A scroll compressor has a compression mechanism accommodated in a closed container and comprising a stationary scroll and an orbiting scroll. The stationary scroll includes a frame and a separate wrap element secured to the frame or otherwise movable relative to the frame. The orbiting scroll has a wrap element allowed to undergo circular translation with respect to the wrap element of the stationary scroll to compress gas. The wrap element of the stationary scroll is made of a readily machinable abrasion-resistant material to reduce the manufacturing cost of the scroll compressor.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a scroll compressor generally utilizable in air conditioning equipment for industrial use and home use.
2. Description of Related Art
The motor-driven compressor now in use in refrigerating systems is available in two types; that in which reciprocating pistons are employed and that in which rotary pistons are employed. Both are generally employed in air conditioning systems for industrial and home use and the use thereof is increasing as they have their own advantages and satisfactory performances. Recently, a new version of compressor known as a scroll compressor has gained a wide application because of its low-noise and low-vibration features.
FIG. 5 is a vertical sectional view showing an example of a conventional scroll compressor. As shown therein, a closed container 1 accommodates, in an upper portion thereof, a compression mechanism 2 comprising a stationary scroll 2a and an orbiting scroll 2b which is to undergo circular translation with a variable circular orbiting radius; a thrust bearing 3 for supporting the orbiting scroll 2b; and a bearing member 4 for supporting the thrust bearing 3. The orbiting scroll 2b has a shaft 2c inserted into an eccentric bearing 6 received in a hole 5b, that is defined at an end 5a of a crankshaft 5, so that the crankshaft 5 can drive the orbiting scroll 2b in one direction. An electric motor 7 includes a rotor 7a mounted on the crankshaft 5 for rotation together therewith, and a stator 7b fixed to the closed container 1 by means of shrinkage fit. The rotor 7a and the stator 7b are disposed below the bearing member 4 within the closed container 1. The crankshaft 5 is supported by a main bearing 8 of the bearing member 4 and an auxiliary bearing 23 thereof.
An oil reservoir 10 for accommodating a quantity of lubricating oil 9 is defined at the bottom of the closed container 1. A gas-sucking pipe 11 is provided on a side of the closed container 1. A gas pressure on the suction side acts on a lower portion of the closed container 1 below a spacer 22, whereas a gas pressure on the compression side acts on an upper portion of the closed container 1 above the spacer 22. The bearing member 4 has an oil exhaust port 12 defined therein for exhausting the lubricating oil 9 which has lubricated and cooled the main bearing 8, the auxiliary bearing 23, the eccentric bearing 6, and the thrust bearing 3. The crankshaft 5 has a through-hole 13 defined therein for supplying the lubricating oil 9 to each bearing, namely, the main bearing 8, the auxiliary bearing 23, the eccentric bearing 6, and the thrust bearing 3.
An oil guide 14 is fixed to the lower end of the crankshaft 5 by means of interference fit or by shrinkage fit so as to suck up the lubricating oil 9 from the oil reservoir 10. The closed container 1 further comprises an exhaust chamber 15 defined therein above the stationary scroll 2a and an exhaust pipe 16 for discharging compressed gas to the outside of the closed container 1. The stationary scroll 2a and the bearing member 4 are fastened to each other by bolts with the spacer 22 sandwiched therebetween. The stationary scroll 2a is of one-piece construction having a frame for fixing the stationary scroll 2a to the bearing member 4, and a wrap element integrally formed with the frame. The orbiting scroll 2b also has a wrap element integrally formed therewith. Each of the wrap elements has a spiral or involute shape required to compress gas.
The spacer 22 has its outer periphery fixed to the closed container 1 by welding, thus partitioning the interior of the closed container 1 into a lower portion on which a gas pressure on the suction side acts and an upper portion on which a gas pressure on the compression side acts.
The closed container 1 further comprises a check valve 19 for preventing a reverse rotation of the orbiting scroll 2b when the scroll compressor is stopped; a check valve guide 24 for restricting an axial movement of the check valve 19; an Oldham ring 20 for preventing the orbiting scroll 2b from rotating about its own axis but allowing it to undergo circular translation with respect to the stationary scroll 2a; and a suction port 21, defined in the bearing member 4, for supplying the compression mechanism 2 with low-pressure gas.
The operation of the compression mechanism 2 having the above-described construction will now be described below. The low-pressure gas is returned into the closed container 1 from the gas-sucking pipe 11 and draw into the compression mechanism 2. The orbiting scroll 2b undergoes circular translation with respect to the stationary scroll 2a, thus allowing the compression mechanism 2 to compress the gas drawn thereinto. Consequently, the pressure of the gas rises and enters the exhaust chamber 15. Then, the gas is discharged to the outside of the closed container 1 from the exhaust pipe 16. Low-pressure gas is introduced into the closed container 1 again and circulated therein, thereby completing a single cycle of compression well known to those skilled in the art.
On the other hand, the lubricating oil 9 sucked up by the oil guide 14 moves upward through the through-hole 13 in the crankshaft 5 to lubricate and cool the auxiliary bearing 23, the eccentric bearing 6, the thrust bearing 3, and the main bearing 8. Thereafter, the lubricating oil 9 is exhausted from the oil exhaust port 12 to an upper portion of the stator 7b and, then, returns to the oil reservoir 10 via a cut-out portion 18 of the stator 7b, thereby completing a lubricating cycle.
In order to manufacture a scroll compressor that is highly reliable, highly efficient, and inexpensive, it is important not only to use light component parts, but also select configurations of the component parts appropriate to forces which would act thereon during the use of the scroll compressor. Also, in order to manufacture the scroll compressor having a high efficiency, it is important to configure the wrap elements with high precision. In this respect, the number of processes required to manufacture a desired involute configuration affects the cost of the scroll compressor. Thus, it is necessary to process the wrap elements having a highly precise involute configuration with a high efficiency. In processing the wrap elements, particularly the wrap element of the stationary scroll 2a, the material thereof has a great influence on the process efficiency and process precision of the scroll compressor. Thus, it can be safely said that whether or not a scroll compressor which is inexpensive and highly efficient can be manufactured depends on the selection of the material of the wrap element of the stationary scroll 2a. A material which can be readily processed into the wrap element is costly. Also, in applications where readily processable eutectic graphite cast iron is used for the wrap element, it is difficult to configure the raw material into a desired configuration and, hence, a quantity of raw material more than necessary is required. Thus, the manufacture of an inexpensive scroll compressor cannot be expected.
In the case of the conventional scroll compressor, the stationary scroll comprises the frame for fixing the stationary scroll to the bearing member and to the spacer; and the wrap element having an involute shape required to compress gas. It is to be noted that the frame and the wrap element are integrally formed with each other. Mostly, the stationary scroll is made of cast iron. Formation of the stationary scroll having a complicated configuration causes the cost of the scroll compressor to be high. The selection of an inexpensive casting method necessitates preparation of a thick material, which leads to the formation of a thick stationary scroll. Consequently, the manufacturing cost becomes high due to the weight increase of the stationary scroll, the rise of a material cost, and the increase in machining allowance.
In the case of the conventional scroll compressor, the bearing member supporting the orbiting scroll via the thrust bearing, the spacer, and the stationary scroll are fastened to each other by means of bolts. During the operation of the compressor, force is applied to the stationary scroll and the orbiting scroll in the direction in which both scrolls move away from each other, due to the influence of compressed gas. Consequently, the compressed gas leaks, lowering the efficiency of the scroll compressor. In order to prevent this, a tip seal is provided at the leading end of each scroll. As a result, the manufacturing cost rises owing to the rise of material cost caused by the increase of the number of parts or owing to the increase of portions to be processed and assembled. Thus, the conventional art is incapable of manufacturing an inexpensive scroll compressor.
In addition, the compressed gas having a high temperature and pressure is exhausted to the periphery of the stationary scroll. Thus, the stationary scroll conducts heat from the compressed high-temperature gas, thus heating low-temperature gas introduced into the closed container and gas being compressed by the compression mechanism. Consequently, the efficiency of the scroll compressor is lowered, resulting in a reduction in volumetric efficiency.
The compressed gas having a high pressure flows backward toward the compressed gas having a low pressure when the compressor is stopped. Therefore, a check valve is required to minimize the period of time in which the orbiting scroll and the crankshaft rotate in reverse. It is important to shorten the period of time in which the orbiting scroll and the crankshaft rotate in reverse, so that the scroll compressor is reliable. To this end, it is necessary to dispose the check valve close to the compression mechanism so as to reduce the volume of high-pressure gas flowing backward. In the conventional compressor, the check valve is disposed immediately above the exhaust port of the stationary scroll. Thus, the check valve guide is required to prevent the check valve from being dislocated.

Scroll compressor having a separate stationary wrap element secured to a frame

Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.


A system for determining the normal operating value of at least one type of power plant data corresponding to the presently operating step of an operating plant first determines the present operation step of the plant, such as a nuclear power plant, by detecting at least one type of plant data, such as the reactor power, and then determines the normal value of at least one type of plant data, such as the main stream flow, the feedwater flow or the generator power in response to the presently determined operation step of the plant.

The present invention relates to a system for determining normal operating values of plant data which sequentially change in the transient operational mode, for example, during the start-up or shut-down operation of a plant.
In order to determine whether or not a plant is operating normally, it is a required task for the plant operator to compare the present values of main plant data with their normal operating values. Especially, such a determination is important during any transient operational mode of the plant, since the plant status sometimes becomes unstable at such times.
In the transient operational mode, the values of the main plant data change broadly. For example, during the start-up operation of a nuclear power plant, plant data such as the reactor pressure, the reactor power, the main steam flow, and the feedwater flow are known to change in a range from 0 to 100 percent. Therefore, the operator of the plant must determine the normal values of plant data in response to the present plant status before making a comparison between the present values and the normal values. The normal value corresponds to a plant data operating value of the plant when the plant is properly operating during an operating step thereof. Even for the experienced operator, great effort and skill are required to determine the normal values of the plant data which are changing over such a wide range of values during the transient operational mode.
It is possible to determine the normal values of plant data by repeatedly analyzing the dynamic characteristic of the plant. However, such a method consumes considerable time and requires the use of rather complicated apparatus. It is, therefore, generally undesirable.

System for determining the normal operating value of power plant data


A porous material having a top surface and a bottom surface, and a dye applied to the bottom surface of the porous material. The dye is soluble in a volatile imaging liquid contained in a suitable marker, such that when the volatile liquid contacts the top surface of the porous media, the volatile liquid penetrates the porous media, dissolves at least some of the dye to provide a dye solution with at least some of the dye solution migrating to the top surface, and evaporates leaving a permanently visible mark of dye residue on the top surface of the porous material.

Colorless volatile imaging liquids have been used for some time to develop a temporary image which then disappears when the imaging fluid evaporates. Volatile imaging liquids thereby permit the substrate to be used over and over again. In the bingo industry it is desirable that the volatile imaging liquid evaporate in less than four hours so that the bingo cards are ready to be played again.
One method of developing a temporary image is by using transparentizing fluids which fill microvoids in a substrate or substrate coating material. Reusable sheet materials using a micro-porous layer and a transparentizing fluid are discussed in a number of patents. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,299,880 to Arens discloses a microvoid-containing sheet material that is capable of displaying indicia when contacted with the appropriate colorless volatizing liquid and which is sufficiently durable that it cannot readily be transparentized by the application of heat or pressure. At least one surface of the reusable sheet material is coated with an opaque microporous layer comprising particles having a refractive index in the range of about 1.3 to 2.2, preferably about 1.4 to 1.8. The particles are incorporated in a binder which has a refractive index in the same range as the particles, interconnected microvoids being present throughout the layer and being open to the exposed surface of the sheet material. When liquid having a refractive index approximating that of the particles and the binder is applied to the microporous surface layer, the liquid penetrates the microvoids in the layer, thereby reducing its reflectivity in the intermediate vicinity of such penetration, imparting transparency and visually exposing the underlying surface of the base. Other examples of the use of transparentizing fluids and microporous sheet materials are discussed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,418,098; 4,729,687; 4,428,321; and 4,877,253.
Such microporous sheets are particularly attractive for use with reusable bingo cards as evidenced by U.S. Pat. No. 4,877,253. The bingo industry has substantially replaced markers that can be accidentally moved, such as chips, with colored ink markers. Applicators used to form these markers are commonly referred to as "dabbers", "markers" or "daubers". Dabbers that apply permanent colored ink are messy and lead to substantial waste since the card can be used only once. Alternately, the dabbers can be used to dispense a clear, volatile imaging liquid which forms a temporary marking image by imparting a transparentizing effect appearance when applied to the top surface of a microporous sheet bingo card. When the imaging liquid evaporates the bingo card returns to its normal appearance so that it can be used several times.
However, it is still a fairly common practice in bingo parlors today to provide players with conventional bingo cards or "tear opens" which are meant to be permanently marked and as such these cards are often permanently marked using a traditional colored ink marker and thus are good for only one game. Alternatively, U.S. Pat. No. 3,826,499 discloses an invisible printing ink which leaves a permanent mark on a bingo card when the invisible ink is chemically reacted with a marking pen. The invisible ink is a suitable acid or base material which is applied to the top surface of the bingo card and when the marking pen is applied the ink changes color via a chemical reaction and becomes visible.
Because games requiring a permanent image are often played concurrently with games using the more modern bingo cards in combination with a volatile liquid marking dabber, there is a substantial inconvenience and expense in having to use two different marking dabbers. It is therefore desirable to provide a marking system whereby a single marker may be used to form a temporary mark on one substrate, and a permanent mark on a second substrate.

Article for use in forming a permanent image using a temporary marker

Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company


A corrosion resistant electrode structure for interconnecting a decoupling capacitor to a substrate is disclosed. In an exemplary embodiment of the invention, the electrode structure includes a first chromium layer formed upon the capacitor and a first nickel layer formed upon the first chromium layer. A noble metal conductive layer is then formed upon the first nickel layer and a second nickel layer is formed upon said noble metal conductive layer. The second nickel layer has a thickness which is greater than a thickness of the first nickel layer. A second chromium layer is then formed upon the nickel layer.

The present invention relates generally to integrated circuit devices and, more particularly, to a corrosion-resistant electrode structure for integrated circuit decoupling capacitors used in non-hermetic environments.
As ultra large-scale integrated (ULSI) circuits have continued to evolve, they have become more complex with respect to switching more and more output driver circuits at higher and higher speeds. In addition, an increase in the use of parallel processing has resulted in the design of integrated circuits with a high number of driver circuits to switch simultaneously at fast transition speeds and high currents. Since the effective inductance of semiconductor chips for these active switching circuits is directly related to the amount of power distribution noise, the driver circuit power connections are particularly sensitive to the noise created by the effective inductance inherent in simultaneous switching activity.
This effective inductance can be lowered by connecting decoupling capacitors in proximity to an integrated circuit (IC). Since inductance is a function of current path length, the shorter the current path, the lower the inductance. High inductance, which yields higher supply noise in semiconductor packages, reduces the performance of ICs. Decoupling capacitors placed close to power consuming circuits are able to smooth out voltage variation with a stored charge thereon. The stored charge may be dissipated, or may also be used as a local power supply to device inputs during signal switching stages, thereby allowing the decoupling capacitor to negate the effects of voltage noise induced into the system by parasitic inductance.
Decoupling capacitors have been provided as discrete components on integrated circuit chip carriers (i.e., modules which carry either single or multiple IC chips). Such decoupling capacitors provided xe2x80x9coff chipxe2x80x9d arc typically mounted upon a packaging substrate by means of solder ball pads (also known in the art as C4 technology) formed upon the electrode interconnect metallurgy of the capacitor body. Typically, this interconnect metallurgy includes a copper layer to provide sufficient electrical conductivity between the capacitor and the substrate. Although copper is a suitable conductive metal for a decoupling capacitor electrode structure in a hermetic environment, there are also applications in which IC modules are operated in non-hermetic environments. In this case, the metallurgy (i.e., copper) of a conventional electrode structure is subject to corrosive effects and, accordingly, structural weakening of the interconnection between the capacitor and the substrate.
The above discussed and other drawbacks and deficiencies of the prior art are overcome or alleviated by an electrode structure for interconnecting a decoupling capacitor to a substrate. In an exemplary embodiment of the invention, the electrode structure includes a first chromium layer formed upon the capacitor and a first nickel layer formed upon the first chromium layer. A noble metal conductive layer is then formed upon the first nickel layer and a second nickel layer is formed upon said noble metal conductive layer. The second nickel layer has a thickness which is greater than a thickness of the first nickel layer. A second chromium layer is then formed upon the nickel layer.
In a preferred embodiment, the noble metal conductive layer is a gold layer which is about 2,500 xc3x85 in thickness. The first and second chromium layers are each about 1,500 xc3x85 in thickness. The first nickel layer is about 1,000 xc3x85 in thickness, and the second nickel layer is at least 5,000 xc3x85 in thickness, and preferably is about 6,000 xc3x85 in thickness.

Corrosion-resistant electrode structure for integrated circuit decoupling capacitors

International Business Machines Corporation


Selection of a suitable call-center agent (106-108) to handle a call is based on which available suitable agent's handling of the call will tend to optimize call wait times. When a call needing a particular skill becomes available (200), all skills of agents in the agent queue (131-139) corresponding to the particular skill are determined (202, 204). The agent queues corresponding to the determined skills are checked (206) to determine which ones identify only one agent. For each available agent having the particular skill, the number of agent queues which identify this agent as their only agent is computed (208). The available agent having the lowest computed number is selected (210) to handle the call. This minimizes the number of skills that will be left without an available agent to handle subsequent calls, and thus tends to maximize the probability that a next call will also have a suitable agent already available and not have to wait for one to become available, thereby optimizing call wait times.

ACD systems distribute calls--whether inbound or outbound--for handling to any suitable ones of available call-handling agents according to some predefined criteria. In many existing systems, such as the Lucent Technologies Definity.RTM. ACD system, the criteria for handling the call from the moment that the ACD system becomes aware of the call until the call is connected to an agent are customer specifiable (i.e., programmable by the operator of the ACD system) via a capability called call vectoring. Normally in present-day ACD systems, when the ACD system's controller detects that an agent has become available to handle a call, the controller identifies all predefined call-handling skills of the agent (usually in some order of priority) and delivers to the agent the highest-priority oldest-waiting call that matches the agent's highest-priority skill. Generally the only condition that results in a call not being delivered to an available agent is that there are no calls matching any of the agent skills waiting to be handled.
When a plurality of agents are available to handle a call, any one of a number of agent-selection algorithms are presently employed to select one of the available agents. "Uniform call distribution", "most idle agent", and "least occupied agent" algorithms seek to optimize agent fairness. And an "expert agent distribution" algorithm seeks to optimize quality of service. None of these algorithms, however, attempt to select an available agent in such a way that maximizes probability that a next (future) call will also find a suitable agent already available and not have to wait for one to become available.

Call center agent selection that optimizes call wait times


In a deformation detection method for a sealed-type rechargeable battery 1 in which an electrode group 22, which is formed by stacking a positive electrode 23 and a negative electrode 24 with a separator 25 interposed therebetween, is accommodated in a sealed outer casing 21, a polymer matrix layer 3 is attached to an outer surface of a wall portion 28a of the outer casing 21 that faces the electrode group 22 in a thickness direction of the positive electrode 23 and the negative electrode 24 or in a direction perpendicular to the thickness direction. The polymer matrix layer 3 contains a filler that is dispersed therein and that changes an external field in response to deformation of the polymer matrix layer 3. Change in the external field accompanying the deformation of the polymer matrix layer 3 is detected by a detection unit 4.

In recent years, a sealed-type rechargeable battery (which may be hereinafter simply referred to as "rechargeable battery") represented by a lithium ion rechargeable battery is used as a power source not only for a mobile apparatus such as a portable phone or a notebook personal computer but also for an electrically driven vehicle such as an electric automobile or a hybrid car. A cell constituting the rechargeable battery has a structure in which an electrode group is accommodated in an inside of a sealed outer casing, and the electrode group is constructed by winding or stacking a positive electrode and a negative electrode with a separator interposed therebetween. For example, a laminate film such as an aluminum laminate foil is used as the outer casing.
For use that requires a high voltage such as in a power source for electrically driven vehicles, the rechargeable battery is used in a mode of a battery module including a plurality of cells. In the battery module, the plurality of cells constitute an assembled battery in which the cells are connected, for example, two in parallel by two in series, and are accommodated in a case. Generally, the battery module mounted in vehicles is used in a mode of a battery pack. In the battery pack, a plurality of battery modules is connected in series and is accommodated in a case together with various apparatuses such as a controller. The case of the battery pack is formed to have a shape suitable for mounting in a vehicle, for example, a shape that conforms to the underfloor shape of the vehicle.
the rechargeable battery has a problem that, when the electrolytic solution is decomposed due to overcharging or the like, the cell swells to be deformed in accordance with rise in the internal pressure caused by the decomposition gas and, unless the charging current or the discharging current is stopped, this results in rupture of the rechargeable battery. Therefore, in order to prevent troubles, it is important to detect deformation of the rechargeable battery with a high degree of sensitivity so that the charging current or the discharging current can be stopped at appropriate times. Furthermore, in the rechargeable battery during the charging or discharging, the electrode group expands or contracts by change in volume of the active substance, so that a technique capable of detection at a high precision by distinguishing between the swelling accompanying such charging or discharging and the swelling accompanying the gas generation is desired.
Patent Document 1 discloses a method in which, by using a strain gauge provided on a wall surface of a battery case, the swelling of the battery case is detected. However, the sensitivity region of such a strain gauge is comparatively narrow. Also, to the swelling accompanying the gas generation (which may hereafter be referred to as "gas swelling") that increases with time, the swelling accompanying the charging or discharging (which may hereafter be referred to as "electrode swelling"), which is a smaller deformation than the gas swelling, is added. Therefore, it seems impossible to detect with a high precision by distinguishing between these swellings with the strain gauge.
Patent Document 2 discloses an apparatus in which, with respect to two or more thin-type batteries included in an assembled battery, a magnetic force generated by an electric current that flows through a bus bar in which the respective terminals thereof having the same polarity are connected is detected, and an abnormality is detected based on the detected magnetic force. However, in this method, the swelling of the thin-type batteries is not directly detected, thereby raising a fear that the sensitivity may be insufficient in detecting deformation of the rechargeable battery caused by swelling of the cells.
Patent Document 3 discloses a system in which, with respect to a side surface of a cell case that faces in a stacking direction of a stacked body of electrodes and a side surface of the cell case that faces in a direction perpendicular to the stacking direction, inter-axial distances between these two side surfaces and a wall surface of an accommodating case or the like are respectively detected, and an internal-pressure abnormality of the cells is detected based on the both detection results. However, in order to detect these inter-axial distances, a plurality of piezoelectric elements must be provided for one cell case, thereby unavoidably making the structure complex.

Deformation detection method for a sealed-type rechargeable battery and sealed-type rechargeable battery


Solid divalent silver oxide is reacted in hot aqueous alkaline reaction medium with a solid bismuth component and a reducing agent. The reaction product comprises a novel compound containing silver, bismuth, and oxygen, which is used in making cathode pellets for use in alkaline electrochemical cells. The cells exhibit low internal impedance and substantially single voltage discharge characteristic of monovalent silver oxide while retaining a significant portion of the coulombic capacity a of divalent silver cathode, without toxicity problems attendant cathodes containing lead and/or cadmium.

It is well known in the art of electrochemical cells to provide a cell having a cathode of divalent silver oxide (AgO). When associated with a suitable anode, e.g., zinc and a suitable electrolyte, e.g., aqueous sodium hydroxide containing or saturated with zinc oxide, this material provides a cell of relatively high coulometric capacity per unit volume, and desired voltage.
The art is also aware that AgO, by itself, has certain deficiencies as a cathode material. For example, in storage and between periods of use, AgO in contact with cell electrolyte can decompose, releasing gaseous oxygen, thus simultaneously increasing pressure inside a sealed cell and reducing coulometric capacity. Furthermore, AgO provides dual voltage when electrolytically discharged. Initially upon discharge, AgO provides an undesirably high voltage characteristic of the AgO .fwdarw.Ag.sub.2 O reaction and thereafter provides a lower, desirable voltage characteristic of the Ag.sub.2 O.fwdarw.Ag reaction. Still further, a cell employing unmodified AgO as a cathode may be characterized by a changing internal resistance, namely an internal resistance which increases with time, both at room temperature and at elevated temperatures. Heretofore, numerous disclosures have been made which suggest methods of treating one or more of these problems, including:
______________________________________ Country Patent No. Inventor/Applicant Issued ______________________________________ Japan 78/63542 Murakami et al 1978 USA 3,017,448 Cahan 1962 USA 4,015,056 Megahed et al 1977 USA 4,078,127 Megahed et al 1978 USA 4,835,077 Megahed et al 1989 ______________________________________
The Murakami et al disclosure appears to be similar to that of Cahan in U.S. Pat No. 3,017,448. Both Cahan and Murakami et al disclose that the gassing of AgO can be inhibited by treating AgO with lead or lead component. Cahan discloses Pb, PbO, Pb(OH).sub.2 and sodium plumbate as materials suitable for addition to an AgO electrode or treatment of an AgO electrode, while Murakami et al teaches treating AgO with an alkaline solution containing a plumbate ion. Cahan specifically discloses that use of his treatment enhances or extends the duration of cell discharge at the undesirably high voltage characteristic of the AgO.fwdarw.Ag.sub.2 O reaction. Thus, even though Cahan tended to solve the gassing problem associated with use of AgO cathodes, the solution exacerbated the afore-stated dual voltage problem.
Megahed et al, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,078,127 ("Megahed I"), claims the use of metallic sulfide additives, incorporated into the AgO cathode material by dry mixing metallic sulfides and AgO. Specifically, Megahed I teaches that sulfides of cadmium, calcium, mercury, tin, tungsten, (or mixtures thereof) included in the cathode mixture, inhibit AgO gassing. Megahed I discloses that some of the sulfides, when included in the cathode mix, reduce cell impedance both initially and during discharge. Further, Megahed I discloses that cadmium sulfide is effective as a sulfide additive under the conditions of mix preparation prescribed therein. However, under the conditions so prescribed, Megahed I discloses that AgO cathode mixes which contain up to 3% lead sulfide are not beneficial to the stability of such AgO electrochemical cells, since such cathode mixes were detrimental to the impedance of cells upon high temperature storage. Moreover, Megahed I, while stating "cadmium sulfide was found to improve the voltage stability of cells . . . ", does not disclose, much less claim, that cadmium sulfide additives yield cells with a single voltage discharge under low drain conditions.
Megahed et al, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,015,056 ("Megahed II"), herein incorporated by reference, discloses and claims a two-step process which yields an AgO cathodic material having a single voltage discharge. In the first step, an AgO pellet is treated with a mild reducing agent, such as methanol to form a thin outer layer of Ag.sub.2 O on the surface of the pellet. Then, after consolidation, the pellet is treated with a strong reducing agent such as hydrazine, to form a silver layer on the pellet surface which faces the typical internal plastic membrane. Cells containing such cathodes display the OCV and CCV values typical of the Ag.sub.2 O--Zn electrochemical cell system, apparently controlled by the thin outer layer comprising monovalent silver oxide and/or elemental silver. However, with time, such cells develop a relatively high internal impedance and high open circuit voltage (OCV).
U.S. Pat. No. 4,835,077 to Megahed et al ("Megahed III"), herein incorporated by reference, suggests reacting divalent silver oxide with powdered lead sulfide in hot alkaline solution; whereby the resulting particles are taught to have an interior comprising AgO, a thin outer layer comprising silver and lead, and a thin intermediate layer of Ag.sub.2 O. It appears that the two outer layers are formed concurrently during the reaction process carried out in hot alkaline reaction medium. The resulting cell appears to have the desired voltage characteristic of monovalent silver oxide, while having a constant low internal impedance.
In addition to the above listed references, there are other references pertaining to the properties, formation and stability of AgO. "Electrode Phenomena of Silver-Silver Oxide System in Alkaline Batteries" by Yoshizawa and Takehara published in the Journal of the Electrochemical Society of Japan, Volume 31, Number 3, pages 91-94 (1963) reports the effect of various metallic additives on the oxidation of silver electrodes. Among the additives suggested, gold was reported to increase the rate of formation of divalent silver oxide during the electrochemical formation of silver electrodes, e.g. oxidation of silver.
Another article entitled "The Electric Resistivity of Silver Oxide" by Tvarusko published in the Journal of the Electrochemical Society, Volume 115, Number 11, pages 1105-1110 (November, 1968) reported on various metallic additives and their effect on the electric resistivity of divalent silver oxide. The article reports that mercury and lead added during the preparation of silver oxide decreased the electric resistivity of silver oxide. The article further confirms the disclosure of Cahan in U.S. Pat. No. 3,017,448, that using lead in an AgO cathode extends the time during discharge at which the cell exhibits the undesirably high voltage characteristic of the AgO.fwdarw.Ag.sub.2 O reaction.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,617,384 to Kamai et al discloses a secondary zinc alkaline cell in which gold or silver, their alloys, oxides and hydroxides, may be added to a zinc anode.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,650,832 to Tvarusko discloses additives for divalent silver oxide selected from mercury, selenium, tellurium, and combinations of mercury, with tin or lead.
Japan Patent Application No. 48-1929, opened in 1973, discloses adding gold hydroxide to the electrolyte of an alkaline silver oxide cell.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,853,623 to Davis discloses gold ion additive for divalent silver oxide cathode material.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,936,026 to Howard discloses, as cathode materials, mixtures of divalent silver oxide with (i) sulfur and (ii) silver sulfide.
British Patent 1,065,059 discloses the addition of cadmium oxide, magnesium oxide, or aluminum oxide to a silver electrode.
While Megahed III does provide a stable, single voltage, AgO cathode material having low impedance throughout discharge, by incorporating lead additives into the cathode material, the toxicity and ultimate disposal of the lead compounds used therein are of concern.
It is an object of this invention to provide an AgO cathode material similar to that of Megahed III, and producing equivalent electrochemical properties, but without the toxicity concerns which attend the use of lead.
It is another object to provide such an AgO cathode material having low impedance.
Still another object is to provide a low-toxicity AgO cathode material which can be used to make an electrochemical cell which is thermally stable, has low internal impedance, and displays a single voltage discharge at even low drains, over at least 95% of the cell discharge capacity.
Yet another object is to provide an alkaline electrochemical cell having low toxicity, substantially single voltage discharge, and low impedance.
Another object is to provide a method of producing a cathode material wherein the cathode material is a reaction product of divalent silver oxide and a bismuth compound, and wherein the reaction product comprises a compound of silver, bismuth, and oxygen.


A method of and apparatus for depositing a silicon oxide layer onto a wafer or substrate is provided. The present method includes introducing into a processing chamber a process gas including silicon, oxygen, boron, phosphorus and germanium to form a germanium doped BPSG oxide layer having a reflow temperature of less than 800.degree. C. Preferred embodiments of the present method are performed in either a subatmospheric CVD or a plasma enhanced CVD processing apparatus.

The present invention relates to the processing of semiconductor wafers. More particularly, the present invention relates to a germanium-doped boron phosphorus silicate glass layer formed over a semiconductor substrate and an improved method of forming the same. The present invention is particularly useful as a premetal dielectric layer but may also be applied to the formation of internal dielectric layers, passivation layers, and the like.
Silicon oxide is widely used as an insulating layer in the manufacture of semiconductor devices. A silicon oxide film can be deposited by thermal chemical vapor deposition (CVD) or plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) processes from a reaction of silane (SiH.sub.4), tetraethoxysilane (Si(OC.sub.2 H.sub.5).sub.4), hereinafter referred to as "TEOS," or a similar silicon containing source with an oxygen containing source such as O.sub.2, ozone (O.sub.3), or the like.
One particular use for a silicon oxide film is as a separation layer between the polysilicon gate/interconnect layer and the first metal layer of MOS transistors. Such separation layers are referred to as premetal dielectric (PMD) layers because they are typically deposited before any of the metal layers in a multilevel metal structure. In addition to having a low dielectric constant, low stress and good adhesion properties, it is important for PMD layers to have good planarization characteristics.
When used as a PMD layer, the silicon oxide film is deposited over a lower level polysilicon gate/interconnect layer that usually contains raised or stepped surfaces. The initially deposited film generally conforms to the topography of the poly layer and is typically planarized or flattened before an overlying metal layer is deposited. A standard reflow process, in which the oxide film is heated to a temperature at which it flows, may be employed to planarize the film. Alternatively, a chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) or etching technique may be used.
Because of its low dielectric constant, low stress, good adhesion properties and relatively low reflow temperature, boron phosphorus silicate glass (BPSG) is one silicon oxide film that has found particular applicability in PMD layers. Standard BPSG films are formed by introducing a phosphorus containing source and a boron containing source into a processing chamber along with the silicon and oxygen containing sources normally required to form a silicon oxide layer. Examples of phosphorus containing sources include triethylphosphate (TEPO), triethylphosphite (TEP.sub.i), trimethylphosphate (TMOP), trimethylphosphite (TMP.sub.i), and similar compounds. Examples of boron containing sources include triethylborate (TEB), trimethylborate (TMB), and similar compounds.
Standard BPSG films have between a 3-5 weight percent (wt %) boron concentration and 3-6 wt % phosphorus concentration. At these concentration levels, the reflow temperature of known BPSG films is generally between about 800.degree.-900.degree. C.
Semiconductor integrated circuits currently being manufactured follow ultra high density (0.5 micron) design rules and circuits manufactured in the near future will follow even smaller design rules. At such small feature sizes, it becomes critical in some processes that reflow of PMD layers and other process steps be maintained at below 800.degree. C. to maintain shallow junctions and prevent the degradation of self-aligned titanium silicide contact structures.
BPSG films can be produced to flow at below 800.degree. C. by increasing the, concentration level of boron to 5% or above. At such increased boron concentration levels, however, the stability of the BPSG layer is adversely affected. Of course methods other than reflow, such as chemical mechanical polishing or etching, can also be used to planarize PMD oxide layers as appropriate.
From the above it can be seen that there is a need for a dielectric layer and method of forming such a layer, that has a low dielectric constant, high stability, low stress, good adhesion, and other characteristics sufficient for use as a PMD layer, that can be reflowed at a temperature of 800.degree. C. or below.
Thermal processes have been proposed in which germanium is added to a BPSG layer to lower the layer's reflow temperature. Such processes include low pressure chemical vapor deposition (LPCVD) and atmospheric chemical vapor deposition (APCVD) methods. In both processes, the use of TEP.sub.i as the phosphorus source results in the formation of unstable P.sub.2 O.sub.3 bonds in the silicon oxide film thereby producing a film of relatively low stability. A further problem with both these proposed processes is that deposition rate of Ge-BPSG films deposited using either processes (APCVD and LPCVD) is relatively low thus adversely effecting wafer throughput.

Chemical vapor deposition reactor system and integrated circuit


A punching machine having a workpiece guidance system and a numeric control therefor, has one or more tool holders mounted upon the transverse rail of the guidance system, and a tool mounting assembly for receiving the punch and the die from the tool holder and securing them into position for punching of sheet metal and like workpieces. The workpiece guidance system effects the motion of the tool holder forwardly to bring the tools into the tool mounting positions, and the tools are then clamped in position. The guidance system is then moved rearwardly with the empty tool holder to a position where the punching operation can be conducted. Generally, the work table and the workpiece are moved forwardly with the workpiece guidance system during the tool changing operation, and a channel is provided in the lower portion of the frame and its worktable to permit movement of the tool holder and the die below the plane of the upper surface of the worktable. Multiple tool holders may be carried upon the transverse rail of the guidance system, or a single tool holder may be mounted at the end of the transverse rail and cooperate with adjacent tool storage devices to effect automatic exchange of tool holders and associated tool sets.

The present invention relates to punching machines using a punching tool set which consists of at least one punch and one die which can be readily changed by machine controlled movement of a holder containing them.
There are various versions of such punching machines which use tool holders providing interchangeable tool sets, but they are rather expensive. Processing a piece normally made of sheet metal in a modern plant requires the use of many punching tool sets for many applications, one after another. As soon as one punching tool set has finished its action, it is exchanged for another, and then a third, etc. When the workpiece has been fully processed, the operator starts punching the next workpiece, again with the first punching tool set.
To make it possible to change punching tool sets quickly, each one is conveniently placed in a tool holder. Each punching tool set consists of at least one punch and one die corresponding to the cross section of the punch. Many times there is also included a stripper. The tool holders are constructed so that the complete punching tool set can be inserted in the tool storage assembly of the punching machine. From this position, they are automatically moved to the mounting position for the individual punching tool parts and locked in place for use. After punching with a tool set is finished, it and its holder are taken out of the tool feeder after the locking devices holding the tools in operative position are unlocked. This set is moved to a position where it does not interfere with the punching, but where it can still be reached again quickly and safely.
As will be appreciated, it would be relatively time consuming and thereby expensive to take the tools out of the holder and to replace them with a new set of tools. For this reason, each tool set is kept with its own holder on a shelf or in a storage device. The holder can be given a grip for manual changing; however, to do this, one must reach into the machine work area and this is not permitted around running machines for technical and safety reasons. Each manual tool change thus requires shutting down the punching machine.
It is also known how to transport the holder from a main storage area by means of a tool changing device to the punching tool feeder and from there back to the place of storage. In this case, it is especially advantageous if the changing device automatically exchanges the finished tool set and its holder. Generally, such machines utilize a comparatively expensive and space-intensive design. Moreover, they require a special control, which, especially with automatic punching machines, must be coordinated with their work program. Therefore, it is not unusual for the cost of the automatic tool changing feature alone to amount to one-fourth to one-third of the total cost of the punching machine.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a novel punching machine in which tool feeding to, and removal from, the tool mounting assembly is effected by the workpiece guidance system.
It is also an object to provide such a machine in which the tool sets carried by the workpiece guidance system may be readily exchanged.
Another object is to provide such a machine in which the tool sets on the guidance system may be exchanged with tool sets in an auxiliary storage area by automatic action of the machine.
A further object is to provide such an automatic tool changing punching machine which is relatively low cost but which is reliable in operation.

Punch press utilizing workpiece guidance system to effect tool changing


Information processor 1 includes display unit 30 for displaying an interface screen having function execution key unit 23 indicating a prescribed function for each function type, and interface screen change key unit 22 for switching each function type; interface screen control unit 20 for controlling display switching of the screen on the display unit 30 in response to an input operation signal; interface screen operation history recording unit 110 for recording, as continuous operation information, operation time and operation contents of the function execution key unit 23 or interface screen change key unit 22 in response to the input operation signal; likelihood value providing unit 120 for calculating and adding, to each function the function execution key unit 23 indicates, a likelihood value indicating a degree of a user desire from the continuous operation information recorded; priority recognition word setting unit 130 for outputting word information corresponding to the function whose likelihood value is not less than a prescribed value; voice recognition unit 60 for recognizing input voice by referring to the word information; and function executing unit 70 for executing the function of the function execution key unit 23 operated via interface screen operating unit 40 or the function corresponding to the word passing through the voice recognition by the voice recognition unit 60.

Conventional information processors are configured in such a manner as to execute functions by displaying executable functions as numbers of function execution keys and by starting a program corresponding to the function execution key a user selects. Such an information processor displays function execution keys hierarchically in accordance with functions, and it is sometime difficult for a user to find a desired function execution key by only his or her operation input. In view of this, a configuration is disclosed which facilitates selection of a function execution key by voice recognition. For example, according to Patent Document 1, an information processor is configured in such a manner as to decide a word to be subjected to voice recognition preferentially according to the number of times of operations of a function execution key, and to carry out voice recognition by giving priority to a word corresponding to a function of a function execution key not displayed at present or to a function of a function execution key that are remote from the present operation position.


A hydraulic control apparatus for an automatic transmission, which is improved in accurately controlling a variation in torque generated when a shift lever is turned from an N range into a D range or R range by perfectly electronically controlling a hydraulic control system. The hydraulic control apparatus has a pressure governing means for governing a hydraulic pressure, which has been generated by a hydraulic pressure generating means of an automatic transmission and is to be supplied from a spool valve to a clutch, by an actuator, thereby suppressing a variation in output torque of the automatic transmission. The hydraulic pressure governed by the actuator is introduced into the spool valve again, and it is supplied to a forward clutch and a reverse clutch through a hydraulic line switching means for switching hydraulic lines communicated to the forward clutch and the reverse clutch from each other.

The present invention relates to an apparatus for controlling a hydraulic pressure used for speed change performed by an automatic transmission of an automobile, and particularly to a hydraulic control apparatus for an automatic transmission which is intended to directly control a hydraulic pressure to be supplied to a clutch on the basis of an electric signal.
The control apparatus of this type has been known, for example, from Nissan's maintenance guide titled "Full Range Electronically Controlled Automatic Transmission" issued by NISSAN MOTOR on March, 1987. In this control apparatus, an accumulator is disposed between a manual spool valve and a forward clutch and another accumulator is disposed between the above spool valve and a reverse clutch. Another known hydraulic control apparatus generates a variation in torque of an output shaft of an automatic transmission when the position of a shift lever of an automobile is changed between an N (Neutral) range and a D (Drive: forward) range or between the N range, and an R (Reverse) range is relaxed by mechanically and electrically controlling a line pressure introduced in the above spool valve. At the present time, the hydraulic control apparatus having such a structure has been extensively used for automobiles
The above-described known hydraulic control apparatus, however, is disadvantageous in that provision of two accumulators for forward and reverse clutches increases the size of a transmission using the control apparatus, and the accuracy of control for suppressing a variation in torque is deteriorated due to changes in mechanical components with time.
An object of the present invention is to provide a hydraulic control apparatus for an automatic transmission, which is improved in accurately suppressing a variation in torque generated when the position of a shift lever of an automobile is changed between an N range and a D range or between the N range and an R range and in preventing the accuracy of control for suppressing a variation in torque from being deteriorated due to changes of mechanical components with time, by adopting a control system using a perfectly electronic circuit in place of a control system using a hydraulic circuit.
To achieve the above object, according to the present invention, a hydraulic control apparatus for an automatic transmission having apparatus for generating a hydraulic pressure by driving a hydraulic pump using an engine drive force or an electric force; a spool valve automatically or manually driven by operation of a speed change lever; at least one clutch used for forward movement, reverse movement or speed change of a vehicle; a hydraulic control actuator for governing a hydraulic pressure applied to the clutch; and a control for the hydraulic control actuator. A pressure is provided for a hydraulic pressure which is supplied from the hydraulic pressure generating apparatus to the clutch through the spool valve, by the hydraulic control actuator to suppress a variation in output torque of the automatic transmission. In the above hydraulic control apparatus, preferably, the hydraulic pressure governed by the actuator is supplied to the forward clutch and the reverse clutch through a hydraulic line switching apparatus for switching hydraulic lines communicated to the forward clutch and the reverse clutch from each other.

Hydraulic control apparatus for an automatic transmission of a vehicle


A cup-shaped mold for the shaping and baking of bread or cookie dough comprises an upper cupped molding member and a lower, slightly larger, cupped molding member. Each molding member has a flange horizontally extending from its edge. When the molding members are placed together with the dough between them, thereby forming the dough into cup-shaped, the flanges are in continuous contact along their length. During heating of the mold for baking, a plurality of clamps press the flanges together at between 0.5 and 1 p.s.i. to prevent escape of the dough from the mold while allowing partial escape of moisture from the mold.

A number of inventions regarding the molding and baking of unleavening batter resulting in wafer-like confections such as ice cream cones and the like have been described in the prior art, e.g., McKibben, U.S. Pat. No. 1,794,238. Other inventions have dealt With the molding and baking of pie crusts, including Voelker, U.S. Pat. No. 2,829,057, Stutzner, U.S. Pat. No. 2,233,064, and Wing U.S. Pat. No. 987,525.
It has been found desirable to mold or form dough into different shapes which can be baked and marketed as novelty items and/or as substitutes for dishes. "Dough" as used herein means leavened or leavening doughs or batters. Many prior art apparatuses and techniques mold and bake dough of breads, cakes, cookies, and other baked goods into various shapes including containers which may be used to hold other foods. For example, Savage, U.S. Pat. No. 4,812,323, discloses a method for molding and baking cookie dough into a cupped shape which can then be used to hold ice cream or other confection. Brummett et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,367,243, discloses a method for preparing pizza crust. Turner, U.S. Pat. No. 3,296,956, discloses a molding and baking apparatus for the baking of bread dough into a cup-like shape. White, U.S. Pat. 1,487,906, discloses a pan for baking cake dough into a container shape for holding ice cream. Other prior art references of interest include Huth et al., U.S. Pat. No. 1,510,279, and Rateson, U.S. Pat. No. 1,274,349.
It has been found desirable to facilitate the partial escape of moisture from these apparatuses in order to develop a degree of porosity in the final baked product. At the same time, however, the dough must absorb some moisture to prevent excessive dehydration. It therefore becomes necessary to contain the dough at a pressure sufficient to limit the extent to which water is converted to steam, since the dough absorbs steam less easily than water, while allowing for a degree of conversion and escape. The dough must also be contained to prevent the escape of the dough itself due to its expansion during baking.
Some prior art systems, such as those disclosed in Turner and White, simply allow for the escape of gases without regard to the fact that dough will tend to escape by the same means. Huth and Rateson likewise do not attempt to prevent the escape of dough, but rather provide sharp edges on the perimeter of their baking containers which cut off the dough that does escape in order to form a visually pleasing final product. Savage does not deal with the problem at all. Brummett addresses the problem by providing a lower mold into which an upper mold tightly fits. The fit between the molds ideally is tight enough to prevent the escape of dough but not so tight as to prevent the partial escape of moisture from the apparatus. Though this apparatus is effective when the proper level of pressure between the molds is attained, taking into account cooking temperature, duration, and type of dough, it will be appreciated that the exact pressure exerted by the fit is difficult to determine, and that it is similarly difficult precisely to adjust the pressure pursuant to differing circumstances.
Savage discloses various advantages of differential heat application in these apparatuses, including uniform baking and gas dispersion

Apparatus and method for molding and baking dough


An adaptive timeshift service is described. In embodiment(s), television content can be distributed from a live content server to television client devices, and the television content that is distributed from the live content server can be recorded at a timeshift server. Recorded television content can then be distributed from the timeshift server when requested by a television client device. An additional timeshift server can be allocated, and both the television content from the live content server and the recorded television content from the timeshift server can be written to a buffer of the additional timeshift server.

Scheduled television programming can be recorded when initially distributed for viewing as a live broadcast, and can then be made available for on-demand viewing when requested via a media device, such as a television set-top box. This is commonly referred to as Network Digital Video Recording (nDVR) and a viewer can request the recorded television content, such as movies and television programs, when convenient for the viewer. In a television content distribution system, a live content server can distribute the television content to broadcast it for viewing, and a timeshift server can record the television content as it is being distributed.
Depending on the viewing demands and requests for recorded television content, new timeshift servers can be allocated as needed to meet the requests and viewing demands. When a new timeshift server is allocated, the television content is buffered as it is being broadcast for live viewing, and a buffer of the timeshift server has to be completely written with the broadcast television content before the timeshift server can be placed on-line to service the requests and viewing demands. A newly allocated timeshift server that provides a recording of the last seven days of recorded television content, for example, will not be available to service the increasing viewing demands for the seven days needed to write the buffer of the newly allocated timeshift server with the live television content as it is being distributed.


Techniques are present for designing of integrated circuits. Both custom design data and synthesized digital design data are received and merged into a design database in an automated process. The design database is then made accessible to layout tools so that the layout tools may operate upon it. These layout tools can include, but are not limited to, custom tools, digitals, or a combinations of these.

1. Field of Invention
This invention relates to the merging of integrated circuit design data from a custom design flow and from a synthesized digital design flow. Many steps are in the design flow for an integrated circuit. This invention facilitates the place and route step.
2. Description of Related Art
Designing a mixed-signal integrated circuits (IC) requires a complex design flow. At the center of the flow is the place and route (P&R) step where the layout of the IC is generated. From layout, a straightforward series of steps can be taken to move the IC into manufacturing. Prior to the P&R step, several teams are involved in generating the data required for P&R. There are two primary sources of data. There are data from a custom design flow. This data primarily consist of geometric, constraint, and parameterized cell information. Custom design data includes information on the placement and floorplanning of Intellectual Property (IP) blocks, pre-routing information on power and analog wires, and placement information of guard rings. This data is typically encoded in a database. There are also data from the system teams who write data for an automated synthesized digital design flow. This data primarily consists of full connectivity data, standard cell, and timing information. The connectivity data often begins in text formats and is encoded into the database using an automated tool. To complete P&R, data from these two sources must be merged at the database level into a consistent representation that the P&R tools understand. Further, as the design process continues and as the design data input changes, the merged data must be incrementally updated. An engineering change order (ECO) defines a requirement that changes the design data input.
The traditional approach to completing the layout for the IC is not to have a single merge step, but a series of translations, targeted to allow individual tools in the flow to operate. The translators include manual copy and paste operations and the use of targeted translators that operate on the text formats. These targeted translators typically translate only sufficient information to allow a particular tool to operate. The translations are typically incomplete. As a result, many translations have to occur to complete the flow. As ECOs occur throughout the design process, these translators are continually run. The end result is a process that is error prone, time consuming, and one that results in data loss.

System to merge custom and synthesized digital integrated circuit design data


A method for making a semiconductor memory cell having a storage capacitor disposed between metallization layers. Field and active regions and transistor circuit elements are formed on a substrate, on which is formed an insulating layer. A bit line is formed through a contact formed in the insulating layer. Another insulating layer is formed and a contact is formed to a word line and transistor and a primary metallization layer is formed of a refractory metal or metal compound. An oxide and an insulating layer are formed, and a buried contact to a source/drain region of a memory access transistor is formed to have an oxide side wall, and the storage electrode, dielectric and plate electrode are formed thereon. A secondary metallization layer may also be formed.

One of the conventional processes for formation of semiconductor memory cells is the process for formation of "COB" (capacitor over bit line) cells, an example of which is illustrated in FIG. 1. Such a COB cell is disclosed in "IEDM 90-655, 27.3.1 to 27.3.4".
FIGS. 1A, 1B and 1D are sectional views taken along line 1A--1A of FIG. 1F, and FIG. 1C is a sectional view taken along line 1C--1C of FIG. 1F.
Referring to FIG. 1A, rectangular active area 22 (see FIG. 1F) is formed by applying a polysilicon buffered LOCOS process, followed by formation of a gate oxide. Then, word line 3 is formed. After capacitor buried contact hole 51 is opened, local interconnects 5 are formed using polysilicon.
Then, as shown in FIG. 1B, after insulating layer 8 is deposited, a bit line contact is opened and filled with doped polysilicon plug 6. Tungsten polycide bit-line 7 is formed to run above the active areas.
FIG. 1C is a sectional view taken along line 1C--1C of FIG. 1F. As shown in FIG. 1C, insulating inter-layer 81 is formed on the bit line and is planarized.
After opening the capacitor contact, "HSG" (hemispherical grain) polysilicon storage electrode 9 is formed. HSG polysilicon storage node 9 is connected to the active area through the capacitor contact and local interconnect 5.
Then, as shown in FIG. 1D, a capacitor dielectric layer and capacitor plate electrode are formed. After insulating inter-layer 82 is deposited, primary metal wiring 55 is formed.
FIG. 1F illustrates the layout of the memory cell, and FIG. 1E is a perspective view of a part of the memory cell.
In the memory cell formed in the above described manner, the height of storage electrode 9 typically has to be over 4000.ANG. in order to obtain sufficient capacitance for each memory cell, and, therefore, a height difference exists between the memory cell and the surrounding portions before carrying out the primary metal wiring. As a result of the height difference, patterning errors are increased when carrying out subsequent processes (such as photo-lithographic and etch processes).

Process for forming a semiconductor device having a capacitor


A thin-film semiconductor device having a vertical TFT which includes a gate insulating film formed on a sidewall of a throughhole formed in an insulating layer; a thin-film semiconductor layer formed on the gate insulating film; and a gate electrode formed within the insulating layer. The gate electrode, the gate insulating film, and the thin-film semiconductor layer together form a lateral MOS structure. The thin-film semiconductor layer is connected to a bit line at the bottom of the throughhole and to a storage node of a capacitor formed over the switching transistor.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a thin-film semiconductor device and a method of fabricating the same. More particularly, the invention relates to a thin-film semiconductor device comprising memory cells each consisting of a capacitor and a switching transistor connected to the capacitor, wherein the switching transistor is a thin-film transistor (hereinafter abbreviated as TFT); and, to a method of fabricating such a thin-film semiconductor device.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In recent years, the capacity of memory that can be stored on a single chip of semiconductor has been increasing by a factor of four approximately every three years, and the memory cell size has been shrinking. However, as for the basic memory cell structure in dynamic random access memories (DRAMs), the same one-transistor and one-capacitor configuration initially employed in 4-kilobit DRAMs has been in use over eight generations, and are currently used in 64-megabit DRAMs. In the meantime, the capacitor structure has been changed from a planar type to a trench type and to a stacked type. The type of insulating film has also been changed from the initial silicon oxide film to the most recent ONO (silicon oxide-nitride-oxide) film. With respect to the switching transistor, however, the only way to cope with the miniaturization of memory cells has been to reduce the size of the MOSFET whose channel is formed in a singlecrystalline substrate.
An example of the above prior art semiconductor device will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawing. FIG. 5 shows a cross sectional view of a memory cell in a prior art stacked capacitor type DRAM. As shown in FIG. 5, the capacitor comprises charge storage electrodes (storage nodes) 31a and 31b, a fixed potential application electrode (cell plate) 32, and a dielectric film 33 sandwiched between the electrodes 31a, 31b, and 32. Charge is stored on the capacitor. A switching MOSFET 34 comprises such elements as an impurity diffusion regions (source/drain regions) 37 formed at the surface of an semiconductor substrate 80 and a word line 35 that acts as the gate electrode of the switching MOSFET 34. The word line 35 is covered with silicon oxide film 82. The switching MOSFET 34 and the capacitor are covered with a silicon oxide film 83. A bit line 36 for charging the capacitor is formed on the silicon oxide film 83 so as to contact one of the impurity diffusion regions 37.
In the above configured semiconductor device, the switching MOSFET 34 is turned on by applying a voltage to the gate electrode 35 thereof, which in turn causes charges stored in the storage nodes 31a, 31b to flow through the impurity diffusion regions 37 and a channel region of the switching MOSFET 34 to the bit line 36, thereby enabling the information to be written into and read out of the capacitor. (See, for example, T. Ema et at., "3-Dimensional Stacked Capacitor Cell for 16M and 64M DRAMs", IEDM Dig. of Tech. Papers (1988), p.592.)
Another three-dimensional transistor structure designed for higher packing density is a surrounding gate transistor (SGT) such as is shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B. In the SGT, a word line 35 and a cell plate electrode 32 are wound around a silicon pillar 71 (formed by etching a surface of a silicon substrate 80), thereby forming a vertical transistor 34 and a capacitor. The capacitor comprises a storage node 37b formed in the surface region of the silicon pillar 71, a dielectric film 33 formed on the storage node 37b, and the cell plate electrode 32 formed on the storage node 37b. (See, for example, K. Sunouchi et at., "A Surrounding Gate Transistor (SGT) Cell for 64/256 Mbit DRAMs", IEDM Dig. of Tech. Papers (1989), pp.23-26.) As is shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B, a bit line 36 is connected to an impurity diffusion region 37a at the upper end of the silicon pillar 71. According to the above configuration, the gate length of the switching MOSFET 34 can be determined by the height of the silicon pillar 71, independently of device miniaturization in lateral directions.
In terms of integration, one cell requires one word line, a 1/2 bit line, one storage electrode contact, and a 1/2 bit line contact; the areas of these elements plus the process margins determine the minimum cell size. Therefore, for further miniaturization, these areas must be further reduced. For cell miniaturization, it is also necessary to reduce the gate length of the switching MOSFET, that is, the word line width. This dimension cannot be determined by miniature processing techniques alone, but degradation in characteristics such as channel leakage currents and hot carriers must also be taken into consideration to determine this dimension.
In the above mentioned configuration of FIG. 5, the storage electrodes are coupled to the impurity diffusion regions 37 formed at the substrate surface and the substrate 80 is usually held at a negative potential of -2 to -3 Volts to prevent the substrate from becoming unstable due to the pulse operation of the transistor. As a result, there is a problem in that the junction leakage increases and occupies a dominant proportion in the total leakage of the cell capacitor, the junction leakage thus determining the retention characteristic of the capacitor. The prior art semiconductor device has the further problem that the minority carriers dissociated because of the alpha particles injected into the substrate 80 are collected by the storage electrodes 31a and 31b, thereby causing the capacitor to discharge and resulting in soft errors.
In the surrounding gate transistor (SGT) illustrated in FIGS. 7A and 7B, since the bit line contact can be formed on the upper end (the impurity diffusion region 37a) of the silicon pillar 71, there is no such problem as is described above in terms of integration. However, this structure cannot be used for a stacked capacitor cell. Furthermore, since the impurity diffusion region in the substrate is also used as the storage node 37b, the junction leakage and alpha particles present greater problems than in the case of the stacked capacity cell shown in FIG. 5.

Thin-film semiconductor device and method of fabricating the same


A removable data storage unit for an image capturing device. The data storage unit may be a film storage cylinder and the image capturing device may be a camera. An energy storage source is contained within a plastic film storage cylinder. The battery may be a rechargeable battery. The film storage cylinder includes a pair of electrical contacts, each of the pair being located at opposite ends of the cylinder and connected to a corresponding one of a pair of electrical contacts internally mounted within the film storage cylinder.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is related to cameras and, more particularly, to energy sources for use in cameras.
2. Background Description
Automatic film winding mechanisms in cameras and the like used, for example, in modern photographic equipment are normally battery powered. Batteries for these mechanisms are small, lightweight and expensive. Furthermore, disposing of spent such batteries creates pollution, especially from electrolytes contained therein which may leach into neighboring water sources.
Accordingly there is a need for easily recyclable batteries for film transport mechanisms.

Film storage including a recyclable battery


The present disclosure provides an array substrate, a method of manufacturing the same, a display panel and a display device. The array substrate comprises a plurality of gate lines and a plurality of data lines arranged to cross with each other and define a plurality of pixel areas, each of the pixel areas comprising a thin film transistor. The array substrate further comprises a first insulating layer arranged above the thin film transistors and the data lines; a metal layer arranged above the first insulating layer; a second insulating layer arranged above the metal layer; and a pixel electrode and a common electrode arranged above the second insulating layer, between which a third insulating layer is provided. The common electrode in each of the pixel areas at least comprises two slits and the metal layer overlies the data lines.

With the development of liquid crystal display technologies, a flat panel display has become a mainstream product in the field of displays in place of a cathode ray tube (CRT) display. At present, a commonly used flat panel display includes a liquid crystal display (LCD) and an organic light-emitting diode (OLED) display. During the process of imaging, each liquid crystal pixel point in the LCD display is integrated with a thin film transistor (TFT) for driving, which achieves image display in cooperation with a peripheral driving circuit.

Array substrate and method of manufacturing the same, display panel and display device


A display apparatus with an around-view monitor function includes a camera configured to acquire an image by capturing an image of a view around a vehicle, a memory configured to store the captured image, and a processor. The processor is configured to, based on the captured image of the view around the vehicle, fix a view point for the around-view monitor function, designate a viewing area at the fixed view point for the around-view monitor function, and generate a fixed around-view monitor image representing the viewing area at the fixed view point. The display apparatus also includes a display unit configured to display the fixed around-view monitor image.

A vehicle is an apparatus that moves a user in a direction in which he or she wants to go. A representative sample of the vehicle is a car.
For the convenience of a user who uses a vehicle, various sensors and electronic devices are typically included in the vehicle. In particular, various apparatuses for the driving convenience of a user are being developed.
With an increase in interest in self-driving vehicles, research on sensors for self-driving vehicles has been actively conducted. Sensors for self-driving vehicles include, as examples, a camera, an infrared sensor, a radar, a Global Positioning System (GPS), a Lidar, a gyroscope, etc. Among them, a camera may perform important functions as a sensor to detect objects or environmental conditions around a vehicle.

Display apparatus and vehicle including the same


A tetracyclic compound expressed by the following general formula (1) ##STR1##. wherein H.sub.1 to H.sub.12 represent hydrogen atom at least one of which is replaced by a halogen atom, when either H.sub.6 or H.sub.8 is replaced by a halogen atom, at least one of the remaining hydrogen atoms is replaced by a halogen atom; R.sub.1 and Y.sub.1 independently represent an alkyl group, alkoxy group, or alkoxyalkyl group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms, or an alkenyl group having 2 to 20 carbon atoms, one or more methylene group in R.sub.1 and Y.sub.1 may be replaced by oxygen atom, sulfur atom, dihydrosilylene group, dimethylsilylene group, --CH.dbd.CH--, or --C.tbd.C--; and X.sub.1, X.sub.2, and X.sub.3 independently represent a covalent bond, 1,2-ethylene group, or 1,4-butylene group; and a novel liquid crystal composition comprising the tetracyclic compound and having, at the same time, a wide temperature range of a nematic phase, high optical anisotropy, and high chemical stability.

Liquid crystal display devices utilize optical anisotropy and dielectric anisotropy of liquid crystalline compounds. As driving mode of the liquid crystal display devices, active matrix driving mode using a TFT has attracted most public attention since it has a high display capability.
While various properties are required of the liquid crystalline compounds used for the driving mode described above, the followings are generally considered to be necessary:
1) Liquid crystalline compounds have a wide temperature range of nematic phase to actualize a wide range of a driving temperature. Alternatively, the compounds do not reduce the temperature range of a nematic phase or they hardly cause phase separation such as formatin of crystals at a low temperature region when they are added in liquid crystal compositions.
2) Liquid crystalline compounds have a low viscosity to actualize a high response speed.
3) Liquid crystalline compounds have a high optical anisotropy.
In order to realize liquid crystal compositions having such properties as described above, a means has been adopted wherein liquid crystalline compounds having a low viscosity, very wide temperature range of a nematic phase, and particularly a high clearing point are used as base liquid crystal, and a proper amount of other liquid crystalline compounds having a distinctive optical anisotropy are mixed therewith to obtain desired properties.
In order to obtain liquid crystal compositions which can be driven at a wide temperature range, liquid crystalline compounds having a driving temperature range as wide as possible, that is, a S-N point or melting point as low as possible, a clearing point as high as possible, and a temperature range of a nematic phase as wide as possible are necessary.
Further, liquid crystal compositions are generally composed of a mixture of several or thirty-odd liquid crystalline compounds to exhibit properties required for particular display devices. Accordingly, liquid crystalline compounds are required to have a good miscibility with other liquid crystalline compounds. Since environment of their use extends over a wide area lately, good miscibility at low temperatures is especially required.
Namely, liquid crystal compositions are necessary to have a nematic phase especially at low temperatures for their use in a wide temperature range, and liquid crystal compositions which do not form crystals or do not exhibit a smectic phase are required. Accordingly, it is extremely important that liquid crystalline compounds to be used have a high miscibility at low temperatures with other liquid crystalline compounds.
Various tetracyclic compounds or four ring compounds have already been disclosed, for example, in Laid-open Japanese Patent Publication Nos. Hei 4-312,540 and Hei 4-356,432, aiming at the purposes of simultaneously satisfying the wide temperature range of a nematic phase, good miscibility, and large optical anisotropy described above. Besides, compounds expressed by the general formula of ##STR2##
are disclosed in Laid-open Japanese Patent Publication No. Sho 58-203,922 (JP '922) and the compounds expressed by the general formula of ##STR3##
are disclosed in Laid-open Japanese Patent Publication No. Hei 2-237,949 (JP '949), respectively.
Whereas the compounds of either publication exhibit a high optical anisotropy, ones of JP '922 are very poor in the miscibility and ones of JP '949 have a narrow temperature range of a nematic phase. In Mol. Cryst. Liq. Cryst., 1985, Vol. 123, pages 1-13, GB-A-2240 778, WO-A-91 08184, and GB-A-2 134 110, various tetracyclic compounds have been disclosed. However, these compounds are not satisfactory in their temperature range of nematic phase, clearing point, and miscibility with other liquid crystalline compounds. Accordingly, new liquid crystalline compounds having more excellent properties were long-awaited.
Liquid crystalline compounds used for liquid crystal compositions must be stable against outside environmental factors such as moisture, air, heat, and light. Particularly, the liquid crystal compositions designed for liquid crystal displays of active matrix mode which comprise integrated non-linear devices for switching individual image segments must have an extremely high specific resistance (a high voltage holding ratio) and good UV stability (UV resistance).
Liquid crystal display devices of active matrix mode are suitable for TV sets, computers, and instruments used in automobiles or airplanes all of which display a high degree of information. However, when liquid crystalline compounds or liquid crystal compositions which do not have an extremely high specific resistance (a high voltage holding ratio) and good UV stability are used, contrast decreases with decreasing of electric resistance within a liquid crystal panel, which causes a problem of "phenomenon of image sticking". Particularly, when the liquid crystal display devices are driven at low voltages, electric resistance of the liquid crystal compositions is an extremely important factor which controls utility life of the devices. Thus, an extremely high specific resistance (high voltage holding ratio) and good UV stability are very important properties required of liquid crystal compositions to be used.
In order to provide the liquid crystal compositions having excellent properties, new liquid crystalline compounds having a wider temperature range of a nematic phase, high miscibility with other liquid crystalline compounds at low temperatures, high chemical stability, and high optical anisotropy simultaneously were long-awaited.

Tetracyclic compound having lateral halogen substituent and liquid crystal composition comprising the same


A composition, particularly adapted for oral administration, containing omeprazole, and a method for preparing the composition, are disclosed. The composition, being exempt of alkaline-reacting compounds, contains a core constituted of nuclei and said benzimidazole, the nuclei and benzimidazole being compressed together, an intermediate layer, and an enteric layer.

This present invention relates to a novel composition containing an acid-labile benzimidazole, and to its preparation. This novel composition is perfectly suitable for oral administration. The invention also relates to a process for preparing this composition.
Many substances, of pharmaceutical value, that are labile in an acid medium have been described in the literature. The substances disclosed in the following patents can be given by way of example: EP 244 380, U.S. Pat. No. 4,045,563, EP-0 005 129, BE-898 880, GB-2 141 429, EP-0 146 370, GB-2 082 580, EP-A-0 173 664, EP-A-0 080 602, EP-0127 763, EP-0 134 400, EP-0 130 729, EP-0 150 586, DE-34 15971, GB-2 082 580, SE-A-8504048-3 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,182,766. On the other hand, omeprazole, which is of the family of benzimidazoles, corresponding to an anti-ulcer substance, used conventionally for decreasing gastrointestinal acid secretion, is well known and has been notably discussed in Swedish patent application 78.04231 filed on Apr. 14, 1978, as well as in numerous other patents. Pantoprazole and lansoprazole which both correspond to anti-ulcer substances of the omeprazole family, are notably discussed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,758,579 and in U.S. Pat. No. 4,628,098 respectively.
Chemical substances that are easily destroyed in an acid medium (which is expressed herein by the term "acid-labile" and meaning chemical substances that are labile in an acid medium), such as benzimidazoles and, in particular, omeprazole, lansoprazole and pantoprazole, create a special problem for formulators when it is required to provide a pharmaceutical form designed for oral administration. The product does indeed come into contact with the stomach content, which is a highly acid medium, leading to breakdown of these chemical substances.
In order to avoid contact between the substances and the acid gastric juice following oral administration of the substance, a pharmaceutical formulation is conventionally used, such as a capsule or tablet which contains a core (tablet, microgranule, pellet, etc . . . ) containing the acid-labile active substance and an outer layer that surrounds this core and which consists of a gastro-resistant composition that is entero-soluble. Generally, the coating agent is a compound that is particularly insoluble in an acid medium, but which is soluble in a neutral or alkaline medium.
For substances that are highly labile in an acid medium but which are more stable in a neutral or alkaline medium, such as omeprazole, pantoprazole and lansoprazole, it is necessary to add an inert substance to the composition, which leads to an alkaline reaction aimed at improving stability of the active substance during manufacture thereof, and during storage of the pharmaceutical form.
Several prior art documents describe such compositions that are suitable for oral administration of acid-labile substances.
EP-0,244,380 discloses pharmaceutical formulations that are suitable for oral administration of acid-labile substances. It is stated that these acid-labile substances intended for oral administration must be protected by an enteric coating, but conventional enteric coatings of an acid nature are not suitable for this purpose. If one were indeed to cover acid-labile substances which such coatings, the substance would be rapidly decomposed due to direct or indirect contact with the coating, which manifests itself by a change of color and a decrease in the active substance content with the passage of time. The solution proposed in that patent corresponds to formulations consisting of: (a) a core in the form of small particles, i.e. pellets or compressed powder, containing the active substance along with an alkaline reacting compound, (b) one or several inert intermediate layers containing excipients for tablets which are soluble, and which rapidly disintegrate in water, water-soluble film-forming polymer compounds optionally containing alkaline compounds acting as a pH buffer between the core having an alkaline reaction and the outer layer, and (c) an outer layer consisting of an enteric composition. It is also stated that, in order to improve storage stability, the cores containing the active substance should also contain constituents having an alkaline reaction, and that the water that enters by diffusion, or the gastric juice, will dissolve part of the core close to the enteric coating, forming an alkaline solution at this level inside the coated form for administration. This patent claims pharmaceutical formulations containing acid-labile active substances of formula I with the notable exception of omeprazole.
EP-A-0,247,983 which is related to pharmaceutical formulations that are suitable for oral administration of acid-labile substances adopts the general principles developed in EP-A-0,244,380 in order to more particularly apply them to the case of omeprazole. The main claim in that application thus covers the association of omeprazole with an auxiliary alkaline-reacting substance.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,786,505 discloses novel stable preparations containing omeprazole intended for oral administration, their preparation and a method for treating gastrointestinal sicknesses using these novel preparations. These oral pharmaceutical preparations comprise: (a) a core comprising omeprazole and an alkaline reacting compound, an alkaline salt of omeprazole and an alkaline-reacting compound or an alkaline salt of omeprazole alone; (b) at least one inert intermediate layer that is water-soluble or rapidly disintegrates in water; and (c) an external layer comprising an enteric coating.
EP-A-0,519,365 discloses pharmaceutical formulations that are suitable for oral administration of pantoprazole, comprising an acid-labile substance. In order to improve stability of pantoprazole formulations, this document discloses the use of the active substance in a salt form. The pharmaceutical formulations disclosed comprise: (a) a core containing the active principle in a salt form, (b) at least one water-soluble intermediate layer and (c) an outer layer corresponding to an enteric coating. It is stated that the use of a salt form in the core enables an alkaline environment to be created that protects the active substance. If the salt form does not have a sufficient effect on the pH, it is necessary to add a constituent that has an alkaline reaction to the core.
EP-A-0,519,144 discloses a novel process for producing a stable preparation containing omeprazole, intended for oral administration. This document notably discloses a process for preparing pellets containing omeprazole in which a core constituted of inert substances is covered by the active substance in finely divided form and dispersed in an aqueous dispersion buffered to a pH of 7.0, after which an enteric coating is applied, the finished product being placed inside a capsule.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,232,706 discloses novel stable pharmaceutical preparations containing omeprazole, intended for oral administration. The pharmaceutical compositions disclosed comprised: (a) a core containing omeprazole and an alkaline salt of omeprazole mixed with a first alkaline-reacting compound; (b) at least one intermediate layer formed by an excipient and a second alkaline-reacting compound and (c) an outer layer formed by an enteric coating. It is stated that the problem of the poor stability of the omeprazole is resolved, firstly, by increasing the way the core behaves as a base either by introducing omeprazole in the form of an alkali metal or alkaline-earth salt, or a mixture of omeprazole with a basic compound or by a combination of these two possibilities; and secondly "by incorporating an intermediate layer between the core and the enteric coating for preventing the alkaline core from causing breakdown of the enteric coating".
FR-A-2,692,146 discloses stable compositions of microgranules of gastro-protected omeprazole as well as their preparation. This documents particularly discloses a stable microgranule formulation of omeprazole comprising a neutral core consisting of sugar and starch covered with an active layer constituted by omeprazole diluted in mannitol in substantially equal amounts, and an intermediate layer comprising mannitol;an outer layer formed from an enteric coating being optionally present. There, it is indicated that the omeprazole is employed in a diluted powder form in an amount that is substantially equal to the amount of mannitol in order to protect the omeprazole from contact with solvents and with traces of water present in the binder solutions employed for applying the mixture of omeprazole and mannitol to the neutral grains consisting of sugar and starch. Additionally, according to that patent, supplementary protection of the omeprazole applied to neutral grains is obtains by means of a second protective layer consisting of mannitol and a binder solution in order to definitively isolate the core onto which the omeprazole and the mannitol is applied. This supplementary protection isolates the omeprazole from the outer coating layer that is designed to ensure gastro-protection of the active cores.
WO96/01624 in the name of ASTRA discloses a tableted dosage form comprised of individually enteric coated layered units of a core material comprising a benzimidazole ingredient. Said individually enteric coated layered units are mixed with tablet excipients and compressed together. Said tablet excipients are e.g. microcrystalline cellulose. The resulting tablet is aid to withstand acidic environment.

Composition containing an acid-labile omeprazole and process for its preparation