In a semiconductor device and a method of manufacturing the same, a substrate is defined into active and non-active regions by a device isolation layer and a recessed portion is formed on the active region. A gate electrode includes a gate insulation layer on an inner sidewall and a bottom of the recessed portion, a lower electrode on the gate insulation layer and an inner spacer on the lower electrode in the recessed portion, and an upper electrode that is positioned on the inner spacer and connected to the lower electrode. Source and drain impurity regions are formed at surface portions of the active region of the substrate adjacent to the upper electrode. Accordingly, the source and drain impurity regions are electrically insulated by the inner spacer in the recessed portion of the substrate like a bridge, to thereby sufficiently prevent gate-induced drain leakage (GIDL) at the gate electrode.

1. Field
Example embodiments relate to a semiconductor device and a method of manufacturing the same, and more particularly, to a semiconductor device including a recess channel array transistor (RCAT) structure, in which a gate electrode includes a bridge-shaped inner spacer, and a method of manufacturing the same.
2. Description of the Related Art
As semiconductor memory devices are becoming more highly integrated, unit cell areas, line widths and intervals of patterns, and channel lengths are being reduced. Accordingly, leakage currents may increase due to short channel effects and large amounts of dopants being implanted into semiconductor substrates, which may reduce the refresh times of the semiconductor substrates.
A semiconductor device can be manufactured into a vertical gate structure and/or as a stacked gate structure to maintain electrical characteristics of the semiconductor device when a cell area is reduced. In addition, novel materials may be used for the gate structure of the semiconductor device to address the deterioration of the electric characteristics, in order to avoid modification of the gate structure.
A trench-type gate electrode has been utilized to increase the channel length at the gate electrode despite the cell area reduction. A recess channel array transistor (RCAT) structure, particularly, a spherical RCAT (SRCAT) structure, has been used as the trench-type gate electrode in a semiconductor device. In a conventional RCAT structure, a channel region of a gate electrode is usually recessed into a channel trench, and thus the channel length of the gate electrode can be sufficiently increased due to the increased surface area of the trench. Accordingly, the conventional RCAT structure may have a sufficient channel length despite the reduction of the cell area.
The conventional RCAT structure usually includes an inner spacer on an inner sidewall of the channel trench for reducing gate-induced drain leakage (GIDL). However, the above cell area reduction caused by the increase of integration degree may also reduce an available area for the inner spacer. The inner spacer for reducing the GIDL may be difficult to form on the inner sidewall of the channel trench, which may affect the GIDL in the conventional RCAT structure as the cell area is reduced.
According to the conventional RCAT structure, the channel trench can be formed on an active region of a substrate and a gate insulation layer can be formed along the inner sidewall of the channel trench. A lower portion of the gate structure can be formed in the channel trench and an upper portion of the gate structure can protrude from a surface of the substrate. An upper spacer can be formed on a sidewall of the upper portion of the gate electrode and an inner spacer can be formed between the lower portion of the gate electrode and the inner sidewall of the channel trench. Thus, the GIDL may be reduced at the gate electrode by the inner spacer.
There has been reported that the GIDL reduction is usually proportional to a depth and/or the width of the inner spacer. However, the increase of integration degree and the downsizing of the minimum feature size of a semiconductor device, for example, below about 4F2 (F: minimum feature size), may place various limitations on how much the depth and/or the width of the inner spacer can be increased, and thus the GIDL may be increased in the conventional RCAT structure as the cell area is reduced. Accordingly, the RCAT structure may be inappropriate for some semiconductor devices despite the various advantages of the conventional RCAT structure. In some cases, the RCAT structure may be completely replaced by a vertical pillar transistor (VPT) structure, and thus an RCAT structure may not be used in some semiconductor devices where the GIDL may not be sufficiently reduced.

Semiconductor device and method of manufacturing the same


An image forming apparatus includes: a cleaning portion configured to remove toner stuck to a surface of an image carrier; a polishing roller that is rotatable while being in contact with the image carrier; a guide portion disposed with a gap having a predetermined width from an outer circumferential surface of the polishing roller, and configured to guide the removed toner to pass below the outer circumferential surface of the polishing roller; opening portions each formed in a predetermined size at a position below the lower portion of the outer circumferential surface of the polishing roller in the guide portion; and a housing including a wall surface that defines, together with an end of the guide portion in a rotation direction of the polishing roller, a falling path through which the toner falls from the end, the housing storing the cleaning portion and the polishing roller.

In an electrophotographic image forming apparatus such as a copier, an image carrier such as a photoconductor drum is electrically charged by a charging device during an image forming process. Meanwhile, in this type of image forming apparatus, discharge products may be generated by the discharge that occurs when the image carrier is electrically charged by the charging device, and the discharge products may stick to the surface of the image carrier, thereby causing a failure such as an image flow. With regard to this problem, there is known a configuration for removing the discharge products that have stick to the surface of the image carrier, by causing toner, to which abrasive material has been externally added, to stick to the surface of a polishing roller and polishing the surface of the image carrier with the polishing roller (see, for example, PTL 1). More specifically, the toner removed from the surface of the image carrier is guided by a guide member which is disposed with a predetermined gap from the outer circumferential surface of the polishing roller. This allows toner passing through between the polishing roller and the guide member to stick to the surface of the polishing roller. On the other hand, toner that does not stick to the surface of the polishing roller is discharged from an end of the guide member in the rotation direction of the polishing roller.

Image forming apparatus including polishing roller


Methods and apparatus are provided for a low shock separation joint. A first member couples to a first structure and includes surfaces to prevent separation under compressive and tensile force placed on the separation joint. A second member couples to a second structure and includes surfaces corresponding to the surfaces of the first member. The first member is elastically flexed to allow the surfaces of the first and second members to be aligned to one another. The first member is released from flexing which couples the first and second members together. An explosive device is placed within the separation joint. Detonating the explosive device moves the surfaces of the first and second members out of contact with one another decoupling the first and second members. A passive force is applied to accelerate the first and second members away from one another. After detonation the first and second members are intact.

A launch vehicle such as a rocket requires a tremendous amount of energy to escape Earth's gravity. Thus, a primary goal in the design of a rocket is to maximize the payload that is carried while utilizing the minimum amount of fuel. An efficient methodology that has been widely used in the aerospace industry is a staged rocket. The premise behind a staged rocket is that unneeded mass is jettisoned as soon as possible thereby increasing the payload that can be sent. FIG. 1 is an illustration of a prior art two stage rocket 100. Rocket 100 comprises a first rocket stage 101, a second rocket stage 102, and a fairing 103. Initial acceleration of rocket 100 from standstill requires first rocket stage 101 to have high thrust engines and large propellant tanks to feed these engines. First rocket stage 101 provides thrust to accelerate the entire mass of rocket 100. First rocket stage 101 is separated from second rocket stage 102 and fairing 103 by a separation joint 104. Separation typically occurs at a high altitude where a large engine is no longer needed thereby greatly reducing the mass of rocket 100.
Second rocket stage 102 is enabled after separation from first rocket stage 101 to provide thrust to keep rocket 100 on its intended path. Similar to first rocket stage 101, second rocket stage 102 is no longer needed as it approaches burning its entire fuel load. A separation joint 105 separates second rocket stage 102 from fairing 103. It may also be noted that under some circumstances that fairing 103 is separated from the rocket during first stage 101 burn in order to shed mass as soon as possible and maximize payload to orbit.
FIG. 2 is an illustration of prior art two stage rocket 100 of FIG. 1 showing first rocket stage 101, second rocket stage 102, and fairing 103 separated from one another. Separation of first rocket stage 101 from second rocket stage 102 exposes a rocket engine of rocket stage 102. Fairing 103 is separated exposing a payload 107 that was housed in fairing 103. Although rocket 100 is greatly simplified it illustrates the need for an extremely reliable separation system. A failure in any one of separation joints 104–106 of FIG. 1 would result in a complete failure of the mission at a cost of time, money, and perhaps human life.
Many different types of separation joints have been proven to be extremely reliable in applications similar to that described hereinabove. One type utilizes an explosive device to alter the separation joint from a fastened state to a decoupled state. In general, a separation joint comprises a first and second element. The first and second elements respectively couple to first and second structures that are to be separated under certain conditions. Typically, the first and second elements of the separation joint connect together in a manner where they will not separate under all normal operating conditions other than when the explosive device is detonated. The most prevalent method of holding the separation joint together is to use bolts, rivets, or other mechanical fasteners.
FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a prior art explosive device 300 used in a separation joint. Explosive device 300 comprises a tube 301 and an explosive material 302. In an embodiment of explosive device 300, explosive material 302 is a mild detonation cord. The mild detonation cord is often encased in a sheath that fits within the cavity of tube 301 such that the mild detonation cord is centrally located within tube 301. For example, the sheath may comprise silicone rubber or a shock absorbing/thermally insulating material. Contamination of the field around the separation joint is a critical issue. Tube 301 contains the debris generated from the explosion to prevent contamination of the area near the separation joint. Also, tube 301 is easily formed in a shape for a particular application. For example, a separation joint between two rocket stages is circular in shape, thus tube 301 is circumferentially placed in the joint separating the two rocket stages to provide simultaneously release when detonated.
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the prior art explosive device 300 of FIG. 4 after detonation. Detonation of explosive material 302 within tube 301 generates gases that radiate radially from the charge. Tube 301 expands under the pressure of the gases generated by the explosion but is designed not to rupture to prevent particle contamination. In an embodiment of explosive device 300, tube 301 is formed of thin walled stainless steel. The rapidly increasing pressure created by the detonation of explosive material 302 causes tube 301 to expand to final state as shown in FIG. 4.
It is this change in volume of tube 301 from FIG. 3 to FIG. 4 after explosive material 302 is ignited that is used to produce a condition where a separation joint separates. As mentioned previously, separation joints are held together with rivets, bolts or other mechanical fasteners. The expansion of tube 301 generates an extremely high force. The force is applied in a manner to shear rivets or fracture elements of the separation joint thereby releasing the joint to separate.
A significant problem with this type of separation joint are the shockwaves that are generated. The shockwaves are coupled to the attached structures of the separation joint. The problem is greatly exacerbated by the release of constrained energy due to the shearing or fracturing of components in the separation process. Shockwaves of up to 5000 g can be coupled to the attached structure. For example, NASA estimates that 45% of all first day spacecraft failures are attributed to damage caused by high dynamic environments. This problem exists today with all new proposed spacecraft designs. Spacecraft are typically ground tested to detect failures using random vibration, acoustic, and shock testing to simulate a launch environment. Perhaps more sensitive to the shockwaves generated by the separation joint is the payload within the spacecraft. The payload is often extremely sensitive or fragile to shock. The cost increases greatly to design components (in the payload) to be more shock resistant. Much of the research is focused on ways to minimize damage to the payload using isolation and damping techniques on the platform on which the payload is mounted.
Accordingly, it is desirable to provide a separation joint that greatly reduces shockwaves transferred to an attached structure when separation occurs. In addition, it is desirable to provide reduce the cost of manufacture and increase the reliability of the separation system. Furthermore, other desirable features and characteristics of the present invention will become apparent from the subsequent detailed description and the appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and the foregoing technical field and background.


An athletic tape or protective athletic sleeve is formed from an impregnated fabric substrate that is sealed on both sides. The impregnated fabric includes a shear thickening fluid that is made up of a suspension solution and solid particles. The shear thickening fluid is sealed within the fabric through use of sealing layers on both sides of the fabric.

There exists an extensive market for injury protection-related athletic gear, much of which currently employs foam-based padding for joints (elbow and knees) or common athletic tape for joint-related twisting. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) provide data relative to the numerous recreational sports injuries (totally more than 10 million episodes each year with costs approaching $300 billion) in the form of non-lethal blunt-force trauma (i.e. being struck with balls, sticks, bats, clubs, other players, hard surfaces, or otherwise damage-inducing materials), causing bruises, abrasions, sprains, breaks, or other traumatic injuries. There are also inertial injuries that occur as a result of changes of direction imposed by the body not involving an impact (e.g., non-contact injury; twisting, torsion-based injury).
Sports-associated injuries, especially to the lower extremities, may cause immediate damage, ultimately limiting physical activity and causing long-term problems associated with mobility. Ankles and knees are very susceptible to contact and non-contact injuries as a result of the inherent unsteadiness within the joints themselves. While the human body is certainly capable of absorbing and dispersing blunt-force trauma, significant injuries are the consequence of considerable forces.
Shear thickening fluids, (STFs), also known as Non-Newtonian fluids and/or dilatants, are generally comprised of a suspension media (typically polymer-based) and inorganic colloidal particles of relatively uniform size. Normally, the STF is able to flow easily when force or high velocity is not applied. Under increased stress or strain at higher velocities or with elevated pressure, the STF rapidly stiffens or solidifies in response to the increased force as a result of higher viscosity and/or the alignment of the spherical particles within the suspension media. Importantly, this stiffening effect is a dynamic process with a rapid "on and off rate", making the material housing the STF both elastic and resilient.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Impact resistant, torsion-reducing protective athletic gear using shear thickening fluid


A control system for evaluating residual operating life of a machine component of a machine tool includes a sensor and a control system. The sensor is disposed on the machine tool and is configured to sense movement of the machine component. The control device is configured to calculate a length of time based on a sense signal received from the sensor and sampled at a time point right after the machine component is freshly oiled, and to enable output of an alarm when determining that the length of time thus calculated is smaller than a predetermined length.

A machine tool uses guide rails to limit moving directions of its components. However, as the hours of use accumulate, the guide rails might be worn or damaged. For example, scratches or pits may appear on the guide rails. Such damages may cause undesired high-frequency vibrations that adversely affect the operation of the machine tool, creating faulty products. Severe damages may even cause a breakdown of the machine tool or injury of an operator of the machine tool. For the sake of product quality and personnel safety, damaged machine parts (especially severely damaged ones) of the machine tool should be replaced in time.

System and method for evaluating residual operating life of machine component


An input device may be in communication with an application processor, wherein the input device may be configured to receive an input and the application processor may be configured to translate the input to a received template. A secure element may be in communication with the application processor and configured to receive the received template from the application processor. The secure element may include a matcher and an enrolled template database. The matcher may be configured to compare the received template from the application processor with an enrolled template within the enrolled template database and return a match status based on the comparison.

Biometric authentication has been shown to represent an accurate form of authentication for individuals. Biometric authentication offers advantages over the traditional knowledge-based identification systems such as passwords or personal identification numbers. Biometric authentication may be used as a form of identification and access control for electronic devices such as cell phones, tablet computers, etc. However, systems utilizing biometric authentication are still subject to potential security breaches and there is a need for more secure biometric based authentication systems.

Secure element biometric authentication system


A pottery tool for forming soft clay to make hand built pottery articles which tool includes an elongate body having a top side, a bottom side, a right and left side, and at least one end. The top surface includes at least one tapered region having a compound convex surface adjacent one end. The right and left sides each include at least one edge, wherein each at least two edges differ in configuration. The pottery tool has a plurality of forming surfaces and edges for smoothing, shaping or scraping a softened clay body for forming the pottery article.

Hand built pottery articles such as a cup may be made by manually forming and shaping and then assembling a plurality of separate pieces from a body of softened clay such as a bottom, a tubular sidewall, and a handle and attaching one end of the sidewall to the bottom and the handle to the sidewall. Hand built pottery articles may be shaped using profiling pottery tools by applying the tools to a body of softened clay. The design of a pottery tool may vary depending upon the desired shape or profile for all or part of the pottery article, where usually a single tool is used for obtaining a single shape. For example, if a cut or a deeply curved shape is desired, use of a tool having a thin blade or wire may be required. However, if a smooth shape is desired, a thicker tool having a more rounded edge may be more useful. In either case, usually only one tool is used for forming a single desired profile or shape into the clay body. Some portions of the body may also be shaped by the fingers of a potter's hand because a tool with a desired profile is unavailable.


A universal device provided with means to be controlled by a control unit which forms part of a projector. The device, in conjunction with this control unit, can be used for the automatic adjustment of the projector. More specifically, the adjustments of convergence, geometry, focus, astigmatism, contrast modulation, gamma correction, soft edge, adjacent and overlapping geometry. In addition, the device provides support for non-adjustment tasks such as signal decoding, signal testing and analysis, peak detection, RAM expansion, wire-free transmission of information between at least two projectors. The universal device exhibits different operational characteristics in accordance with different applications imposed on it by the control unit of the projector. The device includes an analog-to-digital converter, a memory, a programmable digital component, and an interface to the control unit of the projector as some of the components.

The present invention relates to a universal device, provided with means to be controlled by a control unit which forms art of a projector. The device in conjunction with this control nit can be used inter alia for the automatic adjustment of the projector.
A standard CRT projector comprises three cathode ray tubes: one red, one green and one blue. Each of these cathode ray tubes is provided with projection means, which direct the light from these cathode ray tubes to a common screen. Three separate pictures are formed in this way, each in a different colour, which are superimposed on the screen. To obtain a good and clear picture on the screen, the different colours must be coordinated with one another. When a red, blue and green line are projected onto the screen, a white line can be seen on the superimposed picture when these three lines impinge exactly on each other, in other words when the convergence is well adjusted.
Many systems have been devised to improve the accuracy of the convergence adjustment.
First of all there is a manual adjustment system, as described for example in U.S. Pat. No. 4,672,275. In this, a reference picture provided with a number of reference points is projected onto the screen. A test picture which looks like the reference picture is projected onto this. This test picture is provided with a number of adjustment points, each corresponding to one of the reference points. In addition, a correction part is provided which corresponds to a given part of the reference picture. The correction part is a partial collection of the adjustment points. On carrying out the convergence adjustment, an adjustment point is selected within the correction part. The position of the selected adjustment point is altered with respect to the corresponding reference point. At the same time and proportionally, the positions of the other points within the correction part are also altered. As a result, the convergence of the correction part is built up in relation to the corresponding part of the reference picture. The correction data are stored in a large RAM.
This manual adjustment is very labour-intensive and time-consuming. Many potentiometers need to be set and moreover these frequently interact. It therefore follows that one requires a high level of knowledge to optimally adjust the equipment.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,999,703 describes a device for automatic convergence adjustment of a projector. Convergence correction is executed automatically, even during the operation of the projector, faults occurring as a result of drift in the electronic and mechanical components of the projector being eliminated. A test pattern for each of the primary colour pictures is projected onto a screen and the light reflected by the screen is scanned by a scanning system. The positions where the light sensor of the scanning system detects the test pattern for each of the primary colours are stored in a memory. These positions are then processed to determine correction values for the convergence of the primary colour pictures, in order to obtain convergence over the whole screen. A disadvantage of this method is that complete pictures are stored in the memory. For this purpose, large, and therefore expensive, memories are required.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,345,262 also describes a method and device for automatic convergence adjustment. In accordance with the method described therein, a test pattern is generated consisting of a row of discrete pattern units each of which has a contour and a central area, a variation in the illumination intensity appearing between the contour and the central area of the pattern unit. The test pattern is projected by each of the cathode ray tubes of the system. A row of light-sensitive elements is arranged so that they pick up the light from the test patterns that has been reflected by the screen. The position of each of the pattern units of a first projected test pattern is compared with the positions of the corresponding pattern units of the other projected test patterns. A number of error signals are generated and these are then used to control the cathode ray tubes so that the position of one of the test patterns is displaced in relation to the other such that the size of the error signals is reduced.
In accordance with a characteristic of the method described in the abovementioned American patent, the positions of different pattern units are compared by determining the centre of the slightly varying illumination intensity of each of the projected test patterns and comparing this with the position of the centres of the illumination intensity of the other test patterns.
A disadvantage of this is that a complete picture is sampled, which requires large memories, so-called frame memories. Frame memories are large memories that are able to store a complete picture. These are expensive and, in addition, time is lost during the adjustment process by looking for those locations where the test patterns have been displaced in relation to each otherxe2x80x94thus where the convergence is not well adjusted.
The convergence adjustment takes place in the said patent by calculating central points. This calculation is background-sensitive, and in some cases (for example with a blurred picture) can lead to incorrect results. If the central points are adjusted on top of one another, the eye will not necessarily view this as the correct convergence adjustment.
Another disadvantage of the adjustment method described therein and the corresponding adjustment equipment is that only the convergence can be adjusted. For complete adjustment of a projector, the geometry, focus, astigmatism, contrast modulation and gamma correction must also be adjusted in addition to the convergence. All these adjustments have a mutual influence on each other.
In the method and equipment described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,342,262, the intensity of the background light is measured and stored once only. This has the disadvantage that during the further adjustment process fluctuations in the background light are not taken into account.
In U.S. Pat. No. 5,091,733, U.S. Pat. No. 5,231,481, EP-A-0 616 473, EP-A-0 498 659, U.S. Pat. No. 5,497,054 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,432,404, devices with specific applications are described for automatic adjustments of projectors. All these named publications are based on test pattern generators being specifically present, which ensure the generation of a pre-defined pattern unit or units. The associated adjustment methods are based on the presence of the generated test pattern and its shape (for example discrete light points etc.).
These said publications all deal with devices with specific applications which execute only a limited number of adjustments automatically, demands frequently being made on the hardware used and on the underlying hardware which ensures actual controlling. There are thus publications which are based on the fact that a filter is included for the camera used, and that there is no connection between different control zones and different adjustments per se, that the hardware is synchronized with the analog signal coming from the camera, and that the measurement results are absolute, etc. Other publications make demands on the camera used: the resolution of the camera must be sufficiently high, in some cases the camera must be set up so that it is itself movable, and/or the complete picture must be sampled, requiring the presence of large memories.
Not one of the abovementioned publications provides suitable solutions for obtaining rapid adjustments using a universal device in a broad range of projectors, irrespective of the control hardware itself. Besides, the devices described in the aforementioned patents (applications) are not able to fulfil any tasks other than the adjustments of the projectors. They cannot serve as a peak detector, as a signal decoder, as a RAM expansion, for signal testing and analysis, or for wire-free transfer of information, without anything needing to be altered on the device.
It is an object of the invention to solve the aforementioned disadvantages relating to the convergence control using a universal device, and also to automate other adjustments, without sacrificing the universal character of the device according to the invention.
It is likewise an object of the invention to apply relevant automatic adjustments to projectors which are not of the CRT type, without in so doing changing the described methods.
The universal device, in accordance with the present invention, has the advantage that the same device can provide different adjustments for a projector, in accordance with the command signals sent by the control unit of the projector to the device.
The same device can also be used for other applications, possibly even outside the projector applications.
A universal device, in accordance with the invention, is provided with means intended to be controlled by a control unit which forms part of a projector. The device exhibits different operational characteristics in accordance with different applications imposed on it by the control unit. The device comprises the following components:
an analog-to-digital converter,
a memory,
a programmable digital component and
an interface to the control unit of the projector.
The device is universal. This means that the device is not responsible for just one task but, for each task where it is used, it is put into another operating state or mode by the control unit.
The universal device may also have an application imposed via an external control unit, for example via the control unit of a PC. This external control unit then sends its command signal or its command signals to the control unit which forms part of the projector, serves as a gate, and transmits the command signal or command signals to the universal device.
The projector, the control unit of which controls the universal device, may be a CRT projector, an LCD projector or any similar light valve projector.
Preferably, the analog-to-digital converter of the universal device is an 8-bit converter.
The memory is a high-speed RAM in each case. According to a preferred embodiment, the memory is a small memory. The expression small memory is to be understood as a small memory in terms of the prior art. With the progression of technology, ever larger memories are being manufactured. Therefore, it is possible that what is now regarded as a small memory will in a few years no longer be on the market and that what is now described as an average or even large memory will, within a few years, form part of what is now regarded as a small memory.
In contrast to the methods and equipment known from the prior art for the automatic adjustment of projectors, in every case for the present invention it is not necessary to have a memory sufficiently large to store the information of a complete picture. A typical value for the memory used in the universal device is, for example at this time, 32K, where a frame memory has a size of the order of 256K.
Using this small memory has the advantage that the universal device according to the invention, whenever use is made of the automatic adjustment system for a projector, is cheaper than the adjustment devices which are known from the prior art without accuracy and efficiency being lost.
According to yet another preferred embodiment, the universal device has a plug with a pin to which an analog signal can be applied. The signal is ultimately responsible for the analog-to-digital converter. This plug can be a separate plug, to which, for example, an analog signal originating from a camera can be applied. However, it can also form part of the interface to the control unit of the projector.
Again, according to another preferred embodiment, there are no means to ensure hardware synchronization with the analog signal applied to the pin. This means in fact that, for example, a PLL is superfluous which again makes the universal device cheaper. The presence of a PLL is not required when the data are sampled at a much higher frequency than the analog signal bandwidth.
The aforementioned universal device can be used for adjusting one or more of the following controls to a picture projected onto a screen by a projector: convergence, geometry, focus, astigmatism, contrast modulation and gamma correction.
Adjustment of the convergence means that the different colours which are projected onto the screen are aligned with each other.
When adjusting the geometry it can be investigated, inter alia, whether or not the projected straight lines exhibit a degree of curvature (xe2x80x98bowxe2x80x99 or xe2x80x98pinxe2x80x99) and whether or not lines which should be horizontal or vertical on the screen have a degree of slope (xe2x80x98skewxe2x80x99 or xe2x80x98keyxe2x80x99).
When focusing it is ensured that the image of a pixel projected on the screen is sufficiently sharp, for example in a CRT projector it is ensured that the electron beam correctly impinges on the faceplate (=the screen of the picture tube).
Astigmatism is the phenomenon which occurs, inter alia, on account of the fact that the electron beam in a picture tube does not intersect the faceplate orthogonally. As a result, the virtual pixel (or spot) that is thus formed is deformed elliptically. This elliptical deviation should be removed for optimal projection performance (sharpness).
In contrast-modulation adjustment, the intensity of each of the three projected colours is controlled separately in the same manner, to compensate for losses caused by light loss resulting from projection distance and lens effects. In this way a flat intensity curve is obtained ideally which means that there is as much light in the middle as the edges.
Gamma correction has to be carried out because colour is dependent on different control factors, including a non-linear relationship between the light and the incoming signal.
The universal device in accordance with the invention can also be used to adjust soft edge and adjacent and/or overlapping geometry (edge matching) in pictures being projected onto a screen using a minimum of two projectors (this is in addition to the adjustment of the aforementioned controls that can be carried out independently on each of the projectors).
Soft edge must be adjusted when a picture that is built up on the screen via one of the projectors exhibits an overlapping zone with a picture which is projected onto the screen by one of the other projectors. Soft edge adjustment is the adjustment of the intensity of both the pictures in this overlapping zone. In this process, the intensity of one picture in the overlapping zone must be slowly decreased while the intensity of the other picture in the overlapping zone must be slowly increased.
Adjustment of the adjacent geometry is the adjustment of the geometry of pictures which are projected adjacent to each other by two projectors (perhaps with a small overlapping zone in which soft edge is adjusted).
Overlapping geometry adjustment is the adjustment of the geometry of pictures projected on top of one another via two projectors.
The aforementioned adjustments can be carried out on one or more CRT projectors, LCD projectors or light valve projectors.
The universal device can also be used for other applications, for example for video digitization, as a peak detector, as RAM expansion, as co-processor for the control unit, as test configuration, for light communication between a minimum of two projectors and for signal decoding, for example for teletext decoding.
Another aspect of the present invention is a projection system which is provided with the aforementioned universal device. The projection system has a screen, a projector and a camera. The projector is provided with at least one picture-forming means that generates a picture, at least one projection means in order to project that picture onto the screen and a control unit. The camera is linked to the projector and views the picture or pictures which is/are projected onto the screen. This supplies an analog signal that is applied to the pin of the universal device. The control unit of the projector establishes the said device in a set mode after which it is able to execute tasks sent by the control unit and on the command of the control unit.
In order to carry out the adjustment methods described below, the colours of the projector must be switchable. Sometimes adjustment is only carried out on one of the colours at a time and sometimes a plurality of colours is needed at the same time.
According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the camera, which is linked to the projector in the projection system, is a low-resolution camera. If the associated adjustment software is powerful enough, the price of the hardware can thus be reduced.
The camera may be a monochrome or a colour camera.
In accordance with another preferred embodiment, the camera is connected immovably to the projector.
It is not necessary for the camera to view the whole picture projected onto the screen, as long as it can view the locations where the effect of an adjustment to be carried out is visible.
The invention also provides methods for the automatic adjustment of all the aforementioned controls which can be carried out on the pictures which have been built up on a screen using at least one projector.
A first method which can be implemented using the universal device is one for the automatic adjustment of the convergence of at least two pictures, each of which has covered a different light path and which are built up on a screen using a projector. This projector is provided with a control unit and hardware responsible for convergence control. A camera linked to the projector views the pictures projected onto the screen and transmits a signal corresponding to the viewed picture to the control unit. According to the method, the pictures projected onto the screen are split into one or more adjustment zones. These adjustment zones do not necessarily have to be a matrix layoutxe2x80x94they may overlap. In the remaining part of the present document, the term xe2x80x98zonexe2x80x99 is the location where a particular control has the most effect. The coordinates of the adjustment zone or zones, as viewed by the camera on the screen, are fetched. This fetching operation for the coordinates may consist either of measuring the coordinates on the screen or, once they have been measured and written to a memory, of reading in the coordinates from the said memory or of the said coordinates being input by a user. The pictures that are projected onto the screen are viewed using the camera and form an analog signal which is converted into digitized values via an analog-to-digital conversion. The geometry of the projected pictures is not important as long as for each of the pictures to be adjusted the picture information more or less corresponds and is useful. The picture information, for example, can be for one picture the letter xe2x80x98Ixe2x80x99 and for the other picture the letter xe2x80x98Txe2x80x99. The picture information is then useful (the vertical lines of both letters can be adjusted on top of each other), and it more or less matches (both letters are not the same, but nevertheless have a part that corresponds: the vertical line). Even the intensity of both pictures does not have to be the same, as long as both pictures are visible. Using the digitized values a mathematical model can be constructed. Preferably, the mathematical model reproduces the effect of the convergence control in a specific adjustment zone on all other zones linked to this zone if the picture to be adjusted has been split into more than one zone. The relative distance between the pictures to be adjusted relative to one another in the adjustment zone or zones is determined by correlation of the digitized values.
Control signals are derived from the relative distance thus obtained and are sent to the hardware, which is responsible for the adjustment of the convergence in the adjustment zone or zones.
Another possibility for the application of this method is that the mathematical model, as calculated using the digitized values, can be written to a non-volatile memory. In a subsequent automatic convergence adjustment, this model written to memory is used as a starting point. The new measured digitized values are entered into the model, and if necessary the model is adapted on the basis of these.
The mathematical model, the mathematical model for the convergence adjustment as well as the mathematical models which will be disclosed below, can also calculate and model the chromatic aberration of the lensxe2x80x94the so-called xe2x80x98prismxe2x80x99 effect.
The method given below is provided for the automatic adjustment of the geometry of a picture which is built up on a screen using a projector. For this, the projector is provided with a control unit and hardware responsible for the adjustment of the geometry. A camera linked to the projector views the screen. The picture which has been projected onto the screen is split into one or more adjustment zones. These zones do not have to be in the form of a matrix, they may overlap each other. Reference values for the geometry are fetched (measured, read in from a memory or input by a user). The camera views the projected picture and generates an analog signal that is converted into digitized values via an analog-to-digital conversion. The geometry of the projected picture is not important as long as the picture information is useful and more or less corresponds to the reference values. The term xe2x80x98more or less corresponds toxe2x80x99 has the same meaning as in the case of convergence. A mathematical model is constructed using the digitized values. This mathematical model preferably reproduces the effect of one adjustment zone on all the other zones linked to this adjustment zone if the projected picture was split into more than one adjustment zone. The relative distance between the reference values and the picture, which is to be adjusted to the reference values, in the adjustment zone or zones is determined by correlation. From this relative distance, signals are derived which are sent to the hardware responsible for the geometry control concerning the adjustment zone or zones.
Likewise, the model as calculated using the digitized values may be written to a non-volatile memory. When a subsequent automatic adjustment is made to the geometry, this model written to memory is used as a starting point. The newly measured digitized values are entered into the model and if necessary the model is adapted on the basis of these.
The method given below is provided for the automatic adjustment of adjacent and/or overlapping geometry of pictures which are built up on a screen using at least two projectors. For this, the projectors are each provided with a control unit and hardware responsible for the control of adjacent and/or overlapping geometry. One or more cameras linked to the projectors view the screen. The pictures which have been projected onto the screen are split into one or more adjustment zones. These zones do not have to be in the form of a matrix, and can overlap each other. In addition, the projected pictures do not have to be test patterns as understood in the prior art: any picture can be used on the condition that the picture information is useful and more or less corresponds. The coordinates of the adjustment zone or zones, as viewed on the screen by the camera, are fetched (measured, input by the user or read in from a memory). The projected pictures are viewed using the camera or cameras and form an analog signal that is converted into digitized values via an analog-to-digital conversion. A mathematical model is constructed using these digitized values. Preferably this mathematical model reproduces the effect of an adjustment zone on all the other zones that are linked to this adjustment zone if the pictures have been split into more than one adjustment zone. Correlation is used to determine the relative distance between the pictures undergoing adjustment in the adjustment zone or zones. Signals are derived from this relative distance which are sent to the hardware responsible for the control of adjacent and/or overlapping geometry concerning the adjustment zone or zones.
Here too, as has been described above, the model can be written to a non-volatile memory where it is stored for later use for the automatic adjustment of adjacent and/or overlapping geometry.
A method for the automatic adjustment of the focus of a picture, built up on a screen using a projector, the projector being provided with a control unit and hardware responsible for focus control and a camera, linked to the projector, being used to view the screen, is provided, comprising the following steps. Firstly, the picture, projected onto the screen, is split into one or more adjustment zones. These adjustment zones need not necessarily be in the form of a matrix and may overlap each other. As adjustment of focus takes places on only one colour at a time, the picture information only has to be useful so that the methods described below give sufficient information. The coordinates of the adjustment zone or zones, as viewed on the screen by the camera, are fetched (measured, read in from a memory or input by a user). The camera views the picture projected on the screen and this forms an analog signal that is converted into digitized values via an analog-to-digital conversion. The digitized values are used in the construction of a mathematical model. Preferably, the mathematical model reproduces the effect of focus control in a specific adjustment zone on all the other zones linked to this zone if the picture to be adjusted has been split into more than one zone. The relative values for the optimum focus value of the adjustment zone or zones are determined and signals are derived from these relative values for the optimum focus value, which signals are sent to the hardware responsible for the focus control concerning the adjustment zone or zones.
According to a preferred embodiment of the method for the automatic adjustment of the focus, the relative value for the optimum focus value is determined by calculating the variance on the basis of histograms.
According to another preferred embodiment of this method, the relative value for the optimum focus value is determined by spectrum evaluation.
By using spectrum evaluation a choice may be made between different forms of optimum sharpness observed by the user. It is for this reason that optimum focus value is referred to.
Thus one may want a pixel that has little xe2x80x98flairxe2x80x99, that is the pixel has little low light intensity at the edges or it may be, for example, wide in the low light intensities and narrow in the high light intensities.
In this case as well, the model can be written to a non-volatile memory. On a subsequent focus control, the parameters of the model are fetched so that the model does not have to be constructed again on the basis of digitized values.
The following method is provided for the automatic adjustment of astigmatism of a picture which is built up on a screen using a projector. For this, the projector is provided with a control unit and hardware responsible for the control of astigmatism. A camera linked to the projector views the screen. The picture projected onto the screen is split into one or more adjustment zones, which need not be in matrix form and which may overlap. The coordinates of the adjustment zone or zones, as viewed on the screen by the camera, are fetched (measured, read in from a memory or input by a user). As adjustment of astigmatism takes place on only one colour at a time, the picture information only has to be useful so that the method described below gives sufficient information. The projected picture is viewed by the camera, and this forms an analog signal which is converted into digitized values via an analog-to-digital conversion. These digitized values are used to construct a mathematical model which preferably reproduces the effect of the astigmatism control in a specific adjustment zone on all other zones linked to this zone if the picture has been split into more than one zone. The relative measures for the astigmatism are determined from the digitized values and from these relative measures signals are derived which are sent to the hardware responsible for astigmatism control concerning the adjustment zone or zones.
According to a preferred embodiment, the relative measures for the astigmatism are determined by calculating the variance on the basis of histograms.
According to another preferred embodiment, spectrum evaluation is used to determine the relative measures for the astigmatism.
According to yet another preferred embodiment, the relative measures for the astigmatism are determined using moment evaluation.
As described previously, the model can also in this case be written to a non-volatile memory for later use.
The method, which according to the invention is provided for the automatic adjustment of the contrast modulation of a picture which is built up on a screen using a projector, consists of the following steps. The projector itself has a control unit and hardware responsible for the control of contrast modulation. A camera linked to the projector views the screen. Calibration values for the colour of the picture are fetched for the camera. The picture projected onto the screen is split into one or more adjustment zones, which do not necessarily have to be in matrix form and may overlap each other. The coordinates of the adjustment zone or zones as viewed by the camera on the screen are fetched (measured, read in from memory or input by a user). As the adjustment of contrast modulation takes places for only one colour at a time, the picture information only has to be useful. Useful information is pictures which possess slowly varying intensity variations (slow with reference to the measurement rate) so that, using the method described later in this document, sufficient information can be extracted for intensity adjustment, for example a uniform picture. The projected picture is viewed by the camera, and forms an analog signal which is converted into digitized values via analog-to-digital conversion. The digitized values are used to construct a mathematical model. Preferably this reproduces the effect of the contrast-modulation control in a specific adjustment zone on all other zones linked to this zone if the picture has been split into more than one adjustment zone. A measurement for the relative intensity is determined and from this signals are derived which are sent to the hardware responsible for the contrast-modulation adjustment concerning adjustment zone or zones.
The model can be written to a non-volatile memory for later use where it may be fetched for a subsequent contrast-modulation control.
A method for the automatic gamma-correction adjustment of a picture which has been built up on a screen using a projector also forms part of the present invention. The aforementioned projector is provided with a control unit and hardware responsible for gamma-correction control. A camera linked to the projector views the screen. The method consists of the following steps. Firstly, calibration values for the camera are fetched for the colour of the said picture. The picture projected onto the screen is split into one or more adjustment zones which need not be in matrix form and may overlap one another. The coordinates of the adjustment zones, as viewed by the camera on the screen, are fetched (measured, read in from a memory or input by a user). As gamma-correction adjustment takes place only on one colour at a time, the picture information only has to be useful. Useful information is pictures which possess slowly varying intensity variations (slow with reference to the sampling rate), so that, by using the method described later in this document, sufficient information can be stored for gamma-correction adjustment, for example a uniform picture. The camera views the picture projected onto the screen and this forms an analog signal, which is converted into digitized values via analog-to-digital conversion. The digitized values are used to construct a mathematical model. If the picture to be adjusted has been split into more than one zone, this mathematical model preferably reproduces the effect of a specific adjustment zone in all the other zones linked to it. A measure of the relative intensity is determined and from this signals are derived which are sent to the hardware responsible for gamma-correction concerning the adjustment zone or zones.
Instead of constructing a model on the basis of digitized values, it can also be fetched from a memory on the condition that it has been written thereto during a previous gamma-correction control.
The following method is provided for the automatic adjustment of soft edge, for pictures which are built up on one or more screens using at least two projectors, each provided with a control unit and hardware responsible for soft edge control, one or more cameras linked to the projectors viewing the screen or screens. Calibration values for the colour of the pictures are fetched for the camera or cameras. The pictures projected onto the screen or screens are split into one or more adjustment zones, which need not be in matrix form and which can overlap each other. The coordinates of the adjustment zone or zones, as viewed by the camera on the screen, are fetched (measured, read in from a memory or input by the user). As adjustment of soft edge occurs only on one colour at a time, the picture information only has to be useful. Useful information is pictures which possess an intensity variation which varies slowly in terms of time (slow is with reference to the sampling rate) so that, using the method described later in this document, sufficient information can be stored for soft-edge adjustment, for example a uniform picture. The pictures projected onto the screen or screens are viewed using at least one camera and these form an analog signal which is converted into digitized values via analog-to-digital conversion. The digitized values are used to construct a mathematical model. If the picture to be adjusted has been split into more than one zone, this mathematical model preferably reproduces the effect of a specific adjustment zone on all other zones which are linked to this zone. A relative intensity measure is determined and from this signals are derived which are sent to the hardware responsible for soft-edge adjustment concerning the adjustment zone or zones.
In this case as well, the model constructed using the digitized values may be written to a non-volatile memory and can be fetched for a subsequent soft-edge adjustment.
In accordance with a preferred embodiment, in each of the abovementioned methods digitized values are added to the digitized values measured. This can occur by interpolation in the time domain or in a frequency domain and also by filtering in the frequency domain. The addition of digitized values introduces an updated, longer series of digitized values.
According to another preferred embodiment, a transformation is carried out on the digitized values. Transformation means both a transformation from the time domain to another domain as well as the inverse transformation from the other domain to the time domain. According to a preferred embodiment, the transformation is a Fourier transform, that is to say a transformation to the frequency domain.
Preferably all the aforementioned methods use linked zones, the said mathematical model each time reproducing the effect of the control corresponding to the method in a specific adjustment zone on all other zones linked to this adjustment zone since adjacent zones exert an effect on each other. Thus if a specific zone were to be adjusted, the previously adjusted zone would no longer be correctly adjusted due to electrical, optical and mechanical effects. In the case of linked zones, two or more zones are adjusted at the same time, as a result of which the mutual effect can be taken into account by the construction of a mathematical model. This has the result that all types of projectors can be adjusted by the aforementioned device. In other words: there are no assumptions made concerning the underlying hardware responsible for the adjustment purpose itself.
The mathematical model can likewise be used to simulate the effects of the different adjustments on one another, for example the effect of correct focus on convergence, or for example the effect of focus on colour equality (contrast modulation) and chromaticity (gamma).
In accordance with another preferred embodiment, the mathematical model used in the aforementioned methods is improved through an iterative process.
Likewise, in accordance with a preferred embodiment, the calculated model is written to a non-volatile memory for each linked zone. This has the advantage that on subsequent adjustment of this model it can be used as a starting point, instead of having to construct the model on the basis of new digitized values.
When adjustments are to be carried out which are different from those disclosed above, preferably an intelligent sequence of the adjustments is retained given their mutual effect on each other.
The present invention also provides a method for wire-free transmission of information between two or more projectors, at least one of the projectors being provided with at least one camera, and the projectors being mounted in front of a screen. In accordance with the invention, the information is picture information, which is projected via one projector onto the screen and viewed by the camera linked to the other projector. The picture viewed by this camera forms an analog signal which is converted into digitized values via analog-to-digital conversion. Command signals are derived from this which are interpreted by the control unit of the projector linked to the camera in question. The control unit responsible for the interpretation of the command signals is also included in the implementation of the method.
The present invention also provides a method for the decoding of information present in a video signal, using a universal device equipped with a pin as described above. In this method, an analog video signal containing information is applied to the pin. This analog video signal is converted into digitized values via analog-to-digital conversion, from which values command signals are derived which are interpreted by the accompanying control unit. The information in the video signal can, for example, be teletext information.
Preferably, the digitized values in each of the aforementioned methods originate from a universal device in accordance with the invention.

Universal device and use thereof for the automatic adjustment of a projector


A system and method for operating a fuel cell, including reacting a fuel with an oxidant within the fuel cell to produce electricity and reaction products comprising steam. The fuel is fed through the fuel cell, wherein a concentration of the steam increases in the first direction through the fuel cell. The direction of fuel-flow through the fuel cell is altered or reversed upon satisfying a condition, thereby altering the concentration gradient of steam in the fuel cell and providing for removal of carbon deposition with the fuel cell. Such reversal of fuel flow may also provide an exhaust from the fuel cell that can regenerate an external or adjacent hydrocarbon reformer.

The invention relates generally to fuel cells and more particularly to promoting fuel reforming, reducing carbon deposition in fuel cells, and increasing the operability time of fuel cells.
Fuel cells are electrochemical energy conversion devices that have demonstrated a potential for relatively high efficiency and low pollution in power generation. A fuel cell generally provides a direct current (dc) which may be converted to alternating current (ac) via an inverter, for example. The dc or ac voltage can be used to power motors, lights, and any number of electrical devices and systems. Fuel cells may operate in stationary, semi-stationary, or portable applications. Certain fuel cells, such as solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs), may operate in large-scale power systems that provide electricity to satisfy industrial and municipal needs. Others may be useful for smaller portable applications such as powering cars, for example
A fuel cell produces electricity by electrochemically combining a fuel and an oxidant across an ionic conducting layer. This ionic conducting layer, also labeled the electrolyte of the fuel cell, may be a liquid or solid. Common types of fuel cells include phosphoric acid (PAFC), molten carbonate (MCFC), proton exchange membrane (PEMFC), and solid oxide (SOFC), all generally named after their electrolytes. In practice, fuel cells are typically amassed in electrical series in an assembly of fuel cells to produce power at useful voltages or currents. Therefore, interconnect structures may be used to connect or couple adjacent fuel cells in series or parallel.
In general, components of a fuel cell include the electrolyte and two electrodes. The reactions that produce electricity generally take place at the electrodes where catalyst is typically disposed to speed the reactions. The electrodes may be constructed as channels, porous layers, and the like, to increase the surface area for the chemical reactions to occur. The electrolyte carries electrically charged particles from one electrode to the other and is otherwise substantially impermeable to both fuel and oxidant.
Typically, the fuel cell converts hydrogen (fuel) and oxygen (oxidant) into water (byproduct) to produce electricity. The byproduct water may exit the fuel cell as steam in high-temperature operations. This discharged steam (and other hot exhaust components) may be utilized in turbines and other applications to generate additional electricity or power, providing increased efficiency of power generation. If air is employed as the oxidant, the nitrogen in the air is substantially inert and typically passes through the fuel cell. Hydrogen fuel may be provided via local reforming (e.g., on-site steam reforming) of carbon-based feedstocks, such as reforming of the more readily available natural gas and other hydrocarbon fuels and feedstocks. Examples of hydrocarbon fuels include natural gas, methane, ethane, propane, methanol, syngas, and other hydrocarbons. The reforming of hydrocarbon fuel to produce hydrogen to feed the electrochemical reaction may be incorporated with the operation of the fuel cell. Moreover, such reforming may occur internal and/or external to the fuel cell. For reforming of hydrocarbons performed external to the fuel cell, the associated external reformer may be positioned remote from or adjacent to the fuel cell.
Fuel cell systems that can reform hydrocarbon internal and/or adjacent to the fuel cell may offer advantages, such as simplicity in design and operation. For example, the steam reforming reaction of hydrocarbons is typically endothermic, and therefore, internal reforming within the fuel cell or external reforming in an adjacent reformer may utilize the heat generated by the typically exothermic electrochemical reactions of the fuel cell. Furthermore, catalysts active in the electrochemical reaction of hydrogen and oxygen within the fuel cell to produce electricity may also facilitate internal reforming of hydrocarbon fuels. In SOFCs, for example, if nickel catalyst is disposed at an electrode (e.g., anode) to sustain the electrochemical reaction, the active nickel catalyst may also reform hydrocarbon fuel into hydrogen and carbon monoxide (CO). Moreover, both hydrogen and CO may be produced when reforming hydrocarbon feedstock. Thus, fuel cells, such as SOFCs, that can utilize CO as fuel (in addition to hydrogen) are generally more attractive candidates for utilizing reformed hydrocarbon and for internal and/or adjacent reforming of hydrocarbon fuel.
In general, high operating temperatures within the fuel cell and the presence of the byproduct steam generally promote internal or adjacent reforming of hydrocarbon. Advantageously, excess steam in the fuel cell may reduce the deposition of elemental carbon within the fuel cell and in adjacent reformers. On the whole, internal and/or adjacent reforming and their integration with the fuel cell operation may improve the efficiency and/or economics of the fuel cell operations.
Unfortunately, it is generally difficult to maintain a sufficiently high steam-to-carbon ratio in all regions of a fuel cell to prevent the formation of elemental carbon and the associated carbon deposition, especially if internal reforming is intended to occur on an electrode (e.g., anode) along with the electrochemical reactions, for example. The fuel cell region near the inlet is especially vulnerable to carbon formation. That is, the entering fuel to be internally steam reformed is starved for steam or liquid water (H2O) due to the typical gradient of increasing H2O (e.g., steam) concentration from the inlet to the outlet of the fuel cell. The H2O concentration generally increases in the direction of fuel flow toward the exit, and therefore, excess H2O is generally present at the exit region of the fuel cell. Carbon is generally expected to form near the cell inlet because the H2O concentration is lowest at the inlet. Carbon deposition in the fuel cell can lead to poor heat/mass transfer, damage, and/or failure of the fuel cells.
Sustaining long term operation of fuel cells may be problematic due to accumulation of carbon deposits within the fuel cell. Such carbon deposits are typically relatively worse if fuel cells rely on carbon-based feedstocks instead of cleaner hydrogen-based feedstocks. Eventually, the fuel cell may need to be shut down or replaced, interrupting production of electricity and increasing maintenance costs of the fuel cell system, for example. Further, reformers or pre-reformers used for external reforming and/or adjacent reforming may also be subjected to significant carbon deposition. Therefore, these reformers are also generally shut down for regeneration (e.g., via steam), increasing operating and maintenance costs, and reducing the efficiency of the overall fuel cell system.
Therefore, there is a need for advancing the efficiency and simplicity of internal and external reforming of hydrocarbon fuels to feed the electrochemical reactions in fuel cells while reducing the need to shutdown the fuel cell and/or associated reformers due to regeneration and removal of carbon deposition. There is a particular need to reduce and/or mitigate carbon deposition in fuel cells and associated reformers.

System and method for fuel cell operation with in-situ reformer regeneration


An article including a book, a closeable housing and an object in a compressed state in the housing is disclosed. The object is compressed foam that expands into a figure when the housing is opened. The book has one or more characters and the figure is representative of one of the one or more characters. The housing is preferably in a back cover of the book. The compressible toy is made from a compressible and expandable foam.

The present invention relates to an article and a method for toys. More specifically it relates to books and providing a toy figure which represents a character that is included in the book.
The experience of reading a book or being read from a book can be enhanced by providing a pop up figure in the book that represents a character from the book. These pop up figures, however, lack realism. Further, the pop up figures are not meant to be removed from the book.
In general, a parent needs to buy books and toy figures as separate items. Usually, a toy figure related to a book is obtained after reading a book, thus not optimally enhancing the opportunity for a reader to identify with a character of a book.
Accordingly new articles and methods are required that will improve the experience of reading a book.

Book housing a figure of compressed foam


Using the dope containing the following cellulose acetate (1), (2), or (3), a film is prepared by the casting process:                (1) a cellulose acetate having carboxyl groups binding to at least one member selected from the group consisting of a cellulose acetate and a hemicellulose acetate, wherein at least a part of said carboxyl groups are in an acidic form;        (2) a cellulose acetate containing at least one member selected from the group consisting of an acid having an acid dissociation exponent pKa of 1.93 to 4.50 in water, an alkali metal salt of said acid and an alkaline earth metal of said acid; or        (3) a cellulose acetate containing an alkali metal or an alkaline earth metal wherein the total content of an alkaline metal and an alkaline earth metal in 1 gram of the cellulose acetate is from an effective amount to 5.5×10−6 equivalent (in terms of ion equivalent). The above cellulose acetate is also useful for spinning process. The cellulose acetate includes a cellulose diacetate and a cellulose triacetate. The cellulose acetate of the present invention has high film-releasability from a support and excellent optical characteristics.

Cellulose triacetate film is tough and has good dimensional stability, heat resistance, and optical isotropy. Therefore, it has been used in various applications such as a substrate for optical thin-film devices (e.g. a substrate for photosensitive materials), a polarlizer protective film (e.g. liquid crystal protective film) for liquid crystal devices, and color filters. Therefore, cellulose triacetate film is required to have satisfactory optical characteristics, for example, low yellowness index, haze, and birefringence and high transparency. When a solution (dope) containing cellulose acetate such as cellulose diacetate and a solvent is used in the production of fibers, it is required to have high spinnability.
To assure satisfactory optical characteristics, the cellulose acetate film is generally produced by the technology which comprises acetylating a linter pulp, a softwood pulp or a hardwood pulp, casting a solution (dope) containing the resulting cellulose acetate and a solvent on a support, and releasing the resulting film from the support.
However, when a linter pulp is used, the cost of the cellulose acetate is inevitably high. Moreover, when a high-purity softwood pulp among softwood pulps is used, there is a problem with steady supply of a raw material. When a low-purity softwood pulp is used, a transparency of a cellulose acetate tends to decrease. On the other hand, a hardwood pulp generally is advantageous cost-wise but is not satisfactory in the releasability of the cast film from the support so that it is difficult to attain a satisfactory surface smoothness and sufficiently high productivity. Furthermore, a cellulose acetate obtained from a low-purity pulp injures the stability of its dope or filterability and thus lowers the spinnability.

Cellulose acetate and dope containing the same


An improved reinforced hose for conducting fluids and gases, and a method of manufacturing that hose, are disclosed herein. The improved reinforced hose includes an interior tube having an inner bore and an outer surface. The improved reinforced hose also includes an outer covering disposed directly about the outer surface of the interior tube. Such outer covering includes one or more layers of plastic threads, which are formed by disposing a plastic substance about core material. The improved reinforced hose may be used as an electrically insulating connection between a city water main or other water supply line and an appliance such as a water heater.

Presently, many different types and constructions of hoses are known. Some hoses are simple ducts or tubes manufactured from materials such as rubber or plastic. However, such hoses are unable to withstand relatively high internal pressures resulting from the conduction of fluids or gases through the hoses at high velocities. To withstand high internal pressures, reinforced hoses may be employed.
Certain conventional reinforced hoses apply a braided layer of nylon or various metal wires about a tube. Hoses reinforced with nylon have relatively low resistances to high internal pressures. Hoses reinforced with aluminum are similarly unable to resist relatively high pressures. Furthermore, aluminum reinforced hoses are highly susceptible to corrosion, especially when in the presence of acids or detergents. Because of these and other disadvantages, nylon and aluminum reinforced hoses are only used in limited applications.
Hoses reinforced with stainless steel, due in part to their relatively high resistance to pressures, have enjoyed more commercial success than their nylon and aluminum counterparts. While stainless steel reinforced hoses are able to withstand higher pressures than aluminum and nylon reinforced hoses, they possess several undesirable attributes. First, such hoses are relatively inflexible. That is, stainless steel reinforced hoses can kink and permanently disfigure if contorted in various manners. This results in the restriction of flow of liquids or gases through the hose. Second, manufacturing a hose having a metal reinforcement is relatively cumbersome and costly in light of the necessary difficult task of twisting the metal into a braid about the hose. Third, where stainless steel is used to form the reinforcement, the weight of the reinforced hose is substantial. Fourth, stainless steel hoses are susceptible to corrosion under certain conditions.
It is known that when a storage water heater is connected to a city water main, a galvanic action can be created. This galvanic action is created by the different kinds of metals present on the installation, creating electrical currents that tend to decompose the metal parts of the water heater and other associated fittings. The result is that the water heater may leak and eventually will have to be repaired or replaced.
In the past, hot water heaters, faucets, toilets, and other appliances were installed with rigid pipe such as copper tubing. This task was burdensome and not practical for do-it-yourself amateurs and homeowners. Corrugated flexible copper pipes and metal braided flexible connectors have been used, but none offer an electrically-insulating connection. Other types of insulating devices have been developed as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,991,876.

Reinforced, electrically insulating hose


Method of producing a multi-layered wiring board comprising the steps of subjecting the photosensitive resin to exposure- and development-treatment to form the holes having a predetermined size and shape; depositing and forming the curable resin to the insulating layer having the holes formed therein in such a manner as to bury the holes, and conducting heat-treatment to form the cured thin film of the curable resin on the surface of the insulating layer; and so removing the curable resin as to leave the cured thin film to obtain the via-holes having the reduced opening size by the cured thin film.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method of producing a multi-layered wiring board and more particularly to the method of producing a multi-layered wiring board by laminating serially conductor layers and insulating layers.
2. Description of the Background Art
A finer pattern and a multi-layered structure have been employed rapidly in printed wiring boards for mounting semiconductor devices as the electronic appliances have become smaller in size and weight and higher in operation speed and function. Via-holes that establish electric conduction between upper and lower circuits at arbitrary positions are not easily formed in multi-layered wiring structures on press laminated boards. For this reason, a build-up system that laminates serially and alternately insulating layers and conductor layers to form a multi-layered wiring board has been employed instead.
The multi-layered wiring board by the build-up system has generally the structure in which via-holes of upper layers and via-holes of lower layers do not overlap with one another. To achieve a higher signal speed, however, a circuit pattern must be as short as possible, and a "via-on-via structure", in which the via-holes of the upper layers are stacked on the via-holes of the lower layers, has drawn an increasing attention.
A process for forming the via-holes is described in the following reference, for example:    "High Density Build-up Technology for Flip Chip Application", Mottoi Asai, p 200, IEMT/IMC Proceedings 1999
This technology uses a photo via-hole process. The conventional formation method of via-on-via by the build-up system will be explained with reference to this technology.
FIG. 6 shows a basic shape of a core substrate 3 for forming the multi-layered wires. A wiring pattern 20a having lines 40 and lands 50 as a first conductor layer is formed beforehand by photolithography or like means on the core substrate 3. In the example shown, a land (via-hole) pitch is 800 μm and a land diameter (LD) is 250 μm. Two lines are extended at 100 μm L/S (line/space) between the lands.
FIG. 8 shows the conventional process for forming via-on-via on the core substrate 3. In the drawing, reference numeral 1 denotes a first insulating layer having a photosensitive negative type resist, for example. Reference numeral 11 denotes an insulating layer pattern formed when the first insulating layer 1 is exposed and developed. Reference numeral 8 denotes a via for holding electric conduction between upper layer lands and lower layer lands. Reference numeral 60 denotes a photo-mask formed by vacuum depositing a metal such as Cr to portions corresponding to lands represented by 50. An arrow 70 represents ultraviolet rays that are used for exposure, and reference numeral 80 denotes a via-hole.
Suffixes a, b, c and d will be used to identify the first, second, third and fourth layers when a member having the same function is formed in a plurality of layers.
In the first step 1, a first insulating layer 1a of the first layer is spin-coated uniformly to a thickness of 5 to 70 μm on the core substrate 3, for example. Pre-baking is then conducted at 70 to 150° C. to evaporate away an excessive solvent contained in the first insulating layer 1a.
In the step 2, ultraviolet rays are irradiated to expose the first insulating layer 1a with a photo-mask 60a. Reaction components such as acids and radicals occur at the portions irradiated by the ultra-violet rays 70a, forming a cross-linked structures.
In the step 3, development is conducted. When the first insulating layer 1a is washed with a developing solution, the portions not irradiated with the ultra-violet rays 70a are dissolved away. In consequence, an insulating layer pattern 11a inclusive of the via-holes 80a is formed.
In the step 4, an electrically conductive resin is buried into each via-hole to form a via 8a. A second layer wiring pattern 20b is formed on this via 8a by a semi-additive process, for example. The semi-additive process is the method of forming an electrolytic plating by applying electroless copper plating to the entire surface, forming a wiring pattern by using a plating resist and growing electroplating on only the wiring portion by using the exposed chemical copper plating film as an electrode.
In the step 5, the first insulating layer 1b as the second layer is formed uniformly by the same method as that, of the step 1, and pre-baking is conducted, when necessary. In the step 6, the ultra-violet rays 70b are irradiated for exposure with the photo-mask 60b in the same way as in the step 2. In the step 7, the first insulating layer 1b as the second layer is developed in the same way as in the step 3, forming the via-holes 80b of the second layer. In the step 8, the electrically conductive resin is buried in the same way as in the step 4 to form a via 8b. Electroless plating and electroplating are carried out serially to complete the wiring pattern 20c of the third layer.
A series of the process steps described above form the via-on-via structure. The size of the via-holes or the lands is the same for each layer, and two lines are formed between the land and the land.
The process described above uses photolithography for forming the via-holes, but it is also possible to form the via-holes in the insulating layer 1 by irradiating an excimer laser or a YAG laser without using the mask.
As the semiconductor devices mounted onto the multi-layered wiring board are required to possess higher functions, the number of input/output pins provided to the semiconductor devices and eventually, the number of lines necessary for a wiring pattern, increases drastically.
The number of lines that can be extended between lands becomes greater when the size of via-holes (or lands) is smaller if the pitch between the via-holes (or the lands) is constant. Therefore, many attempts have been made to reduce the size of the via-holes. The conventional method of forming the via-holes involves the resolution limit of a photolithography process or the restriction by an irradiation diameter of a laser beam spot, and never satisfactorily miniaturize the via-holes. In consequence, a greater number of lamination is required for the multi-layered wiring board and the production cost soars.


This invention presents, firstly, the principle that simple and known emitter materials which are uncharged per se, as known, for example, from OLED technology, can be converted to a charged species by the introduction of a charged imidazolinium radical. This charged species can then be used in organic light-emitting electrochemical cells.

In contrast to the widely known OLEDs which have already been discussed many times, the latter comprising electron/hole-transporting layers and electron/hole-blocking layers in addition to the emitting layers, a particular feature of the OLEECs is a much simpler construction, since usually only one organic active layer is required here, and this can preferably also be applied via wet-chemical methods in a manner suitable for mass production.

Phosphorescent metal complex, process for production and light-emitting component


A fluorocarboxylic acid preparation process continuously carries out acidification reaction treatment and washing treatment, and includes subjecting a fluorocarboxylate-containing aqueous solution to acidification reaction treatment in the presence of sulfuric acid so as to form a sulfate-containing fluorocarboxylic acid phase; and subjecting the fluorocarboxylic acid phase to washing treatment using an aqueous sulfuric acid solution.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a process for preparing fluorocarboxylic acids. More particularly, it relates to a process for preparing fluorocarboxylic acids in high purity and in high yield from fluorocarboxylates. The invention relates specifically to a process for preparing C4-14, and especially C7-9, fluorocarboxylic acids, including fluoroalkylcarboxylic acids, and particularly perfluoroalkylcarboxylic acids.
2. Description of the Related Art
Fluorocarboxylic acids, such as C8 fluorocarboxylic acids and their salts, are known to have good surface activity. These fluorocarboxylic acids, as well as ammonium salts and alkali metal salts thereof, are widely used as polymerization emulsifying agents in the polymerization of fluoroolefins such as tetrafluoroethylene. Moreover, given the generally high cost of such fluorocompounds and their impact on the environment, it is desirable that they be recovered, purified and reused to the greatest possible extent.
One method that has been proposed for recovering and purifying such fluorocompounds involves preparing (or regenerating) fluorocarboxylic acid from a fluorocarboxylate-containing aqueous solution. In this method, in a tank-type reactor, sulfuric acid is used to carry out an acidification reaction on a fluorocarboxylate-containing aqueous solution, giving an acidification solution. Next, the acidification solution is heated and then liquid layers are separated to obtain a fluorocarboxylic acid-containing organic phase and an aqueous phase. The organic phase is recovered, then washed with an aqueous sulfuric acid solution to recover the fluorocarboxylic acid. If necessary, the recovered fluorocarboxylic acid is subsequently purified by distillation (see U.S. Pat. No. 6,281,374).
One problem with this related art method is the loss of fluorocarboxylic acid with liquid-liquid separation following the acidification reaction. Moreover, this related art process uses as the starting material an aqueous solution having a fluorocarboxylate concentration of about 5 to 40 wt %, preferably 5 to 30 wt %, more preferably 10 to 20 wt %. If the fluorocarboxylate concentration is below the desired range within the limits disclosed above, the solution can be concentrated by evaporation or other means.
As can be seen from the above, related art processes give rise to a loss of fluorocarboxylic acid. Moreover, in cases where the fluorocarboxylic acid preparation process includes enrichment, acidification, liquid-liquid separation and subsequent recovery, it is not easy to make the production process continuous.

Process for preparing fluorocarboxylic acids


A method and fixture for placing a permanent bend into a wooden pole. In the preferred embodiment, a fixture includes a center block receiving the center portion of a pole having the opposite ends of the pole extending through the opposite ends of the fixture. A pair of cylindrical tubes are forced downwardly against the opposite ends of the pole by an external cylinder motor and, in turn, forces the opposite ends of the pole against the bottom wall of the fixture, thereby bending the pole. A pair of wedge shaped members are extended through the fixture and into the cylindrical tubes, thereby holding the cylindrical tubes downwardly against the pole in a bent configuration while the external force is removed. The method of permanently bending a green pole includes harvesting a tree during the warm growing season and then removing the limbs to produce a wooden pole. The pole is then heated to kill living things within the pole and stored for future use and/or bending.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention is in the field of fixtures and more specifically, those fixtures utilized to bend pieces of wood.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Various types of articles utilize bent pieces of wood. For example, furniture including chairs may be designed to include a curved or bent wooden pole extending along the back of the furniture or chair. Since it is difficult to obtain a sufficient quantity of uniformly configured wooden trees in the natural state, it is the custom to harvest trees and to then bend the trees into the desired configuration forming the poles.
In the event the harvested wooden tree has an insect such as a beetle living therein, then eventually the bark may loosen relative to the main body of the tree since the beetle will bore into the tree. Of particular nuisance is the powder post beetle which attacks and lives within hickory trees. Beetle eggs typically will not hatch except during the warm or growing season. As a result, it has been the custom to harvest the trees during the winter when the trees are in a dormant state. Trees harvested during the dormant state are dry and brittle requiring the trees to first be subjected to heat thereby destroying any beetle eggs, and then soaked in water thereby increasing the flexibility of the trees and allowing the trees to be bent to the desired configuration. Next it is the practice to heat the trees in the bent configuration while wet setting the final configuration. Harvesting of the trees during the warm growing season has been avoided due to the fear that hatched beetles would attack the trees after the trees are harvested and dead but before heating and bending of the trees to the desired configuration. As a result, the business of harvesting and bending trees has been cyclical occurring during the winter and not during the warm growing season. I have discovered that trees can be harvested during the growing season while in the green state and bent to the desired configuration so long as the trees are bent soon after harvesting while the trees are still green and thus before the eggs are hatched. Since the trees are still green by the time of bending, the initial step of heating and wetting may be avoided with the final heating step accomplishing both the setting of the desired configuration as well as destroying any eggs or insects within the trees.
The prior method of bending dry poles harvested in the dormant state includes use of a fixture for holding a plurality of dry poles arranged in parallel fashion. The fixture includes a single rod which extends perpendicularly across the dry poles with the opposite ends of the rod fastened to the fixture thereby bending the poles. In the event, the dry poles have different diameters then the rod will bend the poles to different curvatures thereby preventing uniformity. The fixture disclosed herein eliminates this disadvantage.
The prior art includes a variety of tools for bending wood to different desired configurations. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 360,848 and 361,123 disclose heating and bending wood for use in production of a violin case, whereas U.S. Pat. No. 4,741,371 discloses a jig for bending a hockey stick blade to the desired configuration. U.S. Pat. No. 2,081,638 discloses a technique of forming a rounded corner in a sheet of wood, whereas U.S. Pat. No. 3,003,204 discloses technique particularly useful with corrugated wood laminate. U.S. Pat. No. 1,994,607 discloses a process of shaping green wood by removing moisture therefrom through the application of electrical potential across the opposite sides of the wood. U.S. Pat. No. 4,469,156 discloses a method and apparatus for shaping wood materials, wherein the wood is first saturated with water and then microwave irradiation is used for the heating stage.
In my parent patent application I disclose a holding fixture, wherein the opposite ends of the pole are held relatively fixed in the fixture, whereas an external force is applied to the center portion of the wood forcing the pole to the desired bent configuration. Disclosed herein is a further variation which achieves the same result but by the reverse process of holding the center portion of the pole in a relatively fixed position, whereas an external force is applied to the opposite ends of the pole, bending the pole to the desired configuration while held in the fixture.
I have further discovered that my invention is particularly useful in allowing trees to be harvested during the warm growing season so long as the harvested wood is heated in a kiln subsequent to the harvesting step but during the warm growing season to destroy the living things, such as the powder post beetle located within the pole. Previously, trees have been harvested during the winter for fear that the eggs within a tree harvested during the summer will hatch, thereby loosening the bark from the pole. I have discovered that the trees may be harvested during the summer if they are fairly soon after harvesting heated in the kiln to kill all beetle eggs and all other living things within the pole. The poles may then be stored to be subsequently used in either a bent or unbent configuration. In the event the poles are to be utilized in a bent configuration then the harvested summer poles may be inserted in the fixture disclosed herein at anytime during the year, including the winter season and bent to the final configuration.


Dynamic checkpointing can include determining, using a processor, a process criticality corresponding to a process configured to execute on computer hardware. The process criticality indicates a priority of the process relative to at least one other process configured to execute on the computer hardware. A checkpoint schedule can be generated, using the processor and based on the process criticality, for checkpointing the process when it executes on the computer hardware.

This disclosure relates to the field of data processing, and more particularly, to checkpointing processes executing on a data processor.
Checkpointing a process as it executes on a computer processor entails writing indicia to a file indicating the current state of execution of the process. The result of the operation is to create a checkpoint that contains not only the memory image, but also the resource state of the process—specifically, the particular resources of the computer that are currently assigned to, or "owned" by, the process. If for any reason an unexpected interruption occurs (e.g., deadlock), the checkpoint enables the computer to resume execution of the process at the point at which the last checkpoint was created.
Checkpointing is widely used in data processing systems. Checkpointing is used, for example, in virtual machines, cloud servers, balancing servers, hard disk stores, and other systems that execute data processing functions.

Dynamic checkpointing in a data processing system

INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION