A person transporter in the form of a chair having an open frame and a removable seat at a height above the knees of the average person so that it is easier to get into and out of, the seat being tiltable from a horizontal position either forward or back. A footrest in the lower part of the frame is movable from wholly housed in the frame to an exposed position for use, a vertical lever at the side of the frame for so moving the footrest, the lever being easily accessible to the attendant.

This invention is based on the structure disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,358,156, dated Nov. 9, 1982, and also includes the wheeled seat that is above the level of the knees of the patient or invalid standing beside so that it is easier for this person to sit in it and rise from it plus a simple a foot rest. In the patent this footrest is operated by the attendant to move from an out-of-the-way location within the chair frame out to a position for the occupant to rest his feet. The present invention provides a simple means by which the attendant may operate the footrest.
In addition the seat of the transporter is capable of at least three different positions: horizontal, tilted slightly forward for still easier entrance and exit, or a rearward tilt for safer position of the occupant.
Both of these features are therapeutic because they reduce the stress on the involved muscles and joints, and this leads to better chances of cure for the patient. The well-known wheelchair requires the help of at least one, and often two attendants for both seating the patient, unfolding the footrest, and extracting the patient from the wheel chair. The transporter not only provides correct skeletal positioning for the patient but also reduces back injuries to attendants caused by lifting of patients.


A secondary battery 100 includes a positive electrode current collector 221 and a positive electrode mixture layer 223 coated on the positive electrode current collector 221. The positive electrode mixture layer 223 includes a positive electrode active material 610 and an electrically conductive material 620. A ratio (Vb/Va) of a volume Vb of holes formed inside the positive electrode mixture layer 223 to an apparent volume Va of the positive electrode mixture layer 223 satisfies 0.30≦(Vb/Va). In addition, in a micropore distribution of differential micropore volume with respect to a micropore diameter as measured by the mercury intrusion method, the positive electrode mixture layer 223 has a first peak at which a micropore diameter D1 satisfies D1≦0.25 μm and a second peak at which a micropore diameter D2 is greater than the first peak micropore diameter D1.

For example, Patent Literature 1 described below discloses a non-aqueous electrolyte solution secondary battery comprising a positive electrode, a negative electrode that stores and releases lithium ions, and a non-aqueous electrolyte solution. More specifically, the positive electrode is structured such that a positive electrode layer including a lithium complex metal oxide containing nickel and a vinylidene fluoride-based fluoro-rubber is supported by a current collector. In addition, as measured by the mercury intrusion method, the positive electrode layer has a porosity of 20% to 50% and a pore volume of 10 mm3/g to 150 mm3/g with respect to pores in a diameter range of 0.1 μm to 3 μm. Patent Literature 1 describes that, due to this configuration, a non-aqueous electrolyte solution secondary is obtained which has a high energy density and which is superior in both large-current discharge characteristics and charge-discharge cycling characteristics.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


A method for manufacturing semiconductor device is provided. First, a substrate is provided. Then, a plurality of first gate lines disposed in parallel to each other and a first dummy gate line disposed in a direction perpendicular to the first gate lines are formed on the substrate. There is a first gap between the first dummy gate line and the first gate lines and there is a second gap between every pair of adjacent first gate lines. Thereafter, a second composite layer and a conductive layer are sequentially formed over the substrate. The conductive layer is etched back to form a plurality of second device structures that completely fills the second gaps. Then, the conductive layer in the first gap is removed.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing semiconductor device. More particularly, the present invention relates to a method for manufacturing semiconductor device and non-volatile memory.
2. Description of the Related Art
Non-volatile memory is a type of memory that has the capacity to retain stored data even after power to the device is removed. Because non-volatile memory products such as flash memory and nitride read-only-memory (NROM) allow multiple data entry, reading and erasing operations, these memory devices have been broadly applied in personal computer and electronic equipment.
FIG. 1A is a top view of a conventional non-volatile memory. FIG. 1B is a schematic cross-sectional view along line I–I′ (the X direction) of FIG. 1A and FIG. 1C is a schematic cross-sectional view along line II–II′ (the Y direction) of FIG. 1A. The conventional method of fabricating the non-volatile memory includes providing a substrate 100 and then forming a plurality of gate lines 102 on the substrate 100 with spacers 104 on their respective sidewalls. Each gate line 102 includes a dielectric layer 103, a gate 105 and a cap layer 107. Then, a dielectric layer 106 and a conductive layer (not shown) are sequentially formed over the substrate 100.
Thereafter, a portion of the conductive layer is removed to form a plurality of gates 110 that completely fills the gaps between the gate lines 102. The gates 110 and the gate lines 102 together form memory cell rows 113. Furthermore, conductive spacers (not shown) are also formed on the sidewalls of the outermost gate lines 102. A silicon oxide layer 115 is subsequently formed on the surface of the gate 110. After that, a patterned photoresist layer (not shown) is formed over the substrate 100 and an etching operation is carried out to remove the conductive spacers. Finally, source/drain regions 114 are formed in the substrate 100 on the respective sides of the memory cell rows 113.
However, in the aforementioned process, a silicon oxide layer is formed on the conductive spacers. As a result, the etching operation for removing the conductive spacers can hardly remove all the conductive spacers. The remaining polysilicon residue 116 often leads to a short circuit in the semiconductor device.

Method for manufacturing semiconductor device and non-volatile memory


Described embodiments are directed toward centrally-opening leaflet prosthetic valves having a frame and a leaflet construct. Leaflet frame attachments for prosthetic valves include the leaflet construct being at least partially coupled to a frame outer side by a looped structure.

A number of fabrication techniques have been used to couple prosthetic valve leaflets to associated prosthetic valve frames, including sewing, injection molding, and dip coating polymeric leaflet material onto frames. In operation, prosthetic valve leaflets typically open after upstream fluid pressure exceeds downstream fluid pressure and close after downstream fluid pressure exceeds upstream fluid pressure. The terminal edges of the prosthetic valve leaflets will generally come into contact and coapt under the influence of downstream fluid pressure, closing the prosthetic valve to form a temporary seal that inhibits downstream blood from flowing retrograde through the prosthetic valve. The repeated opening and closing of leaflets can give rise to reliability issues, or even failure over time.

Leaflet frame attachment for prosthetic valves


A dual band transmitter for transmitting a data signal in a first frequency or second frequency band. An antenna receives and sends data in one of the first and second frequency bands. An impedance matching network is connected in series with the antenna, and to a first node, and matches the impedance of the antenna to a predetermined value. The impedance matching network includes first and second antenna matching networks. The first antenna matching network is connected in series with the second matching network. In the first frequency band, the first antenna matching network matches the impedance of the antenna to the predetermined value, and in the second frequency band the second antenna matching network matches the impedance of the antenna to the predetermined value without affecting the first antenna matching network's matching in the first frequency band.

The present application relates to dual-band transmitters, and, more particularly to dual-band transmitters for Remote Keyless Entry (RKE) and Passive keyless Entry Systems (PES).
In recent years, more and more car manufacturers encounter signal interference problems during the UHF signal communication of remote keyless entry (RKE) and passive keyless system (PES). In the case of a single frequency band, hopping may be used to solve this problem. However, if the interfering signal is strong and with a broad band, then frequency band hopping may not solve the interference problem. If hopping occurs in two frequency bands, then the probability of successful communication will be greatly improved. In car access systems, typically a key fob includes a transmitter for transmitting signals to a receiver that receives the signals. A dual-band transmitter in the key fob uses either two antennas or a single antenna having an RF switch to achieve dual-band emission, but these solutions require a large PCB area, and an RF switch increases cost. Further, the design of such a dual-band transmitter is very complicated.


Implementations described herein relate to methods, systems, and computer-readable media to localize dynamic content. In some implementations, a computer-implemented method includes receiving visual content associated with a game from a first client locale, the visual content including text being represented at the first client locale by a first language, converting the text to generate translated text in at least a second language associated with a second client locale, and storing the translated text in a database in association with the visual content.

Some online platforms (e.g. gaming platforms, media exchange platforms, etc.), allow users to connect with each other, interact with each other (e.g., within a game), create games, and share information with each other via the Internet. The online platforms may further provide gaming content. It follows that as gaming content is produced for a first region or locale, other regions or locales may desire similar or the same gaming content.
In order to provide gaming content to the other regions, game developers need to devote resources to translate the gaming content. As some online platforms further rely on user-generated content for a gaming experience, obtaining vetted translations of all content is difficult or unmanageable. Moreover, dynamic content driven by user interactions further complicates providing localized content to multiple regions or locales.
Some implementations were conceived in light of the above.

Automatic localization of dynamic content


A lavatory complex for an aircraft. The lavatory complex includes a male lavatory facility and a female lavatory facility. The male lavatory facility includes stall units and may include urinals. The female lavatory facility includes stall units. Each stall unit suitably includes a single commode. The male and female lavatory facilities include at least one sink separated from the stall units by stall unit doors. The lavatory complex may include sinks that are not located within either the male or female lavatory facilities. A lavatory may include illuminating indicators; an illuminated, folding, baby changing station; a vanity; a self-cleaning toilet; and/or an illuminated faucet.

Current airplane lavatories are typically single, small units that include a commode and a sink. For example, the current aft end of the BOEING 777 commercial airplane, as shown in FIG. 1, includes a group of 6 individual lavatories. These six lavatories serve approximately 200 people. Therefore, each lavatory must serve approximately 34 people. When a passenger uses the lavatory unit, all the amenities of the unit are unavailable for use by another passenger—even when the passenger only occupies the unit to just use the sink. This can result in long lines of people waiting in the aisle for an available lavatory.
In order to reduce waiting times for aircraft lavatories, it may be attempted to increase the number of lavatories on board an aircraft. However, installing more lavatories also reduces the available space for passenger seats. This results in a decrease in the ability of such an aircraft to generate revenue for an airline.
Therefore, it would be desirable to provide more access to aircraft lavatory facilities with reduced wait times for passengers without adversely impacting revenue generation of an airplane. However, there is an unmet need to improve the efficiency of aircraft lavatories.
Further, airlines have indicated that passengers often have difficulty locating necessities in the lavatory. For example, passengers may not be sure where to find paper towels, how to get to the trashcan, or how to flush the toilet. This can lead to frustrated passengers and dirty facilities. Traditionally, items in the lavatory have been stored in discrete locations, which can cause them to be difficult for passengers to find. Placards are often included in lavatories, but placards can result in too many words to focus on or confusing symbols the passenger may not understand. Placards may also be subject to vandalization. Therefore, there is an unmet need to improve instructions for using an aircraft lavatory.
Moreover, passengers have also expressed a desire for enhanced lighting in the lavatory, especially around the mirror in order to prepare themselves for meetings after flights, etc. Thus, there is an unmet need to provide enhanced lighting in a lavatory.


Systems and methods for maintaining cache coherency between a first controller and a redundant peer controller while reducing communication overhead processing involved in the coherency message exchange. Header or meta-data information is accumulated in a buffer in a first controller along with updated cache data (if any) and forwarded to the peer controller. The accumulating information may be double buffered so that a buffer is filling as a previously filled buffer is transmitting to the peer controller. The peer controller processes the received information to update its mirror cache to maintain coherency with the first controller's cache memory with respect to dirty data. The method and systems avoid the need to update cache coherency in response to every flush operation performed within the first controller to thereby improve overall system performance.

1. Field of the Invention
The present application relates to storage systems and in particular relates to improved methods and systems for maintaining cache coherency between multiple, redundant storage controllers.
2. Discussion of Related Art
Numerous computing and communication devices and applications utilize redundant controller technologies to help improve reliability of the subsystem. For example, in computer storage subsystems used for storing and retrieving data, it is common to utilize redundant storage controllers coupled to redundant storage devices such as disk drives to improve reliability of the storage subsystem. In addition, well known RAID storage management techniques may be applied to the data stored on disk drives to further enhance reliability and performance of the system.
Where redundant controllers are utilized, a pair of controllers may be configured such that a first controller is "active" processing requests from attached host devices and a second controller may be "passive" awaiting activation to take over responsibility for processing requests in response to sensing a failure of the first active controller. In addition, other configurations may be applied to make both controllers of a redundant pair active such that each controller is active processing distinct requests from attached host devices and each active controller is also operable to monitor performance of the opposing or peer controller of the redundant pair. Therefore, each controller is active and simultaneously ready to take over processing responsibilities of its peer controller of the redundant pair. Such a configuration may often be referred to as dual-active or active/active.
It is also generally known, particularly for storage controllers, to utilize cache memory structures to improve the overall performance of the controller device and thereby improve performance of the associated system or subsystem. For example, in storage controllers, it is common and that each active controller will maintain a cache memory such that write operations from an attached host device are processed by recording the supplied write data in the cache memory. At a later point in time, when the storage controller may be generally idle, information recorded in the cache memory may be posted or flushed to the disk drives for persistent storage. Such data recorded in cache memory but not yet posted or flushed to the disk drives as may be referred to as "dirty".
In an active/active redundant controller configuration, each active controller utilizes its own cache memory to record data associated with read and write operations performed by that controller. Since each active controller also serves to stand ready to take over operations of its peer controller in case of failure, the contents of each active controller's cache memory must be made known to the peer controller. It is generally known to allocate an additional, alternate cache memory within each active controller used to mirror the contents of the peer controller's active cache memory. Maintaining such mirrored status is often referred to as cache coherency such that the active cache in an active controller and the corresponding alternate cache in a peer controller are maintained as coherent. Failure to do so could result in inconsistencies in the data recorded on the persistent record of the disk drives. For example, if the active cache in an active controller flushes dirty data to the disk drives, but the corresponding mirror cache in the peer controller still has the dirty data in it's alternate cache, later updates to that location followed by a failure of the active controller may cause the peer controller to flush old, previously dirty data to the disk drive despite the updates performed by the active controller just prior to its failure.
It is generally known in the art that dual-active controllers must communicate with one another to exchange cache coherency information to thereby maintain coherency between each active controller's cache memory and the alternate cache memory in the corresponding peer controller. In general, prior techniques for maintaining such cache coherency have required that flush operations that may post significant volumes of dirty data from the active cache memory to the disk drives must be mirrored in the alternate cache of the peer controller. Therefore, previous cache coherency techniques and structures have generally relied on communicating cache coherency information corresponding to flushed cache data between the active controllers.
Such flush operations may generate significant volumes of data to be posted to the disk drives and hence a corresponding significant volume of data to be exchanged between the active controllers. Further, the frequency of such cache flush operations may further exacerbate the problem associated with such high volumes of data exchanged between active controllers.
It is therefore an ongoing challenge to improve the efficiency of communications between dual-active controller having mirrored cache memories to maintain cache coherency while reducing overhead processing and communication to thereby improve overall system performance.

Systems and methods for cache synchronization between redundant storage controllers


A battery includes a battery can housing an cell that supplies electrical energy at terminals of the cell by an electro-chemical reaction with oxygen, the can including, a first member having at least one hole that is exposed to air; and a second member. The battery also includes a mechanism coupled to one of the first and second members to move the one of the first and second members such that when current is drawn from the battery, the opening in the member allows air to pass into the battery, and to move the one of the first and second members such that when current is not drawn from the battery, the opening in the member is not in registration to inhibit air to pass into the battery. The battery also includes a circuit to control the mechanism. In one embodiment the circuit monitors levels of O2 in a air plenum that surrounds the cell. The circuit to monitor levels of O2 in the air plenum includes a florescent detector/sensor that senses and responds to changes in O2 in the plenum by using the “quenching effect” of oxygen on a fluorescent material.

The invention relates to valves for fuel-air and metal-air batteries.
Batteries are commonly used as sources of electrical energy. A battery contains a negative electrode, "anode", and a positive electrode, "cathode." The anode has an active material that can be oxidized; the cathode has or consumes an active material that can be reduced. The anode active material is capable of reducing the cathode active material. In order to prevent direct reaction of the anode material and the cathode material, the anode and the cathode are electrically isolated from each other by a separator. An electrolyte in contact with the anode and the cathode contains ions that flow through the separator between the electrodes to maintain charge balance throughout the battery during discharge.
In a metal-air electrochemical cell, oxygen is reduced at the cathode, and a metal, such as zinc, is oxidized at the anode. Oxygen is supplied to the cathode from atmospheric air external to the cell through one or more air opening(s), such as circular holes in a can that surrounds cell. In zinc-air cells, the overall electrochemical reaction within the cell results in zinc metal being oxidized to zinc ions and O2 from air being reduced to hydroxyl ions (OH−). Ultimately, zincate or zinc oxide is formed in the anode. While these chemical reactions are taking place, electrons are transferred from the anode to the cathode, providing power to the device. With certain types of zinc-air batteries a temporary cover is placed over the openings in the battery and once the battery is brought into service, the cover is removed allowing air to enter the battery and oxidize the zinc. This configuration is often used with zinc-air batteries that are used to power hearing-aids, since they are in general continuous use and are replaced often.
During use, it is desirable to provide uniform discharge of the active materials and a relatively high discharge voltage profile. It is also desirable for the cell to have a long service life.


The distance between a paper discharging portion and an intermediate tray in a paper discharging device is increased, thus increasing the quantity of papers stacked in the intermediate tray, and also allowing the easy correction of jamming and preventing curling downwardly and rearwardly of papers discharged from the paper discharging portion.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an improvement of a paper resupplying device installed in an image forming apparatus capable of superposing copy images on one side of a paper and forming an image on both sides of the paper, that is forming a so-called composite image.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In order to form a so-called composite image on one side or both sides of a paper, a paper resupplying device in an image forming apparatus has been provided with an intermediate tray for stacking papers after forming one image thereon and a paper discharging device for discharging the papers onto the intermediate tray after the one image is formed thereon, such that the papers descend forwardly during such discharge.
In such paper resupplying device, if the distance between a paper discharging position from the paper discharging device and the intermediate tray is increased, the quantity of papers stacked in the intermediate tray can be increased, and thus jamming easily can be corrected.
However, when the papers discharged from the paper discharging position descend forwardly, due to a thermal effect in a preceding fixing operation or treatment, the possibility exists that simultaneously both corner portions of the leading end of each paper are bent downwardly toward the lower surface thereof. Thus, opposite corner portions (c) of the leading end (d) of the paper (a) curl downwardly causing leading end (d) of the paper to curl under rearwardly. Thus, the paper takes the shape of turned-over letter "C" as seen from the leading end of the paper and the paper is discharged under the condition that it descends forwardly an curls under rearward, as shown in FIG. 8.
If the distance from the paper discharging position to the intermediate tray 21 is increased to increase the quantity of papers (a) stacked and to take correction of jamming into consideration, there occurs the further possibility that the flat leading end (d) will engage with the intermediate tray 21 at a right angle with a surface of the tray or will be rolled rearwardly at corner portions (c). As a result, not only does the leading edge of the flat end (d) and both corner portions (c) of the paper cause increased conveying resistance, but also the papers (a) are discharged successively under a condition such that they tend to fall forwardly and roll under rearwardly, such that jamming occurs.
In case particularly of small size papers, a curled portion is larger proportionally than a non-curled portion, in the width-wise direction, compared with large size papers. Thus, the above described turned-over letter "C" condition can approach a "O" letter condition. That is, the condition of falling forward and curling under becomes even more notable.
Also, there has been proposed a paper discharging device including a plurality of paper discharging portions for discharging papers to the intermediate tray, with the respective paper discharging portions other than that on the downstream end in the paper discharging direction being provided with a paper discharging guide movable to a posture allowing papers to pass in the downstream direction.
The paper discharging portions in this type of paper discharging device generally are provided at three places, for example an upstream end, a downstream end and a midway position in the paper discharging direction. Large size papers are passed to the intermediate tray by moving the upstream end to said paper discharging guide to the paper discharging posture thereof. Middle size papers are passed to the intermediate tray by moving the middle paper discharging guide to the paper discharging posture thereof. Small size papers are passed to the intermediate tray from the downstream paper discharging portion by moving both of the paper discharging guides to postures thereof allowing the papers to pass.
In a paper resupplying device provided with paper discharging device having such construction, a reduced distance between the paper discharging device and the intermediate tray has been employed to avoid curling downwardly of small size papers which are discharged to the intermediate tray under the worst conditions, as a standard.
However, if such distance is reduced in such manner, a disadvantage occurs in that it is difficult to correct jamming occurring between the paper discharging device and the intermediate tray.
Also, there has been proposed a device provided with distance changing means to widen such distance as needed. However, problems result in that not only is the device of a large size and manufacturing costs are increased, but also jamming occurs if an operator forgets to return the distance changing means to the original distance.

Paper-resupplying device in image-forming apparatus


A liquid crystal device comprises a cholesteric liquid crystal material interposed between a transparent front plate and a back plate. The cholesteric liquid crystal material is switchable between a transparent state and a reflective state in response to an electric field applied in a first direction. In the reflective state the material reflects light characterized by a first wavelength when no electric field is applied. Electrodes are provided for applying an electric field lied to the cholesteric liquid crystal material in the reflective state in a second direction distinct from the first direction. In this manner the cholesteric liquid crystal material is altered to cause the material to reflect light characterized by a second wavelength different from the first wavelength. A display device may thus be produced having pixels capable of a wide range of colors, thereby achieving a multicolored image for the display.

A typical cholesteric liquid crystal display device comprises a layer of cholesteric liquid crystal material disposed between a front transparent plate and a back plate. Electrodes formed of a transparent, conductive film an applied to the inner surfaces of the plates. In response to an electric field applied between the electrodes perpendicular to the front plate, V⊥, the cholesteric liquid crystal material switches between a transparent state and a reflective state. In the reflective state, the cholesteric material intercepts light through the front plate and reflects the light back through the front plate. A typical display comprises a plurality of pixels, each corresponding to a distinct region of cholesteric liquid crystal layer having electrodes that switch the region' independent of other regions. In the reflective state, the region forms a bright pixel that cooperates with light from surrounding pixels to create an image for the display.
A preferred type of cholesteric liquid crystal material is composed of chiral dopants and a nematic host. The nematic molecules are elongated along a longitudinal molecular axis. In the presence of the chiral dopant, the molecules form a helical arrangement in the reflective state, with the molecular axes perpendicular to the helical axis and the helical axis perpendicular to the front plate. The helical arrangement is characterized by a pitch which is directly related to the wavelength, λ, of the reflected light. In contrast, when the molecules are not aligned, referred to as a scattered state, the material becomes transparent. Application of an electric field along the helical axis is effective to switch the cholesteric liquid crystals between the transparent state and the reflective state by scattering the molecules or causing them to align. Once switched, the cholesteric material remains in the state even after the electrical field is removed, until an appropriate field is applied to cause the material to switch again.
The wavelength of reflected light is determined by the pitch of the cholesteric molecules in the helical arrangement. This, in turn, is determined by the proportion of the chiral dopant to nematic molecules. Different levels of chiral dopants result in different pitch lengths. For common materials, small amounts of dopant result in reflected light having longer wavelengths, corresponding to red color, whereas higher concentrations of dopant are effective to reflect light having shorter wavelengths, shifted towards green or blue color.
Thus, one drawback of conventional cholesteric displays is that the material, once formulated, is limited to reflecting light of a predetermined wavelength, that is, a single color. In order to get a multicolored display, more that one cholesteric liquid crystal material is required. For example, layers of red, green and blue cholesteric liquid crystal materials may be stacked and then selectively switched between reflective and transparent states to form different colors. However, such stacks tend to be thick, heavy, and expensive to manufacture. They also generally require separate drivers to control the switching of each color layer.
Accordingly, there has been a long felt need for a cholesteric liquid crystal device that utilizes a single layer of liquid crystal material to form a multicolor display and that may readily manufactured as a thin, relatively inexpensive device.

Liquid crystal device having variable reflected wavelength


An object of the invention is to realize a method of determining an abnormality in a particulate filter (5) capable of trapping and oxidizing particulate matter contained in exhaust gas in which even a minor abnormality in which small quantity of particulate matter can pass through the particulate filter (5) can be determined with a high degree of accuracy. To achieve this object, the abnormality determination method according to the invention, the transition of the inflowing exhaust gas temperature in and the outflowing exhaust gas temperature out of the particulate filter (5) during deceleration operating, and the degree of decrease in the outflowing exhaust gas temperature relative to the inflowing exhaust gas temperature is computed based on the transition. If the degree of decrease exceeds a threshold value, it is determined that the particulate filter (5) is abnormal.

In recent years, various technologies for determining an abnormality in a particulate filter in an internal combustion engine used in a vehicle etc. have been proposed. In a known technology for determining a filter abnormality, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 3-38406, an abnormality in a filter is determined based on a comparison of the exhaust gas pressure in the upstream of the filter at a predetermined time after start of filter regeneration and a reference pressure that is determined by the operating state of the engine at that time.
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 6-323127 discloses a technology of determining an abnormality in a filter by comparing the pressure difference between the upstream and the downstream of the filter just after filter regeneration and the pressure difference in normal time.
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 6-123216 discloses a technology of determining an abnormality of a filter by determining an expected value of pressure acting on the filter element based on the integrated operation time of the internal combustion engine and the number of engine revolutions at that time and comparing the expected value and an actual pressure.
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 6-330730 discloses a technology of determining an abnormality of a filter, in which timing for performing the regeneration of the filter is determined based on an estimated amount of trapped particulate matter (particulate matter will be referred to as PM hereinafter) trapped in the filter and also determined based on the integrated number of engine revolutions since the last regeneration, and an abnormality of the filter is determined based on a comparison of these two types of filter regeneration timing. In the technology disclosed in this document, the amount of trapped PM trapped in the filter is estimated using the exhaust gas temperature and the pressure in the upstream and the downstream of the filter as parameters.
In a technology disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 7-180528, when the exhaust gas pressure in the downstream of a filter deviates from a predetermined range, it is determined that an abnormality occurs in catalyst or an exhaust passage in the downstream of the filter.
In a technology disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2001-207828, the actual degree of opening of an EGR valve is detected while the degree of opening of an EGR valve is feedback-controlled in such a way that the intake air quantity of the internal combustion engine becomes a target intake air quantity, and when the degree of opening of the EGR valve detected is larger than the degree of opening in the case where the filter is normal, it is determined that the filter is broken.
In a technology disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 5-98941, a reflectometer composed of a light source and a light receiving portion is provided in the downstream of a filter, and cracks of the filter are detected based on the reflectivity of light measured by the reflectometer.
In a technology disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 8-121150, a sound sensor that senses sounds of a high frequency range is provided in a filter, and clogging and breakage of the filter is detected based on the loudness of the sound sensed by the sound sensor.
When a minor abnormality in which a small amount of PM is allowed to pass through a filter occurs in the filter, the exhaust gas pressure in the upstream of the filter and the pressure difference between the upstream and the downstream of the filter will change slightly, but it is difficult to distinguish such changes from those caused by changes in the amount of the PM trapped in the filter.
Therefore, it is difficult to detect a minor abnormality in a filter by the methods disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 3-38406, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 6-323127, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 6-123216, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 6-330730, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 7-180528 and Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2001-207828.
In addition, in the case in which a reflectometer or a sound sensor is provided in the downstream of a filter or in a filter, there is a risk that accuracy of detection by the sensors can be deteriorated by soot adhering to them or by high temperature environment condition under which they are used. Accordingly, it is sometimes difficult for the methods disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 5-98941 and Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 8-121150 to detect a minor abnormality in the filter.

Method of determining abnormality in particulate filter


A MOSFET-type semiconductor device includes a monocrystalline semiconductor layer formed in a shape of a thin wall on a insulating film, a gate electrode straddling over the semiconductor layer around the middle portion of the wall-shaped semiconductor layer via a gate insulating film, source and drain regions formed at the both ends of the semiconductor layer, a first metal-semiconductor compound layer formed on one of the side walls of each of source and drain regions of the semiconductor layer, and a second metal-semiconductor compound layer having a different composition and Shottky barrier height from that of the first metal-semiconductor compound layer on the other side wall of each of source and drain regions of the semiconductor layer.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a MOS-type semiconductor device in which MOSFET is formed on a semiconductor layer provided in a thin wall-like fashion on an insulating film. More specifically, the present invention relates to a field effect transistor with a thin wall-shaped semiconductor body and double gates on both sides of the wall-shaped body (to be abbreviated as Fin-MOSFET hereinafter), and a method of manufacturing the transistor.
2. Description of the Related Art
Recently, Fin-MOSFET is attracting much attention, in which a silicon layer on the SOI wafer is vertically processed into a thin wall-like plate shape (i.e., fin-shape) as a body (i.e., channel region) of a MOSFET to be formed on an insulating layer. (See X. Huang et al., IEEE ED vol. 48, p 880 (2001)).
In the case where a body of an elemental device (i.e., transistor) is made of an extremely thin silicon layer such as in a Fin-MOSFET, to secure fast operation of the device, it is essential to reduce the electrical resistance of the source-drain regions which are to be formed around the opposing ends of the thin-body. In order to achieve this, there is proposed, for example, a method of forming layers of a metallic compound (i.e., silicide) by making a part of the source-drain regions react with a metallic substance. However, to take a full advantage of the silicide formation (i.e., silicidation), it is also necessary to reduce the contact resistance emerging at the interface between silicon and metallic silicide to a sufficiently low level, otherwise, the current flow into the silicide layers will be impeded at the interface, nullifying the reduction of the sheet resistance by the silicidation and thus impairing the fast device operation.
The contact resistance created at the interface between silicon and metallic silicide is a result of the Schottky barrier formed between them. It is a basic property of the Schottky barrier that, for one specific silicide, the sum of the Schottky barrier φn for electrons and the Schottky barrier φp for holes is always equal to the band gap Eg=1.1 eV (in the case of Si). Consequently, in the manufacture of a CMOS circuit, when it is designed to reduce the contact resistance for a transistor of one polarity (say, n-MOSFET), the Schottky barrier for a transistor of the opposite polarity (i.e., p-MOSFET) inevitably increases.
In the case of CMOS circuits, once the contact resistance of a transistor of either one of the polarities is increased and its operation is slowed down, the whole signal processing is hindered because the speed of the entire circuit is limited by the operation of the slower transistor, no matter how fast is the operation of the transistor of the opposite polarity. Under these circumstances, it is imperative to chose, as the siliciding material, a material that has similar φn and φp values. As a result, a Schottky barrier at a level of substantially a half of that of Eg is utilized for MOSFETs of both polarities.
It should be noted here that the contact resistance depends precipitously on the Schottky barrier height. For example in the case where a silicide layer is formed in a high-concentration diffusion layer having an impurity concentration of about 1020 cm-3, if the Schottky barrier height is decreased by 0.1 eV, the contact resistance is reduced nearly by one order of magnitude. For this reason, the Schottky barrier heights of about 0.5 eV, that are compulsively employed for both n and p polarities, is a great obstacle to the reduction of the contact resistance of a CMOS circuit to achieve a high-speed operation.
As described above, to take a full advantage of the fast device operation made possible by the Fin-MOSFET with the silicide layers on the source drain regions, it is necessary to reduce the contact resistance between the semiconductor layer that gives rise to source-drain regions and the silicide layer. However, in the manufacture of CMOS circuits, when it is designed to reduce the contact resistance for either one of the polarity, the Schottky barrier height of the opposite polarity inevitably increases, resulting in the increase in the contact resistance.

MOSFET-type semiconductor device, and method of manufacturing the same


An isolated boost power converter comprises a magnetically permeable multi-legged core (102) comprising first and second outer legs (132; 136) and a center leg (134) having an air gap (138) arranged therein. A boost inductor (Lboost) is wound around the center leg (134) or the first and second outer legs (132; 136) of the magnetically permeable multi-legged core (102). The boost inductor (Lboost) is electrically coupled between an input terminal (104) of the boost converter and a transistor driver (106) to be alternatingly charged and discharged with magnetic energy. A first and second series connected secondary transformer windings (SW1; SW2) with a center-tap (116) arranged in-between are wound around the first and second outer legs (132; 136), respectively, of the magnetically permeable multi-legged core (102). In a first discharge state, the magnetic energy stored in the boost inductor (Lboost) is discharged by directing a discharge current from the boost inductor through a primary transformer winding (PW1; PW2) and in a second discharge state, the magnetic energy stored in the boost inductor (Lboost) is discharged by discharging a magnetic flux through the first and second secondary transformer windings (SW1; SW2).

Isolated boost power converters are generally accepted as a highly efficient converter topology or architecture for high power converters with low input voltage and high output voltage. Isolated boost power converters are very useful for DC-DC voltage conversion in a diverse range of applications such as fuel cell converters, electric vehicles applications and avionic applications. However, a disadvantage of prior art isolated boost power converters is the need for a so-called flyback winding during a start-up phase or state of the power converter. During start-up, a duty cycle of a Pulse Width Modulated (PWM) control signal applied to a driver circuit must be ramped-up slowly to avoid excessive in-rush currents. During ramp-up of the duty cycle, it starts at a value much less than 0.5 which means that the driver circuit is placed in an open or cut-off state during a cycle of the PWM control signal without any low impedance path to a positive or negative input voltage terminal or rail. This situation leads to excessive voltage spikes across the boost inductor(s) which spikes may exceed the rated break-down voltage of semiconductor devices, such as MOS transistors, of the driver circuit so as to destroy these. This problem has previously been addressed by adding a flyback winding and a flyback diode to the isolated power converter providing a discharge path for energy stored in the boost inductor. However, the addition of a flyback winding has numerous drawbacks as the flyback winding is a separate power transferring element that is relatively costly, adds to size and increases component count of the boost power converter.


A backpack having a harness configured to be secured to the torso of a user, and a movable storage compartment pivotably connected at a first end to a first location on the harness. A second end of the storage compartment is releasably secured to a second location on the harness so that motion of the storage compartment with respect to the harness is restrained. The storage compartment is secured to the harness such that it can be released from a stowed position to a frontal location on the harness that is accessible to the user. With the second end of the storage compartment free from constraint, it can be pivoted about its first end from its stowed position to a frontal position on the user, wherein the frontal position allows access to articles contained in the storage compartment without removing the backpack from the user's body.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to methods and devices for carrying articles. More particularly, the invention is directed to devices and methods for carrying articles in a backpack wherein the articles can be accessed without removing the backpack from the wearer's body.
Backpacks have become increasingly popular over the years, especially for travel and recreational activities. Numerous variations of the backpack have been developed for carrying articles such as sporting, camping or hunting gear, clothing, books, food and drink, and other belongings. Backpacks are particularly convenient for activities such as walking, hiking, climbing, biking, camping, skiing, snowboarding, snowshoeing, mountaineering, rock-climbing, hunting, horseback-riding and the like because they free the hands of the user and transfer the load away from the hands, which are easily fatigued. Conventional packs are typically designed to be worn with the carrying compartment on the user's back, because carrying a pack on the front of the user restricts motion and limits the user's activities. Therefore, to gain access to articles contained in the pack, the user must first remove the pack, creating a number of inconveniences for almost any type of activity. Once the pack is removed, at least one hand is required to hold it, leaving only the other hand to open or unzip the pack, access the desired article contained therein, and then juggle the article to zip the pack back up or use the article. Alternatively, the pack must be placed on a stable surface such as a table or the ground to free up a hand to retrieve the article contained within.
For certain activities, the options for accessing objects within the pack are even more cumbersome. For example, skiers, snowboarders, backcountry hikers, etc. may have one or both hands already occupied by carrying ski poles and/or ski gloves or other equipment. Therefore, accessing, using, or consuming an item contained in the pack often requires the user to resort to setting the poles, gloves, and/or backpack down. The above practice is not only burdensome, but when done on a chair lift or on a steep slope, in deep powder or on a windy day, the user risks losing any or all of the set down items. Accordingly, numerous sunglasses, gloves, keys, and other items are lost as a result of the above predicament or lack of proper storage.
Conventional backpacks are also burdensome for skiers or snowboarders because they are not suitable for riding on chairlifts while being worn. When riding on a lift with a backpack, the contents of the pack are susceptible to being crushed against the chair's backrest as the wearer leans back. Additionally, if bulky or numerous items are stored in the pack, the wearer tends to lean forward in the seat, which is not only uncomfortable, but unsafe because it shifts the wearer's center of gravity forward toward the open edge of the chair.
Consequently, there has been a need for a backpack that enables a user access to articles contained therein without removing the pack from the user's body. U.S. Pat. No. 5,779,851 describes a combined day pack/travel pack that has a detachable day pack that may be worn on the front of the user in conjunction with a conventional travel pack on the user's back. While this design allows the user to access articles within the day pack, the pack is unsuitable for many sports activities as the continuous position in front of the wearers torso restricts the wearer's freedom of motion.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,337,934, and 5,657,917 attempt to address this problem by providing a carrying device having pouches that can be flipped from a stowed position on a main pack over the user's shoulders to a position at the front of the user. In the above patents, the pouch is retained in the rear position by hook and loop material. While the aforementioned patents disclose a device that does allow the user to access some of the contents of the backpack without removing the pack, the hook and loop material is inadequate for retaining the pouches in their stowed position during physical activity such as skiing or snowboarding, or for retaining larger compartments containing bulky or heavy articles. Because release of the hook-and loop material is facilitated by loading the opposing sections in opposite directions to cause separation, a hook-and-loop fastening is susceptible to unwanted release due to dynamic loading that naturally occurs during typical activity. Therefore, the aforementioned device is not suitable for physical activity, and is especially not suited to provide access to a large compartment carrying much or all of the backpack's contents.
Alternatively, U.S. Pat. No. 5,437,403 discloses a travel pack that slides around the user's body to allow the user to access articles contained therein. The pack has a compartment connected to two straps, the first strap shaped to circumscribe the waist of the user, and the second strap shaped to extend under the arm on one side of the user and over the shoulder of the opposite side of the user. The pack is moved from the back to the front of the user by sliding the compartment under the arm of the user. Because the compartment must slide between the user's side and arm, it is limited to in shape and size to that can comfortably pass through. Additionally, because the compartment is only held by one strap over the shoulder, it is not very stable for highly physical activity.
Additionally, there is a need for a backpack that allows attachment of large equipment such as a pair of skis or a snowboard without compressing the contents of the backpack. U.S. Pat. No. 5,803,332 is a typical backpack having straps for attaching and carrying large equipment. However, this pack requires that the equipment be strapped to the outside panel of the pack, which is generally less stable than the inner panel adjacent to the wearer's back, and also tends to crush any other articles that may be inside the pack.
In view of the foregoing, it would be desirable to provide a convertible backpack that enables a user to access articles contained in the backpack while the backpack is worn on the person. In particular, it would be desirable to provide a convertible backpack that enables a user to move a storage compartment from the user's back to a position at the front of the user without requiring that the backpack be removed or pulled off of the user. Moreover, it would also be desirable to provide a convertible backpack that enables a user to move a carrying compartment from the front of the user to a position on the back of the user and securely retain the compartment in the aft position during high impact activity without motion relative to the user. It would further be desirable to provide a convertible backpack that is capable of holding equipment such as a shovel, snowboard or pair of skis to a panel adjacent to the user's back and between the panel and a storage compartment having articles therein. At least some of these objectives will be met by the present invention.
2. Description of the Background Art
U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,337,934, 5,437,403, 5,657,917, 5,779,851, and 5,803,332 have been described above. Other patents of interest include U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,428,514, 4,518,107, 6,010,051, 6,179,175, 6,216,932, and 6,402,003.


A coil structure for a filter device includes a first metallization deposited over a substrate and oriented in a first coil. The first coil extends horizontally across the substrate while maintaining a substantially flat vertical profile. A second metallization is deposited over the substrate and oriented in a second coil. The second coil is magnetically coupled to the first coil. A portion of the second coil is oriented interiorly of the first coil. A third metallization is deposited over the substrate and oriented in a third coil. The third coil is magnetically coupled to the first and second coils. A portion of the third coil is oriented interiorly of the second coil.

Electrical components, such as inductors, capacitors, computer chips, and the like, are increasingly in demand for a broad range of applications. Along with an increased overall need for these components has been a drive to make the components more miniaturized in size and footprint. Smaller electrical components carry through to smaller electrical devices, such as telephones and portable music player devices.
Electrical devices known as filters/diplexers are typically comprised of lumped LC networks or distributed-line resonators. The inductor components in typical LC type circuits are not magnetically coupled. Moreover, the size of such inductor components is usually large, particularly for low-frequency applications such as a Global System for Mobile communications (GSM) implementation in devices such as mobile phones.
Distributed-line topologies require the length of the respective "line" to be in the order of one-fourth (¼) of the wavelength at the operating frequency. As a result, line length requirements also limit a low frequency application for distributed-line topologies.
A need exists for an inductive component that realizes a compact design yet is usable in low-frequency applications. The design would benefit from compatibility with existing semiconductor technologies that allow for integration of electrical components in semiconductor devices.

Compact coils for high performance filters


A method, apparatus and computer program product are provided for displaying an indication of an object when location information associated with the object describes a location within the current field of view of an imaging device. The indication of the object can be displayed within a map image, live image, etc., when the location information associated with the object describes a location within the current field of view of an imaging device.

The modern communications era has brought about a tremendous expansion of wireline and wireless networks. Computer networks, television networks, and telephony networks are experiencing an unprecedented technological expansion, fueled by consumer demand. Wireless and mobile networking technologies have addressed related consumer demands, while providing more flexibility and immediacy of information transfer.
Current and future networking technologies continue to facilitate ease of information transfer and convenience to users. One area in which there is a demand to increase the ease of information transfer and convenience to users relates to the utilization of positioning information now provided via many conventional mobile terminals. Positioning information can be used in various applications to identify the location of a mobile terminal. Further, as mobile terminals become increasingly integrated into daily activities, owners of mobiles terminals are rarely separated from them. As such, the positioning information provided by the device can be used to reliably locate the owner of the device.
Accordingly, many conventional applications are being implemented that utilize positioning information of mobile devices. Additionally, positioning information, not only associated with mobile terminals but more generally, has found increasing utilization in Augmented Reality (AR) applications. AR applications are generally thought of as the combination of real world data with computer generated data in a single medium. With the increasing availability of positioning information associated with mobile terminals, AR applications can be developed utilizing the positioning information.
As such, modern mobile devices hold the promise of making AR applications practical and universal. First, current mobile devices can be equipped with broadband wireless connectivity giving their users fast access to various information anywhere and anytime. Second, the need for AR is at its highest in a mobile setting. Third, the physical location of the device can be accurately estimated, through a number of means including GPS and cell tower location triangulation. These features make mobile devices an ideal platform for implementing and deploying AR applications.
Accordingly, it may be advantageous to provide applications that use positioning information provided by mobile terminals. In particular, it may be advantageous to utilize functionality provided on mobile terminals to combine real world data, such as positioning information, with computer generated data to implement AR applications.

Method, apparatus and computer program product for displaying an indication of an object within a current field of view


An imaging apparatus includes one or a plurality of optical filters, an image sensor, an imaging signal processing part, a detecting part, and a control part. The one or the plurality of optical filters are selectively arranged in a path of an optical system for obtaining imaging light. The image sensor is provided for converting the imaging light obtained through the optical system into an imaging signal. The imaging signal processing part is provided for subjecting the imaging signal from the image sensor to a color-temperature correction processing. The detecting part is provided for detecting a type of the one or the plurality of optical filters arranged in the optical system. The control part is provided for adjusting a color temperature that is set at the imaging signal processing part to a color temperature defined for each filer detected by the detecting part.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to an imaging apparatus applied to a video camera in which an optical filter, such as an ND filter, can be selectively arranged. The invention also relates to an imaging method applied in such an imaging apparatus, particularly relating to color-temperature setup technology.
2. Description of the Related Art
Capturing an image using a video camera may require the setting of appropriate color temperature, which can be provided as the basis for an imaging signal. The phrase "setting of color temperature" means that, for example, when capturing an image of a white subject, color temperature is adjusted (corrected) for allowing the white portion of the subject to remain white in a reproduced video image. Color temperature varies depending on whether imaging is carried out under the sun light or under illuminating light. Even in the case of the illuminating light, color temperature varies depending on the kinds of illumination. Also, even in the case of imaging under the sun light, appropriate color temperature may differ depending on the situation of the morning sun or the sunset or the daytime.
The correction of color temperature in a video camera may be optically carried out on imaging light using an optical filter or may be electrically carried out by adjusting a balance of three primary color signals (R, G, B signals) to an appropriate one for an imaging signal obtained by imaging with an image sensor.
Here, an optical filter may be attached to a lens part of the video camera and may be any of neutral density filters (ND filters). The ND filters are used to reduce the amount of light incident on an image sensor. Basically, the ND filters do not alter the color characteristics of light. For example, the ND filter to reduce the amount of light to one fourth (¼), one sixteenth ( 1/16), one sixty fourth ( 1/64), or the like is used.
Such ND filter may be used, for example, outdoors in the daytime to reduce the amount of light, where an image will be captured under very bright environment. Alternatively, when capturing an image indoors, the ND filter may be used depending on the imaging conditions for allowing a user to capture an image under almost full aperture with a shallow depth of field.
Such ND filters may be arranged in different ways. The ND filter may be independent from a camera and manually attached outside on the tip portion of a lens barrel thereof. Alternatively, the ND filter may be previously incorporated in a camera and the arrangement of the built-in ND filter in the light path of the camera can be selectively carried out by a switching operation. In the case of externally mounting a separate ND filter, the filter can be manually attached and removed by the user and such works can be time-consuming. In contrast, in the case of a camera previously incorporating the ND filter, the user can be allowed to select the imaging with the ND filter or the imaging without the ND filter by one-touch switching operation or the like.
Furthermore, in the case of a camera incorporating the ND filter, a plurality of ND filters are incorporated so that these ND filters can be selectively used. In the case of incorporating such a plurality of ND filters, these ND filters are arranged, for example, on a rotating plate provided in the camera at angles with predetermined intervals. Thus, the filters can be selected by the setting of the rotational angle position of the rotating plate.
Also, color-compensating filters (CC filters) that carry out the color temperature correction as described above may be assembled into a similar kind of rotating plate in a video camera as described above. Thus, temperature correction for two or more kinds of color can be optically carried out by setting the rotational angle position of the rotating plate.
Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. H05-137147 describes an example of a video camera that is capable of carrying out color temperature correction.

Imaging apparatus and imaging method using ND filters for color-temperature correction


A nitrous oxide and fuel control valve has simultaneous flow control of nitrous oxide from a first fluid-delivery aperture (8) and flow control of fuel from a second fluid-delivery aperture (10) into a mixing nozzle (38) of an intake manifold of an engine by simultaneous actuation of an activation T-bar (18) with an actuation piston (26) that is actuated with gas pressure from an actuation-pressure source (43) with an actuation on/off solenoid valve (44). It can be structured for low-weight, short-term needs for racing and other sports uses or for heavier long-term needs of engines.

This invention relates to nitrous oxide injection systems, more particularly, to a valve which controls the introduction of nitrous oxide and fuel to a mixing nozzle prior to injection into a manifold of an internal-combustion engine for enhancing effective pressure of subsequent combustion of the engine for racing and other enhanced-power uses.
Nitrous-oxide injector systems for enhancing power of internal-combustion engines are well known. None, however, are known to provide the introduction and control of nitrous oxide and fuel with a single actuator of separate flows of both nitrous oxide and fuel in a manner taught by this invention.
Related but different prior art is known to include the following:
Patent NumberInventorIssue/Publication DateU.S. Pat. No. 3,592,357WelchJul. 13, 1971U.S. Pat. No. 4,683,843Norcia et al.Aug. 4, 1987U.S. Pat. No. 5,063,898ElliottNov. 12, 1991U.S. Pat. No. Re. 35,101KellyNov. 28, 1995U.S. Pat. No. 5,870,996DeLucaFeb. 16, 1999U.S. Pat. No. 6,073,862Touchette et al.Jun. 13, 2000U.S. Pat. No. 6,116,225Thomas et al.Sep. 12, 2000U.S. Pat. No. 6,520,165 B1SteeleFeb. 18, 2003U.S. Pat. No. 6,691,688 B1ChestnutFeb. 17, 2004

Nitrous oxide and fuel control valve for nitrous oxide injection system


In a packaging arrangement suitable for semiconductor devices, a semiconductor chip is mounted on a surface of an aluminum base with a bonding layer interposed therebetween. The aluminum base has a capability to favorably dissipate heat from the semiconductor chip. The bonding layer consists of a resilient and heat conductive material such as silicone resin mixed with silver powder so that thermal strain of the metal base is accommodated by the resiliency of the bonding layer, and is prevented from adversely affecting the electronic component chip even though the aluminum base demonstrates a substantially more significant thermal expansion than the semiconductor chip. It is therefore possible to achieve a high reliability in the packaging of semiconductor devices at a minimum cost.

Conventionally, most of the packages for semiconductor devices consisted of a ceramic pin grid array (CPGA) or a plastic pin grid array (PPGA). The CPGA is relatively expensive while the PPGA is known to be relatively less reliable and poor in its capability to dissipate heat. For these reasons, the metal pin grid array (MPGA) and the metal ball grid array (MBGA) are being preferred. They are based on the use of a metal base and a metal cover, and are considered to be equally reliable as the CPGA, and have an even better heat dissipating capability than the CPGA. Furthermore, the MPGA and the can be made as economical as the PPGA by suitably selecting the materials for the package. In the MPGA and the MBGA, a semiconductor chip is normally placed on the metal base, and an annular circuit board provided with a circuit pattern is placed around the semiconductor chip. The pads provided on the semiconductor chip are connected to the associated pads of the circuit board by bonding wires.
As the density of semiconductor integration is progressively increased in recent years, the density of the circuit pattern of the circuit board has to be accordingly increased, and this leads to the increase in the line length of the electroconductive strips of the circuit pattern, and the reduction in the pattern width and the gap between adjacent electroconductive strips. Therefore, degradation in high frequency properties or an increase in the signal time delays, and an increase in the noise level, resulting from such a trend, can become a problem. Furthermore, the progressively increasing clock speed of the CPU and other semiconductor devices even further compounds such a problem.
Another important problem in the MPGA and the MBGA is the precision in the positioning of the semiconductor chip on the metal base. It is conceivable to place a buffer layer made of ceramic material such as alumina Al.sub.2 O.sub.3, or molybdenum (Mo) between the semiconductor chip and the metal base. These materials have thermal expansion coefficients which are comparable to that of silicon (alumina 7.3 .mu./.degree.C. molybdenum 5.0 .mu./.degree.C., and silicon 3.5 .mu./.degree.C.). However, the number of component parts has to be undesirably increased, and the overall structure becomes undesirably complex. As a result, the cost is increased, and the heat dissipating capability is diminished.
It is also conceivable to use CuW and AlN, having the thermal expansion coefficients of 6.0 .mu./.degree.C. and 4.9 .mu./.degree.C., respectively, for the base as they have a favorable heat dissipating capability and their thermal expansion coefficients are comparable to that of silicon. However, these materials are too costly for practical use. CuW cost about 120 times and AlN cost about 260 times more than Al.
These problems also apply to those semiconductor devices mounted on a metallic circuit board. The following table compares the properties and costs of various materials.
TABLE 1 ______________________________________ coefficients coefficients of thermal of thermal conduction expansion specific cost materials (W/m.degree. .multidot. K) (.mu./.degree.C.) weight (*1) ______________________________________ metals Al 237 23.0 2.7 1 Cu 398 16.0 8.9 3.2 Fe 80 12.0 7.9 0.4 CuW 210 6.0 17.0 120 ceramics Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 20 7.3 3.8 80 AlN 170 4.9 3.3 260 resin epoxy + 0.3 15-17 1.85 0.2 glass semiconductor Si 150 3.5 2.3 -- ______________________________________ (*1) As compared to the cost of Al.
In the MPGA and the MBGA, the semiconductor chip is typically attached to the metal base by using solder or an epoxy bonding agent. When economical metal material such as aluminum is used, although it has a favorable heat dissipating property, because of the large difference in the thermal expansion coefficients of the semiconductor chip made of silicon (with the thermal expansion coefficient of 3.5 .mu./.degree.C.) and the metal base made of aluminum (with the thermal expansion coefficient of 23 .mu./.degree.C.), the semiconductor chip is subjected to a significant thermal stress. As a result, the integrated circuit in the semiconductor chip may fail to operate properly, or even cracks may develop in the semiconductor chip. This can seriously impair the reliability of the semiconductor chip.

Metallic electronic component packaging arrangement


A displacement detector which supports either the main scale or the grid to move in a direction perpendicularly intersecting the relative movement direction of the spindle, and which has a spring for pushing one of the main scale and grid toward the other, protrusions for maintaining a predetermined clearance between the urged one of the main scale and grid and the other, and a clearance limiting device for limiting a displacement of the urged one of the main scale and grid from the other to a limited clearance distance to prevent a loss of measuring continuity.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a displacement detector and, more particularly, to an improvement in a displacement detector having a main scale and a grid which relatively move in a state that oppose one another with regular intervals.
2. Description of the Related Art
Such a displacement detector wherein a main scale and a grid move relatively to one another in an opposite state and wherein the relative movement is detected as an electronic signal, is widely utilized in a so-called digital gauge, digital caliper or digital micrometer.
Taking for an example, a digital gauge has a spindle capable of moving along its axis direction in a gauge body, a main scale integrally provided on the spindle, and a grid fixed in the gauge body so as to oppose the main scale, so that the displacement value of the spindle can be detected by converting the relative movement of the main scale and corresponding gird to an electric signal.
It is important to the accuracy of the displacement detector to maintain a regular interval between the main scale and the grid.
The conventional grid has protrusions which contact with a surface of the main scale opposite to the grid, the protrusions being urged by a spring toward the main scale to thereby maintain the regular intervals.
Since to maintain the grid in contact with the main scale can be done by the spring, when the conventional displacement detector is influenced by a sudden impact or vibration while measuring, the grid may be momentary taken off the main scale against the urging force of the spring. At the time, at which the interval between the main scale and the grid becomes wide, electrical malfunctions such as a miss-counting and a miss-display may happen to thereby incorrectly indicate the displacement value.
To solve such problems, separation of the grid from the main scale can be precluded, by using a stronger spring, when the displacement detector is influenced by a sudden impact or vibration while measuring. But, the main scale can not move smoothly, because the protrusions are urged against the main scale too strongly, so that the durability of the detector will be shortened.
An object of the present invention is to solve the mentioned problems and to provide a displacement detector which has such features that the relative movement of the main scale and grid is smooth, the detection of the relative movement value is done accurately when influenced by a sudden impact or vibration while measuring, and the manufacturing cost is reasonable.


A computer-aided-educational system and method to further a student's understanding in a subject through associating the subject's different areas that the student has learnt. The subject is divided into line-items and relationship-items, with each relationship-item relating two or more items. The items are separated into learnt and un-learnt elements. The invention includes the steps of (1) selecting an un-learnt element; (2) generating learning materials for the student to learn the selected element; and (3) assessing the student's learning progress in the selected element. If the assessment on the selected element is satisfactory, then the invention (1) classifies one or more relationship-items to be learnt as un-learnt elements, with each classified relationship-item relating the selected element with one or more learnt elements; and (2) re-classifies the selected element as a learnt-element. Then the invention repeats from the step of selecting an un-learnt element. The steps can repeat until all the un-learnt elements have been learnt, and at that point, the student has mastered the subject.

The present invention relates generally to education and more particularly to educating related areas to enrich the learning process in a computer-aided-educational system.
In today's educational system, typically, a fixed syllabus controls the educational process of a subject. An instructor follows the syllabus religiously so as to cover the entire syllabus by the end of the term.
Such an educational system does not take into account individual student's progress. For a class of thirty, if the instructor wants to finish the syllabus, the instructor cannot hold up the class just to teach a few students. If the students' levels of understanding in the subject are not similar, the instructor has to leave some students behind. Such situation is particular prevalent in a multi-cultural teaching environment, with students having different understanding levels due to their different cultural backgrounds attending the same class.
One excellent way to learn is through association, where the instructor teaches a student to associate the different areas she has learnt. However, as explained above, with the instructor focusing on finishing the syllabus, and with the students not having similar understanding levels, it is difficult for the instructor to teach through association. Some students may not even understand the individual areas. It is not realistic to expect them to understand how those areas are related. Moreover, with a class of thirty students or more, it is extremely hard for the instructor to teach association at a difficulty level that is tailored to each student.
It should be apparent from the foregoing that there is a need for a system and a method to tailor a teaching approach on a subject for each student through associating the subject's different areas that the student has learnt.


The vacuum desiccator low pressure vacuum pump and trap and is transportable upon a user's person. The device is especially useful to remove excess fluids from wounds and incisions as they heal. The device includes a desiccator cartridge containing a fluid trapping agent. The desiccator cartridge is connected to a vacuum pump member providing a low vacuum pressure to the interior chamber of the desiccator cartridge. A small battery powered, electric motor drives the pump member. An electrical control circuit, including the battery power source, controls the operation of the electric motor. A single passage, one-way, gas/liquid flow pathway connects the inlet port of the desiccator cartridge to an occlusive dressing covering the wound to be drained. The control circuit includes one or more ancillary circuits for controlling operation of the device, such as: a power circuit, a moisture sensor, a timer circuit, a vacuum pressure sensor, and a pressure differential sensor.

A number of portable, low pressure vacuum apparatuses capable of producing vacuum pressures down to about 500 mm HG currently exist. Medicine, particularly the wound healing arts, is a field where such devices have a specific utility. In the wound healing arts, it has been recognized that the removal of excess fluid from a wound site can improve the healing of the wound. This recognition has motivated the field to develop wound treatment regimens that include the use of vacuum devices for removing excess exudate from a wound site. For example, in full thickness dermal wounds devices to assist in the removal of excess fluid from these wounds have been developed and used. Further, because of the recognized benefits of encouraging patients to be active and mobile if possible, these devices need to be portable, and preferably, personally portable.
One strategy for providing a personally portable, low pressure vacuum source for drainage of wound site involves the use of a passive vacuum reservoir. Examples of this types of device includes those disclosed by Fell, U.S. Pat. No. 5,073,172; Seddon et al., U.S. Pat. No. 6,024,7311 and Dixon et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,944,703. Typically, these devices comprise an evacuated cannister attached to a drainage tube. Because the vacuum pressure in the reservoir of these devices continuously decreases as the wound is drained (and the reservoir filled), they often include a means for regulating the pressure delivered to the wound site at some level below the maximum pressure of the vacuum reservoir. Additionally, these devices require a reservoir of a relatively larger volume than that of the volume of fluid they are capable of removing from a wound site.
Recognizing these limitations, the field has been further motivated to develop means for providing a portable, low pressure vacuum source for drainage of a user's wound site which provides a relatively constant vacuum pressure. A strategy for accomplishing this objective includes having the device comprise a vacuum pump to provide a constant low pressure vacuum source, or to replenish a separate vacuum reservoir. An example of this type of device includes that disclosed by McNeil et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,710,165. Also see U.S. Pat. No. 5,134,994 to Say. Although portable, these devices are bulky and obvious to an observer of the user, and may subject the user to embarrassment or personal questions. It would be beneficial to have a portable vacuum device that was personally portable by the user without being obvious to an observer.
An apparatus which addresses this latter benefit is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,142,892 to Hunt et al. The Hunt apparatus is supported on a belt or harness worn by the user, and is small enough to be unobtrusive when worn under a jacket or the like. However, the Hunt apparatus utilizes a liquid reservoir containing the fluids drained from a wound site. Fluids contained in the liquid reservoir of Hunt are subject to slouching, which may adversely affect the function of the Hunt apparatus if the fluid prematurely enters an inappropriate pathway (the outlet end of the cannister). Also, the Hunt device requires multiple tubes or a multi-lumen tube running from the device to the wound site to accomplish its full utility. Additionally, the Hunt apparatus is intended to be worn by a patient at waist level or higher. This means that wound sites below and distal to the users waist can be subjected to a higher vacuum pressure than with a device that may be located more proximal the wound site than the Hunt apparatus.
Although the above apparatuses may be useful in the field for accomplishing their intended purposes, it would be beneficial to have an alternative personally portable vacuum device that can be worn unobtrusively by the user, and which is not subject to slouching of the fluid it retains, and further which does not require special tubing to connect it to a wound site.


According to one exemplary embodiment, a method for VIOS failover in an environment with a physical storage adapter is provided. The method may include assigning the physical storage adapter to a first VIOS, wherein the physical storage adapter has I/O connectivity to at least one storage device. The method may include configuring a first I/O path between the first VIOS and a second VIOS. The method may include configuring a second I/O path from a client partition to the first VIOS, wherein the second I/O path is set as a primary I/O path. The method may include configuring a third I/O path from the client partition to the second VIOS. The method may include determining the first VIOS is inaccessible. The method may include unassigning the physical storage adapter from the first VIOS. The method may include assigning the physical storage adapter to the second VIOS.

The present invention relates generally to the field of computing, and more particularly to failover management.
In order to increase application availability to client logical partitions, multiple virtual input output server (VIOS) instances may be configured to virtualize input output (I/O) from client partitions to the storage devices linked to a single electronic device, such as a server. A multiple VIOS environment may be utilized to provide I/O redundancy from storage devices to client logical partitions in the event a VIOS instance goes down. A VIOS may go down due to planned or unplanned outages that may require failover from an unavailable VIOS to a functional VIOS. Through the failover process, client logical partitions may have uninterrupted I/O to storage devices linked to the electronic device through a physical storage adapter associated with a VIOS instance. Some electronic device configurations running a multiple VIOS environment may have fewer physical storage adapters installed than the number of VIOS instances.

Managing VIOS failover in a single storage adapter environment

International Business Machines Corporation


An aroma therapy for fountain comprises a fountain assembly, which comprises a water container having a bottom, a top opening and an interior, a aroma supporting member for support an aroma therapy dispensing unit, comprising a heating source adapted to generate a heat, a bowl adapted for reserving an aromatic substance therein, a base stand detachably and securely mounted on the aroma supporting member for holding the heat source, and a plurality of supporting frame extended upwardly from the base to securely sustain the bowl, such that the heat generated from the heating source disposed beneath the bowl could heat the bowl thereby diffusing the aromatic substance reserved in the bowl volatized into surrounding air.

1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates to an aroma therapy for fountain, more particularly, relates to an aroma therapy dispenser which is disposed within a water pool to be incorporated with a fountain for soothing user's mood.
2. Description of Related Arts
Nowadays, people are highly aware of their living environment, especially people living an urban area have devoted much enthusiasm for decorating their houses and offices. Sometimes, to make their surrounding naturally and lively, many people employ fountains to enrich the overall decorative appearance. This is due to the fact that fountains not only pose a nice appearance, but also provide a sound of flowing water which is capable of effectively soothing user's mood. What is more, a fountain enables the associated water pool as a water flowing function, which is essential to raise petting fishes. Therefore, the traditionally outdoor used fountains have been redesigned with a suitable size and dimension adapted for being used inside the house and office. In other words, the structure and function of indoor used fountain is appropriate for being disposed in a relatively small space to improve the indoor living and studying environment. More importantly, the naturally flowing water provided by the fountain change a water pool into a desirable place for fishes' survival, and simultaneously, could humidifies the indoor air thereby moisturizing the living environment.
The aroma therapy dispenser is widely used for emitting scents for assisting user's relaxing as well as soothing user' mood. For those users who have been suffering the stress, the aroma scent dispenser is absolutely a good relieving option, which has been proven for impacting both physical and mental system of the user.
Presently, those aroma therapy dispensers available on the market commonly comprise a base, a supporting frame, and a container, wherein a heating source is disposed beneath the container carrying the therapy liquid. There are a number of known devices being used as the heating source, such as heat from candles, burners, electromagnetic tubes or light bulbs to disperse aromatic oils or other aromatic substances volatile into surrounding air.
However, since the container for carrying the aromatic substance is directly positioned above the heat source, the overheating of the aromatic substance and supporting frame is unavoidable, which could probably cause some accidents burning the surrounding objects. Meanwhile, if the user's hand carelessly touch the container carrying the aromatic substance, the unnecessary scald injury is irritating too. It is envisioned if the aromatic substance as well as its hearing source could be disposed within a water pool, all safety concerns will be automatically disappeared. Until now, there is no such aroma therapy dispenser incorporated with a water pool available on the market.
In other words, water pool fountains and aroma therapy dispenser exist separately for performing some function to serve people who were intending to use both of them. Therefore, there existed an optimistic chance for a personal water fountain, which is aesthetically designed and embodied with aromatic benefits offered by aroma therapy dispenser, to be successful in the market. Such kind of fountain style aroma therapy dispenser is inherently equipped with fire-controlling function, and simultaneously, is capable of delivering scents, moisturizing air, and providing natural water flowing sound.


A formulation of solid powder, a solvent system, a binder material, and a plasticizing agent is described whose accomplishment is achieved by means of a step-by-step process. The pastes so formulated can be employed in a screen printing process to produce surface layer patterns with various specific physical properties such as phosphorescence, electrical conductivity, mechanical adhesion, and dielectric properties as desired.

(1) Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a method of screen printing of surface layers on substrates from a paste formulated from an appropriate solid-binder-solvent-plasticizer combination. The printed pattern is converted by heat treatment to form thin surface layers useful as phosphors in light-emitting applications such as cathode ray screens. In particular, the paste formulation may be varied to produce printed patterns which are useful as conductor and interconnection means for printed circuits, as resistors, capacitors. inductors, or crossovers, and as sealing band patterns.
(2) Description of the Prior Art
The production of patterns of material on surfaces by means of forcing a semi-solid material held on a fine screen through a patterned opening closely adjacent to the surface is known as serigraphy or, more commonly, as silk screen printing. It has been used for many years as an economical means for producing patterns of materials commonly referred to as inks, pastes, creams, etc. which are then converted by drying, heat, or other means to a permanent pattern layer with the desired properties. In more recent times, silk as the fine screen material has been replaced by mesh screens woven from fine metal wires, and the process is referred to as simply screen printing. In the electrical and electronic industries, screen printing has been used to form conductive, resistive, insulating, and magnetic patterns, as well as combinations thereof. In general, the art of screen printing is highly dependent on the details of formulation of the ink etc. medium to be printed, hereinafter referred to as the paste as a generic term, and on the specific techniques of application of the paste to form the pattern. The success of the art of screen printing is also very dependent on the specific techniques employed, such as the size and texture of the screen or mesh, the thickness of the layer, the pressure and speed of the means of spreading and forcing the paste through the screen and the stencil openings which define the pattern, and a variety of other lesser features of the screening process.
The formulation of a screening paste requires that a uniform blending be made of the material which gives the paste its primary characteristic, such as a phosphorescent substance or phosphor, for example, which is generally a fine solid uniform powder, and the materials which provide the necessary properties of holding the powder together as a mass capable of being manipulated. The latter are generally liquids of an organic nature, and are from the classes of substances referred to as solvents, thinners, plasticizers, binders, leveling agents, etc. many of which are common to the paint and coatings art. The usual distinctions made among paints, inks, greases, pastes and the like deal with variations in their rheological properties; that is, their ability to flow. Such materials vary greatly in viscosity as well as functionality, and the term "paste" is generally reserved for compositions which possess not only a very high value of viscosity, i. e. are very thick, but also are non-Newtonian in their behaviour; the measured viscosity is a function of the rate of shear of the material being measured. Often, these materials are described as thixotropic: they undergo little or no flow or relaxation of shape while undisturbed, but flow like a liquid when mechanical stirring is employed. This property of flowing when a shearing stress is employed is very useful in pastes for screen printing, since it allows the paste to rest upon the fine mesh of the screen without leaking or oozing through until the printing tool, called the squeegee, pushes the paste along the screen and forces it through the screen to the stencil, where the paste is deposited on the adjacent surface in the pattern of the stencil. After the paste has been forced through the fine screen, its mechanical integrity and uniformity in the pattern layer are regenerated, and the pattern is retained as the layer is dried and treated, generally by heating, to remove the organic liquids and other residues and bring about the desired properties of the printed layer.
The formulations of pastes and inks useful in the screen printing of surface layers of phosphors are abundant in the literature. U.S. Pat. No. 5,478,381 to Okiwa et al shows an ink composition consisting of alkylamines and phosphate salts, a binder resin that is excellent in light-emitting characteristics. U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,132,045 and 5,277,840, both to Oska et al, disclose paste compositions of phosphor powders and acrylic polymer for screen printing applications. None of the cited patents reveal the detailed use of the specific materials butyl carbitol, polyvinylbutyral (PVB), or phthalate esters such as butyl benzyl phthalate (BBP) to formulate the pastes. U.S. Pat. No. 5,338,350 to Alexandres et al discloses the use of butyl carbitol to formulate ink for a metal oxide layer, but does not mention phosphor or other powders nor the use of PVB, BBP, or other organic materials.

Industrial Technology Research Institute


In combination with an electronic device including a touchscreen with a first user interaction surface and a second surface, a joystick apparatus includes a joystick with a handle portion and a cooperating base portion with an upstanding sleeve. The handle portion includes a skirt portion for operably engaging the sleeve to thereby secure a first magnetic member therebetween. An attachment member is positioned on the second surface of the touchscreen and includes a second magnetic member for engaging the first magnetic member. The base portion of the joystick includes a conductive member for contacting the first user interaction surface of the touchscreen.

The present invention is generally directed to computer or electronic input devices, and more particularly to a mechanical actuator apparatus for a touchscreen or touch sensing display having a touch sensing surface.
The recent explosion in the popularity of hand-held electronic devices, such as smartphones, tablet computers, etc., has brought to the forefront touch sensing displays, touchscreens, and the like. Gone are the days of bulky cellular or mobile phones and huge laptops, which included the old-style keyboards. The modern cellular phones, for example, are known as "smartphones" that have the capability to perform many functions other than merely being a communication device. More particularly, these smartphones function as computing devices, GPS (global positioning system) devices, financial transaction devices, and perform many other functions that were previously performed by multiple individual devices. The old-style keypad or keyboard has now been replaced by a touchscreen or touch sensing display, which typically includes a touch sensing surface. The touchscreen or touch sensing display generally includes a virtual or digital onscreen keyboard in place of the old-style physical keyboard.
A touchscreen is an electronic visual display that a user can control via simple or multi-touch gestures by touching the screen with one or more fingers, a stylus, a tracer, or some other mechanical actuator, or other object, such as specially coated gloves. Various touchscreen technologies are currently available that utilize different methods of sensing touch. The examples include resistive, surface acoustic wave, capacitive, infrared grid, infrared acrylic projection, optical imaging, dispersive signal technology, acoustic pulse recognition, etc. In a typical application, the system determines the intended command based on the controls displayed on the screen and the location of the touch. "Touchscreen" Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Touchscreen. Accessed Feb. 21, 2013, 9 pp.
The smartphones, tablet computers, and the like, are also now being used to play electronic games that were traditionally played on home computers utilizing various accessories, such as joysticks, steering wheels, game controllers, and other similar input devices. In this regard, although a tablet or smartphone may include a virtual input device, such as an onscreen joystick, such arrangement lacks the full experience or the feel of manipulating, for example, a physical joystick. Therefore, the users, and particularly the electronic game enthusiasts, appreciate the use of a physical mechanical actuator, such as a joystick, in connection with an electronic device, such as a tablet computer, smartphone, and the like.
Various electronic devices, touch sensitive screens and displays, and input devices are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,600,807; 6,606,081 B1; 6,903,662B2; 6,950,089B1; 7,391,410B2; 7,924,145B2; 8,138,869B1; 8,143,982B1; 8,143,983B1; 8,199,114B1; 8,242,868B2; 8,310,351B2; 8,330,713B2; U.S. Publications Nos. 2006/0007179A1; 2006/0256090A1; 2010/0079403A1; 2011/0199325A1; 2011/0248947A1; 2012/0169597A1; 2013/0002571A1; and Foreign/PCT patent documents DE 102009006153; KR 10-2012-0099902; WO 2012/005463 A2; WO 2012/094198 A1, and WO 2012/139203 A1.
In view of the popularity of smartphones, tablets, and other electronic devices using touchscreens, and to provide the look-and-feel of an external input device, such as a joystick, slider, knob, directional pad, or the like, there is a need in the industry for a mechanical actuator apparatus that provides a user with the real look-and-feel of an actual physical actuator, when used on a touchscreen.

Mechanical actuator apparatus for a touchscreen