to set the number of set values of the intake air amount and the maximum values of the same in a fine-grained manner while making them different from each other. This causes an increase in the number of data of the ignition timing maps to increase the number of times of measurement for sampling the data as well as the capacity of a storage medium, such as a ROM, resulting in increased manufacturing costs. Moreover, the accuracy of the ignition timing control is degraded also in the engine in which the reliability of the intake air amount calculated based on the detection signal from the air flow sensor lowers in the high-load region of the engine, as described above.
The present invention has been made to provide a solution to the above-described problems, and an object thereof is to provide a control system for an internal combustion engine, which is capable of enhancing the accuracy of fuel control and ignition timing control even when there is a possibility that the reliability of a calculated intake air amount lowers, and enables reduction of manufacturing costs.

Control system for internal combustion engine


An object of the present invention is to provide an imaging device which can reliably correct dark current components that locally occur in an imaging sensor, such as those caused by an FDA. The imaging device includes: a storage unit which pre-stores information representing a relation between one of dark current components and an output signal of an optical black pixel arranged in a predetermined optical black area on an imaging sensor, the dark current components being superimposed on pixel signals of effective pixels, respectively, arranged in a predetermined effective pixel area on the imaging sensor; a dark current obtaining unit which obtains dark current components based on both the information stored in the storage unit and output signal of the optical black pixel; and a correcting unit which corrects the dark current components obtained by the dark current obtaining unit according to the pixel signals.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an imaging device equipped with an imaging sensor.
2. Description of the Related Art
Dark current components that are superimposed on pixel signals of an imaging sensor equipped in an electronic camera are corrected by a signal processing circuit in the electronic camera. So far, many types of correcting methods have been proposed Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. Hei 7-236093, and so forth).
However, the conventional correcting methods are based on the assumption that dark current components of each pixel outputs of an imaging sensor are almost constant. Thus, dark current components caused by an FDA cannot be corrected reliably.
Here, the FDA is an abbreviation of Floating Diffusion Amplifier that is disposed at an output end of an imaging sensor.
To cause the FDA to operate, it is necessary to apply a bias current thereto. However, when a current is applied to the FDA, it generates heat.
When the FDA generates heat and in particular electric charge accumulation time is long (30 seconds or longer), dark current components that are ignorable are superimposed on the pixel signals of the imaging sensor.
However, since heat radially spreads from the FDA, the amounts of the dark currents differ depend on the positions of the pixels. Therefore, the dark current components that occur in the imaging sensor caused by the FDA are local.
The dark current components that locally occur cannot be corrected reliably by the conventional correcting methods.
To decrease the dark current components that locally occur, a technology for temporally suppressing the bias current to be applied to the FDA in the case where the electric charge accumulation time of the imaging sensor is long has been proposed. However, since the technology is incapable of completely suppressing heat generation, it is not sufficient to reliably correct dark current components.


The present invention provides a method for forming a chemical vapor deposition film which is suitable for an interlevel insulator between Al and Al or an interlevel insulator between Al and a gate, and provides an improved chemical vapor deposition film suitable for mass production. An organic siloxane or alkoxysilane and an alkoxy compound of germanium are mixed in a vapor phase, and reacted with oxygen or ozone to thereby form a thin glass film composed of a two-component system of silicon oxide and germanium oxide on a substrate.

The present invention relates to a method for forming a Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD) film and an apparatus for manufacturing a semiconductor device with formation of an interlevel insulator in the semiconductor device.
There are a variety of CVD systems for forming an insulating film, but a plasma CVD method and a thermal CVD method have been principally used in recent years. However, an insulating film formed by the plasma CVD method is not suitable for a highly dense and fine pattern such as a very large scale integrated circuit (VLSI), in particular a dynamic random access memory (DRAM), since such insulating film has poor step coverage and contains impurities such as carbon (C).
Accordingly, attention has focused on application of the thermal CVD method because of its superior step coverage, in particular the thermal CVD method which enables film formation at such a low temperature that no thermal influence is exerted upon other components in forming a VLSI such as a DRAM.
Conventional methods include (a) a method involving oxidizing SiH.sub.4 or oxidizing SiH.sub.4 after mixing PH.sub.3 and B.sub.2 H.sub.4 therewith, and (b) a method involving pyrolyzing or oxidizing alkoxysilane Si(OR).sub.4 or oxidizing Si(OR).sub.4 after mixing B(OR).sub.3 and PO(OR).sub.3 therewith. Both (a) and (b) are conventional thermal CVD methods for forming a SiO.sub.2 film or an insulating film with a SiO.sub.2 film as the base.
Interlevel insulators are formed between Al and a gate and between Al and Al.
(1) For an interlevel isolator between Al and Al, the following are the criteria:
growth at a low temperature should be possible; PA1 the film should have low stress and low damage; PA1 the film should be highly dense and have controlled hillock of Al; PA1 the film should have stable electric characteristics; PA1 the film should have a flat characteristic; PA1 the film should have few pin-holes; PA1 the particle generation density should be low; and PA1 the film should have high durability. PA1 the film should be capable of reflow at a low temperature; PA1 the film should show stable electric characteristics; PA1 the film should have few pin-holes; and PA1 the particle generation density should be low. PA1 the cracking limit is increased, PA1 Al hillocks are not formed, PA1 self-flattening is increased, PA1 the density of the film is increased, and PA1 the stress is low, as compared with a conventional film of SiO.sub.2 only.
(2) For an interlevel insulator between Al and a gate, the following are the criteria:
Accordingly, a conventional plasma CVD method or atmospheric pressure CVD method may be used for forming an interlevel insulator between Al and Al, a complicated process wherein three types of a CVD film I 35, CVD film II 36 and a CVD film III 37 are formed on interconnection metals 34 on a substrate 33, as shown in FIG. 8. Optionally, a glass film may be applied midway therebetween for flattening and etch-back as shown in FIG. 9.
The following methods have been proposed for forming an interlevel insulator between Al and a gate:
(1) Formation of an arsenic silicate glass film using SiH.sub.4 -A.sub.S H.sub.3 -O.sub.2.
(2) Formation of a boron silicate glass film using SiH.sub.4 -B.sub.2 H.sub.6 -PH.sub.3 -O.sub.2.
(3) Formation of a boron arsenic silicate glass film using TEOS-Tri Methyl Borate (TMB)-Tri Methyl Phosphate (TMOP)-O.sub.3.
(4) Formation of a boron arsenic silicate glass film using TEOS-TMB-TMOP-O.sub.2.
(5) Formation of a germanium silicate glass film using SiH.sub.4 -GeH.sub.4 -PH.sub.3 -O.sub.2.
However, since reflow of the interlevel insulator can be performed at a temperature of approximately 800.degree. C. to 900.degree. C. in (1) to (5), it is possible to lower the reflow temperature, which, however, is not sufficient. In particular, the reflow temperature is lowered in (2) to (4) by adding arsenic or boron, but the film quality becomes unstable with the increase of the concentration of arsenic or boron.
Furthermore, according to the method for forming a germanium silicate glass film using SiH.sub.4 -GeH.sub.4 -PH.sub.3 -O.sub.2 in (5), there is the problem that the respective compounds are hydrides which are very active and very difficult to handle in practice and, thus, the method is unsuitable for mass production.
The present invention was created to address such various conventional problems, and has for its object provision of an improved method for forming a CVD film And apparatus for manufacturing a semiconductor device suitable for both formation of an interlevel insulator between Al and Al and formation of an interlevel insulator between Al and a gate and also suitable for mass production.


A synchronization method and apparatus defines event objects to enable synchronization of execution entities (e.g., threads). In one arrangement, the synchronization method and apparatus is used in conjunction with a Unix operating system. By defining event objects on which threads or other execution entities can wait upon, multiple threads can wait on one event, or alternatively, one thread can wait on multiple events. Furthermore, using the event-based synchronization method and apparatus, it is possible to specify behavior, particularly when one thread or other execution entity waits on multiple events. For example, the behavior specified can be that a condition is satisfied if any of the events occur, if all of the events occur, or some other logical combination of events occur.

Software in a computer system is made up of many layers. The highest layer is typically referred to as the application layer, followed by lower layers that include the operating system, device drivers (which usually are a part of the operating system), and other layers. In a system that is coupled to a network, various network and transport layers are typically also present.
Conventionally, in an operating system, a software program is run as one or more execution entities, such as threads, processes, and so forth. For example, in some Unix operating systems, a process is defined as the execution of a program. The operating system schedules multiple processes for execution, with concurrently scheduled processes appearing to execute simultaneously. A scheduler in the operating system schedules a period of time (sometimes referred to as a time slice or time quantum) for each process, using a priority scheme to determine which process to schedule next.
In other Unix operating systems, execution entities are threads associated with processes or programs. Each process has an execution context that is unique to the process, with each process associated with an address space, a set of resources accessible by the process, and a set of one or more threads that belong to the process. Each process has at least one thread that is created and that belongs to the process, although a process can have multiple threads that belong to it.
Because multiple threads (either associated with a single process or with multiple processes) can be active at a given time, a synchronization mechanism is desirable. However, conventional synchronization mechanisms based on low-level primitives such as mutexes and condition variables in Unix systems may not provide a desired level of flexibility.


A gun barrel cleaning device comprises a weight, a cord, a boreguide sleeve, a sheath, a brush, a cleaning element, and a lubrication element. The weight provides a mass that helps to insert the device into the barrel of a gun. The weight may be coupled to the high tensile strength cord, which in turn may be coupled to the tubular sheath. The boreguide sleeve may cover the sheath where it is coupled to the cord to smooth the transition from the cord to the sheath. The brush may be connected to the cord and encased by the sheath. The cleaning element, also encased by the sheath, may remove dirt from the gun barrel. The lubrication element, coupled to the sheath, may deposit lubrication in the gun barrel. The gun barrel may be cleaned and lubricated by pulling the device through the barrel.

1. Field of the Invention
Embodiments of the present invention relate to devices for cleaning and lubricating gun barrels and other tubular devices. More particularly, embodiments of the present invention relate to devices with multiple elements for cleaning and lubricating an inner surface of gun barrels.
2. Description of the Related Art
Devices for cleaning the inside of a gun barrel, or other tubular shaped object, have been developed and generally include a leading end cord coupled to a tubular sheath which encases a brush with bristles that protrude through the sheath. The gun barrel may be cleaned by pulling the cord through the barrel such that the tubular sheath and the brush travel through the barrel. Because the sheath is typically of a larger diameter than the cord and may not enter the barrel smoothly or easily. In addition, the brush may encounter resistance when traveling through the barrel requiring a greater pulling force on the cord, which can cause tearing or ripping of the sheath.


An optical scanning and imaging system and related method for scanning and imaging an object is disclosed. The scanning and imaging system does not use mechanically moving components to achieve lateral scanning of an object. Instead, the system includes a deflecting prism comprised of a material having an index of refraction that varies with changes in an applied electromagnetic field and that remains substantially constant with changes in wavelength of incident light within a predetermined wavelength range. An optical fiber transmits light within a predetermined wavelength from a light source through a gradient index lens which sends a collimated beam of light to the prism. Due to the unique properties of the prism, the light is deflected at a substantially constant angle within a lateral scanning plane. An objective lens can be used to further focus the light exiting the prism prior to directing it on the object being imaged. A scan controller and electrodes control and modify the electromagnetic field applied to the prism such that said index of refraction also is controlled and modified. The scanning system is adapted to be used for medical imaging by disposing it within a distal end of a catheter.

A variety of imaging techniques are used for the medical diagnosis and treatment of patients. Ultrasound imaging represents a prevalent technique. Ultrasound uses sound waves to obtain a cross-sectional image of an object. These waves are radiated by a transducer, directed into the tissues of a patient, and reflected from the tissues. The transducer also operates as a receiver to receive the reflected waves and electronically process them for ultimate display.
Another imaging technique is referred to as Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT). OCT uses light, as opposed to sound waves, to obtain a cross-sectional image of tissue. The use of light allows for faster scanning times than occurs in ultrasound technology. The depth of tissue scan in OCT is based on low coherence interferometry. Low coherence interferometry involves splitting a light beam from a low coherence light source into two beams, a sampling beam and a reference beam. These two beams are then used to form an interferometer. The sampling beam hits and penetrates the tissue, or other object, under measurement, and then reflects from the tissue, carrying information about the reflecting points from the surface and the depth of tissue. The reference beam hits a reference reflector, such as, for example, a mirror or a diffraction grating, and reflects from the reference reflector. The reference reflector either moves or is designed such that the reflection occurs at different distances from the beam splitting point and returns at a different point in time or in space, which actually represents the depth of scan. The time for the reference beam to return represents the desirable depth of penetration of tissue by the sampling beam.
When the reflected beams meet, intensities from respective points with equal time delay form interference. A photodetector detects this interference and converts it into electrical signals. The signals are electronically processed and ultimately displayed, for example, on a computer screen or other monitor.
Obtaining a cross-sectional image of an object involves scanning in both the axial and lateral direction. Typical visual frame rates used in filming moving objects are on the order of 30 Hz. Therefore, to image a moving object, such as a beating heart, for example, a scanner system must be capable of scanning approximately 90,000 data points (assuming 300 data points in both the lateral and axial directions of the object, which is typical for an imaging area of 1×10−4 mm2) in 1/30 of a second. However, to accomplish lateral scanning, many OCT systems utilize reciprocally-moving mechanical parts to move the beam of light across the object being imaged. These moving parts often cannot move quickly enough to complete a lateral scan in the requisite time required by the visual frame rate. Thus, imaging of moving objects, such as a beating heart, will be incomplete from frame to frame. Additionally, the use of such parts creates other obstacles to achieving effective scanning. For example, the inertia of moving parts, and their acceleration and deceleration, causes a non-uniform speed of scan and a reduced speed of data acquisition. Furthermore, vibrations associated with the moving parts may result in additional electronic noise which negatively affects the resolution of scanned images.
Design and manufacture of an effective scanning device utilizing moving parts in combination with medical tools such as, for example, a catheter, also proves difficult. For instance, it is very difficult to control precisely the motion of parts on a tip of a catheter. Furthermore, moving parts generally require more space, thus resulting in an increase in the overall size of the device. For catheters and other similar medical devices, such an increase in size is undesirable.
Certain scanner systems used in the communications industry exploit the ability of certain materials to change properties (such as refractive index) when subjected to the application of an electromagnetic field. These communications scanner systems typically include an optically transparent prism positioned between electrodes. A light beam passing through the prism will be deflected at certain angles depending on the electromagnetic field created by the electrodes and applied to the prism. Because deflection of the light also is a function of wavelength, optimal performance of these scanners requires a monochromatic (single wavelength) light source. These scanning systems therefore typically utilize lasers, which use light having a narrow bandwidth, as the source of light.

Optical scanning and imaging system and method


An apparatus for facilitating the loading and unloading of heavy ladders from the roof of a motor vehicle comprises a pair of 4-bar linkages that are appropriately affixed to the transversely extending luggage rack members secured to the roof of the vehicle. A connector rod is operatively coupled between the pair of 4-bar linkages and to a crank or other suitable drive member for elevating and rotating the load from a position parallel to the roof of the vehicle to a disposition parallel to one side of the vehicle.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to a labor-saving device for use in loading and unloading heavy ladders onto and from the roof of a motor vehicle such as a car or van and more particularly to a manually or motor-operated ladder support mechanism for transporting one or more ladders resting thereon from a transport position on top of the vehicle to a location alongside the vehicle where the ladders can be readily removed and later reloaded.
2. Discussion of the Prior Art
Workmen, such as painters, electricians, plumbers, etc. require ladders in their work. When a smaller vehicle such as a station wagon or a van is to be used, it is common practice to secure the ladders to a luggage rack affixed to the roof of the vehicle. This may be accomplished using bungie chords, ropes, or the like. With ladders of any size, it is somewhat difficult for one person to place and remove a heavy ladder from the vehicle's roof. Because of the cumbersome nature of the task, there is a high likelihood of doing damage to the vehicle or doing injury to the person.
In the Spanke U.S. Pat. No. 3,963,136 there is described a retractable ladder rack adapted to be mounted on the top of a vehicle and which includes a curved arcuate rail which is attached to the top of the vehicle. A plurality of roller members are adapted to ride in a channel formed in the rail. The rack is supported on the rollers to permit it to move along the channel so that ladders placed on the rack can be effectively rolled from a centered position on the roof to a position that is adjacent the vehicle's side.
The present invention is deemed to be an improvement over the device described in the Spanke '136 patent in that while it is equally effective in moving ladders from a stored position on the roof to a convenient position along the side of the vehicle from which they can be lifted and carried, the present invention is substantially simpler in its construction and can be produced at a substantially lower cost.


A system for ramping-down a superconducting magnet includes an electrically conductive lead connectable to a superconducting magnet and a plurality of diode assemblies arranged in series and coupled to the electrically conductive lead. Switches are arranged in parallel with the plurality of diode assemblies, with each switch having a first position and a second position and wherein each switch, when in the first position, forms an electrical short between first and second nodes of a corresponding diode assembly. A controller receives a magnet parameter value indicative of a present state of the superconducting magnet, determines a number of diode assemblies through which current from the electrically conductive lead is desired to pass based on the magnet parameter value, and selectively actuates the switches coupled to the determined number of diode assemblies to the second position to pass current from the superconducting magnet through the determined number of diode assemblies.

Embodiments of the invention relate generally to medical imaging devices and other systems employing superconducting magnet systems and, more particularly, to a system and method for ramping-down a superconducting magnet in an automated fashion for servicing.
As is known, a coil wound of superconductive material (a magnet coil) can be made superconducting by placing it in an extremely cold environment, (e.g., −269° C. or 4 K). For example, a coil may be made superconducting by enclosing it in a cryostat or pressure vessel containing a cryogen. The extreme cold enables the coil wires to be operated in a superconducting state. In this state, the resistance of the wires is practically zero. To introduce a current flow through the coils, a power source is initially connected to the coils for a short time period. In the superconducting state, the current will continue to flow through the coils, thereby maintaining a strong magnetic field. In other words, because superconductive windings offer little to no resistance to electrical current flow at low temperatures, the superconducting state of the magnet is persistent. The electric current that flows through the superconducting magnet is maintained within the magnet and does not decay noticeably with time.
Superconducting magnets have wide applications in the field of magnetic resonance imaging ("MRI"). In a typical MRI magnet, the main superconducting magnet coils are enclosed in a cylindrically shaped cryogen pressure vessel containing a cryogen, such as liquid helium. The cryogen vessel is contained within an evacuated vessel and formed with an imaging bore in the center. The main magnet coils develop a strong magnetic field in the imaging volume of the axial bore that, when combined with controlled gradient magnetic fields and RF pulses, act to generate a signal from a patient may be received and processed to form an image. In existing MRI systems, a main magnetic field of 3 Tesla may be desired to produce vivid images.
Occasionally, it may be desirable or necessary to de-energize the superconducting magnet. For example, when components of the cryogenic cooling system degrade, when leaks within the cryogen (helium) vessel are found, or when other maintenance on the MRI system is desired, it may be necessary to de-energize the magnet system. Deactivation may require a "ramp-down" of the magnet, where current must be slowly lowered in the magnet to weaken the magnet field strength. These ramp-downs are often manually intensive, time consuming, and expensive. Typically, it can take 34 hours to de-energize a 3.0 T magnet using conventional techniques, during which time a magnet engineer must be present to oversee the ramp-down procedure. Furthermore, as external leads are connected to the magnet during the ramp-down, heat is added to the magnet thereby causing an increased rate of boil-off of the liquid helium as it boils into helium gas. The helium gas may be vented to the atmosphere, which can add significant costs to the ramp-down operation since the vented helium gas may not be recoverable from the atmosphere for conversion back into a liquid. Accordingly, a portion of the cryogen may need to be replaced.
Additionally, the ramp-down of the magnet may, if performed improperly, cause damage to the magnet system. For example, if current in the magnet is ramped down too quickly, a phenomenon of "quenching" may occur, in which a localized portion of the magnet increases in temperature and loses superconductivity. This localized increase in temperature can burn or damage the superconducting coils of the magnet. In addition, the rapid decrease in the molecular density within the cryogen vessel resulting from a sharp temperature rise sharply reduces the insulating ability normally provided by the helium gas resulting in possible voltage breakdown through the gas which can seriously damage the various coils and associated control circuitry of the elements within the cryogen vessel.
Thus, for the aforementioned reasons, a field engineer may typically be generous in the amount of time used to ramp-down the magnet current. Unfortunately, however, a conservative ramp-down results in longer ramp times, increased downtime, increased maintenance costs, and so forth. Thus, conservative magnet ramp-down techniques may increase the cost of operating and maintaining an MRI system and may decrease the availability of the MRI system.
It would therefore be desirable to have a system and method capable of reducing MRI periods of deactivation, costs, and so forth. Particularly, there is a need to reduce the ramp-down time of the superconducting magnet while maintaining equipment integrity and while reducing helium loss, equipment downtime, and maintenance costs.

System and method for superconducting magnet ramp-down


An imaging apparatus includes a photographic optical system, an image sensor, and an image processing unit. The system includes an aberration control element for generating a predetermined aberration. The system forms an optical image. The image sensor generates an image signal corresponding to the image. The processing unit processes the image signal to improve image characteristics degraded based on the predetermined aberration. The aberration control element, at a first spatial frequency less than a Nyquist frequency of the image sensor, sets a response of a system optical transfer function to a reducible maximum value. The aberration control element positions a field distance of a maximum pupil height of a spherical aberration curve of the system, and a field distance of an inflection point proximate to the maximum pupil height, on either a plus side or a minus side with respect to a field distance of the pupil height of zero.

Imaging apparatuses such as a camera and a video camera have been desired to capture a less-blur image of various subjects distributed in a wide range of a distance from a photographic optical system. In other words, it has been desired to extend a depth of field of the photographic optical system. Although adjustment of an aperture to increase an F value allows the extension of the depth of field, the increase in the F value causes lack of light of an optical image of the subject to be received on the light receiving surface. Therefore, it is necessary to slow down a shutter speed or to increase an ISO sensitivity of a film or an area sensor. However, slowing down the shutter speed makes it difficult to capture a moving subject. Also, there has been a problem that the increase in the ISO sensitivity causes an increase in noise generated in a captured image.
As such, there has been proposed a method of debluring, by means of a phase mask, by regularly distributing light beams such that a response of an optical transfer function of the photographic optical system becomes substantially insensitive to a wide range of a subject distance and carrying out deconvolution processing on a captured distributed image (see Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2). According to the invention described in Patent Document 1, blur occurs in the image of a subject positioned at the subject distance within the above range. However, since the light beams are regularly distributed, restoration processing allows a reduction in blur of the subject positioned at various subject distances and the depth of field may be extended.
However, according to the inventions described in Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2, the response of the optical transfer function of the photographic optical system using the phase mask is low overall. Therefore, there has been a problem that the noise increases when the restoration processing is carried out in order to satisfactory reduce blur.

Imaging apparatus, photographic lens unit, and imaging unit having an aberration control element for generating a predetermined aberration


Methods for fabricating flash memory devices are disclosed. A disclosed method comprises: forming a polysilicon layer on a semiconductor substrate; injecting dopants having stepped implantation energy levels into the polysilicon layer; forming a photoresist pattern on the polysilicon layer; and etching the polysilicon layer to form a floating gate.

There are two general categories of flash memories, namely, EPROMs (Erasable Programmable ROMs) and EEPROMs (Electrically Erasable Programmable ROMs). The program and erase operation of an EPROM is performed by charging or discharging its floating gate with ultraviolet rays or X-rays. However, the programming and erase operation of an EEPROM is performed by electrically charging or discharging its floating gate. EEPROMs can be readily updated, even when embedded into a system. Therefore, EEPROMs are employed in many different systems. EEPROMs are generally divided into two categories, namely, a byte removal type and a flash type. The flash type of EEPROMS may again be divided into two types, namely, a hot-electron injection type and an F-N (Fowler-Nordgein) current type.
FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a conventional method for fabricating a floating gate of a flash memory device.
EEPROMs generally store one bit using a transistor. As shown in FIG. 1, such a flash memory device comprises a tunnel gate oxide layer formed on a silicon substrate, a floating gate, an insulating layer on the floating gate (which functions as an isolation layer), and a control gate.
Typically, the voltage for the program and erase operation is applied to the control gate. The voltage applied to the control gate is determined according to the coupling ratio. The coupling ratio is the ratio of the voltage applied to the floating gate to the voltage applied to the control gate. The initial voltage applied to the control gate must be higher than the voltage required to change the state of the floating gate for the program and erase operation to be initiated. Thus, the efficiency of the program and erase operation increases in proportion to the coupling ratio.
Various methods have been provided to increase the coupling ratio. One of the known methods is to enlarge the coupling area between the floating gate and the control gate. For example, in some known methods the floating gate is formed to have a convexo-concave  shape which has a larger area than a plane and, thus, enlarges the coupling area. As a result of this known approach, various methods have been provided to form the sidewalls of the floating gate into convexo-concave  shapes.
FIG. 2 through FIG. 4 are cross-sectional views illustrating a known method for fabricating a floating gate of a flash memory device as described in Wu, Korean Patent No. 0,376,863.
Referring to FIG. 2, a first oxide layer 3 is formed on an area 2 doped with impurities in a substrate 1. A first nitride layer 4 is then deposited on the first oxide layer 3. A second oxide layer 5 is then formed on the first nitride layer 4. A second nitride layer 6 is then deposited on the second oxide layer 5. The convexo-concave  shaped structures are then completed. Next, the gaps between the convexo-concave  shaped structures are filled with a material to form floating gates.
Referring to FIG. 3, the second oxide layer 5, and the first and the second nitride layers 4, 6 in the convexo-concave  shaped structures are removed by an anisotropic etching process. The floating gates 7 are, thus, completed and have a convexo-concave  shape.
Referring to FIG. 4, an ONO (Oxide/Nitride/Oxide) layer or an oxide layer 8 is deposited on the floating gates 7. Control gates 9 are then completed through later processes.
Wang et al., U.S. Pat. No. 6,242,303, describe a method for manufacturing an erasable programmable memory by enlarging the coupling area between the control gate and the floating gate and increasing the capacitive-coupling ratio.
Lee et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,801,415, describe a method for making an improved electrically programmable ROM device having non volatile memory cells with enhanced capacitive coupling.
Huang, U.S. Pat. No. 5,637,896, describes a process for fabricating an array of floating gate memory devices on a substrate.
The above-mentioned conventional methods for fabricating a floating gate of a flash memory device have several problems. For example, many layers such as the first oxide layer 3, the first nitride layer 4, the second oxide layer 5. and the second nitride layer 6 are required to form the convexo-concave  shapes. This requirement results in complexity and cumbersomeness during all of the processes. Second, as the number of the convexo-concave  shapes increases in order to enlarge the coupling area, the number of processes for depositing insulating layers such as oxide layers or nitride layers may be increased as well. Moreover, the anisotropic process for forming the convexo-concave  shape may cause serious defects in the resulting flash memory devices.


Security apparatus and a method for preventing theft or unauthorized removal of instruments from the cockpit instrument panel of an aircraft and for preventing theft or unauthorized use of the aircraft. The apparatus includes a rigid plate substantially covering the instrument panel and two rigid arms pivotally secured to the plate inwardly of the columns respectively and laterally pivotable rearwardly away from and forwardly toward the plate. Each of the arms include an end portion for restrainably engaging the aircraft flight control yokes against rotation when the arms are pivoted to extend rearwardly away from the plate while the columns are fully rearwardly extended and the yokes are fully rotated to one side. A locking device is engageable with the end portions of the arms for locking the arms rearwardly extended and for cooperating with the yokes to prevent forward displacement of the columns while securing the plate against the instrument panel.

This invention relates to security systems for aircraft, and more particularly to a method and apparatus for preventing theft or unauthorized removal of instruments from the cockpit instrument panel of an aircraft and for preventing theft or unauthorized use of the aircraft.
The cockpit of privately owned or light aircraft is commonly equipped with an instrument panel accommodating various instruments, avionics, radios and other equipment, all of which may be referred to as simply "instruments". Positioned beneath the aircraft windshield and rearwardly facing, the instrument panel permits the instruments to be conveniently viewable by the pilot and copilot operating the aircraft. In some aircraft, the instrument panel is fitted with a glare shield along the panel's upper edge.
Rearwardly extending from the instrument panel are two flight control columns terminating with respective flight control yokes or wheels that are manipulated by the pilot or copilot for controlling the aircraft's ailerons and elevators. The flight control columns are slaved to one another, so that movement of either yoke will result in corresponding movement of the other yoke and both columns. Turning or rotating a yoke causes corresponding rotation of the columns for adjusting position of the ailerons, for controlling rotation of the aircraft about its longitudinal or roll axis. Rearward pulling and forward pushing of the yoke, resulting in corresponding rearward and forward longitudinal movement of the control columns, adjusts position of the aircraft's elevators for controlling the aircraft's pitch motion about its lateral or pitch axis.
Since private aircraft are often tied down at airfields lacking in effective security, they are accessible to unauthorized entry and, consequently, to unauthorized removal or theft of instruments from the instrument panel as well as unauthorized use or theft of the aircraft itself. Various systems have been devised for addressing this problem, including apparatus for locking a cover plate immediately rearwardly of the instrument panel and for locking the flight control columns against rotation and longitudinal movement. The apparatus of the prior art appear to require risk to the integrity of the columns, however, such as by providing a physical circumferencial clamping of the columns or the drilling of an aperture along a diameter of at least one of the columns for inserting a gust lock pin therethrough.


A sheet handling apparatus is provided, which is comprised of a plurality of inserter trays for stacking thereon insert sheets to be inserted between recording sheets having images formed thereon. Sheet feeding modes for feeding insert sheets include two kinds, i.e. S-stacking mode and F-stacking mode, that can be set by a mode key displayed on a sheet feeding mode setting screen view. In the S-stacking mode, only first-page insert sheets are stacked on a first inserter tray, and only second-page insert sheets and third-page insert sheets are stacked on second and third inserter trays, respectively. In the F-stacking mode, insert sheets are stacked in order of page on an inserter tray. Sheet feeding is suitably controlled by stacking insert sheets on inserter trays in manners corresponding to respective selected stacking modes.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a sheet handling apparatus comprising a plurality of inserter trays for inserting insert sheets between recording sheets having images formed thereon, an image forming apparatus, and a method of controlling the same and a storage medium therefor.
2. Description of Related Art
Conventionally, when a set of plural originals consisting of a mixture of plural kinds of originals, for example, a mixture of colored originals and black-and-white originals, are to be copied, a user uses a color copying machine and copies all the originals with the color copying machine to obtain desired duplications of the color/black-and-white mixed originals. However, since image forming processing with the color copying machine requires a longer time than with a black-and-white copying machine, it is inefficient to process any black-and-white originals with the color copying machine. Thus, there arises a demand for copying the black-and-white originals separately with a black-and-white copying machine, one way to meet the demand would be that when a mixture of colored originals and black-and-white originals are to be copied, color originals and black-and-white originals should be separately copied with a color copying machine and a black-and-white copying machine, respectively.
However, in such a separate copying, the user has to separate in advance the color/black-and-white mixed originals into color originals and black-and-white originals. After copying has been completed, the color originals and the black-and-white originals have to be restored to the initial condition. This is very complicated and time-consuming, especially when the originals are not paged or when the originals are large in number. Besides, after copying, in order to arrange the copied recording sheets output from the black-and-white copying machine and the copied recording sheets output from the color copying machine in the order of the originals, it is necessary, for example, to insert the copied recording sheets from the color copying machine between the copied recording sheets from the black-and-white copying machine. This requires a very complicated manual operation which has to be performed manually while checking the order of the originals.
Thus, the conventional manner of copying color/black-and-white mixed originals separately with a color copying machine and a black-and-white copying machine has the disadvantage that a very complicated manual operation needs to be carried out by a user and the operation is difficult to correctly perform without error as well as very time-consuming.
To overcome the above-mentioned disadvantage, an image forming apparatus has already been proposed which includes a plurality of copying machines, for example, a color copying machine and a black-and-white copying machine, and an inserter tray. The mixed originals are subjected to copying processing by means of a combination of these components. The inserter tray is constructed, in general, as a sheet feeding tray that permits an insert sheet which is to be inserted between recording sheets having image formed thereon by an image forming section to be conveyed without passing through the image forming section.
According to the proposed apparatus, it is automatically determined whether each original of a set of mixed originals is a color original or not. A color original is automatically copied with the color copying machine, and a black-and-white original is automatically copied with the black-and-white copying machine. An insert sheet to be inserted between recording sheets is fed from the inserter tray so as to improve the efficiency of the processing operation.
However, in the above-described image forming apparatus including the inserter tray, the method of feeding insert sheets from the inserter tray can be set to output modes such as a cover sheet mode and a synthesis mode, but the manner of loading the insert sheets on the inserter tray is fixed so that optimal processing is not always possible to perform.
More specifically, in order to perform a copying process of plural kinds of originals efficiently in the shortest time, it is required to comprehensively take into account the capability (number of bins, loading capacity, etc.) of the sheet discharging sections (sorters, finishers etc.) of the color/black-and-white copying machines, and the number of bins, loading capacity, etc. of the inserter tray, so as to perform the processing in an optimal operating mode. In the conventional apparatus, however, the two copying machines are unable to know the status of each other's sheet discharging section or inserter tray, and hence are forced to operate, not in the optimal operating mode, but in a predetermined operating mode. Therefore, there is room for improvement in processing efficiency and operability.

Sheet handling apparatus which inserts insert sheets between recording sheets having image formed thereon, method of controlling same, image forming apparatus and storage medium therefor


The invention provides a drive train for propelling a vehicle capable of being used for transporting ore, coal or broken rock in underground mining operations. The vehicle has front and rear wheelsets, each comprising a right and left side wheel. The drive train comprises drive apparatus such as an electrically driven motor for delivering torque to at least a front wheel and rear wheel on one side of the vehicle. A torque sharing apparatus in the form of an epicyclic gear arrangement is interposed between the motor and the wheels, and operable to share torque delivered by the motor between the front and rear wheels while permitting them to rotate at different speeds in relation to each other. Front and rear transfer apparatus comprising gear trains co-operating with the epicyclic gear arrangement are provided for transferring torque to the front and rear wheels respectively. The front and rear transfer apparatus may be releasably interlocked in order to allow propulsion of the vehicle over slippery or uneven terrain.

This invention relates to a drive train.
Various different types of transmissions and drives exist to propel four wheeled vehicles. Such designs typically have a single power source connected to both the front and rear axles and incorporate a differential mechanism of sorts.
Alternatively, transmissions and drives exist that are based on two power sources, one for driving the wheels on the left side of the vehicle and other driving the wheels on the right side of the vehicle, the wheels on one side of the vehicle being capable of being driven independently from those on the other side. Such transmissions and drives have been used, for example, on underground coal-carrying vehicles, also known as shuttle cars, which have been manufactured by the applicant.
However, these mechanisms generally suffer from some or other defect which renders them unsuitable to allow adequately for effective different tyre rolling radii brought on by wear, pay load or under-inflation or to allow readily for locking of all four wheel drives, by the driver, when conditions demand this.
The present invention provides an alternative drive train which resolves this problem.

Joy Manufacturing Company (Africa) Limited (PTY)


A spectroscopic analysis device based on Brillouin dynamic grating and its analysis method, which provides high resolution and large measuring range at the same time. The device includes a laser device (1), a fiber optic coupler device (2), a first fiber amplifier device (3), a first isolator (4), a first polarization controller (5), a second polarization controller (6), a single-sideband modulation modulator (7), a second fiber amplifier device (8), a second isolator (9), a third polarization controller (10), a single-mode fiber (11), a polarization beam splitter (12), a circulator (13), a photodetector (14), a data acquisition card (15), a fourth polarization controller (16) and a microwave source (17). The method utilizes the Brillouin scattering of two beams of pump light in optical fiber forming Brillouin dynamic gratings as the spectral element and achieve a sub-MHz resolution.

Field of Invention
The present invention relates to a spectroscopic analysis device based on Brillouin dynamic grating and its analysis method, which belongs to the technology of spectroscopic analysis.
Description of Related Arts
The key for spectroscopic analysis devices is how to obtain a high optical wavelength resolution. The method of reducing the Brillouin gain bandwidth can obtain a wavelength resolution of 0.064 pm (8 MHz) (Stefan PreuBler, Andrzej Wiatrek, Kambiz Jamshidi, and Thomas Schneider "Ultrahigh-resolution Spectroscopy Based on the Bandwidth Reduction of Stimulated Brillouin," IEEE Photonics Technology Letters, 23, 1118-1120, 2011). At present, the spectroscopic analysis devices with the highest wavelength resolution for commercial use is the AP204xB series ultra-high resolution optical spectrum analyzer manufactured by APEX Company, which is based on the interference principle between signal and built-in TLS and has a wavelength resolution of only 0.04 pm (5 MHz).
The major spectral elements in spectroscopic analysis devices includes Volume gratings and Fabry-Perot interferometer. Since volume grating is limited by the technological process, the length of grating is limited and limiting the further increase of resolution of the spectroscopic analysis devices. In addition, during the manufacturing process of volume gratings, defects in manufacturing also impose a limit to resolution and precision of the spectroscopic analysis devices, and the level of precision can only reach 5 pm-10 pm. The spectroscopic analysis devices which employ Fabry-Perot interferometer as the spectral element are also limited by the actual manufacturing process. Since measuring range and resolution are a pair of contradictory parameters, a high resolution cannot be ensured under a large measuring range condition.

Spectral analysis device based on Brillouin dynamic grating and analysis method thereof


The end region of an optical fiber cable is removed to expose the coated optical fiber and some of the cable reinforcing non-optical fibers. The coating is removed from the optical fiber which, when covered with glue or the like, is inserted into a hole in a ferrule. The hole is large enough to accept the uncoated fiber but not the coated fiber. Thus the ferrule is pushed onto the fiber until the coating is contacted insuring that no uncoated optical fiber is exposed. The uncoated length of the optical fiber is long enough to extend out the end of the ferrule remote from the cable and is removed flush with the end of the ferrule. The entire assembly, on an optical disconnect type, an end region of the cable, the non-optical fiber, the coated optical fiber extending between the cable and the ferrule and an end region of the ferrule adjacent the cable, are all encapsulated in an optical fiber connector which may be straight or angled at 45.degree. or more in the region between the cable and the ferrule. A strain relief boot may be molded to the cable and has a thumb pad aligned with a connector key of the ferrule whereby the connector key although not visible may be aligned with the alignment slot in a connector to which the ferrule is to be connected.. In a further embodiment, the boot does not contact the optic fiber so that it is not placed under tension. Instead, the Kevlar fibers of the cable are embedded in the molded boot to absorb the stress developed between the cable and the connector.

There are numerous patents on various fiber optic connector structures and method of making them. One quite common way is to form the connector structure independent of the fiber inserting a connector with ferrule attached unto the fiber and gluing the fiber in place. A basic problem with such an approach is that the location of the end of the coating on the fiber and the beginning of the ferrule when inserted into the connector, neither of which are visible, cannot be precisely determined. It is known that in many instances an unsupported length of fiber exists between the end of the coating and the beginning of the ferrule. Such a structure is quite susceptible to failure as a result of the unsupported length of the optic fiber. Also, crimping is often used to hold the structure together.
A further problem with the prior art devices is failure of the cable where it joins the connector body. The use of flexible strain reliefs is common but the prior art strain relief devices do not bond directly to the cable jacket. An adhesive compound is often used to affix the strain relief boot to the cable jacket and connector body.
The connectors are provided with a key for alignment with its mating interface or the like but the key is often difficult to see during connector and cable installation into mating interface.
A further problem with the prior art optical cable termination is the diversity of connectors and the problems inherent with adapting a cable-ferrule combination that can be readily adapted to a multiplicity of different connectors.


A new and distinct cultivar of Calibrachoa plant named ‘Duealkowi’, characterized by its compact, semi-upright and outwardly spreading to trailing and decumbent plant habit; freely branching habit; early and freely flowering habit; large white-colored flowers; and good garden performance.

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Calibrachoa plant, botanically known as Calibrachoa sp. and hereinafter referred to by the name 'Duealkowi'.
The new Calibrachoa plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Rheinberg, Germany. The objective of the breeding program is to create new compact Calibrachoa plants with large attractive flowers.
The new Calibrachoa plant is a naturally-occurring whole plant mutation of a proprietary selection of Calibrachoa sp. identified as code number A09-4850-001, not patented. The new Calibrachoa plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant from within a group of A09-4850-001 plants in a controlled greenhouse environment in Rheinberg, Germany in May, 2013.
Asexual reproduction of the new Calibrachoa plant by vegetative terminal cuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in Rheinberg, Germany since June, 2013 has shown that the unique features of this new Calibrachoa plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.