A device for operating a mouse-operated computer program includes a base having an upwardly projecting handle firmly secured thereto. The handle may also be linked to the base for fixing in any desired position relative to the base. The handle includes an operating means on top of the handle and/or one of the sides of the handle, and/or on the actual base in order to provide signals which can control the position of the mouse pointer on a computer screen. Rolling balls or similar sliding means are provided on the underside of the base.

The present invention relates to a device for operating a mouse-operated computer program as disclosed in the preamble of claim 1.
When operating a mouse-operated computer program it has hitherto been usual to use a flat object having push buttons for operation and a roller on the underside which controls the mouse pointer. These mouse-like articles have been given an ergometric shape so that they fit well in the hand, but during use the hand must of course be twisted from the natural position of rest, which causes constant tension in the elbow area. The use of such mice has been found to cause inflammation and pain in the arm when used over a long period of time. In order to avoid these static positions it has been recommended that the mouse should be used in different positions, and different types of underlying surfaces have been made which are supposed to give a better working posture, but none of these have proven to be satisfactory.
In order to overcome some of these drawbacks a so-called mouse pen has been developed, but this has not been found to give the desired result either with regard to a normal working posture which does not cause tension in the arm.
The objective of the present invention is to obviate the aforementioned problems of chronic pains and the inconveniences these entail. This is done by means of a device for operating mouse-operated computer programs, the characteristic features of which are disclosed in the specification and the claims. Additional features of the invention are disclosed in the remaining dependent claims.
By means of the device according to the claims there is provided a possibility of being able to work with mouse-operated computer programs without any anxiety about muscular tension and other pain since the hand will be in a normal position of rest without any twists of the arm, and the weight of the arm can rest fully on the device.
Since buttons are located at different points the user will be able to change fingers when operating icons or similar in the computer program. In this way, static use of the fingers is also avoided, and thus any muscular tension which might result in chronic conditions will, in a simple manner, be avoided.
The provision on the underside of the mouse of contact points in the form of rolling balls or sliding surfaces enables the device to be operated with ease of movement on the mouse pad in such a way that no extra strength will be necessary in order to move the mouse pointer on the screen. This means that the weight of the arm can rest on the device and that the usual small lift of the arm with subsequent muscular tension will disappear.

Device for operating a mouse-operated computer program


An optical head for detecting defocuses of a target comprises a waveguide element having a substrate and an optical waveguide layer formed thereon. An optical coupler and one or more pairs of photodetectors are integrated with the waveguide layer. Light reflected back from the target is coupled with the waveguide layer through the coupler and then waveguided toward the photodetectors while being collected. Each of the photodetectors can detect the waveguided light so that a focus error signal can be obtained from the difference of the outputs of the photodetectors. The photodetectors of each pair are spaced from each other in a propagation direction of the waveguide layer so that one of the photodetectors can block off a fraction of the waveguided light from the other photodetector when the target surface is in focus. In another form, two pairs of photodetectors are spaced forward and rearward from the focused position of the waveguided light, respectively, with respect to a propagation direction of the waveguide layer so as to receive different portions of the waveguided light.

The present invention relates generally to an optical head for detecting defocuses of a target to be maasured using a focusing optical system. The optical head of the invention is applicable, as an optical pickup head, to an information recording and/or reproducing apparatus using optical recording medium as a target. The invention is also applicable to a focus adjusting mechanism in an optical position sensor, a microscope or the like.
In an optical information recording/reproducing apparatus, it is generally indispensable to fabricate an optical pickup head in small size and lightweight for obtaining rapid access. For this purpose, recently, it has been proposed to integrate an optical pickup head by employing a waveguide element.
An exemplary optical pickup head utilizing a collector/grating coupler is disclosed in a thesis entitled "Collector/Grating Coupler of Twin-Focus Type for Optical Pickup", published at General Meeting in 1986 of Optic-Electric Wave Department of Electro-communication Society (hereinafter referred to as a first reference). The arrangement disclosed therein is such that light emitted from a semiconductor laser is collimated by a collimating lens and then passes through a collector/grating coupler formed on an optical waveguide layer which, in turn, is formed on a transparent substrate of the waveguide element. Thereafter, the collimated light is focused on an optical disk through an objective lens. Light reflected from the optical disk passes through the objective lens and is again incident on the collector/grating coupler which can diffract a fraction of incident light so as to couple it with the waveguide layer, so that the diffracted light can be waveguided within the waveguide layer. The collector/grating coupler can also split the diffracted light into two collected light beams. Two pairs of photodetectors are integrated with the waveguide layer at two positions so that when the optical system is in focus with respect to the optical disk, one of the waveguided beams is collected at a midpoint between the photodetectors .fo one pair, while the other waveguided beam is collected at a midpoint between the photodetectors of the other pair. The photodetectors of each pair are aligned to each other in a direction transverse to the waveguide direction. Each photodetector can generate an output signal. The magnitude of the signal corresponds to the amount of light received thereon. Based on the output signals of the photodetectors, a focus error signal is obtained using a Foucault method, while a tracking signal is obtained using a push-pull method.
Japanese Patent Laying Open (KOKAI) No. 63-71946 (hereinafter referred to as a second reference) discloses another arrangement of an optical pickup head in which a grating coupler, a grating beam splitter, and several photodetectors, are integrated with a waveguide element. The arrangement disclosed therein is such that a light beam emitted from a semiconductor laser diverges through the grating coupler formed on a waveguide layer which, in turn, is formed on a transparent substrate of the waveguide element. The beam is then focused on an optical disk. through an objective lens. The light reflected back from the optical disk is converted to collected light by the objective lens and is then incident on the grating coupler which diffract a fraction of the collected light so as to couple it with the waveguide layer, so that thc collected light can be waveguided within the waveguide layer. The waveguided light is then split into two collected beams deflected in different directions. Two pairs of photodetectors are disposed in the same manner as those in the first reference. A focus error signal, a tracking signal, and data signals can be obtained in the same manner as described above.
Another type of optical pickup head is disclosed in a thesis entitled "Integrated-Optic Disk Pick-up Device", published by IEEE, Journal of Lightwave Technology, Vol. LT-4, No. 7, July 1986 (hereinafter referred to as a third reference). The optical head disclosed therein comprises a waveguide element having a buffer layer and an optical waveguide layer which are successively formed on the Silicone substrate (hereinafter referred to as Si-substrate). A grating beam splitter and a collector/grating coupler are respectively formed on the waveguide layer. Further, a semiconductor laser is coupled with the end face of the Si-substrate so that a laser beam emitted therefrom is waveguided by the waveguide layer. After the waveguided beam diverges through the grating beam splitter, it is diffracted by the collector/grating coupler out of the waveguide element and is then focused on an optical disk. After the reflected light from the optical disk is again incident on the collector/grating coupler, a fraction thereof is converted into waveguided light. Thereafter, the grating beam splitter diffracts and splits the collected-waveguided light into two waveguided beams which are detected by two pairs of photodetectors in the same manner as those shown in the aforementioned references. Accordingly, A focus error signal, a tracking signal, and data signals can be obtained in the same manner as described above.
In the arrangement shown in the first reference, the focus error signal is obtained using the Foucault method, as mentioned above. In this case, in order to fabricate the optical pickup head small, a focal distance of the grating coupler has to be shortened so as to decrease the path of the detecting optical system. However, the more the focal distance is shortened, the more the diameter of focused spots of the waveguided beams at respective midpoints between the two photodetectors of the two pairs becomes small. This causes the constituent elements to be positioned in place with high accuracy so that when the optical disk is positioned at a predetermined standard position on the optical axis, the focused spots of the waveguided beams are each positioned at a midpoint between the corresponding two photodetectors.
Further, the more the path of the detecting optical system is shortened, the more the focus-error detection sensitivity, which corresponds to the ratio of the magnitude of the focus error signal to the amount of the focus error, becomes worse. In order to eliminate such a problem, it becomes necessary to decrease the gaps in size between the two photodetectors of pairs in proportion to the shortening of the detecting system path. However, there is a technical limitation, in fabricating the photodetectors, to decreasing the size of the gap between the two adjacent photodetectors placed side by side with each other. For example, if PIN type photodiodes are fabricated on the Si-substrate, a gap of more than about 10 .mu.m occurs between the two adjacent photodiodes of each pair.
Accordingly, it has been difficult to fabricate an optical head which is small and lightweight without deteriorating detection-sensitivity to a focus error of an optical system in relation to an object.
The above-mentioned circumstances are similarly applied to the cases of the second and third references in which a focus error signal is obtained using the same Foucault method.
In the case of the third reference, particularly, for the purpose of positioning the focused spots of the collected-waveguided beams at respective midpoints of the photodetectors, it is necessary to precisely adjust a position of the semiconductor laser with respect to the Si-substrate by moving it in a direction parallel to the plane surface of the Si-substrate. However, it is very difficult to carry out such a precise adjustment while maintaining coupling of light with the waveguide layer.


A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a server having a controller to obtain billing data associated with a plurality of calls over a Voice Over Internet Protocol network, determine special service calls being made based on the billing data, monitor for the special service calls being associated with at least one of one calling number or one network node, and determine an undesired condition based at least in part on the special service calls being made from the one calling number or through the one network node exceeding a threshold. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Various architectures and protocols are available for providing voice communications between parties, such as Public Switched Telephone networks, Public Land Mobile networks, and Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) networks. Similar to other networks, VoIP networks handle calls between various parties, including special service calls (e.g., 911 calls). Users expect a certain level of reliability for special service calls.

Apparatus and method for managing priority communication


A system connector is provided to allow for the communication of digital signals between two devices functioning at different operating voltages. The connector allows for the interfacing of the high and low signal logic levels through the use of each devices own operating voltage without the need for complex signal conversion of voltage levels. The connector may be used to allow communication between mobile phones and their accessories. The system connector may be incorporated into an accessory or portable device allowing the signal level interfacing between the portable device and accessory. The system connector supplies a high-level or low-level digital signal to a first device operating at a first voltage in response to a corresponding high-level or low-level digital signal from a second device operating at a second voltage. In addition, the system connector may also provide a high-level or low-level digital signal from a second device operating at a second voltage in response to a corresponding high-level or low-level digital signal from the first device operating at the first voltage.

The present invention generally relates to interfacing between devices having different operating voltages, in particular, signal level interfacing between mobile phones and their associated accessories.
A continuing trend in portable devices is to provide devices with lower and lower operating voltages. Newer equipment and ASICs have been designed so that they may now run at much lower operating voltages. Lower operating voltages have many desirable benefits such as the need for fewer cells in a battery pack for portable devices. Operation at lower voltages can also improve speed, packaging density, and efficiency while reducing heat generation. Traditionally, most portable devices, such as mobile phones, have operating voltages of .about.5 volts and digitally communicate at a 5 volt logic-level. However, it appears that the traditional 5 volt-logic technology is becoming increasingly displaced by newer circuitry that is designed to operate at .about.3 volts supply voltage. For example, many existing mobile phones utilize 5 NiMH (Nickel Metal Hydride) cells, that correspond to a phone operating voltage of up to .about.5 volts. In contrast, newer phones and their accessories are now being designed to utilize 3 NiMH cells or one Li-ion cell, that correspond down to an operating voltage of .about.3 volts. As more systems adopt the three volt logic, a resulting problem presented to the designer is how to convert between three volt logic of newer mobile phones and the five volt logic of the previously existing accessories. Of course, one skilled in the art will recognize that this problem is not restricted to 3 and 5 volt logic level devices but can exist between any devices that communicate digitally with each other and that operate at different voltage levels.
One possible solution would be to provide a switched-mode voltage supply in the accessory or mobile phone. When the accessory (or mobile phone) was connected to a mobile phone (or accessory), the switched-mode voltage supply could be set to an appropriate voltage supply mode based upon the sensed voltage levels of the connected device. However, observation of available switches indicates that an operating efficiency of not much over 70% can be expected when working from, for example, a 5 volt input, delivering about 5 amps. Thus, a problem with this solution is that the voltage loses associated with the power switch, for example those across a free wheeling diode and associated the rectifying diodes, are too large a fraction of the 5 volts. This, in turn, may cause the resulting voltage to be at least a logically indetermination level. This problem is further aggravated by the relatively high current load involved.
Another possible solution would be to use a linear regulator to adjust the voltage of a fixed 5 volt supply to three volts when a connected device operated at the lower logic level. However, considering additional factors, such as electrical noise and circuit complexity, using a linear regulator becomes considerably less attractive. For example, the operating efficiency of a linear regulator used to convert 5 volt to 3 volt is only about 60%. It is therefore apparent that using a linear regulation in combination with a fixed voltage supply is even less desirable than using a switched mode voltage supply to solve this problem.
As portable devices, such as mobile phones or lap tops, switch to different operating voltages, more and more existing devices will be incompatible with newer devices and their accessories. In the case of mobile phones, newer mobile phones designed to operate at the 3 volt operating level will be incompatible with existing 5 volt operating level accessories and vice versa. As a result, there will be an increased need for signal level interfacing of the digital information that is to be communicated between devices in order for the newer devices and their accessories having different operating voltages and logic to be compatible.


A method of forming an electronic device is provided that includes forming a resist layer over a substrate having a first region, a second region, and a third region. The method further includes directing radiation through a reticle, wherein the reticle comprises different radiation zones having significantly different transmission values with respect to each other, and the first region is exposed to a significantly different amount of radiation as compared to the second region. The method also includes removing part of the resist layer to leave a remaining portion such that the second region of the resist layer is significantly thinner than the third region of the resist layer, and then ion implanting the substrate while the remaining portion of the resist layer overlies the substrate to form a first implant region and a second implant region having different depths.

1. Field of the Disclosure
This disclosure relates to methods of forming electronic devices, and more particularly, to ion implanting regions having deep implant regions relative to adjacent shallow implant regions.
2. Description of the Related Art
Typically implant regions are formed through a series of processes, including for example masking, implanting, and possibly a thermal treatment process. Even more processing steps may be used to form implant regions of different junction depths, such as an implant region having a shallow junction region and a deep junction region relative to the shallow junction region. FIGS. 1-2 illustrate a known method of forming an implant region having different depths. In FIG. 1, a resist layer 103 is formed over a substrate 101. The resist layer 103 includes an opening 104 wherein the substrate 101 is exposed. During processing, ions are directed at the work surface including the resist layer 103 and the opening 104, such that the ions are implanted within the substrate 101 only in the portion of substrate underlying the opening 104 in the resist layer 103, thereby forming a implant region 107.
Referring to FIG. 2, after forming the implant region 107, the resist layer 103 can be removed and replaced with a different resist layer 109. The resist layer 109 has an opening 110 that is wider and overlying the implant region 107 and portions of the substrate 101. An ion implanting process can be completed to form a second implant region 113 in the portion of the substrate 101 underlying the opening 110. By comparison, the second implant region 113 has a shallower junction depth than the previously formed implant region 107 thereby forming a shallow junction region and a deep junction depth region. Thus, two separate resist layers 103 and 109 are used to form the implant regions 107 and 113.
Skilled artisans appreciate that elements in the figures are illustrated for simplicity and clarity and have not necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements in the figures may be exaggerated relative to other elements to help to improve understanding of embodiments of the invention.

Methods of forming electronic devices by ion implanting


Provided are a motion determination device and a method capable of correctly determining a kicking motion by a user about to open or close a gate of a vehicle. The motion determination device includes sensors respectively mounted on positions spaced apart from each other and detecting approach of an object, and a determination device which determines that the predetermined kicking motion has been performed, when each detection value shows a predetermined pattern, a time until each of the detection values becomes less than a first threshold value after it becomes the first threshold value or more is within a predetermined time, and a ratio of a maximum value among detection values by a first sensor and a maximum value among the detection values by a second sensor different from the first sensor is within a predetermined range.

A technology has been disclosed in which releasing locking of an opening/closing body, and an opening operation of the opening/closing body are automatically performed by a driver (user) having an electronic key performing a kicking motion in a vicinity of the opening/closing body when the driver is about to open or close the opening/closing body such as a trunk, a rear gate, a hinged door, and a sliding door of a vehicle (for example, PATENT LITERATURE 1 and PATENT LITERATURE 2).
According to the device described in PATENT LITERATURE 1, electrostatic sensors for detecting approach of the user are provided at two different places around the trunk. Then, after an upper sensor detects approach of a portion near the user's knee, when a lower sensor detects approach of a distal portion from the user's ankle, it is determined that the kicking motion has been performed. Then, the rear gate opens.
In the device described in PATENT LITERATURE 2, one upper electrostatic sensor and a plurality of lower electrostatic sensors are provided. Then, when two or more of the plurality of lower sensors detect the approach at the same time, the rear gate is controlled not to open. In this way, an erroneous operation is prevented.

Motion determination device and motion determination method


A photodiode having a GaInAs light-absorbing layer on an InP substrate which can reduce temperature dependence of the spectral responsivity as well as enable the optical power measurement with less dependence on the incident light spectral width by using a material with smaller composition ratio of Ga for the light-absorbing layer to extend the absorption edge toward the longer wavelengths.

When a ternary or quaternary alloy semiconductor is expressed in this specification, component elements of the semiconductor are described by a series of elements like [GaInAs]. The actual composition of such a semiconductor is expressed like [Ga.sub.x In.sub.1-x As].
Most applications receiving light having a relatively long wavelength have used a photodiode made of materials such as germanium (Ge) and gallium indium arsenic phosphide (GaInAsP) other than special cases. Ga.sub.x In.sub.1-x As.sub.y P.sub.1-y (where x or y indicates composition) has been considered to be particularly preferable as the band gap energy thereof may be changed while the lattice constant thereof is matched with that of the InP crystal by selecting the composition properly. This makes it possible to epitaxially grow a light-absorbing layer having any desired spectral range for available sensitivity within the wavelength of about 1-1.7 .mu.m on an InP substrate.
Such a light-absorbing layer of Ga.sub.x In.sub.1-x As.sub.y P.sub.1-y may be used as an avalanche photodiode by forming a pn junction within the light-absorbing layer, a pn junction between the layer and the substrate or a pn junction within the InP cap layer formed on the light-absorbing layer. It is also known to use such light-absorbing layer as a PIN photodiode by forming an InP cap layer thereon. Recently there has been manufactured a GaInAsP photodiode which has superior electrical characteristics to the Ge photodiode in such electric characteristics as dark current, frequency response, multiplication noise as well as the spectral responsivity in the wavelength longer than about 1.5 .mu.m. Details are given in S. Sakai et al., Collection of papers of Telecommunications Association, Vol. J62-C, No.10, 1979/10.
Among Ga.sub.x In.sub.1-x As.sub.y P.sub.1-y crystals, those having x=0.47, y=l or Ga.sub.0.47 In.sub.0.53 As have the smallest band gap energy, 0.75 eV at room temperature, of all those having the lattice constant matched with that of InP. When such crystals are used as the light-absorbing layer, the photodiode will have a spectral responsivity of approximately 0.9-1.7 .mu.m. The drop in the spectral responsivity in the range below 1 .mu.m is attributable to light absorption by the InP cap layer provided on the incident side of the light absorbing layer. The drop at longer wavelengths is attributable to the fact that the absorption edge of the light-absorbing layer of Ga.sub.0.47 In.sub.053 As is around 1.65 .mu.m, and therefore light having wavelengths longer than that cannot be absorbed.
FIG. 1 shows an example of measurement of the spectral responsivity as a function of the wavelength for a conventional photodiode. As shown in (2): H. Yamagishi, Y. Suzuki and A. Hiraida, "Precise Measurement of Photodiode Spectral Responses Using the Calorimetric Method", IEEE Trans. Instrum. Meas. 38 (1989) 578, a commercial Ga.sub.0.47 In.sub.0.53 As/InP-PIN photodiode is measured at different temperatures of -15.9.degree. C., -4.degree. C., 19.9.degree. C. and 39.7.degree. C. The spectral responsivity is expressed in terms of the output electric current [A] per incident optical power [W], and the incident optical power was measured by a highly sensitive calorimeter.
The spectral responsivity such as above may be simulated at a considerably high precision by using the external quantum efficiency next=[spectral responsivity/absolute spectral responsivity] of the PIN photodiode structure obtained by experiment with consideration of the structure of the anti-reflection coating film against the incident light. The method of simulation is indicated in M. Wada, M. Seko, K. Sakakobara and Y. Sekiguchi, "GaInAs/InP PIN Photodiode Fabricated by MOVPE and a New Zn Diffusion Technique", Jpn. J. Appl. Phys. 29 (1990) L401. (herein Wada et al.) B. Wendland and P. Wendland, "Optical Power Measurement Errors Arising From Source Spectral Width", Primary Standard Symposium, NBS Boulder, Sept. 1986. (herein Wendland et al.) shows that the spectral responsivity of a photodiode relates to errors in optical power measurement.
However, in a photodiode having a light-absorbing layer of Ga.sub.0.47 In.sub.0.53 As, the spectral responsivity starts to deteriorate at a wavelength close to 1.55 .mu.m, which is an extremely important wavelength in optical communications. This wavelength is needed for optical measurement and other applications as it is the wavelength of minimum propagation loss region of silica glass optical fibers as well as the emission wavelength of GaInAsP lasers. This entails the following problems:
(1) The spectral responsivity fluctuates widely due to changes in temperature at the wavelength longer than 1.5 .mu.m.
(2) Optical power measurement errors are caused by the spectral width of the incident light.
The first problem of temperature dependence of spectral responsivity will be described below.
FIG. 2 shows temperature dependent changes in spectral responsivity. The change to the spectral responsivity R.sub.T ( ) [A/W] at the temperature of T.degree. C. from the spectral responsivity R.sub.20 ( ) [A/W] at 20.degree. C. is expressed in percentage, as calculated in accordance with the equation below: ##EQU1##
FIG. 2 shows that R increases remarkably from the wavelength of 1.5 .mu.m in the vicinity of the absorption-edge wavelength of the Ga.sub.0.47 In.sub.0.53 As light-absorbing layer. This is attributable to the temperature change E.sub.g /T[eV/K] of the energy gap Eg (the band gap at the point r or where k=0 in the band structure) for direct transition of Ga.sub.0.47 In.sub.0.53 As and related to spectral responsivity characteristics such as the internal quantum efficiency and wavelength dependence of anti-reflection coating film.
In order to analyze the above fact further, a photodiode having a section as shown in FIG. 3 is assumed. The photodiode is a PIN photodiode of InP/GaInAs/InP hetero junction structure wherein an n.sup.+ type InP buffer layer 22, an n type GaInAs light-absorbing layer 23 and an n type InP cap layer 24 are epitaxially grown on an n.sup.+ type InP Substrate 21. An SiO.sub.2 film 25 is provided around the light receiving area on the surface of the InP cap layer 24. A Zn-diffused region 26 is formed in the light receiving area to extend from the cap layer 24 to the light-absorbing layer 23. An Au-Zn/Au electrode 27 is formed on the surface of the Zn diffused region 26 while an Au-Sn/Au electrode 28 is provided on the rear surface of the substrate 21. The cap layer 24 which includes the Zn diffused region 26 is coated with an Si.sub.3 N.sub.4 film 29 and an SiO.sub.2 film 30 as an anti-reflection coating film.
The impurity concentration and thickness of each layer which will affect the spectral responsivity are determined as below:
______________________________________ buffer layer 22 1-3 .times. 10.sup.18 cm.sup.-3; 0.3 .mu.m light-absorbing layer 23 1-2 .times. 10.sup.15 cm.sup.-3; 2.8 .mu.m Si.sub.3 N.sub.4 film 29 0.117 .mu.m SiO.sub.2 film 30 0.12 .mu.m ______________________________________
For simplification, it is assumed that no recombination of photo-generated carriers will occur on the surface of the cap layer 24 and the interface of InP/GaInAs, and the effect of multiple reflection of light on the cap layer 24 will be overlooked as the effect thereof is negligible in the vicinity of the wavelength of 1.5 .mu.m.
In order to obtain the temperature dependent effect of the band gap energy, the band gap energy is calculated in accordance with the empirical formula of V. P Varshni: EQU E.sub.g =E.sub.o -(.alpha.T.sup.2)/(T+.beta.) [eV]
InP and GaInAs respectively have the values of E.sub.o, .alpha. and .beta. as shown in the table below.
______________________________________ InP GaInAs ______________________________________ E.sub.0 [eV] 1.412 0.814 .alpha.(.times. 10.sup.-4) [eV/K] -3.63 -4.906 .beta. [K] 162 301 ______________________________________
Under the above assumed conditions, the spectral responsivity was calculated at the temperatures of -16.degree. C., -4.degree. C., 20.degree. C. and 40.degree. C. in accordance with the Wada et al. article (3). The results are indicated in FIGS. 5 and 6.
FIG. 4 shows the calculations of the reflectance of the anti-reflection film, FIG. 5 those of the spectral responsivity, and FIG. 6 the temperature dependent changes R of the spectral responsivity, respectively. FIG. 6 shows calculations of R in solid lines, and measurements given in FIG. 2 are plotted in dashed and dotted lines and broken lines.
Although there is slight deviation from the measured values, it can be seen that the temperature dependent changes R of the spectral responsivity can be described by the calculation method mentioned above. The slight deviation from the measured values may be attributable to the fact that the absorption-edge wavelength of GaInAs (band gap energy) taken from the reference material for the calculation was slightly too large or had a shorter wavelength.
FIG. 7 is a modification of FIG. 6 wherein the changes R in the spectral responsivity at the wavelengths of 1.3 .mu.m and 1.55 .mu.m are shown both in measured values and calculated values, noting the significance of these wavelengths in applications such as optical communications and optical measurement. The graph clearly shows that R is larger at 1.55 .mu.m than at 1.3 .mu.m.
Description will now be given to the second problem of the optical power measurement errors which depend on the incident light spectrum.
FIG. 8 shows the spectral responsivity of a GaInAs/InP-PIN photodiode and errors made when the optical power meter is calibrated with the lights of the spectral widths W=10, 20 and 40 nm, respectively. FIG. 9 is a graph to show the dependence of the errors on the incident light spectrum at the wavelength of 1.55 .mu.m.
Errors in optical power measurement occur, as indicated in Wendland et al (4), because the spectral responsivity is not flat. This is not limited to wavelengths in the vicinity of 1.55 .mu.m, but also applicable to shorter wavelengths. Therefore, even if an optical power is calibrated at a specific wavelength by using a light source having the spectral responsivity fixed at a level, errors will occur depending on the spectral width of the light source when optical power is actually measured.
The present invention aims to solve the aforementioned problems encountered in the prior art and to provide a photodiode which has a spectral responsivity less dependent on the temperature at around 1.55 .mu.m, and which is capable of optical power measurement less dependent on the incident light spectral width.

Avalanche photodiode with AliNAsP cap layer

Optical Measurement Technology Development Co., Ltd.


A cantilever has a probe on one surface of the free end and a reflection surface on the opposite surface thereof. A laser diode is located so as to emit a laser beam to the reflection surface at a predetermined angle. The cantilever is supported at a support member fixed to a cylindrical actuator for scanning the probe across the surface of a sample. Further, there is provided a photodiode having two portions for receiving the laser beam from the reflection surface of the cantilever to detect displacement of the probe on the basis of the incident position of the beam.

A. Technical field of the Invention
This invention relates to an atomic force microscope for observing a surface of a sample with atomic order resolution.
B. Description of the Related Art
An atomic force microscope (AFM) includes a flexible cantilever having a probe on the free end, and is used to observe a surface of a sample with atomic order resolution by detecting variation of the displacement of the free end caused by an atomic force exerted between the probe and the sample, and scanning the probe across the surface of the sample with the variation kept constant.
In such AFM, an optical interference method, an optical focus detecting method and an optical lever method are some examples of a method for detecting displacement of the free end of the cantilever incorporated. In the case of the optical interference method, a laser beam is radiated onto a mirror provided on a surface of the free end, which is opposite to that on which the probe is fixed, and that variation in the intensity of the beam reflected therefrom which is due to displacement of the cantilever is detected by use of an interferometer. In the case of the optical focus detecting method, a detector is used to detect whether a beam projected thereon from the mirror surface of the cantilever via an optical element such as a critical angle prism, a cylindrical lens, or a knife edge is focused. In the case of the optical lever method, that variation in the incident angle of a laser beam with respect to the mirror of the cantilever, which is due to displacement thereof, is detected on the basis of the principle of optical lever. In this case, the variation in the incident angle of the laser beam is amplified and detected on the surface of a beam receiver.
A cantilever displacement detecting system used in the optical lever method will be explained with reference to FIG. 1. As is shown in FIG. 1, a cantilever 112 supported by a housing 110 has a free end with a probe 114 fixed on one surface thereof, and a mirror 116 on the other surface. A sample 118 placed on a sample table 120 is positioned opposed to the probe 114 in the vicinity thereof. The probe 114 is moved in X- and Y-directions, i.e., across the surface of the sample. The housing 110 houses a laser diode 122 for radiating a laser beam onto a mirror 116, and a light receiver 124 for receiving the beam reflected from the mirror 116. The receiver 124 has two light receiving regions 124a and 124b, and is located so that the center of the laser beam from the mirror 116 positions onto a boundary between the light receiving regions 124a and 124b when the cantilever 112 is in a reference position to be assumed at the time of measurement (i.e., in a horizontal position in FIG. 1). The light receiving regions 124a and 124b output voltage signals corresponding to the intensities of received light beam components, the inclination of the mirror 116 or the displacement of the cantilever 112 is obtained on the basis of measuring the difference between the intensities.
The detection sensitivity S in the optical lever method is given by EQU S=D/.DELTA.=2L/l
where D represents the amount of variation in the intensity of the beam on the light receiving surface of the light receiver 124, l represents the length of the cantilever 112 (generally 100-200 .mu.m), L represents the length of the path of the beam reflected from the mirror 16 (i.e., the distance between the mirror 116 and the light receiver 124), and .DELTA. represents the amount of displacement of the probe 114.
When L=100 mm and l=200 .mu.m, EQU S=200/(200.times.10.sup.-3)=10.sup.3.
Thus, the optical lever method provides a highly sensitive displacement-detecting system with simple structure. The critical angle method provides a displacement detecting system with simple structure, too. In this method, a prism is located so that a laser beam directs onto its prism surface at a critical angle. The laser beam passes through the prism surface or is reflected to the interior of glass in response to a slight change of its incident angle. This means that the transmittance and the reflectance abruptly vary in accordance with variation in deflection angle. FIG. 2 shows a reflectance curve assumed when the refractive index n of glass is 1.5. Now, an observation optical system integrated AFM disclosed in U.S. application Ser. No. 07/511,054, in which the critical angle method is applied to the cantilever displacement system, will be explained with reference to FIG. 3.
A laser beam emitted from a laser diode 87 is collimated by means of a collimating lens 90, and enters into a polarized beam splitter 86. The laser beam reflected from the polarized beam splitter 86 is further reflected from a half mirror 85 and enters into a 1/4 wavelength plate 84.
On the other hand, an illumination beam emitted from a light source 96 of the observation lighting apparatus is collimated by a lens 97 and reflected by a half mirror 92. The reflected illumination beam passes through a filter 91 and the half mirror 85, and enters into the 1/4 wavelength plate 84.
The laser beam and illumination beam which have different principal rays enter into an objective lens 83 through the 1/4 wavelength plate 84. The laser beam is transformed by the plate 84 from a linearly polarized beam to a circularly polarized beam, and is then converged by the objective lens 83 onto a cantilever 22 having a probe on its free end. The illumination beam is converged to a point in the vicinity of the probe to illuminate the overall visual field.
The illumination beam reflected from a sample 26 passes through the objective lens 83, 1/4 wavelength plate 84, half mirror 85, filter 91, and half mirror 92, and is converged by an image forming lens 93 and enters into a prism 94. Part of the beam having entered into the prism 94 is reflected on its boundary face and reaches an ocular lens 95. The other part of the beam passes through the prism 94 and enters into a video camera 27 equipped with a CCD image element, etc., where it is converted to an image signal. This signal is supplied to a video monitor 28 and displayed thereon. The 1/4 wavelength plate 84 is slightly inclined relative to the optical axis so that the reflected illumination beam will not directly enter into the observation optical system. Thus, a clear visual field observation image without flare is obtained.
The laser beam reflected on the upper surface of the cantilever 22 passes through the objective lens 83 and 1/4 wavelength plate 84, reflects from half mirror 85, and is guided to the polarized beam splitter 86. The laser beam having passed through the 1/4 wavelength plate 84 is converted to a linearly polarized beam whose oscillation phase is rotated by 90.degree. relative to that of the beam before entering the same. The laser beam having entered the beam splitter 86 is divided into two beam components, one of which is radiated via a first critical angle prism 88a onto a first light receiving element 89a including two light receiving portions, and the other of which is radiated via a first critical angle prism 88b onto a second light receiving element 89b including two light receiving portions.
In the above structure, the critical angle method is used to detect the position of the cantilever. The principle of the method will be explained with reference to FIG. 4.
To effect this method, a critical angle prism c is located such that a critical angle is formed between a parallel light beam from a lens b and the reflecting surface a of the prism.
When the reflecting surface a is provided at the focus of the objective lens b (as indicated by solid line B), that is, when the beam can be converged on the surface a, the beam reflected therefrom is transformed by the lens b to a parallel beam, which enters into the critical angle prism c. In this case, the overall beam is reflected on the surface a, and the same amount of light is radiated onto each of the photodiodes of a light receiving element d.
On the other hand, when the reflecting surface a is provided at a location nearer to the lens b than the focus thereof (as indicated by broken line C), the beam reflected from the surface a and having passed through the lens b is a divergent beam, which enters into the critical angle prism c. Further, when the reflecting surface a is provided at a location farther from the lens b than the focus thereof (as indicated by broken line A), the beam having passed through the lens b is a converged beam, which enters into the critical angle prism c. In both cases, a non-parallel beam enters into the prism c. Since only a mid portion of the beam enters into the prism at the critical angle, and the incident angle of the part of the beam positioned on one side from the mid portion is smaller than the critical angle, that part of the beam is radiated partially to the outside of the prism c. Moreover, since the incident angle of the part of the beam positioned on the other side from the mid portion is larger than the critical angle, that part of the beam is overall reflected from the prism c. As a result, the amount of light received by one photodiode of the light receiving element d differs from that received by the other photodiode, and a signal indicative of the difference between the light amounts is output from an output terminal f via a differential amplifier e. This means that the position of the reflecting surface a is detected on the basis of the difference in the light amounts of the detection surfaces of the element d.
As described above, since the beam having entered into the critical angle prism at an incident angle smaller than the critical angle is radiated partially to the outside thereof whenever it is reflected from the reflecting surface, the amount of the refractive component of the beam is greatly reduced. Thus, the difference in the amount of light having entered at an angle smaller than the critical angle and that of light having entered at an angle larger than the same is greatly increased. To enhance the accuracy of measurement, the beam preferably reflects several times in the critical angle prism. In this system, the detection light is reflected twice in the prism. As is shown in FIG. 5, the output of a photodiode PD1 of the first light receiving element is input to the inverted input terminal of a comparator 102, while the output of a photodiode PD2 is input to the non-inverted input terminal of the comparator 102. The comparator 102 outputs the difference between the outputs of the photodiodes PD1 and PD2. On the other hand, the output of a photodiode PD3 of the second light receiving element is input to the inverted input terminal of a comparator 104, and the output of a photodiode PD4 is input to the non-inverted input terminal of the comparator 104. The comparator 104 outputs the difference between the outputs of the photodiodes PD3 and PD4. The outputs of the comparators 102 and 104 are added, and the addition value is input to one terminal of a comparator 106, where the addition value is compared with a reference value, and the comparison result is output. Thus, a signal is output from a terminal 108, which indicates the difference between the amounts of light received in two regions which are defined by the center line of the spot of a beam radiated onto the light receiving element, i.e., which indicates the position of the cantilever 22.
In the above system, the sample 26 is placed on an xyz driving apparatus 24 (e.g. a cylindrical actuator), and is raster-scanned in an xy plane at 10-100 cycles. A signal directly obtained during the raster scanning and indicative of the displacement of the cantilever, or a servo signal obtained when servo control is performed in the z-direction so as to keep the displacement of the cantilever constant, is processed in synchronism with the scanning signal so as to obtain an AFM image.
However, since a cantilever displacement detecting system which employs the above-described interference method, optical lever method, or focus detecting method is inevitably large and heavy, the raster scanning between the probe and sample is performed generally by placing on an actuator a sample such as a several mm-square HOPG chip, Si chip, or semiconductor chip, and moving the sample together with the actuator. The range which can be observed by thin scanning is as extremely narrow as 10-20 .mu.m.sup.2.
However, it has been necessary to measure a component such as an 8-inch wafer, for example, in the case of measuring the configurations of the surface at nm-order, or in the case of observing the structure of a semiconductor during process. Enlarging the stage on which a sample is placed and increasing its rigidity so as to satisfy the necessity inevitably increases its weight. This is disadvantageous to perform raster scanning by moving a large sample, since a great force of inertia exerts during moving it together with a heavy stage, and hence control of the movement of the sample and stage is extremely difficult.

Atomic force microscope with light beam emission at predetermined angle


Packaging for electronic components includes provisions to short selected electrodes of the components together. A plastic base portion with a plurality of component receiving cavities carries a flexible, carbonized shorting element which extends between cavities. The cavities include a recess which is adjacent to the shorting element. Components can be inserted into respective cavities, and some of the electrodes will contact the shorting element. Other electrodes will extend into the recess and not be shorted.

In gas detection instruments employing an electrochemical gas sensor, a potentiostatic drive circuit is normally used to hold the sensor electrodes at the required potentials. These potentials may be equal or there may be a bias between them to drive the required electrochemical behaviour.
The current generated by a sensor between the sensing and counter electrodes (or between one of these electrodes and an additional electrode) is amplified by additional circuitry. If the sensor is provided with a diffusion limiting gas access barrier and the electrode activity is adequate to consume all of the target gas entering the cell, then the current generated is proportional to the concentration of target gas in the environment.
If, prior to installation in an instrument, the relevant electrodes of a gas sensor have not been maintained at the required relative potentials, for example (they have been allowed to drift to their open circuit potentials), there will be a significant delay in the sensor achieving its optimum operating condition. This could be due to chemical species forming on the electrode or in the electrolyte which would be consumed or reacted under normal operating conditions. For example, the sensor may exhibit an erroneous, high baseline reading indicating the presence of gas when in fact this output is merely a reflection of internal cell processes.
Such effects gradually decline with continued operation, but there can be a significant delay before the sensor is capable of performing to specification. This is termed a start-up or stabilization period. Such periods can be many hours in extreme cases, depending on the design of the sensor, the performance requirements and the period for which the electrodes have been allowed to drift.
For manufacturers who build and calibrate instruments (which may contain several different electrochemical sensors), such start-up delays can be a significant problem. They can lengthen the cycle time of the manufacturing process which in turn requires the instrument manufacturer to hold additional inventory and hence increase costs.
Sensors which normally operate under bias are usually shipped on a pcb provided with a potentiostat and circuit capable of maintaining the required potentials for a limited period (compatible with the interval between sensor manufacture and instrument integration). The cost of such boards is not negligible and they are usually recycled back to the sensor manufacturer. This is time consuming and undesirable, but still preferable to dealing with long start-up times. For the majority of sensors which operate at zero bias, such complexity is not required, and creating a shorting connection between the relevant electrodes is adequate to maintain the sensor in a state of readiness.
The prior art discloses attaching a spring (or similar) across sensor contact pins to create an electrical short. This is additional labor task which is detrimental to the productivity of sensor manufacture, and an equal labor task is necessary for the instrument manufacturer to remove the spring before installation. Many instrument manufacturers opt to not install a spring. The reduced labor cost is more valuable than a cycle time associated with waiting for the drive circuit to stabilize the electrodes.
Preferably shorting links will only be applied between the required electrodes. Otherwise there is a risk of maintaining an electrode at an undesirable potential which can itself be a source of startup delay. For example, it may be undesirable to connect the counter electrode to the shorted sensing electrode-reference electrode pair, as in many cases it has a different Open Circuit Voltage and would therefore disturb the natural equilibrium of the reference.
Thus, an approach which unselectively shorts all sensor pins is unlikely to be appropriate. This is one reason why simple foam pads of the type used to protect semiconductor components from electrostatic discharge are not an adequate solution to the problem, even for individually packaged sensors. Similarly, approaches where a metal foil-covered compliant pad is used to short all the pins has significant shortcomings for sensor users, even if the relatively small annular contact areas of the foils around the pins were felt to be adequate and reliable. An ESD bag would suffer from similar shortcomings.
For containers holding multiple sensors, the above noted problems are greater.
Other shortcomings are (a) that the contacts between the sensor pins are not robustly and continuously maintained and can depend on orientation; and (b) the resistivity of the materials used is not well matched to the requirements of the electrochemical processes. For example, many ESD foams exhibit resistances of the order of 100K ohms between sensor pins. ESD bags have too high a resistance and offer insufficient contact area with the pins.
Electrochemical toxic gas sensors are packaged in a number of configurations which include (but are not limited to) multiple sensors packaged in trays, and individual sensors packaged in pots. Following the end of the manufacturing process, after exposing the sensors to a target gas to ensure sensor performance to a respective specification, the sensors are placed in storage locations or packaging trays.
Using prior art methods, additional handling of the sensors is necessary to apply the shorting spring, or similar structure, with the possibility of double handling if sensors are stored in an un-shorted state, with springs added prior to shipping.

Gas sensor packaging including structure to maintain devices in a state of readiness


The present weighted exercise vest is comprised of right and left front panels connected to a back panel by elastic sides and webbing straps on top. A plurality of weights are removably but snugly received in elastic pockets arranged on the front panels and the back panel. The weights are securely retained by elastic flaps over the pockets. Each panel is preferably constructed of spandex inner and outer sheets for a snug fit, rubber padding sheets between the spandex inner and outer sheets for cushioning impact, and a strong webbing sheet between the rubber padding sheets for attaching the pockets and straps. The webbing sheet generally spans the entire area of each panel for maximum durability. Each weight includes a core comprised of 90% lead shot embedded in 10% silicone rubber for providing the necessary mass, but also enough flexibility to bend with the user's body. The core is surrounded by a silicone gel shell for cushioning impacts and further improving comfort. The silicone shell is surrounded by a spandex shell for making insertion into the pockets easier.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to weighted exercise vests.
2. Prior Art
Weights are often used in strength, endurance, and muscle building exercises for increasing resistance and intensifying the workout. Free weights, such as hand weights, are useful for exercising every muscle in the body. However, they must be held by the person's or a partner's hands at all times. To enable a person to exercise solely, free the hands, and to carry the load more efficiently, weights have been attached to vests worn over the torso. Weighted vests are designed to increase muscle strength and mass during exercises that are typically known to only increase endurance.
A weighted vest disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,989,267 to Watson is comprised of single-layer front and back panels, and weights adhered to recesses in the panels. The sides of the panels are connected by staps, which are uncomfortable because they do not stretch when the user's torso is bent and flexed. The panels are made of a closed cell copolymer material, which although disclosed as flexible, are thick enough to limit freedom of movement. The weights are made of a heavy metal, and coated with a plastic or rubber material. Each weight is made of a single piece of rigid metal that does not bend with the body, so that they are uncomfortable when the body is bent and flexed. The rigid weights may also cause pain when the wearer slams into another person, such as when playing a contact sport. Because they are merely adhered to the panel, the weights may be knocked off when making contact with another person.
Another weighted vest disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,002,270 to Shine is comprised of front and back panels laced together on the sides. Bags of lead shots are inserted in pockets on the panels, and may be selectively removed for adjusting the load. Although the width of the vest is adjustable by loosening or tightening the lacing, adjusting long lacing is difficult and time consuming. Once adjusted, the lacing does not stretch when the user's torso is bent and flexed. If the lead shots are packed loosely in the bags, they will slosh around and cause discomfort and noise. If the lead shots are packets tightly in the bags, they will become very rigid and uncomfortable.
Another weighted vest disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,658,442 to Tomlinson et al. is comprised of front and back panels joined by elastic sides that provide more comfort when the user's torso is bent and flexed. The width of the vest is adjustable by adjusting hook-and-loop straps on the front. Weights received in front and back pockets are comprised of solid lead plates surrounded by a padded coating. Although the weights are bendable by hand to conform to the body, they are not at all resilient, and are still rigid enough to cause discomfort when the user's torso is bent and flexed. The weights may also slide out of the open pockets during rigorous exercise.
Another weighted vest disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,602,387 to Zakrzewski is comprised of front and back panels with pockets holding rigid metal bars. Straps stretched across the pocket openings hold the bars in place. However, the long rigid bars severely limit the wearer's freedom of movement, and may cause discomfort when the user's torso is bent and flexed.
A common disadvantage of most prior art weighted vests is that their fabric construction cannot properly support the heavy weights, so that they sag and tear with age. The fabric panels are non-stretchable, so that they cannot fit snugly enough to prevent shifting. Yet another common disadvantage is that the weights are carried too low on the torso for comfort and proper load distribution.


Synchronization circuitry includes a switcher controlled by a central processing unit to select either received data or an output of the last stage of a shift register to input the selected data to the input of the first stage of the shift register. The central processing unit is able to write test data to the shift register in a short time, so that the shift register can test block synchronization and frame synchronization by shifting CPU data in response to a clock signal. The synchronization circuitry is therefore capable of performing a synchronous operation with a 16-bit shift clock signal, so that it can shorten the time required for design and tests.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to synchronization circuitry that receives data to be employed in a mobile FM (Frequency Modulation) multiplex broadcasting system to establish synchronization.
2. Description of the Background Art
Conventionally, some synchronization circuitry is used which receives data, particularly frame data constructed with a plurality of blocks, which is employed in mobile FM multiplex broadcasting systems to establish block synchronization and frame synchronization.
In such frame data, the first 16 bits of each block represents a block identity code (BIC). Each block has one of plural kinds of BICs, for example, one of four BICs: BIC1, BIC2, BIC3, and BIC4.
It is known that the block identity code occupies the first 16 bits of one block. If a block identity code is detected by checking received data bits one by one, the bit numbers in one block of received data bits are found and therefore block synchronization can be determined according to the bit numbers. For example, in the case where the number of block synchronization backward protection stages is three, if block identity codes can be detected from the three consecutive blocks it may be determined that block synchronization has been established.
There are cases where block identity codes vary between their blocks. In the case where the arrangement of blocks in one frame is fixed, the position at which a block identity code changes to another different block code, i.e. the block number of a frame change point is also fixed. Every time a block identity code is detected from received data, a change pattern from the previously detected block identity code is obtained. Therefore, since the block number of a frame change point can be obtained based on the change pattern, frame synchronization can be determined according to the block numbers of frame change points.
Conventional synchronization circuitry is operative by 16-kbit/sec clock signals for FM multiplex broadcasting, and therefore the data transmission rate of received data is 16 kbit/sec. When receiving one frame of data which contains 272 blocks each consisting of 288 bits, such synchronization circuitry may have a shift register of 864 bits to store received data. This shift register is able to store blocks of data corresponding to the number of block synchronization backward protection stages, for instance, three blocks of received data.
Such synchronization circuitry is provided with as many BIC comparators as the block synchronization backward protection stages, for example, three BIC comparators. The BIC comparators receive one data bit at a time from three blocks of the shift register, and compare 16 consecutive data bits with reference block identity codes to determine whether or not the data bits coincide with any of the reference block identity codes. If the number of inconsistent bits between them is within an allowable number of errors, they may be considered to coincide with each other.
The synchronization circuitry is also provided with a block synchronizer that generates a block synchronous signal in response to the comparison results of the three BIC comparators. If the number of block synchronization backward protection stages is three, when the three comparison results coincide with block identity codes at the same time, the block synchronizer determines that block synchronization has been established. The synchronization circuitry has a block counter that counts a bit number in response to a clock signal. The block identity code is 16 bits, and therefore if a count value of "17" is set to the block counter when block synchronization is established, the block counter can obtain correct block count values corresponding to bit numbers thereafter.
If the BIC comparator detects a block identity code, it holds the block identity code in a BIC holder. The detected block identity code is also output to a frame change detector. The frame change detector detects a change between the detected block identity code obtained from the BIC comparator and the previous block identity code held in the BIC holder. If the change coincides with a change pattern representing a frame change, it is stored in a frame change register.
The synchronization circuitry further has a frame synchronizer that generates a frame synchronous signal in response to the change pattern obtained from the frame change register. If the number of frame protection stages is two, the frame synchronizer detects whether or not two consecutive change patterns stored in the register are arranged in the order of block number. If they are arranged in order, the frame synchronizer determines that frame synchronization has been established.
The synchronization circuitry has a frame counter that counts the number of blocks each time the block count value becomes "288". If a count value, which represents a block number corresponding to a frame change point when frame synchronization is established, is set to the frame counter, it can obtain a correct frame count value even thereafter.
In the case of testing such synchronization circuitry, the operating state of the synchronization circuitry can be confirmed by receiving test data constructed with 272 blocks each having 288 bits, and monitoring a block synchronous signal, a block count value, a frame synchronous signal, and a frame count value.
For instance, an error adder disclosed in Japanese patent laid-open publication No. 141056/1994 is of a type incorporated into a digital radio receiver, and can test the error correcting function and the synchronous detection and protection function of the receiver by adding error bits to a received signal or rendering a frame synchronous pattern erroneous.
There are situations where the synchronization circuitry tests block synchronization, using an allowable error bit number for a block identity code as a parameter, or tests frame synchronization, using a frame changing point between block identity codes as a parameter. Tests must be performed not only when reception conditions are good, but also even when they are bad. However, it is fairly difficult for conventional synchronization circuitry to perform tests when reception conditions are bad.
In the case where the number of block synchronization protection stages is three, it is necessary to detect three block identity codes, so that at least two blocks and one block identity code, i.e. 592 data bits (=288×2+16) are necessary. Since the data transmission rate in conventional synchronization circuitry is 16 kbit/sec, the test of one block requires 37 msec. Because one frame consists of 272 blocks, the test of frame synchronization requires about 10 sec. Therefore, when various conditions are considered together, an extremely long test time becomes necessary.

Synchronization circuitry writing test data in a shift register in a short time period


A potassium permanganate feeder has an inlet container and an outlet container disposed in an outer container. An inlet tube disposed in the inlet container supplies fill water which flows out of the inlet container through a porous screen to dissolve potassium potassium crystals. The resulting potassium permanganate solution flows into the outlet container through a porous screen where it may be withdrawn through an outlet tube disposed therein.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to the art of water treatment systems. More particularly, the present invention is directed to an apparatus for dissolving potassium permanganate (KMnO.sub.4) crystals in water to produce a uniform saturated potassium permanganate solution and for dispensing the solution to regenerate manganese oxide based iron removal water treatment systems.
2. Description of Related Art
Iron dissolved in water used for residential and commercial purposes can cause problems which make its removal desirable. For example, water with a high iron content can cause rust stains on clothing and plumbing fixtures and can make food and beverages taste unpleasant.
One commonly used method for removing iron from water involves flowing a stream of the water through a mineral bed containing "manganese greensand," a material consisting of small pebble-like particles coated with manganese oxide (MnO.sub.2). The manganese greensand oxidizes the dissolved iron, thereby allowing the iron to precipitate in a solid form which can be filtered out. However, this oxidation process gradually exhausts the water treatment capability of the manganese greensand, so that its ability to remove iron from water becomes degraded. When this occurs, the manganese greensand may be regenerated by exposing it to a solution containing an appropriate oxidizer most commonly potassium permanganate, which process restores its iron removal capability. Typically, the regeneration process is performed automatically at periodic intervals to prevent the mineral bed from ever becoming completely exhausted.
Typically, a feeder provides the potassium permanganate solution needed for regeneration. A number of different feeder designs are known. Generally, a quantity of potassium permanganate crystals sufficient to supply many regenerations is placed in the feeder. Water is added to the feeder to dissolve a portion of the potassium permanganate crystals, and the feeder is able to dispense the resulting solution to the iron removal system.
For the manganese greensand to be fully regenerated by the regeneration process, it must be exposed to a solution having a sufficient amount of potassium permanganate present therein. This, in turn, means that the feeder must dissolve this sufficient amount of potassium permanganate and dispense the solution to the iron removal system. One way to ensure that a sufficient amount of potassium permanganate is provided for regeneration is to add a known amount of water to the feeder containing potassium permanganate crystals, so that potassium permanganate solution having a known saturation is formed, and then to dispense all of this solution for regeneration.
However, it is difficult to form a saturated potassium permanganate solution, and it is especially difficult to achieve a uniform level of saturation with each regeneration as the amount of potassium permanganate crystals present in the feeder decreases. Specifically, in many feeder designs the level of saturation decreases as the amount of potassium permanganate crystals decreases.
One way of achieving a more uniform saturation is to wait a long period of time after adding the water to the feeder before dispensing the solution. However, with many iron removal systems this is not possible because the automatic regeneration process applies suction to the feeder to withdraw solution almost immediately after the water is added to the feeder. With such a short amount of time to dissolve the potassium permanganate, it is particularly difficult to provide a uniform saturated solution.
The handling of potassium permanganate also presents a number of additional difficulties. Potassium permanganate is very reactive and, over time, tends to corrode or degrade many common materials. It also stains skin, clothing, and other materials and is damaging to the environment. Accordingly, it is crucial that any leakage or spillage of potassium permanganate crystals or solution be minimized.


A focusing nozzle for producing and jetting a precisely focused, sustained cohesive jet of a mixture of a fluid and abrasive material, having a long coherence length and a prolonged centerline pressure for obtaining clean, precise, sharp-edged kerfs, cuts and grooves in hard substances.

Abrasive nozzles for use in combining fluid and abrasive material for producing a high pressure jet have been found to be highly effective for removing debris and applying anchor patterns on various types of surfaces. One such nozzle is taught in U.S. Pat. No. 5,054,249. Additionally, "shape jet nozzles" for producing small, high pressure, cohesive, non-circular jets of fluid are known, as taught in U.S. Pat. No. 5,170,946. However, due to the unfocused and wide spray patterns of known abrasive nozzles and the inability of using abrasive material with shape jet nozzles, no known nozzles have heretofore had any application for precision material cutting or precision material separation applications. Although not so limited, a focusing nozzle of the present invention is particularly suited for producing and jetting a precisely focused, sustained, cohesive jet of a mixture of fluid and abrasive material, having a prolonged centerline pressure, for use in producing clean, precise and sharp-edged kerfs in generally hard substances, such as for example, iron, steel, concrete, cinder blocks, brick, tile and glass. Additionally, the focusing nozzle of the present invention is designed for use with high or low pressure fluids and for use with various abrasives. The clean, precise and sharp-edged kerfs produced by the present invention are essential for precision cutting and precision material separation applications.
The ability to make clean, precise, sharp-edged kerfs, grooves or cuts in hard surfaces is of particular interest in the areas of metal working and construction. It is well known that a gear or cog may be cut from a flat sheet of steel via methods of flame cutting and/or mechanical saws, which processes use large quantities of energy and create high temperatures. Similarly, concrete, glass, tile, brick, and other forms of masonry products can be cut and separated using metallic or fibrous saw blades. The drawbacks to both of these processes, i.e. flame cutting and mechanical sawing, include the creation of large quantities of heat and friction. Additionally, both processes create the potential for adversely altering the qualities of the material being cut, especially at or near the cut edge. For instance, steel may be tempered through the process of flame cutting and sawing, increasing its brittleness and thereby losing some of its tensile qualities. Likewise, a masonry saw may adversely temper or alter the qualities of the material at or near the cut edges of the brick, concrete or tile.
This type of heat induced material alteration may not always be a desired result and may actually be quite destructive to the product which is ultimately manufactured from the material. In fact, not only is the material to be cut typically altered during exposure to heat, but a great deal of energy must be created and consumed to produce the heat necessary for flame cutting and sawing.
Heretofore, there have been no devices which produce clean, precise, sharp-edged kerfs, grooves and cuts in hard surfaces in the absence of using a flame, saw or heat producing cutting process, which may adversely affect inter alia the cut-edge. Therefore, a need exists for an apparatus to produce clean, precise, sharp-edged cuts, kerfs and grooves in hard substances such as iron, steel, concrete, tile, brick and glass for the purpose of precision cutting and precise material separation in the absence of experiencing the undesirable effects from heat. Additionally, the need exists for an apparatus to produce clean, precise, sharp-edged cuts, kerfs and grooves in hard substances such as iron, steel, concrete, tile, brick and glass using a mixture of fluid and abrasive material having a cool or moderate temperature.
Although the need for such a device has been long felt, the prior art, heretofore, has not provided such a device which meets all of the aforementioned criteria and avoids the above-referenced problems.
Additional features and advantages of the invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows, and in part will become apparent, from the description or may be learned by practice of the invention. The features and advantages of the invention may be realized by means of the combinations and steps particularly pointed out in the appended claims.


A mover for a linear motor system includes a magnet subassembly. The mover includes a magnetic structure disposed on at least one side of the magnet subassembly and creating with the magnetic subassembly a resultant magnetic field. The magnetic structure being centered on a detected center of the resultant magnetic field. The mover includes a body structure mounted on or with reference to the magnetic structure to position a physical center of the body structure at approximately the detected center of the resultant magnetic field.

The present disclosure relates generally to transport systems, and more particularly, to an assembly for a mover of the transport system.
There are many types of transport systems that include movers that move, via rotary motors, linear motors, pneumatics, or the like, along a path of the transport system. For example, linear motors may refer to motors that produce a magnetic field to provide a force to move a mover along a distance of the motor. Linear motors may be used in various applications in which an object is moved, via the mover, from a first location to a second location along the path. For example, the linear motor may include stator windings along the path. Current that flows through the stator windings may drive the mover via one or more magnets within the mover.
The mover may include various parts and sub-assemblies to move the mover along the path. However, each of the parts and sub-assemblies of the mover may include tolerances that cause the mover to be calibrated in an inconsistent manner. Further, the mover may move to inconsistent locations due to the inconsistencies in the parts and sub-assemblies.


A novel structure for a fish landing net, or basket, is provided wherein the net is defined by top and bottom C-shaped supports secured in spaced relationship by a plurality of longitudinal ribs. Corresponding ends of the C-shaped supports are secured together by parallel, spaced slider bars which define a slot opening into the interior of the fish landing net. The slider bars are adapted to receive a snap ring which is connectable around the two bars and is slidable thereon, to close the slot and to secure a fishing line within the net. The snap ring is secured to a lowering line by means of which the net may be lowered along the fishing line to encompass a fish hooked on the fishing line. A weight is provided on the snap ring so that when the landing net surrounds the fish, the weight will carry the snap ring downwardly along the slide bars past a shoulder formed in at least one of the bars, which prevents the ring from sliding back up the slide bars. When the snap ring reaches the bottom of the slide bars, tension on the lowering rope will upend the landing net, securing the fish and allowing it to be drawn up by means of the lowering rope rather than by means of the fishing line.

The present invention relates, in general, to fish landing nets or baskets, and more particularly to landing nets which are adapted to be lowered along a fishing line for recovery of a fish hooked thereon.
As is well known in the fishing art, it often happens that the fishing tackle used to hook a fish is too light to permit easy landing of the catch, particularly where the catch must be lifted out of the water so that the full weight of the catch is on the fishing line. In order to prevent breakage in such situations, landing nets of various designs have been devised. An example of such a net is illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 2,921,397 wherein a landing net is provided with a zipper to allow entry of the fishing line into the center of the net so that it can be lowered over the catch.
Another example of the prior art is U.S. Pat. No. 1,797,251, which discloses a pair of spring-loaded ribs which apparently can be pried apart to allow the net to be positioned around a fishing line. A further example of the prior art is U.S. Pat. No. 2,782,546 wherein an open-sided landing net is provided with a rotatable ferrule which secures the sides of the net together and which is rotatable to allow a fishing line to pass into the net.
The prior art devices typified by the foregoing patents all suffer from the problem that they require considerable manipulation and require two hands to position them on the fishing line. When a fisherman is trying to maintain tension on the fishing line so as not to lose his catch while at the same time trying to position a landing net on the line, extreme difficulty is encountered with these devices, and for this reason, they have been found to be unsatisfactory.


Disclosed is a method and device for fitting tile and other building material into a mosaic pattern. A base section is connected to a slidable and rotatable rod connected to one or more cut line adjustment rods which conform to a particular pattern for cutting the tile. The base section is mounted flush with an edge and the rods are positioned to conform to an obstruction or other cut out to be cut into the tile. The adjustment rods are then fixed in place, the device is laid over a tile, and the cut lines are made on the tile by tracing the cut line pattern from the device. The tile is cut along the cut line pattern and fitted into the mosaic pattern.

In the laying of tile, brick, marble, and other building material to form a load bearing and/or aesthetically pleasing mosaic pattern or surface, care must be taken that the pieces forming the surface fit together properly. This may require precision fitting of the pieces which can only be accomplished by taking accurate, on-site measurements and cutting individual pieces as required. For example, in laying tile over a subflooring, individual tiles must be cut to conform to adjacent wall surfaces and to bypass obstructions. This involves taking measurements of the subflooring to be covered by the tile, transferring the measurements to the tile by drawing cut lines on the tile, and then cutting the tile along the cut lines. This procedure is very time consuming and is subject to measurement errors, since two numerical measurements must be taken, i.e., first on the subflooring and then on the tile itself, each of which can be a source of error.
Another source of error results from the need to compensate for a grout line. Tile pieces are often not joined flush with each other but are separated by a layer of grout which serves to seal and adhere the tile pieces together. In cutting the tile pieces, the width of the grout line must be taken into account. If not accurately measured, the grout line between the tiles may vary, leading to an unascetic appearance and possibly weakening the tile-to-tile adhesive bond. Compensating for a grout line in a tile piece which also requires complex cutouts can be difficult, since the cutouts are "shifted" by the width of the grout line on one or more sides of the tile.
Because of the complexity and error in making cut line measurements, often only rough measurements are made (either mental or actual) and then the tile is cut to its final shape by trial and error. This method is also time consuming, however, and may result in wasted tile pieces.
There is accordingly a need in the art for a method for quickly and accurately measuring cut lines in tile, brick, marble and other building materials which form a mosaic pattern.


A poultry watering system is provided which is connected together by interlocking brackets, each overlaying one of the fluid conduit and support pipe, and a drinker saddle which interlocks with the bracket overlaying the fluid conduit. The support pipe bracket provides a connection element to join the watering system to a conventional suspension and elevation apparatus. The fluid conduit bracket can releasably interlock with the support pipe bracket to maintain the fluid conduit and support pipe in fixed relation, as in a floor system for raising poultry. Independent of the support pipe bracket, the fluid conduit bracket can releasably interlock with the drinker saddle to fix the fluid conduit within that bracket and simultaneously locate watering devices, such as nipple drinkers, at desired locations along the fluid conduit.. This arrangement is adaptable to support pipes and fluid conduits formed from a variety of materials and can accommodate slight dimensional variances in the support pipe and fluid conduit. With this invention, special preparation of the fluid conduit to retain the drinker saddles is not necesssary and drinker spacing can be readily estasblished as desired on-site. Thus, the poultry grower or watering system installer can advantageously utilize locally obtained support pipe and fluid conduit. Further, the brackets are configured and formed with sufficient flexibility so as to allow the watering system to be readily snap-fit together on-site. Thus, installation, maintenance and repair of such watering systems are simplified. Where poultry are raised in a cage systems, the support pipe and support pipe bracket are omitted and the fluid conduit brackets serve primarily to secure the saddles to the fluid conduit.

The present invention relates generally to watering systems for poultry and small animals. More particularly, this invention relates to bracket arrangements for assembly of poultry watering systems.
Present poultry watering systems are typically employed in two basic environments: floor systems and cage systems. In floor systems, poultry are raised in a large enclosure, a poultry house, for example, and are allowed freedom of movement over the floor of virtually the entire enclosure. To obtain efficient watering and avoid fluid spillage and injury to the birds caused by collisions with equipment, watering systems are typically suspended above the floor by wires running to the ceiling of the poultry house. Since these poultry houses are often hundreds of feet in length, the watering systems also typically include a plurality of generally parallel fluid conduits, each running hundreds of feet in length. The number of such parallel fluid conduits employed is generally determined by the width of the poultry house and the number of birds raised therein.
In cage systems, one or more birds are confined to a relatively small wire cage, often arranged vertically and horizontally in banks of many cages, within a poultry house. Since the poultry have freedom of movement only within the cage, feed and water must be supplied to each individual cage. Watering systems for cage systems are typically secured to the top of each cage. Since, for example, the cage tops provide some structure support, fewer components are usually needed for watering systems used with the cages. However, in order to minimize production costs, manufacturers of watering systems have tended to use the same basic watering structure for both floor systems and cage systems.
For example, a watering system for use in a floor system would often include a fluid conduit, a support pipe, brackets connecting the fluid conduit to the support pipe, hanger brackets to join the support pipe to suspension wires, and an anti-roosting wire spanning the hanger brackets. The fluid conduit often includes watering devices, such as nipple drinkers, either threaded directly into the fluid conduit or releasably attached thereto by saddles fixed to the fluid conduit by glue or ultrasonic welding. U.S. Pat. No. 4,669,422 and 4,753,196 are representative of prior patents showing such watering systems. In a cage system the same type of fluid conduit (with the same type of nipple drinkers thereon) would, for example, be secured by wire straps to the tops of the cages. However, the support pipe, connecting brackets, hanger brackets and anti-roosting wire would usually be unnecessary with cage systems.
Poultry watering systems are typically manufactured in partially assembled sections and shipped to poultry growers for final assembly and installation in the poultry houses. A substantial portion of the weight and size of watering systems packaged for shipment to poultry growers is attributable to the fluid conduit and, in the case of floor systems, also to the support pipe (usually made of standard, galvanized steel pipe). Shipment costs could be substantially reduced if the poultry grower was able to obtain suitable fluid conduit and/or support pipe in his locality. In many instances today poultry growers are able to obtain support pipe locally. However, most prior commercially acceptable watering systems required special preparation (such as gluing or welding) of the fluid conduit into order to retain the watering devices securely and without leaking. Most poultry growers and installers of watering systems do not have the equipment or expertise for such special preparation. Further, on-site mounting of the watering devices to the fluid conduit is often more time consuming and expensive than mounting at a watering system factory.
When selling watering systems to poultry growers in other countries not only are shipping costs more significant, but additional problems arise stemming from local import tariffs. For example, if the watering system is sold as a finished product requiring only final assembly, substantial import duties or taxes may be applied. If, on the other hand, the watering system is sold without the fluid conduit (and thereby avoids higher important duties), it can turn out that even if the installer could obtain fluid conduit formed from acceptable materials and otherwise properly prepare the fluid conduit to retain the watering devices, the size of the local fluid conduit which is available and/or preferred by custom in the industry of that country does not precisely fit with or connect to the other watering system components. As a result, such locally assembled watering systems may not function properly and/or have excess leakage. This can occur, for example, when selling watering system components between one country which uses a metric measuring system and another which does not.
Further, even when selling finished watering systems to other countries, local poultry equipment may require different spacing of watering system components (such as nipple drinkers) which are not standard formats in the domestic industry. The required customization can significantly increase production costs and reduce the viability of international sales. For example, this situation could occur where the cage banks is made in a country where manufacturers typically base spacing on metric units of measurement and the watering system is made in a country where manufacturers typically base drinker spacing on non metric units of measurement.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved poultry watering system. Other objects of the present invention, individually and collectively, include:
1. minimizing production and installation expenses of poultry watering systems, PA0 2. providing component uniformity and interchangeability in watering systems supplied to different usage environments and applications, PA0 3. minimizing the number of components needed in watering systems, PA0 4. reducing shipping costs for watering systems, PA0 5. reducing international tariff and duty costs for watering systems sold internationally, PA0 6. facilitating international sales of watering systems, PA0 7. providing a watering system capable of accommodating diverse spacing of nipple drinker components at reduced cost, PA0 8. minimizing the difficulty of on-site assembly of watering systems, and PA0 9. providing a watering system which can readily accommodate fluid conduits and/or support pipes formed from various different materials.
These and other objects of the present invention are attained by the provision of a poultry watering system connected together by interlocking brackets, each overlaying one of the fluid conduit and support pipe, and a drinker saddle which interlocks with the bracket overlaying the fluid conduit. The support pipe bracket provides a connection element to join the watering system to a conventional suspension and elevation apparatus. The fluid conduit bracket can releasably interlock with the support pipe bracket to maintain the fluid conduit and support pipe in fixed relation, as in a floor system for raising poultry. Independent of the support pipe bracket, the fluid conduit bracket can releasably interlock with the drinker saddle to fix the fluid conduit within that bracket and simultaneously locate watering devices, such as nipple drinkers, at desired locations along the fluid conduit.
This arrangement is adaptable to support pipes and fluid conduits formed from a variety of materials and can accommodate slight dimensional variances in the support pipe and fluid conduit. With this invention, special preparation of the fluid conduit apart from placement of drinker openings to retain the drinker saddles is not necessary and drinker spacing can be readily established as desired on-site. Thus, the poultry grower or watering system installer can advantageously utilize locally obtained support pipe and fluid conduit. Further, the brackets are configured and formed with sufficient flexibility so as to allow the watering system to be readily snap-fit together on-site. Thus, installation, maintenance and repair of such watering systems are simplified. Where poultry are raised in a cage system, the support pipe and support pipe bracket are omitted and the fluid conduit brackets serve primarily to secure the saddles to the fluid conduit.
Other objects, advantages and novel features of the present invention will now be readily apparent to those skilled in the art upon consideration of the detailed drawings and description below.


An ultrasound teat dip comprises a dip cup having a well adapted to receive a supply of a germicide and an upper opening for receiving a teat to be dipped in the germicide, in use. A sonic transducer is operatively coupled to the well to sonically vibrate the well to produce cavitation in the germicide supply. A storage vessel defines a reservoir for storing a supply of germicide. The storage vessel is secured to the dip cup. A flow tube transfers germicide stored in the reservoir to the well to refill the dip cup with germicide.

Mastitis is caused by an infection of the udder of dairy cows, where the mammary gland becomes inflamed. Mastitis adversely affects the quantity and quality of milk produced in infected cows. The infection itself can also result in permanent injury or death of the animal. Though prevalent since the time of domestication, the advent of high volume, automatic milking systems has contributed to an increase of mastitis occurrences.
To control the numbers of mastitis causing microorganisms, and thereby reduce the chances of infection, disinfection regimens have been employed. One such regimen entails dipping or spraying the cow's teats with a chemical germicide before and after milking. These germicides, which are known as teat dips and teat sprays, are designed to kill those organisms known to cause mastitis. Though effective, they have been unable to prevent significant numbers of mastitis cases from developing on some farms using these products. This may be due in pan to improper hygiene practices and inadequately functioning milking equipment.
One reason that mastitis occurrences are still significant relates to the unique conditions the chemical germicides have to work under. While generally effective under ideal conditions, the efficacy of germicidal agents can be comprised by various extraneous factors. On dairy farms, teats, especially the ends where the teat orifice or canal is located, can be damaged or scarred from heavy use. In addition, teats tend to be wrinkled, especially after milking when they are no longer filled with milk. These conditions produce areas or crevices which can harbor microorganisms. Upon exposure to teat dipping or spraying, these areas can remain sequestered from the killing effects of the germicide. Further, teats can contain a heavy amount of residual milk or dirt on their surface before dipping. This increased "organic load" can further inhibit the germicidal efficacy of teat dips or sprays.
The present invention is intended to provide an apparatus and method that allows for better penetration by teat dips to those sequestered areas harboring bacteria.