A lever force gauge, for measuring the force necessary to pivot a lever, includes a connector for attaching the device to the end of a lever, and a positioner to which a load cell is attached for producing an electrical signal indicative of the force exerted by the operator to move the lever. The positioner is pivotally attached to the connector in such a way that it can be pivoted to any of three positions to orient the load cell in the desired direction to exert a force on the load cell to move the lever and measure the force exerted before the lever moved. The load cell is connected via an electrical cable to an instrument that records and displays the peak force exerted on the load cell to move the lever.

This invention relates to a gauge for measuring the force exerted on a lever, and more particularly to a gauge for measuring the force required to pull a landing gear control lever to an extended position and to pivot the lever to either of its two control positions.
The landing gear on certain commercial airplanes is controlled from the cockpit by a landing gear control lever. This lever is pivotally mounted in the control panel of the cockpit for pivotal movement between a center "off" position, a raised position in which the hydraulic actuators are pressurized to raise or retract the landing gear, and a lowered position in which the hydraulic actuators are pressurized to lower or extend the landing gear. To prevent accidental movement of the landing gear control lever, it is designed to require that the lever be pulled out to an extended position before it can be pivotally moved to either the "up" or "down" position.
To facilitate the easy gripping of the end of the control lever so that it may be pulled to its extended position and then pivoted up or down to either control position, it is provided with a grip roller which is small enough that it does not encumber or clutter the front of the control panel but provides a secure and comfortable grip of the end of the control lever.
One of the quality control procedures for the manufacturing of airplanes is to insure that the force necessary to move the landing gear control lever is within design specifications. This is normally in the range of 7-10 pounds which insures that the lever can be easily and quickly moved when desired but that the force necessary to move the lever is sufficient to prevent its accidental or inadvertent movement by being bumped or the like.
The conventional technique for measuring the force necessary to move the lever used a spring scale which was attached to the end of the lever. The operator pulled on the end of the spring scale while watching the scale indicator to measure the force necessary to move the lever. This technique was inaccurate because the scale would show only momentarily the peak force exerted and required a skilled and experienced operator to obtain data with acceptable reliability. Even more importantly, the control panel of the cockpit in which the lever is installed has adjacent surfaces closely overhanging and underlying the space into which the control lever extends which make it very awkward to position the spring scale in line with the direction of movement of the lever so that the measured force would actually measure the force necessary to be exerted on the lever in the direction of motion.
Measurement precision of the force necessary to move the lever is advantageous not only because of the desire to maintain manufacturing processes within specification, but also because of the information that it reveals about the use of the hydraulic controllers and actuators in the system. The controllers for the actuators are designed to be essentially zero force movement controllers, meaning that the force necessary to move the actuator controller should be near zero. It is most convenient to measure the force necessary to move an actuator controller as installed in a operating system by measuring the force on the control lever, and therefore the instrument for measuring that force must be very precise to reveal the desired information about the controllers in the installed system.
Thus, there has long been a need in the industry for a gauge that will measure the force necessary to move a lever about its pivot point in such a way that the force exerted on the lever can be applied conveniently and quickly in the correct direction despite the confined position in which the lever is mounted. The instrument must be highly accurate and be capable of storing the desired information for reading and recording after the measurement is taken. The instrument should be capable of recording both tension and compression forces since the position of the lever may in some instances require that the force exerted on the lever be a pull and in other instances a push. The instrument should be easily mounted and dismounted from the landing gear control lever and, when mounted, be securely fixed to the lever. Finally, it should be small and light to facilitate its use in a cramped confines of the cockpit, should be inexpensive to manufacture, and be rugged for long use in the factory.


In one embodiment, a semiconductor manufacturing apparatus includes an extraction module configured to extract, in cycle etching that repeats first processes of etching a workpiece layer and second processes of performing different processing from the first processes for plural cycles, light emission intensities in the first processes for individual cycles. The apparatus further includes a detection module configured to detect an etching end point of the workpiece layer in the cycle etching, based on the light emission intensities of the plural cycles.

Cycle etching is a technique that alternately repeats etching processes and other processes (e.g., deposition processes) for plural cycles to process a workpiece layer into a desired shape. For example, an etching process in the cycle etching is performed by atomic layer etching (ALE) that etches the workpiece layer for one atomic layer or for several atomic layers.
In typical etching, time for etching the workpiece layer is sufficiently secured. Therefore, in the typical etching, a change in light emission intensity with time during the etching can be easily sensed, and the etching end point can be easily detected based on the change in light emission intensity. On the other hand, in the cycle etching, the etching processes for individual cycles are typically performed in short time to cope with the size shrinkage of semiconductor devices. Therefore, it is difficult in the cycle etching to stably sense the change in light emission intensity with time during the cycle etching. Therefore, it is difficult to detect the etching end point of the cycle etching based on the change in light emission intensity.

Semiconductor manufacturing apparatus and semiconductor manufacturing method


A security container for storing various articles is formed of transparent plastic material and has four tabs extending from a bottom wall with latching flanges extending from the ends of each tab. The flanges are positioned to be inserted into the four openings formed in the side walls of most jewel boxes for the storage of compact discs, removably securing the jewel box to the bottom wall of the container and allowing the jewel box to be opened and the compact disc to be accessed while the jewel box remains secured to the container by the flanges. A holder with a U-shaped opening for receiving at least one or two compact discs is removably secured to the inside surface of a double hinge panel of the container and holds the compact discs for display through a front wall of the security container. A locking mechanism secures the contents of the container while allowing the articles to be displayed through the container walls. An E.A.S. tag also may be secured inside the container or the locking mechanism to prevent unauthorized removal of the container and contents from a retail store.

1. Technical Field
The invention relates to containers and in particular, to a container for storing various articles including video tapes, CD audios, CD ROMs (compact discs) etc. and their respective jewel boxes, and similar data storage articles. More particularly, the invention relates to such a storage container which secures the compact disc and jewel box preventing unauthorized removal, loss and damage, yet allows both the compact disc and jewel box to be displayed through a base and cover of the storage container.
2. Background Information
The emergence of the compact disc (CD) as a preferred data storage medium has led to difficulties in protecting and storing CDs and their respective jewel boxes both in the retail market and in the rental market. CDs are used as a data storage medium in many different industries, for example the music industry uses CDs to store and play albums, the video game industry uses CDs to store and play games, and the computer industry uses CDs to store software for multimedia applications.
CD rentals have become increasingly popular because of the relatively high retail price of certain types of CDs. One problem rental stores have with CD rentals is the loss or destruction of the jewel box while the CD is in the possession of a renter. While the renter is using the CD they are often unconcerned with what happens to the jewel box. Consequently the jewel box is often lost or damaged.
The present invention affixes the jewel box to the inside of the container allowing for removal of the CD for use while protecting the jewel box from loss or damage. The storage container is constructed from a transparent material which allows the graphics within the jewel box to be read by the renter.
The loss and damage of directions which accompany video games and software is another problem of rental stores. The storage container of the present invention allows the directions to be secured and displayed within the jewel box making removal of the directions unnecessary.
When CDs are stored in their jewel boxes they are relatively small in size. The price of CDs as compared to other recording mediums is relatively high. These among other factors make CDs conducive to unauthorized removals from retail stores.
One current anti-theft technique includes enclosing the CD and jewel box in a cardboard or plastic container to enlarge the total CD package size and make unauthorized removal from the retail store more difficult. The container of the present invention preferably includes a locking mechanism, such as that shown in prior art U.S. Pat. No. 5,375,712, which assures that the CD will not be removed from the CD storage container without prior approval from authorized store personnel. The enclosure of an E.A.S. tag (electronic article surveillance) within the CD storage container or within the locking mechanism further assures that the CD storage container itself will not be removed from the store without prior approval from authorized store personnel.
Another anti-theft technique used by retail stores is to remove the CD from the jewel box prior to display. The jewel box is then displayed empty and the corresponding CD is kept behind the store counter. This technique requires a second jewel box for every CD in the stores inventory and requires an additional storage space to store the CD. When the consumer decides to purchase a CD, the consumer must give the empty jewel box to the store employee. The store employee must then find the corresponding CD from among all of the CDs in the store's inventory. The CDs while behind the counter must be stored in a second jewel box to protect the CD from dirt and damage. The retail store is not only required to stock an additional jewel box for every CD in inventory, but must also have additional storage space to keep the CDs in while the empty jewel boxes are on display.
Therefore, the need exists for an improved storage container, preferably formed of an inexpensive lightweight transparent plastic, which allows for visibility to both the CD and its respective jewel box, which affixes the jewel box to the side of the container to prevent loss or damage yet allows for the display of graphics or directions, which container is capable of storing a variety of articles such as a CD and jewel box, or a video or audio cassette tape, which can be reused indefinitely which is relatively small in size, yet sufficiently large to retard theft, which can be secured with a locking device, and which allows for an E.A.S. tag to be attached inside the container or locking mechanism to restrict unauthorized removal of the CD or video tape from the retail store. There is no such storage container of which we are aware which accomplishes these results.


An adhesive tape comprising at least a three-layer product structure having the following layers A, B, and C with the layer sequence ABC:                Layer A: heat activatable adhesive having a characteristic activation temperature TA of at least +30° C.,        Layer B: crosslinked polyurethane carrier material,        Layer C: polyacrylate PSAs having a static glass transition temperature TG,C of not more than +15° C.

For industrial pressure-sensitive adhesive tape applications it is very common to use double sided pressure sensitive adhesive (PSA) tapes in order to bond two materials to one another. For the wide variety of applications the requirements are in some cases highly specific, with the consequence that stringent requirements are imposed on the corresponding adhesive tapes. In the automobile segment, for example, the requirements very often include high temperature stability and a high level of resistance to solvents and fuels. These properties are met in a very good form by crosslinked acrylic pressure sensitive adhesives (acrylic PSAs).
Additionally, again in the industrial sector, a very wide variety of substrates may be bonded. In this case it may sometimes be of advantage to use heat activatable adhesives which soften above a certain temperature, flow very well onto the substrate, and then cool to give a firm bond.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,124,032, for example describes a heat activatable adhesive tape for sealing cartons. The requirements in this segment, however, are very low, since the forces which act on the adhesive tape by the carton are relatively low. This is manifested in the carrier material, which is composed of paper. The focus is therefore not on bond strength but rather on a production process for an expensive PSA tape.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,593,759 describes a double sided PSA tape which is composed of a carrier layer coated with two thin PSAs. The carrier layer is composed of a structural adhesive. On thermal activation, the PSA blends with the structural adhesive and also cures it. In this way, very firm bonds between two adherends are possible. Nevertheless, this PSA tape has an elementary disadvantage for many applications, namely the fact that the double sided PSA tape is tacky on both sides to start with. There exist a large number of applications in which it is advantageous if the PSA tape is nontacky, at least on one side, and hence possesses optimum repositionability. In U.S. Pat. No. 5,593,759 this advantage is absent.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,248,748 describes heat activatable polyacrylate PSAs with additions of resin. The additions of resin raise the glass transition temperature of the polyacrylate PSA and hence the tack at room temperature. The heat activatable PSAs are, however, used only for single sided PSA tapes (film bonding, etc.). Accordingly, the requirements concerning the bonding of adherends or the anchoring of heat activatable PSAs to the film are not high.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,199,646 describes heat activatable PSA tapes where the heat activatable PSA has a modulus of elasticity of from 10 to 300 kg/cm2. The modulus at the activation temperature is therefore at the level of PSAs at room temperature. In this patent as well, in analogy to U.S. Pat. No. 4,248,748, the bond strength and the elasticity are controlled via the composition of the PSA. Moreover, only double sided heat activatable PSA tapes are described, which can be activated by heat only on both sides.
Accordingly there is a need for an adhesive tape which, by virtue of its construction and the adhesives used, is suitable for bonding different materials to one another in specific fields of application.


A user equipment (UE) in a communication system measures the power received in a bandwidth on possible downlink carriers in a frequency band that is supported by the UE in order to search for available carriers. Search times can be decreased on average by using a specially configured filter to process the received power measurements and then determining likely carriers based on the filtered values. Metrics from the filter can be used to indicate both where to perform cell search and where not to perform cell search.

From time to time, a user equipment (UE), such as a mobile phone or other remote terminal in a mobile radio communication system, searches for and selects cells and public land mobile networks (PLMNs). Cell and PLMN selection has a number of objectives, which include connecting a UE to the cell(s) and PLMN(s) that will provide the highest quality of service (QoS), enable the UE to consume the least power, generate the least interference, etc.
Digital communication systems include time-division multiple access (TDMA) systems, such as cellular radio telephone systems that comply with the GSM telecommunication standard and its enhancements, such as general packet radio service (GPRS) and enhanced data rates for GSM evolution (EDGE); code-division multiple access (CDMA) systems, such as cellular radio telephone systems that comply with the IS-95, cdma2000, and wideband CDMA (WCDMA) telecommunication standards; orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA) systems, such as cellular radio telephone systems that comply with the Long Term Evolution (LTE) standard; and "blended" systems. GSM, WCDMA, LTE, etc. are different radio access technologies (RATs), and the Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) promulgates specifications for digital communication systems that use such technologies.
PLMN and cell selection is usually based on measured received signal strength (e.g., signal to interference ratio (SIR) or signal to noise ratio (SNR)) of candidate cells. When a UE performs a PLMN Scan, the UE typically carries out three steps: a received signal strength indication (RSSI) scan, cell search on chosen frequencies, and a read of broadcast PLMN information where the cell search was successful.
For 3GPP-compliant mobile communication systems, the PLMN selection process is specified in Section 4.4 of 3GPP Technical Specification (TS) 23.122 V7.5.0, Non-Access-Stratum (NAS) functions related to Mobile Station (MS) in idle mode (Release 7) (June 2006). U.S. Patent Application Publication No. US 20070121552 by B. Lindoff for "Cell Selection in High-Speed Downlink Packet Access Communication Systems" describes a cell selection process that takes into account the delay spread of the communication channel. U.S. Patent Application Publication No. US 2002/0119774 for "Method for PLMN Selection" by R. Johannesson et al. describes how a UE receives a list of data associated with networks neighboring the PLMN currently serving the UE from a base station (BS) of the PLMN currently serving the UE. A new PLMN to serve the UE can be selected based upon the list. U.S. Patent Application Publication No. US 2008/0153486 by J. Ramkull et al. for "Efficient PLMN Search Order" describes how a UE can shorten the time needed to find a cell, such as a suitable or acceptable cell, by using intelligent search orders.
Among other things, the RSSI scan involves collecting a set of samples of received signal power or energy at several frequencies in a spectral band of interest. FIG. 1 shows an example of an RSSI scan as a plot of received power versus frequency, showing signal power peaks that might be measured by a UE on each possible carrier in the 1900 megahertz (MHz) band. An RSSI scan results in measurements within the relevant channel bandwidth (e.g., 5 MHz for WCDMA and 200 kilohertz (KHz) for GSM) on roughly 300 possible carriers in the 1900 MHz band. An RSSI scan can usually be fast. For example, it might take about 300 milliseconds (ms) for a UE to scan 300 carriers in the 1900 MHz band.
European Patent Application EP 1 367 844 A1 and U.S. Patent Application Publication No. US 2003/0236079 describe a cellular phone that includes an RSSI measurement circuit for measuring power levels of received baseband signals at divided band portions of a whole frequency band, a band sorting circuit that sorts the divided band portions based on the descending order of the power levels, and a cell search circuit that searches the carriers of each divided band portion in the order of the sorting results, to thereby determine a tentative waiting cell.
A cell search can be performed without doing an RSSI scan, but cell search is a time- and energy-consuming procedure and so it is inadvisable for a UE to perform a cell search on every possible frequency. For example, each cell search may take up to 400 ms. Cell search is traditionally based on the signal strength or SNR of candidate cells. Thus, a UE typically performs an RSSI scan first, and uses power measurements generated in the RSSI scan as an indicator of where a carrier might be found and thus where a cell search should be performed.
Nevertheless, simply using RSSI values for choosing frequencies and an order of chosen frequencies for cell search is often not efficient, especially in frequency bands that are used by several RATs. In a mixed-RAT frequency band, energy detected at a frequency may originate from a different access technology and so a cell search will fail, wasting time and energy. Another problem is that in many current implementations, all WCDMA carriers are searched before any GSM carriers are searched. Thus, when there is no WCDMA coverage in a geographic area but the spectrum is still shared between different RATs, an initial cell search will take a long time when an RSSI scan indicates relatively high power levels. Additional steps must be taken to avoid unnecessary cell search.
For example, U.S. Pat. No. 7,013,140 to Östberg et al. describes two approaches that are based on a history list and cell planning knowledge. The history list is used when a PLMN scan is triggered, and then the frequencies found in the history list are objects for cell search. For WCDMA, a frequency usually covers a large geographic area and so it is likely that a carrier found before can still can be found, but the history-list approach assumes that the WCDMA carriers are found on the same frequencies as before, which is not always true. The knowledge-of-cell-planning approach is based on a rule that a network operator typically tries to fill up a frequency band completely and on the 5-MHz width of a WCDMA carrier. Carriers (cells) are then assumed to be located with 5-MHz relative distances from the first carrier placed on the lowest frequency of the band. The likelihood of finding a PLMN/cell falls as frequencies become more distant from the assumed "maximum likelihood frequencies".
For another example, U.S. Patent Application Publication No. US 2009/0137267 by A. Nader et al. for "Frequency Band Recognition Methods and Apparatus" discusses an algorithm for identifying WCDMA carriers. The algorithm starts off by comparing RSSI values for WCDMA carrier frequencies, or UARFCNs (UTRA Absolute Radio Frequency Channel Numbers), with a certain relative distance. The UARFCNs normally have a 200-KHz distance between each other with a few exceptions. If the RSSI values are found to have sufficiently small difference, the algorithm continues by comparing the UARFCNs that are one step closer to each other such that their RSSI values also do not differ too much, etc. Comparing two UARFCNs that have almost the same measured RSSI and continuing with two UARFCNs closer to each other and so on assumes that that the RSSI shape of the UARFCNs is more or less symmetrical, which is often true for more than just WCDMA. What is not symmetrical is probably not a WCDMA carrier, and hence a failed cell search can be avoided.
Nevertheless, assuming a UARFCN is more likely to host a WCDMA carrier than another frequency is not always valid. For example, in some frequency bands with additional UARFCNs, those additional UARFCN can be considered to be more likely. All UARFCNs are still possible, and if the frequency band is hosting more than WCDMA, the assumption might not be applicable. Thus, in bands with no WCDMA but still enough energy on every UARFCN, the UE would spend significant time and energy performing cell search.
RSSI methods can also be based on a fast Fourier transform (FFT) of the received radio signal. Using an FFT to find a spectral density is equivalent to passing the received signal through a bank of contiguous bandpass filters to detect the RSSI level. For example, each bandpass filter may be 15 KHz wide.
Most of the other prior approaches focus on identifying where to search, but do not contemplate trying to identify where NOT to search. Thus, in bands with no WCDMA carriers but still enough power on every UARFCN, the UE would spend significant time and energy performing WCDMA cell search.

Radio carrier identification methods and apparatus


An effect application instructing function includes a user setting function for setting up information as to users of an entertainment apparatus to generate a user information table, an event processing function for reading input information from one or more manual controllers and processing data depending on the input information to generate an event processing table, a vibration setting function for extracting only information relative to vibrations from the event processing table and successively registering vibrations types with respect to the user to which vibrations are to be applied in a vibration output table, and a vibration outputting function for generating and outputting vibration indicating data including a vibration type with respect to the user to which vibrations are to be applied, based on the vibration output table and the user information table, and executing a physical effect to be applied to a hypothetical user as a parameter change.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an entertainment apparatus for executing various programs, an entertainment system having the entertainment apparatus, a manual controller connected to the entertainment apparatus for entering manual control requests from the user into the entertainment apparatus, and an effect applying means disposed in the manual controller for applying physical effects to the user in response to external requests, and a recording medium storing programs and data to be downloaded to the entertainment apparatus.
2. Description of the Related Art
Some information apparatus (entertainment systems) including entertainment apparatus such as video game machines display game images stored in a recording medium such as a CD-ROM or the like on the screen of a television receiver as the game proceeds in response to a manual control action entered via a manual controller.
The entertainment apparatus and the manual controller are usually interconnected by serial interfaces. When a clock signal is sent from the entertainment apparatus to the manual controller, the manual controller sends key switch information or the like depending on a manual control action of the user in synchronism with the clock signal.
Recently, there has been developed and put to use a system including an effect applying means disposed in a manual controller for applying physical effects such as vibrations, for example, to the user in response to requests from an external source, such as an entertainment apparatus. While a game is in progress in the entertainment apparatus, the effect applying means imposes various types of vibrations on the user in response to manual control actions entered by the user.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an entertainment system which is capable of applying physical effects to the user in response to manual control actions entered by the user while a game is in progress and also applying physical effects to the user based on requests from another user, thereby making it possible for the game to develop into unexpected aspects, so that if the game is a competition game, the user can enjoy realistic competitive experiences.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a recording medium which stores a program capable of applying physical effects to the user in response to manual control actions entered by the user while a game is in progress and also applying physical effects to the user based on requests from another user.
A further object of the present invention is to provide an entertainment apparatus which makes it possible for the game to develop into unexpected aspects, so that if the game is a competition game, the user can enjoy realistic competitive experiences.
According to the present invention, an entertainment system comprises an entertainment apparatus for executing various programs, a manual controller connected to the entertainment apparatus for entering manual control requests from the user into the entertainment apparatus, and effect applying means disposed in the manual controller for applying physical effects to the user in response to external requests, the entertainment apparatus having effect application instructing means for outputting an instruction to apply a physical effect to the manual controller operated by a selected one of a plurality of users based on a request from another user.
Therefore, when a selected user makes a certain control action with the manual controller while viewing the screen of the television receiver, a physical effect can be applied to the selected user based on a request from another user.
At this time, the selected user may enter an erroneous control action or have to interrupt a control action or encounter an unexpected situation because of the sudden application of the physical effect.
Consequently, in addition to a physical effect as a response to a control action made by the user while a competition game is in progress, a physical effect can be imparted to the user based on a request from another user. Such a physical effect makes it possible for the game to develop into unexpected situations, which tend to render the competition game highly realistic.
The effect applying means may comprise a vibration generator for applying vibrations to the user.
Therefore, while a competition game is being played by a plurality of users, the manual controller operated by one of the users may be vibrated by the intention of another user, thus physically interfering with control actions of the user thereby to making it difficult for the user to enter control actions or induce erroneous control actions.
As a result, the users can play more realistic competition games than heretofore. Since each of the users does not know when its control actions may be interfered with by others, the users may feel thrilled with the game being played, and the game may have unexpected developments.
The effect application instructing means may comprise means for selecting a hypothetical user (i.e., a computer), and means for affecting a physical parameter of said hypothetical user if said means for selecting a hypothetical user selects said hypothetical user. Since a hypothetical user is a hypothetical entity (character), it does not actually use a manual controller. Therefore, the value of a parameter relative to an operation speed on the display screen or a status decision capability of the hypothetical user is affected. Consequently, a game where a computer serves as an opponent, which tends to be uninteresting and dull, may be develop into realistic aspects.
The effect application instructing means may have setting means for detecting the number of manual controllers connected to the entertainment apparatus and identification data of the manual controllers, and setting up data depending on the detected number of manual controllers.
Therefore, it is possible to accurately recognize a user (actual user or hypothetical user) who has issued a request to impart a physical effect to a selected user. A physical effect can thus be applied reliably to a selected user.
The effect application instructing means may comprise means for establishing a type of the physical effect to be applied to at least the selected user depending on details of the request if the request from the user is an instruction to apply the physical effect to the selected user.
Thus, various types of a physical effect can be applied to the selected user. For example, if vibrations are applied as the physical effect, highly frequent vibrations, moderate vibrations, or less frequent vibrations may be imparted as desired to the selected user, thereby allowing the game to have realistic developments.
According to the present invention, a recording medium storing a program for use by an entertainment system having an entertainment apparatus for executing various programs, a manual controller connected to the entertainment apparatus for entering manual control requests from the user into the entertainment apparatus, and effect applying means disposed in the manual controller for applying physical effects to the user in response to external requests, the program having the step of outputting an instruction to apply a physical effect to the manual controller operated by a selected one of a plurality of users based on a request from another user. The effect applying means may comprise a vibration generator for applying vibrations to the actual user.
With the recording medium storing the above program, in addition to a physical effect as a response to a control action made by the user while a competition game is in progress, a physical effect can be imparted to the user based on a request from another user. Such a physical effect makes it possible for the game to develop into unexpected situations, which tend to render the competition game highly realistic.
The above step may comprise the step of selecting a hypothetical user, and the step of affecting a physical parameter of said hypothetical user if the step of selecting a hypothetical user selects said hypothetical user.
The above step may comprise the steps of detecting the number of manual controllers connected to the entertainment apparatus and identification data of the manual controllers, and setting up data depending on the detected number of manual controllers.
The above step may comprise the step of establishing a type of the physical effect to be applied to at least the selected user depending on details of the request if the request from the user is an instruction to apply the physical effect to the selected user.
According to the present invention, an entertainment apparatus allowing a manual controller to be connected, the manual controller having an effect applying means disposed in the manual controller for applying physical effects to the user in response to external requests, comprising an effect application instructing means for outputting an instruction to apply a physical effect to the manual controller operated by a selected one of a plurality of users based on a request from another user.
Therefore, when a selected user makes a certain control action with the manual controller while viewing the screen of the television receiver, a physical effect can be applied to the selected user based on a request from another user.
Such a physical effect makes it possible for the game to develop into unexpected situations, which tend to render the competition game highly realistic.
The above and other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which a preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown by way of illustrative example.

Controllers with selectable force feedback


An integrated conformal electromagnetic interference (EMI) and/or electromagnetic radiation shield is formed on a plurality of encapsulated modules by attaching a plurality of modules (30-33) to a process carrier (1) using a double side adhesive tape (2), and then sequentially depositing an insulating layer (15) and a conductive shielding layer (16) before encapsulating the modules with a molding compound (17). After removing the adhesive tape (2) to expose a surface of the encapsulated modules, a multi-layer circuit substrate (100) is formed over the exposed surface, where the circuit substrate includes shielding via structures (101-112) that are aligned with and electrically connected to the conductive shielding layer (16), thereby encircling and shielding the circuit module(s).

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is directed in general to the field of semiconductor devices. In one aspect, the present invention relates to packaging of semiconductor devices in a planar panel configuration to provide shielding against electromagnetic interference.
2. Description of the Related Art
Semiconductor and other types of electronic devices are often encapsulated wholly or partly in plastic resin to provide environmental protection and facilitate external connection to the devices. Such devices also need to be protected from electromagnetic interference (EMI) which is the undesired electrical signals, or noise, in electronic system circuitry caused by the unintentional coupling of electromagnetic field energy from other circuitry, such as wires, printed circuit board conductors, connector elements, connector pins, cables, and the like. For example, multiple chip modules (MCM) are semiconductor devices having a plurality of discrete microelectronic devices (e.g., a processor unit, memory unit, related logic units, resistors, capacitors, inductors, and the like) that are connected together on a single MCM substrate. Conventional approaches for shielding against EMI have used board or system level EMI shielding techniques, though this does not provide protection against interference caused by modules within the board or system. Other shielding techniques have attempted to protect against radio/electromagnetic interference by using conformal shielding technologies to packaging the individual circuit modules (e.g., MCMs), such as by using wire bond grounding connection techniques, laser-drilled via grounding connection techniques, or double-cutting methods. An example of this approach is with mobile phone designs which seek to push EMI shielding from metal lids on phone boards to the discrete packaged RF module level. However, these techniques require extra substrate space to apply the shielding, or impose an extra space and double saw operation, or otherwise increase the cost and complexity of the packaging process. In addition, these techniques typically require post mold assembly processes to add conformal EMI shielding to the packaged circuit modules, such as by drilling blind vias in the package molding compound which are then filled with a conductive material to form a shielding via in the molding compound. However, there are a number of alignment problems with forming blind vias that can impact device reliability and yield, such as creating electrical shorts to signal pads and/or signal paths or connection failures from mis-alignment.
Accordingly, there exists a need for a packaging scheme that provides improved EMI shielding. There is also a need for an improved process for integrating shielding structures in packaged circuit modules. In addition, there is a need for a reliable and cost effective semiconductor device package that provides reliable EMI shielding with little or no impact on the size of the packaging device. There is also a need for improved packaging processes and devices to overcome the problems in the art, such as outlined above. Further limitations and disadvantages of conventional processes and technologies will become apparent to one of skill in the art after reviewing the remainder of the present application with reference to the drawings and detailed description which follow.
It will be appreciated that for simplicity and clarity of illustration, elements illustrated in the drawings have not necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements are exaggerated relative to other elements for purposes of promoting and improving clarity and understanding. Further, where considered appropriate, reference numerals have been repeated among the drawings to represent corresponding or analogous elements.

Integrated conformal shielding method and process using redistributed chip packaging


A method and apparatus for checking the integrity of a device tester used in the manufacture of semiconductor devices. A device tester is used to exercise different aspects of a semiconductor device. The tester is programmed with appropriate control software that fully tests the electrical and functional characteristics of the semiconductor device.

The present invention is directed to a method and apparatus for use in the manufacture of a semiconductor device. More particularly, the present invention provides a method and apparatus for checking the integrity of a semiconductor device tester configuration used to test semiconductor devices during the manufacturing process.
The manufacture of a semiconductor begins with a substrate on a silicon wafer that is doped to create the basis for an electrical circuit. The wafer is processed according to known methods and ultimately placed into a package or carrier. After the semiconductor device has been packaged, the device must be tested prior to its end use to ensure that the electrical and functional characteristics of the device are within specified limits. To perform this step of the process, a device tester is used to exercise different aspects of the semiconductor device. The tester is programmed with appropriate control software that fully tests the electrical and functional characteristics of the semiconductor device. The device under test (DUT) is loaded by a device handler into a test socket, where the tests are conducted on the DUT. The device handler holds all devices to be tested and loads each one individually into the test socket, where it is exercised by the tester.
In order to ensure the reliability of the tester's results, the integrity of the test configuration must itself be verified at different stages during the testing process. If the test configuration is flawed in any way, unreliable output could result, which could mistakenly allow a bad device to pass the test and be integrated in end-use circuit designs, though it should not be, or allow a good device to mistakenly fail the test, which would result in the device not being used in end-use circuit designs, though it should be. In either case, the overall production cost of the device increases, while the device reliability decreases.
The test configuration is currently verified by the use of a device known as a "golden unit." A golden unit is of the same device type that is being tested, which might be, merely by way of example, a microprocessor, a memory chip or a programmable logic device. The golden unit is thoroughly tested so that its characteristics are precisely known. Therefore, in verifying the parameters of the device tester, the contribution of the golden unit is a known quantity. By eliminating all variables in the test configuration aside from the device tester itself, it is possible to verify whether the tester is performing as specified.
The drawback to using a golden unit to verify the test configuration is the time, money and effort needed to thoroughly test the device and record its characteristics. If a golden unit fails or becomes damaged by the handler while being loaded into the test socket, the characterization process, and the associated expenditure of time, money and effort, must be repeated for a new golden unit. Because the golden units represent such a large investment, manufacturers are actually often reluctant to risk placing them in handlers. This requires placement of the golden unit in the test socket by hand, slowing down the testing process. Therefore, a more inexpensive and convenient method and apparatus are desired for checking the integrity of a tester setup used in the manufacture of semiconductor devices.

Method and apparatus for checking the integrity of a device tester-handler setup


Lubricating oils containing borated alkyl catechols-succinimide complex are effective in reducing fuel consumption in an internal combustion engine.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention is concerned with the product obtained by reacting a borated alkyl catechol with a succinimide and the use of said product in lubricant compositions.
2. Description of the Prior Art
With the crisis associated with diminishing amounts of fossil fuel and the rapidly increasing prices for this fuel, there has been a great deal of interest in reducing the amount of fuel consumed by automobile engines, and the like.
Thus, there is a great need to find lubricants that reduce the overall friction in the engine, thus reducing the energy requirements thereto.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,795,548 discloses the use of lubricating oils compositions containing borated alkyl catechols. The oil compositions are used in the crankcase of an internal combustion engine in order to reduce oxidation of the oil and corrosion of the metal parts of the engine.
There is a problem with the use of borated alkyl catechols in lubricatinq oils since they are sensitive to moisture and hydrolyze readily. The hydrolysis leads to haze and/or precipitate formation which must be filtered out prior to use.
It has now been found that the borated alkyl catechols may be stabilized against hydrolysis by complexing the borated alkyl catechol with an alkenyl or alkyl mono or bis succinimide.
Most importantly, it has now been found that lubricating the crankcase of an internal combustion engine with a lubricating oil containing the reaction product of a borated alkyl catechol and a succinimide reduces the fuel consumption of the engine.

Succinimide complexes of borated alkyl catechols and lubricating oil compositions containing same


The control device controls an internal combustion engine comprising a fuel injector 31. The control device comprises an injection control part controlling fuel injection from the fuel injector. The injection control part controls the fuel injections so as to perform a plurality of pre-injections and a main injection and so that the pre-injected fuel is burned by compression self-ignition after the start of main injection. The injection control part controls the fuel injector so as to perform the pre-injections and main injection at basic injection timings during steady operation, and performs correction control so as to correct the injection timings from the basic injection timings during transient operation. In correction control, the larger a crank angle from TDC of the injection timings of the different injections before correction, the greater the amounts of correction of the injection timings of the injections.

Known in the past has been an internal combustion engine performing premixed charge compression ignition (PCCI) in part of the operating regions of an internal combustion engine. Premixed charge compression ignition is a form of combustion where fuel and air are premixed, then the premixed gas is self-ignited. In premixed charge compression ignition, fuel and air are mixed in advance to a certain extent in this way, then the air-fuel mixture is burned, and therefore there are few locations with locally high concentrations of fuel when burning the air-fuel mixture. As a result, the amount of discharge of smoke can be suppressed.
Further, in performing premixed charge compression ignition, it is known to inject fuel from the fuel injector by main injection and pre-injection before main injection (for example, PLT 1). In particular, in PLT 1, the injection timing of the main injection is fixed and the injection timing of the pre-injection is changed according to the engine operation state, etc., or the injection timing of the main injection and the injection timing of the pre-injection are both changed in the same extent, according to the engine operation state, etc.

Control device of internal combustion engine


A User Equipment (UE) that was registered on a non-preferred network operator may be forced to register immediately and seamlessly onto another available more preferred network operator by updating the EF_LOCI in the UICC with the MCCMNC (i.e. PLMN ID) of the preferred network operator and then sending the REFRESH—3G Session Reset command to the Mobile Equipment (ME).

The disclosed method is an innovative new seamless instant registration method by which a roaming UE that is in Automatic Network Selection mode and registered on a non-preferred visited network, can be forced to immediately register seamlessly within seconds onto another available more preferred visited network. The general method by which this can be accomplished is by updating a specific file in the UICC with specific content, followed by a sending a specific REFRESH command to the ME. This method can be deployed using either a commercial OTA solution or a SIM Toolkit Application in the UICC.
When a roaming UE is powered on in a foreign country with multiple visited networks available, for which registration is possible (due to bilateral network agreements), if the ME is set to Automatic Network Selection mode (which typically is the default setting), the ME follows the Network Selection Procedures outlined in 3 GPP TS 23.122 clause 18.104.22.168 and 18.104.22.168.
There are some scenarios where if the OPLMNwAcT preferred roaming list in the UICC is empty or not updated with the latest more preferred network, then the roaming UE may register onto a less preferred visited network that the home operator would not want their client's UE to register onto. Reasons may be higher roaming costs and/or fewer services such as 3 G data offered on the less preferred network.
In these scenarios, the following United States patent documents generally describe an OTA network based solution in which to steer a clients UE (i.e. via OTA updates to the LOCI and PLMN list followed by a REFRESH) to a more preferred visited network: U.S. Pat. No. 7,127,245 Almgren and U.S. Pat. No. 7,139,570 Elkarat et al.
However, the specific method for how to accomplish the seamless and instant registration behaviour of the UE onto the more preferred visited network after the OTA update is not covered in these patents, for which the descriptions and claims presented in these Prior Arts are obscure and ambiguous in this regard and leave the reader who is skilled in this subject matter area to spend countless hours experimenting and testing with different REFRESH command combinations with different combinations of LOCI updates.
Described are some examples of the challenges and limitations of the at least some previous methods. First, if the LOCI file is updated with the PLMN ID of the preferred visited network, but the Location update status byte 11 is set to a value other than "00", then seamless and instant registration will not work for all MEs, regardless of which REFRESH command is used after the LOCI file is updated. Second, if the LOCI file is updated with the PLMN ID of the preferred visited network, but the TMSI value of "FF FF FF FF" is specified in bytes 1 to 4, then seamless and instant registration will not work in some MEs, even if used with REFRESH—3G Session Reset. Third, even if the LOCI file is properly updated by updating the PLMN ID of the preferred PLMN, while keeping the TMSI and Location update status intact with the previous values (i.e. non-"FF FF FF FF" TMSI value and Location update status set to "00"), usage of REFRESH—File Change Notification will not accomplish instant registration onto the preferred network on all MEs. Fourth, even if the LOCI file is properly updated by updating the PLMN ID of the preferred PLMN, while keeping the TMSI and Location update status intact with the previous values, usage of REFRESH—UICC Reset will not accomplish seamless and instant registration on MEs that implement a "Cold Reset" procedure, in which the ME performs a powercycle which will give the client the perception that the UE has malfunctioned. Fifth, only REFRESH—3G Session Reset specifies a re-initialization of a network connection through the MM Restart Procedure as per 3GPP TS 31.111 clause 6.4.7. As such, it is not guaranteed and required as per 3 GPP standards (unless there is an IMSI change as per 3 GPP TS 11.14 clause 188.8.131.52) that all MEs using other REFRESH commands, will perform a new network selection attempt on the preferred PLMN using the updated LOCI, even if the LOCI file is properly updated by updating the PLMN ID of the preferred PLMN, while keeping the TMSI and Location update status intact with the previous values.
Therefore, the disclosed method is a novel improvement to these methods, which focuses on only updating the MCCMNC content in the LOCI file with the preferred PLMN while keeping the TMSI and Location update status intact with the previous values, followed by a REFRESH—3 G Session Reset command to the ME, in order to obtain immediate registration within seconds, for which there is no precedence.
Furthermore, the method for seamless instant registration through an MCCMNC update to the LOCI file followed by REFRESH—3G Session Reset to the ME, can also be accomplished through a SIM Toolkit application, in which perhaps the user, via a SIM Toolkit menu in the ME UI, selects the current visited country from a list of countries shown followed by selecting a predefined Network Name associated to the preferred PLMN code of the selected visited country. Once selected, the SIM Toolkit app proceeds with carrying out the disclosed method.
In conjunction to using the method for seamless instant registration onto the preferred visited network, the OPLMNwAcT file in the UICC can also be updated (i.e. using either OTA solution or SIM Toolkit) with the preferred visited network PLMN ID as higher priority over other PLMN IDs (if populated in the OPLMNwAcT list) of the same visited country, followed by sending the REFRESH—3 G Session Reset command to the ME. This will help keep the UE registered on the preferred visited network, if available, during an HPPLMN rescan.
In the future, a new REFRESH command requirement specified in 3 GPP Release 7, REFRESH—Steering of Roaming, is aimed to provide similar instant and seamless registration behaviour as the disclosed method. However, REFRESH—Steering of Roaming is only applicable to Release 7 and higher MEs, and is not specified to work with today's current MEs, most of which are pre-Release 7. Therefore, the practicality of this new REFRESH command is not yet feasible.

Method for instant registration of a roaming UE onto a preferred VPLMN from a non-preferred VPLMN


A method of fabricating a FinFET device includes a self-aligned contact etch where a source/drain contact module is performed prior to a replacement metal gate (RMG) module. In particular, the method involves forming a sacrificial gate over the channel region of a fin, and an interlayer dielectric over adjacent source/drain regions of the fin. An etch mask is then used to protect source/drain contact regions and enable the removal of the interlayer dielectric from outside of the protected area, e.g., between adjacent fins. A sacrificial cobalt layer is used to backfill the cavities formed by etching the interlayer dielectric prior to forming a functional gate.

The present application relates generally to methods for forming semiconductor devices, and more specifically to methods for forming fin field effect transistors (FinFETs) having a reduced risk of electrical shorts between gate and source/drain contacts.
A trend in the development of semiconductor manufacturing technologies has been to increase the density of devices per chip, and hence decrease the size of active structures as well as the distances between such structures. An increase in device density may advantageously affect device performance such as circuit speed, and may allow also for increasingly complex designs and functionality. However, the decrease in size and the attendant increase in density may also generate undesirable effects, including unwanted short circuits between adjacent conductive elements.
In advanced node FinFET devices, for instance, the proximity of gate contacts and source/drain contacts may lead to unwanted conduction, i.e., leakage, between these adjacent structures, particularly at the respective top and bottom portions of the structures. Short circuits can adversely affect yield.

Self-aligned contact etch for fabricating a FinFET


A system for storing and transporting can end members comprising multiple tray units having multiple parallel rows of elongated compartment for receiving and supporting stacks of end members. The tray units are nestable and stackable one upon another to provide palletized loads of both empty and filled tray units. End loading and unloading apparatus is provided to enable simultaneous loading and unloading full tray compartments so simultaneous lateral movement of all of the stacks of end members between the tray compartments and a shuttle tray unit whereat all the stacks of end members are stored prior to loading and unloading of the tray unit. The shuttle tray unit is loaded and unloaded by stacking units of a lesser number than the number of tray compartments. The stacking units have elongated upper and lower jaw members which grip and carry a stack of end members between the shuttle tray unit and end member feed and track apparatus for conveying continuous strings of end members to and from the stacking units. Elevator and conveyor apparatus is provided to deliver stacks of empty tray members on a pallet to can end loading station and to stack and palletize loaded trays in a palletizing mode of operation; and to deliver stacks of filled tray members on a pallet to an end unloading station and to stack and palletize empty trays in a depalletizing mode of operation.

Steel and aluminum lids for beverage and food cans are called "ends" in the can industry. Two piece cans comprise a can body member and an end member which is fixedly attached to the can body member by a seamer machine after the can body member has been filled by a filler machine. Due to the cross-sectional shape of the ends, they nest together when stacked or conveyed and form a continuous string, referred to as a snake. In order to transport and store ends, segments or stacks of this string containing a known count of ends (around 500) are divided from the string manually by an individual called a "bagger" and inserted into a paper tube called a sleeve. The sleeves are then sealed and the bagger stacks the sleeves on a pallet in a nested fashion. The nested sleeves of ends are maintained in relationship on the pallets by threading a paper or net ribbon back and forth around the layers. The pallet loads are hand assembled at the end manufacturing facility for shipment to the user (bottler-filler) facility. The beverage filler operator at the bottling plant opens the sleeves and feeds the stack of ends to the seamer machine.
This delivery system has been the industry standard for many years. During this time end manufacturing lines have become highly automated and greatly improved in speed. There have been a number of attempts at improving the delivery system but most have only improved the ability of the bagger and filler operators to keep up with the system and have not truly automated the system.
Recently, there has been a machine developed called a "balancer". This machine has the ability to take segments of the string of ends being conveyed and transfer the segments into a multi-rowed steel tray or simply transfer from an incoming conveyor(s) to an outgoing conveyor(s). The device makes decisions based on line conditions to either off load ends to the tray, send ends on through the line, or load ends from the tray back into the line. In other words, the machine acts as a device to balance the flow of ends through the manufacturing line; hence, the name "balancer". A machine of the type is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,808,057.
The developer of the balancer has also developed a machine that places ends in plastic trays and then palletizes the trays for delivery to the filler-seamer line. The machine with modifications is also used as a depalletizer to unload the trays at the filler. A machine of this type is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,568,231.


An ion flow measurement glow plug with an electrical terminal for the ignition current of a heating element which is located in a glow tube on an end which is directed to the combustion space of an engine block. The glow tube is located in a plug housing, insulated relative to the latter, and the plug housing is electrically connected to the engine block. At a terminal-side area of the plug, a solid-state switch is integrated or modulalry arranged, which is triggered by a control signal, as a result of which the second terminal of the heating element is switched to the engine block (ground) via the plug housing.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to ion flow glow plugs and systems for ignition and ion flow measurement using such glow plugs.
2. Description of Related Art
Ion flow measurement in the combustion space of a cylinder delivers various data on the progress of combustion. In an engine with several cylinders, this ion flow measurement can be taken in one, in several or in all cylinders. A system for ignition and ion flow measurement requires special glow plugs and a special control device which, as before, controls not only the ignition process, but also makes available an auxiliary voltage UH which can be applied to the glow plugs and takes the ion flow measurement. The glow plugs must be made such that, at least in the area of the glow plug tips, they represent a measurement electrode to which an auxiliary voltage UH can be applied. This voltage is then between the electrode and the inside wall of the cylinder. If at this point ions are produced by the combustion process, current flows. Its behavior allows conclusions regarding the combustion process in the cylinder. Preferably, the glow plug is made such that parts of the heater projecting into the cylinder can also be used as an electrode. That is, the heater and electrode are electrically coupled to one another.
For purposes of explanation, in the following, a system from the prior art is described using FIG. 1, the reference numbers having the following meaning:
(1) Glow plug with electrically insulated heater
(2) Electrode for ion flow measurements, can be made as a closed tube and can contain a heater (3)
(3) Heater, on one side electrically connected anywhere to the electrode (2)
(4) Plug body, electrically insulated relative to the electrode (2)
(5) Electrical insulation
(6) Electrical terminal, heavy current contact
(7) Solid-state switch, for example, n-channel MOS-FET transistor
(8) Voltage evaluation circuit
(9) Ground connection of the plug body (4) to the engine block
(10) Control device
(11) Supply voltage terminal UB, power feed
(12) Ground terminal, power removal
(13) Glow plug terminal, current to the glow plug
(14) Glow plug terminal, current return from the glow plug
(15) Control unit
(16) Switching stage for ignition current IGK
(17) Switching stage for ion flow measurement
(18) Control signal for xe2x80x9cignitionxe2x80x9d function
(19) Control signal for xe2x80x9cion flow measurementxe2x80x9d function
(20) Auxiliary voltage generation UH
A prior art bipolar ion flow measurement glow plug has the following features, as shown in FIG. 3:
Glow plug with 2 electrical terminals (6)
The electrode (2) and heater (3) are electrically insulated relative to the engine block by the plug body (4) which contains an insulating element (5)
The electrode (2) is connected anywhere to one of the two terminals of the heater (3)
The ignition current flows via the two electrical terminals (6)
For ion flow measurement the auxiliary voltage UH is applied to one of the two terminals (6), the other terminal remains unwired.
A previously known, conventional system (FIG. 1) has a number Nz of glow plugs (1) and a control device (10); Nz is the number of cylinders of the respective engine. To be able to use one, several or all Nz glow plugs (1) for ion flow measurement, special ion flow measurement glow plugs are needed in which the electrode (2) and the heater (3) are electrically insulated with respect to plug body (4). These glow plugs have two electrical terminals (6) with which the glow plugs are connected to a control device (10).
The control device (10) contains a control unit (15) which controls all functions; preferably, a microprocessor is used here. Nz glow plugs (1) can be connected to the control device (10). For each glow plug (1), there is a switching stage for the ignition current IGK (16) and in addition, when the ion flow is to be measured with the glow plug, there is a switching stage for ion flow measurement (17). Each glow plug (1) which is also used for ion flow measurement is connected via two terminals (13) and (14) to the two switching stages (16) and (17). Each switching stage is triggered by a control signal for the xe2x80x9cignitionxe2x80x9d (18) function or a control signal for the xe2x80x9cion flow measurementxe2x80x9d (19) function. During ion flow measurement, the xe2x80x9cignitionxe2x80x9d function is inactive. The switching stage (16) separates the glow plug (1) galvanically from the supply voltage terminal (11) and the ground terminal (12); at the same time, an auxiliary voltage UH for ion flow measurement is applied via the switching stage (17) to the glow plug (1) connected as a measurement electrode, and the ion flow measurement is taken.
During the ignition process, the current IGK flows through each switching stage (16) and each glow plug (1). For the circuit shown in FIG. 1, the current path is, for example, the following:
(11)xe2x86x92(16)xe2x86x92(13)xe2x86x92(6)xe2x86x92(3)xe2x86x92(2)xe2x86x92(6)xe2x86x92(14)xe2x86x92(16)xe2x86x92(12)
Mainly, when all glow plugs (1) are also being used for ion flow measurement, this means that a multiple of the current IGK is flowing via the supply voltage terminal (11) and the ground terminal (12), specifically a current Nz*IGK increased by a factor N2, the number of cylinders. This results in a very high current loading of these two terminals. For example, for an 8 cylinder engine, at a glow plug current IGK=30 A, the total current is 240 A by the two terminals (11) and (12).
The above described conventional system structure for ignition and ion flow measurements has several serious defects.
The glow plugs used for ion flow measurement must be bipolarly connected; a new connector system is necessary on the glow plug. A corresponding plug connector must have two heavy current contacts and is thus clearly more expensive than the unipolar version.
Plugging a bipolar mating connector onto the glow plug mounted in the engine block is more complex than inserting a rotationally symmetrical plug.
Return of the glow plug current to the control device requires a second heavy current line with a large cable cross section with a corresponding plug connection on the control device: Additional costs in the control device and due to the additional cable.
The second heavy current line together with the resulting additional contact points increases the unwanted contact resistances, and thus, reduces the voltage on the glow plug.
In the control device, in addition to the already present heavy current terminal in the positive line (current load: sum of all glow plug currents), which is usually made as a screw terminal, another heavy current terminal in the minus line is necessary: additional costs and additional effort in installation.
A primary object of the present invention is, therefore, to provide ion flow glow plugs and systems for ignition and ion flow measurement using such glow plugs which overcomes the shortcomings of the prior art.
This object is achieved in accordance with the invention by an ion flow measurement glow plug with an electrical terminal for the ignition current of a heating element which is located in a glow tube in the combustion space, the glow tube being located in a plug housing, insulated relative to the latter, and the plug housing being electrically connected to the engine block, having a solid-state switch integrated or modularly arranged at the terminal-side area of the plug, the solid-state switch being triggered by a control signal, and switching the second terminal of the heating element via the plug housing to the engine block (ground).
These and further objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings which, for purposes of illustration only, show several embodiments in accordance with the present invention.

System for ignition and ion flow measurement and ion flow glow plugs for this system


A method for forming an electroconductive member such as an imaging member, an intermediate belt, and an electroded donor or bias transfer roll for electrostatographic development includes the steps of forming a roll having a layer of an insulating material and altering an electrical property of the insulating material by irradiating the insulating material with a laser beam.

This invention relates generally to a process for preparing electroconductive members such as imaging members and electroded donor rolls or electroded bias transfer rolls. This invention particularly concerns fabrication of such electroconductive members having a conductive layer or having an integral electrode pattern wherein the electrode pattern comprises conductive structures within the insulating polymer or ceramic layer, formed by direct irradiation of the insulating material. The present invention also relates to a process for changing the electrical properties, such as conductivity, of an insulating material layer of an electroconductive member such as an imaging member, a donor roll or a bias transfer roll.
Generally, the processes of electrostatographic imaging and electrophotographic printing include the steps of charging a photoconductive imaging member to a substantially uniform potential so as to sensitize the photoconductive surface thereof. The charged portion of the photoconductive imaging member is exposed to an image of an original document being reproduced, such as a visible image of an original document being reproduced or a computer-generated image written by, for example, a raster output scanner. This records an electrostatic latent image on the photoconductive imaging member corresponding to the original document or computer-generated image. The recorded latent image is then developed by bringing oppositely charged toner particles into contact with it. This forms a toner powder image on the imaging member that is subsequently transferred to a substrate, such as paper. Finally, the toner powder image is permanently affixed to the substrate in image configuration, for example by heating and/or pressing the toner powder image.
Transfer of the latent image from the imaging member to the recording substrate is most commonly achieved by applying electrostatic force fields in a transfer nip sufficient to overcome the forces holding the toner to the imaging member and to attract most of the toner to transfer it onto the recording substrate. These transfer fields are generally provided in one of two ways, by ion emission from a transfer corona generator onto the back of the copy sheet, as described in U.S. Pat. No. 2,807,233, or by a DC charged biased transfer roller or belt rolling along the back of the copy sheet. Examples of bias roller transfer systems are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,781,105, 2,807,233, 3,043,684, 3,267,840, 3,328,193, 3,598,580, 3,625,146, 3,630,591, 3,684,364, 3,691,993, and 3,702,482. Further examples of a biased transfer roller are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,924,943 and 5,337,127.
A suitable developer material may be a two-component mixture of carrier particles having toner particles triboelectrically adhered thereto. The toner particles are attracted to and adhere to the electrostatic latent image to form a toner powder image on the imaging member surface. Suitable single component developers are also known. Single component developers comprise only toner particles; the particles have an electrostatic charge (for example, a triboelectric charge) so that they will be attracted to, and adhere to, the latent image on the imaging member surface.
There are various known forms of development systems for bringing toner particles to a latent image on an imaging member surface. One form includes a magnetic brush that picks up developer from a reservoir through magnetic attraction and carries the developer into proximity with the latent image. In a modification of the magnetic brush apparatus, known as hybrid development, the magnetic brush does not bring toner directly to the imaging member surface, but transfers toner to a donor roll that then carries the toner into proximity with the latent image. In single component scavengeless development, a donor roll is used with a plurality of electrode wires closely spaced from the donor roll in the development zone. An AC voltage is applied to the wires to form a toner cloud in the development zone and the electrostatic fields generated by the latent image attract toner from the cloud to develop the latent image. In a hybrid scavengeless development system, the method of development with a donor roll is the same as in single component scavengeless development, except that a magnetic brush is first used to load the donor roll with toner particles. In this system, the donor roll and magnetic brush are electrically biased relative to one another; thus toner is attracted to the donor roll from the magnetic brush. The electrically biased electrode wires then detach toner from the donor roll, forming a toner cloud in the development zone and thereby developing the latent image.
In single component jumping development, an AC voltage is applied to the donor roll, causing toner to be detached from the roll and projected towards the imaging member surface. The toner is attracted by the electrostatic fields generated by the latent image and the latent image is developed. Variants of these development systems may be used with single component or two-component developers.
An electrophotographic imaging member for use in these processes may be provided in a number of forms. For example, the imaging member may be a homogeneous layer of a single material such as vitreous selenium, or it may be a composite layer containing a photoconductor and another material. One type of composite imaging member comprises a layer of finely divided particles of a photoconductive inorganic compound dispersed in an electrically insulating organic resin binder. U.S. Pat. No. 4,265,990 discloses a layered photoreceptor having separate photogenerating and charge transport layers. The photogenerating layer is capable of photogenerating holes and injecting the photogenerated holes into the charge transport layer.
As more advanced, higher speed electrophotographic copiers, duplicators and printers were developed, degradation of image quality was encountered during extended cycling. Moreover, complex, highly sophisticated duplicating and printing systems operating at very high speeds have placed stringent requirements on photoreceptors, including narrow operating limits. For example, the numerous layers found in many modern photoconductive imaging members must be highly flexible, adhere well to adjacent layers, and exhibit predictable electrical characteristics within narrow operating limits to provide excellent toner images over many thousands of cycles. One type of multilayered photoreceptor that has been employed as a belt in electrophotographic imaging systems comprises a substrate, a conductive layer, a blocking layer, a charge generating layer, a charge transport layer and a conductive ground strip layer adjacent to one edge of the imaging layers. This photoreceptor may also comprise additional layers such as an anti-curl back coating, an adhesive layer and an optional overcoating layer.
Several of these types of photoreceptors are disclosed in, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,021,309, 5,200,286 and 5,372,904.
In multi-color electrostatographic printing, a photoconductive intermediate transfer belt is used. Rather than forming a single latent image on a photoconductive surface, successive latent images corresponding to different colors must be created. Each single color latent electrostatic image is developed with a corresponding different colored toner, and thus the process is repeated for a plurality of cycles. Each single-color toner image is then superimposed over the previously transferred single-color toner image when it is transferred to the recording substrate such as a copy sheet. This creates a multilayered toner image on the copy sheet. One way to transfer each of the several latent images is to develop one or more of the latent images on a single intermediate transfer belt, rather than on separate photoreceptors, and then transfer the latent images from the intermediate belt to the recording substrate. Such a photoconductive intermediate transfer belt is disclosed in, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,347,353.
Generally, as described above, a donor roll is used in many electrostatographic development systems. The donor roll is used to transport toner particles, for example, from a magnetic brush to the development zone to be applied to the surface of a photoreceptor. A purpose of the donor roll is to transfer the toner to the photoreceptor without significantly disturbing or removing toner particles already on the surface of the photoreceptor. Thus, for example, a donor roll is preferred in color imaging processes where all of the toner particles are not applied to the photoreceptor at the same time.
In order to function properly as an electroconductive member, it is necessary that the electroconductive layer or layers of the member have a specific RC time constant. The RC time constant is the product of the resistance and capacitance of the roll, and indicates the time required for charging and discharging the roll. That is, the member must be capable of dissipating an applied charge, such as an electrostatic charge, within a specified time range. Generally, the time range varies from about 0.06 to about 1.5 msec, with the time constant being defined by the resistance and capacitance of the imaging member coating or by the resistivity and dielectric constant of the coating. The electroconductive member materials, in addition to retaining or dissipating an applied charge, must also have good wear resistance, must be compatible with the toner to be used in the development system, and must have good bond strength with any substrate or other layers used in the imaging member.
The RC time constant is also important in the context of imaging members because, for example, the electrical characteristics of a layer of the imaging member must be properly adjusted to ensure imagewise transfer and development of a latent image. For example, whereas it may be necessary for one layer of the imaging member to retain a charge for a longer period of time, other layers may require faster discharge and transport of charges.
Bias transfer rolls must similarly have strictly determined electrical properties in order to properly transfer an image to the recording substrate. For example, the difficulties of successful image transfer are well known. In the pre-transfer (pre-nip) region, before the recording substrate (copy paper) contacts the latent image, if the transfer fields are too high the image is susceptible to premature transfer across the air gap, leading to decreased resolution or fuzzy images. Further, if ionization is present in the pre-nip air gap due to high fields, it may lead to strobing or other image defects, loss of transfer efficiency, and a lower latitude of system operating parameters. However, in the directly adjacent nip region itself, the transfer field should be as large as possible (greater than approximately 20 volts per micron) to achieve high transfer efficiency and stable image transfer. In the next adjacent post-nip region, at the photoconductor/copy sheet separation (stripping) area, if the transfer fields are too low hollow characters may be generated. On the other hand, improper ionization in the post-nip region may cause image instability or copy sheet detacking problems. Variations in ambient conditions, copy paper, contaminants, etc., can all affect the necessary transfer parameters. The bias roll material resistivity and paper resistivity can change greatly with humidity, etc. Further, conduction of the bias charge from the bias transfer roller is also greatly affected by the presence or absence of the copy paper between it and the imaging surface. To achieve these different transfer field parameters consistently, and with appropriate transitions, is difficult.
In the past, the properties of the electroconductive roll coatings have been achieved by using a coating material, generally a semiconducting material or a mixture of a conductive material dispersed in a binder resin, having specific electrical properties such as resistivity and dielectric constant. As necessary, conductive wiring was then applied to the roll as a separate step or steps. Thus the semiconducting material was selected to have a predetermined RC time constant. A problem with this method, however, is that small variations in material formulation and/or the coating process can result in large variations in the resultant RC time constant of the roll. As a result, reproducibility of properties may be difficult to achieve and the development process and resultant image may be adversely affected.
Furthermore, several problems exist with conventional donor rolls in many of these development systems when some toner materials are used. It has been found that for some toner materials, the tensioned electrically biased wires in self-spaced contact with the donor roll tend to vibrate. This vibration may cause non-uniform solid area development of the resultant developed image. Furthermore, there is a possibility that debris within the development system can momentarily lodge on the wires. Such debris can cause streaking of the resultant print image. Thus, it would appear to be advantageous to replace the externally located electrode wires with electrodes integral to the donor roll. In addition, the removal of electrode wires from the development zone would obviate the need for a structure to maintain tension in the wires and to position the wires within the development zone.
One such method of forming integral electrodes in a donor roll, thereby forming an electroded roll, is disclosed, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,268,259 to Sypula. In Sypula, the electrodes are formed in the donor roll by a process comprising: (a) providing a cylindrically shaped insulating member; (b) coating the insulating member with a light sensitive photoresist; (c) patterning the photoresist by exposure to light, resulting in a first photoresist portion corresponding to the electrode pattern and a second photoresist portion; (d) removing the first photoresist portion, thereby exposing a portion of the insulating member; and (el depositing conductive metal on the portion of the insulating member where the first photoresist portion has been removed, resulting in an electrode pattern that is capable of being electrically biased to detach toner particles from the donor roll.
Another method for forming electrode patterns on a substrate, using an electroless process, is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,153,023 to Orlowski et al. The process allows for the formation of at least one electrically conductive path in a plastic substrate. The process comprises: (a) providing a thermoplastic substrate having a melting point below 325.degree. C.; (b) coating the substrate with a precursor of a catalyst for the electroless deposition of conductive metals, the catalyst precursor having a decomposition temperature below the melting point of the thermoplastic substrate and within the temperature range where the thermoplastic substrate softens; (c) heating the portion of the coated thermoplastic substrate corresponding to the desired conductive path to a temperature sufficient to decompose the catalyst precursor to a catalyst and soften the thermoplastic substrate; and (d) depositing conductive metal by electroless deposition on the heated portion of the thermoplastic substrate to form a conductive path. In the process, the substrate, catalyst precursor and temperature are selected such that, upon heating, the precursor decomposes to a catalyst and the thermoplastic substrate softens and at least partially melts without substantial decomposition. This softening enables the catalyst to penetrate the surface of the thermoplastic substrate and become anchored therein. The catalyst then provides nucleation sites for the subsequent electroless deposition of conductive metal. The substrate containing the electrically conductive path may be a planar member, a two-sided circuit board, or a frame or structural member in a machine such as an automatic reprographic machine, which includes office copiers, duplicators and printers.
An electrode pattern may also be formed by evaporation, sputtering, spraying conductive materials through a mask, or by electrodepositing through a previously patterned conductive surface. These and other methods are known in the art.
A process of irradiating a polymer to form patterns of permanently increased electrical conductivity is described in Schumann et al., "Permanent Increase of the Electrical Conductivity of Polymers Induced by Ultraviolet Laser Radiation," Appl. Phys. Lett., Vol. 58(5), 428-30 (4 February 1991); Phillips et al., "Sub-100 nm Lines Produced Ablation in Polyimide," Appl. Phys. Lett., Vol. 58(24), 2761-63 (17 June 1991); Phillips et al., "Submicron Electrically Conducting Wires Produced in Polyimide by Ultraviolet Laser Irradiation," Appl. Phys. Lett., Vol. 62(20), 2572-74 (17 May 1993); Srinivasan et al., "Generation of Electrically Conducting Features in Polyimide (Kapton.TM.) Films With Continuous Wave, Ultraviolet Laser Radiation," Appl. Phys. Lett., Vol. 63(24), 3382-83 (13 December 1993); Phillips et al., "Excimer-Laser-Induced Electric Conductivity in Thin-Film C.sub.60," Appl. Phys. A, Vol. 57, 105-07 (1993); and Feurer et al., "Ultraviolet Laser-induced Permanent Electrical Conductivity in Polyimide," Appl. Phys. A, Vol. 56, 275-81 (1993). The references generally discuss the formation of conducting lines (wires) in a polyimide material using cw (argon), excimer, and UV laser irradiation. The references disclose that such processes may be useful in semiconductor and integrated circuit processing applications as a means to replace the wet resist production processes. The references do not disclose application of the process to the production of electroconductive members for use in electrostatographic imaging processes.
A similar process is disclosed in N. R. Quick, "Direct Conversion of Conductors in Ceramic Substrates," ISHM Proceedings (1990). The disclosed process uses a Nd:YAG laser system with an emission wavelength of 1064 nm to generate nonmetallic electrode lines in alpha-silicon carbide and aluminum nitride substrates.
A problem with the methods currently used to form electrode patterns in imaging members such as electroded donor rolls and bias transfer rolls is the difficulty in implementing those processes on a commercial scale. For example, the multi-step nature of the processes, combined with the exacting product specifications and process control required, make the processes costly and difficult to implement. The processes also raise the problem of defects and contamination due to the numerous contacting steps necessary in the processes. A need therefore continues to exist in the field for improved processes for forming electroconductive members in general, and particularly for forming electrode patterns on members such as donor and bias transfer rolls.
There also continues to be a need in the art for a means to alter the electrical properties such as conductivity of an insulating polymer or ceramic layer of an electroconductive member so as to set and tune the RC time constant of the member. This is necessary to provide desired charge dissipation and other properties of the electroconductive member. In addition to being able to establish set properties in the electroconductive member layer, there is a need for a process that can provide more reproducible and constant results from one member to the next in the production process.

Process for preparing electroconductive members


Provided is an image processing apparatus that judges an in-focus degree of a motion picture related to a motion picture signal based on control information inputted along with the motion picture signal and related to an operation of photographing the motion picture signal. The image processing apparatus then changes a form in which an image related to the motion picture signal is displayed or printed, in accordance with a result of the judgment.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus, and more particularly to processing that uses information at the time of photographing of an image signal.
2. Related Background Art
As can be seen in Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 07-99605 (U.S. Pat. No. 5,581,362) and the like, there has conventionally been proposed a construction where information detected by a sensor provided for an image pickup apparatus or information showing settings made by a user is recorded along with a motion picture, thereby making it possible to retrieve, reproduce, and print an image based on the information.
In Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 07-99605, for instance, an in-focus distance is described as sensor information and, after this distance changes for a predetermined period of time, it becomes possible to extract a frame after the changing for the predetermined period of time as a frame for retrieval.
At the time of photographing of a motion picture, photographing environments, such as a distance to a subject, change at all times. Even if there is made an attempt to control an image pickup apparatus to follow this changing of the photographing environments, photographing needs to be performed even midway through the control because it is required that around 30 frames or around 60 fields are photographed per second in the case of NTSC. In particular, in the case where a subject moves from a near position to a far position under a state where photographing is performed by setting a zoom lens on a tele side, it is required to rapidly move a focus lens because a depth of field is shallow, which results in a situation where there exist frames in which blurring occurs.
Under such a circumstance, however, with the method described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 07-99605, for instance, it is required to observe changing for the predetermined period of time, so that it is impossible to make a judgment on image shaking for every frame.
Also, it is possible to easily judge if blurring occurs based on whether the focus lens is rapidly moved. With conventional techniques, however, it has been impossible to describe information on control of the focus lens.


In described examples, a switch has: a first current handling terminal coupled to a supply source terminal; and a second current handling terminal coupled to an output terminal. A comparator has: a first input coupled to the second current handling terminal; and a second input. A voltage reference source has: a first terminal coupled to the first current handling terminal; and a second terminal coupled to the second input of the comparator. A slew rate detector has an input coupled to the second current handling terminal. A switch controller has: a first input coupled to the comparator output; and a second input coupled to an output of the slew rate detector. The switch controller is coupled to output a signal to cause the switch to open when the comparator detects an over-current condition through the switch while the slew rate detector detects a negative slew rate.

A variety of faults can damage fragile semiconductor devices. Current-based faults are of particular concern because these can permanently destroy an integrated circuit. Two important types of current-based faults are excessive current and reverse current. Excessive current can create excessive heat within the integrated circuit, and such heat can destroy transistors, diodes and other components in the integrated circuit. Reverse current occurs when an external device forces a current onto the integrated circuit. Reverse current can also destroy devices on the integrated circuit. Along with the destructive effects of current induced heat, reverse current can cause many semiconductor junctions within the integrated circuit that are normally reverse biased to become forward biased. The forward bias condition allows the reverse current to create damage in many parts of the integrated circuit. For example, these problems may occur in an integrated circuit that: (a) is part of a primary device, such as a smart phone or computer; or (b) provides power to an accessory device, such as a SIM card, a credit card reader, or other accessories.
Protection devices are often included at the accessory power output terminals of integrated circuits to prevent current based faults. One such protection device includes a switch device (such a high capacity FET) coupled between the output terminal and the integrated circuitry. Circuitry within the integrated circuit monitors the voltage drop across the switch. Under certain conditions, the switch opens to decouple the integrated circuit from the output terminal. This is an effective protection technique. However, when the decoupling occurs, the accessory temporarily shuts down and then must go through its start-up cycle. Interruption of the accessory process can severely affect device and system performance. In some normal operating conditions, sufficient current flow can flow through the switch to trigger the protection circuit and cause decoupling of the accessory, even when a true current fault has not occurred. Accordingly, the protection device should be triggered only for events that truly endanger the integrity of the integrated circuit.

Methods and apparatus for power switch fault protection


A rear suspension for a vehicle which absorbs both a large shock and minute vibration includes a shock-absorbing device having a vehicle body-side end connected with a central portion of a sub-frame and a wheel-side end connected with an upper end of a vertical arm, the shock-absorbing member being disposed transversely with respect to the vehicle body. A lower arm includes an operating hole penetrating a central portion of the lower arm, a sliding groove formed in the operating hole, and a roller slidably disposed on the sliding groove, the front end of the horizontal arm being connected with a central portion of the lower arm by the roller.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a rear wheel suspension for a vehicle and, more particularly, to a suspension which can enhance riding comfort by absorbing vibration generated when a wheel moves upward and downward by means of a shock-absorbing member, and which can cope with shock and minute vibration by making a displacement of the shock-absorbing member larger than that of a wheel.
2. Description of Related Art
In general, a conventional vehicle suspension connects an axle shaft and a vehicle body to each other and absorbs an impact and vibration from a road surface to increase riding comfort and running safety. To absorb the impact from the road surface, a connection between upper and lower parts should be flexible, and to cope with driving and breaking forces applied to a wheel and a centrifugal force in a vehicle's turning, a connection in a horizontal direction of the suspension should be durable.
Suspension systems are structurally characterized as an integral shaft suspension and an independent suspension. The suspension of this invention concerns the independent suspension. These include the McPherson strut type suspension and Wishbone type suspensions.
The McPherson strut type suspension system comprises a strut arm 55, a shock-absorbing means, consisting of a shock absorber 51 and a spring 52 and having a lower part fixed to a wheel carrier 53 pivotally supporting a wheel 50 and an upper part supported by a vehicle body; and a lower control arm 56 connecting the lower part of the wheel carrier 53 to the lower part of the vehicle body, as shown in FIG. 4A.
The Wishbone type suspension system, as shown in FIG. 4B, includes the wheel carrier 53 supporting the wheel 50 and having the upper and lower parts connected to a sub-frame 54 of a car body by the upper and lower control arms 57 and 58, respectively, and a spring 59, as an absorbing means, disposed between the upper and lower control arms.
The above-mentioned two kinds of the conventional suspension systems include in common an absorbing member mounted vertically or inclined a little, such that the shock applied from the wheel is directly transmitted to the shock-absorber member, whereby the suspensions have problems that there is a limit to the release of the shock and the enhancement in the riding comfort which place restrictions on the layout of the suspension system.
In addition, the suspension system is designed to have a spring rate of the shock-absorbing member larger than a wheel rate or a suspension rate, and the controlling function against the minute displacement is not precise at an initial stage. Thus, the conventional suspension systems have a problem of not being able to cope with minute vibration.