According to one embodiment, a template forming method is provided. In the template forming method, a template pattern is formed on a first surface of a substrate. A high liquid repellent property portion is formed in a region different from the template pattern on a side of the first surface of the substrate. The high liquid repellent property portion has a higher contacting angle with respect to a resist than a portion without the high liquid repellent property portion formed therein.

An imprint method for transferring a mold of an original plate to a substrate has been given attention as a technique for forming a fine pattern of a semiconductor device, and the like with high productivity. In the imprint method, a template (original plate) formed with a concave-convex pattern (template pattern) and a resist applied on the substrate are brought into contact. The concave-convex pattern of the template is thereby filled with resin. The template pattern is transferred to the resist on the substrate by curing the filled resist.
When the template is impressed on the resist, the resist runs out to the outer side of a template pattern region, and such run-out degrades the quality of the resist pattern.

Template forming method, template, and template base material


A nonvolatile semiconductor memory device includes a memory cell array and a check memory cell array. Each check memory cell is connected to a cell block including a plurality of memory cells and has about the same characteristic as the memory cell. A predetermined value is written to the check memory cell each time data is written to the corresponding cell block. By comparing a value stored in the check memory element to the predetermined value, the deterioration state of the memory cells is detected.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a semiconductor memory device which is electrically writable and has a nonvolatile property.
2. Description of the Prior Art
There is, for example, a nonvolatile semiconductor memory device that stores information by storing charges in a floating gate formed on a silicon substrate. Writing of information is realized by heightening a threshold value with respect to a control gate by storing charges in the floating gate, and erasion of information is realized by removing the charges from the floating gate.
The nonvolatile semiconductor memory device of this type has a phenomenon that the device is gradually deteriorated every time erasing/writing is conducted, and it is eventually impossible to do erasing or writing. The details will be described taking an EEPROM (electrically erasable programmable ROM) as an example.
FIG. 8 shows a change in minimum period of time required for erasing/writing when the EEPROM erasing/writing is repeated. As the erasing/writing is repeated, a period of time required for erasing/writing increases. In FIG. 8 is shown evaluation results of plural samples in which diffusion conditions are changed, and as is apparent from the figure, the number of times of writable operation largely changes according to the fluctuation at a manufacturing process.
For that reason, the limited number of times of writing operation is set taking the evaluation of the samples into account, and the operation is ensured within the limited number of times. The abnormal operation of erasing/writing causes information within the memory to be destroyed. Therefore, the lifetime is conventionally judged as described hereinafter.
To detect the lifetime of the nonvolatile semiconductor memory, the memory device is provided with a counter memory for holding the number of times of writing operation for every block which is a minimum unit that conducts writing and a counter for counting the number of times of writing operation and updating the counter memory using the count. An alarm signal is generated when the number of times of writing operation exceeds a predetermined number of times. Such a memory device is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 7-254290.
More specifically, the operation is such that when data is written in a certain block, erasion is first made on all of memory cells within the block to set the contents of the memory cells at 0. Then, writing is made on only the memory cells the contents of which should be set at 1 within the block and the counter corresponding to the written block is incremented by 1. When the number of times of writing operation corresponding to any block exceeds a predetermined number of times. The alarm signal is generated to notify a user that the memory cell reaches its lifetime.
In the above-described method of setting the limited number of times of writing operation, the limited number of times of writing operation is found out by the evaluation of a product. And, when the limited number of times of writing operation reaches a given number of times of writing operation, it is judged that the memory device is at the end of its life.
Accordingly, there is developed a first problem because the lifetime is judged across the board according to not a deterioration state but a predetermined number of times of writing operation. In the case of setting the number of times of writing operation at a given limited value, it is judged that the memory cells can be used no longer regardless of the fact that the memory cells yet sufficiently functions. Since the memory cells have some fluctuation in manufacturing depending on manufacturing rods, the limited value of the number of times of writing operation must comply with the worst conditions. As a result, it is impossible to use the memory cells according to the characteristic thereof.
A second problem is to require a surplus memory, that is, the counter memory for holding the number of times of writing operation for each block. For example, in the case of counting up to 100,000 times, 17 memory cells (17 bits) are necessary for each block of the counter memory.


A conduction-breaking device breaks conduction between a pair of devices in an electric circuit. The conduction-breaking device includes a conductive body having a cuttable portion, an arc-extinguishing chamber having a pair of fixed blades, a gas generator, a cutting member having a pair of movable blades, and a deforming mechanism. When the cuttable portion is cut at two positions by the fixed blades and the movable blades, the cuttable portion forms a separated piece, which is separated from the electric circuit, and first and second remaining portions, which remain connected with the electric circuit. The separated piece has cut ends at opposite ends. The deforming mechanism deforms the separated piece such that the cut ends of the separated piece are located on a leading side in a moving direction of the cutting member with respect to a part of the separated piece between the cut ends.

The present invention relates to a conduction-breaking device that breaks conduction between two devices constituting an electric circuit by cutting a conductive body extending between the devices.
Some electric circuits are provided with a conduction-breaking device for breaking conduction between devices by being activated when a malfunction occurs in a device in the electric circuit or in a system on which the electric circuit is mounted. As one form of such conduction-breaking devices, Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2012-138286 discloses a conduction-breaking device, which includes a conductive body, an arc-extinguishing chamber, a gas generator, and a cutting member.
The conductive body includes an elongated plate-shaped cuttable portion and is arranged between devices that constitute an electric circuit. The arc-extinguishing chamber has a fixed blade and is provided on one side of the cuttable portion in the thickness direction. The gas generator is arranged on the opposite side of the cuttable portion from the arc-extinguishing chamber with respect to the thickness direction of the cuttable. The cutting member is arranged between the cuttable portion and the gas generator and includes a movable blade. The movable blade cooperates with the fixed blade to cut the cuttable portion.
With the configuration of the above described conduction-breaking device, when the gas generator generates gas while the conductive body is carrying a current, the cutting member receives the pressure of the gas and is moved toward the arc-extinguishing chamber. As the cutting member moves, the cuttable portion receives a shearing force generated by the fixed blade and movable blade, which cuts the cuttable portion. Accordingly, the conduction between the devices is broken.
When the conduction-breaking device is activated and the conductive body in a current-carrying state is cut, a pair of cut ends are formed in the conductive body. An arc may be generated due to the potential difference between the pair of cut ends. An arc is a phenomenon in which insulation of gas present between the cut ends is overcome and a current flows between the cut ends.
When an arc is generated, the cut ends are electrically connected to each other. In this case, although being physically cut, the conduction is not broken, and the conductive body may remain in a current-carrying state. Further, the arc may melt the conductive body and its surrounding plastic members.
In this regard, the conduction-breaking device of Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2012-138286 has two fixed blades, which are arranged in the arc-extinguishing chamber and separated from each other in the longitudinal direction of the cuttable portion. The cutting member has two movable blades at two positions that are separated from each other in the longitudinal direction of the cuttable portion. Thus, as the cutting member moves, the cuttable portion receives shearing force generated by the fixed blades and movable blades at two positions. The shearing force cuts the cuttable portion at the two positions. When the cuttable portion is cut at the two positions, the cuttable portion forms a separated piece, which is separated from the electric circuit through the cutting action, and two remaining portions, which remain connected to the electric circuit. Accordingly, the conduction between the devices is broken. Since the cuttable portion is cut at two positions, the electric resistance is increased. Therefore, the voltage required to generate and maintain an arc is increased. That is, an arc is unlikely to be generated.
However, in the conduction-breaking device of Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2012-138286, the separated piece is formed to have a flat shape like the shape prior to the cutting action. Thus, the distance between each cut end of the separated piece and the cut end of the corresponding remaining portion is short. The device of the publication is therefore susceptible to improvement in terms of attenuation of arcs.


Some embodiments of a system and a method to tune a computing system based on a profile have been presented. A profile as used herein broadly refers to a file containing various parameters of a computing system, such as kernel parameters (e.g., buffer size, network setup, etc.), usable to configure the computing system. For instance, a set of profiles are stored in a computer-readable storage device in a computing system, such as a server, a personal computer, a laptop computer, etc. A processing device miming on the computing system may receive a user selection of one of the set of profiles. In response to the user selection, the processing device may load the selected profile onto the computing system in order to tune the computing system according to the selected profile.

Currently, many conventional computing systems are setup during initialization according to a single profile pre-installed into the computing systems. The profile typically contains a set of parameters of the computing system, which are values determined previously to work for all purposes in general. Although users desiring a different setup may manually adjust or modify one or more parameters after the computing system is initialized, such a manual process is tedious and error-prone. Moreover, users may have to repeat this manual adjustment every time the computing system is re-initialized because the previously set values may have been lost due to re-initialization of the computing system.

Profile-based performance tuning of computing systems


A locket assembly utilizes a locket body and a hingeable cover thereto having a disengageable clasp member to secure the cover to the body in a closed position. The locket face may be solid or have a transparent portion so as to permit viewing of an indicia-bearing sheet disposed within the locket. A portion of the locket extends outwardly of the outermost surface of the body and is provided with a threaded hole for engaging a coupling element adapted to couple to other locket bodies in a string-like fashion. Each locket is provided with a plate hingeably secured to the rearmost surface of the locket and having a spring causing the plate to pivot in an outward position relative to the rearmost surface of the locket. A spring bias clasp is adapted to maintain the plate in a position parallel to the rear surface of the locket whereby a fabric-like tape may be clasped therein between providing support for the locket so as to permit a number of such lockets to be strung up into a necklace, each supported by the tape.

1. The Field of the Invention
This invention relates to lockets and more particularly to that class having an external clasping means for securing the locket to a supporting element and having decorative nonfunctional securing elements in addition thereto.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The prior art abounds with locket-type devices. U.S. Pat. No. 563,882 issued on July 14, 1896, to I. B. Rapaport teaches a locket having a front portion hingeably affixed to a body portion and having an eyelet-like mounting loop secured to the body portion for hanging locket from a chain or other apparatus. A lever extends outwardly from the rearmost surface of the locket utilized to open the hingeable portion of the locket upon manipulation thereof. The Rapaport apparatus relies solely upon the eyelet fastener secured to the body of the locket for supporting the apparatus.
U.S. Pat. No. 681,336 issued on Aug. 27, 1901, to D. D. Nevins discloses a locket body and a cover hingeably secured thereto utilizing a hinging mechanism secured within the base of the locket and to the innermost surface of the lid having a shiftable fulcrum design such that the lid may be lifted on the locket by depressing on the selected portion of the lid and having a concealed rim feature which hides the fact that the locket may be opened from the outside. The body of the locket is provided with a ring-like fastener for supporting the locket from a chain or other line-like apparatus. The Nevins device utilizes a functional loop which is always visible on the outside surfaces of the locket for supporting purposes, in similar fashion to the Rapaport apparatus.


A method of vacuum forming of aqueous, fibrous slurries and products produced thereby are disclosed. The method entails forming an aqueous slurry of ceramic fiber, cationic starch and silica sol. The silica has, based on total weight of the sol, about 50% silica having a particle size range of from about 7 nm to about 200 nm and a specific surface area of about 100 m.sup.2 /gm to about 10 m.sup.2 /gm. The slurry is passed through a porous screen under a vacuum pressure deposit the solids content onto the screen to produce high strength products.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,224,927 shows the use of cationic starch to precipitate silica binders onto refractory fibers for forming refractory papers and mats. Although the teachings of this patent are useful for manufacture of shaped ceramic fiber products, the amount of silica binder which can be flocked onto the ceramic fibers is limited by the flocking capacity of the cationic starch; namely, to about 1.5 units silica per unit of starch. In addition, the amount of starch which can be used cannot exceed about 8%. Otherwise, forming times are high and shapes stick to molds. Binder content and formulations therefore are restricted to levels that produce only moderately strong pieces, i.e., 80-120 PSI modulus of rupture. A need therefore exists for improved methods of vacuum forming shaped ceramic fiber products


Speech signal data compression is improved by a first compression using Time Domain Harmonic Scaling (TDHS), wherein two periods of voiced data are averaged together, followed by a second compression using Continuously Variable Slope Delta Modulation (CVSD). Pitch period detection and sampling-rate conversion are also features of the invention.

This invention generally relates to the digitization of continuously varying signals which are subsequently reconverted to continuously varying signals. More particularly, this invention relates to compression of digitized analog signals and subsequent expansion of the compressed digitized analog signals for reconversion to analog signals.
In the telecommunications field there has been a continuing trend toward the use of digital transmission techniques wherein analog signals, particularly voice signals, are digitized, transmitted and then reconverted to a sufficiently accurate representation of the original voice signal to be delivered at the receiving end of a telecommunications link. Such digitization of voice signals has permitted multiplexing a large number of voice band channels together, and the switching of those multiplexed voice band channels can then be performed economically using digital techniques. Presently, these voice digitization techniques have been applied primarily to long distance transmission wherein transmission costs dominate and significant savings are realized by utilizing digital transmission techniques of digitized voice signals. As the size and cost of microprocessors and memory keep decreasing it is becoming economically feasible to extend these digital techniques for processing analog signals into the terminal equipment at both ends of a telecommunications link. Within ten to fifteen years it is estimated that digital transmission techniques and equipment will completely dominate the telecommunications field from the subscriber terminal equipment through switching equipment to the long distance transmission equipment.
To further extend the usefulness of digital techniques in the telecommunications field much work is being done to reduce the number of bits in the digital signal representing a speech signal without impairing reproduction of the voice signal that the digital signal was originally derived from. This is done by signal processing of the continuously varying voice signals and the digital signals derived therefrom to achieve the bit-rate reductions. Different techniques have been developed for the bit-rate reduction of digitized voice signals which are generally referred to as waveform coding techniques. These waveform coding techniques include adaptive differential pulse code modulation, sub-band coding and transform coding, all of which can typically reduce the bit-rate of a digitized voice signal by more than a factor of two. Another technique used in the Bell System is time assignment speech interpolation (TASI) in which silence intervals within speech are detected and not transmitted. Yet another technique is vocoding in which speech is analyzed to extract its essential parameters followed by synthesis to reconstruct the speech. Presently, vocoder techniques do not offer the naturalness of speaker characteristics and its use is limited to applications where extremely low bit rates are dictated, such as in secure voice transmission.
Speech processing and digitization to reduce the number of binary bits making up the digitized voice signal are also being applied to a relatively new field wherein digitized voice signals are stored and then read out for reconstruction into voice signals at a later time. This is a store-and-forward approach wherein voice messages are digitally stored for later delivery to a receiving party via the telephone, similar to the service provided by electronic mail. Store-and-forward systems have been developed by a number of companies including Wang, IBM, Bell System and VMX, Inc.
In the store-and-forward systems large capacity memories are required and presently relatively expensive disk storage is utilized. Without bit-rate reduction techniques being applied to a digitized voice signal, speech may typically be digitized at 64 kilobits/second and every two minutes worth of digitized speech requires one megabyte of memory space for storage. It can readily be seen that extensive amounts of memory are required for a viable store-and-forward system and there is a need for techniques to reduce the amount of memory required to store a given amount of digitized voice. One approach has been to store only the active speech but this provides only a small amount of signal compression. The previously mentioned adaptive differential pulse code modulation, sub-band coding and transform coding techniques can compress the digitized signals by a factor of two which is a significant savings but there is still a need in the art to further compress digitized voice signals to minimize the amount of memory required to store these signals.

Compression and expansion of digitized voice signals


An apparatus and method are provided for molding clusters of fibers, including at least some thermoplastic fibers, into products at a cost, quality, and performance level acceptable for commercial production. The clusters are dedensified 10 and then placed 12 into an empty mold 20. The mold 20 has apertures 28 to facilitate the transfer of thermal energy through the mold 20. A linear conveyor 32 is used to transport the mold through a plurality of process locations on a continuous or semi-continuous basis. Included is a heating location 48 wherein the mold 20 is heated 14, providing an influx of thermal energy sufficient to fuse the thermoplastic fibers to form a heated product. A cooling location 50 follows the heating location 48, wherein the mold 20 and the heated product contained therein are cooled 16 to produce a cooled product. The cooled product is then ejected 18 from the mold 520.

The use of certain polymeric fibers, as opposed to primarily polyurethane foam, to make filled articles such as pads or cushions has been shown to result in improved performance characteristics. Compared with foam products, fiber-filled products may be more durable, have lighter weight, have greater permeability, be less costly, and be more readily recyclable.
A further improvement in the quality of fiber-filled articles was described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,940,502, wherein clusters of fibers, sometimes termed fiberballs, were used to create fiber-filled products. Fiberballs have a three dimensional structure which provides resilience upon deformation. From experiments reported in U.S. Pat. No. 5,169,580, fiberball cushions showed firmer support and higher resistance to repetitive compressions than batt cushions, even when the fiberball cushions were of a lower density. When molded, the forces which bond the fiberballs to each other are generally much weaker than the forces which resist compression of the individual fiberballs. This structure allows for resilience while also providing adequate local stiffness.
Although several patents, for example U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,169,580; 5,454,992; and 5,492,662, disclose processes and machinery for molding fiber-filled products, little attempt has been made to relate particular aspects of the molding method and apparatus to the performance and utility of the articles produced.

Apparatus and method for molding polymeric fibers into products


A secured partitioned communication system includes a shared switch network system in communication with an Intelligent Network Processor (INP). A terminating Intelligent Communication Device (ICD) located outside the management and control of the network defines a boundary therebetween and permits multiple inter-dependant parts of the communication service to be distributed to increase functionality without modifying an existing network switch.

This invention relates to an intelligent partitioned communication method and system.
The majority of telecommunication services currently being provided are deployed in centralized systems within the public-switched telephone network (PSTN). As those skilled in the art will recognize, the PSTN comprises the complete public telephone system, including telephones, local and trunk lines, and exchanges. Telephones in a home or business are commonly connected to a serving central office, also called a switch, by a pair of copper wires called the local loop. Switches are connected to one another with multiple lines called trunks. A trunk is a circuit connecting telephone switches or switching locations. Trunks and lines both carry communications. Trunks, however, connect switching equipment together, whereas lines connect a telephone, computer terminal or other device to the PSTN. The PSTN comprises millions of miles of lines and handles voice and data communications throughout the world.
The PSTN further includes service activation and control functionality to perform two basic tasks: (1) service delivery, i.e., the provision and modification of telephone services; and (2) service assurance, i.e., maintenance of the system. The service activation and control functionality takes the form of complex hardware and software and embodies specialized services which reside on circuit switching systems or adjunct platforms located within the network. Such services include, for example, Custom Local Access Signaling Services, referred to by the acronym CLASS, and Intelligent Network (IN) services, such as, for example, Advanced Intelligent Network (AIN) services.
Class services are one of the many types of switch-based services which must be accessed by subscribers off-hook by entering appropriate activation codes. These services include, for example, Automatic Call-back (AC), Automatic Recall (AR), etc. AIN services are employed using an Advanced Intelligent Network architecture.
A representative diagram of an AIN architecture provided for use in a Public Switch Telephone Network is shown, for example, in FIG. 1 and designated generally by reference numeral 10. Network 10 includes at least one switch or service node 12 in electrical communication with a plurality of servicing switches (central offices) 14 via Service Transfer Points (STPs) 15 and Transaction Capability Application Part (TCAP) signaling protocol or other suitable signaling protocol. Service node 12 is typically operative as the home switch or a virtual Service Switching Point (SSP) for subscribers to existing switch-based services. Thus, service node 12 is shown including a Service Control Point (SCP) 16 which contains the service logic and associated data support, as well as sufficient memory to execute customer services.
Service node 12 further includes service switching point (SSP) 18 which is a node (usually the subscriber""s local switch/central office switch) that recognizes the xe2x80x9ctriggersxe2x80x9d used when a subscriber invokes an intelligent network service and then communicates with the SCP to operate the service. SSP 18 and SCP 16 are provided in electrical communication with service node 12 and may, in some situations, be combined in a single device known as a Service Switching Control Point (SSCP) wherein the functions of the SCP and the SSP are combined. Subscribers typically use these communications services with a simple telephone (usually a Dual-Tone Multi-Frequency (DTMF) compatible communication device).
Emerging telecom deregulation coupled with technological advances have resulted in the advance of many new solutions which no longer rely on centralized communications functionality such as that described above which is hosted in the shared public switched telephone network. Personal computer (PC) based telephony, for example, now delivers some of the same voice messaging, caller identification, and call management features which were previously found only in large network systems. Residential gateways, an emerging technology, will soon also deliver some CLASS-like features in a Customer Premises Equipment (CPE) devices. Additionally, the internet is emerging as an alternative transport medium for voice and data communications. Still further, special-featured screen phones are being designed to work with network services.
All of these new technologies, however, either replicate network functionality entirely within the CPE, or rely on existing communications functionality in the network. This reliance has resulted in CPE devices which are of limited functionality and use.
A CPE device having greater functionality would have special application in performing call management services. Consider, for example, the problem of call holding as set forth in detail in co-pending patent application Ser. No. 08/998,799, the disclosure of which is hereby expressly incorporated by reference. As discussed, being placed on hold is an unpleasant and frustrating experience for most telephone callers as it constitutes wasted time. The advent of Interactive Voice Response (IVR) units and integrated call management systems by order response centers, businesses, and technical support centers, often results in callers being placed on hold for long periods of time. The pressure on these service centers to reduce costs, typically through fewer agents available to answer calls, has further exacerbated the problem. Hold times of half an hour to an hour are now fairly common.
Because most service centers provide no indication of how long a call will be held or indicate how much longer the hold will last, callers often feel left in limbo for an indefinite time. These extended held calls require the caller to stay on the line for the duration of the hold resulting in a large telephone bill. As a consequence, significant numbers of callers who are put on hold for more than a brief time period abandon their calls and hang up in resentment and frustration. This result is, of course, bad for customer relations and constitutes wasted effort. More importantly, it results in lost business for the service centers.
Furthermore, the hold state is a waste of telephone resources. It unproductively ties up the telephone of the caller as well as the telephone lines, trunks, and switching resources being used to maintain the connection between the caller and the switching system of the service center. If freed, these resources could be used productively for other calls.
To overcome some of these problems, a variety of arrangements have been proposed which alert the caller that has been placed on hold to when the hold is removed. The alerting takes the form of an audible or a visual signal generated at the telephone of the caller. The alerting arrangements enable the held caller to do something else instead of having to cradle the telephone handset to his or her ear listening for the service center to take the call off hold. Alerting arrangements help make the time spent on hold less annoying for the held caller.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,961,142 illustrates a typical alerting device. A primary disadvantage with these alerting devices is that they require all lines from the caller to the service center to remain open. Thus, the caller must stay on the line for the duration of the call which results in significant toll costs. Furthermore, the caller is not allowed to place or receive other calls.
Other proposed arrangements include automatic call-back systems. When an incoming call is not answered by an agent of a service center within a predetermined time period (e.g., three rings), an automatic call-back system answers the call and plays a pre-recorded announcement. The announcement gives the caller the option of either having the call placed in a queue to wait for an agent to pick up, or hanging up and being called back when an agent becomes available. If the caller selects the call-back option, the system either obtains the telephone number of the caller from the telephone network by means of Automatic Number Identification (ANI), or requests the number from the caller. The caller then hangs up. When an agent becomes available, the system places a new call to the caller and connects the call to the available agent at the service center.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,436,967, 5,185,782, and 5,155,761 illustrate automatic call-back systems. A primary disadvantage with automatic call-back systems is that they leave callers wondering whether the systems will honor their place in queue and whether the service center will call back. Because the called service center is in control, the caller cannot monitor the status of the held call and cannot initiate a reconnection. Furthermore, the caller is required to divulge his call-back telephone number. Moreover, call-back systems assume that the service center is willing to pay for the call-back. Typically, service centers, especially those providing technical product support involving long detailed calls to solve customer problems, are not willing to pay for calls back to the caller. Quite to the contrary, they expect callers to pay for the call and to wait on hold for indefinitely long periods of time.
Consequently, a need exists for a communication method and system which obviates complete reliance on centralized communications functionality within the shared public network, yet, which neither replicates network functionality entirely within a CPE or relies on existing communications functionality within the network. Such a system would have particular application for implementing call management features including, for example, two-way negotiated call hold.
Still further, a need exists for a communication method and system as described above which is sufficiently secure so as to prevent fraudulent or criminal invasion.
A need further exists for a communication method and system as described above which would allow for communications services to be automatically initiated by a subscriber by providing a hardware/software device such as a communication card, other magnetic media, or possibly software or firmware in communication with the subscriber""s CPE device.
It is, thus, a principle object of the present invention to provide a communications method and system which avoids reliance on centralized communications functionality without replicating network functionality entirely within a CPE device or relying entirely on existing communications functionality within the network.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a partitioned communication method and system having multiple inter-dependent parts which are distributed across a CPE-public network boundary.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide a partitioned communication method and system wherein the corresponding communication services and intelligence are built into both the shared public network and specialized CPE devices which function to exchange commands and signalling.
It is still a further object of the present invention to provide a partitioned communication method and system of the type described above, wherein the specialized devices utilize event-based processing to interrupt or analyze communications based on predetermined triggered events in collaborative communication with the shared public switch network and other CPE devices.
It is still a further object of the present invention to provide a partitioned communications method and system of the type described above wherein the specialized CPE device functions as an Originating Communication System (OCS) and is operable to negotiate a two-way call hold with a Called Communication System on behalf of a calling party.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide a partitioned communication method and system of the type described above using event-based processing wherein the desired communication services may be implemented by providing a portable hardware/software device in conjunction with a subscriber""s CPE device.
It is still a further object of the present invention to provide a partitioned communication method and system of the type described above using event-based processing wherein the hardware/software device is operative to automatically initiate communication services.
It is still a further object of the present invention to provide a partitioned communication method and system of the type described above wherein the messages or events are secured so as to preserve the integrity of the shared switch network system by deterring or preventing fraudulent or criminal invasion that might otherwise compromise the shared communication network system.
In carrying out the above objects and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention, there is provided a partitioned communication system including a specialized CPE device (e.g. an Intelligent CPE Device (ICD)) having the requisite intelligence to exchange commands and signalling with the management and control functionality of a shared switch network system such as the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN). An Intelligent Network Processor (INP) is further provided in communication with this network functionality and is capable of connecting multiple logical connections. The INP is operative to provide a general-purpose computing platform on which the shared switch network or other service provider can deploy algorithms to control service behavior. In this manner, multiple inter-dependent parts of the communication service may be distributed across the boundary of the ICD and the shared network.
The specialized CPE device uses secured event-based processing to interrupt or analyze communications based on predetermined triggered events in communication with the shared switch network and other CPE devices.
In an alternative embodiment, the specialized CPE devices described above are operable to provide communication services in a partitioned communication system in conjunction with a portable hardware/software device such as a communication card or other suitable storage media such as magnetic media or firmware directly receivable by the specialized CPE device.
It is contemplated that such hardware/software devices would be purchased from the communications service provider or at retail outlets such as electronics stores, department stores, grocery store check-out lines, specialty stores, etc. If embodied as a card, it is further contemplated that the hardware/software devices will be similar in size and shape to a credit card or a floppy disk and would embody one or more communications services in a digital format or other suitable storage medium.
In still another alternative embodiment, the portable hardware/software device described above is further operable to auto-initiate a command dialog with an associated service partition hosted in the shared switch network system.
In yet a further alternative embodiment, at least one specialized CPE device of the type described above, such as an ICD using event-based processing, is implemented as an Originating Communication System (OCS) in a partitioned communication system including a shared switch network and an INP.
As described herein, the CCS is operable with the partitioned communications system to connect a call from the calling party to an agent of the called party. The CCS is further operable to notify the calling party that the call is placed on hold.
The Originating Communications System (OCS), i.e., the specialized CPE device, is operable to communicate with the calling party and the CCS. The OCS negotiates on behalf of the calling party with the CCS to put the calling party in a queue for an agent when the calling party is placed on hold so that the call can be disconnected. The calling party is notified when a selected position in the queue has been reached and the call between the calling party and the called party is then reconnected.
In still another alternative embodiment, a two-way call hold system is provided as described above wherein the subscriber may receive periodic information status updates from the Called Communications System. Each update is initiated as a result of timer-based events and request messages from the subscriber""s ICD via the INP to the Called Communications System.
In each of the embodiments described above, a terminating intelligent communication device (ICD) such as, for example, a non-network specialized CPE device is located outside the management and control of the shared switch network system and defines a boundary therebetween. The ICD is preferably, but not necessarily, logically connected to the INP via a dedicated signaling path and is further operative to provide a device-independent representation of internal processing and user actions based on predetermined states of the ICD in response to predetermined triggered events. In accordance with this architecture, multiple interdependent parts of the communication service may be securely distributed across the boundary of the ICD and the shared network.

Method and system for an intelligent partitioned communication system


There is carried out an NMR measurement in which a receiver coil (7) for receiving an NMR free induction signal comes in contact with or in close vicinity to one side of tissue of a living body (1) immersed in a perfusion solution (4), while a portion or whole body of the receiver coil (7) is so held as not to come in contact with the perfusion solution (4). According to this measuring method, since a portion or whole body of the receiver coil (7) does not come in contact with the perfusion solution (4), the receiver coil (7) is hardly subject to the electromagnetic influence of changes in the perfusion solution (4). This prevents the free induction signal from being embedded in noise, assuring measurement with high sensitivity. Even for a large-size internal organ, only a signal from an area presenting a uniform magnetic field may be acquired, since the measurement is carried out with the receiver coil (7) coming in contact with or in close vicinity to one side of the internal organ. Thus, a high-resolution free induction signal may be acquired.

Nuclear magnetic resonance absorption has been conventionally used as means for analyzing chemical substances and clarifying reaction processes. In recent years, nuclear magnetic resonance absorption has become the object of public attention in a variety of medical fields through NMR zeugmatography or the like for observing the distribution of components of tissue of a living body.
For example, it is common practice in order to make clear transplant adaptability of an internal organ, energy metabolism or the like, to conduct an NMR measurement test on an internal organ, a muscle or the like of an experimental animal under cultivation in a perfusion solution. More specifically, an internal organ of a living thing disposed in a perfusion cell is placed in a static magnetic field, and a free decay signal (free induction signal) obtained by applying a rotating magnetic field in the form of a pulse is measured by a receiver coil disposed around the cell. The free induction signal is analyzed to obtain an NMR spectrum. Based on the NMR spectrum thus obtained, it is possible to clarify the condition of phosphorus atoms contained in phosphorus compounds such as creatinic acid, ATP, inorganic phosphoric acid and the like. Thus, the transplant adaptability of the internal organ may be judged.
FIG. 9 shows the arrangement of a conventional measuring apparatus. In FIG. 9, an internal organ or the like of a small animal is put in a cell 22 around which a receiver coil 21 is wound and which is perfused with a perfusion solution (a physiological saline solution or the like). With a static magnetic field H applied to the receiver coil 21 at a right angle to the axis thereof, a free induction signal generated in the receiver coil 21 is detected.
According to this apparatus, an NMR measurement may be carried out for a long period of time while the perfusion solution prevents the internal organ or muscle from being dried.
However, when the concentration of the perfusion solution is changed with the passage of time and the corresponding changes in the absorption spectrum with the passage of time are to be analyzed, the above-mentioned arrangement presents the following problem.
The perfusion solution flows in the receiver coil. Accordingly, when carrying out a measurement with a changing concentration of the perfusion solution the inductance of the receiver coil is changed according to the changes in concentration of the perfusion solution. This assures neither tuning of, the receiver coil, nor matching of the impedance and not only changes the appearing position of the absorption spectrum, but also weakens the absorption spectral line, causing this line to be embedded in noise. Thus, no accurate measurement may be carried out.
In this connection, perfusion solutions having different concentrations are conventionally prepared, and each time each perfusion solution flows, the tuning of the receiver coil is done over again and measurement is then carried out. This not only makes the measurement troublesome, but also fails to acquire the data corresponding to continuous changes in concentration.
Further, in the above-mentioned arrangement, even though the cell is made in a large size and a large-size internal organ is housed therein, the current art may provide only a small area presenting a uniform static magnetic field. This causes the internal organ to partially protrude from the uniform magnetic field, thereby to disadvantageously deteriorate the resolution of an NMR spectral signal obtained by analyzing the free induction signal.
It is an object of the present invention to provide NMR measuring method and apparatus for tissue of a living body, capable of acquiring a highly sensitive measurement signal even though the measurement is made with concentration of a perfusion solution and capable of also measuring also a large-size internal organ.

NMR measuring method and measuring apparatus for tissue of a living body


A method of converting a color negative image into an inverted positive color image and an apparatus for carrying out the method. The image of the color negative film is decomposed into three images each in one of the three primary colors through associated color filters. The individual images thus produced are recorded in a light transmissive recording medium in inverted images, which are then illuminated by a light source disposed at a side in opposition to the negative film, whereby the inverted images are projected through the same optical system including the aforementioned color filters as the one used for the projection onto a screen as the inverted positive image. The recording medium is constituted by a light transmissive ceramic dielectric exhibiting a memory function. The inverted positive image may be projected at a magnified scale.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates in general to an image converting method and apparatus, and in particular concerns a method for converting an image such as a pattern of a color negative film for example into an inverted or positive image to be projected for observation or the like purpose. The invention also relates to an apparatus for carrying out the method.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In the hitherto known color image converting processes such as color inversion, a photographic process using agents of a silver salt series is generally adopted. Additionally, laser holography is used for effecting image conversion or inversion by varying the optical constants of a recording system and a reproducing system.
These prior known methods are however disadvantageous in that complicated and time consuming procedures are required for recording the original optical information (image data) in an intermediate recording medium and converting the recorded data into a final image.

Image converting and projecting method and apparatus for carrying out the same


Disclosed are methods and apparatus for generating a test recipe for a metrology tool is disclosed. A plurality of first reference images that are designed to be used to fabricate a plurality of structures on a sample are provided. Each structure is imageable to form a plurality of target image patterns. A test recipe for use by a metrology tool in locating the structures on the sample is generated or modified. Generating or modifying the test recipe includes forming a plurality of second references images from the first reference images and associating the second reference images with the test recipe. The second reference images are formed to at least partially simulate one or more process effect(s) associated with fabricating the structures of the sample. Additionally, the second reference images may also be formed to simulate one or more imaging effects.

The present invention relates generally to reticle and integrated circuit design and fabrication systems. More specifically, the invention relates to mechanisms for generating and inspecting reticles and integrated circuits.
Generation of reticles and subsequent optical inspection of such reticles have become standard steps in the production of semiconductors. Initially, circuit designers provide circuit pattern data, which describes a particular integrated circuit (IC) design, to a reticle production system, or reticle writer. The circuit pattern data is typically in the form of a representational layout of the physical layers of the fabricated IC device. The representational layout typically includes a representational layer for each physical layer of the IC device (e.g., gate oxide, polysilicon, metallization, etc.), wherein each representational layer is composed of a plurality of polygons that define a layer""s patterning of the particular IC device.
The reticle writer uses the circuit pattern data to write (e.g., typically, an electron beam writer or laser scanner is used to expose a reticle pattern) a plurality of reticles that will later be used to fabricate the particular IC design. A reticle inspection system may then inspect the reticle for defects that may have occurred during the production of the reticles.
A reticle or photomask is an optical element containing transparent and opaque, semi-transparent, and phase shifting regions which together define the pattern of coplanar features in an electronic device such as an integrated circuit. Reticles are used during photolithography to define specified regions of a semiconductor wafer for etching, ion implantation, or other fabrication processes. For many modern integrated circuit designs, an optical reticle""s features are between about 1 and about 5 times larger than the corresponding features on the wafer. For other exposure systems (e.g., x-ray, e-beam, and extreme ultraviolet) a similar range of reduction ratios also apply.
Optical reticles are typically made from a transparent medium such as a borosilicate glass or quartz plate on which is deposited on an opaque and/or semi-opaque layer of chromium or other suitable material. However, other mask technologies are employed for direct e-beam exposure (e.g., stencil masks), x-ray exposure (e.g., absorber masks), etc. The reticle pattern may be created by a laser or an e-beam direct write technique, for example, both of which are widely used in the art.
After fabrication of each reticle or group of reticles, each reticle is typically inspected by illuminating it with light emanating from a controlled illuminator. An optical image of the reticle is constructed based on the portion of the light reflected, transmitted, or otherwise directed to a light sensor. Another way to inspect a reticle is accomplished by directing a beam of electrons from a scanning electron microscope towards the reticle. An image of the reticle is constructed based on secondary and backscattered electrons emitted from the reticle in response to the beam of electron towards a detector. Such inspection techniques and apparatus are well known in the art and are embodied in various commercial products such as many of those available from KLA-Tencor Corporation of San Jose, Calif.
During a conventional inspection process, a target image of a test structure on the reticle is typically compared to a reference image. The reference image is either generated from the circuit pattern data or from an adjacent die on the reticle itself. Either way, the target image features are analyzed and compared with corresponding features of the reference image. Each feature difference is then compared against a threshold value. If the target image feature varies from the reference feature by more than the predetermined threshold, a defect is defined. Similar techniques may be utilized to inspect an integrated circuit (IC).
Prior to comparing a target image to its corresponding reference image, the target image which corresponds to the reference image must be accurately located. Conventionally, the corresponding target image is located manually by first locating a unique target image that is adjacent to the target image of the test structure to be tested. The unique image is typically located by searching for an imaged target pattern from the sample that most closely matches a unique reference pattern selected from the original design data. The location of the reference pattern can then be used to form a frame of reference for the subsequent inspection or metrology.
Although conventional reticle and IC inspections provide adequate searching mechanisms under some conditions, the searching mechanisms fail when the unique target images significantly differ from their corresponding unique reference images. Several different effects may contribute to the target images differing from the reference images. When the target structures are fabricated from original design patterns which are also used as the reference images, the fabrication process itself introduces discrepancies between the target structures and the reference images. By way of examples, the target structures may become tapered and reduced in size. Target structure corners may also become rounded and/or warped, while edges may become roughened. Imaging of target structures also introduces discrepancies between the reference and target images. The imaging process may result in edge enhancement, scan persistence, and contrast changes between the substrate and material, as compared with the design patterns (reference images). Edges may also appear thickened and charge shadowing may occur. These differences between the target and reference images often make it very difficult to locate a target image which corresponds to a particular reference image.
Accordingly, there is a need for improved mechanisms for providing reference images for locating corresponding target images. Additionally, there is a need for reduction in the discrepancies between the reference and corresponding target images caused by process and/or imaging effects resulting from fabricating and imaging of the corresponding test structures.
Accordingly, mechanisms are provided for generating reference images (or modifying existing reference images) so that the reference images at least partially simulate one or more process effects. In one specific implementation, the reference images simulate feature tapering, corner rounding, and feature shrinkage, which effects are typically introduced during fabrications of the corresponding target structures. Additional mechanisms are provided for generating or modifying reference images so that they at least partially simulate imaging effects. In a specific embodiment, simulated imaging effects include edge enhancement, substrate and material contrast, and scan persistence.
The reference images may then be utilized to locate target images of patterns on a sample, such as a reticle or integrated circuit. In one embodiment, a recipe is formed based on the simulated reference images. The recipe is configured to be used by a metrology tool to automatically locate corresponding target structures on a sample. In this application, the recipe includes information associated with each reference image that specifies the kind of test to be performed on a test structure that is located proximate to the target structures. For example, the information includes an offset distance from such target structure to such test structure and the type of test structure to be measured. In one implementation, the information specifies whether the structure to be measured is a line, trench, hole, or post. The information preferably also specifies whether to measure from outer most edge to outer most edge of such structure or inner most edge to inner most edge.
In a specific embodiment, a method of generating a test recipe for a metrology tool is disclosed. A plurality of first reference images that are designed to be used to fabricate a plurality of structures on a sample are provided. Each structure is imageable to form a plurality of target image patterns. A test recipe for use by a metrology tool in locating the structures on the sample is generated or modified. Generating or modifying the test recipe includes forming a plurality of second references images from at least some of the first reference images and associating the second reference images with the test recipe. The second reference images are formed to at least partially simulate one or more process effect(s) associated with fabricating the structures of the sample.
In a preferred implementation, each simulated process effect and simulated imaging effect are associated with a degree parameter having a plurality of selectable values. Each degree parameter value corresponds to a specific amount of the associated simulated process effect or imaging effect. For a particular process type and a particular type of metrology tool, combinations of different degree parameter values are analyzed for each processing and imaging effect to determine which combination most accurately simulates the process and imaging effects of the particular process type and the particular type of metrology tool, respectively. In a specific aspect, the analysis is accomplished by analyzing combinations of different degree parameter values for each processing effect to determine which combination most accurately simulates the process effect of the particular process type and separately analyzing combinations of different degree parameter values for each imaging effect to determine which combination most accurately simulates the imaging effect of the particular metrology tool.
In various applications of the invention, the metrology tool is a scanning electron microscope designed to measure and/or inspect samples. The samples may include, but are not limited to, a reticle and an integrated circuit. The structures include, but are not limited to, integrated circuit structures, resist pattern structures utilizable for fabricating integrated circuit structures, reticle structures, and resist pattern structures utilizable for fabricating reticle structures. In another embodiment, locating the structures on the sample is accomplished by a pixel based search. In yet another embodiment, locating the structures on the sample is accomplished by finding a first structure on the sample that is significantly correlated with a first one of the second reference images. In another aspect, locating the structures on the sample is accomplished by a feature-based search.
In another aspect, the invention pertains to a computer system operable to generate a test recipe for a metrology tool. The computer system includes one or more processors and one or more memory. At least one of the processors and memory are adapted to perform one or more of the above described inventive procedures. In yet another aspect, the invention pertains to a computer program product for generating a test recipe for a metrology tool. The computer program product includes at least one computer readable medium and computer program instructions stored within the at least one computer readable product configured to cause a combining device to perform one or more of the above described inventive procedures.
These and other features and advantages of the present invention will be presented in more detail in the following specification of the invention and the accompanying figures which illustrate by way of example the principles of the invention.

Apparatus and methods for modeling process effects and imaging effects in scanning electron microscopy


Embodiments of the invention relate to systems and methods for confidential mutual authentication. A first computer may blind its public key using a blinding factor. The first computer may generate a shared secret using its private key, the blinding factor, and a public key of a second computer. The first computer may encrypt the blinding factor and a certificate including its public key using the shared secret. The first computer may send its blinded public key, the encrypted blinding factor, and the encrypted certificate to the second computer. The second computer may generate the same shared secret using its private key and the blinded public key of the first computer. The second computer may authenticate the first computer by verifying its blinded public key using the blinding factor and the certificate of the first computer. The first computer authenticates the second computer similarly.

Ensuring that data is securely communicated between computers continues to be a concern. For instance, an attacker may attempt to eavesdrop on communications (e.g., by conducting a man-in-the-middle attack). Thus, an attacker may attempt to intercept data, such as a public key, that can be used to infer the identity of a user, a client computer, or a server computer. An attacker may also attempt to intercept identification data, such as a computer identifier or a public key of the computer, or authentication data, such as a password, transmitted by the computer. The intercepted data could be used to track the user device or it may be used for illicit purposes. Further complicating matters is the prior state of the computers before communicating. In some cases, the client computer and the server may not previously store a digital certificate of each other—in other words, the client computer and the server computer may not trust each other a priori. Conducting secure communications in such circumstances may pose a challenge.
Embodiments of the present invention address these and other problems individually and collectively.

Mutual authentication of confidential communication


An aqueous solution of acrylic acid and water containing 30 wt. % or less acrylic acid, can be concentrated to 40-60 wt. % acrylic acid in the overhead of a distillation column through the addition of certain salts that reverse the relative volatility between acrylic acid and water. Suitable salts can be ferrous, lithium and calcium chlorides.

Salts have been used for a variety of reasons to aid in the separation of acrylic acid and water.
The predominate use of salts has been to allow simple phase separation that results in a first phase containing 80 wt.% or more acrylic acid with water, and a second phase containing approximately 10 wt.% acrylic acid, water and the salt. U.S. Pat. No. 2,922,815 discloses that in the prior art, such drying agents as calcium chloride and sodium sulfate have been used to increase the concentration of acrylic acid-water systems from 35-40 wt.% acrylic acid to 50-60 wt.% acrylic acid. Further, nickel chloride or nickel bromide can be used to achieve concentrations of up to 80%.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,663,375, although directed to the separation of methacrylic acid from water, discloses a process suitable for the separation of acrylic acid wherein sodium sulfate is first mixed with the acid, followed by a two-phase separation. Both phases are then passed to separate distillation columns wherein the acid is removed from the rich phase, and a stream of water, salt and some acid removed from the dilute phase. However, use of sodium sulfate or sulfuric acid with acrylic acid has shown little or no phase separation. Thus, while the processing steps may be similar, different acids would have to be utilized.
U.S. application Ser. No. 860,516 discloses the use of aluminum chloride to achieve a 95 wt.% concentration of acrylic acid in the rich phase from an aqueous solution containing 50 wt.% acrylic acid.
Salts have also been shown to have other effects on acrylic acid-water solutions. U.S. Pat. No. 3,846,488 discloses that certain salts at low concentrations reduce the amount of time necessary for the separation of the phases to occur. U.S. application Ser. No. 860,937 discloses certain salts that eliminate the eutectic point of an aqueous acrylic acid solution, thereby allowing fractional crystallization.
It is also known that certain solvents, such as ethyl acetate, can extract acrylic acid from the aqueous solution using liquid-liquid separation (see U.S. Pat. No. 3,344,178). U.S. Pat. No. 3,846,488 notes that this liquid extraction efficiency can be increased by the addition of salts that affect the liquid-liquid equilibrium.
While the above salts have been effective in concentrating acrylic acid in the rich phase, there still remains a dilute acrylic acid phase, usually containing 20 wt.% or less acrylic acid, saturated with salt. Because of the relative volatilities between acrylic acid and water, fractional distillation of this stream is difficult and substantial losses of acrylic acid are realized in the separation. This is because acrylic acid is always more concentrated in the liquid than in the vapor in equilibrium with it.
It has been discovered that certain salts, independent of any solvents, can substantially reverse the relative volatility of acrylic acid and water, thus allowing a simple method of concentrating dilute acrylic acid solutions.

Recovery of acrylic acid by reversal of acrylic acid/water relative volatility


Methods of forming a fin-type field-effect transistor. A gate structure is formed that extends across a plurality of semiconductor fins. A spacer layer composed of a dielectric material is conformally deposited over the gate structure, the semiconductor fins, and a dielectric layer in gaps between the semiconductor fins. A protective layer is conformally deposited over the spacer layer. The protective layer over the dielectric layer in the gaps between the semiconductor fins is masked, and the protective layer is then removed from the gate structure and the semiconductor fins selective to the dielectric material of the spacer layer.

The present invention relates to semiconductor device fabrication and integrated circuits and, more specifically, to methods of forming a fin-type field-effect transistor.
Device structures for a field-effect transistor generally include a body region, a source and a drain defined in the body region, and a gate electrode configured to switch carrier flow in a channel formed during operation in the body region. When a control voltage exceeding a designated threshold voltage is applied to the gate electrode, carrier flow occurs in the channel between the source and drain to produce a device output current. For a planar field-effect transistor, the body region and channel are located beneath the top surface of a substrate on which the gate electrode is supported.
A fin-type field-effect transistor (FinFET) is a non-planar device structure that may be more densely packed in an integrated circuit than planar field-effect transistors. A FinFET may include one or more fins composed of semiconductor material, heavily-doped source/drain regions, and a gate electrode that wraps about a channel located in the fin body between the source/drain regions. The arrangement between the gate electrode and fin body improves control over the channel and reduces the leakage current when the FinFET is in its 'Off' state in comparison with planar transistors. This, in turn, enables the use of lower threshold voltages than in planar transistors, and results in improved performance and lowered power consumption.
The fins of a FinFET are partially buried in an isolation layer of dielectric material that is applied after the fins are formed and before the source/drain regions are formed by epitaxial growth. The clean and etch processes associated with the formation of the source/drain regions may recess the isolation layer and introduce gouges and voids in the isolation layer, which introduces holes in the body region. The gouges and voids in the isolation layer and the holes in the body region may subsequently become filled by a conductor, which can cause electrical shorts between adjacent gate electrodes or between a gate electrode and an adjacent interconnect contact extending to a source/drain region.

Protected trench isolation for fin-type field-effect transistors


A method for producing a reconstitutable dehydrated food product and an apparatus for producing such a product are described. The method calls for the use of a stationary vessel that is used as both a hydration device and a pressure cooker. A rotating member within the vessel ensures that the vessel contents are continuously mixed, and that fluids within the vessel are continuously spread through the contents. The apparatus also comprises a channel, wherein the food product is chopped and sized as desired, before going through a forming conduit that spreads the product into a generally flat sheet of texturized composition. The method and apparatus produce a dehydrated food product of a desired texture, with improved water absorption qualities and enhanced digestibility.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention is in the field of food products and, more particularly, directed to an apparatus for producing a dehydrated food product that is easily and quickly reconstitutable, and that, upon reconstitution, has a textured composition closely resembling the consistency and texture of conventionally-prepared refried beans.
2. Art Background
The prevalence of fast-food style establishments in recent years has been accompanied by an increased demand for reconstitutable food products, such as, for example, dehydrated refried beans. From an economic point of view, such products have several advantages. For example, each establishment can buy and store the product in bulk quantities without the risk of spoilage. Also, since the product is normally reconstituted in a matter of minutes by adding only water, there are savings in time, energy, and labor associated with the use of these products. Finally, since there is no need to continually prepare the food product in the conventional manner (i.e., to make the food fresh, and on a daily basis), there is also no need for each establishment to keep extra equipment (e.g., cookware, etc.) on the premises. As such, methods have been devised to produce reconstitutable food products that, ideally, could be prepared very quickly, and would have the taste, texture, and appearance of their conventionallyprepared counterparts.
Current methods and apparatus for producing such food products and, more specifically, refried bean products, required that one consider various factors. For example, to satisfy the requirement that the raw beans be mixed as they are hydrated and, also, as they are cooked, a number of the methods presently known employ rotating vessels. Vessels that rotate are used so that the beans can be contacted with a small amount of water that is diminishing as the water is absorbed by the beans. Controlled amounts of water are used during the cooking process in hopes that at the end, little or no water remains--only the cooked, hydrated beans. This is difficult to achieve, and the art has searched for various methods, as excess water can result in yield loss (some of the beans will dissolve into the water) and/or a pasty product that is difficult to further process and dry. Merely placing the beans in water has other shortcomings. For example, such method can result in some beans becoming too soft, while others do not become properly hydrated. Further, prior art vessels are generally quite bulky, which not only translates into added and more-frequent maintenance requirements, but also makes it more difficult to achieve economies of scale. Further still, generally, in many prior art vessels only a small amount of beans can be treated. In other words, to achieve the benefit of a small water-to-bean ratio, rotating vessels of particular configurations and having limited capacities were used. Even then, it is difficult to control the water absorption into the beans.
Yet other shortcomings relate to the starting materials that are used. In a typical prior art process for preparing refried beans, dry, raw beans are placed into the vessel, and a small quantity of water is added. Unless the vessel rotated, the beans on the top of the pile could absorb a different amount of water as compared to the beans at a position lower down. Further, as the water level in the vessel decreases, yet further non-uniform water absorption throughout the beans could result. It is known that raw beans typically have an initial moisture content in the range 6%-14%. However, current methods have difficulty using a batch of raw material that spans this entire range because the disparity in initial moisture levels exacerbates the variations in water absorption during hydration with small amount of water, which would, in turn, result in a non-uniform final product. As such, in order to use many prior art methods and apparatuses, the practitioner is limited to using rotating vessels and to batches of raw materials, each of which falls within a small sub-group of initial moisture-content ranges (e.g., those in the 6-8% range, or those in the 10-12% range, etc.).
In the current state of the art, there are also disadvantages associated with the end product itself (e.g., with the dehydrated bean product). For example, even though one goal of dehydrated food products is to allow for rapid water take-up at reconstitution, this goal is only partially met in current dehydrated bean products. As is known in the art, most current methods produce products that are either in the shape of small pellets or in the shape of flakes or in the shape of fine powder. In the case of pellets, because of the way in which the final product is prepared, typically only a small portion of the surface area of each pellet (i.e., typically, the two ends of each pellet) provides areas through which water can easily be absorbed; the remainder of the pellet's outer surface is inefficient in absorbing water. Flakes, on the other hand, due to their method of manufacture, have a harder outer surface and are generally treated with oil on their surface, which is a water repellent, so that water take-up upon reconstitution is actually slower than it may be otherwise. Therefore, in both cases, water absorption rates are not optimal.
Moreover, upon reconstitution, many of the dehydrated products currently available turn into paste-like, or other similar, uniform compositions, where there is generally a lack of texture in the food. This is especially true with methods and apparatuses that produce a granular, rather than a pelletized, or flake-like, dehydrated product. In addition, regardless of the actual shape and form of the final product, there is no simple provision in existing methods and apparatuses for varying (i.e., custom making) the texture of the final product as desired.
Reference is made to U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,676,990; 4,735,816 and 4,871,567 as further examples of the prior art. These references illustrate various bean-making processes, but all have a number of shortcomings. For example, in the '990 patent, a pelletized product is produced by particularized processing steps and related apparatus. In the '816 and '567 patents, a thin, flake-like product is produced by means of yet other particularized processing steps and apparatus. These processes are complicated and the final products are only marginally close to refried beans made to have a pleasant texture with a desired amount of bean particulates.
The features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent through the following description. It should be understood, however, that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating particular embodiments of the invention, are given by way of illustration only and various modifications may naturally be performed without deviating from the spirit of the present invention.

Apparatus for producing a reconstitutable dehydrated food product


The present invention provides a sheet feeder, including: a support member which can be rotated around a pivot at upstream side thereof in a sheet feeding direction and supports sheets; a driving unit rotating the support member upwardly; a feeding portion feeding the sheets; a first detection unit detecting the sheets on the support member at a first detection position above the support member; a second detection unit detecting the sheets on the support member at a second detection position located at upstream of the first detection position and below the first detection position; and a stacking amount determining portion determining a stacking amount of the sheets on the support member, based on a period of time between a time when the second detection unit detects the sheets and a time when the first detection unit detects the sheets while the support member is upwardly rotated by the driving unit.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a sheet feeder and an image forming apparatus, and more particularly, to a sheet feeder which can detect the stacking amount of sheets contained in the sheet feeder, and an image forming apparatus including the same.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventionally, in an image forming apparatus such as a printer, a facsimile machine, or a copying machine, there has been known a method of detecting that the amount of sheets stacked in a stacking tray becomes smaller using the rotation position of an intermediate plate which raises the sheets (Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H06-179544).
In an image forming apparatus, for example, sheets are pushed up by rotating an intermediate plate which is rotatably supported by a stacking tray, and first, the presence or absence of sheets stacked on the intermediate plate is detected by a sheet presence or absence detection sensor. When there is no sheet, the image forming apparatus ends feeding operation. When sheets are stacked, the upper surface of the sheets is detected by an upper surface detection sensor so that the sheets which are pushed up are kept at a predetermined height. Further, a remaining amount detection sensor detects the stacking amount of the sheets based on the rotation position of the intermediate plate or the like.
In the conventional image forming apparatus, in detecting the stacking amount of the sheets stacked in the stacking tray, the three sensors, that is, the sheet presence or absence detection sensor, the upper surface detection sensor, and the remaining amount detection sensor are required. Therefore, space for the sheet presence or absence detection sensor, the upper surface detection sensor, and the remaining amount detection sensor is necessary, which inhibits downsizing of the image forming apparatus that is desired these days, and also, the need for the three sensors inhibits cost reduction of the image forming apparatus.

Sheet feeder and image forming apparatus


At a first virtual device executing in a data processing system, a determination is made whether a partner list associated with the first virtual device includes a threshold number of partner virtual devices, the first virtual device participating in the control cluster. A first Live packet is unicast over the VLAN to each partner virtual device identified in the partner list. A unicast of a second Live packet from a second virtual device to the first virtual device is received over the VLAN, the second virtual device being identified in the partner list. A Hello packet is broadcast over the VLAN to cause the Hello packet to reach a third virtual device, wherein the Hello packet is configured to discover a new partner virtual device to add to the partner list, discovering the new partner enlarging the control cluster.

A data processing system can be configured to operate as more than one data processing system in a variety of ways. For example, a data processing system can be divided into logical partitions (LPARs). Such data processing systems are also known as logically partitioned data processing systems or host systems. A host system operates as a virtualized data processing environment. A logically partition is also known simply as a "partition." Each partition operates as a separate data processing system independent of the other partitions.
Generally, a partition management firmware component connects the various partitions and provides the network connectivity among them. A hypervisor is an example of such partition management firmware. A partition shares all or some of the resources available in the host system on which the partition operates. The shared resources can be hardware, software, or firmware available in the host system. Some examples of host system resources shared by one or more partitions executing on the host system include, but are not limited to, one or more processor, memory, adapters, storage devices, an operating system component, a firmware component, and a bus.
A host system can be configured to operate as multiple data processing systems in ways other than partitions as well. Virtual Input/Output System (VIOS) is another method for operating a host system as multiple data processing systems. Hereinafter, the term "partition" comprises not just logical partitions created by partitioning a host system but also other configurations of multiple data processing systems configured on a host system in other ways.
Regardless of how the multiple data processing systems are configured on a host system, resource sharing is a common aspect of all such configurations. Virtualization is one method by which the partitions share a host system's resources. For example, if the host system includes one physical input/output (I/O) adapter, such as an Ethernet network adapter, that physical network adapter is virtualized so that one or more virtual network adapters refer back to the physical adapter.
For example, one partition may be assigned one of the virtual adapters and another partition may be assigned another one of the virtual adapters. Both partitions use the same physical adapter, using a bridging mechanism.
Multiple physical resources can be virtualized and utilized by partitions in this manner. Multiple copies of a resource can similarly be virtualized and used by the partitions. For example, if a host system supports multiple network adapters for redundancy, each of those multiple adapters can be virtualized, and their corresponding virtual adapters assigned to a partition to provide similar redundancy in the partition.
In one example configuration, multiple virtual adapters corresponding to the same physical adapter couple with each other via a virtual switch in the hypervisor. The virtual switch enables each coupled virtual adapter to communicate with each other and with an external data processing system. For example, the virtual switch sends the packets from a virtual adapter to an external destination, and receives packets from an external source for a virtual adapter, using a virtual trunk adapter. The virtual trunk adapter communicates with a virtual bridge, and the virtual bridge in-turn communicates with the physical adapter to make such data communications possible.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Partner discovery in control clusters using shared VLAN

INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION


A MOS semiconductor device which exhibits high switching operations including high turn-on and an excellent self-cooling capability. The device prevents damage to insulation films and electrodes thereof. An IGT includes a multi-layer structure having a p type emitter layer, an n type base layer, a p type base layer and an n type emitter layer superimposed therein. A gate electrode and an overlying gate oxide film are disposed on a recessed surface of the multi-layer structure. A cathode electrode is located only in and around a cathode surface so that most of the top surface of the gate electrode is uncovered. Via an intervening cathode distortion snubbering plate, the cathode electrode is in pressure contact with a cathode electrode body. The gate and the cathode electrodes have a reduced capacitance therebetween. The cathode electrode body serves to cool the cathode electrode. The gate electrode and the gate oxide film are protected from stress, and hence, will not be damaged by stress.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a MOS semiconductor device and a fabrication method of the same.
2. Description of the Background Art
A gate-controlled device in which main current is controlled by MOS structure gate is generally referred to as a MOS semiconductor device. Among those MOS-gate-controlled semiconductor devices known in the art are: a MOS-controlled thyristor (MCT) proposed by V. A. K. Temple, IEEE Trans. on Electron Devices, ED-33, page 1609; and an insulated gate transistor (IGT) suggested by B. J. Baliga, IEEE Electron Device Lett., EDL-14, page 452.
FIG. 28 shows a unit cell 100 of an IGT device as viewed from above and in cross section. In FIG. 28, an n type base layer 2 is disposed atop a p type emitter layer 1 so as to form a pn junction J.sub.1 at its interface with the p type emitter layer 1. Provided in the top central portion of the n type base layer 2 is a p type base layer 3 which consists of a relatively heavily doped p.sup.+ type region 3a and a p type region 3b. The p.sup.+ type region 3a is centered in the p type base layer 3 and surrounded by the p type region 3b. The n type base layer 2 and the p type base layer 3 abut at a pn junction J.sub.2 therebetween.
A ring shaped emitter layer 4 of n type material is selectively provided in an upper portion of the p type base layer 3. A portion of the top surface of the n type emitter layer 4 and an adjacent surface of the p.sup.+ type region 3a serve as a cathode surface 5. A pn junction J.sub.3 is formed at an interface between the p type base layer 3 and the n type emitter layer 4.
At its top surface, the p type region 3b includes a channel region CH. A gate oxide film 6 overlies the channel region CH and a region around the same. A gate electrode 7 is buried in the gate oxide film 6 and electrically connected to an external gate electrode G.
A cathode electrode 8 is disposed over the gate oxide film 6 as well as the cathode surface 5. This allows that the p type base layer 3 and the n type emitter layer 4 are in electrical contact with each other through the cathode electrode 8. However, the gate electrode 7 and the cathode electrode 8 are insulated from each other by the intervening gate oxide film 6. The cathode electrode 8 is electrically connected to an external cathode electrode K.
A bottom surface of the p type emitter layer 1 is an anode surface 9. An anode electrode 10 entirely covers the anode surface 9, thereby ensuring electrical contact between the p type emitter layer 1 and the anode electrode 10. The anode electrode 10 is connected to an external anode electrode A.
Behavior of the IGT unit cell 100 as above is as follows.
With a higher potential at the anode electrode 10 than the cathode electrode 8 while keeping the gate electrode 7 in a floating state, the pn junction J.sub.2 is reversely biased. Hence, no current flow would be generated between the anode electrode 10 and the cathode electrode 8.
An alternate case is where the anode electrode 10 is at a higher potential than the cathode electrode 8 and the gate electrode 7 is at a higher potential than the cathode electrode 8. With the p type region 3b being in electrical contact with the cathode electrode 8 via the p.sup.+ type region 3a while being coupled with the gate electrode 7 through the intervening gate oxide film 6, carrier charge storage occurs in the gate electrode 7 and the channel region CH and a channel is established in that region. The channel short circuits the n type base layer 2 to the n type emitter layer 4, initiating current flow between the anode electrode 10 and the cathode electrode 8. Thus, the unit cell 100 turns on.
If the gate voltage is removed in this on-state, the stored charge in the channel region CH is discharged, causing a exponential-like fall-off in a potential level around the channel region CH. As a result, the channel which has been short circuiting the n type base layer 2 and the n type emitter layer 4 disppears. Since the pn junction J.sub.2 is reverse biased, the disappearance of the channel blocks the current flow between the anode electrode 10 and the cathode electrode 8. This is the turn-off behavior of the unit cell 100.
An IGT pellet is constituted by connecting a plurality of (e.g., thousands of) the unit cells 100 parrallel in a matrix (FIG. 29). On the IGT pellet, the gate electrode 7, the cathode electrode 8 and the anode electrode 10 of one unit cell 100 are electrically connected to respective corresponding electrodes of an adjacent unit cell 100.
The gate electrodes 7 of the unit cells 100 are wire bonded with the external gate electrode G by aluminium or other wires (not shown). The anode electrodes 10 are brazed to the external anode electrode A.
Likewise, the cathode electrodes 8 are wipe bonded with the external cathode electrode K by aluminium or other wires.
The conventional MOS device requires that the cathode electrodes 8 and the external cathode electrode K are wire bonded to obtain electrical contact therebetween. However, as known in the art, a self-cooling capability of the cells is less excellent than where the electrical contact between the electrodes is ensured by pressure contact method (pressure contact structure).
FIG. 31 shows a portion, precisely around one unit cell 100, of the IGT pellet of FIG. 29 as adopting the pressure contact structure. In FIG. 31, a cathode electrode body 15 and the cathode electrode 8 are in pressure contact, thereby ensuring electrical conduction therebetween. In more details, the cathode electrode 8 consists of a recess portion 8a and a projecting portion 8b, the recess portion 8a being located directly on the cathode surface 5 and the projecting portion 8b being offset from the cathode surface 5 and overlying the gate oxide film 6. The cathode electrode body 15 is in pressure contact with the cathode electrode 8 only at the projecting portion 8b.
By pressure contacting the anode electrode 10 and an anode electrode body 17, electrical conduction therebetween is attained. This makes improvement possible in the self-cooling capability of the IGT pellet to dissipate heat developed in the same from the anode and the cathode electrodes 10 and 8.
Despite the enhanced the self-cooling capability, the conventional IGT has two problems.
The first problem stems from the direct pressure contact between the cathode electrode body 15 and the projecting portion 8b of the cathode electrode 8, this structure aiming at contacting the electrode bodies 15 and 17 and the electrodes 8 and 10, respectively. The gate oxide film 6 and the gate electrode 7 under the projecting portion 8b are films made of material such as silicon dioxide and polycrystalline silicon which are easily destroyed by mechanical stress. The state of the art MOS fabrication approach, however, still has a difficulty in controlling the gate oxide film 6 and the gate electrode 7 as to the uniformity in their thicknesses. Hence, when the cathode electrode body 15 and the electrode 8 are pressed against each other, the gate oxide film 6 and the gate electrode 7 are also subjected to the stress through the projecting portion 8b but only unevenly, and often deformed or destroyed. If this happens, the IGT pellet malfunctions.
The second problem relates to switching speed. To understand the second problem, the turn-on behavior of one IGT unit cell 100 will be described in detail. First, a control voltage V.sub.G is impressed on the external gate electrode G, causing charge storage in the gate electrode 7, and hence, increase in a potential V at the gate electrode 7. FIG. 30 is a graph plotting the increase in the potential V. The graph shows that with the control voltage V.sub.G impressed on the external gate electrode G at the time T.sub.0, the potential V at the gate electrode 7 rises exponentionally almost up to the control voltage V.sub.G. The upward curve of the voltage rise is expressed as: EQU V=V.sub.G .times.{1-exp (-t/.tau.)} (1)
where .tau. is time constant.
Now, assume that a threshold value of the potential V for creating the channel is V.sub.th, creation of the channel is completed in a time t.sub.0 after the control voltage V.sub.G was given to the external gate electrode G. In other words, the unit cell 100 turns on with time delay of t.sub.0 from the start of the gate voltage application. For high speed switching, the time duration t.sub.0 needs to be reduced. To reduce the time duration t.sub.0, the time constant .tau. must be small.
Since that the time constant .tau. is given as EQU .tau.=C.sub.iss .times.R.sub.g ( 2)
where C.sub.iss is an input capacitance and R.sub.g is a gate resistance of the unit cell 100, reduction in either the input capacitance C.sub.iss or the gate resistance R.sub.g lowers the time constant .tau.. The gate resistance R.sub.g herein defined is a resistance between the external gate electrode G and the gate electrode 7. The input capacitance C.sub.iss is a sum of a capacitance C.sub.1 between the gate electrode 7 and the cathode electrode 8, a capacitance C.sub.2 between the gate electrode 7 and the n type emitter layer 4, a capacitance C.sub.3 between the gate electrode 7 and the p type base layer 3 and a capacitance C.sub.4 between the gate electrode 7 and the n type base layer 2 (FIG. 32). In short, the input capacitance C.sub.iss is given as: EQU C.sub.iss =C.sub.1 +C.sub.2 +C.sub.3 +C.sub.4 ( 3)
The gate oxide film 6, which intervenes the gate electrode 7 and the cathode electrode 8, is usually formed by a silicon dioxide film to the thickness of about 1 .mu.m. Hence, the capacitance C.sub.1 per unit area is around 3.5 nF/cm.sup.2. Considering that the electrodes 7 and 8 share a large contacting area, the capacitance C.sub.1 accounts for a noneligible amount of the overall capacitance C.sub.iss. This large influence of the capacitance C.sub.1 may explain why success of the various past efforts to reduce the capacitances C.sub.2 and C.sub.4 is yet to be seen. Enough small time constant .tau., and hence, satisfactory improvement in switching speed have not been achieved.
Thus, the conventional IGTs are faced with these two problems. However, other MOS semiconductor devices are no exception in this regard.

Pressure contact type MOS semiconductor device and fabrication method of the same