The present invention provides a semiconductor device in which the gate is self-aligned to the device isolation film and a fabricating method thereof. A device isolation film restricting an active region is disposed on a portion of a semiconductor substrate, and a word line is across over the device isolation film. A gate pattern is disposed between the word line and the active region, and a tunnel oxide film is disposed between the gate pattern and the active region. The gate pattern comprises a floating gate pattern, a gate interlayer dielectric film pattern and a control gate electrode pattern deposited in the respective order, and has a sidewall self-aligned to the device isolation film. To form the gate pattern having the sidewall self-aligned to the device isolation film, a gate insulation film and a gate material film are formed in the respective order on the semiconductor substrate.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a semiconductor device and a method of fabricating the same. More particularly, the present invention relates to a non-volatile memory device having a floating gate or a floating carrier trap and a method of fabricating the same.
2. Description of Related Art
As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, a conventional non-volatile memory cell having a floating gate includes a gate pattern comprised of a floating gate 110a, a gate interlayer dielectric film 118, and a control gate electrode 116 deposited in the stated order. Device isolation films 102 are located in portions of a semiconductor substrate to restrict and define active regions 109. The control gate electrode 116 and the gate interlayer dielectric film 118 extend and cross over the device isolation film 102 and are in contact with adjacent memory cells. The floating gate 110a is disposed between the control gate electrode 116 and the active region 109, and a tunnel oxide film 104 is disposed between the floating gate 110a and the active region 109. An impurity diffusion layer 120 is located in the active region in-between control gate electrodes 116. A sidewall spacer 122 may be added to a sidewall of the gate pattern.
As shown in FIG. 2, the floating gate 110a of the conventional non-volatile memory device is comprised of a lower floating gate 106a self-aligned to the device isolation film 102 and an upper floating gate 108a on the lower floating gate 106a. The upper floating gate 108a is extended over or overlapped with the device isolation film 102. This overlapping is meant for enlarging the area of the gate interlayer dielectric film 118 that is disposed between the upper floating gate 108a and the control gate electrode 116 in order to improve a coupling ratio of the non-volatile memory device. However, when the upper floating gate 108a overlaps with the device isolation film 102, while the coupling ratio may be improved, it also leads to a problem in which the cell array area is increased in order to guarantee the spacing in-between the upper floating gates 108a. This also leads to several problems associated with the fabrication processes.
FIGS. 3 to 5 illustrate cross-sectional views of a conventional non-volatile memory device having a floating gate, taken along a direction I-I′ of FIG. 1, showing a conventional process.
Referring to FIG. 3, device isolation films 102 restricting a plurality of active regions 109 are formed on portions of a semiconductor substrate 100, and a tunnel oxide film 104 and a lower conductive film pattern 106 are deposited, respectively, in an active region in-between the device isolation films 102. The device isolation films 102 and the lower conductive film pattern 106 are formed conventionally by using a self-aligned trench isolation technology.
Referring to FIG. 4, an upper conductive film pattern 108 is formed on the lower conductive film pattern 106. As a result, a floating gate pattern 110 comprised of the lower conductive film pattern 106 and the upper conductive film pattern 108 is formed in the active region 109. Edges of the upper conductive film pattern 108 are overlapped with the device isolation film 102, and sidewalls of the upper conductive film pattern 108 are formed with a slope. Next, a gate interlayer dielectric film 112 is conformably formed over the entire surface of the semiconductor substrate 100, and then a gate conductive film 114 is formed over the gate interlayer dielectric film 112.
Referring to FIG. 5, a control gate electrode 116 is formed across the device isolation film 102 and a floating gate 110a in a self-aligned fashion, by sequentially patterning the gate conductive film 114, the gate interlayer dielectric film 112, and the floating gate pattern 110, including the tunnel oxide film 104. A gate interlayer dielectric film pattern 118 is disposed between the floating gate 110a and the control gate electrode 116. In the above step, the sloped sidewalls of the floating gate pattern 110 that overlap with the device isolation film 102 reduce the etching burden at the time the gate interlayer dielectric film 112 is etched. Thus, there is a limit in minimizing the cell area because additional space is required to form the sloped sidewalls of the floating gate pattern 110. Also, there is a problem in that a coupling ratio of the cell may be varied according to a configuration of the floating gate pattern 110.

Semiconductor device having self-aligned gate pattern


A grease shut-off gas cylinder comprises an outer cylinder having a guide hole; a spindle inserted in the guide hole and having an inner pipe and an outer pipe; a piston rod having a piston wherein the bottom of a rod is fixed on a bottom surface of the outer cylinder and the top of the rod is slide-inserted in the inner pipe; a valve body secured to top of the spindle and controlling the spindle to move up or down about the piston on the basis of the operations of a valve pin which controls the moving direction of gas; a bushing member protruding from an outer side of the bottom of the spindle and coming into slide contact with an inner wall of the outer cylinder; and a bushing cap secured to top of the outer cylinder and having a guide hole configured to guide the spindle.

A gas cylinder is generally adapted to a height ascending and descending structure of a sitting part of a chair on which a user sits, so a user can selectively ascend or descend the sitting part using a gas pressure.
The conventional gas cylinder is often called a gas spring and as shown in FIG. 1, comprises a hollow outer cylinder 10 vertically installed on a base provided on the ground, a bushing member 20 which is secured to an inner upper portion of the outer cylinder 10, a spindle 30 which slides and is inserted in the upward and downward directions at an inner side of the bushing member 20 and forms a gas flow path and is equipped with inner and outer pipes 32 and 34, a piston 40 which slides in the interior of the inner pipe 32 and ascends or descends the spindle 30 on the basis of gas pressure, a rod 50 which is fixedly secured to the center of the bottom of the piston 40 and the bottom of which is fixedly secured to the bottom of the outer cylinder 10, a valve body 60 which is secured to top of the spindle 30 and controls the spindle 30 to ascend or descend on the basis of the operations of a valve pin which controls the flowing direction of gas, and a lever which drives the valve pin 62.
The above described gas cylinder operates on the basis of the flow of gas. The gas in the upper and lower spaces formed about the piston 40 moves via the gas flow path formed between the vale body 60 and the inner pipe 32 and the outer pipe 34 on the basis of the operation of the valve pin disposed in the valve body 60, for thereby ascending or descending the spindle 30.
The above described gas cylinder is mainly adapted to a chair in a known way. When a user operates the operation lever, the spindle 30 comes to ascend or descend on the basis of the support of the rod 50, thus ascending or descending the sitting part.
However, in case of the above described gas cylinder, when the sitting part of the chair ascends, the spindle 30 slides along the inner wall of the bushing member 20, which makes the outer surface expose to the outside. At this time, liquid lubricant such as grease coated on the inner surfaces gets on the surface of the spindle 30, which liquid lubricant is provided for smooth sliding operation.
Since liquid lubricant such as grease is supplied from the outside for the sake of continuous sliding operations of the spindle, when the liquid lubricant gets on a predetermined thing or a user's hand, the exterior of the thing stained with the liquid lubricant looks bad.
In order to improve the above described problems, the applicant of the present invention filed a grease leakage prevention gas cylinder whose Korean patent number is 10-1233097.
In the above mentioned grease leakage prevention gas cylinder, there are included a bushing member which is secured to an inner upper portion of the outer cylinder, a cylinder which slides up and down in the interior of the bushing member and is equipped with an inner pipe and an outer pipe, a piston which is positioned somewhere in the inner pipe where it can slide and ascends or descends the spindle on the basis of gas pressure, a rod whose top is fixedly secured to the center of the bottom of the piston and whose bottom is fixedly secured to the bottom of the outer cylinder, a valve body which is secured to top of the spindle and controls the spindle to operate up or down on the basis of the operation of a valve pin which controls the moving direction of the gas, and a lever which activates the valve pin, in which construction a cover is secured to top of the bushing member for the sake of covering the bushing member, and a guide groove is formed in an inner circumferential surface of the cover along its surrounding, and a packing coming into contact with an outer surface of the spindle is engaged to the guide groove.
In the above described invention, the outer surface of the spindle which extends from the bushing member of the outer cylinder when it is applied to a chair or the like and allows the sitting part to ascend or descend is not exposed to the outside, so liquid lubricant such as grease does not leak outside with the aid of packing, thus obtaining good-looking exterior and cleanness.
In the above described structure, since the spindle reciprocates in upward and downward directions while it slides along the bushing member, the grease which leaks outside as it gets on the spindle is collected by the bushing member when the spindle descends, so the grease increases on top of the bushing member.


The liquid ejection head includes: a piezoelectric body which generates pressure for ejecting liquid; a pressure chamber which is connected to a nozzle; a common liquid chamber which is arranged across the piezoelectric body from the pressure chamber and has at least five molded walls that are integrally molded from a resin material; groove-shaped wires which include a first wire and a second wire and are formed on at least two of the molded walls of the common liquid chamber; a liquid supply flow channel which is provided in one of the molded walls that is adjacent to the pressure chamber in such a manner that the liquid supply flow channel is connected with the pressure chamber; and an electronic circuit which is arranged on one of the molded walls of the common liquid chamber, wherein the first wire is connected to the piezoelectric body and the second wire is connected to the electronic circuit.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a liquid ejection head, a method of manufacturing a liquid ejection head, and an image forming apparatus, and more particularly, it relates to an electronic circuit for controlling liquid ejection, an electrical wiring arrangement and structure, and a method of manufacturing such a structure.
2. Description of the Related Art
As an image forming apparatus in the related art, an inkjet printer (inkjet recording apparatus) is known, which comprises an inkjet printer head (liquid ejection head) having an arrangement of a plurality of liquid ejection nozzles and which records images on a recording medium by ejecting ink (liquid) from the nozzles toward the recording medium while causing the inkjet head and the recording medium to move relatively to each other.
Such an inkjet head of an inkjet printer of this kind has pressure generating units, each comprising, for example, a pressure chamber to which ink is supplied from an ink tank via an ink supply channel, a piezoelectric element which is driven by an electrical signal in accordance with image data, a diaphragm which constitutes a portion of the pressure chamber and deforms in accordance with driving of the piezoelectric element, and a nozzle which is connected to the pressure chamber and from which the ink inside the pressure chamber is ejected in the form of a droplet because of the volume of the pressure chamber being reduced by the deformation of the diaphragm. In such an inkjet printer, an image is formed on a recording medium by combining dots formed by ink ejected from the nozzles of the pressure generating units.
Ink ejection is thus controlled by transmitting electrical signals to the piezoelectric elements that are to be driven, and in order to transmit these electrical signals, electrical wires are provided on the perimeter of the ink tank. Various methods for installing these wires have been proposed in consideration of the various aspects, such as the number of components and the manufacturing costs.
For example, Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 9-314831 discloses an inkjet recording head comprising: a head main body having ink spraying ports and ink supply hole grooves; and a cover member which covers the ink grooves to form a liquid-tight seal. According to the inkjet recording head disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 9-314831, it is possible to reduce the number of components and to achieve a simple manufacturing process, and moreover, the number of connections of electrical circuit components can be reduced and manufacturing costs can also be reduced.
Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 9-314833 discloses a method in which electrical signals are supplied to the piezoelectric elements by means of thin film transistors (TFTs). More specifically, electrodes are formed so as to extend to edge faces of drive substrates with which thin film transistors (TFTs) are provided, and the drive substrates are installed in a direction perpendicular to a direction in which piezoelectric elements are formed in such a manner that the electrodes on the edge faces of the drive substrates make contact with electrodes of the piezoelectric elements.
Moreover, Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 11-261186 discloses a structure in which an undulating-shaped mechanical coupling section of a module substrate has contact points and the substrate can be arranged in various directions. The contact points are connected together by means of soldering, brazing or mechanical caulking.
However, in the invention described in Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 9-314831, there is a problem in that since electrical contacts are provided, the reliability of the connections in the contact sections is poor. Furthermore, it is hard to actualize the invention since it is difficult to achieve accurate positioning in the cases of high-density wires. Since the cover member is formed by inflecting a film material, it does not maintain structural strength and does not function as a structural member.
Moreover, in the invention described in Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 9-314833, in compositional terms, it is necessary to connect the electrical wires by placing two substrates in contact with each other, and therefore it is difficult to achieve accurate positioning in cases of high-density wires, thus leading to a loss of reliability in the connections.
Furthermore, in the invention described in Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 11-261186, since there is a great amount of freedom of layout, then there is a merit in that the space can be used efficiently; however, since the connections are made mechanically, then their accuracy depends on the mechanical processing accuracy and hence it is difficult to apply it to high-density wiring.
As described above, it has been proposed that wiring be implemented in a three-dimensional fashion in the peripheral region of an inkjet printer head; however, many of these proposals involve connecting sections located at intermediate points of the wires. Hence, the greater the number of wires, the more difficult it becomes to achieve reliable electrical connections. Moreover, as the density of the wiring increases, the required level of processing accuracy in the materials becomes higher, and accurate positional registration becomes more difficult. This makes it even harder to achieve electrical connections.
Furthermore, in the related art, since the wiring sections are formed by a structure in which a plurality of components are bonded three-dimensionally or are formed by bending a film, then it is difficult to achieve the sufficient rigidity or airtightness of the structure.

Liquid ejection head, method of manufacturing liquid ejection head, and image forming apparatus


Grasping devices including arms pivotally connected to a support member and moved by actuators pivotally connected between the arms and the support member are described. The arms may be either single or multiple member limbs shaped to engage a variety of geometrically shaped objects. Multiple member embodiments include an outer member pivotally connected to an inner member which is pivotally connected to the support member. Each arm may carry a suction cup. The support members of each embodiment may be connected to any lifting device, such as a compound arm attached to a refuse truck.

I. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to material handling equipment and, more particularly, to a grasping device attached to a refuse collection vehicle for handling containers during collection efforts.
II. Discussion of the Prior Art
As the world of materials handling becomes more mechanized the desire to move objects with minimal human intervention increases. Raw materials must be moved from one facility to another for mass production; products must be shipped to users; and refuse must be removed. Mechanized devices have been created to move material and reduce the human intervention needed.
Mechanized material handling devices of the class of interest to the present invention usually have a grasping device attached to a large arm or other means for lifting, moving and tipping a container or object of interest. The grasping device often has a pair of spaced and opposed mechanical arms which function to grasp and release a container by closing down and opening up as operated by one or more actuating devices, such as hydraulic cylinders. In situations where only one actuating device is used, a linkage mechanism is required to achieve dual arm movement.
Grasping devices including a single actuator and a pair of arcuate arms are described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,461,608, to Boda; U.S. Pat. No. 4,708,570, to Smith et al; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,026,104, to Pickrell. Each of the devices described in these patents includes a relatively complex linkage mechanism. Boda describes an apparatus including a pair of arcuate arms connected to a common support member at spaced pivot joints. A shaft is connected to each arm and to a lever arm wherein movement of the lever arm by an actuator causes the shaft to rotate to move the gripping arms. Smith et al describe a grasping device including a single actuator pivotally connected to an arcuate arm and a connecting rod attached to this arm to operate a second arcuate arm to grasp an object of interest. Pickrell describes a gripping device having a single actuator attached to a lever which, in turn, is attached to rotate an arcuate arm having gears meshed with gears operating a second arcuate arm. The arms carry a belt or flexible mechanism to enclose and grab circular objects of various sizes. In each of these systems a relatively complex linkage mechanism is required to move the arms.
Grasping devices including multiple actuators and two single member arcuate arms have been described in U.S. Reissue Pat. No. 34,292, and U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,227,849 and 4,872,801. In each these patents, the arms are pivotally attached to a common support member and operated by hydraulic cylinders pivotally attached to the same support member.
A grasping device including multiple actuators and arms having multiple members is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,669,940, issued to Englehardt et al. In this patent, a pair of straight secondary arms are pivoted to a common support member inside a pair of angled primary arms. The secondary arms roll along the inside of the primary arms to form a hexagon as the primary arms are pushed together by hydraulic cylinders.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,092,731, issued to Jones et al, describes a grasping device including two compound (segmented) arcuate arms linked to an I-beam member operated by actuators. The inner portion or segment member of each arm is slidably attached to the I-beam member which, in turn, is pivotally attached to the common support member. The I-beams rotate to move the inner members between an open and a closed position as the actuating hydraulic cylinders retract and expand, respectively. The outer portions or segment members of each arm are pivotally attached to the inner member and rollers at the end of each I-beam cause the outer members to rotate about the pivot joint to grasp an object.
The devices discussed above are designed to grasp circular objects. A device for lifting and holding containers having a plurality of basic shapes is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,401,407, to Breckenridge. Breckenridge describes a device having a pair of arms including an inner member pivoted at one end to a frame and an outer member pivoted between its ends to the second end of the inner member. A complex linkage mechanism is attached between the frame and the two members for coordinating movement of the inner and outer members. While the mechanism is functional, a mechanically simpler device for grasping containers having a plurality of shapes is desired.
PCT International Application Publication No. WO 92/01612 describes a device for grasping containers of several shapes. The described device includes oppositely disposed compound articulated arms pivotally attached to a central support member. Each arm includes an inner and an outer member curved to fit around a container and having grip padding for holding the container. In operation, the arms are moved by four actuators. However, the shape of the arms and the grip padding is a compromise, not shaped to fit snugly around the corners of a rectangular object. The corners of a rectangular object fall between the grip padding or are contacted at an angle which limits the ability of the device to manipulate rectangular objects.
It is accordingly a principal object of the invention to provide a mechanically simplified device for handling objects of various shapes.
Another object of the invention is to provide a grasping device for securely grasping objects of various shapes.
Yet another object of the invention is to provide a mechanically simplified grasping device including actuators for grasping objects of various shapes.
Still another object of the invention is to provide a mechanically simplified grasping device including two single element arms wherein each arm is connected to an actuator for grasping objects of various shapes.
A further object of the invention is to provide a simplified grasping device including two compound arms each having an inner member and an outer member wherein only each outer member is connected to an actuator for grasping objects of various shapes.
A still further object of the invention is to provide a simplified grasping device including four actuators for securely grasping objects of various shapes.
A yet still further object of the invention is to provide a simplified grasping device including two arms each having an inner member and an outer member and four actuators connected to the arms for securely grasping objects of various shapes.
Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art through familiarity with the summary of the invention, detailed description, claims, and drawings herein.


Actuators utilising shape memory alloy materials are known with regard to gas turbine engines. Such shape memory alloys have been used with respect to deformation provided in vanes and blades as well as nozzle elements in order that variations can be made in engine configuration dependent upon thermal cycling. Unfortunately, pedestals in order to provide spacing between the shape memory alloy and an antagonistic bias has resulted in uneven stress distribution as well as a higher thermal mass for the shape memory alloy. An uneven stress distribution will limit operational life whilst a higher thermal mass will result in slower reaction times. By separation of the shape memory alloy or material from its antagonistic bias through use of a slide element, a reduction in thermal mass is achieved and, more importantly, stress differentiation across the actuator is reduced.

The present invention relates to actuators and more particularly to actuators utilised within gas turbine engines in order to vary blade or vane or nozzle tab configuration.
Use of shape memory materials such as shape memory alloys is well known in order to achieve variation in dimensions or actuation by such deformation. Typically, the shape memory alloy or material acts against a bias in the form of a mechanical spring. An example of a prior use of shape memory materials is given in U.S. Pat. No. 6,813,877 in relation to nozzle tabs and fins adjustable dependent upon exit temperatures from a gas turbine engine.
Generally, a spacing pedestal must be provided between the shape memory alloy or material. The spacing pedestals secured to the shape memory alloy create stress rising features and so do not allow the full potential of the shape memory material deformation to be utilised for actuation. By increasing the potential working area per unit volume of the shape memory material, greater performance can be achieved whilst providing a more uniform stress distribution, which in turn should increase operational life and/or loading.
Previous approaches have generally implied a necessity to achieve a two dimensional design and loading structure whilst certain situations require a three dimensional application such as changing an air flow direction or aperture size so that consideration must be made to utilisation of a faster design which in turn is less efficient.


A system and a method for measuring and configuring miss-configured 2G neighbors in a 3G network. The system comprises a user equipment, an operation and maintenance center, a radio network controller and a data register, wherein the operation and maintenance center further comprises a measurement information unit and a configuration unit, and the radio network controller further comprises a measurement control unit. The method comprises the steps of: setting parameters and measuring 2G neighbors in a 3G cell according to the parameters; generating a to-be-measured 2G neighbor list and delivering the to-be-measured 2G neighbor list to the user equipment for measuring; receiving report of measurement information of the 2G neighbors from the user equipment, and if the reported measurement information of one of the to-be-measured 2G neighbors meets condition of miss-configuration, adding the one to the miss-configured 2G neighbor list.

In a 3G system, roaming handovers are an important part in mobility management. Due to mobility of the multimode user equipment (UE), its connection service is handed over from one cell to another so that the network can ensure users good service, reduce call-drop rate, improve speech quality and reduce network congestion.
When in connection mode, the multimode user equipment leaves a wireless access system and enters into another wireless access system, during the course of handover, user service is still maintained, and this process is referred to as intersystem handovers. When in other modes other than connection, the multimode user equipment leaves a wireless access system for another, roaming process happens. Then the multimode user equipment can gain access to a new system for service at a new place. The aim for intersystem handovers is to provide mobile subscribers better quality of service at bordering areas between different systems.
Because the present networks are mainly 2G networks, which can not be possibly updated to 3G networks all at once, 3G networks and 2G networks will certainly coexist for a rather long period. Therefore, it is very important to realize the function of roaming handovers between 3G networks and 2G networks.
When 3G networks become poor in coverage, if there is good 2G coverage in this area, 3G networks will control the multimode user equipment and order it to start measuring 2G networks. If 2G networks' quality meets the requirement, the multimode user equipment will send corresponding measurement reports to 3G networks which, after judging the reports, will initiate a handover to 2G networks, thus maintaining the conversation process.
In connection mode, when 3G networks control the multimode user equipment and order it to measure 2G networks' signals, the 2G network neighbor lists need to be delivered to the multimode user equipment. If the 2G network neighbor lists are not configured, or the target 2G cell's neighbors are not configured in the lists, the multimode user equipment cannot implement the handover, thus causing a call-drop. Whereas in idle mode, the multimode user equipment will reselect a 2G system based on the system-delivered 2G neighbor lists. If 2G networks' quality meets the requirement, the multimode user equipment will reselect 2G networks.
From the above explanations, whether the multimode user equipment is in connection mode or in idle mode, it needs to use the 2G neighbor lists to finish the handover or reselection.
In connection mode, if the 2G neighbor lists are miss-configured, when 3G coverage becomes poor, it can cause poor speech quality, discontinuity of conversation at the same time and maybe call dropping in serious conditions.
In idle mode, if the 2G neighbor lists are miss-configured, when 3G coverage becomes poor, it can cause network dropping, after which the multimode user equipment needs to spend a long time searching cells, meanwhile it cannot make or receive calls, which will seriously affect users' feelings.
Generally speaking, when a 3G network is formally put into operation, the system has already been configured with initial 2G neighbor lists, which may not be complete and need continuous optimization in future operation stage of the network. Through optimizing the 2G neighbor lists, it can improve the quality of handovers and reselections between 3G networks and 2G networks. The following method is commonly used for optimizing the lists of 3G and 2G neighbors:
1) analyzing users' complaints, and determining accordingly whether they are caused by handovers or reselections between 3G and 2G networks, and arranging specified tests;
2) analyzing certain cells' performance counter, examining the handover success rate index, and seeing if the indexes are very poor, if so, arranging specified tests for these cells;
3) based on the above analyses, for the problematic areas and key-coverage areas, for example, indoor coverage areas, arranging channel tests and call quality test (CQT), and arranging special channel testing personnel to test and analyze testing data;
4) analyzing channel testing data or CQT testing data, analyzing the handover success rate between 3G and 2G networks, and confirming whether they are caused by the miss-configuring of 2G neighbors;
5) adding more 2G neighbors, and carrying out further tests to make sure problems are solved.
The prior art finds miss-configured 2G neighbors all by post-analyses, and before successfully solving the problem of the miss-configured 2G neighbors, many users possibly have already experienced poor network quality, which affects their feelings and damages the reputation of the network operator.
With the prior art, special channel tests and CQT tests are needed to find and solve the problem of miss-configured neighbors, which involves a great deal of manpower and resources as well as investments.
When the equipment and maintenance of 2G networks are different from that of 3G networks, the maintenance personnel of the 3G networks may not be informed duly of the adjustment of the 2G networks, for example, when the 2G networks adjust their antennas, add more sites or repeaters, the handovers between 3G and 2G networks and the relations between neighbors will change, which, without timely adjusting of the relations between neighbors, will affect speech quality and further users' final feelings.
When 3G networks are adjusted alone, the neighbor configuration relations between 3G and 2G networks experience changes too. The common method is to find problems by channel tests. However, channel tests cannot traverse all the channels and solve all the miss-configurations of neighbors; therefore, neighbor optimization has to be resorted to after some operation time of the network.

System and method for measuring and configuring miss-configured 2G neighbors in 3G networks


A computing system obtains a fingerprint of video content being rendered by a video presentation device, including a first portion representing a pre-established video segment and a second portion representing a dynamically-defined video segment. While obtaining the query fingerprint, the computing system (a) detects a match between the first portion of the query fingerprint and a reference fingerprint that represents the pre-established video segment, (b) based on the detecting of the match, identifies the video content being rendered, (c) after identifying the video content being rendered, applies a trained neural network to at least the second portion of the query fingerprint, and (d) detects, based on the applying of the neural network, that rendering of the identified video content continues. And responsive to at least the detecting that rendering of the identified video content continues, the computing system then takes associated action.

A typical video presentation device operates to receive a digital video stream representing video content and to render the video content on a display for viewing by one or more users. Examples of such devices include, without limitation, televisions, computer monitors, head-mounted displays, tablets, smart phones, watches, cameras, projection systems, and the like.
In many cases, the video presentation device may be in communication with a video source that could selectively provide any of a variety of video content for rendering, and the video presentation device could be arranged to receive and render the selected video content. For example, the video presentation device could be coupled or communicatively linked with a receiver, player, console, computer, and/or remote server that is configured to output video content selected by a user, and the video presentation device could be configured to receive the video content being output by the video source and to render the video content on a display in real-time for viewing.
Some video content could be at least partially "interactive," where a user to whom the video content is presented interacts with the content as it is being rendered, and the content varies dynamically based on that user-interaction. Without limitation, an example of interactive video content is video game, where a user (a person who plays the game) has at least some control over how the game proceeds and thus what the video content of the game would be over time. For instance, through interaction with a game console, remote server, or other source of the game's video content, a user might control video content associated with achieving or failing to achieve a goal of the game, gaining or losing an item in the game, virtual orientation within the game, and/or movement or other actions of one or more avatars or objects in the game, among numerous other possibilities. As a result, the interactive video content could vary in real-time based on the user's input and could differ, possibly substantially, each time it is played.
Such user interaction and impact on the video content being rendered can be distinguished from user control over the basic mechanics of playing the video content, where the user's interaction has no impact on the underlying video content itself. For example, a video source such as a game console or remote server might allow a user to control functions such as play, pause, stop, fast-forward, or fast-reverse. But those control functions would not impact the underlying video content and would thus not be considered interactive, in contrast to real-time user interaction controlling the story and progression of a video game for instance.
Further, video content that includes such interactive or dynamically-defined content may also include from time to time certain pre-established or statically-defined video segments that do not vary based on user interaction while being rendered. For example, video games often include pre-established "cutscenes," such as cinematically produced video clips, that are automatically played as transitions between game levels, and other pre-established video segments such as startup scenes, shutdown scenes, and the like. Although a user may have some control over when these pre-established video segments are played, such as when the user successfully completes a level of play in a video game, content of the pre-established video segments would not vary based on user interaction while the pre-established video segments are being rendered.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Detecting and responding to rendering of interactive video content


A medical device for removing a stenosis of a living body lumen includes a drive shaft configured to be driven by an operation at a proximal side thereof and including a treatment member disposed at a distal side thereof, a housing configured to accommodate the proximal side of the drive shaft therein, and a holding member configured to suppress unnecessary movement of the drive shaft. A proximal end of the holding member is fixed to the housing, and an inner surface of the holding member and an outer surface of the drive shaft are slidable relative to one another.

Atherosclerosis is caused by fatty acid precipitated on the lower side of an intimal layer of a blood vessel. At an initial state, comparatively soft fatty acid is precipitated on the lower side of an intimal layer. As time passes, cholesterol composition is captured into the precipitated fatty acid thereby to form a calcified atheroma layer. The inside of the blood vessel becomes a constricted state or a state in which the inside of the blood vessel is occluded with the formed atheroma layer. By virtue of this, the blood flow is inhibited. If this state is left as it is, then in the case of the heart, an angina pectoris or a myocardial infarction is developed, and in the case of a limb, a necrosis of a finger of a hand and a leg or intermittent claudication is developed.
In atherectomy surgery, treatment involving removal of a grown arteriosclerosis layer from a blood vessel is performed through a catheter. Usually, atherectomy surgery by itself is not performed, but rather atherectomy surgery is performed in combination with balloon angioplasty. In order to remove an arteriosclerosis layer and maintain a lumen opened by angioplasty, stent indwelling is performed. It has been pointed out in many study reports that, even if treatment is performed, a new arteriosclerosis layer can grow in the inside of the stent. In this case, atherectomy surgery, balloon angioplasty and stent indwelling are performed frequently. In recent years, investigations are performed for reducing the stenosis rate by a drug releasing stent which is expected to have an effect against hypertrophic atheroma.
Atherectomy surgery can be utilized for treatment of chronic occlusion which obstructs the blood flow fully. In several examples, as the blood flow rate decreases, the intimal layer of the blood vessel gradually grows large. Various technologies for treating those diseases have been disclosed.
A thrombus is another factor which causes vascular occlusion. In several examples, a thrombus is generated when blood flow in a blood vessel bleeds to the circumference and is deposited there. The surface of an atheroma layer is susceptible to damage. Therefore, if the surface of an atheroma layer is damaged for some reason, then platelets in the circulating blood flow coagulate and form a thrombus. As a result, the blood vessel is occluded. In several examples, a thrombus exists together with an atheroma layer. A technology for removing a deposited thrombus using a balloon has been used for a long period of time.
Even if atherectomy surgery is carried out, an atheroma may not be removed in some cases due to the location, size and hardness. In such a case, an influence is had on stent indwelling or some other treatment. The medical device disclosed here is able to remove an substance in a blood vessel such as an artery or a vein, namely, an occluding substance which constricts or occludes a vascular lumen.


The present invention aims to realize, in regard to a high frequency switch used for a mobile communication apparatus such as a portable telephone or the like, a dual band switch having simple structure and changeable to ON and OFF states in two bands. For realizing the aim, the present invention provide a dual band switch comprising a series circuit of a PIN diode (101) and its compensation circuit (102), and, the compensation circuit (102) is formed with a circuit having at least two series resonance points and one parallel resonance point. The above structure allows the impedance of the compensation circuit, which is capacitive in low frequency close to a direct current, to be inductive after undergoing the first series resonance point, whereby the parasitic capacity of the diode is canceled in the first band, and also to be inductive again after undergoing the parallel resonance point and the following series resonance point, whereby the parasitic capacity of the PIN diode is canceled in the second band.

This application is a U.S. National Phase Application of PCT International Application PCT/JP98/02428.
The present invention relates to a dual band switch, a dual band antenna duplexer and a dual band mobile communication apparatus using the same, used mainly for a mobile communication device such as a portable telephone or the like.
A popular convention high frequency switch is disclosed in the non-examined Japanese Patent Application Publication No. H07-321692. A conventional switch is shown in FIG. 13. The switch of FIG. 13 comprises a circuit connecting in parallel PIN diode 1001 and compensation circuit 1002. Compensation circuit 1002 may be formed with a series connection of capacitor 1003 and inductor 1004. Compensation circuit 1002 may be used for turning off the switch circuit when PIN diode 1001 is in an inactive state. Therefore, compensation circuit 1002 may be set so that inductor 1004 cancels the parasitic capacitance of PIN diode 1001 in an inactive state, and may help create parallel resonance at a desired band. Capacitor 1003 may be referred to as a DC cut element for interrupting the direct current route of the compensation circuit when PIN diode 1001 becomes active and the switch circuit is turned on. As a result, compensation circuit 1002 may be adjusted to have an impedance which is capacitive in a frequency range close to a direct current and inductive in a desired band, as well as to have one series resonance point in-between.
In recent years, the rapid increase of users of mobile communication technology has been observed. Mobile communication technology often entails obtaining a required number of telephonic communication channels. Experiments in using two band systems by one communication apparatus may therefore often be performed. For two band systems, a switch that works in two different bands may be required. A conventional high frequency switch, however, may be able to obtain a sufficient OFF state in only one band when a PIN diode is inactive. Therefore, to realize two band systems, two high frequency switches suitable for respective bands may be needed. The use of two high frequency switches may result in a large and complicated circuit, as well as a relatively expensive one.
The present invention addresses the aforementioned and other problems and aims to provide a dual band switch with which sufficient OFF states may be obtained in two different bands.
A circuit in accordance with the present invention comprises a parallel circuit including a diode and a compensation circuit. The compensation circuit is formed with a circuit having at least two series resonance points and one parallel resonance point.
A circuit in accordance with the present invention allows the impedance of the compensation circuit, which is capacitive in low frequency close to a direct current, to become inductive after the first series resonance point, whereby a parasitic capacitance of the diode is canceled in a first band. Further, the impedance of the compensation circuit becomes inductive again after the parallel resonance point and after the following series resonance point, whereby a parasitic capacitance of the diode is canceled in a second band. A dual band switch which assures sufficient OFF states in two different bands may thus be obtained with a relatively simple structure.

Diode compensation circuit including two series and one parallel resonance points

Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.


A clothes hanger with a storable hook provides convenient suspension of a garment therefrom without being limited as to length by a neck opening of the garment. In a preferred embodiment, a clothes hanger has a hook portion which is rotatable relative to a body portion, and which is pivotably storable in the body portion. The body portion is hollow and includes two sides which, when joined together, permit both rotatable and pivotable attachment of the hook portion to the body portion and form an opening through which the hook portion may be inserted into the body portion.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to clothes hangers and, more particularly, to a clothes hanger having a storable hook.
2. Description of Related Art
Many garments, such as sweaters and other knitted clothes, will take on the shape of the clothes hangers from which they are suspended. This problem is particularly acute when clothes hangers are short and thin, and is evidenced by "points" on the shoulder areas of the garments after being suspended from these hangers. To overcome this deficiency, a number of "wide body" clothes hangers, typically formed of either wood or plastic, characterized by an increased length and/or a widened surface area from which the garment is suspended have been developed.
A conventional wide body clothes hanger is typically inserted through a neck opening of a garment and into shoulder areas thereof. The garment is then suspended from the hanger with the hanger extending between the shoulder areas and a hook portion of the hanger extending upwardly through the neck opening. For this reason, such clothes hangers are often shaped so that they resemble human shoulders.
Most clothes hangers have hooks which have a fixed position. Such a hook is typically aligned with the hanger body and is effective, for example, in hanging the garment on a rod in a closet. With the hook positioned centrally between the hanger's shoulder portions, the neck opening of the garment limits the length of the hanger's shoulder portions, since each of the shoulder portions must be inserted through the neck opening.
A problem is experienced when clothes hangers are used to hang crew neck sweaters or clothes having non-expandable neck openings. To hang the clothes, the hanger is held at an angle and a first end inserted through the neck opening and into one shoulder area of the garment until the hook stops forward movement of the hanger. The second end is then inserted into the other shoulder area. However, to fit the second end through the neck opening, the neck opening often has to be expanded. For buttoned shirts and other clothes having expandable neck openings, this is not a problem. For crew neck sweaters, the neck opening has to be undesirably stretched, and for clothes with non-expandable neck openings, it cannot be done. If the hook was storable, the reduced clearance needed for insertion of the hanger would allow the entire hanger to be inserted into the neck opening, thereby eliminating the need to stretch the neck opening.
Some people prefer to hang clothes by inserting the hanger into the opening at the bottom of the garment and bringing it up to the shoulder areas. Again, the presence of the hook makes this type of hanging difficult because of the ease with which the hook is snagged on the clothes. Again, a storable hook would eliminate this problem.
The hook also makes hangers very difficult to store or to pack in suitcases. A storable hook would make the task of storing hangers much easier.
Some clothes hangers are known in the art which have hooks that are not rigidly fixed. For example, the following U.S. patents disclose hangers having hooks which rotate about an axis longitudinally aligned with the hangers' shoulder portions: U.S. Pat. No. 2,428,820 to Therrien, U.S. Pat. No. 1,551,769 to Paddington, and U.S. Pat. No. 3,860,154 to Atkins. The following U.S. patents disclose hangers having hooks which rotate about a vertical axis: U.S. Pat. No. 4,074,838 to Blasnik et al., U.S. Pat. No. 3,963,154 to Schwartz et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,074,445 to Chen, and U.S. Pat. No. 2,465,576 to Colburn. The following U.S. patents disclose hangers having hooks which rotate about a horizontal axis orthogonal to the hangers' shoulder portions: U.S. Pat. No. 2,701,082 to Cohen, U.S. Pat. No. 5,074,445 to Chen, and U.S. Pat. No. D210,259 to Holtzman.
Hook rotation about the vertical axis enables a clothes hanger to be hooked over a surface which is aligned with the hanger shoulder portions, such as a door or back of a chair, permitting the garment to lay flat adjacent the door or chair back, etc. Hook rotation about a horizontal axis enables the hook to be stored proximate the hanger's body portion.
From the foregoing, it can be seen that it would be quite desirable to provide a clothes hanger which has a length which is not limited by the garment's neck opening, but which has relatively long and smoothly contoured shoulder portions. It would also be quite desirable to provide a clothes hanger having a hook which is rotatable about a vertical and a horizontal axis. It is accordingly an object of the present invention to provide such a clothes hanger.


A method of designing a semiconductor integrated circuit based on the TPI technique, comprising: (A) selecting a target node from a plurality of nodes included in a design circuit; (B) inserting a test point at the target node; (C) designating a delay time with respect to a test point path that is a path connected to the test point; and (D) laying out the design circuit such that a delay time of the test point path becomes the designated delay time. The (A) selecting includes: (A1) calculating delay times of fan-in paths and fan-out paths with respect to each of the plurality of nodes; and (A2) selecting the target node from the plurality of nodes based on the calculated delay times.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a technique of designing a semiconductor integrated circuit. In particular, the present invention relates to a technique of designing a semiconductor integrated circuit by using a TPI (Test Point Insertion) method.
This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority from Japanese patent application No. 2007-135358, filed on May 22, 2007, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein in its entirely by reference.
2. Description of Related Art
After a semiconductor integrated circuit is manufactured, it is necessary to conduct a test for checking whether or not defects such as a delay fault (delay defect) and a stuck-at fault occur in the product. It is therefore preferable to build a test circuit that can enhance testability of the testing into the semiconductor integrated circuit in advance during a circuit design stage. Such a design technique is called "DFT (Design For Testability)".
A "scan design" is known as one example of the DFT (refer, for example, to S. Kajihara et al., "A Framework of High-quality Transition Fault ATPG for Scan Circuits", IEEE International Test Conference, Paper 2.1, Oct. 2006). According to the scan design, all of or a part of flip-flops included in the design circuit are replaced with scan flip-flops. At the time of the test, those scan flip-flops can constitute a certain scan path. A scan test is conducted by inputting and outputting test patterns through the scan path. The test patterns are automatically generated by an ATPG (Automatic Test Pattern Generator).
A "TPI (Test Point Insertion)" is known as a method for further facilitating the test (refer, for example, to Japanese Laid-Open Patent Applications JP-Heisei-06-331709, JP-Heisei-09-189748 and JP-2006-84427). According to the TPI, a test point is inserted at a node within the design circuit in order to improve controllability and observability of signals at the time of the test.
Recently, more attention has been focused on "small delay defect" (refer, for example, to Y. Sato et al., "Invisible Delay Quality—SDQM Model Lights Up What Could Not Be Seen", IEEE International Test Conference, Page 47.1, Nov. 2005). With speeding up and increasing miniaturization of semiconductor manufacturing processes, even a small deviation from a design value in the critical path can cause the circuit to malfunction. That is to say, malfunction caused by the small delay defect has been increasing with speeding up and increasing miniaturization of the circuit. It is therefore important in delay testing to detect the small delay defects with high precision without overlooking them.
The inventors of the present application have recognized the following points.
FIG. 1 is a circuit diagram showing one example of a design circuit that is based on the scan design technique. The design circuit shown in FIG. 1 includes flip-flops (scan flip-flops) FF1 to FF4. A delay time of a path P1 from the flip-flop FF1 to the flip-flop FF3 is 6 ns. A delay time of a path P2 from the flip-flop FF1 to the flip-flop FF4 is 8 ns. A delay time of a path P3 from the flip-flop FF2 to the flip-flop FF3 is 3 ns. A delay time of a path P4 from the flip-flop FF2 to the flip-flop FF4 is 5 ns. A path with the maximum delay time among the paths P1 to P4 is the path P2, which is hereinafter referred to as a "longest path". Here, let us consider a case where a small delay defect occurs at a node TN shown in FIG. 1.
FIG. 2 shows a relationship between a path used in the delay testing and a size (tdefect) of the small delay defect to be overlooked in the delay testing. In the present example, a system clock cycle is 9 ns. Since the delay time of the longest path P2 is 8 ns, a defect of not more than 1 ns does not affect a system operation. Such a defect that does not affect the system operation is called a timing redundant defect. In a case where the path P1 is used in the delay testing, a signal is transmitted within the clock cycle (9 ns) if the size (tdefect) of a delay defect is less than 3 ns. Therefore, the delay defect is not detected but overlooked in the delay testing. More specifically, a delay defect whose size (tdefect) is from 1 ns to 3 ns is overlooked when the path P1 is used. Similarly, a delay defect whose size is from 1 ns to 4 ns is overlooked when the path P4 is used. Similarly, a delay defect whose size is from 1 ns to 6 ns is overlooked when the path P3 is used. On the other hand, a delay defect is detected precisely and the overlooking does not occur in a case where the longest path P2 is used.
As described above, it is preferable to use as long path as possible in order not to overlook the small delay defect in the delay testing. In the example shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, using the longest path P2 is preferable. However, which path is used in the delay testing depends on the ATPG, and there is generally a tendency that a relatively short path is used. Therefore, the small delay defect is likely to be overlooked in the delay testing. It may be possible to modify the ATPG such that the longest path is selected in the delay testing. In this case, however, the ATPG needs to generate test patterns with searching for the longest path in order to achieve the defect detection using the longest path, and thus the time for generating the test patterns becomes much longer. Moreover, constraint on signal values for testing the longest path is increased as compared with the common ATPG, which leads to increase in the number of test patterns. These cause increase in the time and cost of the delay testing.
FIG. 3 shows one example of a design circuit that is based on the typical TPI technique. As shown in FIG. 3, a test point TP (observation flip-flop) is inserted at the node TN in the design circuit shown in FIG. 1. A path from the flip-flop FF1 to the test point TP is hereinafter referred to as a "test point path PT". The test point path PT includes the node TN, and this test point path PT is used in the delay testing.
As to the test point path PT, the setup constraint and hold constraint just need to be satisfied. Thus, the test point path PT is generally designed to be short. In many cases, the test point path PT becomes shorter than the longest path P2 according to the typical TPI technique. Therefore, the small delay defect is likely to be overlooked in the delay testing.
As described above, the small delay defect is likely to be overlooked in the delay testing, in the case of the typical TPI technique in which the path delay is not considered. The existing design technique does not support the detection of the small delay defect. If the small delay defect is overlooked during the test, a malfunction occurrence rate in the market is increased, which leads to deterioration of the product reliability.

Semiconductor integrated circuit and method of designing thereof based on TPI


The invention relates to a method of feeding a sheetlike material (50-54) into a printer. An externally located cover sheet (50-54) is removed from a pile of sheets and conveyed towards a section (a10-a12) of the transport path at a transport speed (V0, V1). The lower limit (v0) of the transport speed is the same as or greater than the transport speed (v0) of the sheets (50-54) in section (a1-a12). Conveyance of the sheet (52,54) is delayed until section (a10-a12) has been reached. Identical predetermined spacing (AS) thus occurs between immediately successive transported sheets (52,54).

The present invention is directed to a method for inputting sheet material into a printer or copier.
In known methods for inputting sheet material, a cover sheet respectively lying at the outside is pulled from a stack of sheets in response to a start signal and is transported with a draw-in speed in the direction of a sub-section of the conveying path wherein it is conveyed with an approximately constant, rated conveying speed that corresponds to the draw-in speed.
What is disadvantageous in the known method for inputting sheet material is that the spacing between successive sheets varies. This is to be attributed thereto that the frictional connection between draw-in rollers or, respectively, draw-in belts and the sheets is not 100% assured, so that what is referred to as a micro-slip occurs. The occurring micro-slip is dependent on the paper properties such as, for example, paper thickness and surface roughness. An adjustment of the draw-in force, particularly when pulling the sheets from the stack, leads to a variation of the spacing between successive sheets. When pulling the sheets from the stack, a minimum shift of the sheets neighboring the cover sheet cannot be prevented, so that the exact position of the leading sheet edge in conveying direction is also not known upon draw-in. The result is again that a variation of the spacing between successive sheets occurs.
Over one hundred sheets per minute are printed in high-performance printers. Fluctuations of the sheet spacing between a lower and an upper limit value necessarily lead to a loss of speed when printing compared to a printing with the lower limit value. One must proceed on the basis of the poorest value when specifying the printable number of sheets per time unit. However, the user wants an unchanging printing speed that can be calculated.
European Patent Application EP 0 428 922 A2 discloses an apparatus for document processing. The conveying density is increased in that the spacing between the documents is set with the assistance of a plurality of light barriers for acquiring the position of the documents.
European Patent Application EP 0 167 091 Al discloses a separating mechanism for letter mailings. The spacing between the letter mailings can be set more exactly by taking a prescribed value for the acceleration path upon draw-in into consideration.
German Laid-Open Publication DE 27 58 007 A explains a method for controlling the haul-off event in a means for the output of separated mailings of different length. In order to increase the conveying density given letter mailings of different length, the reference edge for setting the spacing between successive letter mailings is automatically selected.
Therefore, there is a need for a simple method for inputting sheet material that enables an approximately constant sheet spacing between the successively input sheets.
The aforenoted need is satisfied by the present invention wherein, in a first aspect of the invention is based on the perception that the sheet spacing can be most simply set when drawing the sheets in, since a later correction of a spacing would result in a variation of the topical position of all following sheets. An adjustment of the spacing should be possible both when a rated spacing is downwardly transgressed as well as upwardly transgressed. Given the first aspect of the invention, the transport of the sheet is therefore delayed such that a predetermined, identical spacing between sheets transported immediately following one another derives before the sub-section is reached. The setting of the spacing between the sheets thus ensues upon draw-in of the sheets into the printer. When the draw-in speed is relatively low, then there is hardly any or no delay at all. When the draw-in speed, however, is relatively high, then the delay is longer in order to set the rated spacing. Even when the draw-in speed is lower or equal to the conveying speed, a spacing can be set by delaying the cover sheet upon draw-in when the sheets are pulled from the stack with a spacing relative to one another that is smaller then the predetermined, identical rated spacing.
The delay of the transport is a simple technical measure that, for example, can be implemented by arresting a draw-in means or by decelerating said means.
Given the method according to the first aspect of the invention, the draw-in speed is greater then the conveying speed of the sheets within the sub-section. Delay time for controlling the spacing is gained on the basis of this measure. The spacing when pulling the sheets can thus be increased and the rated spacing can also be exceeded, the pulling thus becoming more reliable since having the sheets run up onto one another is avoided. The range of control of the spacing ultimately increases when increasing the draw-in speed. run up onto one another is avoided. The range of control of the spacing ultimately increases when increasing the draw-in speed.
The number of printed sheets per time unit is not diminished due to the first exemplary embodiment of the invention.
In an exemplary embodiment of the first aspect of the invention, a pre-draw-in position at which the position of the sheet is identified is located between sheet stack and sub-section. What this measure achieves is that the position of the sheet can be employed for further control events. The varying positions of the sheets in the sheet compartment no longer has any influence on a possible variation of the sheet spacing due to the recognition of the exact position of the sheet and measures based thereon.
In a further exemplary embodiment of the first aspect of the invention, the sheet is arrested between sheet stack and sub-section and, after the expiration of a holding time, it is preferably further-conveyed with the draw-in speed. Expediently, the sheet is arrested exactly at the pre-draw-in position. The holding time is dimensioned such that the predetermined, identical spacing between the cover sheet and a previously pulled sheet of the sheet stackxe2x80x94as viewed in conveying directionxe2x80x94is established during transport of the cover sheet up to the sub-section. The holding time can be calculated by simple path/time calculations. The distance between holding position and conveyor means and the draw-in speed are thereby known. The arresting can be realized, for example, via stepping motors and/or couplings.
A second aspect of the invention is directed to a means for drawing in sheet material into a printer or copier, particularly for the implementation of a method described above. The aforementioned technical effects are thus also transferred onto the means for drawing sheet material in according to the second aspect of the invention.
In an exemplary embodiment of the second aspect of the invention, the haul-off roller acting on the cover sheet is employed, the respectively to assure a dependable draw-in, the conveyor means seizes the built sheet before the trailing edge thereof is conveyed past the haul-off roller. What this measure assures is that the haul-off roller that is usually not arranged immediately at the leading edge of the sheet stack can be enabled by the conveyor means when seizing the sheet until the sheet has been completely pulled from the sheet stack. What this prevents is that further sheets are pulled from the sheet stack by the haul-off roller before the cover sheet has been completely pulled from the sheet stack.
In an exemplary embodiment of the second aspect of the invention, the sheet position is acquired with a first light barrier immediately following the draw-in means. Dependent on a signal of the first light barrier that, for example, is generated by the interruption of a light beam by the leading edge of the sheet, the draw-in means is disconnected, so that the sheet rests in the pre-draw-in position. A second light barrier is preferably arranged approximately in the predetermined spacing in conveying direction following the first light barrier. Dependent on a signal of the second light barrier that, for example, is generated by the trailing edge of a sheet that has already been pulled, the control unit again activates the draw-in means. The sheet situated in the pre-draw-in position is thus further-conveyed with the pre-determined spacing from the preceding sheet. The draw-in speed can be measured with the assistance of the two light barriers in that the duration of the transport of a sheet between the two light barriers is measured. The point in time at which the sheet is seized by the conveyor means can be acquired from the draw-in speed, so that the draw-in means can be de-activated at this point in time. With the assistance of the draw-in speed, further, one can also calculate when the pulled sheet has a minimum spacing from the stack. When the minimum spacing has been reached, then the control-unit again activates the draw-in means, so that a next sheet is pulled. pulled. A corresponding control unit has been disclosed, for example, by DE 27 58 007 A in the field of mail processing.
The third aspect of the invention is directed to a method for inputting sheet material into a printer or copier that can be utilized in combination with the method according to the first aspect of the invention or separately as well. Multiple sheet pulls are to be prevented by the method according to the third aspect of the invention. Given multiple sheet pulls, at least two sheets at least partially overlapping one another are simultaneously pulled from the sheet stack. The result is an increased consumption of sheets and, potentially, improper prints as well. An improper print is unavoidable when the sheets are printed on both sides. A known measure for preventing multiple sheet pulls is to increase the pressing power of a haul-off means when pulling the sheets from the sheet stack. However, not all multiple or, respectively, double sheet pulls can be prevented with this measure. For example, double sheet pulls derive given poor paper quality or at cut edges that have a burr.
An object of the third aspect of the invention is to prevent multiple draw-ins given input of sheet material into a printer or copier.
This object is achieved by a method based on the consideration that two sheets adhering to one another can be separated from one another by a type of shaking motion. In the third aspect of the invention, the cover sheet, particularly when being pulled from the sheet stack, is therefore transported with a draw-in rate that repeatedly greatly varies. In the extreme case, the cover sheet is pulled in away from the sheet stack by a defined time duration in start/stop mode. Due to the multiple variation of the draw-in speed, sheets also separate from one another that would not separate from one another given a one-time variation of the draw-in speed, for example upon acceleration. A reduction of multiple sheet pulls is thus achieved by a method according to the third aspect of the invention.
When the draw-in speed varies periodically, then the draw-in speed can be varied according to a clock signal with little circuit-oriented or, respectively, software-oriented outlay.
In a further exemplary embodiment of the third aspect of the invention, the draw-in speed is only varied when multiple sheet pulls occur. The variation of the draw-in speed can be activated both by an operator as well as by a sensor unit. The variation of the draw-in speed that leads to increased wear is thus only implemented an increased number of multiple or, respectively, double sheet pulls is to be anticipated due to the paper quality. Moreover, a loss of speed when pulling the sheets in usually occurs due to the varying draw-in speed, this being only justifiable when the risk of multiple sheet pulls is in fact also established.
A fourth aspect of the invention is directed to a means for drawing sheet material into a printer or copier, particularly for the implementation of the method according to the third aspect of the invention. The technical effects cited in the third aspect of the invention are thus also transferred onto the means according to the fourth aspect of the invention.
The invention is described in greater detail below with reference to exemplary embodiments. Thereby shown are:
In an embodiment, the invention provides a method for feeding sheet material into a printer or a copier comprising the steps of pulling an outwardly lying first sheet off of a stack of sheets, transporting the first sheet at a draw-in speed towards a sub-section of a conveying path, conveying the first sheet at a conveying speed through the sub-section, delaying a pulling of an outwardly lying second sheet off of the stack until a predetermined spacing exists between first and second sheets, the draw-in speed being greater than the conveying speed, pulling the second sheet off of the stack of sheets, transporting the second sheet at the draw-in speed towards the sub-section of a conveying path, and conveying the second sheet at the conveying speed through the sub-section.
In an embodiment, the method comprises calculating a point in time at which a leading edge of the first sheet will reach the sub-section, and conveying the first sheet through the sub-section at the conveying speed from said point in time.
In an embodiment, the method comprises identifying the attitude of the first sheet at a pre-draw-in position between the stack of sheets and the sub-section, and identifying the attitude of the second sheet at a pre-draw-in position between the stack of sheets and the sub-section.
In an embodiment, the delaying step further comprises arresting the second sheet the sheet stack and the sub-section until the predetermined spacing exists between the first and second sheets.
In an embodiment, the method comprises the steps of repeating the pulling, delaying, transporting and conveying steps for subsequent outwardly lying sheets.
In an embodiment, the invention comprises an apparatus for feeding sheet material into a printer or copier that comprises at least one sheet compartment for accepting a sheet stack, a draw-in mechanism for pulling outwardly lying sheets, one at a time, from the sheet stack at a draw-in speed, at least one conveyor for receiving sheets, one at a time, from the draw-in mechanism and conveying the sheets at a conveying speed, a control unit for activating and driving the draw-in mechanism, whereby the control unit delays the activation of the draw-in mechanism for successive sheets to provide a predetermined spacing between successive sheets in the conveyor, and wherein the draw-in speed is greater than the conveying speed.
In an embodiment, a first light barrier is disposed between the draw-in mechanism and the conveyor for indicating a first position of the sheet and a second light barrier disposed downstream of the first light barrier and between the first light barrier the conveyor for indicating a second position of the sheet, the first and second light barriers being connected to the control unit and sending signals thereto indicating the time the sheet reaches the first and second positions respectively, the control unit determining the draw-in speed from the signals received from the first and second light barriers.
In an embodiment, the draw-in mechanism comprises a haul-off roller that engages each outwardly lying sheet of the stack of sheets, the draw-in mechanism further comprising a draw-in belt that transports each sheet from the haul-off roller to the conveyor.
In an embodiment, the conveyor is spaced apart from the haul-off roller by a distance that is less than a length of each sheet.
In an embodiment, the control unit deactivates the draw-in mechanism upon receipt of a signal received from the first light barrier.
In an embodiment, the control unit activates the draw-in mechanism upon receipt of a signal from the second light barrier.
In an embodiment, the control unit activates the draw-in mechanism when a sheet reaches a minimum spacing from the stack of sheets.
In an embodiment, a third light barrier disposed in the conveyor and downstream of the second light barrier, the third light barrier for determining the spacing between successive sheets, the third light barrier being connected to the control unit and sending signals thereto, the control unit determining a holding time during which the draw-in mechanism is deactivated, the holding time being dependent on the spacing and on a previously measured draw-in speed, whereby the predetermined spacing exists between successive sheets after expiration of the holding time.
In an embodiment, the method of the invention comprises pulling an outwardly lying first sheet from a stack sheets, transporting the cover sheet at a variable draw-in speed from the stack to a conveyor, and transporting the sheet through the conveyor at a constant conveying speed.
In an embodiment, the draw-in speed is varied periodically.
In an embodiment, the draw-in speed is varied when multiple sheet pulls occur.
In an embodiment, the apparatus of the present invention provides an apparatus for feeding sheet material into a printer or copier that comprises at least one sheet compartment for receiving a sheet stack, a draw-in mechanism for pulling an outwardly lying first sheet from the stack at a draw-in speed, at least one conveyor for conveying the sheet at a conveying speed, and a control unit for controlling the draw-in mechanism wherein the control unit varies the draw-in speed when the pulling the first sheet off of the stack.

Method and apparatus for feeding sheet material into a printer or copier


An automatic dispenser of fluent lubricating material comprising a first chamber (23) for containing the fluent lubricating material, a second chamber (13), means for generating gas within the second chamber and pressure relief means (11, 15, 16; and 21, 24-28) for venting the first chamber to atmosphere on occurrence of an over-pressure.

Several dispensers of the kind specified are known, some of which function by injecting a galvanic element into an electrolyte (see for example GB-A-1102666). Others use electric cells to pass current through electrolytes to generate the dispensing gas (see for example GB-A-1496841 and WO 93/25841). In these known devices, the gas generated is contained in an expansion chamber and expands against a piston to expel the fluent lubricating material into an appropriate receptacle, e.g. a bearing.
Dispensers of the kind specified normally contain sufficient motive power-source materials to generate the appropriate quantity of gas to expel all the fluent lubricating material with only a small surplus of the power-source materials. This surplus is deliberately restricted to ensure that the dispenser does not become over-pressurised after it is spent and the piston has come to the end of its stroke. The normal operating gauge pressure within a dispenser of the kind specified is in the range from about 0.5 bar to about 3 bar depending on the resistance offered to the flow of material leaving the dispenser, e.g. the resistance caused by channels into which a lubricant is injected. Even when the piston reaches the end of its stroke, having expelled all the fluent material, the expanded gas chamber is sufficiently large to ensure that any surplus gas generated does not materially increase the pressure (and certainly does not rise to a dangerous level).
However, it can happen that a dispenser of the kind specified can be fitted unwittingly to, for example, a lubrication point in which the lubricant channels have become blocked by dirt or hardened grease. If the pressure generated by the dispenser is insufficient to force the lubricant past the obstruction, the piston will be unable to move as the lubricant in the dispenser will be substantially incompressible and the expansion chamber, which will normally have very little free gas space initially, will be unable to expand. As the galvanic reaction continues and gas continues to be generated, the gas pressure inside the dispenser can rise to an unsafe level, e.g. in excess of 10 bars gauge, giving rise to the possibility of a dangerous explosive burst.

Gas-operated, dual-chamber, fluid lubricating material dispenser having a pressure relief valve


Systems and methods are described for measuring the quality of telephone transmission lines. A device, such as a loop test apparatus, can be located at a customer's premises and used for remotely diagnosing telephone line impairments, especially concerning the local loop and customer premises wiring. Such a device is valuable for determining if a telephone line is suitable for new services, such as DSL. The loop test apparatus can incorporate an integrated local loopback feature that can be controlled from a loop testing server (LTS) at, e.g., a telephone Central Office. The loop test apparatus can terminate a telephone line at the customer premises based on a message sent by the LTS. The local loopback will then reflect signals transmitted by the LTS back to the LTS so that line characteristics of the local loop and customer premises wiring can be analyzed, without the need to dispatch telephone company service equipment and/or personnel to a customer premises.

Changes in the North American telephone network have opened the door to new services available to business and residential customers. In particular, Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) offers customers high-speed data communications and basic telephone service using the existing subscriber line. DSL is compatible with existing analog telephone devices for providing plain old telephone service (POTS). DSL supports a high-speed data channel above the 4 KHz band traditionally used for POTS.
However, characteristics in the local loop can degrade the suitability of the channel for data transmission. Analog telephone lines exhibit a wide range of frequency-response characteristics dependant on a number of factors, including distance from the central office, quality of splices, customer premises wiring, line loading, and customer premises equipment.
There is often no way to determine if a telephone line is suitable to provide DSL service without dispatching a telephone company field technician with a bucket truck to test the line at the customer site. The technician analyzes the customer's local loop, including the premises wiring, using a telephone line test set. The test set gets plugged into a telephone jack at the customer premises, and performs a return loss measurement at various frequencies from 0 to 1.1 MHz, normally spaced apart by 4.3 KHz. The test shows the line's frequency response, and can be used for measuring the quality of the line and identifying problems in the telephone company loop plant or customer premises wiring.
The same technique can also be used to diagnose other problems related to frequency response, including slow modem connections, caller ID failure, and sometimes even poor voice quality.
Other test sets may be operated by telephone company technicians located at the customer premises in order to test the quality of the telephone line back to the central office, It is done this way primarily because a clear analog channel is not set up unless a device at the customer premises is off-hook.


The present invention is directed to reduce offset error voltage in a signal source impedance of analog input signal voltage supplied to an input terminal due to input offset voltage of an operational amplifier in a sampling circuit or a multiplexer coupled to an input terminal of an A/D converter. A semiconductor integrated circuit has an A/D converter and a sampling circuit. The sampling circuit samples an analog input signal in first and second sample modes. The A/D converter converts the sampled analog signal to a digital signal in a conversion mode. By switching of an internal circuit of an operational amplifier between the first and second sample modes, the functions of a non-inverting input terminal (+) and an inverting input terminal (−) realized by first and second input terminals are switched. Synchronously with the switching, supply of an analog signal to the non-inverting input terminal by input switches is also switched.

In a system requested to have high precision and high resolution, as described in the following non-patent document 1, an analog multiplexer is used for selecting one of a plurality of analog input signals and supplying it to an A/D converter for converting an analog signal to a digital signal. A plurality of analog input signals are supplied to one end of a plurality of analog switches in the analog multiplexers. The other end of each of the plural analog switches is coupled to an input terminal of a buffer amplifier. An output of the buffer amplifier is coupled to an input terminal of the A/D converter via a sample and hold circuit. The basic function of the sample and hold circuit in an analog input system is to capture an input signal and hold it constant in the following conversion cycle of the A/D converter.
The sample and hold circuit is configured by an input buffer amplifier, a sample and hold switch, a retention capacitor, and an output buffer. In a sample mode, an input signal is retained in the retention capacitor via the input buffer amplifier and the sample and hold switch in the on state. In a hold mode, the sample and hold switch is controlled in an off state, and the retained voltage in the retention capacitor is supplied to the input terminal of the A/D converter via the output buffer.
In the following patent document 1, a semiconductor integrated circuit in which an analog multiplexer and a successive-approximation-type A/D converter are formed on a semiconductor substrate is described. The analog multiplexer selects a plurality of analog input signals of a plurality of external terminals, and the selected analog input signal is supplied to a first input terminal of a comparator in the successive-approximation-type A/D converter. A plurality of bit signals of a successive-approximation register are controlled by an output of the comparator, and a local D/A converter is controlled by the plural bit signals of the successive-approximation register. In response to upper eight bit signals and lower two bit signals in the plural bit signals from the successive-approximation register, first and second comparison reference voltages are generated, respectively, from the local D/A converter. The first and second comparison reference voltages from the local D/A converter are supplied to second and third input terminals of the comparator via first and second operational amplifiers, respectively. Two input terminals of a selection switch are coupled to the first and second input terminals, an output terminal of the selection switch is coupled to one end of a first capacitor, one end of a second capacitor is coupled to the third input terminal, and the other end of the first capacitor and the other end of the second capacitor are coupled to an input terminal of a voltage comparator. In the local D/A converter, a first transfer switch for reducing the influence of the offset voltage of the first operational amplifier is coupled between the input and output terminals of the first operational amplifier. A second transfer switch for reducing the influence of the offset voltage of the second operational amplifier is coupled between the input and output terminals of the second operational amplifier.
On the other hand, the following non-patent document 2 describes a circuit technique for reducing the influence of incompleteness of an operational amplifier using correlated double sampling (CDS). FIG. 29 of the non-patent document 2 shows a switched-capacitor-type sample and hold circuit of a first format configured by a first switch, a second switch, a sampling capacitor, an operational amplifier, and a third switch. An input signal is supplied to one end of the sampling capacitor via the first switch controlled by a first clock signal and one end of the second switch controlled by a second clock signal. The other end of the sampling capacitor is coupled to an inverting input terminal of the operational amplifier and one end of the third switch controlled by the first clock signal. A non-inverting input terminal of the operational amplifier is coupled to the grounding potential, and an output terminal of the operational amplifier is coupled to the other end of the second switch and the other end of the third switch.
The switched-capacitor-type sample and hold circuit of the first format executes operations in a sample mode and a hold mode as described below. Specifically, in a period in which the first clock signal is at the high level, an input signal is supplied to the inverting input terminal of the operational amplifier via the sampling capacitor. Since the inverting input terminal and the output terminal of the operational amplifier are coupled to each other, the difference voltage between the input signal voltage and the offset voltage is sampled between both ends of the sampling capacitor. In the high-level period of the second clock signal, an input signal supply node is opened from the inverting input terminal of the operational amplifier, and the sampling capacitor is coupled between the inverting input terminal and the output terminal of the operational amplifier. Therefore, a hold output signal in which the influence of the offset voltage is reduced by the correlated double sampling is obtained.
The following non-patent document 3 describes a switched-capacitor-type comparator using correlated double sampling (CDS). The switched-capacitor-type comparator includes a selection first switch having two input terminals, a sampling capacitor, an operational amplifier, and a second switch. The switched-capacitor-type comparator executes operations in a sample mode and a hold and voltage comparison mode as follows. Specifically, in the sample mode, an input signal is supplied to an inverting input terminal of the operational amplifier via a first input terminal of the selection first switch and the sampling capacitor. Since the inverting input terminal and the output terminal of the operational amplifier are coupled to each other, the difference voltage between the input signal voltage and the offset voltage is sampled between both ends of the sampling capacitor. In the hold and voltage comparison mode, the ground voltage is supplied to the inverting input terminal of the operational amplifier via the second input terminal of the selection first switch and the sampling capacitor, and the inverting input terminal of the operational amplifier and the output terminal are opened. Therefore, the offset voltage of the operational amplifier is cancelled between the operations of the sampling mode and the hold and voltage comparison mode. According to the positive/negative sign of a negative input signal voltage −Vin corresponding to the difference between the offset voltage and the input signal voltage, a logic determination result is obtained from the output terminal of the operational amplifier.
On the other hand, the non-patent document 4 describes a switched-capacitor-type sample and hold circuit of the second format different from that of the first format described in the non-patent document 2. The switched-capacitor-type sample and hold circuit of the second format is configured by three current sources which can form an operational amplifier, a differential pair P-channel MOS transistor, two load N-channel MOS transistors, two grounded-source amplification N-channel MOS transistors, seven switches, and a load capacitor.
In the sample mode of the switched-capacitor-type sample and hold circuit of the second format, an input signal is supplied to the non-inverting input terminal of the operational amplifier, and an output terminal of the operational amplifier is coupled to the load capacitor and the inverting input terminal. Therefore, the operational amplifier in the sample mode operates with a unity gain (voltage follower), so that the level of the input signal of the non-inverting input terminal is sampled in the load capacitor of the output terminal. In the hold mode, the load capacity is supplied to the non-inverting input terminal of the operational amplifier, and the output terminal of the operational amplifier is coupled to the output and the inverting input terminal. Therefore, since the operational amplifier operates at the unity gain (voltage follower) also in the hold mode, the sample level of the load capacitor of the non-inverting input terminal is held at the output. The transistors functioning as the non-inverting input terminal and the inverting input terminal of the operational amplifier in the sample mode and the hold mode, respectively, are switched between the right and left P-channel MOS transistors in the differential pair. Further, transistors functioning as an input transistor and an output transistor in the current mirror of two load N-channel MOS transistors in the operational amplifier are switched between the right and left N-channel MOS transistors in the sample mode and the hold mode. The transistors functioning as output elements of the operational amplifiers in the sample mode and the hold mode are switched between right and left two grounded-source amplification N-channel MOS transistors. By the switch between the right and left transistors, the influence of the offset voltage due to mismatch of transistors configuring the operational amplifier can be reduced.
The following patent document 2 describes that, to reduce the influence on an A/D conversion result of the offset voltage of an amplifier in a special cyclic A/D converter, a change-over switch for switching two feedback capacitors between a differential input and a differential output of the amplifier between cross-couple connection and straight connection is used.
On the other hand, the following non-patent document 5 describes a gm control circuit for making mutual conductance "gm" of a rail-to-rail input circuit constant. The rail-to-rail input circuit includes an N-channel differential MOS transistor and a P-channel differential MOS transistor which are coupled in parallel against a change in common-mode input voltage. The gm control circuit includes a current switch P-channel MOS, a current switch N-channel MOS, a current mirror N-channel MOS, and a current mirror P-channel MOS.
A pair of P-channel MOS transistors generate a high-level common-mode voltage from a differential input signal. The high-level common-mode voltage is supplied to the source of the current switch P-channel MOS having a gate to which DC bias voltage is supplied. By the current mirror N-channel MOS coupled to the drain of the current switch P-channel MOS, the bias current of the source of the N-channel differential MOS transistor is controlled in proportional to the drain current of the current switch P-channel MOS. The pair of N-channel MOS transistors generate low-level common-mode voltage from the differential input signal, and the low-level common-mode voltage is supplied to the source of the current switch N-channel MOS having a gate to which the DC bias voltage is supplied. By the current mirror P-channel MOS coupled to the drain of the current switch N-channel MOS, the bias current of the source of the P-channel differential MOS transistor is controlled in proportional to the drain current of the current switch N-channel MOS.    [Non-patent document 1] Richard C. Jaeger, "Tutorial; Analog Data Acquisition Technology Part III—Sample-and-holds, Instrumentation Amplifiers, and Analog Multiplexers", IEEE MICRO, November 1982, pp. 20 to 35    [Non-patent document 2] Christian C. Enz et al, "Circuit Techniques for Reducing the Effects of Op-Amp Imperfections: Autozeroing, Correlated Double Sampling, and Chopper Sabilization", PROCEEDINGS OF THE IEEE, VOL. 84, NO. 11, NOVEMBER 1996, PP. 1584 to 1614    [Non-patent document 3] Kenji Taniguchi, Semiconductor Series "CMOS analog circuit handbook for LSI designers", CQ Publisher, Aug. 1, 2006, The fourth Edition, pp. 127 to 132    [Non-patent document 4] L. H. C. Ferreira et al, "CMOS implementation of precise sample-and-hold circuit with self-correction of the offset voltage", IEE Proc.—Circuits Devices Syst, VOL. 152, NO. 5, OCTOBER 2005, PP. 451 to 455    [Non-patent document 5] Vladimir I. Prodanov et al, "New CMOS Universal Constant-Gm Input Stage", 1998 IEEE International Conference on Electronics, Circuits and Systems, Vol. 2 7-10 Sep. 1998 pp. 359 to 362    [Patent document 1] Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2005-026805    [Patent document 2] Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2007-104531